Author Topic: My new arcade project and an introduction (Read 8271 times)

jaharr01 · « **on:** January 18, 2014, 10:33:54 pm »

Hi i'm a new member. I have built a couple of arcades, a full size MS Pacman and a bar top Galaga. I actually sold the Galaga bar top but still have the MS Pacman. I learned a lot after building two arcades. The first thing I learned is not to rush and to be impatient. The MS Pacman looks good but is a little too rough for my liking.
My wife was not very happy when I told her I was going to build another arcade but she eventually gave her approval. I would like to build a thin arcade like markc74's and a wood finish like woody's. I am having trouble finding an art theme right now but I decided to get started without it. Some of the things that I didn't like about my other builds is the difficulty for a lay person to use ( like combination buttons to get out of emulators. Another thing that was not planned properly was a keyboard drawer for storage. It seemed like using a wireless keyboard and having it on top of the arcade. Additionally USB ports built in would be nice.
So now I will begin planning before I get started. I have a P4 HT sitting around I will probably use. I can't make up my mind on a monitor. I have a 19" tube but I think I want something larger. maybe a 27" widescreen. So here is what I have so far.

jaharr01 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2014, 10:36:20 pm »

Here is the side View I forgot

menace · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2014, 06:45:51 am »

I used 5/8" mdf on the sides and found I needed extra bracing as it became wobbly at the top--also figure out your control panel layout as it doesn't look like there is much of the panel protruding from the cabinet--this is fine for one player games, but for two players to reach into a closed in box to get to the controls, it gets a bit awkward. Also put a slope on your CP for additional comfort..

And last..Keep going!

eds1275 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2014, 10:00:52 am »

Quote from: jaharr01 on January 18, 2014, 10:33:54 pm

My wife was not very happy when I told her I was going to build another

At least you went about it the right way and told her you were going to do it. Imagine the uphill battle it would have been if you had asked!

jaharr01 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2014, 12:28:18 pm »

I think your right about the CP I think I will extend it out some. And yea she is not super happy about it but she give the go ahead. The wood finish is more for her satisfaction. I wanted to do a full vinyl side art.

jaharr01 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2014, 09:53:15 pm »

I redrew the plans to accommodate a larger control panel. Does this look like it may be more user friendly for two people?

menace · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2014, 07:21:08 am »

Yup, looks like more room to maneuver there--have you decided on a layout? What controls etc? A dynamo HS5 cabinet is 25 3/4" wide and I can just barely get 2x stick and 6 button layouts and trackball in that width..just food for thought. I stopped scratch building years ago since it was all the fiddly bits that annoyed me (mounts for control panel, how is bezel and glass mounted, marquee area and retainers, coin doors etc. etc.)...building from scratch is ambitious but rewarding once you finally get to the end of it (that said, if you can find a empty cabinet, snatch it up as your project will go together much quicker..for what its worth..)

I would forsake the keyboard drawer and just make it so you can store a keyboard inside and pull it out through the coin door--once the machine is fully configured, you will rarely touch the keyboard and building an extra drawer for it may just over complicate things..again just my .02$

jaharr01 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2014, 07:48:37 pm »

I agree menace that building is a pain. But I enjoyed building the other 2, but I felt like it it was too rough and unplanned. The CP on the one I built (MS Pacman) is smaller than this one.I will try to make it deep. Most of the time I play one player anyway. Until I got my front end and my emulators working properly I used my keyboard frequently. I'm still not sure about the drawer. For conversation sake I attached my artwork that I been working on.Wanted to see what you think.

gabrielmtl · « **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2014, 08:05:19 pm »

What made you decide on including swastikas in your design?

jaharr01 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2014, 08:59:08 pm »

I'm not afraid of swastikas, but i'm not a nazi. That actually signifies how many german planes the bomber shot down. Would you have commented if I had put japanese flags in the same spot? Obviously it is a ww2 American bomber theme. The theme is far from finished I just wanted some input to see what everyone thought.

