Building A Goldfish Arcade

[UnoWho]

Hi,

I do not know where to start.  I have an idea to make an arcade out of an aquarium but using a cocktail cabinet as the container.  It is a strange concept but I have the wood, plans and the aquarium to make this all happen.

The question is heat.  What monitors are low heat emitting?  I think I will go for a floor plexi case filled with baby oil, and a future proof PC.  It is not going anywhere so the tank should be fine even for heavy use gaming.

Any ideas for the monitor?

I don't want to cook my fishies. 

[DeLuSioNal29]

Did you mean non-conductive mineral oil for the PC?  Is that going to be in a separate enclosure next to the cocktail machine?

I'm not quite understanding the concept.  Drawings would help.

DeL

[yotsuya]

[yotsuya]

I gotta be honest with you. In 7 years, this has to be the second stupidest idea I have ever heard. I’m not saying that to be mean, but it’s the truth.

[harveybirdman]

Draw me a picture...


I gotta see what's going on in your head... do I have to look through the fish to see the screen... or are the fish the bezel?

[thomas_surles]

So something like this?

[PL1]

Sounds like taking a tabletop cocktail build like Griffindodd/Maximus' Little Miss Pac-Man or mgb's Verti-GO and putting it on top of an aquarium.   

! No longer available




I doubt the fishies will like the game sounds and button-mashing. 


Scott

[rackoon]

Dude, why would you build you fish an arcade, they don't even have fingers

[PL1]

Dude, why would you build you fish an arcade, they don't even have fingers

So you're suggesting a pincab, because . . . flippers? 


Scott

[UnoWho]

I am grateful for the enthusiasm and the comedy but I am adding an aquarium into the centre of a cocktail cabinet.  I just need to know what my display options are?  I will be adding concrete blocks to help in the stability of the cabinet.  I know you think it is a ludicrous idea but now I am unsure about the wood strength.

Should I reinforce it with steel braces?  I'll get my sketches scanned and upload them if I am allowed.

Thanks for the help.

[thomas_surles]

You should call the dudes on that tanked show. Might make for a good episode

[Mike A]

Are you building a house or an aquarium stand? My 150 gallon tank sits on a wooden stand. This idea sounded bad to start with. Now it sounds comically bad.

[aldub516]

Concrete blocks? Steel bracings?  JET FUEL CANNOT MELT YOUR GAME

[yotsuya]

Build what your fishies dig, bro. Build what your fishies dig.

[UnoWho]

So something like this?

I do apologise, I missed this example in my previous posts.  This is exactly what I have in mind.  My biggest problem is the monitor.  All the 24 inch monitors I have heat up quite a bit.  Does anyone know which monitor runs the coolest?

I'm sorry for sounding like a broken record but I am stuck.  Below the aquarium will be a sealed pc in baby oil.  I don't know if I post my images as there are security measures on this site stopping me.

[thomas_surles]

You could post pictures elswhere and copy the url and tap the little mona lisa icon and paste between the image words in the brackeys. Have you considered reptiles instead since it will be hot? Like little turtles?

[nitrogen_widget]

I gotta be honest with you. In 7 years, this has to be the second stupidest idea I have ever heard. I’m not saying that to be mean, but it’s the truth.

what was the first?

[yotsuya]

I gotta be honest with you. In 7 years, this has to be the second stupidest idea I have ever heard. I’m not saying that to be mean, but it’s the truth.

what was the first?

Louis Tully’s File Cabinetcade, which he had the good sense to abandon when he saw it was the bad idea everyone else thought it was.

Go ahead, Scott, post the picture.

[Mike A]

Don't do this. Every part of this is bad. There are many issues involved just with the oil immersed PC. This will be a bad aquarium, paired with a bad arcade cab, powered by a problematic PC setup.

[PL1]

I gotta be honest with you. In 7 years, this has to be the second stupidest idea I have ever heard. I’m not saying that to be mean, but it’s the truth.

what was the first?

Louis Tully’s File Cabinetcade, which he had the good sense to abandon when he saw it was the bad idea everyone else thought it was.

Go ahead, Scott, post the picture.

No pics, but here's the last archive.org capture of the thread before LT wiped his posts.

https://web.archive.org/web/20141018203422/http://forum.arcadecontrols.com:80/index.php/topic,138220.0.html

I love your creativity in general, Louis, but I don't think anyone could make this work and not look like an afterthought bolted onto a file cabinet. Sorry. 

The rest of the story is that the thread eventually morphed into his outstanding Mario pedestal build.


Scott

[yotsuya]

The sad thing is I think that pedestal build is ultimately what broke him.

[nitrogen_widget]

I gotta be honest with you. In 7 years, this has to be the second stupidest idea I have ever heard. I’m not saying that to be mean, but it’s the truth.

what was the first?

Louis Tully’s File Cabinetcade, which he had the good sense to abandon when he saw it was the bad idea everyone else thought it was.

Go ahead, Scott, post the picture.

didn't see that.

Worst goldfish idea i ever saw:

[yotsuya]

I gotta be honest with you. In 7 years, this has to be the second stupidest idea I have ever heard. I’m not saying that to be mean, but it’s the truth.

what was the first?

