Minix as arcade cabinet computer

[Theghost]

I'm extremely new to android (this is my first device). I ordered a minix neo x7 (should be receiving it in the next week), and I'm wanting to use it as the computer inside my arcade cabinet. I have a few questions about getting started with this:

1. I want a set up that uses a dual stick 16 button usb to arcade controller from xin mo as the primary input controls with minimal need for keyboard/mouse, is this possible?
2. What type of front-end (preferably multi console) do you recommend?
3. Is there a front end that is compatible/ launchable from within Xbmc?
4. Do I need to root and use a custom rom to do these things?
5. Is there a way to use a wiimote as a lightgun on android devices?
6. Are there any noob to android guides that are more tv box orientated and not about phones?

sorry if this is stuff that been covered before but most of the info I find is more of the tablet/icade/classic wii controler type.

[diegocaxudo]

I dont konw if you need root for any of that, but if you do, it doesn't mean you need a custom ROM. Custom ROM are just ROMs that are modified in many different ways, the main thing developors modify in ROMs is that they root them so the custom rom comes pre-rooted (flashing a custom rom that comes pre-rooted is way easier than rooting the machine yourself). Also, most of the time developers add bug fixes to their ROMs so you'll probably get a better performance with a custom ROM (I said "probably" bacause I have some experience on android and android mini PCs but I haven't bought the x7 yet).

the android interface can vary depending on your launcher but the basic interface is the same as an android tablet but instead of using your finger you use a mouse and instead of touching you click, It might be a little bit harder to get confortable in android if your first divice is a non-touchscreen device.

I know you canuse your wii remote as a gamepad with an app called wiimote (Wiimote Controller - android apps in Google Play) I don' know how good is it but I think it doesn't work on android 4.2.2.

[Theghost]

thanks! it actually just showed up in the mail this afternoon. I think things may start making more sense as I play around with it.

[Jbardi]

Minix as arcade cabinet computer

There are not a lot of apps out there by way of multi emulation, in fact I only know of one by the name of RetroArch. I think it's going to come down to driver support for the controllers you want to use more than anything, so you may be hard pressed to find support for a controller that would be suitable to mount in an arcade cabinet.

[Theghost]

I went ahead and did the finless rom instead of the regular update (figured why not), the controller is recognized as a "tht arcade console 2p" in tincore's keymapper app, but I'm not really sure how to set it up yet. I'd like to map it like the remote that comes with the x7.
I looked into the retroarch app, but its a little daunting with it's ui (kinda ugly too); and I've seen the "project android 2600" vids. Where do you get started learning to customize android?

[Theghost]

got it all working now, the joystick moves the cursor to the different icons the buttons are setup as quick selects and retro arch supports both players (i had to use the 10,11,12,13 button ports instead of the p2 direction pins). I'd still like to have it look more arcade like (not full on hyperspin but maybe just a little flashier), find a more stable rom (finless 1.6 is crashing alot), and further automate things.