Build or buy?

[kk99]

yeah, from the pics... they look like they're the round ones.  Might still work on the bigger, traditional ones though found on all those machines above.

We'll see... at this point, I'm less optimistic about a worthwhile deal anyway.

[kk99]

Alright... Thinking about something like that... a little cheesy but my son loves it.

The monitor is a 20" 4:3 (there are a few still out there).  The dashed line on the left would be the actual angle of the monitor... more or less.  Speakers on each side.  I'm even thinking I could put the "head" on some sort of electrical actuators to adjust the height.  And those curved legs might be tight.  Of course, this would be laminated.  24" Wide x ~60" Height.  I still have to think about access... 

I've seen some pretty slick looking cabs on this site... This design would be a nice, fun theme... But I just bought a Terminator 3 pinball machine... which doesn't quite fit.  I also like the darker themes.

Still... thinking about it...

[Generic Eric]

Alright... Thinking about something like that... a little cheesy but my son loves it.

The monitor is a 20" 4:3 (there are a few still out there).  The dashed line on the left would be the actual angle of the monitor... more or less.  Speakers on each side.  I'm even thinking I could put the "head" on some sort of electrical actuators to adjust the height.  And those curved legs might be tight.  Of course, this would be laminated.  24" Wide x ~60" Height.  I still have to think about access... 

I've seen some pretty slick looking cabs on this site... This design would be a nice, fun theme... But I just bought a Terminator 3 pinball machine... which doesn't quite fit.  I also like the darker themes.

Still... thinking about it...

Here are some pics from a project another dude did.

[kk99]

Thanks Eric (The Generic),

Would you happen to have a link to big pacman?  I can probably learn something from him...

[Generic Eric]

Thanks Eric (The Generic),

Would you happen to have a link to big pacman?  I can probably learn something from him...

Well, that is the same unit.  Just big enough for the handheld unit and a small screen.  It was linked here as a finished project.   I had to use Internet archive to get the pics, so I just uploaded the pics to imgur.

[kk99]

Ohhhhh!  I never realized that they were both the same!  I thought the side-view was some sort of huge pacman "sitting" on the floor!  I thought it was odd that the controller was so huge...

It does provide some idea for the head part, now that I see properly.

P.S. My son immediately knew that they were the same... a little embarrassing...

[yotsuya]

Pac-Man seems a bit too far tilted back in your mockup. Look at his position in the other one.

[JDFan]

Alright... Thinking about something like that... a little cheesy but my son loves it.

The monitor is a 20" 4:3 (there are a few still out there).  The dashed line on the left would be the actual angle of the monitor... more or less.  Speakers on each side.  I'm even thinking I could put the "head" on some sort of electrical actuators to adjust the height.  And those curved legs might be tight.  Of course, this would be laminated.  24" Wide x ~60" Height.  I still have to think about access... 

I've seen some pretty slick looking cabs on this site... This design would be a nice, fun theme... But I just bought a Terminator 3 pinball machine... which doesn't quite fit.  I also like the darker themes.

Still... thinking about it...

Maybe add a rolling top so that when not in use it could be closed like a rolling top desk.

[kk99]

@yotsuya
The angle is somewhat in the same ballpark as regular vertical cabs, I think.  I tried to keep that angle more or less the same (although it varies quite a bit)... I haven't looked at desktop cabinets much... maybe the angles are more pronounced on those ones.  My original though was to have the head "swivel" a little to adjust that angle, actually.  But then I though adjusting the height through actuators would be "simpler" and still provide adjustment.  Still, I'll look at more vertical cabs and see if it should be tilted a little more.

@JDFan
You just want me to fail, don't you...   This WILL be my first machine, if I even go ahead with it...

Thanks for your inputs!

[Generic Eric]

are you committed to a vertical display?  What size?

[kk99]

Not necessarily... However, I've looked around a bit and there isn't much beyond 20" for a 4:3 ratio.  So if I stick with this ratio, then putting it vertically would look better I think.  I've been thinking about it and I don't think I'll go with super state-of-the-art games.  I think I'll be happy with just the conventional old classics.  I can use my HT projector for the newer ones.

Now, since I might be sticking to old classics... a vertical screen would look ok.  But I COULD flip it back to normal and use a widescreen.  Although a large 28" widescreen would still be shorter than a vertical 20" 4:3 by more than 2".  What did you have in mind?

Note that I've increased the cab width to 28" to get a little more room for the controls..

[kk99]

Also...

I was talking about this at work with a co-worker... (during breaks, of course )  He was saying that most games had the joystick on the left and the buttons on the right.  I was skeptical because when I play with the mouse/keyboard, I want the precise movements to be controlled by my "precise" hand (to use loosely).  So having the joystick on the left made no sense to me... but he was right!  Most cabs I've looked on the web had the stick on the left.  Then I though... what if I made my machine symmetrical.  It would look better, for one thing... but it would also give a single user the ability to chose which one he wants.  I don't know, however, if the different game emulators allow you to chose one side or the other.