Louis Tully’s File Cabinetcade, which he had the good sense to abandon when he saw it was the bad idea everyone else thought it was.

Go ahead, Scott, post the picture.

didn't see that.

Worst goldfish idea i ever saw:

I was thinking the same exact thing!

[Mike A]

One of the problems is that people stick goldfish in a tiny aquarium and then wonder why they die so quickly. I have 4 koi in a 150 gallon aquarium. My homemade filter is a 100 gallon plastic tank. I wouldn't want to put any more fish in that setup. They are 7 years old now. Koi and goldfish produce a lot more waste than most other fish.

[leapinlew]

Don't let the haters get you down!

My suggestion is that you don't worry about the heat. Make the top of the arcade self contained, but also acts as the lid, like this:



or this:



And mount the whole self contained top onto your cabinet which contains your aquarium. You'll need access for cleanings, feedings, etc anyhow, so you'll want a quick and easy way to perform that on the fish tank and you'll want a way to remove the top so you can work on the cabinet when components fail.


Do I think this is a good concept? Who cares, it's yours. Have fun.

[yotsuya]

I think Lew secretly hates us all.

[nitrogen_widget]

I gotta be honest with you. In 7 years, this has to be the second stupidest idea I have ever heard. I’m not saying that to be mean, but it’s the truth.

what was the first?

Louis Tully’s File Cabinetcade, which he had the good sense to abandon when he saw it was the bad idea everyone else thought it was.

Go ahead, Scott, post the picture.

didn't see that.

Worst goldfish idea i ever saw:

I was thinking the same exact thing!

 

[leapinlew]

I think Lew secretly hates us all.

No way mang! It's no secret.

[yotsuya]

I think Lew secretly hates us all.

No way mang! It's no secret.

True.

[UnoWho]

I figured out the monitor problem and decided to mount the monitor underneath and use a mirror to display the game.  I also got inspiration from another person who converted an Atari Asteroids into a aquarium.  The problem will be the fish but I can buy one sided glass or use a bubbler to keep the tank busy.  My design will be similar as I can get an old asteroids cab off a friend and throw away the monitor and use the space for the monitor like in space invaders.  Then there will be no heat issues.  I hope you can view the images.  Please don't laugh as I think this will be really cool.

[yotsuya]

Don’t ever throw away a vector monitor. At least sell the damn thing.

[Mike A]

I can think of several things I would rather do than laugh. Throwing away a vector monitor? You have got to be a troll.

[thomas_surles]

Mail it to me

[Haze]

doing anything with an original Asteroids and Vector Monitor other than restoring it to full working condition should be illegal.

Those things need protecting, not converting into novelty hipster garbage.

[leapinlew]

This is getting better and better!

[UnoWho]

To be absolutely clear, I appreciate arcade games like you and would not bastardise a classic arcade machine.  I thought that the asteroids machine aquarium was a good idea and I will be able to add plenty of controls on the control panel.

I will change the artwork to shark attack or big bass to keep the theme going.  It is a heavy cabinet but adding weights and a shelf system for my consoles.  The fish will add to the game play by creating a custom tank.  It will go into projects so please move it into the correct forum.

A word on etiquette.  People on this board was rude to me and threatened me.  I think this is not warranted and I would ask for those viewing my project to show the proper respect.  If you cannot be positive please delete my account and I will go elsewhere.  You have helped others and I understand this is unusual to create.

Thank you.

[Mike A]

This is definitely a troll.

[markc74]

This is definitely a troll.

I assumed that from the username. Shame tho...

[Ian]

I gotta be honest with you. In 7 years, this has to be the second stupidest idea I have ever heard. I’m not saying that to be mean, but it’s the truth.

what was the first?

Louis Tully’s File Cabinetcade, which he had the good sense to abandon when he saw it was the bad idea everyone else thought it was.

Go ahead, Scott, post the picture.

Im sorry but the dumbest cab I ever saw was the Ikeacade. Good grief.

[UnoWho]

I decided on a slimmer variation of this style of aquarium for each side and a mirror for the back.  I can mask the sides to minimally the action on the mirror and not freak out the fish.



I'm not sure about weight of the two tanks but I need a water barrier between the monitor shelf and the monitor below.  I'm reading up on how to orient the monitor but I am sure there is an option in mame.

I'm getting the cab and the parts next.

[leapinlew]

Yes!!!

 

 

[Ian]

Yep... keep this up. I want to see the final vision!

[Mike A]

It's not real.

[leapinlew]

It's not real.

Your face is not real!

[opt2not]

 I know the forum has been lackluster as of late, but this is getting to an all-time low. Gone are the days of innovative cool projects, now we get this...mockery. Ban plz.

[UnoWho]

I have a few questions.  Does anyone know how heavy a vector monitor is?  I told my girl friend about this project and she wants to use the original tank which would take up the entire monitor shelf.  So I thought of having a hidden monitor raise up from the bottom of the cabinet via a linear actuator.  This would hide the aquarium when gaming and then lower when finished.

Do you think that would be possible?  Also we talked about what games we would play and she wants to contain my consoles in this cabinet so I don't know how to connect everything up.  Any suggestions?  She wants the artwork to be Pokemon in nature so any suggestions where to find the artwork?

