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Author Topic: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade. [COMPLETED]  (Read 28167 times)

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Wade007

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade.
« Reply #40 on: March 19, 2013, 06:59:21 pm »
I'm on the final stretch to finishing my project.
Last night I finished the bezel, place the the monitor plexiglass and hooked up the coin mechanism.
Next up...side art, light gun hookup/holster & final testing.

To celebrate this momentous event, I thought it might be fun to have a sort of "open house" and invite a few friends over to see the completed project I've been working on for over a year, play a few games, soak up the compliments, and instill some jealousy (maybe).

I had a few ad concepts in mind for a sort of postcard ad to hand and/or email to friends.

See attached for a couple of the headline ideas. There are several others. Please click on the link below to see the full line up.

Vote for your favorite one!!!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=131183.new;topicseen#new
My Super Arcade cabinet project:
Software blog article: http://bit.ly/1cWnoIC

Hardware blog article: http://bit.ly/1dWxjvP

YouTube video: http://bit.ly/1N818Xm

Super Arcade Cabinet Progress thread (Now Complete):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,123292.0.html

Frontend Video Intro: http://bit.ly/1P9HPDN

Le Chuck

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade.
« Reply #41 on: March 19, 2013, 10:07:25 pm »
Concept 8:  Recommend only listing games your machine will play well in case you get some --cream-filled twinkie-- playing stump the chump.  Paperboy probably needs to get nixed for example.

I really like that idea tho, I think it will really go over  :applaud: 

yotsuya

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade.
« Reply #42 on: March 20, 2013, 01:15:21 am »
Concept 8:  Recommend only listing games your machine will play well in case you get some --cream-filled twinkie-- playing stump the chump.  Paperboy probably needs to get nixed for example.

I really like that idea tho, I think it will really go over  :applaud:

I was thinking the same thing:

"Cool, bro, you got Hydra? I love that game?"
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***

Malenko

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade.
« Reply #43 on: March 20, 2013, 08:12:23 am »
I like 8 as well. Your cab looks fantastic, little late to feedback, but have you considered colored t molding to break up the black a little? Dont get me wrong the black on black looks sleek, I'm just curious. The build looks fantastic so far, very good quality!
If you're replying to a troll you are part of the problem.
I also need to follow this advice. Ignore or report, don't reply.

dandro

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade.
« Reply #44 on: March 20, 2013, 10:07:19 am »
I love the clean lines on this cab! very well done!  :applaud: and I also say #8

Wade007

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade.
« Reply #45 on: March 20, 2013, 10:09:09 am »
Thanks guys for the comments.

The rest of the 9 ad concepts are attached here or can be seen at the link below:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=131183.new;topicseen#new
« Last Edit: March 20, 2013, 10:42:35 am by Wade007 »
My Super Arcade cabinet project:
Software blog article: http://bit.ly/1cWnoIC

Hardware blog article: http://bit.ly/1dWxjvP

YouTube video: http://bit.ly/1N818Xm

Super Arcade Cabinet Progress thread (Now Complete):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,123292.0.html

Frontend Video Intro: http://bit.ly/1P9HPDN

Wade007

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade.
« Reply #46 on: March 22, 2013, 03:06:29 pm »
Update to the project. I'm 95% done.

Finished the final black bezel placement and installed the smoked plexiglass. Installed the side art on the left and right side. Installed external switch using a remote and a "smart strip". Everything is plugged in (except lightguns) and working. Coin mechanism works perfectly.

My kids are LOVING it!!! They can't get enough. Even though they were able to play before when MAME, etc was on my computer, the cabinet makes it sooooo much more accessible. Two players can now easily play. Fun times!! It's been fun introducing them to the old classics.

I just have one more key item to get installed: the light gun holsters and final light gun setup.

After looking around some more, I finally found what I believe will be the best solution....at both Walmart and in the gun section of Scheels (Sporting Goods store) I found several ambidextriuos canvas hip hosters for pistols. I believe I found one that will work well on my cabinet. Simple black canvas. Soft. Roomy enough for a light gun. Should be easy to attach to a wood cabinet.

