Space Invader theme slim build

[shateredsoul]

So I have gone from a control panel to actually  building an arcade.  The panel art has been finalized and Jack from arcadesrfun will be working on that to get it out to me soon. I will be sticking to this one panel and update as I make progress.  In the following months I'll probably be updating on my software configuration. I am using an ultimarc ipac 2 and have decided to use Maximus arcade (because I have figured out how to integrate nintendo ds, nintendo wii, nintendo gamecube, and naomi into the emulator).  My second choice was hyperspin.. but since my goal is to build an arcade that has as many games as possible... hyperspin was ruled out (lack of support for newer systems was also another factor).  I might use hyperspin when I have parties and only want people to have access to MAME games.

I won the TV I wanted (and could afford) off of ebay, I have all the wiring stuff and buttons. Now I just have to wait for the summer so I have enough time to build the arcades.  In the meantime I will be configuring the software.  I do have some questions.

I thought it would be great to add a small LCD underneath, what could I use it for? Can I use it to display control configurations? Tips? Flyers?

My Monitor isn't as wide as the build I'm aiming for (see the bottom) where they used a 28", can I still make it that wide so i have room for upgrading later? or will that make it look weird (I wont be upgrading in over a year).

I have more parts now, I have the following

Monitor Sync Master t240hd



General

    * Display Type LCD display / TFT active matrix
    * Width 22.6 in
    * Depth 9.6 in
    * Height 18.8 in
    * Weight 16.1 lbs

Image

    * Image Color Temperature Adjustable
    * Display (projector) image aspect ratio 16:10
    * Image brightness 300 cd/m2
    * Image Contrast Ratio 1000:1 / 10000:1 (dynamic)
    * Max horizontal view angle 160
    * Max vertical view angle 160

And an arcadesrfun control panel

# Control panel is 35" wide and 18" deep.
#  Panel base is 5.75" tall facing the video source and slopes down to 5" facing the player.
# This 2 player control panel blank can be customized by you at no extra charge! You just tell us what you want and we will build it!



But I want to use this arcade (see link below), the only issue is that in this design they used a tv mount, my tv will not have holes for a wall mount and my control panel will be bigger. Any ideas of how I can mount the monitor? I saw someone? I was thinking of just having a backpanel and something on the bottom of the panel to hold the monitor. Again, I thought it would also be great to build with with enough room to eventually upgrade. How would it look to leave extra room on the sides so I can upgrade later?

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=92156.0
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=92156.0]]http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=92156.0]http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=92156.0]
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=92156.0




**edit**

Here's my button layout with cp art

[shateredsoul]

I like how they installed the mini lcd here. Does anyone have recommendations on which small LCD screen to buy? Something that's not too much above 100 would be great. and how it would connect? through usb? What apps do I have to work with?

[Blanka]

I like how they installed the mini lcd here.

Thought it was a transparent Hamster cage
Try a Chumby Guts or a Photo Frame with composite input for that hamster-emulation.

I'm also glad you finally bought a screen   (took me months to decide, and even now I continue to try all kind of solutions.)

[shateredsoul]

Hah! Yeah.. I'll make a bezel for mine hopefully, or make a cut in the wood and flush mount it.

I searched hamster emulations and found this.. I think it needs a few more years before we get more accurate emulation.

http://jchad.mediafreak.org/d/images/rabid_hamster.jpg

Anywawys, i'll definitely have a bezel for the lcd tv (and thanks!).

[shateredsoul]

I received my monitor today, and finalized my art for the control panel (it should be ready soon).  I must say the monitor looks great and is the perfect size! Vertical games look great and don't look that much smaller than arcade vertical games (I played a Ms. Pacman/Galaga arcade in San Francisco tis past weekend). The systems I do fullscreen (like super nes, nintendo, etc) don't look as stretched because of the 16:10 aspect ratio.

I am very happy.. the screen is huge and very bright. The only thing I'm unhappy with is that there is a scratch on the bottom left, I'm currently looking for a solution to this.  You can't tell when playing most games.. but man does it bug me.

Maximus Arcade doesn't fill the screen completely (Maximus doesn't have a 1920 X1200 screen resolution) so it has black bars on the top and bottom... Nothing I can do about that. I must say I was very tempted by Hyperspin.  It's a great frontend.