This was to be an easy build....

[jdbailey1206]

The sad thing is I think that pedestal build is ultimately what broke him.

[leapinlew]

I have a few questions.  Does anyone know how heavy a vector monitor is?  I told my girl friend about this project and she wants to use the original tank which would take up the entire monitor shelf.  So I thought of having a hidden monitor raise up from the bottom of the cabinet via a linear actuator.  This would hide the aquarium when gaming and then lower when finished.

Do you think that would be possible?  Also we talked about what games we would play and she wants to contain my consoles in this cabinet so I don't know how to connect everything up.  Any suggestions?  She wants the artwork to be Pokemon in nature so any suggestions where to find the artwork?

This was to be an easy build....

Yes! Actuators, motors and a remote control. Do it!

Also, The coin door area could be a good place for one of those electric fireplaces.

[yotsuya]

I have a few questions.  Does anyone know how heavy a vector monitor is?  I told my girl friend about this project and she wants to use the original tank which would take up the entire monitor shelf.  So I thought of having a hidden monitor raise up from the bottom of the cabinet via a linear actuator.  This would hide the aquarium when gaming and then lower when finished.

Do you think that would be possible?  Also we talked about what games we would play and she wants to contain my consoles in this cabinet so I don't know how to connect everything up.  Any suggestions?  She wants the artwork to be Pokemon in nature so any suggestions where to find the artwork?

This was to be an easy build....

Yes! Actuators, motors and a remote control. Do it!

Also, The coin door area could be a good place for one of those electric fireplaces.

My faith in Lew has been restored.



I’m going to throw this out to be helpful - you can only play vector games on a vector monitor. So your consoles won’t work on it, making that monitor useless to you. So if you trash that monitor, then my original comment to you, which I deleted but you still made reference to, still stands.

My advice - build a great arcade cabinet and set up a great aquarium next to it, but keep the two separate.

[leapinlew]

My advice - build a great arcade cabinet and set up a great aquarium next to it, but keep the two separate.

We'd never have Reeses peanut butter cups with this kind of thinking.

If you don't put a fish tank in your arcade game, you are single handedly breaking the home built arcade scene. This type of innovative design and flawless execution will inspire copycat designs for decades. Play your bitmap games on a vector monitor - don't let the naysayers halt progress. Put your water filled aquarium with your delicate electronics - hell yeah! Live on the edge.

Hell, automate it. "Google, show me fish" to move the monitor and lift the fish tank or "Google, vertical fish" This would put your fish tank in a vertical position for old school 4-way fish. Possibilities are endless bro!

 

[yotsuya]

This will be remembered as the thread that broke Lew. RIP.

[pbj]

Why not start with a simple prototype?

[leapinlew]

This will be remembered as the thread that broke Lew. RIP.

Hell, I'm kind of broken already. At least, when it comes to arcade games. I've been playing older consoles and plan on playing Super Mario Galaxy 2 this winter and hope it's as good as the first one. My arcade games were turned on for the first time in about a year this Halloween for the kids. I'm happy to report they all worked on bootup - no weird computer issues, or loose connections, but I was a little sad trying to recall what the last game I played was. What's worse, there isn't a game on an arcade game that I'm wanting to play.

I'd never sell them and the way I have things setup the arcade games add to the décor of the room and not the sole purpose of the room. I've sold a few dozen games in my time and I'm betting the games I have now didn't actually cost me anything. I'll wait, I'll probably want to play a game again soon - some of my favorites are worth going back to play. Rush'n'Attack and Willow are 2 that come to mind as games I try to beat on 1 quarter.

Anyhow - enough about me. Lets get back to this fishtank arcade.

[yotsuya]

This will be remembered as the thread that broke Lew. RIP.

Hell, I'm kind of broken already. At least, when it comes to arcade games. I've been playing older consoles and plan on playing Super Mario Galaxy 2 this winter and hope it's as good as the first one. My arcade games were turned on for the first time in about a year this Halloween for the kids. I'm happy to report they all worked on bootup - no weird computer issues, or loose connections, but I was a little sad trying to recall what the last game I played was. What's worse, there isn't a game on an arcade game that I'm wanting to play.

I'd never sell them and the way I have things setup the arcade games add to the décor of the room and not the sole purpose of the room. I've sold a few dozen games in my time and I'm betting the games I have now didn't actually cost me anything. I'll wait, I'll probably want to play a game again soon - some of my favorites are worth going back to play. Rush'n'Attack and Willow are 2 that come to mind as games I try to beat on 1 quarter.

Anyhow - enough about me. Lets get back to this fishtank arcade.

I’m going to merge this thread with Rackoon’s “let’s all sit down and play games” thread.

[pbj]

I go months at a time without playing my stuff, and then I'll play like crazy for a few weeks.  It also instantly makes your home a party destination.  Just keep them around, ready to play.  You'll come back.

[rackoon]

Am I missing something.

How are the fish going to play the arcade if they dont even have fingers?

Are they just going to slap the buttons with their fins or something?
 
Mybee an underwater track ball would work

[PL1]

Mybee an underwater track ball would work

Somebody has already done a tank with an underwater mouse. 




Scott

[yotsuya]

Mybee an underwater track ball would work

Somebody has already done a tank with an underwater mouse. 




