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Pacman style bartop cabinet build
fieldofcows:
Hi all,
I few weeks ago I was sitting at home wondering what to do with my evenings and looking for a project to build. I've got a homemade CNC router sitting in the garage and I felt guilty that I hadn't used it for a while so was looking for something I could make with it. I don't get a lot of time what with work and 3 kids so had to be something that wouldn't take too much time.
Enter the bartop project!
I must admit, I'm not much of a gamer but I do have fond memories of hours spent down the local arcades, mostly playing pool rather than video games but I did spend my fair share of my pocket money on some of the classics.
So I set about looking for a similar bartop to base mine on. I went through a few designs and thoughts and decided I wanted something that looked a bit arcade like but didn't look like a scaled down full size cabinet. I finally settled on a pacman style bartop based on one I found here: http://web.archive.org/web/20100406035835/http://www.emuchrist.org/cpviewer/pics_bartop.htm. I'm sorry but I can't seem to find the name of the person that made that cabinet and the original site seems to be long gone. There seems to be a related topic on this forum here: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=64250.0
I already have a number of parts that I can use in this build and want to adapt the design so I can minimise the amount of extra parts I need to buy. The parts I already have are:
* 6mm/12mm/18mm MDF
* Plexiglass (or something like it)
* Original XBox
* Microchip PIC microcontrollers
* Dell 19" LCD monitor
I just need to buy joystick, buttons, amplifier, speakers, Composite to VGA adapter and anything else I haven't thought of just yet.
I have three priorities for this build in descending order; The build project should be fun :D, My kids should enjoy playing it, It should do a reasonable job of allowing games to be played well. To support the second priority, I decided to make it a 2 player cabinet. I know it's far too small for this really and the CP is going to be far too cramped but I like the idea of playing the odd 2 player game against my son. I will make the CP swappable so if it really is unplayable then I can just swap it out for a less cramped single player version.
I've already made quite substantial progress on the build and I plan to use this thread to document the build process.
So here we go. Onto the first pictures.
This is the first cut of the project - cutting the sides out of 18mm MDF. I was quite surprised at how large the bartop looked when seeing in the flesh. Oh well...
Here it is with the monitor surround dry-fitted in place.
So, that's it for the first installment. I hope you find this interesting and please tell me what you think.
fieldofcows:
I wanted to see how cramped that CP really would be with control for 2 players so I ordered some cheap buttons and joysticks and made a CP to fit. Here it is in place on the build so far:
.
As you can see, the left joystick is far too close to the side. It was unusable so I remade the CP moving everything as far right as possible. The result is a CP that is cramped but definitely usable. I don't think it would be acceptable for the real gamers out there but for me it's fine. You can see the adjusted CP layout in some of the photos that will be coming later.
PL1:
Welcome aboard. Looks like you're off to a great start, Fieldofcows. :applaud:
Have you tried getting two people on the controls at the same time?
Looks like you'd be better off either widening the cab/panel or only putting one joystick/6 buttons.
Even if you go to single player controls, keep P2 Start for the titles that use alternating play instead of head-to-head play.
I assume that the black button between the start buttons is a coin button.
If you keep both player controls, consider adding another coin button for P2.
Gauntlet2p, Simpsons2p, etc. add credits to a player based on which "coin slot" is activated.
Scott
Termin8tor:
Will be following, keep up the good work. :applaud:
fieldofcows:
--- Quote from: PL1 on December 28, 2012, 06:57:34 pm ---Have you tried getting two people on the controls at the same time?
--- End quote ---
I've just got my 7 year old to sit next to me at the controls. It's tight but playable. I think I'm going to go with this but make a second 1-player only control panel. I've already put a pluggable connector on the XBOX interface board so I just have to remove the CP, unplug it then plug in the other version.
--- Quote from: PL1 on December 28, 2012, 06:57:34 pm ---Even if you go to single player controls, keep P2 Start for the titles that use alternating play instead of head-to-head play.
--- End quote ---
I don't plan on making the front panel removable so the 2-player button will stay regardless.
--- Quote from: PL1 on December 28, 2012, 06:57:34 pm ---I assume that the black button between the start buttons is a coin button.
If you keep both player controls, consider adding another coin button for P2.
--- End quote ---
I didn't realise there was a second coin operation for the second player. I will remake the front panel with 2 coin switch buttons. Thanks for that ;D
Roy
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