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Repurpose furniture at right height for lightweight stand-up MAME machine?
snorpmeister:
I've wanted a MAME cab forever. But I've realized that:
1) I'm not going to buy a complete, pre-built cab (don't have the cash, e.g. thousands)
2) I'm not going to refurb an existing cab (don't have the skills)
3) I'm not going to build a cab from scratch (definitely don't have the skills)
4) I'm not going to buy a cab kit (still don't have the skills)
Even if I did have the cash or skills, I may be moving soon. So I don't want something that weighs hundreds of pounds and is hard to move.
What I'd like to do is purchase furniture that's at about the right height for a stand-up cab and repurpose it for MAME. What's the typical ground to joystick height for, say, a Ms Pacman or Galaga cab? Then put an Xarcade or similar pre-built controls-unit atop it. Then mount, or preferably free-stand, an LCD or CRT monitor. Something so simple even *I* can assemble it. "Assemble" being a bit of a stretch. I can put basic particle board furniture together if all it requires is a screwdriver.
Any suggestions for COTS furniture (preferably available in box box U.S. retail stores) that could serve double-duty as a lightweight MAME platform? Maybe some sort of "stand up" computer workstation? Or would those start to cost about as much as a cab kit? Again, I'm looking for something reasonable lightweight but that also has at least some stability to it. But I can't be overly picky about the stability given my budget and weight constraints.
Sure I won't have all the cool artwork, etc. But now I have nothing. And something is better than nothing. Would love to see photos of a project like this if anyone has done something like it.
Donkbaca:
So let me get this straight. You want a desk so you can rest your arcade on? How is that a project?
Rando:
To get the games running and looking like they should, you just need a PC and the right software.
To get the games playing like they should, you need to build/buy a control panel for your sticks, buttons, etc.
To get it to feel like it should, you then put those components into a cabinet.
Sounds like you want to stand and play your games, but not have an actual cabinet that everything goes into. Something like a tall desk/shelf, with the control panel mounted (in some fashion) to it, right?
Seen some folks mount a flatscreen and then have a standing CP that you approach and play on. PC Components could be on floor right below screen, or in a box/entertainment unit type table. Might be your simplest option.
robertsig:
Snorp,
Welcome....
Being a BYOAC forum, you need to have at least *some* skills or resources, whether its woodworking, electronics, computers or money. If you lack maybe one or two of them, you can make it up in other areas (purchase a kit, purchase a PC), but you have to have something to start with.
If you don't have wood skills, no money to buy a kit or anything like that, I suggest you postpone your venture. Maybe spend a couple weeks reading this forum and others to get an idea of what you want to do before spending ANY money.
Now....that being said, I do have a recommendation. For someone money challenged, space challenged and woodworking challenged, a bartop kit would be ideal. You'll have to figure out the wiring basics, buy the joysticks, buttons, IPAC and of course a PC, but its one of the cheapest ways to get a real MAME cabinet as opposed to what you listed. In *any* case, it will be several hundred dollars minimum.
Try here: http://www.mameroom.com/Products_kits.asp
Or just buy a premade arcade control panel, plug it in via USB and be done with it.
Vigo:
Yeah, using furniture will just look like furniture with a computer on it. That said, you can probably use just a desk like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Keyboard-drawer-Casters-Printer/dp/B002SUC7UG
Then just buy an x-arcade. It could possibly look a bit arcade-ish if you wrapped it in black cloth, but don't expect too much.