Scott

[jennifer]

     I am not so sure there is ever a bad idea, More of a learning experience and opportunity for creativity and innovation.... find it odd you guys don't see this for what it is. 

[Titchgamer]

Over looking the humour here I have to ask.... Really!?

I can see a whole host of problems with this idea!

Firstly water and electric dont mix.
Secondly how are you going to safely maintain your fish tank?
Clean, move, refill etc etc.
Also sound creates waves/ripples in water.
Ime no fish expert but I dont think they will like the experience you will be enjoying!

This is a terrible idea borderline animal cruelty imo so nope...

Ime with Yots, build a killer cade and a killer fish tank and leave em separate.

[leapinlew]

find it odd you guys don't see this for what it is.

I find it odd that you can't see that I'm being supportive from your high horse.

[jennifer]

find it odd you guys don't see this for what it is.

I find it odd that you can't see that I'm being supportive from your high horse.

Well NOT you then, What you want Jennifer to cook you some brownies too???..... RE: T/gamer, A digital fish tank would be the short answer, kinda like they do in the casinos, Or real fish and digital tech, reducing heat and EMI radiation (IMO)

[yotsuya]

     I am not so sure there is ever a bad idea, More of a learning experience and opportunity for creativity and innovation.... find it odd you guys don't see this for what it is.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Reichelt

[jennifer]

     I am not so sure there is ever a bad idea, More of a learning experience and opportunity for creativity and innovation.... find it odd you guys don't see this for what it is.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Reichelt

OMG, That is a HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE story, he most obviously thought that would work....However it should be pointed out, That is a lesson learned for the ages and was a conceptual idea at the time, Today people jump out of airplanes with parachutes just for recreation and a cheap thrill.   

[yotsuya]

     I am not so sure there is ever a bad idea, More of a learning experience and opportunity for creativity and innovation.... find it odd you guys don't see this for what it is.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Reichelt

OMG, That is a HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE story, he most obviously thought that would work....However it should be pointed out, That is a lesson learned for the ages and was a conceptual idea at the time, Today people jump out of airplanes with parachutes just for recreation and a cheap thrill.

And their parachutes look NOTHING like his concept. Sometimes a bad idea is just a bad idea. Titch actually outlined all the reasons why.

[jennifer]

Thats evolution, making it better and more functional over time....Cars for example look and function nothing like they did back in the late 1800"s, Arcade machines too are platforms for new tech, modified and used in our everyday lives....Not to say I am going to go grab some live wires or jump off towers in pursuit of knowledge , but imagine someone took a few volts back in the day. <electrocuted emoji guy (Jenn laughs)

[yotsuya]

Thats evolution, making it better and more functional over time....Cars for example look and function nothing like they did back in the late 1800"s, Arcade machines too are platforms for new tech, modified and used in our everyday lives....Not to say I am going to go grab some live wires or jump off towers in pursuit of knowledge , but imagine someone took a few volts back in the day. <electrocuted emoji guy (Jenn laughs)

If arcade games/cabinets are to evolve, it should be to improve game play, not because you want your fish closer to your face.

[Titchgamer]

find it odd you guys don't see this for what it is.

I find it odd that you can't see that I'm being supportive from your high horse.

Well NOT you then, What you want Jennifer to cook you some brownies too???..... RE: T/gamer, A digital fish tank would be the short answer, kinda like they do in the casinos, Or real fish and digital tech, reducing heat and EMI radiation (IMO)

A digital fish tank!?

Jennifer dear you are talking nonsense lol

In my day we would call that a screen saver on Windows 98, or possibly a looped video or pretty animation.

But alas it would be on a monitor of some description not in a tank.

That being said if you could use a tank of water to display a image of some kind, Now that would be freaking cool!

[Titchgamer]

Thats evolution, making it better and more functional over time....Cars for example look and function nothing like they did back in the late 1800"s, Arcade machines too are platforms for new tech, modified and used in our everyday lives....Not to say I am going to go grab some live wires or jump off towers in pursuit of knowledge , but imagine someone took a few volts back in the day. <electrocuted emoji guy (Jenn laughs)

If arcade games/cabinets are to evolve, it should be to improve game play, not because you want your fish closer to your face.

This just made me laugh so hard I nearly spat coke over my work mate!

But I have no idea why! Lol

[thomas_surles]

Bros quit talking him out of this. I gotta see this get built. Not like we have a whole lot going on right now.

[yotsuya]

Bros quit talking him out of this. I gotta see this get built. Not like we have a whole lot going on right now.

That in itself is the crux of the matter.

[Titchgamer]

Bros quit talking him out of this. I gotta see this get built. Not like we have a whole lot going on right now.

Fair point :p

[stigzler]

My shout's on this being that Nephasth fella. Call it a hunch.

Thus, being that he's such a lovely, cuddly fella I help out gladly:

It depends if you are aiming on petting tropical or cold water fish. For a tropical fish tank, maintaining a warm environmental temperature ranging between 75 and 80 °F (24 to 27 °C) enables the fish to thrive. For cold water fish, when kept in a household aquarium, they do not require a heater and are quite comfortable at around 60 °F (15 °C).

