My first ever design for a cocktail cab

[mo1e]

Hello all, Here i am again with another project that will probably never get finished. ( i hope it does) Anyway i have decided to try making a cocktail cabinet using a dreamcast running mame.

Let me know what you think of the design. and any flaws before i decide to build this thing. Im not a big fan of the top of the table been cut into to show the control panel as i know this will be a nightmare to fit the glass/plastic top, But im struggling to find a way that will enable comfortable play.

I know it looks like a regular table. but my woodwork skills are limited

ps im an absolute amateur with sketchup.

[DaOld Man]

Looks good.
But most cocktails have controls on each end, for two player gamers. (Vertical screen, screens flips for each player.)
I have never seen a "real" cocktail with controls on the side, but it is a good idea for horizontal games. (And just because I haven't seen it doesn't mean it don't exists.)

[mo1e]

well i was going to design a single player cocktail cab but holy samosas. just realised after all that time ive only gone and added the controls to the wrong side. 

that will be corrected.

I was going to make the cab a two player cocktail but most of the games i play wont work on a cocktail cab with the players facing eachother. so heres the idea i had. How about 2 players sit opposite eachother and inside the cabinet there is 2 screens running the same game? will this take up too much space.

[Louis Tully]

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[mo1e]

You can toggle a cocktail mode in mame that splits the screen. Check the video settings in the TAB menu. Allows for just about any game to work for cocktail cabs.


-edit

Just saw that you're running on a dreamcast.  Sorry for skimming text. I'm an idiot.

No worries and yes the dreamcast mame doesnt allow for toggle.  i dont think. although i may look into this. Shame i dont have a dedicated pc for my build.

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

I think you might to run into ergonomics issues with the controls recessed inside the table like that. It's going to be difficult for some people to comfortably fit hands into that space, especially with that coin slot(?) on the right. I'd suggest opening up the recessed portion with wider angles to either side of the controls, and moving that coin slot.

Also, a sketchup tip; you can import already-modeled arcade controls, monitors, and probably even coin slots, from the 3D Warehouse. there are quite a few options out there, and that'll help give you a better sense of scale than trying to model the controls yourself. There's even a couple of Dreamcast models out there, now that I look at it...

[mo1e]

I think you might to run into ergonomics issues with the controls recessed inside the table like that. It's going to be difficult for some people to comfortably fit hands into that space, especially with that coin slot(?) on the right. I'd suggest opening up the recessed portion with wider angles to either side of the controls, and moving that coin slot.

Also, a sketchup tip; you can import already-modeled arcade controls, monitors, and probably even coin slots, from the 3D Warehouse. there are quite a few options out there, and that'll help give you a better sense of scale than trying to model the controls yourself. There's even a couple of Dreamcast models out there, now that I look at it...

Awesome, I didnt know that. looks like its back to the old drawing board.

[mo1e]

After looking at some cocktail cabinets, i went back and did a total overhaul. man i wish i had the woodwork skills to pull this off

[Louis Tully]

.

[DaOld Man]

^^Agreed.
You can do it Mo1e!
Go for it.
The hardest part I can see will be the angles on the sides, but that wont be bad, just think it out first.

[PL1]

Pretty wild looking design.

What if the four corners of the top "H" ramped down to the level of the CP leaving a rectangle around the monitor?


Scott

[Termin8tor]

If you have decided on a 2 player you will have to turn the monitor to a vertical view.

[mo1e]

If you have decided on a 2 player you will have to turn the monitor to a vertical view.

Im not sure on howmany players yet. this design is just for if i go for 2 players. im going to run mame on the dreamcast now to check if it has a vertical toggle mode. if it does then i will opt for this design.

EDIT. just tried dreamcast mame and you cant toggle to a vertical screen. the only other option is to add 2 screens to the cab. would make it easier to play games like dead or alive against a second player. but that will make it a build that is way beyond my skill level

[mo1e]

A few colour choices.







I just wish they sold paint that vibrant.

[sabreerbasAlpha]

I tell you what. That design is cool. And it would be pretty easy to incorporate two screens that raised and lowered on a motor up and then back down into the cab. Now that would be extremely cool. Go on build it. 

[DaOld Man]

I like the idea of the two monitors.
It would be neat if you could have one monitor with a view like that for two players (each player actually looking at one monitor. Monitor laying flat but the two views raised above the monitor, showing a view to each player, maybe like a prism?) Not sure how this could be done though. Monitor view may be upside down for one player.
But two separate monitors would be cool for Doom-like games. (Death Match mode).

[Termin8tor]

Got to say, I'm loving the new design.