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Noob wants to build a MAME cabinet for under 200$

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mkwfreak:

is it possible to build a upright, 2 player 6 button mame cabinet for under 200$? providing the monitor and computer is provided?

chopperthedog:

Anything is possible with cardboard, duct tape and cheap labor from a home depot parking lot.


good day.

kiwasabi:


--- Quote from: mkwfreak on August 05, 2014, 09:57:19 pm ---is it possible to build a upright, 2 player 6 button mame cabinet for under 200$? providing the monitor and computer is provided?

--- End quote ---

Are you able to build a cabinet yourself? Because if so, you can build the cabinet for $60 (2 sheets of particle board or melamine coated pressboard). Or $30 if you make it really thin and do it with one sheet.

Joysticks are about $10 each, buttons $2 each... So that's $20 + $28 = $48 (since I'm assuming you want to have start buttons). Then you need the encoder board, which can be had for $30-40. Monitor glass/plexi will run you another $30. I wouldn't recommend a coin door in your case as that would be another $70. Speakers can be had for $20-30.

So yeah, it might be able to be done if you're extra thrifty.

kiwasabi:


--- Quote from: chopperthedog on August 05, 2014, 10:01:09 pm ---Anything is possible with cardboard, duct tape and cheap labor from a home depot parking lot.


good day.

--- End quote ---

Ah c'mon leave the immature trolling to KLOV. On here we're a community dedicated to helping each other create cool stuff on a budget.

BadMouth:

Cheapest way is to find an old cabinet, for less than $100 or free.
You might even get real lucky and find one already laid out correctly for 2 players with 6 buttons each.
It would still be cutting it close.

Depends on what your expectations are, what tools you have, and what your skillset is.
example - are you willing to spend a few hours soldering wires to cheap hacked controller PCBs to save $20 over buying an interface.
(personally, I'd still go with a keyboard encoder unless you plan to run newer Steam games)
Do you expect to have custom artwork on the marquee and control panel, or would you be happy with the stuff from the original game?
Stuff printed at staples doesn't look half bad, although the CP art would need to be under plexiglass.
Paint can be a cheap way of making the cab look custom.

Building it from scratch results in a lot of unforeseen $40 trips to the hardware store.




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