Need inspiration... cab theme

[transfan]

Ugh..  Hit a roadblock in designing my cab.  I don't know what to go with....

I guess I want something that evokes a complete sense of growing up in the 80's and 90's in arcades: sights, sounds, etc.

Seems most of the pinball cabs I see are PIN-this and most of the arcade ones are that-CADE 

I dunno just looking for something different. 
 

[Benevolance]

I guess I want something that evokes a complete sense of growing up in the 80's and 90's in arcades: sights, sounds, etc.

You need to build an arcade cabinet with leg warmer coin slots and a frizzy hair marquee that utilizes multiple styling products. Loop some Duran Duran on your ghetto blaster speakers and you're all set. It will be totally rad.

Or you could pick a specific cab from the era to build from scratch. Was there a particular game you went to the arcade to play most often?

[drventure]

A back to the future cab?  Dunno. The 80's and 90's didn't do a lot for me, design wise.

[WhereEaglesDare]

Do a Ronald Regan vs The Commies.

Regan with dual M16s sleeves rolled up, leaning on a stack of skulls blowing away the commies.

[danny_galaga]

Don't call it anything. When you're friends come over to play on it, just say 'check out my frickin cool cab'. It needs no name...

[Griff08]

Metal Slug Theme!  That righteous game does not get enough love!

[BadMouth]

splatter paint it!  (use lots of pink, yellow & pastel blue)



You didn't give us much to go on, so this is what you get. 

Might help to know what types of games you would play most on it or what kind of music you were into.

Spur of the moment, but I'm thinking KMFDM album covers or Frank Kozik style artwork would make for a very cool cab.



(just add a joystick shaft under the earth)

[Bender]

Check out the art on wee-cade and Artifact

[transfan]

Thanks all for the suggestions.  I think that perhaps my question wasn't coming across the way I meant.  I do not mean that I want an 80's/90's themed cabinet.  I meant I want a cabinet that encorporates the "feel" of games of that era into it.  I saw a really cool cab that I think used pacman dots as an outline with randomly placed arcade artwork all through-out.  I want something like that but I don't want to copy. 

What I'm saying I guess is I don't want something that focuses on mame, or on hyperspin, or even just on one single game because when people come over, they don't know what MAME means.  I want it to be familiar to anyone who grew up in that era..

I hope that came out better!

I liked the one guy's cab name of "Endless Credits" also

[stan2323]

Have you looked thought the whole control panel thread.  There are some awsome ones there.  I like the one that has the picture of a lot of characters from the past, superheroes, and villains etc.

[AzureKnight]

I'd say work your way through it.  You mentioned the Pacman themed cab, well, are there any games you consider your favorites?  Perhaps in a theme?  Fighting games, Space Games, etc.  If you locate a bunch of games you like, then we can look to pull various look and feel images from those games to construct an overall theme.

So, what were your most memorable games?

[shfifty]

what about a cabinet themed cabinet 

[transfan]

what about a cabinet themed cabinet 

awesome idea!

[meany]

what about a cabinet themed cabinet 

Just get a bunch of side art from games you like and stick them all over the cabinet

[RayB]

Excellent idea Badmouth!

[RandyT]

Keep it simple.  Create some artwork with some obvious stairstepped pixelation.  The Berzerk robots, Space Invaders, Galaga spaceships, etc.  You know, the iconic figures that most with even the slightest exposure to classic video games will instantly recognize.  You can even update the appearance, as long as you keep the blocky pixelization, such as a chromed Berzerk robot with a glowing red eye.  Then you can contrast those blocky images with some sharp, modern lettering or graphic treatments.  Easy to recognize, but still have the cool factor of a more updated presentation.

RandyT

[kronic24601]

This would be original ...

[Mikezilla]

I agree with everyone that mentioned what types of games youre gonna play has an impact on the design. Take mine for example. I have a marvel v capcom cab, but Im redoing the control panel to showcase a spiderman v venom (favorite marvel characters) I got red and blue buttons and a red joystick for the spidey side, and I got black and white buttons/joystick for the venom side. The rest of the side art is gonna be vectored stuff, or stuff from the other marvel games, havent decided yet. Im taking pictures of spidey/venom from a few double issues I have, and sticking them under the plexi on the CP itself. It sound ghetto, but I think it will have a cool "comicy" look when its done. Sometimes when things are too professional it doesnt have the cool, dank, arcade feel. 

[Havok]

How about "The Game Isn't Over Until the Fat Lady Sings?"

[jholman76]

pick a classic-era cabinet style and let the cabinet pick the artwork. I know that sounds all spiritual and whatnot, but I bet once you see things start to take shape, you will get more ideas.

Thats how I work. Artwork is very important, but I wouldn't let it hold you up from starting the build process... choose a cab style you like and then when it comes time to config the CP/side art, etc, you may have a much better idea on artwork and layout.

joe

[mgb]

Or, judging by your name Transfan, you can do a Transformers themed cabinet. They were popular back then.
That is assuming that you are a fan of them and not some other type of trans

[BadMouth]

Or, judging by your name Transfan, you can do a Transformers themed cabinet. They were popular back then.
That is assuming that you are a fan of them and not some other type of trans

I seriously considered this as a theme for my driving cab (which is still doesn't have a theme).

[javeryh]

Check out the art on wee-cade and Artifact

This.  Especially Artifact.  The name and art are both perfect for a cabinet.

[jholman76]

Unless you mimic an actual (single) cabinet or series of game, I'm more a fan of abstract/design artwork.

If that doesn't make sense, I'm not a big fan of collage or assemblage art of different genres. It may work from time to time, but not too often does it make me say OOH!, but that is just my taste.

google Crapmame for examples of what not to do...

enough said.

joe

[RayB]

How about a Picasso theme?



Or Mondrian?



http://www.google.ca/images?hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1T4ADRA_enCA357CA357&q=mondrian&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1236&bih=720

[shfifty]

google Crapmame for examples of what not to do...

i Just went through all the examples, hilarious, and awesome site. It should be mandatory reading for anyone building a cab