Slippyblade · « **Reply #10 on:** January 23, 2014, 09:19:02 pm »

I truly love the WWII era pin-up look. I think it looks great.

jaharr01 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2014, 09:39:35 pm »

I trying make it look more worn. I think it is hard to make look good, well for me it is.

gabrielmtl · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2014, 09:59:26 pm »

Quote from: jaharr01 on January 23, 2014, 08:59:08 pm

I'm not afraid of swastikas, but i'm not a nazi. That actually signifies how many german planes the bomber shot down. Would you have commented if I had put japanese flags in the same spot? Obviously it is a ww2 American bomber theme. The theme is far from finished I just wanted some input to see what everyone thought.

My question was actually sincere and in no way insinuating racism on your part. I know the asian origins of the sign, I was just curious since it didn't seem to fit with the theme. I didn't know about the bomber relation, I'm glad I asked.

PL1 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2014, 10:47:07 pm »

Also, the bombs stand for the number of successful bombing missions the crew had completed -- 25 for the Memphis Belle.

This Australian aircraft also has some parachutes denoting either "milk runs" or leaflet drops IIRC.

Scott

eds1275 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 24, 2014, 10:47:20 am »

Quote from: PL1 on January 23, 2014, 10:47:07 pm

This Australian aircraft also has some ice cream cones denoting either "milk runs" or leaflet drops IIRC.

ftfy

jaharr01 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 24, 2014, 11:55:37 am »

Here is the more worn look. It is still a work in progress.I have learned one thing that gimp has a steep learning curve

EMDB · « **Reply #16 on:** January 24, 2014, 12:46:59 pm »

Quote from: jaharr01 on January 24, 2014, 11:55:37 am

Here is the more worn look. It is still a work in progress.I have learned one thing that gimp has a steep learning curve

Nice theme. (besides the swatikas). I would use a different font for the text at the bottom though. And apply the wear also to the card, image and texts.

Make sure you draw in 150DPI or better 300DPI resolution if you want to print stickers that big...

jaharr01 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 24, 2014, 01:08:09 pm »

As said above the swastikas represent how many nazi planes the bomber shot down. I agree, i don't like the fonts and the card needs more wear.I was messing around trying to do flames and come up with this.

Brian74 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 25, 2014, 01:59:15 pm »

I like the art, looks good to me. Re-guarding the swastikas, it is your cab and your choice. Do what YOU want, not what anyone else tells you. If it were me, I would keep them on there.

jaharr01 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 25, 2014, 08:06:38 pm »

I did this Side art last night. My wife chimed in and she said she would like me to do the all wood finish style with the smaller side art and not the full side vinyl

Le Chuck · « **Reply #20 on:** January 25, 2014, 08:15:20 pm »

I know what swastikas mean on the side of a bomber or fighter. If you picture them on the side of the plane it will make a lot more sense. When you plaster them prominently on the side of your cab you make a thematic disconnect. I am all for minutia and detail but I think the execution is lacking here.

Here's my take, they are a symbol of hate. Symbols have power, if you're going to use them do it in a manner in which your own convictions and purpose can't be called into question, even by the ill informed.

Also, I'd lose the Kat Von D. wannabe on the card and go with a classic airbrushed bomber belle like what would have been on a bird from the period you're referencing, and +1 to aging the cardstock

jaharr01 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 25, 2014, 11:37:55 pm »

Well I think i'm gonna use the bottom one anyway. I started to use a girl from that period but that chick on the card does something for me. As far as the swastika goes It really doesn't mean anything to me one way or the other, except that it is a period marking of ww2 planes symbolizing how many nazi planes they shot down..A symbol of the past. But on the other hand i wonder if everyone would get their panties into a wad if I would put Japanese flag symbols on the side of the cab. The Japanese committed horrific atrocities also, they just didn't commit them as long as the Nazi's did. They both were fascist military state nations. With an agenda of imperialism that left a trail of death and destruction.I think the whole world learned a lesson from WW2 in the fact that Treaty nations cannot allow countries to expand and conquer other nations. I guess while I'm on my soapbox, after WW1 the allied countries basically fragmented the Germans and Austrian for their part in WW1(Treaty of Versailles"). Also,they stripped Germany's military ability with limitations which eventually brought about resentment by the people, and allowed a monster like Adolf Hitler to gain power.
As far as it being a symbol of hate I agree it is. As far as it going on my arcade it really doesn't make a difference to me. But since it is mine, if I want to print hardcore pornography on the side, put an automatic heroin injection station in the back, and make a tribute to satan as my frontend it truly doesn't matter to anyone but me and my family.Really I just wanted somebody to tell me if the "quality of my artwork sucked. Not begin a Nazi/ Jewish rehashing of old war wounds. from over 70 years ago. So in closing I say this, So peace to all of you and make love not war.

