Arcade Twin Racer build from scratch

[pintricks]

Hi all,
I have started a blog some weeks ago about my Twin Racer Cab build.

I'm going to build a Arcade-Style TWIN racing cabinet, like the ones found in arcade halls, but with PC's instead of game cartridges, so that we can play PC race games, or emulated arcade games. Ofcourse we can make use of the LAN/ONLINE features of these games to play against each other or even with other players around the world. The cabinets features a 3D TV so most of these games can also be played in 3D with the included glasses.

These are the main "features" this arcade racing cab will have:
* Two identical cabinets will be made. It's not going to be one big 2-player console because this would be hard to transport or move in other rooms. So instead, we build two identical "consoles" that simply stand next to each other.
* The cabinet will boot up in "Daytona USA" (linked mode) so that it looks as a real arcade racer and can be played instantly by guests (on freeplay)
* easy to use interface to select all the other games
* when a game is selected, various screens will discuss all buttons used in the game, and how a LAN game can be setup
* when a game is selected, a choice is given to run the 2D or 3D version of the game. When 3D is selected the TV will automatically switch to 3D mode and run the game.
* Since we use PC's, the steering wheel used is a Logitech G27. However, we are going to completely dis-mantle the wheel and pedals and gearbox and build it in a complete "console" so that it looks as a professional arcade cabinet.
*   The seat will features a build-in subwoofer and "buttkicker" shaker so that you can "feel" and "hear" engine sounds and collisions.
* The games can be played in LAN or ONLINE so you can race against each other (left and right cabinet) or against players around the world. This ofcourse depends on the game features.

The blog can be found here:
http://twinracerbuild.blogspot.be/

[MTPPC]

I think you might have problems running 3D, but I look forward to your progress.

[Generic Eric]

Welcome Racer!

Can you post some pics here?  That would be best. 

[n3wt0n]

sounds like a huge project. I look forward to seeing the progress. Good luck.

[jcapone]

Do you have drawings of your plans? I am considering doing the same.

Thanks

[pintricks]

I think you might have problems running 3D, but I look forward to your progress.

Thanks.
I have my 2 PC's that I'm going to use in a test setup and was able to play most games in 3D with the TRIDEF software. Works great. I will discuss this in a future blog post.

[pintricks]

Do you have drawings of your plans? I am considering doing the same.

Thanks

They are created in a special program for the CNC but i'll see if I can export them in something suitable.

[Titchgamer]

Sounds intresting i will watch with intrest

[pintricks]

Hi,
I'm posting some pics of the finished cabinet now.

[shaolindrunkard]

Very Nice! Where did you get the side art printed?

[ant2]

Great job.
What front end are you using?

[MrThunderwing]

Nice work dude! Looks awesome.

[n3wt0n]

Looks good! Congrats on the great build. 

[Howard_Casto]

I like it.  Are the instrument clusters just for show or do they work?

[pintricks]

Very Nice! Where did you get the side art printed?

I created the art myself and had it printed in a local print shop. They print on vinyl with large "inkjet"-type printers.

[pintricks]

Great job.
What front end are you using?

I'm using Hyperspin with a "horizontal" wheel. I don't use rocketlauncher or anything. Just the interface. When a game is selected it does not run the game exe, but instead it runs an autohotkey script which I wrote myself for every game. This script does various things like displaying splash screens with information on how to setup a LAN game, what each button on the cabinet does for that specific game etc. It also copies save games file to the other cabinet so that progress is in sync on each cabinet. It also allows the user to choose if they want to play the 2D or 3D version. (3D version is actually using TRIDEF to run the game).

[pintricks]

I like it.  Are the instrument clusters just for show or do they work?

Hi Howard, it's just for show It would be too complicated and time consuming to get them working for all games that I wanted on the cabinet. I like them better than decals however so that's why I choose to use real clusters.

I also run your outrun 2006 hack on these cabinets. Thanks for that version. Do you have plans to do the arcade-menu structure also for LAN games? So that it more or less can be setup to run a LAN race like the original arcade did? That would be great. Now when the machines boot up, I run m2emulator with Daytone USA. This way guests can play it like they play an arcade racer, without the hassle of complicated menus that all pc games have. But ofcourse the Daytone USA looks very dated. So it would be great if I could use outrun 2006 for that instead 

Thanks

[pintricks]

Thanks for all the kind words guys. There are a lot of PC games on the cabinet ofcourse and we play online as well... When playing online we both enter the same online lobby (we play most codemaster games (dirt series, grid series, F1 series) and games like project cars. So we might bump into each other during an online game some day.

