Author Topic: Possibly the biggest arcade? (Read 4894 times)

ninjazx7 · « **on:** August 26, 2003, 09:52:41 am »

Hi guys,

I posted about a month ago that I had the opportunity to get a pretty big projector. Well, I took that opportunity, and here's what I came up with....

Just as a point of reference, the TV on the ground is a 27".....

Now I just have to work on a moving control panel that will pull out about 8 feet, and then push up flush against the TV when I'm not using it. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes....

Tommy Boy · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2003, 10:02:03 am »

Awesome. I'll be interested to see what you come up with for a moving CP. I've been thinking of a similar setup for an application that a friend of mine has.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2003, 10:19:40 am »

I would recommend rails over rollers if possible. Rollers on such a small CP (as opposed to a full cabinet) will be all over the place when start playing unless you find a way to temperarorily lift it or something. That would work, too.

hyiu · « **Reply #3 on:** August 26, 2003, 10:51:36 am »

wow.... such a BIG tv just for games ??....

ok... I'm a little jealous....

well.... I would say put the control panel stand on lockable wheels.... that should be most flexible.... or maybe 2 swirelable wheels and 2 straight wheels.... then after locked... it should not move at all....

ninjazx7 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2003, 11:24:35 am »

Thanks guys, I was thinking of doing something where the CP will stand on it's own, and then I can kinda push a toe bar and lift a little, and the wheels will drop down and lock in place. Gonna take a little work, but I think it'll all work out somehow...

TalkingOctopus · « **Reply #5 on:** August 26, 2003, 11:50:13 am »

What is the size of that TV? 70"?

ninjazx7 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 26, 2003, 11:55:26 am »

Quote from: TalkingOctopus on August 26, 2003, 11:50:13 am

What is the size of that TV? 70"?

Oh yeah, I guess I did neglect to mention the size. It's a 60" Sony projection monitor. It's actually meant for doing presentations from your computer, but I found that with the s-video in, it will work for my arcade games. You can't plug cable into it unless you're using s-video, but I'd imagine DVD player would work just fine. It's got about an 8 inch scratch on the lower left part of the screen, but you can't really see it when it's turned on. No complaints here considering I got it for free.....

pathdoc2 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 26, 2003, 12:00:12 pm »

You got a 60 inch monitor for free?!!!!! You dog.

SNAAAKE · « **Reply #8 on:** August 26, 2003, 02:09:48 pm »

This thing is running VGA !!! ?

Now we gotta come up with some sort of plan for a 60" monitor.

DZuroff · « **Reply #9 on:** August 26, 2003, 02:14:56 pm »

I just can't get over the fact that it clears the ceiling by only a foot or so.

Looks nice! I envy you, man!

Lilwolf · « **Reply #10 on:** August 26, 2003, 02:35:15 pm »

I turned DOWN a 60-70" TV like this for a mame project and instead traded for a projection TV (so, yes, mine is bigger).

but the !@# thing just doesn't get clear enought to work well. And you can only play it in pure dark room...

I should have taken the other TV!

CitznFish · « **Reply #11 on:** August 26, 2003, 02:43:31 pm »

are you locked inside that room??

ninjazx7 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 26, 2003, 02:48:28 pm »

DZuroff -

A foot or so?

Oh no....that sophet is 81 inches, and the TV is 79 inches I think. I've only got a couple inches of clearance up there. It's almost like it was meant to be there....

SNAAAKE -

Yup, it's meant for displaying computer output, so it can handle the resolution. I think that's why it cost $25k when it was purchased 7 years ago...

Generic Eric · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2003, 06:32:13 pm »

That little plastic ball to the right...the one that says Cuervo on it, thats for pumping out the lime juice eh?

Oh that is a big tv. Since you are still in the planning stages, may I suggest a rotating control panel?

Lilwolf · « **Reply #14 on:** August 26, 2003, 08:31:13 pm »

Or more important...

Rotating Monitor for those times you want a REALLY big pacman game!

Valence · « **Reply #15 on:** August 26, 2003, 08:42:39 pm »

Quote from: ninjazx7 on August 26, 2003, 11:24:35 am

Thanks guys, I was thinking of doing something where the CP will stand on it's own, and then I can kinda push a toe bar and lift a little, and the wheels will drop down and lock in place. Gonna take a little work, but I think it'll all work out somehow...