Thus, tropical fish may present less of a challenge to your design brief as opposed to cold water fish, given the reduced cooling requirements.

As for the baby oil, that is an area of your subconscious that only people on Death Row and Crack can aspire to understand.

[jennifer]

   Good grief, you guys amuse me, I am walking around the mall laughing at my phone like some kind of idiot .... (Giggle)..... However, The mineral oil thing, ya maybe not so much, Large liquid cooled transformers are built that way and when they let go its a firestorm, And oddy enough could imagine an amused Beta fish as spongebob swims by, (or the terrifying Jaws shark... snort. ).

[yotsuya]

My shout's on this being that Nephasth fella. Call it a hunch.

Neph don’t have no time to troll.

As for the baby oil, that is an area of your subconscious that only people on Death Row and Crack can aspire to understand.

Totally agree.

[Ian]

Bros quit talking him out of this. I gotta see this get built. Not like we have a whole lot going on right now.

We havn't had a lot this summer... or year. BUILD IT!

[yotsuya]

[yotsuya]

[jennifer]

   That desk is some high end delicious, Not very practical Though, just sit there and look cute I s"pose.

[UnoWho]

Thanks for the encouragement.  I still haven't got the Asteroids cabinet.  I went over to my mates house last weekend and he showed me the asteroids cabinet which looked odd.  The coin door look very different.  My mate calls them owl eyes as they do look like Bubo from Clash of the Titans (sorry its from an old 1980 movie we like) but the monitor doesn't work.  We hear the sounds but no picture.  He took the monitor to a TV repair shop and the guy said it was dead.  Sorry Yotsuya but it is going in the special recycle bin.

So I get to have the cabinet without the monitor.  My mate says I can use a LCD screen.  I told him about my design and he laughed.  He thinks I am off my head but my mate needs it gone, so it will be lighter to move.  He lives on the other side of the country so it will take some time to shift it to my house.  I still need to figure out the support of the monitor shelf.  Does the TV in the asteroids weigh 90 kilos?  We are going to make a cupboard inside the cabinet to store our consoles.  My guess the electronics are dead too and my mate knows someone that wants the innards so the wires will be removed.

The baby oil is for the PC.  It is an AMD and it runs too hot.  So another mate showed me a youtube clip where they sunk the PC in baby oil and it cooled down the PC.  It will be sloshing in the bottom of the cabinet so the fish will not be baby oiled.  I will add more photos and drawing on the plans of the actuator.  I am using the plans from the internet to create mock ups and using cardboard.  I am really looking forward to this being a reality. 

Thanks for the input.

[Mike A]

Troll

[rovingmind]

https://www.pugetsystems.com/submerged.php

just put a robotic fish into the mineral oil and use the entire pc as the fishtank display.

[yotsuya]

What a shame, those owl eye coin doors are highly sought after by collectors. You probably have an early run Astroids cabinet there.

You can fix monitors. Either your friend doesn’t want to spend the money, or TV guy doesn’t want to be bothered with it. I myself have brought monitors back from the dead and I don’t have any formal training. You just have to want to know how to do it.

I hope you and your fishies enjoy your little tribute to vanity there. And for the rest of you that encourage this ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, well, you know...

[jennifer]

Thanks for the encouragement.  I still haven't got the Asteroids cabinet.  I went over to my mates house last weekend and he showed me the asteroids cabinet which looked odd.  The coin door look very different.  My mate calls them owl eyes as they do look like Bubo from Clash of the Titans (sorry its from an old 1980 movie we like) but the monitor doesn't work.  We hear the sounds but no picture.  He took the monitor to a TV repair shop and the guy said it was dead.  Sorry Yotsuya but it is going in the special recycle bin.

So I get to have the cabinet without the monitor.  My mate says I can use a LCD screen.  I told him about my design and he laughed.  He thinks I am off my head but my mate needs it gone, so it will be lighter to move.  He lives on the other side of the country so it will take some time to shift it to my house.  I still need to figure out the support of the monitor shelf.  Does the TV in the asteroids weigh 90 kilos?  We are going to make a cupboard inside the cabinet to store our consoles.  My guess the electronics are dead too and my mate knows someone that wants the innards so the wires will be removed.

The baby oil is for the PC.  It is an AMD and it runs too hot.  So another mate showed me a youtube clip where they sunk the PC in baby oil and it cooled down the PC.  It will be sloshing in the bottom of the cabinet so the fish will not be baby oiled.  I will add more photos and drawing on the plans of the actuator.  I am using the plans from the internet to create mock ups and using cardboard.  I am really looking forward to this being a reality. 

Thanks for the input.

  WHAT???, You NEED to come in off the ledge, ....If you desecrate , and chop an asteroids machine, without even a basic understanding of monitor theory Jennifer will personally Troll your miserable threads till they kick me off this site.

[yotsuya]

Thanks for the encouragement.  I still haven't got the Asteroids cabinet.  I went over to my mates house last weekend and he showed me the asteroids cabinet which looked odd.  The coin door look very different.  My mate calls them owl eyes as they do look like Bubo from Clash of the Titans (sorry its from an old 1980 movie we like) but the monitor doesn't work.  We hear the sounds but no picture.  He took the monitor to a TV repair shop and the guy said it was dead.  Sorry Yotsuya but it is going in the special recycle bin.