Planning on the "open house" in a week or two. I'm excited!
My Super Arcade cabinet project:
Software blog article: http://bit.ly/1cWnoIC

Hardware blog article: http://bit.ly/1dWxjvP

YouTube video: http://bit.ly/1N818Xm

Super Arcade Cabinet Progress thread (Now Complete):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,123292.0.html

Frontend Video Intro: http://bit.ly/1P9HPDN

Wade007

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade.
« Reply #47 on: March 22, 2013, 06:02:52 pm »
OK, I think I found the final lightgun holster solution to be side mounted on my cabinet. I bought two large canvas holsters by Blackhawk! in the Scheels gun department. After testing my lightgun in several models I realized that the best form factor for my gun was the one made for larger Autos with Laser sights. These make for a more roomy fit for the larger barrel of the lightgun. End choice: Blackhawk! Laser Hip Holster

The holster seems like it can be made to be ambidextrous. I may even try using wide velcro as to mount them. I'll let you all know how it goes.
My Super Arcade cabinet project:
Software blog article: http://bit.ly/1cWnoIC

Hardware blog article: http://bit.ly/1dWxjvP

YouTube video: http://bit.ly/1N818Xm

Super Arcade Cabinet Progress thread (Now Complete):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,123292.0.html

Frontend Video Intro: http://bit.ly/1P9HPDN

Wade007

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade. [COMPLETED]
« Reply #48 on: March 24, 2013, 11:41:50 am »
PROJECT COMPLETED!! :w00t :w00t :w00t

After 13+ months of hard work with both the software and hardware, "Super Arcade" is now officially done!! :applaud: :applaud: :applaud: :w00t

Yesterday, I completed the final finishing touches and tightened the whole thing up. Feels good to be done. I have an "open house" planned in about a week. It will be fun showing it off and playing with friends.

Final day of construction: I partly disassembled the BlackHawk canvas gun holsters to clean them up and more fully expose their velcro side strips for installation. Using large velcro strips I attached each holster to the side of the cabinet (no screw holes needed) and then installed my Arcade Guns. The wires for the Arcade Guns come out through a small slit at the top of front cabinet door and just below the keyboard drawer. Everything works great. I then tighten up the last little bit of wiring and attached the back panels. Done!

Officially, Super Arcade emulates all the best/working games of the following emulators using Mala (modified Retro GUI skin) as a frontend:
MAME
Daphne
Sega M2
Demul
Supermodel 3
Future Pinball
Visual Pinball
+ a few direct to PC Arcade ports

Attached are my final photos showing the completed project. Huge thanks to this forum/site for inspiration and help. It's been great to have the support from other arcade fanatics like myself.  ;)
« Last Edit: March 24, 2013, 11:46:51 am by Wade007 »
My Super Arcade cabinet project:
Software blog article: http://bit.ly/1cWnoIC

Hardware blog article: http://bit.ly/1dWxjvP

YouTube video: http://bit.ly/1N818Xm

Super Arcade Cabinet Progress thread (Now Complete):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,123292.0.html

Frontend Video Intro: http://bit.ly/1P9HPDN

Falk3r

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade. [COMPLETED]
« Reply #49 on: March 24, 2013, 11:52:10 am »
Looks great, can I get on that party invite list?  ;)

13 months, whew. I tentatively am hoping for 2~3 months (currently 2 days in). What were the biggest hangups that drew the build out so long?

Wade007

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade. [COMPLETED]
« Reply #50 on: March 24, 2013, 12:24:19 pm »
Falk3r,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, you're invited to the open house party! Come on over.

To answer your question it took 6 months for software collection, refinement, setup and tweaking and another 7 months to complete the hardware portion. I was also slowed up in the middle of the hardware portion because I had foot surgery (lost about 2 1/2 months which I included in the total time calculation). Taking out the surgery recovery time I suppose the hardware portion only took about 4 1/2 months.

