The 2013 BYOAC User Choice Awards needs your nominations!

[UCA]

Welcome to the 3rd Annual BYOAC User Choice Awards Nomination Thread!

Following the wonderful response to last year's UCAs we are back to recognize the most innovative, well executed, original, and fun builds completed in 2013 across a broad range of categories.  Feel free to nominate more than one project and don't feel obligated to nominate something for every category.  Your participation is paramount to having another great event so let us know what knocked your socks off.   

To increase longevity and ensure that the BYOAC UCA process remains above reproach a board has been selected to handle administrative matters.  This year's board is again chaired by Yotsuya, DaOld Man, BobA, DrVenture, and Le Chuck who will use the UCA account to open UCA threads and post any administrative actions.  UCA is a non voting entity.   

The Rules:

• No user can win the same category two years running.  Ms. America rules apply, you have to pass the tiara.  That doesn't mean users can't nominate a project deserving of praise, they just shouldn't get bent out of shape when it doesn't make the final voting thread.
• To be eligible a project must have been completed between 01 JAN 2013 and before 31 DEC 2013.  If you're a horrible procrastinator when it comes to posting a finished project we understand.  If you're a horrible procrastinator when it comes to actually finishing then there's always next year!
• Users are NOT allowed to nominate or second their OWN projects. Nominations should come from the community at large.
• Categories must have at least 3 valid seconded entries to remain categories.  Those that don't will be awarded honorable mentions at the end of the nomination window.
• Categories with 6 or more entries may be split up into sub categories providing that the breakdown allows two complete new categories. For example: fullsize builds could be broken down into Uprights and Other or Uprights and Cocktails depending on what has been nominated.  This is not mandatory and will be based on the consensus of the board.
• Any board member recommended and seconded for a category will recuse himself of having anything to do with that category.
• Rule #7...THERE IS NO RULE #7!
• Decisions on whether or not something is a valid entry (fuzzy dates, versions, completeness) will be made by the consensus of the board and once published are not subject to a flame war.
• Voting will be conducted in the same automated manner as last year, board members can vote, and their role is purely administrative.

To nominate please reply with this format:

Category: Name of Build or Project: Link
<optional description of why nominated for that category>

Any project nominated twice (by different users ) will make it to the voting threads which will open NLT 01 FEB 2014.  That thread will close on 01 MARCH 2014 so make sure and scrub through this last year's builds then put up the links that you think progressed the hobby, just make sure whatever you're nominating was "complete" after 01 JAN 2013 and before 31 DEC 2013. 

Here's a list of this year's categories and a brief definition:

Fullsize cabs - Uprights, cockpits, V-Pins, Racers, and showcase cabs that demonstrate outstanding theme, style, balance, and execution.

Small cabs and non standards - Bartops, Cocktails, Minis, Micros, and cabs more easily defined by what they aren't, cab in furniture, cab disguised as something else that demonstrate outstanding theme, style, balance, and execution. 

Hardware - custom built or modified controls, lighting, products, or other physical cab elements that are new or improved this past year and advanced the hobby. 

Software - this can be a piece of code or specialty tool user written or created this past year that created or improved emulation capability or generally increased software flexibility to include software hacks.

Forum Member Contribution - a member who goes above and beyond to provide users with new information, serve up helpful links, and otherwise brighten our day.

Thanks for taking the time to nominate your favorite(s) and help us document the best projects of 2013!

The UCA Board


Confirmed Nominations by Category
These have the requisite two nominations to make the vote-off in February   

Fullsize Cab: TKW4rr10r's Maria's Ms. Pac, edekoning's Magneto, Sjaak's Fix-It Felix, Gamester's Pinball Unleashed, Maximus's Paperboy

Small Cabs and Non-Standards: Louis Tully's Micro Galaga DS, RockyRocket's Gran Trak 2010, rablack97's The Shrine, Maximus's 1943 Tiny Pilot, GriffinDodd's Barrel of Kong, Nephasth's The Troubleshooter

Bartops: NinjaSquirrel's Black Ops, Superfrog's Popeye CRT Nintendo Bartop, Florinske's evo XR cade, quizz_kid's R-Kaid-Revelation, Termin8tor's Arkanoid Bartop

Hardware: HaRuMaN's Bartops and Customs, The KADE Project, Rablack97's TBall PS2/USB Encoders

Software: Howard_Casto's Fix-It Felix Wrapper, ids' MAWLER

Forum Member Contribution: PL1, Ond, Felsir

Nominated Projects that need confirmation
These have the high honor of being nominated by one of our users as the best of 2013 but have not yet received a seconding vote.  Please give these some consideration, somebody thought they were good enough to nominate and perhaps you might agree and get them into the vote off.