Does anybody know?

[stavros693000]

First post... hope I don't break any rules...

Been looking around at pre-built multi-game cabinets.  Admittedly, I haven't spent huge amounts of time looking at them, so I'm not sure yet what I gotta be careful about.

In any case, I've been debating between building it myself or just buy the thing.  Seems like when I do the quick math... It doesn't look like I'd be saving a whole lot for all the trouble.... The one I'm looking at is the X-Arcade one.  Seems pretty decent and a Lifetime Warranty (for all that's worth).

How significant would the savings be, considering all the trouble?  Don't get me wrong, it'd be kinda cool to build it and I'm quite confident I could... but it seems silly to do it if the savings are going to be marginal.

Any inputs on that?

build one your self trust me you will save a small fortune. The xarcade cabinets are around $2,500 and you can build an awesome full size cab with custom artwork and 4 player control panel with track ball all with led buttons for around $1500

Or two player slim cab would be even cheaper.
in my sig ceck out my cab, it is my first build, id never built anything in my life so if I can do that then anyone can . it only cost me $1500 all up but only $1000 if you don't count the hyperspin HDD and desk top pc

So IMO its way cheaper do do it yourself and fun cause you can customise every thing just they way you like.

hope this helps, good luck which ever way you decide to go
 

[stavros693000]

Also...

I was talking about this at work with a co-worker... (during breaks, of course )  He was saying that most games had the joystick on the left and the buttons on the right.  I was skeptical because when I play with the mouse/keyboard, I want the precise movements to be controlled by my "precise" hand (to use loosely).  So having the joystick on the left made no sense to me... but he was right!  Most cabs I've looked on the web had the stick on the left.  Then I though... what if I made my machine symmetrical.  It would look better, for one thing... but it would also give a single user the ability to chose which one he wants.  I don't know, however, if the different game emulators allow you to chose one side or the other.

Does anybody know?

if you find it more comfortable to play games that way then go for it, but just keep in mind you will be the only one who finds it comfortable, any one else who comes over to play will not like the set up.
its your build so do what you want but I would put the joystick on the left and buttons on the right, it just feels natural that way.

Im guessing you didn't go to the arcades much as a kid, did you? cause every arcade from back in the day were set up like that, I say that because you find it comfortable to play left handed but to my knowledge there were no left handed arcade machines in the 80s-90s

ps imo I don't think it looks semetrical, I think it looks odd. But hey that's just me

[kk99]

Hi stavros,

Looked at your cab... that is one huge thing!  But it looks great.

As for the "left handed"... I don't get it... to me, having the joystick on the right is RIGHT handed... I don't quite get why would people want to use their left hand for the precision movements and the right hand for pushing buttons.  Maybe it depends on the type of games... I've never been a Street Fighter kinda player and maybe for those, you need rapid pushing of the buttons... which may be easier with the right hand.  Don't know...

In any case... If I go with the symmetrical option and *IF* emulators allow me to use one side or the other, then it won't matter too much. 

"ps imo I don't think it looks semetrical, I think it looks odd. But hey that's just me"

Not sure I understand what you mean by this... I was saying this in the context of having a left-handed AND right-handed setup on a 2-players CP.  If that was the case, the panel would be symmetrical.

[kk99]

oh... and you're right... I didn't play too many arcade games as a kid... mostly the home stuff.... was it THAT obvious

[stavros693000]

it is one huge thing,lol....I got a bit carried away I liked the look of one of the dream home arcades so I kinda based it on that. But that's how big full size arcades were when I was a kid, except for the 4 player CP....... I didn't have any plans just had some hand tools + jigsaw a started building and hoped it would turn out ok, pics really don't do it justice ....every time someone comes over and sees it for the first time there eyes light up and I get a lot of compliments and request to build one for them lol

........back to the subject at hand, I see what you mean about it looking semetrical its just odd to me cause ive never seen or played a set up like that.....but like I said before its your cabinet and if its comfortable for you than that's what you should build and it will look great (semetrical)

[stavros693000]

oh... and you're right... I didn't play too many arcade games as a kid... mostly the home stuff.... was it THAT obvious

na not at all just a wild guess

[yotsuya]

Dude, if you're just going to play the classics, put the joystick in the center, and put a pair of buttons on each side. That way, it doesn't matter what hand you use.

[kk99]

Dude... I like it... Sold!

[JDFan]

Here I thought it was going to be a dual joystick no button CPO for Pacman type games and Dual Joystick games like Robotron, Smash TV, Crazy Climber, etc. ! 

