New Guy with New Project

[AaronH87]

Well, title says it all. Noob here who is starting my new project. My wife and I recently moved into out first home and now that i have the room, i have gained interest in making my own arcade machine. I have been doing research over the past couple weeks but just this weekend took the plunge to start. I wanted to start from scratch, but i just dont have the tools available to me right now. And i was searching on craigslist and found this cabinet.  It is a Tekken 5 cabinet. It was gutted by the guy i bought it from becuase he was going to turn it into a MAME cabinet himself but needed to clear up some space. This cabinet came with 2 new 8 way joysticks, 8 game-play buttons, 2 player select buttons, speakers, Tekken 5 marquee, Tekken 5 monitor bezel, working marquee light (fits somewhere between a 25-27" arcade monitor), working 2-slot coin acceptor, and best of all (for me right now) its already built. I know that not building it from scratch takes away from the fun of the project, but i just couldnt pass up this cabinet. I picked it up for $100. I figured i could buy this cabinet and have an arcade working alot sooner, Or build one from scratch and not be able to finish it in a really long time (due to my lack of tools and wood-working skills)...

Anyways, So what do you think of the cabinet? was it the right way to start this project?

Also, what kind of screen would you suggest? I would like to have an LCD and preferably nothing expensive. Would a 24" computer monitor do ok?

oh, and I do plan to expand the controls

Thanks for any input, i hope this is going to be as fun as i think it will be.





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[drventure]

A little plain, maybe, but it looks like a pretty good base to start from.

And welcome aboard. It's a fun hobby, building up these cabinets!

[AaronH87]

I agree that it is plain looking, I'll fix that... I don't know how, but I'll fix it

[drventure]

I agree that it is plain looking, I'll fix that... I don't know how, but I'll fix it

Oh no doubt. There's tons of options there. Paint, laminate, Printed vinyl.

Heck, get wild and route 1ft square space invaders out of MDF, paint and nail to the sides for some bas relief.

[Nephasth]

I agree that it is plain looking, I'll fix that... I don't know how, but I'll fix it

Oh no doubt. There's tons of options there. Paint, laminate, Printed vinyl.

Heck, get wild and route 1ft square space invaders out of MDF, paint and nail to the sides for some bas relief.

 

[AaronH87]

Nice.

 I'm just not sure how I want this thing to look. Is there a thread dedicated to pictures of cabinets?

[drventure]

@Nephasth

I knew I'd seen that somewhere, though that's metal, I thought someone had done thicker MDF versions, but I couldn't find the thread.

Anyway, yes, that's basically what I was hinting at 

[GregD]

Nice.

 I'm just not sure how I want this thing to look. Is there a thread dedicated to pictures of cabinets?

There isn't but there should be.  We have sticky for just the control panels.  Why not a sticky with a simple picture of the entire project and a link to the product announcement thread?

[Nephasth]

@Nephasth

I knew I'd seen that somewhere, though that's metal, I thought someone had done thicker MDF versions, but I couldn't find the thread.

Anyway, yes, that's basically what I was hinting at 

 



 

[AaronH87]

Yea, exactly. Just to simply show off people's Work. I'd love to
Brows pictures of people's different cabinets and see the variety of what's out there.

[Arimack]

@GregD  I am thinking about launching a poll in the Main forum (as per Saints guidelines in the Forum Discussion) with the subject of a Sticky for Pictures of Completed Projects.  What do you think?

I am also a new builder getting ready to start building my project and the lack of a one stop shop for completed projects to use for inspiration sucks.  Would like to see a sticky in either Project Announcements or Main with pictures of each project and a link to the build thread if there is one.  Problem would be all the "man, that's cool" comments and all the arguments about "you're doing it wrong" on the sticky but still it would be better than using the search engine in the forums.  Interested to hear your opinion.

BTW Marines hold a special place in my heart, so Semper Fi!

[drventure]

Have you seen the hall of fame thread?

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=103103.0

[Arimack]

  Roger, Drventure, and I have gone over it several times.  But I think something more expansive like the control panel sticky would be in order.  There is truly some exceptional stuff in the Hall of Fame (and some infamous stuff as well) http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=94966.0

  It gets back to the question GregD asked which I think is valid.  Why a sticky for control panels and not a sticky for completed projects?

[drventure]

Sounds like a good idea to me, a thread of complete or nearly complete cab designs...

There no worries of starting such a thread. A moderator would have to step in at some point to sticky it, but until then, it wouldn't hurt to start one.

[Generic Eric]

Nice.