[shateredsoul]

So I'm still looking into have a second screen.. but so far I haven't been able to figure out cpwiz to even get my control panel right =/

My control panel has been sent out by arcadesrfun and is schedule to arrive next week! I'm very excited because I'll finally be able to hook up my ipac and at least test the games from the panel and get that all configured. I'm still collecting random ideas and things to add. Thinking back.. I should have changed the 4 way art to reflect a 4 way joystick by having up,down,left and right arrows instead of a ring.. oh well.  I'll post a review of the panel quality after it's received.

**new addition** I've decided to add a volume knob on the outside of my machine.  I have a bunch of speakers, 2 for front, 2 for back, one in the middle, and a subwoofer. and yes.. I want to integrate all of them. Even if they aren't heard too well. It's a set o Logitech X-540 5.1 speakers (pictured below).  Maybe I can just integrate everything but the rear speakers.. or keep the rear speakers outside the cab on a wall? I'm still thinking about this.. ideas welcome.



here's the 7" screen i'm considering, it's $70 US dollars... it all depends on me figuring out cp wizard to get it to display my button layout.. I think I just need to give my self sometime to play with it because it shouldn't be that hard.



and i'll be using this to help power it (it was designed as a car screen)

[markronz]

Hey there.,  project looks like its coming along nicely!   

Been thinking about adding a second monitor to my cab as well.  My post has some information as to how it's done, provided by Ginsu (thanks again!)
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=102440.msg1084525#msg1084525

Haven't toyed around with it myself yet.   

I was looking at this monitor personally.  Cost is $100, no additional video card needed or additional power supply.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/c609/

Looks like Ginsu used this one.  Cost is $130, no additional video card needed or additional power supply.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/bfa3/

Not really sure what the advantages or disadvantages of the two monitors when you compare them to each other.  So it's unclear if one is a "better" choice.   To me they look very similar, so I personally will be trying the cheaper one some day...

About the monitor you have posted, it looks like it does come with a power supply brick already, at least if we're looking at the same one:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.23080
So if that's something you were planning to purchase separately, you might not have to.

Anyway, if you end up going with the one from deal extreme, please let me/us know how it works for you!   $30 bucks cheaper is always nice!

My only concern is how the unit will power on.  The mini usb ones I've linked appear to be closer to normal computer monitors so I am hoping that they just stay powered on when you turn the machine on.  Eliminating the need to push the power button or etc.  Do you have any guesses if the one from deal extreme will stay powered on or if you will have to use the remote all the time to turn it on?

[markronz]

Edit...  sounds like Ginsu used a regular 15" dell monitor, and not the Mimo mini usb one. Sorry for the confusion.

[shateredsoul]

Thanks for the info! I didn't notice it had a powerbrick already you just saved me from feeling like an idiot 

About the monitor.  I've had really good experience with deal extreme and the comment on this monitor seem to be pretty positive, I have two dvi outputs on my graphics card so I would have to find a converterter for DVI-D to RCA or S-video.  I also have no idea if it stays powered on, but that's something that's important to me. 

I just need help with outputting my panel control images with cp viewer and I cen't even figure out how to get cpviewer to export cards with the game info on it (flyers, how to play, etc).

My control setup is the following for most games except neo geo

 123
 456
X

for neo geo i have

 xxx
 234
1

"X"s reflect buttons not used

when i output the control panel without making any changes I get really weird images.. for 2 buttons games fire, jump, etc are labeled wrong or only for player 2, sometimes only player 2 buttons are labeled, sometimes only one button or random buttons are labeled, etc.. I would appreciate it if someone could help me make a set of images that reflect my control panel layout.  The buttons are curved but the images don't have to reflect that curve, as long as they are labeled right. I just need a guide.. because I can't figure it out on Windows 7.

[markronz]

My guess is that the monitor would not stay on, but I can't say for sure as it is totally device specific and I haven't found anyone who have tried it yet.    I don't have an extra video output on my computer, so I think I personally have to stick with one of the USB monitor options.   If you end up going with this monitor be sure to tell me how it works though!

Sorry I can't be more help with the CPViewer questions.   I am in the process of turning my basement from a dank, dark, cold unfinished man cave, into a pretty, lighted, heated, finished and amazing man cave.  So everything I own is in my storage room until I get the carpet installed.  So I can't even access my arcade at the moment.   
Also, I don't have any experience with Windows 7 yet, so I wouldn't know if that OS changes how things would need to be done...

Hopefully someone else will be able to help you on that end of things!