Fullsize Cab:  jongunz's StarFighter, Ei8ht's Arcade, Erik's Mario Bros

Small Cab and Non-Standards: mamemia's Donkey Kong mini, Minwah's Vertical Mini-Cabaret, Knievel's Packer Cocktail,  Deathdealer's Touchscreen Juke, Mungo9000's Mini Mortal Kombat - 20th Anniversary, Minwah's Vectrex Mini-Cocktail, Maximus's Little Ms. Pacman, Rudy200's Commercial Jukebox

Hardware: RandyT's Pac-Pro Leaf-Switch Joystick, Aganyte's Gun2Naomi

Software:

Forum Member Contribution: Maximus/Griffindodd

[yotsuya]

I'll do more, but before I forget:

Small cabs and non standards -

rablack97's The Shrine.
You guys know me, I ---smurfing--- HATE the Dallas Cowboys, but the craftsmanship on it is outstanding. Lines are sharp and crisp, artwork blends well, and this cabinet is one that I know made his client very happy.  I predict this cab will be neck and neck for the lead, only to lose at the last minute when Tony Romo goes to cast his vote and instead votes for the wrong cabinet. 

Nephasth's The Troubleshooter - Portable JAMMA Supergun
A very clean example of DIY craftsmanship. Everything about it shows the value of rolling your own.

NinjaSquirrel's Black Ops bartop
It just barely missed qualifying for the '12 Awards, but's it's done and ready and certainly worthy of a nomination in 2013. An excellent project that shows how you can think outside the box.

[yotsuya]

Software - Howard_Casto's Fix-It Felix Wrapper
An excellent bit of tinkering that made the original game actually playable on a MAME cab.

[Unstupid]

I nom...Griffindodd's Barrel of Kong in the Non-Standard: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,131202.0.html

[yotsuya]

Hardware - RandyT/GroovyGameGear.com's Pac-Pro Leaf-Switch stick
Having bought and played with this, and having used other options out there, I can say with certainty that this is one of my favorite innovations in recent times.

[yotsuya]

Forum Member Contribution - PL1
Even though he wrongly accused me of being PL2  , Scott is a very helpful guy. I actually think he's a robot or works at a call center, myself. 

[yotsuya]

Full-Size Cab - TKW4rr10r's "Maria's Ms. Pac"
The best restore/mod I saw last year. The repainted colors pop, the LEDs are not overwhelming, and the custom artwork on the normally blank frontplate was a nice personalized touch. I said this back then, and it still holds true:

Very beautiful, very tasteful restoration. I like how you added personal touches without going over the top. 

[Nephasth]

I'd like to nominate Ninjasquirrel's Black Ops Bartop for Small Cab. Best bartop I've seen. Ever.

[yotsuya]

I'd like to nominate Ninjasquirrel's Black Ops Bartop for Small Cab. Best bartop I've seen. Ever.

I just modified my initial post to nominate this, and see that you just nominated it, so consider this project as "Seconded" already and eligible for the voting thread. 

[Unstupid]

You did see my nom right?  Or should that go in the full size category?

[yotsuya]

You did see my nom right?  Or should that go in the full size category?

No, it's definitely a Small or Other. However, it only has one vote. I'm sure it will get seconded, but until then, it only has one vote. 

[Unstupid]

Ok, I just didn't see it in the "Nominated Projects that need confirmation" list... I must not have been looking good!

Edit... Also,  Wasn't the Black Ops cab finished on Dec 26, 2012?

[PL1]

I actually think he's a robot or works at a call center, myself. 

  You're probably thinking about "Samantha West", the lying telemarketing robot that insists to the caller that she is human.   

Omaha is a big telemarketing town -- many friends have worked in that industry, but not me.

Fodor's Fun Fact: One of the best known telemarketers in Omaha is West Telemarketing . . . . Hmm. . . 

Thanks for the nomination, PL2.         


Scott

[ChanceKJ]

Forum Member Contribution - PL1
Even though he wrongly accused me of being PL2  , Scott is a very helpful guy. I actually think he's a robot or works at a call center, myself. 

