The Project - MAME case with a twist

[durandal_666]

Hi all,

Yep, first post here.  I registered quite some time ago, but haven't required to post yet.  I have gotten a lot of help from searching this board and solved all problems Ive come across so far, so i havent needed to start topics (which im generally hesitant to do at the best of times) or do any gravedigging.  I figured since this is taking longer than i thought to construct, due to people helping me being away, and my own recent surgery, i might go for some SSP (Shameless Self Promotion) and post up a link to my blog.

Which is here:  http://durandal666.blogspot.com/.  Quite a few pics and youtube vids available

My project is roughly halfway done (Is anything we do ever truly done?) -> construction will only need a few more days, and the software is running with frontend (just a lot of tweaks, custom vids, help, keybinds, etc to polish up)

The idea of it is a portable MAME/emulator/jukebox machine, which folds up into a breifcase measuring 400 x 430 x 235.  Unfolded, it will have basic arcade controls (4-8 way joystick, 6 buttons, 2 pinball buttons, and a series of 'control' buttons), running with a LCD monitor and 2.1 sound.  There is a overview of the idea i posted up quite some time ago here (http://durandal666.blogspot.com/2009/04/overview.html)


Please note this is only the bottom half on the project, there remains to finish a symetrically opposite top half housing the LCD and the speakers)


Inside of case with computer components added - This was a proof of concept run i did recently.

This already runs 25+ emulators (lost of your standards stuff, including MAME), Jukebox, Media player.  I also have included Xbox360 controller support.

Theres a lot more to come, such as:
* HDMI/Component video out
* 3.5mm stereo sound/component out
* 4 X USB
* Wiimote support (done this before in another poject, good for point&click games on TV (i.e. Monkey Island/DOTT)
* Painting (at this point probably Beige w/ Blue stripes ala C64 [My first compy])
* Artwork (Since any printed stuff will likely be too thick and interupt the closing of the case, I may get a friend whos a fantastic oil painter to do a collage of video game chars on it)

Anyway, wanted to post when it was done but got sick of waiting, plus some feedback or suggestions would be great before i finish it.

Mods: Not sure on image link policy (Lots of forums are different) but i figured off-board links would be preferable, i didnt see anything in the rules.

Ill keep the blog up to date instead of continually posting here, however if there's interest in my progress im happy to pop in and let you know of major updates.

Edit: Forgot to add, i haven't found anyone that has done something like this.  Is this a first?

[Encryptor]

It looks very similar to Bender's in this thread.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=84113.0


Encryptor

[durandal_666]

Well there you go, i searched for 'briefcase', 'suitcase' and I'm sure i searched for folding, but i never found that thread.

Surprising how similar they are considering they were built independently.

[durandal_666]

Well, I let this one slide a lot.. wow, 2009. It was a good year.

Figured I really should put a update against this - unfortunately I put the unpainted and working cab aside for nearly a year due to excessive work, surgery, and plain not being sure what colour or how to paint it. I wanted something unlike other cabs!

However, I recently took 6 weeks off work to paint the thing so i think its update time. The cabinet is finished but unpainted - i spent all the time putting it together and making sure everything worked before i painted it.

Problems included:
Cat-5 cable + adaptors used to communicate from LCD to PC left monitor in blinking 'analogue/digital mode' and looked sloppy - fixed via hardwiring 2 pins in adapter together.
Audio circuit volume control, when re-soldered off PCB and extended with cables, made speakers pick up radio stations
Couldnt fit the video card I wanted, either

Anyway, with my time off work im well into painting - but unlike most cabs ive seen im going to try for a high-gloss black finish (with red stripes). This is taking a insane amount of prepwork which is currently in progress (well into the black coating, thankfully)

[TopJimmyCooks]

I like it, the case shape is like the old portable LP players, a little different take than the bender interior hinged thing.  If you haven't peeled that tape yet, be careful, multiple coats of black will sometimes stick together but not adhere well to previous colors, leading to tearing when you pull the tape, as I found out myself. 

Post up your red/black when you get it there, should be cool.   Are you going to clear over it or anything?  plexi on the cp face?