 I'm just not sure how I want this thing to look. Is there a thread dedicated to pictures of cabinets?

There isn't but there should be.  We have sticky for just the control panels.  Why not a sticky with a simple picture of the entire project and a link to the product announcement thread?

This is a great idea and works well.  See it in action here.

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

This is a great idea and works well.  See it in action here.

Haha! G.E., as soon as I read through this thread, I too thought of TWIP. I see you beat me to mentioning it. 

I definitely add my +1 to the way TWIP presents their projects.  I think it's totally do-able here as long as everyone respects the rule of that particular thread: 1 lead-in picture, preferably linked to the project thread. Simple and effective.

I think there are far too many projects past/present here at BYOAC to expect a mod to maintain order in such a thread, but I suppose it can't hurt to ask...

[TopJimmyCooks]

Do the same, just make it user posted, and all the mod has to do is snip anyone who doesn't stick to the 1 pic 1 link rule. 

And . . . I always wonder when i see those rigs with the full halos on the driving rig seats - do they wear their helmets while playing?  cause, I mean, come on.  I'm all for safety and realism while sitting amongst my dorm furniture and orange crates.  Seriously. 

Thanks.  Later.

[drventure]

And . . . I always wonder when i see those rigs with the full halos on the driving rig seats - do they wear their helmets while playing?  cause, I mean, come on.  I'm all for safety and realism while sitting amongst my dorm furniture and orange crates.  Seriously. 

+1 It looks cool but, really, that kind of rig only truly would look right in a full on dedicated game room with at least a fullsize cab, a couple of pins, a keg, and a giant screen TV.

Still, wouldn't mind having one 

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

And . . . I always wonder when i see those rigs with the full halos on the driving rig seats - do they wear their helmets while playing?  cause, I mean, come on.  I'm all for safety and realism while sitting amongst my dorm furniture and orange crates.  Seriously. 

Not for nothing, but this coming from the guy with the rig with the automated, rotating monitor, and the modular control panel? To each their own... ?     

j/k

[drventure]

Not for nothing, but this coming from the guy with the rig with the automated, rotating monitor, and the modular control panel? To each their own... ?     

Yeah, but you NEED that stuff 

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

Yeah, but you NEED that stuff 

Yes indeed. 

I'm gonna stop hijacking the thread now...

[TopJimmyCooks]

Hey, if someone will let me know what safety gear was originally used while defending the galaxy from flying bugs, in 8-bit style, I'll equip my cab with it.  Maybe a suit of mech armor or flight suit or something? 

I'm just saying if they're going to all that trouble for realistic drive simulation including specialized safety gear like a freakin' full halo seat, the single biggest thing they could do to really up the realism is use a helmet and tight 5 point harness.  They are realistic and easily available. 

Further, for the three screen guys, they just need the wing monitors to be surplus 14" displays or so, just need to cover the mirrors.  Most racing situations the driver doesn't/can't look sideways.  Or they die.  Guess you need the big ones for the drifting, huh.   

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

Hey, if someone will let me know what safety gear was originally used while defending the galaxy from flying bugs, in 8-bit style, I'll equip my cab with it.  Maybe a suit of mech armor or flight suit or something? 

LOL. Love it!!   

I'm just saying if they're going to all that trouble for realistic drive simulation including specialized safety gear like a freakin' full halo seat, the single biggest thing they could do to really up the realism is use a helmet and tight 5 point harness.  They are realistic and easily available. 

Actually, some of the crazier guys on TWIP (and especially at http://www.x-simulator.de) have motion simulation built into their rigs (usually 2- or 3-DOF).  So yeah, helmets/harnesses really aren't a bad idea!

[GIZMOGAMES]

WTF have i jumped into switchcade lol i start reading about a tekken 5 cabinet and ideas and it jumps to twip and car simulated rigs lmfbo love the cabinet 100 dollar bargain the coindoor joys alone is that
or did i miss something lol

[drventure]

Motion's good, but I want something along this line....

http://www.frex.com/gp/canopy/canopy_en.html

[drventure]

WTF have i jumped into switchcade lol i start reading about a tekken 5 cabinet and ideas and it jumps to twip and car simulated rigs lmfbo love the cabinet 100 dollar bargain the coindoor joys alone is that
or did i miss something lol

 

Haven't you heard? Tangents are the new linearity.

[GIZMOGAMES]

oh right its a case of
relevant insanity   
that should equall it all out probs averted haha
and that simulator is saweet

[AaronH87]

Looks like I got hijacked.... Oh well...

Here