Like this. Sorry my camera sucks. The picture looks really good. (well as good as ms pacman gets)

The middle tv is 60" which is not going to be for my cab but the 31" to the right is.

cobelli · « **Reply #16 on:** August 26, 2003, 11:06:23 pm »

To play devils advocate for a minute, isn't this thing going to burn in? I know it's designed for computer presentations, but those usually aren't very static (Even a slideshow only shows the same image for a few minutes). Showing the same images or patterns, as an arcade does, is likely to burn in any projection device, no? Then again, you got it for free and it's intended to be an arcade so I guess it doesn't really matter if it burns in, right? (For those who don't know, burn in is when the same image is projected for so long, or over and over enough that it's "shadow" becomes permanantly imprinted on the screen. It doesn't destroy the tv, but when looking at very light colors, or sometimes when the tv is in the off position, the "shadow" is visible.

I don't mean to ruin your fun, but I know that my projection tv has a ghost of the techtv logo in the lower right. You stand a better chance because the tv is intended for computer use, but like let's say you play pacman for like an hour, the level borders are projected at the same intensity in the same spot for that duration. It's likely to leave its mark. To better your chances, ALWAYS turn off the tv when you're not playing. Menus, pause screens, mame logos all spell trouble.

Still, a very cool project none the less

- Cobelli

CitznFish · « **Reply #17 on:** August 27, 2003, 12:58:46 am »

Quote from: cobelli on August 26, 2003, 11:06:23 pm

To play devils advocate for a minute, isn't this thing going to burn in? I know it's designed for computer presentations, but those usually aren't very static (Even a slideshow only shows the same image for a few minutes). Showing the same images or patterns, as an arcade does, is likely to burn in any projection device, no? Then again, you got it for free and it's intended to be an arcade so I guess it doesn't really matter if it burns in, right? (For those who don't know, burn in is when the same image is projected for so long, or over and over enough that it's "shadow" becomes permanantly imprinted on the screen. It doesn't destroy the tv, but when looking at very light colors, or sometimes when the tv is in the off position, the "shadow" is visible.

I don't mean to ruin your fun, but I know that my projection tv has a ghost of the techtv logo in the lower right. You stand a better chance because the tv is intended for computer use, but like let's say you play pacman for like an hour, the level borders are projected at the same intensity in the same spot for that duration. It's likely to leave its mark. To better your chances, ALWAYS turn off the tv when you're not playing. Menus, pause screens, mame logos all spell trouble.

Still, a very cool project none the less
- Cobelli

AFAIK burn in isn't really an issue with modern equipment

cobelli · « **Reply #18 on:** August 27, 2003, 01:14:14 am »

Not true. Burn in isn't a problem with modern CRTs, but very much a problem with projection tvs. Chack any manual and they will warn you about "video games and station logos". My tv is only a year or two old and it got hit. It's no cheap box either, a nice 52" sony.

- Cobelli

paigeoliver · « **Reply #19 on:** August 27, 2003, 01:51:16 am »

Even modern computer monitors burn in. Every monitor we have here at work has the main screen of our in house dos program burned into it.

Stormdemon · « **Reply #20 on:** August 27, 2003, 06:55:26 am »

Impressive, but I don't think a projection tv is a good idea for MAME. It's flat screen which is not very authentic for old games, and the quality is worse than a crt tv (less contrast, problems with side view, less sharpness...). The only advantage is size, but who wants to play in a screen bigger than 28'?

Sprucemoose · « **Reply #21 on:** August 27, 2003, 08:31:25 am »

^{The only advantage is size, but who wants to play in a screen bigger than 28'?}

I do!

paigeoliver · « **Reply #22 on:** August 27, 2003, 08:37:18 am »

I always thought an LCD projector inside a freestanding control panel would be a much better "big screen" Mame solution.

ninjazx7 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 27, 2003, 10:52:25 am »

Hey guys,

I always turn off the TV when I'm not playing it. I'm not too worried about the chance of burning an image on the screen. I don't think I'll have that thing running enough to let that happen. Also, it's going to be used for JAMMA and not MAME, so I won't have any menus or MAME logos or anything like that.

And anyhow, it was free, so if something happens to it, I'll throw it on Ebay, sell it to the highest bidder, and then go buy a brand new cabinet.

grafixmonkey · « **Reply #24 on:** August 28, 2003, 12:04:36 am »

Quote from: Stormdemon on August 27, 2003, 06:55:26 am

who wants to play in a screen bigger than 28'?

oooooohhhh..... 28 foot Mame screen! hehe, you'd have to periodically run to each side, to see if there are any Galaxians in the next room that you should be shooting at!