Le Chuck · « **Reply #22 on:** January 25, 2014, 11:54:49 pm »

Quote from: jaharr01 on January 23, 2014, 07:48:37 pm

For conversation sake I attached my artwork that I been working on. Wanted to see what you think.

Quote from: jaharr01 on January 25, 2014, 11:37:55 pm

I just wanted somebody to tell me if the "quality of my artwork sucked.

Oh, you should have said so. Your composition is mediocre. The images themselves seem fine but could be made to fit together better. This goes for both images. The smaller one has potential but you have the plane interacting with the smoke from the playing card which is burning along the edges in an inferno on a background of formica(?) it just seems muddled together. I'd strip away elements and maybe do playing card(s) and that great plane graphic and let those images tell your story for you.

Quote from: jaharr01 on January 25, 2014, 11:37:55 pm

...automatic heroin injection station in the back

That would be the Automated Projects thread, you're in the wrong part of the forums for that.

jaharr01 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 26, 2014, 12:28:07 am »

Thank you, now that's what I was looking for. BTW you right about the texture on the small one. these are the first ones I've done. Sorry about the rant it wasn't really directed to you. I truly do appreciate the advice.

ChanceKJ · « **Reply #24 on:** January 26, 2014, 06:08:31 am »

If you do decide to go more for a realistic aircraft exterior look get your hands on some user created brushes (Photoshop term, not sure if its the same in Gimp, but i'd assume so). Add a little surface rust and some metal scaring, bullet holes, etc. Websites like deviantART.com, DaFont.com and Google Image search are your friends. A few years ago i did a quick test in Photoshop to make a WWII bomber themed Paintball Jersey.

(click the thumbnails for a closer look)

This proof looks a little plain, but i liked the final result so much i had my printer make one for me. Later down the road a friend of mine asked me to make a variant based off a Japanese Zero.

In the long run, its all in the brushes, practice and the little finishing touches. Looking back now I like too think I could do a way better version if i put some more time and patience into the design.

Another awesome cab with a similar theme and well done excicution of the art is Maximus's 2/3 Scale Upright Jamma Cabinet "1943: Tiny Pilot". I'd take a close look at his thread. He has his artwork available for download so you can get a real close look at the finer details that he used to just make it come alive. Such an amazing Cab...

jaharr01 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 26, 2014, 11:02:09 am »

Actually maximus's is one of them I first looked at. I also looked at Woodshop Flunkie's. to be honest this was my first try at gimp. It has been so cold and nasty out I was putting off the actual build till it warms up a bit. So I was practicing with gimp. I downloaded a bunch of brushes but i'm having trouble getting them to work in gimp on a mac. I think i'll give a photoshop a try it has a 30day trial.BTW your jerseys look great.

jaharr01 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 26, 2014, 11:37:28 am »

Hey chance, BTW did you finish your latest arcade. I was creeping on your post.I was very impressed with your meticulous detail. BTW did you machine your plywood, or did you send it to someone? Also why do you need a switching power supply? can you use it as the power supply for your computer?

Xiaou2 · « **Reply #27 on:** January 27, 2014, 12:25:28 am »

jaharr01,

I agree with Lechuck, in that your compositional skills are a bit lacking.

I do like the plane / flag artwork a lot. Its very detailed and shaded excellently, with good composition.

But the card, and plain & huge USA, just do not match that level of quality. Its like dropping a powerpuff girl into Avatar.

Also, shapes and angles come into play. For example.. that huge rectangle shape is very pain and bland... and again, doesnt Jive with the other angles on the other artworks. Your eye gets sucked into it and stops dead. Many good artworks sort of lead your eyes in a smooth pathway. By angling the card, it makes the art more interesting and pleasureable to the eyes.. as well as can be made to match similar angles in the art or cabinet.

Aging does not mean just changing the darker colors either. Your card is "Mr.Clean" sparkling white. Like a George Lucus Star Wars CGI add in. Things that are aged, are dirty. White is often tinted to be more grayish, or yellowed... so as not to be so harsh on the eyes.. as well as to represent the filth that has collected on top of, and worked its way deep into the surfaces. Surfaces get micro scratches and it dull the surfaces, and so there wont be a lot of shiny reflections, as well as these collecting a lot of dust/grease/dirt...etc.. into them. Thus colors wont be as bright nor as reflective.

If your wife is asking for a classy woody... but you still insist on a small amount of artwork, I would stick to the 1st pics plane/flag art. Its very well done, very visually pleasing. Its not over the top, and should match a good wood finish fairly well.

If you wish to add other artworks.. try to find art that matches in those same color tones, as well as shading & artwork style.
For example, the plane uses blues for the shadowed colors. Its a very classic dual lighting style thats used by many skilled artists, to help pop the depth up, as well as add more interesting coloring aspects in there.

Some tweaking with Photoshops style color shifting tools, can help transform other art to match in color.. but... shading style, artwork composition, and stylized methods... could clash if not chosen and done well.

In such a case, you may be better off paying an artist to come up with some tweaks to your ideas. The stuff they may come up with, may please you, and your wife, 1000 fold over your efforts. As these guys have been doing this stuff their entire lives, and know all the ins and outs... as well as have a certain genius ... and unique way of seeing the world.

Im only a mildly decent artist, and I might still hire my art concepts out to a pro.

Just make sure to see plenty of their works in advance, and check into a handful of their references if possible.

jaharr01 · « **Reply #28 on:** January 27, 2014, 10:40:28 am »

I thank you for your honesty. I appreciate the fact you went into detail about what I needed to work on.i think I was more concerned with just trying to figure how to put images on there instead of trying to come up with a raw theme and tweaking it on paper before going to computer for editing. I think I will go back to the drawing board and take those images and try to put them together where they will flow.

Malenko · « **Reply #29 on:** January 27, 2014, 10:54:46 am »

It is a little too busy for my tastes. Rather than give you grief over your art, I think it'd be more helpful to give you links to projects with a similar theme:

Woodshop Flunky's American Ace:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,111377.0.html

Maximus' Tiny Pilot:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,133872.msg

Also, while I understand what the Swastikas mean in the time period and I totally get why they are on the side, but is it worth having to explain it to everyone who sees your cab?

jaharr01 · « **Reply #30 on:** January 27, 2014, 12:06:47 pm »

No it's not. After explaining it 17 times I finally went on a rant. I'm actually going regroup and. Start from scratch
I probably won't put them on there.

mcseforsale · « **Reply #31 on:** January 27, 2014, 12:23:41 pm »

May I suggest a Matrix theme?

subscribed.

AJ

ChanceKJ · « **Reply #32 on:** January 27, 2014, 07:36:38 pm »

Quote from: jaharr01 on January 26, 2014, 11:02:09 am

Actually maximus's is one of them I first looked at. I also looked at Woodshop Flunkie's. to be honest this was my first try at gimp. It has been so cold and nasty out I was putting off the actual build till it warms up a bit. So I was practicing with gimp. I downloaded a bunch of brushes but i'm having trouble getting them to work in gimp on a mac. I think i'll give a photoshop a try it has a 30day trial.BTW your jerseys look great.

Thanks. Can't really help you on the Gimp side of things, the online community for it seems fairly vast so I'm sure the odd user group or youtube tutorial might help.

Quote from: jaharr01 on January 26, 2014, 11:37:28 am

Hey chance, BTW did you finish your latest arcade. I was creeping on your post.I was very impressed with your meticulous detail. BTW did you machine your plywood, or did you send it to someone? Also why do you need a switching power supply? can you use it as the power supply for your computer?

Nope, still working on it, (both of them technically). I had my panels cut at a local shop on a CnC. The control panel top too. In retrospect it cost a little more but it saved me a ton of time and is quite a bit better quality then I'm capable of being removed from using power tools for as long as I have been.