[shateredsoul]

I have a control panel! With a huge hole..

yup, I'm waiting a few months before I get the trackball since it's $$$ and the spinner too (there's a clear button where the spinner would be).

*edit* I'd also like to thank Delusion for the design, ginsu for hooking me up with the pacman joy and t3design for the button layout design

Overall i'm very happy with the control pannel, I didn't expect it to be so huge, but I really like how the design came out.  I haven't decided what the 4th admin button will be yet. Oh and I didn't build it =/ I ordered it from arcades r fun and worked off of delusiona's art.

[t0mbi]

Now im no photoshop master, but how do you design your own CPO? If i know the measurement of my control panel (Height and Width) how do you translate that to the PC?

See im looking to to make a few small stickers to go around a few buttons (start, select, joystick) how does one translate to a computer screen retaining the right sizes?

[Ond]

Now im no photoshop master, but how do you design your own CPO? If i know the measurement of my control panel (Height and Width) how do you translate that to the PC?

See im looking to to make a few small stickers to go around a few buttons (start, select, joystick) how does one translate to a computer screen retaining the right sizes?

I assume you have photoshop, you'll get various suggestions to this question but here's a simple one draw up some art work (or source it from somewhere, there's plenty out there).  You can use MS Visio to draw a template for controls etc and then insert the images into the template.  Sizing in Visio is very easy and exact, take to printers and voila!  Of course Illustrator or Corel etc can be used or you can set print size in Pshop as well.

[shateredsoul]

well, I can't quite remember everything right now but it was something like this (for me at least)

1. I received the art from Delusional
2. Jack from arcadesrfun sent me a cp layout made in CAD
3.I opened it with illustrator and saved it as a photoshop document, and made sure image was bigger than the image he sent me(the CAD image was actual size I believe)

What Ond said sound pretty accurate.. creating the button layout and making sure the outline of the CP is the actual size of the cp is important.

[t0mbi]

Ill try that 'Visio' program cause im hopeless with CAD.

Cheers..!

[shateredsoul]

Soooo... I actually started work on the arcade cabinet! Here are some pics.  I'm basing it on Knievel's woody.  It might not end up as nice because I won't be using laminate.. but man mdf is heavy.. about 100 lbs a sheet.  It was pretty embarrassing when we dropped the wood in the parking lot (seriously, they all slided out piece by piece and it was too heavy for us to stop).  Luckily the wood wasn't damaged. Also, the handsaw we had was doing crooked lines.. so we did all these cuts with a router (took forever), but it came out pretty clean! 

We still have to figure out a few things... such as mounting the monitor, where to install the speakers, whether I will be using the 15" touch screen (he thinks it might fight right under the monitor), and whether I need an admin panel.  We also made it wide enough to give room for my lcd sensors. We had to readjust the measurements to match the size of my monitor and to account for the fact that my control panel is bigger than Knievel's design.

[shateredsoul]

So i have a space invaders theme, and I have been working on the side art.

I was wondering if anyone could give me some suggestions on how to improve the side art?  I have this so far.. I want a big space invader, but I don't know what to put around the space invader graphic.  Should I cut it out into a perfect circle? Square?

What do you guys think?

[shateredsoul]

[shateredsoul]

Build Updates

Building is going a lot slower than I expected.  We recently finished the cabinet door that will conceal the desktop pc.  In additoin we finished the drawer but haven't mounted it on yet.  After working on this cab with my friend I think I might invest in a router, an better quality drill, and a sander.  That's pretty much all we've been using, and it will come in handy for building my next jukebox project.

Ok back to the arcade, the monitor seemed like a difficult thing to figure out because it doesn't have any versa mounts.  We decided to route out a slot for the monitor to fit in tightly.  The only issue now is placing the top gun II sensor bars.  We have 2 pieces of wood that will lay against the monitor from behind.  We created these type of "L" looking pieces by attaching 1 piece to another, these piece catch on to the hole where the connection in the monitor are and underneath the monitor.

Software Update

I recently downloaded a Hyperspin collection from ... you know where.  It came with complete art sets and videos for all systems ever up to dreamcast.  A few are missing (atari st is one), but overall it's an amazing collection.  I believe this torrent was put together by a group of British users because most of the art matched the European consoles and cartridges.  I went ahead and change the art to match the US releases (system names and default themes).  The only thing I haven't changed yet is the dreamcast default theme.  I was very impressed by the default theme for this system.  Like mos themes you get the game art, and the video, but you also get the disc art (which enters the bottom of the screen while rotating and remains in the bottom right rotating).