The voices in my head tell me to second this.

[ChanceKJ]

Edit... Also,  Wasn't the Black Ops cab finished on Dec 26, 2012?

I was looking at that too, but there is a post dated Jan 5/2013 where it's claimed to be still in progress. Even after the post on the 26th.  As I've said before, I'm not a lawyer (or a doctor) but just going by the pictures and the progress after the fact I'd say it makes the cut for 2013. Barely.

[yotsuya]

RE: Black Ops, this was discussed last time around. He said on 1/1 he wasn't completely finished. Rules is rules. He's eligible now.

This post clarifies things:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,101426.msg1324322.html#msg1324322

That's why there were TWO reminder posts made prior to the midnight Dec 31 cut-off for the '13 Awards.

[PL2]

Forum Member Contribution - PL1
Even though he wrongly accused me of being PL2  , Scott is a very helpful guy. I actually think he's a robot or works at a call center, myself. 

The voices in my head tell me to second this.

Can we un-nominate?

[ChanceKJ]

Actually Scott, I was doing some thinking on this and I don't think our nominations for you even count. Haven't you won this award before? 

...so I guess we need to find the second most helpful person then 

[yotsuya]

Ahem...

4.Categories must have at least 3 valid seconded entries to remain categories.  Those that don't will be awarded honorable mentions at the end of the nomination window.

Last year there were only two valid seconded entries in this category, so this one wasn't awarded last year. Scott was an honorable mention.

Quit posting thoughts and nominate stuff, man! 

[stripe4]

This non standard one will be tough to beat - I tip my hat to quizz_kid and his K-Raid-Revelation:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,132881.msg1405788.html#msg1405788

[ChanceKJ]

...Quit posting thoughts and nominate stuff, man! 

Well fine then, maybe I just will...



Fullsize cabs Magneto by edekoning
A very well built and refined cab. Nothing overall incredibly fancy and earth shatteringly crazy with the design, but that's the point. This cab is a culmination of a ton of the BYOAC "best practices". From the use of the vinyl wrap, to the tinted glass, the power plug, a CP that doesn't over do it, colour/theme, this checks all the boxes for me and it's what you'd expect to see when your buddy says: "I built an arcade! you should come see it". It's a modern realization that pays homage to the classic standards. All this and it gets away with mirrored artwork on one side!


Bartop R-Kaid-Revelation By quizz_kid
This one goes without saying. Just every part of this build was next level and outside the box. Yes, it's one thing that he has access to a brilliant shop, but HE KNOWS HOW TO USE IT!!  The problem solving, the outcome of the planning that so closely resembles the finished product. All around for many reasons I nominate this build.


Micro/Non-Standard Micro Galaga DS By Louis Tully
Using a DS to make a micro version of a classic? Impossible. Making it have a realistic looking coin door and buttons? Impossible. Building a realistic joystick from a bit of body jewelry? Impossible. Not knowing there was a sticker maker ALREADY IN THE HOUSE?!?! ...improbable, (ok, sometimes our family members just buy random sh*t, and we're too deep in our own world to notice. It's a fact). All these impossible things were done and done well by this build.  Now he just has to make sure someone doesn't mistake this sweet build for an oversized black jelly bean and choke on the damn thing.

Forum Contributor. PL1, Scott.
Because by now I would have: electrocuted myself (thrice), pulled out my hair (twice), and wasted more money on my build then I already have. I just spent the last hour going through my build thread. Scott has played a principal role in getting me where I'm at today. Granted there have been a couple other extremely helpful members that have made amazing contributions to my build (Neph, I'm looking at you). But when I look at how much time Scott must spend reading every thread created here and then being helpful on them all I can't help but think to nominate him.



...oh and it's late and I have a meeting in the morning so edit your own damn spelling as you read.  ("Colour" is spelt with a "u").

[Louis Tully]

.

[BadMouth]

....so many cabs that I was hoping would be finished this year so I could nominate them....but they weren't. 

Fullsize cabs - Not sure if cabarets belong here or under small cabs, but RockyRocket's Gran Trak 2010 - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,133163.0.html
For it's fit, finish, and non-conventional things that just look right.  A polished coin door with racing stripes...who does that?


Hardware - Aganyte's Gun2Naomi - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,132218.0.html
BYO IR Gun for use with Sega Naomi or PC.
His ability to interface with original arcade equipment blows my mind.

