I've been lurking around these forums a long time. I finally created an account in 2009 to announce my first overly ambitious and flawed upright cabinet design which would never see the light of day. Since then, there have been 3 other such announcements with a bartop being hastily built and soon after dismantled and another flawed upright design that only got partially built.
Today, I announce yet another upright design that may also be overly ambitious. Will it ever get built? I hope so! I've dreamed of owning an arcade machine since I was a little kid. This time, I am actually in a situation were it is possible. Instead of being a college freshmen living in a dorm room with no money, no shop, and no chance, I now have a house, some extra cash, a fully equipped wood shop, and a real chance at bringing an upright cab into the world!
My first consideration is accurate-as-possible recreation with as few gameplay affecting compromises as possible. This means a properly oriented CRT at native resolutions and dedicated controls. If I had my way, I would just build 3 or 4 cabs. But, the wife is not too keen on the idea. So, we gotta rotate.
First, the video. I am going with a CRT. I will most likely use a 25" CRT TV (Sony Trinitron). I currently have a 19" Sony PVM and a 27" Sony Trinitron that I have been testing with. I might get an arcade monitor if I can find one available locally in Austin, TX. It will be standard/CGA resolution. Why? I built a list of the 100 or so games I care about and nearly all of them were CGA. I can easily live without the ones that are not. If I get really lucky and a multi/trisync becomes available locally at a non-exorbitant price, I'll get that. Seems unlikely.
The CRT will rotate to support horizontal and vertical games. Or, if that proves unfeasible, I might be able to convince the wife to let me build 2 cabs: a horizontal and a vertical one. I won't be holding my breath for that.
Second, the controls. My list of 100 games require several control types: directional buttons, 2-way joy, 4-way joy, 2 player/dual 8-way joys, trackball, roller, spinner, lightgun, and driving controls. I don't want a gaudy, giant control panel, I don't want to crowd a bunch of controls together, and I don't want to compromise with spinning joystick handles or switchable restrictor plates. The solution is a rotating control panel. One side for the 4-way joy, one side for the dual 8-way joys, and one side for the trackball and spinner. I am willing to compromise and substitute the 4-way joy for the directional buttons and the 2 way joys and substitute the trackball for the roller. I am not very concerned about driving controls. Playing racing games standing up in front of on an upright won't feel right anyway (except Pole Position). If I do decide to include them they will be modular.
Luckily, I have plenty of buttons, 8-way joys, trackballs, lightguns, and even coin mechs laying around from my previous failed/never started builds.
Third, the art/theme. I really like the idea of original/repo art rather than custom. I want my favorite arcade games represented in the artwork. This led me to the idea of having each of the 3 control panels sport the artwork of one of my favorite games. I extended this idea to the marque, bezel, and side art. I created a topic specifically for the artwork
here. Please, please let me know what you think and any suggestions you have! Here's the latest:
Finally, the build. The control panel will be an equilateral triangle with slightly extended lips. The front of the cab will be hinged so it can rotate forward to allow the CP to spin freely.
I was exploring ways of locking the control panel that was strong (for when someone inevitability pounds on the CP), had no play when locked (no wobbly CP, please), and could be released and relocked easily. I came up with the idea of using a draw latch or tension latch between the edge of the CP and the front cab. These are the kind of latches you find on mason jar lids. They actively pull together. I build a quick test stand a control panel out of scrap 2x4 and plywood.
I'll get a better video up soon. It worked really well. The latch is a tiny, cheap one meant for a small box that I found at the store. Still, the CP was rock solid when locked with no wobble at all and it did not budge when I pounded on it. I want to get a real/more heavy-duty one that is also recessed.
That's it. What do you guys think!? It's gonna happen this time! Fifth times the charm!