I haven't actually set up the systems on yet, since I'm still in the process of renaming roms. I'm mostly done, I'm taking the longest with the ps1 roms.  I'm using fatmatch and directing it to the wheel art for roms and the roms as the media (so it renames my games to match the wheel art).  Fatmatch takes a lot longer to rename bigger files so I'm doing this in batches.

From the torrent comments it seems like it's a lot of work to make some of the systems work and some changes need to be made to the included .ahk file. I already have turbo grafx, virtual boy, nes, snes, n64, atari 5200, genesis, gamegear, and a few more systems setup already on my old hyperpsin setup.  The plan is to just setup those systems first using the methods I know work, then use the torrent wiki they have setup to figure out the other systems.

I added the following systems:

Atomiswave: main theme and wheel art, wheel art, themes, and videos
Sega Naomi: Main Theme and wheel art, used default theme but removed anime characters, no videos (i'm working on making my own videos.. some games are giving me a really hard time so I might have to settle for screenshots)
Sony Playstation 2: Main theme and art, Need default theme, need to figure out wheel art, tried making own vids but couldn't figure out.. will settle for snapshsots,
Nintendo Gamecube: Main Theme and wheel art, Default theme,  need to figure out wheel art, making vids works for some games, other's don't run well on dolphin yet (or run too slow with fraps) so i'll use snapshots for those
Nintendo Wii: Main Menu Theme (crappy one I made), Default theme (same one as main menu), need to figure out wheel art, making vids works suprisingly well for some games.. better than gamecube and I'll use snapshots for those that don't work.

Adding some games

The dreamcast set is missing some games I own, I think I'll ad those in.  I don't know if I have the energy to check the other game lists that came with the torrent. 

*interesting fact* The torrent has a famicon disk system section.. many of these games are pervy games with nudity.  I'm going to have to either edit this system out or take out the games. Come on people! really? Makes me wonder if this is why the famicon section was added (you'd think so based on the % of these games included). Ha ha ha. 

[opt2not]

I don't know how I missed this project till now.  The Terminus arcade is one of my favourite designs on this board, and am glad to see others using it. Looks like you've got great progress so far.

As for the art, you could go with the circle since your cabinet has a pretty angular profile. But my concern is that the side-art image is too similar to the CP.
Do you have a title for your cabinet? Perhaps you can add the title to the side-art, banner it somehow?
Something you could play with to spice this image up is adding some small details to it. Stuff like wire-frame grids, glows, or tracer lines, perhaps some nebula-like background or star field...Galaga Legions has some of these elements that I think makes the game look amazing:


A bit messy with the lines and hard to tell when not in motion, but you get the idea with the tracers.


Nebula style background...it's just colour gradients.


The other thing to think about is playing with the Invader itself.
Space Invaders Extreme did some graphical updates that I thought kept the old school look, but brought it more relevance for today.

I like the way they coloured their Invaders with gradient shades, but instead of using black to outline, they used a darker colour than what was within the lines.
Another thing to note is their use of textile patterns, things like checkers to faded boxes, text overlays and and underlays with motion blurs:









Anyways, I hope this generates some ideas for you. I love this cabinet's design, and would love to see the artwork really bring it all together well.
 

[shateredsoul]

Yeah you do have a point about it being repetitive.  I was thinking of using it for the Marquee (with no name)... so I might just stick with using that as a Marquee and doing a side art piece.  I like the circle idea and the space invaders extreme styles.  I'm going to paint it black and was thinking of going with a simple.

I really like how this build by karlpenney came out, but he has no side art.  If I leave the side art out, then I should probably not duplicate the control panel art on the Marquee.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51525.0;attach=98120;image

I also forgot to mention that my build will not have a coin door. *gasp*

[shateredsoul]

today we got a lot of work done, we routed out some space out for the monitor in the bezel, and rounded the side facing the player. We finished the drawer and had to sand down the door a bit on the bottom (it was catching when it swung open).

The only thing is that it looks pretty empty underneath the monitor (the monitor will actually be higher than pictures, I just didn't have anything to help me prop up the Bezel. Any suggestions of what I might put there? I've decided not to go with a second monitor.

Sorry about the quality, they're cell phone pics