So I get to have the cabinet without the monitor.  My mate says I can use a LCD screen.  I told him about my design and he laughed.  He thinks I am off my head but my mate needs it gone, so it will be lighter to move.  He lives on the other side of the country so it will take some time to shift it to my house.  I still need to figure out the support of the monitor shelf.  Does the TV in the asteroids weigh 90 kilos?  We are going to make a cupboard inside the cabinet to store our consoles.  My guess the electronics are dead too and my mate knows someone that wants the innards so the wires will be removed.

The baby oil is for the PC.  It is an AMD and it runs too hot.  So another mate showed me a youtube clip where they sunk the PC in baby oil and it cooled down the PC.  It will be sloshing in the bottom of the cabinet so the fish will not be baby oiled.  I will add more photos and drawing on the plans of the actuator.  I am using the plans from the internet to create mock ups and using cardboard.  I am really looking forward to this being a reality. 

Thanks for the input.

  WHAT???, You NEED to come in off the ledge, ....If you desecrate , and chop an asteroids machine, without even a basic understanding of monitor theory Jennifer will personally Troll your miserable threads till they kick me off this site.

Don't waste your time, Jenn.

Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.

[leapinlew]

Thanks for the encouragement.  I still haven't got the Asteroids cabinet.  I went over to my mates house last weekend and he showed me the asteroids cabinet which looked odd.  The coin door look very different.  My mate calls them owl eyes as they do look like Bubo from Clash of the Titans (sorry its from an old 1980 movie we like) but the monitor doesn't work.  We hear the sounds but no picture.  He took the monitor to a TV repair shop and the guy said it was dead.  Sorry Yotsuya but it is going in the special recycle bin.

So I get to have the cabinet without the monitor.  My mate says I can use a LCD screen.  I told him about my design and he laughed.  He thinks I am off my head but my mate needs it gone, so it will be lighter to move.  He lives on the other side of the country so it will take some time to shift it to my house.  I still need to figure out the support of the monitor shelf.  Does the TV in the asteroids weigh 90 kilos?  We are going to make a cupboard inside the cabinet to store our consoles.  My guess the electronics are dead too and my mate knows someone that wants the innards so the wires will be removed.

The baby oil is for the PC.  It is an AMD and it runs too hot.  So another mate showed me a youtube clip where they sunk the PC in baby oil and it cooled down the PC.  It will be sloshing in the bottom of the cabinet so the fish will not be baby oiled.  I will add more photos and drawing on the plans of the actuator.  I am using the plans from the internet to create mock ups and using cardboard.  I am really looking forward to this being a reality. 

Thanks for the input.

  WHAT???, You NEED to come in off the ledge, ....If you desecrate , and chop an asteroids machine, without even a basic understanding of monitor theory Jennifer will personally Troll your miserable threads till they kick me off this site.

Whoa! Settle down!! I'm finding it really odd that you would take such a harsh stance. This isn't a bad idea really, but more of a learning opportunity for creativity and innovation.

[Titchgamer]

Thanks for the encouragement.  I still haven't got the Asteroids cabinet.  I went over to my mates house last weekend and he showed me the asteroids cabinet which looked odd.  The coin door look very different.  My mate calls them owl eyes as they do look like Bubo from Clash of the Titans (sorry its from an old 1980 movie we like) but the monitor doesn't work.  We hear the sounds but no picture.  He took the monitor to a TV repair shop and the guy said it was dead.  Sorry Yotsuya but it is going in the special recycle bin.

So I get to have the cabinet without the monitor.  My mate says I can use a LCD screen.  I told him about my design and he laughed.  He thinks I am off my head but my mate needs it gone, so it will be lighter to move.  He lives on the other side of the country so it will take some time to shift it to my house.  I still need to figure out the support of the monitor shelf.  Does the TV in the asteroids weigh 90 kilos?  We are going to make a cupboard inside the cabinet to store our consoles.  My guess the electronics are dead too and my mate knows someone that wants the innards so the wires will be removed.

The baby oil is for the PC.  It is an AMD and it runs too hot.  So another mate showed me a youtube clip where they sunk the PC in baby oil and it cooled down the PC.  It will be sloshing in the bottom of the cabinet so the fish will not be baby oiled.  I will add more photos and drawing on the plans of the actuator.  I am using the plans from the internet to create mock ups and using cardboard.  I am really looking forward to this being a reality. 

Thanks for the input.

  WHAT???, You NEED to come in off the ledge, ....If you desecrate , and chop an asteroids machine, without even a basic understanding of monitor theory Jennifer will personally Troll your miserable threads till they kick me off this site.

Whoa! Settle down!! I'm finding it really odd that you would take such a harsh stance. This isn't a bad idea really, but more of a learning opportunity for creativity and innovation.

Learning opportunity yes.

Innovation? No....

[thomas_surles]

If you are dead ass serious, this needs to be a scratch custom build.

