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Author Topic: 720 Atari Cabaret  (Read 9153 times)

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processedmeat

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720 Atari Cabaret
« on: January 31, 2019, 01:51:26 pm »
Hi all, been in a bit of cabaret building mode lately and with 720 prices going out of control, I wanted to see if I could scratch build a 720 mame cabaret in the style of what Atari might have built back in the day.  Like in the form of a Tempest or Centipede cabaret.  I know the Missile Command or Battle Zone have horizontal monitors but they both make it feel like you are looking into a claustrophobic tunnel. 

I'll be using an 19" PC CRT monitor, an old SFF PC to run Groovymame.  I tried every version of mame on my Pi 3B+ but they always seemed sluggish when I played them and that's why I'm gonna just use a PC.  I'm trying the Read Only Windows image from the UKVac forums on an SSD so hopefully I don't have to worry about issues resulting from cutting the power when off.

To connect the actual arcade 720 joystick, I'll be using an Optipac as well as an Arduino Micro Pro in gamepad mode to connect the buttons.

One of my early concerns is that the circular path that the angled 720 arcade joystick takes may be too big for the footprint of the control panel to be comfortably used.  I've watched as many Youtube videos of people playing 720, especially Jeff from the 720zone (I never knew back in the day you could play the game the way he does) spinning the joystick.  Once I finished the actual woodworking I was able to physically layout where the controller would fit and play the best on the metal control panel.  I realized that would have still 1-1/2" clearance from the glass at the worst when I spun the joystick as hard as I could.  Thanks to everybody who answered my questions in the main part of this forum.

After building my Donkey Kong cabaret I wasn't so keen on the wood grain vinyl and its application so this time I bought some higher quality maple plywood from Home Depot that I would actually stain to get that similar look.  I figure the higher price of the plywood and stain would be offset by the price of the cheaper ply and vinyl. 

At this point, I'm modifying the artwork for the control panel and the marquee.  The hardest part of the marquee is that the aspect ratio of the real 720 cabinet boombox isn't an easy transition to the longer aspect ratio.  I thought instead that I should make it into an image of a 2 deck boombox so that it stretches out the image more while maintaining the large 720 logo in the middle.  Here's what I got so far.  Would love some feedback or other ideas on this!








meyer980

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2019, 02:46:09 pm »
Um, definitely following this. Can't wait to see!

I think you've made smart choices for the marquee adjustments.

jennifer

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2019, 05:46:39 pm »
That ply will scratch and gouge really easily, save yourself a lot of work by avoiding this. Working on the bench lay down clean towels first, and keep them clean cause they will load up with chips, bits of wire and garbage.

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2019, 07:51:59 pm »
It’s too squished. Sorry, I don’t like it.
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***

yotsuya

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2019, 07:52:43 pm »
Although I think you’re on the right track, but the way you stretched out the cassettes already is a turn off.
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***

processedmeat

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2019, 01:14:09 am »
I first just used a gel stain so that I could stain it while the cabinet was upright but it came out really blotchy.  I had to then sand it all down and try again.  The second time I used a wood conditioner and then the gel stain and it definitely came out better. 



The 19" CRT monitor barely fits in there horizontally. 


Finally, to give the joystick the most clearance from the monitor glass, I had to route out a notch in the wood just right above the marquee. 

processedmeat

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2019, 02:16:15 pm »
Although I think you’re on the right track, but the way you stretched out the cassettes already is a turn off.

How's this?


Drnick

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2019, 02:27:08 pm »
Make the Right hand tape Side B :)  Definitely heading in the right direction.

meyer980

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2019, 03:22:46 pm »
I think drnick has a good idea. It could look like the attached!

processedmeat

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2019, 04:13:32 pm »
I think drnick has a good idea. It could look like the attached!

Thanks.  Made the changes on my original!

Any other thoughts?

yotsuya

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2019, 04:24:21 pm »
Getting better!!! Getting the tapes in the right aspect ratio is key. Keep it up!!
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***

processedmeat

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2019, 06:06:10 pm »
Now that I've found a solution to my save game issue as seen in this post: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,159557.0.html, I was able to move on to finishing up some more of the art.

For the marquee, I ended up going with this.  I printed out two copies of it and for one of them I cut out the cassette section and the 720 logo so that when placed back to back, the light shines through the cassettes and the 720 logo more than the other parts of the marquee.  Kinda similar to how the boombox marquee is lit.


When looking at the digdug and centipede cabaret, they have some graphics between the glass and the black cardboard monitor bezel.  Here's something that replicates that using the 720 glass retainer sticker as inspiration.


Not sure why my cellphone can't pick up my screen properly and the marquee is blown out.


Just waiting for my cpo to be printed at this point and I can call it done.

