My new Cocktail Table Project

[camperman73]

Hi all

My new Cocktail project. Thoughts and tips please.

http://how-to-build-a-cocktail-arcade.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks
Stu

[yotsuya]

How did Defender work out for you on a vertical screen?

[camperman73]

It was ok TBH. Just had to mess with the controls because I only have 3 buttons. But worked ok using the joystick.
Need to get back on it this weekend. Stop the other half moaning about the garage being full. haha

Just the painting to do, then fix it together.

[camperman73]

How do I embed pics in here??

[PL1]

How do I embed pics in here??

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Scott

[Generic Eric]

How do I embed pics in here??

Attach please.  That way if your picture host folds or restructures, they will still be hosted here.

[camperman73]

Thanks folks.

[camperman73]

Do the buttons look too far apart? I am thinking i have made the controller box too wide.

[jdbailey1206]

My understanding is just from the Pac Man series cocktail cabs have 2 different sized control panels. 

Pac Mans control panel was 11'' which can be referenced from this picture from arcadeshop.com



Also if you reference the Pac Man drawing package here you can see that on page two there is a detailed drawing that shows the total width of the control panel assembly is 12 1/2''.  This includes the two control panel sides that are 3/4" a piece and the internal metal control panel that is 11".

Ms Pac Man is a little different.  Her control panel only comes in at 9".  See below.



Just by guessing, and I feel I'm light in my estimation, it looks as if your CP is over 13".  Just on the inside.

[yamatetsu]

If these buttons are to be action buttons, not admin buttons, they are definitely too far apart. Take a look at the following link (main forum, sticky 'Control Panel Database: Post a picture of your Control Panel!'), where you'll find 24 pages with pics of control panels. I doubt that you'll find a panel that has the action buttons so far apart.

Control Panel Database: Post a picture of your Control Panel!

[keilmillerjr]

http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html

[camperman73]

Cheers for the replies. Think i will start again with the board.

[camperman73]

Painting, painting and more painting
So after 3 coats of under coat, and 5 top coats I am nearly there.

I am getting obsessed with getting the finish perfect. So another rub down and final coat and i should be done.

I took some advice from contributors on http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/ about the spacing of the buttons. So i decided to reduce the gap between them and shorten the width of the control panel.

It look fine, so I am quite happy with it.

I bought some small caster wheels for underneath, so its easier to move. Its quite heavy even without the pc and monitor in there.











http://how-to-build-a-cocktail-arcade.blogspot.co.uk/

[BobA]

Spacing of play buttons looks much better. 

[camperman73]

Thanks. Now im thinking of adding a fourth. What do you reckon?

[camperman73]

Anyone have any thought on the fourth button?

Some updated pics below.
Added the side fan.

[johnrt]

Anyone have any thought on the fourth button?

I think it looks better with just 3 buttons. I would have made the CP like this if I would use 4 buttons: (a Neo-Geo layout)

[camperman73]

Thanks johnrt. Was thinking I might allow more games. But you are probably right.
3 kinda looks ok.
Maybe do the next one with 4.

Is there a list of 3 or less button games?
And a list of flip cocktail games?

Also, is it easy to flip standard games to play two player. Or just specific games that work that way?

[johnrt]

Is there a list of 3 or less button games?
And a list of flip cocktail games?

According to Don's HyperSpin List Generator:
You can play 5047 games with 3 buttons and 5866 with 4 buttons.
(You can apply many filters in Don's Hyperspin List Generator)
http://honerbrink.com/?cat=7

[camperman73]

Great thanks. I think 3 will be fine then haha!

[camperman73]

Finally got around to starting the wiring. Had to extend the wires to the controller. Soldered nice and neat.

[camperman73]

Some more pics after wiring.
Added a set of speaker. Wired network cable.

Now onto installing HyperSpin. Mame works great.
Just have to trim the game list a little.

[camperman73]

Quick joystick question.

The joystick guard underneath, I have it set as 8 way rather than 4.
This seems better for some games like 1942.
But playing pacman is a little hit and miss.

Would you suggest sticking the joystick guard as a 4 way rather than 8?

[yamatetsu]

That depends on what you want to play. If you only want to play 4-way games, set it to 4-way. For anything else, set it to 8-way. This will probably lead to frustration when playing 4-way games, though.

Another alternative would be to set up the left joystick as 8-way and the right one as 4-way. This would however eliminate two-player-simultaneous-8-way-games.

If you want to be able to play both types of game comfortably, you either need a switchable stick like the ServoStik or a programmable one like the UltraStik360.

[camperman73]

Thanks yamatetsu

I might try the 4 way and see how i get on. Thanks

[camperman73]

I started to add the chrome strips. They look great against the white. Nice and clean lines.

Time consuming but worth it.

Next time i will use 12mm wood and t-molding. But you live and learn.

I also bought some LED strips for underneath. It will match the blue LED fan.

Thoughts?

[camperman73]

HELP!! HYPERSPIN

Sorted i think

[camperman73]

After wrestling with Hyperspin and Xpadder for a while. I finally have it all working.

I added the LED strips underneath.

Next jobs. Speakers.

From the pics do you think the monitor looks too small.

I was thinking of a 24 inch TV rather than the 19 inch monitor.
Thoughts?

[camperman73]

My other thought. Someone said the corners are too round? Should i reduce the radius?

[camperman73]

I have decided to change the top. Reduce the radius of the corners.

I got a 24inch tv and stripped that down. Removing the dvd player.
I have to find somewhere to house the infra red receiver for the tv so I can turn it on.

I finally added the speakers. And the air grills i bought.
I think they look ok in chrome.

[camperman73]

Couple of updated pics. Need to make a new top. And mount the tv controls or infra red reciever somewhere.

But its nearly complete.

[SpaceHedgehog]

I am getting obsessed with getting the finish perfect.

snip.

Best way to be. If you're anything like me, you'll just focus on the things you didn't do right otherwise.

The build looks great. I'd love a cocktail cabinet. 

[camperman73]

Decided to stick with the top.
Added a USB port to the side so you can add games, music, movies etc.

Added the chrome to the outer and inner edge of the top.

Wired the infra red for the TV, so you can switch it on when the lid is on it.

Last job is to get the perspex for the top.
Going to go with perspex rather than glass. Short cut i know.

[camperman73]

All working. Got the other half to test it out.
Just waiting for the toughened glass top to come back and its complete.

Will add final pics soon as.

[camperman73]

COMPLETE:

Got the toughened glass in the end.
One tweek i had to do was to remove the infra red for the tv and added a button to switch it on instead.

Added 800 Mame games, 800 Sega Genesis games, 40 Vectrex and a few pinball games.

Some videos of it working.

[deano71]

Looks good mate.

[camperman73]

Thanks 

[yamatetsu]

Nice build !