[jennifer]

     OK.... I will reel it in a bit. Jennifer can not save them all alone, I have seen them pushed off roofs, smashed down for the dumpster, Burned,  Started by someone with Zero experience, and just left for dead on the street, And  chopped up and parted out for Mame,   Even I am guilty of making a bird cages out of a crane games. Its your machine, do with it what you will....Bad idea? perhaps not, That kind of thing was considered  art back in the day with television cabs but take notice of the fact they are not around anymore.... And finally re: Thomas_surles, 

[nitrogen_widget]

https://www.pugetsystems.com/submerged.php

just put a robotic fish into the mineral oil and use the entire pc as the fishtank display.

beat me to it!

[UnoWho]

I have been busy with work, so prototyping has been slow, but I have a good idea on how to bring the arcade monitor from the bottom of the cabinet (near the coin door) to the monitor shelf.  I will be using two linear actuators in parallel to raise the LED TV to completely mask the aquarium.  Two large PC fans on each side of the monitor shelf should keep the fishies and the back of the TV cool. I can cut out ventilation holes in the side of the cabinet for better air flow.  We can add cold cathode lighting to the inside of the cabinet and the fans have a nice neon blue light.

I have asked repeatedly for the weight that the monitor shelf can support.  Does anyone know?  I understand that the sides of the cabinet is plywood, so I am not sure if I need to reinforce the monitor shelf with MDF to support the tank.  I thought the control panel was all metal, but my mate says there is wood in there as well.  Should I remove it before adding more controls to it?  I am not sure what controls I need, but I want more players.  I would like to play gauntlet together so it would be great to have all four of us playing at the same time.  Is that possible?  I am not very experienced with arcade machines, so any help would be appreciated.  I will be posting some drawings for the linear actuator lifts.  I decided that rotating the screen would be hard so the LED will be fixed horizontally.

I like the idea with the robotic fish, but they sound expensive! 

[barrymossel]

I am so looking forward to see how this turns out. 

[Niels Arcade]

Despite all the jokes in this thread I can actually sorta imagine a cool arcade cabinet fish tank combo but, as with all other things, it will heavily depend on the final design and overall aesthetics of it all. If done correct in the sense of design the fish tank should be fluently integrated with the rest of the cabinet design (Somehow I imagine some kind of 60's curvey design inspired by James Bond/Austin Powers/Star Trek 60's design elements). If you'd walk in the room and be like 'hey that's an Asteroids cabinet with a fish tank added' it might not be that great in the end, but hey that's just my opinion. To be honest I think a scratch build would be better for design purposes and probably for constructional, fish tank maintenance and electrical planning as well. Still if you want to use the Asteroids cabinet and design something to your own satisfaction, let the sky be the limit and go for it.

Fun fact, this guy actually replaced the screen of an Asteroids cabinet for a fish tank: http://www.tomtilley.net/projects/fish-tank/ Never mind, I just noticed it being referenced before in this thread, but hey, here is a pinball fish tank:



Regarding your question about reinforcement, unless you find some way to make a precise calculation you could consider reinforcing it with some sturdy 4x4's (wood).

I sincerely wish you the best of luck and am curious to see the results!

[Niels Arcade]

...I would like to play gauntlet together so it would be great to have all four of us playing at the same time.  Is that possible?

Sure, four player controls are technically possible to integrate, but the real question is if it's possible in a ergonomically sound way so you and your friends actually have enough space to stand around the cabinet and use the controls. Beside ergonomics the appearance of your cabinet is a factor to keep in mind as well. Within the current dimensions of the control panel I think there is definitely not enough room for four player controls. If you really want to have four player controls I'd advice you to design and build a new control panel which extrudes out of the cabinet's current boundaries as in the picture:

[NIVO]

So......what kind of fish you puttin in there?

[stigzler]

I wonder if, like dogs, aquarium arcade fish resemble their owners?

[opt2not]

...I would like to play gauntlet together so it would be great to have all four of us playing at the same time.  Is that possible?

Sure, four player controls are technically possible to integrate, but the real question is if it's possible in a ergonomically sound way so you and your friends actually have enough space to stand around the cabinet and use the controls. Beside ergonomics the appearance of your cabinet is a factor to keep in mind as well. Within the current dimensions of the control panel I think there is definitely not enough room for four player controls. If you really want to have four player controls I'd advice you to design and build a new control panel which extrudes out of the cabinet's current boundaries as in the picture:

And look at those straight mounted joysticks for P3/P4. Suck it joystick anglers.

[UnoWho]

So my mate that has the asteroids called me up yesterday saying he sold the whole cabinet with the monitor and parts for 200 quid.  Which is good news as the cost of moving the thing would have been half that.  On the plus side he is going to split it with me so I am in pocket.  I still want an asteroids machine, so how can I make one or can someone make one for me for a hundred pounds?

[barrymossel]

I still want an asteroids machine, so how can I make one or can someone make one for me for a hundred pounds?

Get some wood and some plans. Then build.

[Mike A]

 

[UnoWho]

So I have looked around for a new cabinet for my project, and there is a chase HQ with the shifter, monitor and coindoor at my local autioneer which is good news as these cabs go for a couple of quid.  That with a raspberry pi 3 and cannonball looks like a better alternative than building one from scratch.  I am going to follow in this guy's project, but add the linear actuators to raise and lower the monitor.

https://circuitbeard.co.uk/2017/08/28/tomy-turnin-turbo-dashboard-outrun-arcade/

[rovingmind]

so.... while the monitor is out of the way, are you going to dual purpose the controls and have it motor around a little submarine to hassle the fish with?

