Bartop 2 players - Suggestions?

[Fido2k9]

Hello everyone,

First of all, I would like to say that this Forum is very informative and helpful. I have learned a lot. Thanks a lot.

Well, the idea in creating this topic is because in less than a month I got interested in building an arcade cabinet. Full size was the first shot, but I have changed my mind and definitely my option will be a bartop cabinet (or something like that).  Since most of the two player control bartop cabinets are somewhat cramped, I have been thinking about the options below:

http://rodrigoortega.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2-players-Mini-arcade-Concept_4736912666_l.jpg
http://bimg2.mlstatic.com/super-mini-arcade-rnb-tech-multijogos-hyperspin_MLB-F-3656453518_012013.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc124/crip102468/Arcade%20Bartop/ok.jpg

Taking those models into consideration, any suggestions? Perhaps it is not important, but the final art (marquee, bezel, control panel) is going to be this one:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/230522_285603338221633_1740546824_n.jpg

Sincerely,
Emerson

[Unstupid]

2 player bartops are stupid.  Build a 1 player.

[menace]

-1 to above--if done right it can be just fine--sure its a bit wider but you'll find a 2 player gets way more use than a one player--do what you want (but don't land an aircraft carrier control panel in front of a 15" lcd...)

[EMDB]

At least make sure you have 4 buttons in a row on a Neo Geo bartop!

[mgb]

For a possible alternative, how about 2 bartops with one of them simply being kind of a dumb terminal. They can be linked so the pc and encoder are in one of them and the monitors are just mirrored.
Or if a little more room is available, you can do a head to head cocktail.

[rablack97]

2 player bartops are stupid.  Build a 1 player.

+1 just had this discussion here...check it out....http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,137338.0.html

Although i wouldn't say stupid, as some do LOOK good but thats about it.  Not enough space to comfortably play, and unless your gonna play a bunch of fighting games it's useless as the classics only require one stick.

You'll find the player 2 side gets no love....2plyr bartops become gigantic as you try to make it uniform in height as well due to the width change.  Most successful builds have the controls out side of the walls of the bartop instead of on the inside, some examples are in that thread i linked to above.

So if you have cool 2plr design then by all means do it, as it will be for show, if your gonna seriously have 2 people on it all the time I would look to do a slim fullsize cab, it would just make more sense.

[Fido2k9]

Thank you very much for all the answers.

I still intend to build a 2 player Bartop. Actually, I've made a decision, and I chose this one: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/72592758/bartop/IMG_1899.jpg

Also, I would like to apologize myself because this subject has already been discussed a lot here.

2 player bartops are stupid.  Build a 1 player.

+1 just had this discussion here...check it out....http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,137338.0.html

Although i wouldn't say stupid, as some do LOOK good but thats about it.  Not enough space to comfortably play, and unless your gonna play a bunch of fighting games it's useless as the classics only require one stick.

You'll find the player 2 side gets no love....2plyr bartops become gigantic as you try to make it uniform in height as well due to the width change.  Most successful builds have the controls out side of the walls of the bartop instead of on the inside, some examples are in that thread i linked to above.

So if you have cool 2plr design then by all means do it, as it will be for show, if your gonna seriously have 2 people on it all the time I would look to do a slim fullsize cab, it would just make more sense.

I would like to thank you again, because of you I saw the model above.

[mcseforsale]

Send a PM to coreybee.  He builds them.

AJ

[yotsuya]

He's selling that one - you might want to see if it's something you want to pick up.

[JDFan]

He also provided some detailed full size build plans in the build thread ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,123039.0.html ) -- I used them to base my Robotron bartop build on but downsized it to 75% (It's a big bartop !) and made some adjustments to the CP.

[Unstupid]

For a possible alternative, how about 2 bartops with one of them simply being kind of a dumb terminal. They can be linked so the pc and encoder are in one of them and the monitors are just mirrored.
Or if a little more room is available, you can do a head to head cocktail.

Thats a stupid idea too!   

[yotsuya]

For a possible alternative, how about 2 bartops with one of them simply being kind of a dumb terminal. They can be linked so the pc and encoder are in one of them and the monitors are just mirrored.
Or if a little more room is available, you can do a head to head cocktail.

Thats a stupid idea too!   

You mean Unstupid Idea ^TM

[mgb]

For a possible alternative, how about 2 bartops with one of them simply being kind of a dumb terminal. They can be linked so the pc and encoder are in one of them and the monitors are just mirrored.
Or if a little more room is available, you can do a head to head cocktail.

Thats a stupid idea too!   

Oh your words cut deep my friend 

But you're probably right,
my idea is almost as bad as a one player Neo Geo bartop. 

[HaRuMaN]

I dunno...  I'm kinda partial to this one:



This one is pretty nice, too...



 

[rablack97]

Children...   children stop it.......

Yes if you do decide to do it, florinske's build is the way to go.  He offers the plans as stated above, so your ground work has been laid out for you.

Post lots of pics and have fun....

[Fido2k9]

Thanks for the tips, guys. But I am from Brazil, so buying from these users is not an option to me.

For a possible alternative, how about 2 bartops with one of them simply being kind of a dumb terminal. They can be linked so the pc and encoder are in one of them and the monitors are just mirrored.
Or if a little more room is available, you can do a head to head cocktail.

Thats a stupid idea too!   

Oh your words cut deep my friend 

But you're probably right,
my idea is almost as bad as a one player Neo Geo bartop. 

No, man. Look at this topic: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=114435.0

Children...   children stop it.......

Yes if you do decide to do it, florinske's build is the way to go.  He offers the plans as stated above, so your ground work has been laid out for you.

Post lots of pics and have fun....

I have been discussing with my brother. Let's see!

[rablack97]

Thanks for the tips, guys. But I am from Brazil, so buying from these users is not an option to me.

For a possible alternative, how about 2 bartops with one of them simply being kind of a dumb terminal. They can be linked so the pc and encoder are in one of them and the monitors are just mirrored.
Or if a little more room is available, you can do a head to head cocktail.

Thats a stupid idea too!   

Oh your words cut deep my friend 

But you're probably right,
my idea is almost as bad as a one player Neo Geo bartop. 

No, man. Look at this topic: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=114435.0

That's an Unstupid ^TM bartop too!!!!   

[rablack97]

I dunno...  I'm kinda partial to this one:



This one is pretty nice, too...



 

That's just what i'm saying those LOOK good, but how much play does P2 get, and really, how comfortable is it during play.

Are you bumping shoulders, holding your hands a certain way constricting movement due to the space....that stuff...

By the way Haruman, is that a new baby, love the shape, still against 2plr though

[HaRuMaN]

By the way Haruman, is that a new baby, love the shape, still against 2plr though

It is a new one, I redesigned it to make more space inside, and while I was at it, changed the profile as well.   

[mgb]

I'm just kidding, as far as barrios go, I like unstupids neo geo.
 
It may or may not have been mentioned but have you thought about having a USB port for plugging in a controller for the 2nd player as needed.

[TheDude]

Although I really like the look of a 2-player bartop, I really think they're not playable as such.
Or the design has to be altered so much that they become ugly.

Just my two cents