Cabinet friendly software
Note: this page descibes what is meant by the term "cabinet friendly software", if you are looking for cabinet friendly software, see the software overview.
What is cabinet friendly software?
cabinet friendly software is mean, as it can been played on a cabinet with limited controllers. This mean it can been played with no keyboard in use, no configuration in the menu, and no new windows based windows (like help and so on).
About Controllers
Software is considered cabinet friendly when all commands required to operate the software are remappable (including ESC), or mapped to a set of default keys, based on MAME.
Cabinets have limited controls, wich is based on a keyboard or gameport encoder. This means you do not have access to a full keyboard to operate. Most encoders use MAME defaults, wich mean the software needs to be remapped to use these keys for correct operation.
Cabinets with a trackball might be able to operate more software as the trackball can be used to move the mousepointer (without needing a joy2key utility). There are even some games, that use a trackball, rather than mouse.
At the last some more thing to look for:
- ESC should exit the game, regardless of whether in the game or menu.
- Hiscore entry should >NOT< use the keyboard (yes, many mostly cab friendly PC games do that).
About Resoulution
To get a status of cabinet freidly software, the game need to been operate a resoulution by 640x480 and below.
Even the game only use 640x480, A 15khz arcade monitor can only use this resoulution on a interlaced mode only. This mean the screen would flicker, and some graphics may even look horrible. Many games do look fine, even on interlaced.
For the best result, it need to been operated on a 320x240 and 321x240 (wich ArcadeVGA use) for use on a arcade monitor. A nice bonus is a resoulution like 640x240, wich also is a flickerfree resoulution wich ArcadeVGA can use.
About Config
Some games may use config with auful window based config, wich is accessible from the menu. A more cabinet friedly is move the config is out from the game, so it only can been accessible from a seperate exe, or a hidden shourtcut. Not all games do this, and is pain (because you may need to use a mouse, wich is dosent have on a cab).
List of cabfriendly games
Here is a lists of PC games, that is fun to have on a cab:
External Links
- BYOAC forum thread discussing software that can be played on a cabinet.
- Who makes their own games? - Look here, if you are a developer.