[yotsuya]

So I have looked around for a new cabinet for my project, and there is a chase HQ with the shifter, monitor and coindoor at my local autioneer which is good news as these cabs go for a couple of quid.  That with a raspberry pi 3 and cannonball looks like a better alternative than building one from scratch.  I am going to follow in this guy's project, but add the linear actuators to raise and lower the monitor.

https://circuitbeard.co.uk/2017/08/28/tomy-turnin-turbo-dashboard-outrun-arcade/

That’s... a kid’s toy. How is that going to help you with a full size project.

I guess MikeA was right. This IS a troll. And here I thought you were a starry-eyed dreamer with fish fantasies. Well-played.

[Mike A]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

[UnoWho]

So I have looked around for a new cabinet for my project, and there is a chase HQ with the shifter, monitor and coindoor at my local autioneer which is good news as these cabs go for a couple of quid.  That with a raspberry pi 3 and cannonball looks like a better alternative than building one from scratch.  I am going to follow in this guy's project, but add the linear actuators to raise and lower the monitor.

https://circuitbeard.co.uk/2017/08/28/tomy-turnin-turbo-dashboard-outrun-arcade/

That’s... a kid’s toy. How is that going to help you with a full size project.

I guess MikeA was right. This IS a troll. And here I thought you were a starry-eyed dreamer with fish fantasies. Well-played.

Maybe I didn't explain my self properly, the outrun game I linked to had all the internals, wiring and code to make an Outrun cabinet out of a Chase HQ cabinet.  Everything is there, wheel, shifter, monitor.  I am of the understanding that the PI can drive (  ) the arcade monitor and the rumble controls are not that different to what that project has done.  I think everyone has started small and worked up to full size or at least prototype the project in cardboard, as I have seen in these threads.  I have seen another similar project that did not have the instrument panel, so I think a working instrument panel would be cool.  I'm going to do it regardless to your comments, which leads me to my final post in this thread.

I have sent a PM to Saint regarding your threatening behavior towards me.  I still think this is a pretty cool site, and I am sure lots of people will still visit and gain knowledge.  I also believe in free speech and criticism to where improvements are made in projects, but hostility towards others is unnecessary and abusive comments are hurtful.  Your behavior towards me is unbelievable, yet you have achieved so much with your endevours, and I appreciate your passion towards arcade renovations.  I hope this is something you can reflect on. 

MikeA is a funny guy and likes attention, and his arcade project related comments on other threads have been very much on point.

I wish everyone a happy holidays and I will post my project in another forum in the new year, with pictures. 

[thomas_surles]

Build what you dig bro

[smass]

How did I miss this thread until now?  Must have been the "goldfish" in the title....

Anyway, Chase HQ converted to mame multicade has been done by many - best example is here: http://www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65327&title=chase-hq-as-mame-driving-cab

Trash or treasure.

And I had to comment - reporting yots to Saint?  Is this 3rd grade?  I call troll thread as well.  Report me too.

[stigzler]

It's cute watching a child trying to develop his ironic pastiche. Keep encouraging him. I love seeing revolting narcissism in action..

[yotsuya]

“Threatening behavior”?

Whatever, man. I tell you what, I’ll leave you be. Enjoy your build. Just don’t kill any fish. Or classic games. I’m more worried about those things than bruising your sensitive feelings.

[Ian]

oooooooooooooooh...... Yots is in trouble!


lol


All kidding aside we told you it was a bad idea... and we have listed all the reasons why we think this is a bad idea. Like Yots said, don't kill any fish and dont destroy any classic cabinets. Good luck!

[pbj]

Pic related....

[Mike A]

Stop feeding the troll.

[leapinlew]

Stop feeding the troll.

Duh... the truth was revealed when he said

MikeA is a funny guy

[Schnookums]

I'm relieved that someone finally reported yotsuya for his Threatening Behavior. His reign of terror will no longer be allowed to continue. I personally will be able to sleep at night for the first time in years.

Also, don't kill any fish.

[acvieluf]

The real crime of this thread is that it's not real, AND it's not good enough trolling to be funny.

Boooooring.

[Vigo]

I have sent a PM to Saint regarding your threatening behavior towards me. 

Easy there, big guy!

What exact threats did you receive from him? From what I can see all he is doing is not digging your ideas, especially when it came to butchering an early Asteriods cab with vector monitor. Not saying you should like his comments, but it doesn't hurt to check your snowflake card at the door.   


So here are my thoughts -

Fish tanks smell, are noisy and a pain to maintain, especially if you want cool looking fish. Servicing a PC under a fish tank encased in baby oil sounds like an absolute nightmare.

Why not mount monitors on the side of the cab showing looked videos of fish in a tank. Seriously, a good monitor and some 4k fish tank footage, would look exceptional and many couldn't tell its fake. As an added bonus, you could switch to some nice fireplace video during the holidays.
Or here is a novel idea, have it play sample footage or show the marquee of the game you are playing. Not matter what, at the end of the day, your guests won't have to smell rancid algae water as they are playing toobin'. It really won't enhance the realism as much as you think it would.