I've finally decided that my Summer project will be an arcade game. I'm gonna make the cabinet out of particle board and mount a 19" computer monitor in it. A PC running MAME and several console emulators will power it. I'm thinking 2 controllers with 6 buttons each, a spiner, and maybe a trackball (maybe not, because they are pretty expensive, but Centipede can't be the same without it). I'm thinking along the lines of this design:
http://plaza.powersurfr.com/kevin/ar...rcade_pg3.html


If it is a success, I want to build a sit down cabinet and mount a steering wheel in it. I'll have to see how the first one comes out, though.

Looks pretty cool and simple. You might think about splurging and getting shop grade plywood instead of particle board. It isn't a lot more expensive and it will hold up like a tank.

Then build me one

Then build me one too

There is one ready to go on Ebay. Only $1100!

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1238308678

OK, here's an update... Things are going well. I have 2 8-way joysticks, 1 4-way stick, and 20 buttons on the way. I also ordered a keyboard encoder.

The computer is all set, just waiting for me to clean and update MAME. I have decided to make this thing the ultimate arcade machine. It will also be an MP3 jukebox. I'm gonna drop a subwoofer into it and wire it onto my network for cable internet access. It will also have a 3D card for PC games.

I'm gonna get a 19" monitor for it for now and move up to a 21" later.

This thing is going to be fun!

Wow, the one on ebay is pretty expensive.

You are making me think hard now. I just got a new computer and have a spare P2 300 that would work nicely.

Keep me updated.

Any update...loser?

Alright... An update already...

I now have the joysticks, buttons, and keyboard encoder. I also managed to get a 21" monitor. The computer is now set up and playing MAME nicely.

This weekend I'm goung to pick up three 4'x8' 3/4" sheets of fiber board (heard it has a nicer finish), and some marble finish laminate for the control panel. I also need to get some Lexan for the marquee and monitor shield, not to mention lots of wire, connectors, and paint.

I built a spinner using the inside of a hard drive and a ripped up mouse, and bought a trackball mouse to convert into an arcade trackball.

I also used the awesome Xerox 5750 color copier/printer at work to print out a nice MAME marquee. Did I mention that that printer rocks?

I have the cabinet blueprints ready to go. If anyone else wants to make one of these, let me know and I'll help all I can!

I've got an old US Golf game in storage. The track ball on it needs some work. If I recall it tends to always go to the left. Anyway, it it would be of use to you, I could try to disassemble it and ship it your way.

That might be pretty cool. How much you want for it?

For a swell dude like you, how about nuthin'?

Well that's just swell!

Thanks Dave... I'll email you when I get home.

I ran across a website one time that had a swell collection of home-made gaming cabinets for this purpose. Have you run across that?

http://www.arcadeathome.com ?

That may have been it.

A quick search provided this link http://www.webcrawler.com/games/vide...ade_retrofits/.

There was another one somewhere though.

Popup, anyone?

How about selling me Sinistar

I'll trade you a trackball for it.

Already sold it. I do have a 4 player X-men game that I'm thinking of converting, though.

You sold Sinistar! Damn Oh well

RUN COWARD

Dude, how could you sell Sinistar?!? And if you don't mind my asking, how much is it going for these days?

I think I got $550 for mine. It is just a phase (an expensive one ) I'll buy a game, get bored with it, sell it, and buy another. Pretty stupid. I need to build one like described so that I will have many games in one unit.

So, your gonna convert that X-men cabinet? That would be great for 4 player Gauntlet! Plus it has a large screen and lots of room to add more buttons.

Yeah, it is a decent cabinet. My father in law accidently broke the monitor, but I wouldn't mind an upgrade anyway.

On a different note. I got the track ball out and will send it your way Mon. I took it apart and it is really a simple thing so you should have no problem fixing it up.

I reserve the right to visit you some day and play this creation of yours, of course.

Here's an update for ya, with pics!

Trimmed up the two sides so the match perfectly:


Primed and sealed one:


Then the other:


I had some great tools helping: