trying to help a family out...

[oldschoolgamer21]

Hello guys... I'm trying to get some info for a small project I wanna do.. So I wanna build a small 2 player cab for a family I know but I don't have the cash for it and I know they can't afford one either but I would like to make one as a gift. They have gone thru a lot in past years and I thought this might bring a bit of joy to their lives... But like I said I don't have the money for it.. So I was looking at maybe trying a crowd funding website..  but I noticed that all donors get something in return and I don't even know what I could possibly give in return.. I'm not gonna profit from it I just wanna give this family something they can all enjoy for years to come. What do you guys think I could do or is there any other way I could raise a bit of funds to help with the build.. any help is appreciated ...

[Locke141]

Go simple.

I would try looking on craigslist for a cheep cab. One times I'v seen a empty one for free near my old nabber hood. With an good will CRT TV, an old PC, two NO Delay USB Encoders, and some buttons/ joy stick. You could have a working cabinet with out bracing the bank.

Or you could build a NO Delay Vigolix. I think if you make the use a 4 by 8 sheet of ply or MDF you can make a 1.5' by 6' versions.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,119533.0.html

[paigeoliver]

Hello guys... I'm trying to get some info for a small project I wanna do.. So I wanna build a small 2 player cab for a family I know but I don't have the cash for it and I know they can't afford one either but I would like to make one as a gift. They have gone thru a lot in past years and I thought this might bring a bit of joy to their lives... But like I said I don't have the money for it.. So I was looking at maybe trying a crowd funding website..  but I noticed that all donors get something in return and I don't even know what I could possibly give in return.. I'm not gonna profit from it I just wanna give this family something they can all enjoy for years to come. What do you guys think I could do or is there any other way I could raise a bit of funds to help with the build.. any help is appreciated ...

I have built complete working converted machines for under $100 multiple times. If you are unable to come up with $100 then you are probably not the person to be doing this.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Yes, I agree Craigslist is a great start.  Check under free items and type in the key word for what you're looking for.

Also, you may want to pick up a KADE minimus for your controls.  You can grab them for only $5 each here.  (You'll need 2).  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,139819.msg1446340.html#msg1446340

DeLuSioNaL29

[paigeoliver]

Craigslist a broken cabinet with controls on it.
Craigslist a 21" crt pc monitor and a pentium 4 or newer PC.
Resell the cabinet boardset, power supply and monitor on craigslist.

Buy an encoder, recycle the existing cabinet controls and wiring.
Rip up a cheapo amplified PC speaker and hook the cabinet speaker up to that.
Software to taste.

Done for around $100 or less.

[JDFan]

Hello guys... I'm trying to get some info for a small project I wanna do.. So I wanna build a small 2 player cab for a family I know but I don't have the cash for it and I know they can't afford one either but I would like to make one as a gift. They have gone thru a lot in past years and I thought this might bring a bit of joy to their lives... But like I said I don't have the money for it.. So I was looking at maybe trying a crowd funding website..  but I noticed that all donors get something in return and I don't even know what I could possibly give in return.. I'm not gonna profit from it I just wanna give this family something they can all enjoy for years to come. What do you guys think I could do or is there any other way I could raise a bit of funds to help with the build.. any help is appreciated ...

Crowd funding isn't really designed to be done for charitable donations, it is more for producing a product that others are interested in purchasing but may require more funds than is available through regular channels like banks or financial institutions by providing those people that are interested in purchasing the final product an opportunity to purchase it before it is actually made if there is enough interest overall in the project to raise all of the funds needed yet get their funds back if the actual project does not gain enough interest to become reality. So there is less risk on both sides of the project (the project designer has less risk of spending his money and never seeing anything purchased and the backers have less risk of spending money on a product that is never delivered since their funds are not actually given until the project reaches it's funding goal.)

As others have said if you can't afford to help it may be better to do something else -- A project can be done fairly cheaply so if you can come up with some funds to cover the essentials that's one thing but trying to get strangers to completely fund a gift for someone they do not have any connection to is something else and will be hard to do.

Perhaps talk to other friends/family/relatives of yours and or the Family, you are wanting to build this for and see if you can get a small group together to raise enough funds that way (much easier to get others to donate if they actually know the family or a least know you) Figure as others mentioned it can be done inexpensively and by getting friends and family to help you should be able to raise enough funds that way (esp. if some of them might actually have spare parts like the monitor or PC needed laying around)

[pbj]

Oh boy, it's this scam again.  Buzz off.

 

[bulbousbeard]

Is this a joke?

Sorry--arcade cabinets aren't for poor people. You can dance around it all want, but it's the truth. It's a ---smurfing--- arcade cabinet. It's not for people who don't have disposable income. You realize that even if you cobbled some CRAP together for $100, that it'd be a ---smurfy--- cabinet, right? What about maintenance? You think that someone with no money is going to be able to afford the maintenance of a cabinet? Whatever.

Even if you weren't trying to scam people, this is the equivalent of giving dessert to people who can't afford a meal.

[shponglefan]

I'm trying to figure out how an arcade cabinet is supposed to help a down-on-their-luck family.  I mean, arcade cabinets are specialized items and not something people typically want in their homes.  Unless this family is specifically pining for an arcade, there are probably dozens of better ways to help them out.

Heck, if you want to give the gift of video games, a console gaming system is a far more practical gift.

[yotsuya]

Is this a joke?

Sorry--arcade cabinets aren't for poor people. You can dance around it all want, but it's the truth. It's a ---smurfing--- arcade cabinet. It's not for people who don't have disposable income. You realize that even if you cobbled some CRAP together for $100, that it'd be a ---smurfy--- cabinet, right? What about maintenance? You think that someone with no money is going to be able to afford the maintenance of a cabinet? Whatever.

Even if you weren't trying to scam people, this is the equivalent of giving dessert to people who can't afford a meal.

Damn, it got all elitist up in here.

You realize this isn't "Silver Spoons" anymore, right? You don't have to be a millionaire to own a cab. ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, I've got 11, so I must have hit the big time.

The beauty of this hobby is that you can spend what you want or you can use what you have on hand to play games. You don't HAVE to pimp the cab out in order to have a great one.

[oldschoolgamer21]

Wow I didn't think it would be a big deal just to ask.. was trying to give them one cause their kids really enjoyed playing mine.. not trying to Scam anyone.. it was just a thought.. but apparently it wasn't a good idea to ask.. but thanks for the info guys.

[yotsuya]

Wow I didn't think it would be a big deal just to ask.. was trying to give them one cause their kids really enjoyed playing mine.. not trying to Scam anyone.. it was just a thought.. but apparently it wasn't a good idea to ask.. but thanks for the info guys.

I get where you're coming from. I've built cabs for people who I know couldn't afford one because I know the joy it would bring their kids. Good luck with this. If you get it into the building phase, PM me - I might have some used joysticks and buttons to donate to the cause. 

[oldschoolgamer21]

Wow I didn't think it would be a big deal just to ask.. was trying to give them one cause their kids really enjoyed playing mine.. not trying to Scam anyone.. it was just a thought.. but apparently it wasn't a good idea to ask.. but thanks for the info guys.

I get where you're coming from. I've built cabs for people who I know couldn't afford one because I know the joy it would bring their kids. Good luck with this. If you get it into the building phase, PM me - I might have some used joysticks and buttons to donate to the cause. 
[/quote

thanks.. I hope people don't think I was trying to get over on anyone .. just trying to share my love of the hobby..]

[bulbousbeard]

Is this a joke?

Sorry--arcade cabinets aren't for poor people. You can dance around it all want, but it's the truth. It's a ---smurfing--- arcade cabinet. It's not for people who don't have disposable income. You realize that even if you cobbled some CRAP together for $100, that it'd be a ---smurfy--- cabinet, right? What about maintenance? You think that someone with no money is going to be able to afford the maintenance of a cabinet? Whatever.

Even if you weren't trying to scam people, this is the equivalent of giving dessert to people who can't afford a meal.

Damn, it got all elitist up in here.

You realize this isn't "Silver Spoons" anymore, right? You don't have to be a millionaire to own a cab. ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, I've got 11, so I must have hit the big time.

The beauty of this hobby is that you can spend what you want or you can use what you have on hand to play games. You don't HAVE to pimp the cab out in order to have a great one.

Think about the space requirements. Think about the electricity bill. Think about the maintenance. Arcade cabinets are for people who have disposable income. If you've got 11 cabinets, I really find it hard to believe that you're living paycheck to paycheck, and if you are, your priorities are jacked.

[yotsuya]

A) what does space have to do with income? You can have a mansion packed to the gills or an empty trailer in the trailer park, right?

B) unless you're running your MAME cab 24/7, I seriously doubt an occasional game is going to make a huge dent in the electric bill. An economic MAME build is just a PC and monitor, right?

C) I've never had to put a dollar into my MAME cabs once they're done. Not sure how much "maintenance" needs to be done on a simple build.

"Arcade cabinets are for people who have disposable income." Yeah, so don't bother building one and giving as a gift. Damn poor don't deserve to have fun or any joy brought to their lives.

[shponglefan]

^ Leaving aside the poverty issue, I still don't see an arcade cabinet as being an ideal gift in most circumstances.  They are big, bulky, heavy things and do take up a fair bit of room.  And once the novelty wears off, the recipient is now stuck with it.

[yotsuya]

^ Leaving aside the poverty issue, I still don't see an arcade cabinet as being an ideal gift in most circumstances.  They are big, bulky, heavy things and do take up a fair bit of room.  And once the novelty wears off, the recipient is now stuck with it.

While I don't necessarily disagree with you, I find the assertion that poor people have no business owning an arcade cabinet to be elitist and reprehensible. The OP never said that the family was poor, but that they couldn't afford a cabinet right now. There are plenty of guys here who can make that claim. Second, he said that they had been down on their luck and that this would be a pick-me-up. So we're going to put a dollar value on a gift and decide whether or not they are worthy of it? As far as the room goes, there are plenty of slim builds and bartops that rectify that issue.

I have no problem with PBJ's comment - he's questioning the OP's motives, which is a fair thing. I have a problem with the other comment because it questions the worthiness of the family that the OP wants to help out.

[pbj]

12 posts.  Stop going to the mat for this guy, dude.

 

[yotsuya]

12 posts.  Stop going to the mat for this guy, dude.

 

Again, James, for me, the issue isn't the OP anymore, it's assertion of whether or not certain people are worthy of this hobby. There's plenty of cheap ---daisies--- (you and I included) who know that's not the case.

[Generic Eric]

Extreme Home Make Over: Arcade Edition


Did you ever watch the Extreme Home Make Over show?  They transformed homes for people that had hit hard times.  The transformations were such, that in the later years of the show, those families they were helping wouldn't be able to afford the utility cost, much less the increase in taxes or insurance.

Lets not kid ourselves and compare unlike things, but there is a point to made about giving someone something they might not take care of long term.  OTOOH, its not like OP is giving them a puppy. 

[yotsuya]

Extreme Home Make Over: Arcade Edition


Did you ever watch the Extreme Home Make Over show?  They transformed homes for people that had hit hard times.  The transformations were such, that in the later years of the show, those families they were helping wouldn't be able to afford the utility cost, much less the increase in taxes or insurance.

Lets not kid ourselves and compare unlike things, but there is a point to made about giving someone something they might not take care of long term.  OTOOH, its not like OP is giving them a puppy.

If the OP gave them 20 games, then maybe your analogy would make sense. It's one MAME cabinet that they can turn off when not using. I'm sure the OP knows how much space they would have. If all they have room for is a two player bartop, plan accordingly.

[Nephasth]

Think about the space requirements. Think about the electricity bill. Think about the maintenance. Arcade cabinets are for people who have disposable income. If you've got 11 cabinets, I really find it hard to believe that you're living paycheck to paycheck, and if you are, your priorities are jacked.

I was living paycheck to paycheck when I built the Beast. I suppose you're one of those types that thinks your time is actually worth money too... Electricity bill? C'mon, these things use about as much electricity as a TV. Maintenance? I've had 0 maintenance costs on the Beast since it was finished almost 2 years ago. You're a ---smurfing--- moron.

[shponglefan]

^ Leaving aside the poverty issue, I still don't see an arcade cabinet as being an ideal gift in most circumstances.  They are big, bulky, heavy things and do take up a fair bit of room.  And once the novelty wears off, the recipient is now stuck with it.

While I don't necessarily disagree with you, I find the assertion that poor people have no business owning an arcade cabinet to be elitist and reprehensible. The OP never said that the family was poor, but that they couldn't afford a cabinet right now. There are plenty of guys here who can make that claim. Second, he said that they had been down on their luck and that this would be a pick-me-up. So we're going to put a dollar value on a gift and decide whether or not they are worthy of it? As far as the room goes, there are plenty of slim builds and bartops that rectify that issue.

I have no problem with PBJ's comment - he's questioning the OP's motives, which is a fair thing. I have a problem with the other comment because it questions the worthiness of the family that the OP wants to help out.

Fair enough, I agree with your points on this.  There really isn't anything preventing an impoverished family from owning an arcade, provided they have a home to put it in.

[ed12]

who truly gives a rat's ass
this posting went from a plea for help from very very fine ppl to utter rubbish...
get off of your high's about your-self's..rem where u came from..
and let's help this person out..
mame is free
putter's now a-day's are free >lord know's i get enough road kill<
cab's are free
lcd's are free
what else is needed ?
give up the higher then thou ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow---

ed

[DeLuSioNal29]

Meh, I'm going to give the OP the benefit of the doubt.   

Oldschoolgamer...  Where are you located?  If you're local enough, I may have some old computers and monitors I can donate for the cause.

DeLuSioNaL29

[yotsuya]

I just checked - I DO have a pair of joysticks and buttons if you get that far.

[ed12]

now that is what i want to see
THANK-U OP'S

ed

[oldschoolgamer21]

hey guys thanks for the support and responses whether positive or negative, all i was trying to do is give them something to enjoy together as they are a really good family that has gone thru some hardships in the past. I had mentioned to my friend (his name is George by the way) before about one and he offered to help out with some funds for it but didn't have much for it..and i just wanted to do this for them, and  thought i would ask the community as how to go about.. i guess it might of sounded a bit off at the beginning but i assure you guys it was all with good intention.. as for those that asked I'm in the phoenix Arizona area, and i don't have much but maybe i could trade or something for the things mentioned.. again thanks for the help..

[Le Chuck]

You can make them a pedestal.  I'm sure they have a TV with a VGA cable in the back - if not there are plenty of vid cards out there you can get that have component or S-vid out.  Either way saves you on materials and saves them on space.  Especially if you just make it a large CP box with the computer stuff built in.  Do the gaming and sound through the TV.  Line the bottom with felt (to protect their coffee table) and get an extra long VGA cable off Amazon for $10.  If you craigs a cheap computer or get a donor and make it two player with six buttons each you can do the whole thing as a scratch build for under a hundred easy.  Half inch MDF quarter sheets at HD for $9 and you should need one of them. 

The space hog argument is crap.  Something like this could fit in the top shelf of the closet or somewhere equally unobtrusive. 

Hell, that one guy from Denmark or wherever mades full units including monitors that are cigar box sized.  You could use a R-pi, a 12v backup monitor, and hack a jak's plug in play for parts - put all that in a used cigar box and be done for under $70. 

[Malenko]

Meh, I'm going to give the OP the benefit of the doubt.   

Oldschoolgamer...  Where are you located?  If you're local enough, I may have some old computers and monitors I can donate for the cause.

^This.  Im sure I have plenty of parts in my junkyard *cue the "Sanford and Son" music*

[shponglefan]

You can make them a pedestal.  I'm sure they have a TV with a VGA cable in the back - if not there are plenty of vid cards out there you can get that have component or S-vid out.  Either way saves you on materials and saves them on space.  Especially if you just make it a large CP box with the computer stuff built in.  Do the gaming and sound through the TV.  Line the bottom with felt (to protect their coffee table) and get an extra long VGA cable off Amazon for $10.  If you craigs a cheap computer or get a donor and make it two player with six buttons each you can do the whole thing as a scratch build for under a hundred easy.  Half inch MDF quarter sheets at HD for $9 and you should need one of them. 

The space hog argument is crap.  Something like this could fit in the top shelf of the closet or somewhere equally unobtrusive.

I don't know what giant closets you have (or miniature pedestals), but for anything floor-standing, the space issue is extremely valid.  Especially if there is a wife and/or girlfriend involved in the discussion...

[Generic Eric]

Extreme Home Make Over: Arcade Edition


Did you ever watch the Extreme Home Make Over show?  They transformed homes for people that had hit hard times.  The transformations were such, that in the later years of the show, those families they were helping wouldn't be able to afford the utility cost, much less the increase in taxes or insurance.

Lets not kid ourselves and compare unlike things, but there is a point to made about giving someone something they might not take care of long term.  OTOOH, its not like OP is giving them a puppy.

If the OP gave them 20 games, then maybe your analogy would make sense. It's one MAME cabinet that they can turn off when not using. I'm sure the OP knows how much space they would have. If all they have room for is a two player bartop, plan accordingly.

You are not wrong.  This what I was trying to impart:

Extreme Home Make Over: Arcade Edition>Puppy>What OP is doing

[yotsuya]

You're in Phoenix? Even better. So am I!

