New house and dedicated Arcade/Bar/Theater on the way

[TKW4rr10r]

I'm very curious to see how you start with the details in this room. Starting to plan my own, but feel a little silly about it since we don't even have our house lined up yet     Can't start planning or getting ideas too soon, IMO   What are you using in those last pics to design your floorplan? Are the models for the cabinets easy to find online?

I'm sure there will be some awesome little touches in the design we will have to copy get inspired by. Picked this up recently for my future room


There's a Mario one I saw on ebay, but out of my price range:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261238562354?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Would be cool to have that set in a door entering the arcade.

[mcseforsale]

It's the accent.  That's how he got the hot chick.  It's the accent.  Without the accent, nothing.

I bet you were born in Bakersfield. 

AJ

[dfmaverick]

I should have stopped by a garage sale listed on craigslist last week to see how much they wanted for the Nintendo sign. Would probably better fit Maximus' garage/workshop than his gameroom though.

[Maximus]

oh man that sign is sweet

[Maximus]

Well good news, we've agreed that the garage conversion is going to take place pretty quickly so I've been tweaking the designs more.

Decided to drop the skeeball as it's too big for the space, forcing my hand layout wise too much and not really in line with my primary focus of my hobby. Also the likelihood of me owning more than my one Alchemy pin isn't very high, so I adjusted for more regular dedicated cabs.



This layout allows for 15 uprights, 1 cockpit, 1 driver and 1 pin. I've been careful to address enough space so that every machine should be able to be played without anyone getting blocked in. I doubt I'll have any more than 10 people in the room on any kind of regular basis so I think the trade off between space and amount of machines is reasonable

The bar has comfortable seating for 6, room for two under counter fridges and space for up to 4 5-gallon kegs and taps along with a small sink and plenty of storage for glasses. Directly above the cockpits is an 80" projection screen. I may even put overhead storage around the bar to really create a centerpiece in the room.



Of course there's lots of room for change, but I think by basically leaving all the walls free then it leaves the most flexibility for me to see what works as my collection grows and changes over time.

[CoryBee]

Fuk monkeys I miss something awesome didn't I?.....

[Maximus]

Fuk monkeys I miss something awesome didn't I?.....

Welcome to the party, nothing has actually happened yet, well apart from buying the house itself.

[UFO]

Looking really sweet Maximus ...

Just shown it to my wife and asked why I can't have one - she didn't respond other than a look. Not happening for me yet 

What is the size of the room?

[Maximus]

What is the size of the room?

It's a standard 2-car garage so it's 21' wide and 20' deep

[gamepimp]

What program did u use to make the rendering of this space? I would love to do that for the basement we're going to finish in our new house...

[CoryBee]

Fuk monkeys I miss something awesome didn't I?.....

Welcome to the party, nothing has actually happened yet, well apart from buying the house itself.

Oh snap, I missed two pages of updates on this thread. Watched a bit from the beginning.....But what I meant by miss something awesome was this post.....

[img]http://www.kinemote.net/arcade/wifey.jpg

Which seemed to put the guys in a fury 

[Maximus]

Oh lol yeah sorry buddy too late

[CoryBee]

 

Good job on the renders by the way.

It looks a bit crowded in my opinion. A lot of games crammed into that space.

[Maximus]

Lets just call it a beautifully compact arcade and bar that anyone can do

[Maximus]

Met with the builders today and got some good news and potentially bad news.

Good news is they can convert my garage the way I want it within my proposed budget, the guy even told me I was a little high on my estimated costs so that's refreshing (we shall see though).

Bad news is that the extension we are thinking of doing is going to cost a fortune due to structural engineering concerns. So for now that idea is up in the air and may never come to light. So that means potentially no dedicated home theater space.

With that in mind I have had to go back to the drawing board and make some compromises as the wife and I really love sitting down for a big screen movie and want to do it in an isolated area where we wont disturb the kiddo after she is in bed.



This design allows for up to 11 uprights, 1 driver, 1 cockpit and 1 pin. Comfy recliner couch seating for three (basically us and the sprog) and a further 4 seated in a social arrangement at the bar. Two fridges, one for bottles one for 5-gallon kegs, two taps at the back of the bar (not shown). Walkways are 30" wide on all sides. Overhead storage for cups and glasses etc. Also projector is ceiling mounted, amps and other gadgets stored in the rear of the overhead cupboards. 120" projection screen with viewing head height just below center 120" from the screen, personally I like 1:1 viewing distance.

[sharpfork]

I like where the last iteration is going.

We are going to be refinishing part of our basement so I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread.  Something I've been considering that I imagine Maximus could easily build is a space saving convertible virtual pin.  Basically make a big virtual pin with a really nice large LCD and have it tilt up 90 deg when you want to watch movies or the game.  It isn't likely going to achieve the feel of a home theater but it could be cool.  I have other multipurpose ideas if this kind of thing is interesting to you.

[Rick]

Something I've been considering that I imagine Maximus could easily build is a space saving convertible virtual pin.

Every time I look at the renders I think about how I can fit my one Mame cabinet, my future virtual pinball machine and a case of beer in a beer fridge, and say to myself, "Yup, just like Maximus' place!"

[UFO]

I would still be more than happy with that buddy...

[HanoiBoi]

Something I've been considering that I imagine Maximus could easily build is a space saving convertible virtual pin.

Every time I look at the renders I think about how I can fit my one Mame cabinet, my future virtual pinball machine and a case of beer in a beer fridge, and say to myself, "Yup, just like Maximus' place!"

It can be easily done...but Maximus is building more of an arcade/showroom.

[mcseforsale]

The only thing I'd offer is to re-think the hardwoods throughout...especially if it's a concrete subfloor.  It'll echo in there like the inside of my thoughts.

What?

