I have found a new passion in life. I am going to build an arcade game cabinate for my home. I will purchase the “game-cards” from old arcade games online and then run them from MAME on my homemade arcade game! Has anyone here done this or shares my interest with attempting it? So far I am still in the planning stage, I am drawing up my plans and scheming like crazy. I have decided to start with the controls, as I can then use them to play my games while the actual cabinate is under construction. I would love to hear others tales and tips and plans.
I have a working MAME arcade even though it’s not quite complete. I built my cabinet using measurements from a Dragon’s Lair game I got off the net. The cabinet is a pressboard shell with 2x4’s for the internal framing. The whole thing is spray painted black (except the control panel where I’ve covered it with matte black formica). The arcade controls and buttons I ordered online from Happ Controls and I used I-PAC cards to allow the controls to interface with the PC (a Celeron 400 overclocked to run at 500mhz). I’m currently using a GeForce 2 mx w/TV out as the graphics card with a 25" TV as the arcade monitor. All in all a fun project and the kids love it!
Things left to do:
Cover the rest of the cabinet in black formica.
Install 18" halogen lightbulb at top of the cabinet (for lighted marquee).
Create and install marquee (I have some artistic skills in this area).
Re-wire controls (my wiring, though working, is pretty dang ugly)
Sounds nice!
I am going to be using an I-PAC too, I am presently going insane trying to work out what is the minimum amount of buttons I need to have to cover all my needs on all the systems I will be dabbling in. I keep remembering more and more functions :tears hair:
At present I am going nuts also trying to decide if I will have my TV tilted for a more arcade-like feel, and easier on the neck, or straight up for a smaller cabinet footprint and an easier install.
I am hoping to try and do it in “pre-laminated” wood, to save on work, and then using some sort of t-molding on the edges.
Many arcade machines have the screen straight-up, with a mirror over it at a 45[sup]o[/sup] angle. Of course, you then need some way to flip the TV image over.