[jennifer]

    Jennifer has given up games for charity before and it never seems to work out well for me cause then the unspoken "lifelong service" clause kicks in and then you are buying new parts for their free games for like ever, and ever and ever. One may not be so bad but a servicing a donation route really kinda blows. regardless of the original intention .... Teaching this family (or the kids) how to build a cab may be better in the long run than just handing them a fish.

[pbj]

Ignoring all the above BS - my honest suggestion on this is to get them a hacked Xbox 360, which run about $150 these days. 

You can install MAME on it and load it up with as much stolen downloaded junk as you feel comfortable doing.  Plus the physical games are dirt cheap now.  Maybe progress to an actual cabinet if the kids retain any interest in the arcade games for longer than a week?

 

[jennifer]

  I would go as far to say everything above is BS.... But you do make a good point, Why even a legit SNES with some games only runs like 60.00 over at the game store.

[paigeoliver]

You really don't have to be rich to own games. My wife and I have been dirt poor ever since my daughter was born around the same time I lost the job I had held almost my entire adult life. For the past 2.5 years I haven't even been able to get an interview for anything that pays well enough that it wouldn't actually be a big loss after expenses/taxes/obamacare/etc.

Yet the wife and I have something like 23 games, 100 boardsets, a few broken bartops and a couple of project pins. Sure I guess I could sell it all and come up with like $6K which would make no real change in my current situation and would likely be gone in a few months anyway.

[dkersten]

While I don't think the OPs heart is in the wrong place here, I tend to agree with a lot of things said here.  While I enjoy and have room for a full cabinet, if this were something I didn't appreciate that took up that much space in a house and someone gave it to my kids, I probably would be in that awkward place where I was appreciative of the effort but not really receptive to utilizing it.  I would be inclined to stow it in the shed or something because I wouldn't want it in my house, but then if I see these people who donated it to me often, I couldn't exactly do that without offending.  In a case like this, I would far prefer to NOT have someone give me a gift like this, at least without consulting me first.

And for the "poor people" comments, if the recipients of this gift are just struggling to keep food on the table and the rent paid but aren't truly "impoverished", then as long as it is something they want and they have the room for it, their financial status has no bearing here.  Now if the father of this family were here asking how to build one for under $500 and then telling his kids they can't have new school clothes because they "can't afford it", that would be something else entirely.  Cost of ownership here is no different than a TV or computer, and anymore everyone has those in their house, even those on welfare, food stamps, etc.

And if the recipient here were truly impoverished, as in a family of 8 living in a 30 foot trailer parked in a field illegally, with one wage earner supporting two ailing parents making ends meet with welfare checks and food stamp cards, and a few young mouths to feed who haven't showered in a week because the water pump in the trailer is broken and they don't have the money to fix it, well then people in that situation have no need for an arcade, and if they got one they should be selling it for something they truly need because the list is very long.

It is all a matter of relativity.  If you are on welfare and asking the working people of this country to support you, you really have no right to luxuries like an arcade, in my opinion.  On the other hand, if you are doing your best to make it and you get the opportunity to have a luxury like this and it is not adversely affecting the people you should be supporting, then by all means you have the right to have it.  It just might not be all that practical.

[deadmoney5]

Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---...is this BYOAC forum or the Huffington Post or Fox News comment area?

[Vigo]

You really don't have to be rich to own games. My wife and I have been dirt poor ever since my daughter was born around the same time I lost the job I had held almost my entire adult life. For the past 2.5 years I haven't even been able to get an interview for anything that pays well enough that it wouldn't actually be a big loss after expenses/taxes/obamacare/etc.

I agree with Paige. In my state, my family qualifies for a number of govt support programs from healthcare to food stamps (I don't take them, nor do I feel I need them). I personally feel I have a number of nice luxuries and a nice home because I manage and spend my money well. I have built what, 6, maybe 7 arcade related projects, have 3 more cabs i am in the middle of that are sitting in my house and about 4 more projects simply simmering in my brain. This is my hobby, and I have been working on it even when I was living in a 200 square foot studio apartment with my wife and working 3 jobs while still a full time student in order to make ends meet. Space/economic situation is not an issue whether someone is privy to a home built cabinet.

I also think that giving an arcade cab as a gift is a wonderful gesture. I have given most of what I build away to family and friends, partially because I like building more than playing, but also because it is the best gift I know how to give. And for anyone who has not given a home built cabinet as a gift -- it is not the cabinet that they appreciate most. I have given cabs to non-gamers and they loved it. The reason they love it is because they know it is a gesture of a lot of time and effort given to show someone that you care about them. Hallmark cards can suck it.