[stuzza]

Fantastic build!  This is pretty much exactly what I would like to put together.  I would love to get some plans for the actual cabinet and that custom control panel if you are willing to share.  Great work.

[scoltx]

Fantastic build!  This is pretty much exactly what I would like to put together.  I would love to get some plans for the actual cabinet and that custom control panel if you are willing to share.  Great work.

Me too!   Putting together an arcade / sim racer with a g27 and older ps3 to play ps3 / ps2 drivers. Struggling with what to do for the cockpit, even a sketch with some dimensions would be useful, or some build pics.  Your dashboard looks awesome!

[DudeRegular]

This is a killer setup. Well done man. It would be great if you shared more on the software side of your work. It would likely help a lot of folks out - including myself .

[pintricks]

Me too!   Putting together an arcade / sim racer with a g27 and older ps3 to play ps3 / ps2 drivers. Struggling with what to do for the cockpit, even a sketch with some dimensions would be useful, or some build pics.  Your dashboard looks awesome!

Hi,
Did you check out my blog? (link is in the first post of this thread). There I discuss the build of the cockpit with build pics. If you have questions, let me know.

[pintricks]

This is a killer setup. Well done man. It would be great if you shared more on the software side of your work. It would likely help a lot of folks out - including myself .

Hi, thanks.
On my blog, I created a new post where I discuss the scripting side of the cabinet. I discuss one example script on how I did it to run a game in 2D or 3D. I also will discuss the Hyperspin setup there soon.

If you have questions, please let me know.

[scoltx]

Me too!   Putting together an arcade / sim racer with a g27 and older ps3 to play ps3 / ps2 drivers. Struggling with what to do for the cockpit, even a sketch with some dimensions would be useful, or some build pics.  Your dashboard looks awesome!

Hi,
Did you check out my blog? (link is in the first post of this thread). There I discuss the build of the cockpit with build pics. If you have questions, let me know.

Totally missed that link! Nice detail on the build particularly how you did the dash and shifter/ trackball pod. Thanks for pointing me to the blog.

[stuzza]

Me too!   Putting together an arcade / sim racer with a g27 and older ps3 to play ps3 / ps2 drivers. Struggling with what to do for the cockpit, even a sketch with some dimensions would be useful, or some build pics.  Your dashboard looks awesome!

Hi,
Did you check out my blog? (link is in the first post of this thread). There I discuss the build of the cockpit with build pics. If you have questions, let me know.

I can see a few pics of the cabinet on your blog but no plans of the side profiles or anything.  Any chance you can provide your plans?  Amazed at how there really aren't any detailed driving cab plans on the net anywhere.

[scoltx]

I can see a few pics of the cabinet on your blog but no plans of the side profiles or anything.  Any chance you can provide your plans?  Amazed at how there really aren't any detailed driving cab plans on the net anywhere.

True, I've looked for the same thing, closest I could find was this.

http://hacknmod.com/hack/diy-need-for-speed-racing-arcade/

It's cool just doesn't look like a traditional arcade driving cab, more of a hybrid of sim rig and an arcade cab.

[Howard_Casto]

As a larger guy in his late 30's, that looks like some kind of torture device.  No way I could get in and out without breaking something. 

[scoltx]

As a larger guy in his late 30's, that looks like some kind of torture device.  No way I could get in and out without breaking something.

LOL I hear ya. I wouldn't want something I'd need to climb into either.

[Howard_Casto]

I've got some rough plans of mine but it's a bit... unconventional.  It collapses to roughly a 2 foot x 2 foot footprint.  Aside from some cosmetic woes I'm satisfied with it though.  I probably need to take pics and update my build progress while I have time tomorrow.

[scoltx]

I've got some rough plans of mine but it's a bit... unconventional.  It collapses to roughly a 2 foot x 2 foot footprint.  Aside from some cosmetic woes I'm satisfied with it though.  I probably need to take pics and update my build progress while I have time tomorrow.

Build thread?

[Pstylz]

Hi,
I'm posting some pics of the finished cabinet now.

Fantastic work mate.
What instrument cluster did you use?
It's hard to tell from photos, but do you have the needles set on a setting?