I second that though... I just discovered Chicken Shift, and even playing that on a 17" pc monitor hurts my eyes for darting from one side of the screen to another. Plus, in Puzzle Bobble, if the screen gets too big you can't draw that mental line to figure out where your bubble is gonna go.

microwrx · « **Reply #25 on:** August 28, 2003, 02:10:25 am »

How about one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3238446221&category=575&rd=1

Should be perfect. Sure this one's in Australia but I'm sure they'd be easy enough to find. Plenty of room for whatever controls you want too!

BombProofPlane · « **Reply #26 on:** August 29, 2003, 10:10:03 pm »

um have you seen any arcade machine with a projection screen

ive seen plenty with a nice TIME CRISIS 2 logo burned in and also another famous one is in every fighting game it has your life bars burned in

i really don't see why you'd want to play any 2d game on a screen that large (Other than guilty gear x-xx)

DaveMMR · « **Reply #27 on:** August 29, 2003, 10:54:14 pm »

Quote

my projection tv has a ghost of the techtv logo in the lower right

Yup... aren't network bugs wonderful. Destroying TVs just so we don't forget what channel we're watching.

On a more related note, I agree with a lot of the sentiment on big screen TVs. While it looks cool, it's something meant to be watched across the room. It's like sitting in the front row of a movie theatre - almost.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still jealous.

And if you have a good time using it as a super sized arcade machine then by all means enjoy!

Inaba · « **Reply #28 on:** August 30, 2003, 02:02:48 am »

My friends and I play here. We get a kick out of it

For reference, that is a 27" TV underneath as well.

BombProofPlane · « **Reply #29 on:** August 30, 2003, 02:44:53 am »

Quote from: DaveMMR on August 29, 2003, 10:54:14 pm

Quote
my projection tv has a ghost of the techtv logo in the lower right

Yup... aren't network bugs wonderful. Destroying TVs just so we don't forget what channel we're watching.

On a more related note, I agree with a lot of the sentiment on big screen TVs. While it looks cool, it's something meant to be watched across the room. It's like sitting in the front row of a movie theatre - almost.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still jealous. And if you have a good time using it as a super sized arcade machine then by all means enjoy!

i really dont understand why tech tv bothers to bug if youve watched the channel before all the shows have the exact same people that hop around the different shows and if doesn't its probably a sucky show like thunderbirds

DaveMMR · « **Reply #30 on:** August 30, 2003, 10:13:38 am »

Quote

really dont understand why tech tv bothers to bug

Television standard now. In the age of quick remote control reflexes and channel choices in the triple digits, networks do that to stand out.

Of course it's a stupid practice since it obscures things sometimes. The Sci-Fi network came under fire for adding an opaque bug when they aired Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (yup, right over the silhouettes). They fixed it, but it's still an obvious annoyance. Add that to speeded up/shrunken credits, horribly butchered Simpsons episodes, and the decline of opening theme songs (all to fit in more promos and ads) - and you'll see how long it is before tv is just 95% advertising.

Whoa sorry, way off topic there.

jakejake28 · « **Reply #31 on:** August 30, 2003, 10:22:56 am »

Quote from: DaveMMR on August 30, 2003, 10:13:38 am

Quote
Add that to speeded up/shrunken credits, horribly butchered Simpsons episodes, and the decline of opening theme songs

amen to that: first off USA network always shrinks the credits, really bad cause alot of the time i bet my friend that this charcter is played by this actor, and we never find out.

second, i saw a simpsons episode on fox that i timed: the whole episode was 14 minutes!!! and it was the one where bart calls aussies collect

and the last is the worst: TNN shows bond movies, but never shows teh whole theme songs, which i personally think are always pretty cool.
[end drunken rant]

DaveMMR · « **Reply #32 on:** August 30, 2003, 02:54:45 pm »

Quote

USA network always shrinks the credits, really bad cause alot of the time i bet my friend that this charcter is played by this actor, and we never find out

Just like in the episode of the Simpsons, "Bart Gets Famous" when he's trying to prove to his friends he works on the Krusty show but the credits were skewed to make room for a news teaser -- leading to his punch in his stomach. And as for the speeded up/butched Simpsons - Matt Groening makes a comment about that in the Season 3 DVD liner notes.

Anyway I'm sorry this got a bit off topic -- blame stream of conciousness. But I will comment on Inaba's setup -- pretty nice. I think for big screen TVs, a stand alone arcade panel is probably the best bet so you can sit across the room and see everything.

jhsmith321 · « **Reply #33 on:** September 09, 2003, 12:53:15 am »

Hey ninjazx7, where did you get your CP with the integrated stand?? the white one shown at the second picture...... Or does anyone knows where can I get something similar. THANKS


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