No special reason I have for picking the power supply I have other then I needed one and it was the only decent 12v one my local shop had. Didn't really care what it cost. It only runs the 12v system (marquee, coin door, PACLED64, I/O button lights, etc) the Mac mini has it's own power unit.

jaharr01 · « **Reply #33 on:** January 27, 2014, 08:34:41 pm »

I snagged a copy of PS. It is a bit like gimp. easier in some ways and harder in others. I'm waiting on it to warm up a bit on my days off to get started.I haven't decided on a theme yet.My favorite part is building.I actually need to make myself slow down and not get in a hurry. The first one I did was a bit sloppy for my taste but I just got in too big of a hurry. Here is pics of my cabs I built I Don't have the bartop I sold it

jaharr01 · « **Reply #34 on:** January 27, 2014, 08:47:45 pm »

Front view bartop and Ms pacman

Xiaou2 · « **Reply #35 on:** January 27, 2014, 11:47:59 pm »

Quote from: mcseforsale on January 27, 2014, 12:23:41 pm

May I suggest a Matrix theme?

subscribed.

AJ

Ehh? You mean more like this?

I could upload much more detailed personal art. This was just a site I composed from game parts, on a project that I was helping with.
Pretty much shows composition and color. Ive got far more detailed stuff, hand drawn stuff..etc. But most of my work is Prototype stuff. I do designs... and let the highly skilled artists take it to a level that I never could.

Also, since most of my work is to do with video game design... stuff that Id like to see made one of these days, rather than stolen and bastardized... I tend to keep the good stuff to myself.

The Matrix Theme site, was just a quick test of the website maker. My first site, and my first few times working with Photoshop. It was never meant to be any grand site nor artistic statement. Just something other than a blank page. My skills in Photoshop grew over the years, but PS is more for coloring things in, the way I use it. I tend to draw things by pencil, then scan and color them in.

Im no Pro. Im also slow. But if pressed to create something more than a proto sketch, I can come up with some decent material. But as Im critical and passionate about such things, Id prefer others more talented art works, over my own.

The included cab pic, was to help a user here, design his artwork. His simple line sketch concept, and I fleshed it out, and then mocked up parts, and slopily made a sloppy but quick demo of it in 3/4 view perspective.

Just know that I didnt tear this man down. Only gave him my honest opinion, as well as pointers in art. But even with all the pointers.. apply-able skills take a lot of experience and time, before you may be able to produce some great results.

jaharr01 · « **Reply #36 on:** January 28, 2014, 09:29:10 am »

No pics are the cabinets I built

Xiaou2 · « **Reply #37 on:** January 28, 2014, 09:39:01 pm »

jaharr01, sorry for any intrusion or confusion.

There was a dig at me, from creations Id made in the long distant past.. which come from others whom feel that I am too brass with my comments & opinions.

I think one thing to consider, is to think of your creations lines, shapes and angles, like the shapely body of a beautiful woman. An animal. Or a Sleek.. or Boxy car. Think about how seeing a Lamborghini makes you feel.. than compare that shape to a simple generic shaped car, like a Taurus. Compare good boxy and or sharp angles, to badly proportioned shapes & angles. Think of a matching set of clothing.. rather than a mismatch of various types of clothing, and multiple colors, shapes, and sizes.. every varying across different limbs.

Art in its many forms, most especially in the beginning.. is about copying a lot of what you see and like. After enough experience, you start to get a feel for your own vibe and expression.. but with all those lessons learned from past failures, and or not so satisfying results.

Theres a ton of great material on art composition, color, and shading out there. The more you know, the more you can appreciate and the higher your awareness and skills can develop. Dont be too fearful to mess up either. Mistakes are steps forward, bringing you closer to larger victories.

Best Regards

opt2not · « **Reply #38 on:** January 28, 2014, 09:43:43 pm »

Quote from: Xiaou2 on January 28, 2014, 09:39:01 pm

I actually like the sideart on the top-left, not the one with the words, but the one with the maze. Very neat idea using the shape of the cabinet contour for pacman, like a Jr. Pac-man cab, and having a pseudo top-down view of the maze and ghosts.
I'm not a fan of the photoshop air-brushing, but I like what's going on in the design there.

jaharr01 · « **Reply #39 on:** January 29, 2014, 09:55:29 am »

Wow the comparison to the curves on a sexy woman or a sports car makes it seem clear.


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