[Generic Eric]

Here I thought it was going to be a dual joystick no button CPO for Pacman type games and Dual Joystick games like Robotron, Smash TV, Crazy Climber, etc. ! 

Joystick Dual Fan


@kk99

I don't know if you are still considering going in the direction of the pacman shaped pacman game.

I think the key challenge is getting finding the correct perspective:



Finding an acceptable compromise is what is frustrating.  Good luck.

[mgb]

Where's the other 1%?

[Generic Eric]

Where's the other 1%?

haha.  In the kerf I guess.

[mgb]

Where's the other 1%?

haha.  In the kerf I guess.

oh yeah of course, the kerf. 

@kk99
 I'm not sure if you worked out your cp layout idea or not yet but Yotsuya's idea would make the most sense. just go with a centered joystick and two buttons.
its important to have a clear idea of what games you intend to play with this cab.

[kk99]

One thing should be clear to everybody, at this point... it's that nothing is clear to me yet...

I haven't done any "research" into the CP yet... I just slapped a couple of sticks on the pics I posted, but I was more concerned about the shape.. So the pics were just a quick thing I put together to see if the proportions would work.

******** WARNING WARNING WARNING ********
DON'T LAUGH at my taste buds detaching from poor little pacman!
I haven't decided on the colors, the position or the number of buttons yet.  What this does show, however, is the dual-player layout and the single trackball.  That's more or less what I was thinking about... But even though I brought up the CP discussion above... I really am not spending much time on that, yet.  But I'm still taking in your inputs...

[yotsuya]

If you're just playing classics, you only need 1 joystick. P1 and P2 trade off on most classics.

Take a look at classic control panels. 1 joystick.

Unless you plan of playing beat 'em ups or fighting games from the late 80s/90s, you only need 1 joy.

[kk99]

Also... I was thinking about putting a digital keyboard towards the back of the CP, since it'd be pretty "deep".  So instead of hiding a keyboard under the panel, I'd love to put something like this...

http://www.dynamism.com/accessories/cool-leaf-keyboard.shtml

But the damn tongue may give me a problem...

[Generic Eric]

One thing should be clear to everybody, at this point... it's that nothing is clear to me yet...

I haven't done any "research" into the CP yet... I just slapped a couple of sticks on the pics I posted, but I was more concerned about the shape.. So the pics were just a quick thing I put together to see if the proportions would work.

******** WARNING WARNING WARNING ********
DON'T LAUGH at my taste buds detaching from poor little pacman!
I haven't decided on the colors, the position or the number of buttons yet.  What this does show, however, is the dual-player layout and the single trackball.  That's more or less what I was thinking about... But even though I brought up the CP discussion above... I really am not spending much time on that, yet.  But I'm still taking in your inputs...

That's  durty. I need a shower.

[yotsuya]

Heh. I'm out. Enjoy your build. 

[mgb]

the tongue is....... interesting.

but to get back to controls here.
why exactly do you want to add a keyboard to the cp?

also being that you're looking at doing a pacman shaped cab, are you planning for a vertically mounted monitor.

If I were building a cab with this shape, I'd think I'd want to have a vertical monitor and a centered 4-way joystick.

[kk99]

Due to unpopular demand, I might have to rethink my tongue... To be fair, I was never fully set on the idea specifically because it gave an unnecessary hard time dealing with its layout relative to the controls.  I may just put a standard pacman play field background type-of-thing.

@mgb
Yes, I'm strongly leaning towards a vertical 4:3, as mentioned above.  Just because most games I intend to play on it will be the old, vertical ones.  So I'm getting a taller 20" 4:3 than I'd be getting with a 28" horizontal 16:9.

As for the keyboard... Well, as far as I know, most vertical cabs have some sort of keyboard... usually hidden under the CP.  What I don't know is how often it's actually being used.  However, the keyboard I've pointed to is actually pretty slick looking. When turned off, it's just a glass looking surface... similar to what a Plexiglas covered CP would look like.  Turn it on and the digital keys light up.  So I'd add a small USB power switch right next to it (or hidden somewhere) to quickly access it; but most of the time, it would be turned off.  I know it's unconventional but I'm at piece with myself on this one...   I'm willing to live with the consequences... unless somebody brings up a functional challenge.

Finally... I don't want to sound like I'm ignoring your inputs, as I truly appreciate the time you guys take... but I want to stick with 2 joysticks.  Definitely flexible on the layout and the number of buttons though...

@Eric (The Generic)
no need for a shower... the tongue is out...