Carefully placed rugs could solve that, along with a (yuk!) popcorn ceiling.  Then, you could have both.

AJ

Met with the builders today and got some good news and potentially bad news.

Good news is they can convert my garage the way I want it within my proposed budget, the guy even told me I was a little high on my estimated costs so that's refreshing (we shall see though).

Bad news is that the extension we are thinking of doing is going to cost a fortune due to structural engineering concerns. So for now that idea is up in the air and may never come to light. So that means potentially no dedicated home theater space.

With that in mind I have had to go back to the drawing board and make some compromises as the wife and I really love sitting down for a big screen movie and want to do it in an isolated area where we wont disturb the kiddo after she is in bed.



This design allows for up to 11 uprights, 1 driver, 1 cockpit and 1 pin. Comfy recliner couch seating for three (basically us and the sprog) and a further 4 seated in a social arrangement at the bar. Two fridges, one for bottles one for 5-gallon kegs, two taps at the back of the bar (not shown). Walkways are 30" wide on all sides. Overhead storage for cups and glasses etc. Also projector is ceiling mounted, amps and other gadgets stored in the rear of the overhead cupboards. 120" projection screen with viewing head height just below center 120" from the screen, personally I like 1:1 viewing distance.

[Maximus]

Yep for sure I'm definitely going with carpet, just didn't see one i like in the architectural software so stuck with wood for the renderings. I'll probably go for something a bit 'hotel or casinoey'

[yotsuya]

[Maximus]

^^^^^^^ this, because class is shiny n sheet

[CoryBee]

That aint cool bro. No one can see you playing with them walls up

[Rick]

I'll probably go for something a bit 'hotel or casinoey'...

This. Simply, this.

[yotsuya]

I've been in that gameroom, Rick. It is a nice throwback place.

[Rick]

I've been in that gameroom, Rick. It is a nice throwback place.

Colour me jealous. One of these days, I want to drive the 8 1/2 hours to Funspot and just soak in the ambiance. That or break into John's Arcade's basement. Either or.

[Maximus]

I'm not fading all my artwork by blasting it with UV from a Blacklight, fook that.

[Rick]

I'm not fading all my artwork by blasting it with UV from a Blacklight, fook that.

Heathen!

[Maximus]

Lol....hey I'm not fat!!


Here's an idea of the general feel of the place I'd like to achieve, a balance between luxury and fun

[TKW4rr10r]

Not to de-rail, but is there a way to get UV black-light to work in a room and -not- "blast the artwork"?

[shponglefan]

Met with the builders today and got some good news and potentially bad news.

Good news is they can convert my garage the way I want it within my proposed budget, the guy even told me I was a little high on my estimated costs so that's refreshing (we shall see though).

Bad news is that the extension we are thinking of doing is going to cost a fortune due to structural engineering concerns. So for now that idea is up in the air and may never come to light. So that means potentially no dedicated home theater space.

With that in mind I have had to go back to the drawing board and make some compromises as the wife and I really love sitting down for a big screen movie and want to do it in an isolated area where we wont disturb the kiddo after she is in bed.



This design allows for up to 11 uprights, 1 driver, 1 cockpit and 1 pin. Comfy recliner couch seating for three (basically us and the sprog) and a further 4 seated in a social arrangement at the bar. Two fridges, one for bottles one for 5-gallon kegs, two taps at the back of the bar (not shown). Walkways are 30" wide on all sides. Overhead storage for cups and glasses etc. Also projector is ceiling mounted, amps and other gadgets stored in the rear of the overhead cupboards. 120" projection screen with viewing head height just below center 120" from the screen, personally I like 1:1 viewing distance.

That's really too bad about the extension.  One thing I've learned from home building and reno is that stuff always costs more than you think it will. 

But since you're going back to a hybrid arcade/theater, I'm going to once again give my honest 2 cents.  Personally, I would either a) dedicate half the space to a theater, period; no arcade machines intruding in that space and that way you can properly set it up as a theater.  Or b) ditch the projector in favor a bigscreen TV and set up more of a social-type area, as opposed to a theater w/ a projector.  Again, this is coming from someone who is a home theater enthusiast, so take my opinion with a grain of salt if need be.

[CoryBee]

Haha, took me a second to see that there wasn't a giant man behind a bar in that picture.

[Maximus]

Haha, took me a second to see that there wasn't a giant man behind a bar in that picture.

It's not?? ---fudgesicle---!!! I WANT a giant man behind the bar...and a talking rat chef

[Rick]

---fudgesicle---!!! I WANT a giant man behind the bar...

Saved for posterity.

[mcseforsale]

Take yer pick...they have hotel-ish stuff, too.

http://www.astrocarpetmills.com/Family_Fun_Center_Carpet.htm
AJ

[TopJimmyCooks]

Not to de-rail, but is there a way to get UV black-light to work in a room and -not- "blast the artwork"?

If you print new artwork, use UV stable ink and media.  If not, use the blacklight very sparingly, I.e. only turn it on during Maximus "sexy time".

[Maximus]

Some more tweaking, I like how this layout is shaping up, added a few bits and pieces.

[CoryBee]

What is up with the pre chewed gumballs in front of the couch?

[HanoiBoi]

The bar area looks kind of forced, like it doesn't belong there.  The chair placement seems uncomfortable to also be able to view the screen and the taps are just floating in the middle of nowhere and inconvenient if someone is on a machine in front of them.

Maybe consider just a long, narrow standalone bar/shelf, about 6 ft wide and 2 ft deep, behind the couch with 4 stools and move the beer to the back or to a corner.  (Did you consider a kegerator with 2 or 3 sixtel to save space?)

Also, make sure you plan enough distance for projector to screen.  I can't make out measurements in the renders, but it appears a bit cramped.