Arcade machine project

[Smoooothy]

Posted this last week on the Adelaide board, but thought a few here might be interested

So a couple of weeks ago, the missus finally gave me approval to build an arcade machine, something i've wanted to do for about 10 years!

Materials were purcahsed, so far 3 sheets of 16mm MDF, 5m of 40x40mm pine, and 5m of 18x18mm pine (the pine is to sure up the corners/joints etc)

Sunday was the day which i started, i got my plans from here - http://www.got2getalife.com/arcade/index.html - took about 2 hours to properly measure up, 15 mins to cut, and about 2 hours to sand back. Last night i completed the 2nd side panel.

It's starting to take shape!

Yesterday, I also purchased the buttons, joysticks and the USB button encoder from Gameroom Essentials (www.gameroom.com.au) - recommend this guy if anyone wants to get into this too! based at Elizabeth too, makes it pretty easy to attain parts!

Pics can be seen here LINK!

 

[buzzbuzz]

Very interested to see what the costs come to, as you can buy brand new arcade machines for <$3k online.

 

[Smoooothy]

so far, around $300 - but i already had the PC, the TV that I plan on hooking up, and all the power tools i needed to hook it all up.

 

[Quivorir]

So a couple of weeks ago, the missus finally gave me approval to build an arcade machine, something i've wanted to do for about 10 years!

But nice man, cant wait to see the end result.

 

[Jabso]

Keep the thread updated will be a good read.

 

[MarcusP2]

Very interested to see what the costs come to, as you can buy brand new arcade machines for <$3k online.

Presumably this will run MAME and he'll be able to play thousands of arcade games on the one machine.

 

[Smoooothy]

correct

planning on having MAME, NES, SNES, Mega Drive, and then Frets on Fire too

 

[melbournemartin]

Sounds awesome.

 

[caMoGFC]

correct

planning on having MAME, NES, SNES, Mega Drive, and then Frets on Fire too

jizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Glenno23]

Some of the field managers in SA for EB made one for our Starlight fundraising week and auctioned it off to raise money. They did a great job

Good luck Mr Smooth, looks good so far

 

[Smoooothy]

Update!

Control panel was done today, going for 2 player with 6 buttons each (mainly for games like Mortal Kombat/Street Fighter etc

Just before i finished for the day, I wanted to see how it looked with some buttons, below is the result

Tomorrow i rout the slot in the sides for t-molding, then it'll be ready for the first coat!

 

[Kerrby]

So jealous . I've always wanted one of these.

 

[MarcusP2]

Not putting in a trackball or a rotator?

 

[Smoooothy]

Trackball yes, but not yet. I've allowed room for one. Not going to bother with a spinner

 

[Smoooothy]

Another update, first coat of paint is on, hopefully by the end of the weekend, the painting will be finished!

Think it looks pretty good!

More pics here - LINK!

 

[Cohzee]

Looks great.

I've been wanting to do this for years but have never really had the coin. Estimated completion costs? What will you be running it on?

 

[Equus]

Wow! Looking good so far.

 

[Hawkers]

Looking good Mr Smooth and welcome to the club

I built mine a few years ago and loved it all - unfortunately I built a new home and it wouldn't fit into the only room I was allowed to put it in (don't get married) so I gave it away

I think I may have put up a thread on here about it

 

[LANGFORDandSON]

I was about 60% through completing mine when the hailstorms hit in Victoria last year, unfortunately (or fortunately I guess), the bottom six inches of the cabinet got wet including the transformer (I was using an original arcade monitor for the realistic feel).

The insurance company wrote it off and replaced it with one of these:

http://www.mygamesroom.com.au/index...category_id=2&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=24

It's awesome and even has all of the old laser disk games (Dragons Lair, Space Ace etc.), it also saves high scores which is a bonus.

The best part is that they told me to dispose of the old machine which was actually operating fine once it dried out. So I now have two machines

 

[Smoooothy]

score!

will post an update tonight when i get home. to put it lightly, the beast has been unleashed!!

 

[MarcusP2]

I was about 60% through completing mine when the hailstorms hit in Victoria last year, unfortunately (or fortunately I guess), the bottom six inches of the cabinet got wet including the transformer (I was using an original arcade monitor for the realistic feel).

The insurance company wrote it off and replaced it with one of these:

http://www.mygamesroom.com.au/index...category_id=2&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=24

It's awesome and even has all of the old laser disk games (Dragons Lair, Space Ace etc.), it also saves high scores which is a bonus.

The best part is that they told me to dispose of the old machine which was actually operating fine once it dried out. So I now have two machines

Those guys sell arcade machines equipped with ROMs? Surely that's not legal.

 

[Smoooothy]

Those guys sell arcade machines equipped with ROMs? Surely that's not legal.

i don't know the legalities of it at all, but a JAMMA board which is used in the above can be purchased. it's mainly old games

 

[LANGFORDandSON]

^^ Not a Jamma board, hard drive with ROMS ^^

Those guys sell arcade machines equipped with ROMs? Surely that's not legal.

You wouldn't think so but I'm not arguing about the 2500+ games I have at my fingertips.

PS Don't report them, I may need their support department one day

 

[Smoooothy]

i think you'll find that technically speaking, you pay for the equipment, and the roms etc are a free gift

 

[MarcusP2]

I think you'll find that technically speaking that's still a copyright violation.

Giving away free copies of MW2, for example, is still not allowed.