[BorgDog]

you know, if you made the tongue 3d sculpted like, then it would be totally freakin' awesome!  seriously. ooh and you could put like a rough tongue like texture on it too

[Generic Eric]

Due to unpopular demand, I might have to rethink my tongue... To be fair, I was never fully set on the idea specifically because it gave an unnecessary hard time dealing with its layout relative to the controls.  I may just put a standard pacman play field background type-of-thing.

@mgb
Yes, I'm strongly leaning towards a vertical 4:3, as mentioned above.  Just because most games I intend to play on it will be the old, vertical ones.  So I'm getting a taller 20" 4:3 than I'd be getting with a 28" horizontal 16:9.

As for the keyboard... Well, as far as I know, most vertical cabs have some sort of keyboard... usually hidden under the CP.  What I don't know is how often it's actually being used.  However, the keyboard I've pointed to is actually pretty slick looking. When turned off, it's just a glass looking surface... similar to what a Plexiglas covered CP would look like.  Turn it on and the digital keys light up.  So I'd add a small USB power switch right next to it (or hidden somewhere) to quickly access it; but most of the time, it would be turned off.  I know it's unconventional but I'm at piece with myself on this one...   I'm willing to live with the consequences... unless somebody brings up a functional challenge.

Finally... I don't want to sound like I'm ignoring your inputs, as I truly appreciate the time you guys take... but I want to stick with 2 joysticks.  Definitely flexible on the layout and the number of buttons though...

@Eric (The Generic)
no need for a shower... the tongue is out...

You don't need a keyboard shelf.  Any programming you need to do should be done before hand.  Should you feel the need for a keyboard, just get a wireless combo with a mouse too.

So why 2 sticks again?  Is it for robotron? Or for two players? Or was it for the symmetry issue? 

How do you play emulated games now?  Mouse and keyboard or do you have a test control panel?

[PL1]

you know, if you made the tongue 3d sculpted like, then it would be totally freakin' awesome!  seriously. ooh and you could put like a rough tongue like texture on it too

Check out the Monstarcade here.   

   


Scott

[Dawgz Rule]

kk99,  without question, the first step is to figure out what you want to play.   It will make all the difference in the world in the end.  I love the cabinet I built and considering I didn't even know BYOAC existed, I am pretty pleased with the results.  However, my lessons learned:

1.  My favorite games turned out to be Shmups.  Had I known that, I probably would have built a vertical cab first.
2.  Many of my current favorites are games I never realized existed until after my build.  Better research would have helped focus my cab design.
3. I generally don't play fighters and although playable, the sticks I have aren't the best for them.  (although they are great for shmups).
4.  Be selective about the games you choose to have.  100 great games is much better than 8000 games with 100 great games in the mix. 

The broader the mix you choose, the more compromise you will have to make in order to build a cab that accomplishes everything.  It is much better to focus on a specific genre and build a cabinet that fulfills that role extremely well. 

[Malenko]

You lost me at 2 sticks bro.  Wondering what games you plan to play that will make use of both, or are you going to wire them in parallel so that the 2 players eventually get into a fist fight over messing up each other's games?   

[kk99]

@BorgDog
I like the tongue, really.... but unless I do another Monstarcade... it's probably going to be more of a pain to deal with the layout than if I chose something else.

@Eric (The Generic)
Whenever there's a PC involved... I kinda like to have a keyboard. I can probably use the trackball for the mouse, if I chose to go that way. I could go with wireless but I'd still have to have a readily available storage location for it.  I will certainly keep it in mind anyway.  But let me ask you... Are you running Win7 or XP?  Are you connected to the web for updates or do you have a completely isolated machine?

@PL1
Where are the eyes?

@everybody
Like I said... I REALLY haven't thought much about the controls yet... I haven't even read the chapter in the book about them.  This isn't urgent for me as the controls are pretty irrelevant when designing the cab in general. I need to do my homework first, as Dawgz (and others?) mentioned. Know which games I plan on playing is certainly going to be a key part of my final decision.  Heck, I didn't play that many arcade games as a kid (just the home game consoles) so I have games to discover first.  Luckily, my co-worker knows all about them

You guys are bringing valid points that I will considered further when I'm in CP mode.  At this point, I'm just trying to get my 3D modeling skills back on track... it's been years since I've used AutoCAD and it's a painful process right now... but fun.

Again... thanks for all you inputs!

[Generic Eric]

Wireless KB & mouse
Win7x64
Connected to the internet, but that is because it was set up before I had other computers.  Once you have everything loaded, you might decide its not necessary to have it connected.  There are people that swear against.
*shrug*   
After giving it some thought, and multi tasking for over a year, when I get this going again, I want to have it only play the games the controls allow it to play. 

[kk99]

Thanks Eric (The Generic),

Initially, it certainly seems like I should be connected to troubleshoot and read setup stuff on the web.  But yeah... once everything is working "just right"... It may not be needed after that...