How-to transform the eeePC into an OpenPandora (eeePC, the ultimate MAME box)

Do you own an eeePC? Do you love MAME, emulators, roms and retrogaming? Would you like to get a custom frontend for MAME that fits great the small screen of your netbook? If yes, check this video :)

I used:
- Asus eeePC 701;
- USB joypad;
- XPadder (freeware) to bind keystrokes to joypad buttons;
- MALA frontend (freeware), to get a mediacenter-like interface to launch games;
- MAME + some roms.

After MALA is running, you don't need keyboard more. Using just joypad you can:
- scroll and launch games;
- insert coin;
- start first player game;
- pause;
- load and save states;
- play.

Tip: get a joypad with tons of buttons ;)

For a detailed guide, check: http://eldino.wordpress.com

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• eeepc
• OpenPandora
• mame
• mala
• ultimate mame box
• joypad
• guide
• tutorial
• xpadder
• atomicpc
• retrogaming
• 701
• mediacenter
• cabinet

[supermariosunshine64]

You're missing the whole point of OpenPandora...

[eldino]

@supermariosunshine64: nope, i'm missing the money to buy it :-)

[richyroolahs]

Why use a laptop as a portable emulator? One second of rational thought tells you that it's a shit idea. Besides the fact that it is nowhere near as great as a pandora, have you ever heard of the GP32, GP2X, Wiz, Caanoo, PSP, Any smartphone? They all emulate old games, have better controls, are lighter, have better batteries, and are more suitable to gaming.

[eldino]

@richyroolahs: dude, i have already a psp with all the emulators and i love it, but PSP (and other consoles) don't emulate everything, so a netbook is the way to go if you have not 300 euros for a pandora :)

[me1ne]

Thi has nothing to do with OpenPandora. You're just showing how to use a gamepad in an emulator. Change the tags please.

[delet0]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say, "no it doesn't have similar portability than an openpandora." Nothing against your solution, it's great, but you still have to carry the larger-than-pandora Eee, a game pad, and probably the Eee's AC adapter. Pandora's battery reportedly lasts around 10 hours, is about NDS size, and doesn't need an external game pad.

[ryankoch38]

that craptop is about to shut down ;p

[xoen6]

you know..i can agree with author - while pandora is expensive, netbook IS a way, maybe not best but what else, but old PDA can be used as let's say, emumachine novadays? umpc(NOT)?

[agentgamma23]

How-to transform the Ipod touch into an Ipad: Get a magnifying glass. Ridiculous.

[Ragezort]

Who the hell likes play Snow Brothers?!

[Pyro903]

Great, now put that (with the controller) in your pocket.

[ozzybwild]

@thrax63 ..So I guess you quit waiting for the pandora and feel like bashing the ones intelligent enough NOT to do so?

BTW: I'm four years older than you.. does your mom regularly do little, three year old boys or how comes you call me dad?

Anyway.. keep on raging, tool. "Lifeless fucks" like yourself obviously need to do so to feel useful on this big, bad planet.. lulz.

PS: Tell your mum she got a new achievement: "Birth of an EPIC FAIL!".. x3

[thrax63]

@ozzybwild really your "Atari portfolio" thanks dad you miserable lifeless outdated fuck, thank you for being so comfortable with your experience, and for administering textual justice to the 'noobs' of this world that 'fuck up the whole community'

il remember you the next time i play pong at the retirement home

[thrax63]

there are only like 4000 pandoras in existence and if you think the $400 price point ($500 if you wanna get one before your dick falls off) is totally reasonable for this hunk of shit then you must have a lot of fucking friends to casually whip it out if front of as a 'conversation starter' or no friends at all and all the time in the world to play it

[ozzybwild]

Jippie caaaaaaa yay... Thanks for bullshitting the retrogaming scene by advertising stupid emulator-abuse and copyright piracy.

It's noobs like you advertising this shit on youtube that fuck up the whole community.

If folks don't know what MAME is IT IS GOOD.

Anyone who fucking deserves using it already found it years ago or will do so him-/herself.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

This fucks me up.

If we ever meet i'll slap you with my Atari portfolio WITH floppy attached.

:|

[JackBandicootsBunker]

@richyroolahs Just tell me something: what's the point of using that netbook the way it should be used, if its power is not enough for in fact anything?