Software - MAWLER by ids - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,136193.0.html
MAWS was a fantastic resource and was sorely missed when taken down.  No rom information aggregator after that has come close to the functionality and flexibility of MAWS.  That is until ids recreated it in java, then proceeded to exceed the functionality of the original.  This app makes it possible to quickly create a list or find information based on any metadata.

[Nephasth]

I guess nobody is into seconding any of the nominations?


I'd like to second this one:

Full-Size Cab - TKW4rr10r's "Maria's Ms. Pac"

And this one too:

Micro/Non-Standard Micro Galaga DS By Louis Tully

Also, WTF?

Nominated Projects that need confirmation...

Small Cab: ... Nephasth's The Beast ...

It is neither small nor eligible.

[ChanceKJ]

Also, WTF?

Nominated Projects that need confirmation...

Small Cab: ... Nephasth's The Beast ...

It is neither small nor eligible.

My guess is that this is in reference to your JAMMA Supergun.   

[UCA]

....so many cabs that I was hoping would be finished this year so I could nominate them....but they weren't. 

Fullsize cabs - Not sure if cabarets belong here or under small cabs, but RockyRocket's Gran Trak 2010 -

Caberets have traditionally fallen under small cabs. However, I could see this catergory being split into a few different ones at this rate. Thanks for nominating!

[EMDB]

Fullsize Cab:  edekoning's Magneto, jongunz's StarFighter

Small Cab: Superfrog's Popeye CRT Nintendo Bartop

Hardware: Ultimarc's U360

Software: Howard_Casto's Fix-It Felix Wrapper, Sjaak's Fix-It Felix, Jr. Replica

[UCA]

Hardware: Ultimarc's U360

This product came out well before 2013 and is therefore not eligible. Thanks for the other nominations.

[EMDB]

Hardware: Ultimarc's U360

This product came out well before 2013 and is therefore not eligible. Thanks for the other nominations.

I started using it last year so it's new for me ;-)

You forgot to add Sjaak's Fix-It Felix, Jr. Replica to the software projects to be confirmed...

[UCA]

You forgot to add Sjaak's Fix-It Felix, Jr. Replica to the software projects to be confirmed...

Nothing was forgotten. There is some discussion going on about that project and it's eligibility.

Note from above: Decisions on whether or not something is a valid entry (fuzzy dates, versions, completeness) will be made by the consensus of the board and once published are not subject to a flame war.

[Le Chuck]

Superfrog's Popeye was my fav build this year.  I'll filter through my files for my noms later but win lose or draw Superfrog hit it out of the park.

[Sjaak]

You forgot to add Sjaak's Fix-It Felix, Jr. Replica to the software projects to be confirmed...

Nothing was forgotten. There is some discussion going on about that project and it's eligibility.

Note from above: Decisions on whether or not something is a valid entry (fuzzy dates, versions, completeness) will be made by the consensus of the board and once published are not subject to a flame war.

Well, it was completed in 2013, so there must be another reason you are discussing this?

[UCA]

There is. Relax, it should resolved soon.

BTW, EMDB, if you are also nominating Sjaak's actual FIFJr cabinet, you should nominate that in the appropriate category. Thanks.

[Nephasth]

You forgot to add Sjaak's Fix-It Felix, Jr. Replica to the software projects to be confirmed...

Nothing was forgotten. There is some discussion going on about that project and it's eligibility.

Note from above: Decisions on whether or not something is a valid entry (fuzzy dates, versions, completeness) will be made by the consensus of the board and once published are not subject to a flame war.

Well, it was completed in 2013, so there must be another reason you are discussing this?

I would guess that maybe because it's not available to the community?

[rablack97]

Small cabs and non standards


Maximus's 1943 Tiny Pilot




Knievels Packer Cocktail




Gamester's Pinball Unleashed




Florinske's evo XR cade





Deathdealer's Touchscreen Juke

[Nephasth]

Here's a second for Pinball Unleashed. That thing is badass!

[Generic Eric]

I'll second Florinske's evo XR cade

[Sjaak]

I'll second Florinske's evo XR cade

I third the evo xr cade

[rablack97]

Full Size


Ei8ht's Arcade





Maximus's Paperboy Resto

[Le Chuck]

I'd just like to say I really like the way Rablack nominates.  Bold colors, big pictures. Word man.   Word.