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Kind of Overwhelmed and Unsure of Where to Begin an Arcade Project
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Donkbaca:
I completely disagree, you should trash all the controls you get, especially if you got the cab for free.  After all, you get what you pay for.

I say you "borrow" a router from Cheffo then ebay it and use the cash to buy an x-arcade, he never uses his router anyway and he probably won't miss it.

hahahaha... .nevermind, can't keep it up.  Cheffo has some great wisdom to share.  I think if you combine our advice, here is what you should do:

Buy the book and read it, saint has whole sections on control panels, bar tops and other non-cab solutions.

Figure out a few things.  What kind of games do you want to play?  How much space do you have to dedicate to a cab?  Do you want it to be portable?  Do you want to be able to tuck it in closet so that chicks don't think you are a geek?

Figure out what you have, and what you need to get.  Budget down to the last screw, add 10%.

The awesome thing about this hobby is that the core of it is enjoying the old arcade games using arcade controls, there are literally thousands of ways to get that done, depending on what you want, how much you want to spend, etc.  Figure out what you want, and what's best for you.  If you think that you will be able to build some super machine that will play 3,000 games, well I have some sobering news; you won't be able to.  First of all some games aren't playable; second some are only playable if you have a really high end pc; third some are playable only with the right controls, such as steering wheels, light guns, flight sticks, that stupid 720 controller. Finally, the truth is, a LOT of those games are foreign/gambling/mahjong/clones or just plain lame games that you wouldn't want to play anyway.  In the end you won't be able to play everything, and if you tried to build a machine that played everything, it would be huge, ugly and expensive.

I would say build the machine around lets say 1 or 2 genres of game you like and make compromises.  For example, is it worth it to spend 60 bucks on that trackball?  For me the answer was no, if your answer is yes, well then I have a trackball to sell you if you want....
leapinlew:

--- Quote from: Donkbaca on March 29, 2011, 02:29:41 pm ---I would say build the machine around lets say 1 or 2 genres of game you like and make compromises.  For example, is it worth it to spend 60 bucks on that trackball?  For me the answer was no, if your answer is yes, well then I have a trackball to sell you if you want....

--- End quote ---

Great advice... I can hardly believe Donkbaca said it.  ;)
Donkbaca:

--- Quote ---Great advice... I can hardly believe Donkbaca said it. 
--- End quote ---

Hey you put enough monkeys in a room... :dunno
DNA Dan:
I posted earlier that the OP should consider a pre-fab bartop but I think because I had a link in there the admins chucked it.

Anyway, I agree with others that you need to think portability. $200-300 could get eaten up on just a control panel easily. Maybe just making a large CP with a disassembled computer inside it would give you portability to hook it up to any TV or Monitor?
ark_ader:
Actually I like the comments made in X arcade defense, but in reality it is far more easier if you look at this idea:

The stock original Xbox can and does play arcade games very well.  You can get a good collection like CoinOPS on the stock hard drive and it has a nice front end.

I can buy the xbox at £15 at my local pawn shop, I'm sure you can snag one for $30-$40.  Most of the Xbox games [DOA Volleyball Nude Patched  ;)] can be played on a cab anyway.  ;D

The Xbox is small and self contained, and there is tons of information on modding the thing.  I can help there.

You can plumb for a Xarcade on ebay second hand, but we need to be more in the spirit of this site.

Make a control panel, and buy the sticks and buttons.  Randy has a good collection at groovygamegear and his prices are fab. 

Randy: if you are watching, can you please quote us for a stock set of controls or a CP?  Two supers and 28 buttons. $80ish?

Find yourself two MadCatz controllers and hack it to the buttons of your control panel.

Then there is wood and the mechanics of cutting it without losing any fingers.  Heck some places cut it for you for a charge.

So we have $120 for a 18 year old is pretty good, and if he can spring for a bit more for wood he can have a good cabinet made.

Say in six months and they guys have moved on to other endevours - sell it for $300.  :cheers:

Or setup a side business making the things for your buddies for beer or gas money.
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