Toughest parts? Hard to say. Figuring out details with about everything I suppose. I'm a perfectionist and not an experienced woodworker. That makes for a slow project cycle. Tough items were the bezel, front plexiglass configuration, finding a proper lightgun holster, finalizing my cabinet side template...it goes on and on.

Besides this forum (huge help) I used the following sites for most of my guidance and information:
http://www.arcadecab.com
http://www.arcadecab.com/Projects/Cab_Mods_for_X-arcade%60s_TankStick.html
http://sachi.sytes.net/techblog/
http://www.hanselman.com/blog/BuildingYourOwnArcadeCabinetForGeeksPart1TheCabinet.aspx

Like most projects it always takes longer than you thought right? Lots of smaller details that I didn't realize on the onset that I would have to deal with. The impetus for the whole project was A) I'm an arcade fanatic, B) I had a older, larger CRT monitor that I didn't have use for otherwise that made MAME game look about as good as an arcade monitor and C) I'd been using this huge X-Arcade Dual Tankstick to play games and it was getting unwieldy . I had to do something with it. I wanted to combine all these things into a cohesive whole.

Truly, it has been a journey to get to the point I'm at. At times frustrating, but mostly fun. My wife will tell you that I've been obsessed.

Well worth it. I wish you the best.
« Last Edit: March 26, 2013, 04:57:51 pm by Wade007 »
My Super Arcade cabinet project:
Software blog article: http://bit.ly/1cWnoIC

Hardware blog article: http://bit.ly/1dWxjvP

YouTube video: http://bit.ly/1N818Xm

Super Arcade Cabinet Progress thread (Now Complete):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,123292.0.html

Frontend Video Intro: http://bit.ly/1P9HPDN

misterbeeez

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade. [COMPLETED]
« Reply #51 on: March 25, 2013, 01:13:52 pm »
Hi! 

I like it! Mine will look pretty much like yours. It's almost the same design for the cabinet!

Nice job! It must be satisfying when it's done...!

Ben

Wade007

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade. [COMPLETED]
« Reply #52 on: May 19, 2013, 12:48:22 pm »
I just wanted post here once again after having finished my project to let you all know that I finally got around to publishing my "Part TWO" blog article on arcade cabinet building (Hardware & Construction) complete with a YouTube video on my blogsite (Cheapskategamer.com):
http://www.cheapskategamer.com/pc_game_stories_and_news/building-an-arcade-emulation-cabinetpart-two-hardware-contruction/

I tried to cover the most important parts of constructing a cabinet using an X-Arcade Tankstick as the controller with photos (most of which are on this forum thread).
Hopefully this will be of some use to someone else out there starting their journey toward home arcade nirvana. Please post comments or questions as they come up.

If you'd like to check out the embedded YouTube video alone see the following link:


The YouTube video shows me walking you through the basic setup of the hardware and frontend (Mala), demonstration of a few key games within each of the emulators on my system and then finishing off with a lively slideshow of photos chronicling the build phase of Super Arcade. Hope you enjoy it!

Part ONE that covers the software portion of Super Arcade is found here:
http://www.cheapskategamer.com/pc_game_stories_and_news/building-an-arcade-emulation-cabinetpart-one-software/

Thanks!
Wade
« Last Edit: May 20, 2013, 10:26:47 am by Wade007 »
My Super Arcade cabinet project:
Software blog article: http://bit.ly/1cWnoIC

Hardware blog article: http://bit.ly/1dWxjvP

YouTube video: http://bit.ly/1N818Xm

Super Arcade Cabinet Progress thread (Now Complete):
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,123292.0.html

Frontend Video Intro: http://bit.ly/1P9HPDN

mike boss

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Re: Arcade Emulation Cabinet project: Super Arcade. [COMPLETED]
« Reply #53 on: May 19, 2013, 08:06:58 pm »
Great read, great project, and great blog !
I find in this hobby your never really done !
Always thirsting for more and more !
If I had it my way I'd have every emulator with every FULL ROM set working via MaLa and an iPac ! Lol

None the less awesome stuff ! Keep up the good work !