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2019, 08:24:08 pm »
will you remove the outer casing from the monitor?  maybe it would get a little hot in there otherwise
(and maybe a vent on top of cab so heat can escape out)

* ps. all cabs in the past would have had a vent on top if it wasn't for the fear of damn kids and drunks resting their drinks up top there  ;D




* ok that might not be true.  it probably isn't.... maybe

processedmeat

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2019, 12:53:35 am »
will you remove the outer casing from the monitor?  maybe it would get a little hot in there otherwise
(and maybe a vent on top of cab so heat can escape out)

I followed the plans from classicarcadecabinets and there are covered vents on top and in the rear.


« Last Edit: February 22, 2019, 12:59:11 am by processedmeat »

processedmeat

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2019, 01:12:53 am »
Whipped up some 3d printed coin door mechs to use the coin reject buttons to coin up.


Mike A

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #15 on: February 22, 2019, 05:52:18 am »
I really like this project. I have a few PCB's waiting for cabs to put them in. This might be an alternative.

yotsuya

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #16 on: February 22, 2019, 07:52:32 am »
Whipped up some 3d printed coin door mechs to use the coin reject buttons to coin up.



Nice! Obligatory .stl?
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***

processedmeat

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #17 on: February 25, 2019, 02:46:43 pm »
Whipped up some 3d printed coin door mechs to use the coin reject buttons to coin up.



Nice! Obligatory .stl?

Here you go.  Gotta figure out how to add lights.

processedmeat

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #18 on: February 26, 2019, 01:17:43 am »
I really like this project. I have a few PCB's waiting for cabs to put them in. This might be an alternative.

Thanks.  If you need the art, let me know.

Mike A

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #19 on: February 26, 2019, 04:50:43 am »
I don't have a 720 PCB. I have other games. Circus Charlie, Mr. Do, Rastan, and a couple others.

processedmeat

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #20 on: March 02, 2019, 06:58:57 pm »
Even though I got a cricut for my wife, I think I've been using it a lot more than she has.  I prototyped the monitor bezel using some cardboard and then with those measurements, I laid out the four sections out in photoshop and then imported the image into the cricut for cutting.  I then scored the folds and taped the corners of each section together on the back side.  This worked way better than using a ruler and cutting it by hand.   Next time, I'll use black core cardboard so that folds don't reveal a white core.  Luckily I have artwork covering this part of the monitor bezel.



My CPO came in and I nervously put it on making sure that there were no creases.  Of all the things I do to make/restore these games, its always putting on the CPO and artwork.  This CPO was a little harder to put on since the shape of the control panel is a little irregular with a lot of fold overs.  But overall it came out really good.



So the last thing I need to do is to put in lights in my 3d printed coin reject mechanism.  Also, trying to break 100K in the game.

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #21 on: March 02, 2019, 07:33:55 pm »
That turned out great.  How does she play?

processedmeat

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #22 on: March 03, 2019, 10:25:16 pm »
I haven't played on a real machine in years but the game plays as smooth and fast as the videos I've seen online.  I'm glad I picked using a pc + groovymame over the pi3b+ that I was using before.

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #23 on: March 03, 2019, 11:04:41 pm »
I haven't played on a real machine in years but the game plays as smooth and fast as the videos I've seen online.  I'm glad I picked using a pc + groovymame over the pi3b+ that I was using before.

 :cheers:

processedmeat

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #24 on: March 12, 2019, 07:23:26 pm »
Calling this a wrap!



Not arcade authentic light sockets but these t10 wedge lights fit into these light sockets I found on ebay


Here's the updated .stl files for the lighted microswitch holder for the coin door.  You'll also need the base .stl from a previous post. 

It was modified from leejsmith's design from klov.  Props to him for all his help and inspiration on this build.

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #25 on: June 22, 2020, 04:18:40 pm »
I really like this project. I have a few PCB's waiting for cabs to put them in. This might be an alternative.

Thanks.  If you need the art, let me know.

I'm looking at doing a 720 out of an A1Up countercade. Would you mind sharing your art?

Aside from a few distant pics and low quality scans, there's next to nothing out there.

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #26 on: October 19, 2022, 08:58:03 am »
Now that I've found a solution to my save game issue as seen in this post: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,159557.0.html, I was able to move on to finishing up some more of the art.

For the marquee, I ended up going with this.  I printed out two copies of it and for one of them I cut out the cassette section and the 720 logo so that when placed back to back, the light shines through the cassettes and the 720 logo more than the other parts of the marquee.  Kinda similar to how the boombox marquee is lit.


When looking at the digdug and centipede cabaret, they have some graphics between the glass and the black cardboard monitor bezel.  Here's something that replicates that using the 720 glass retainer sticker as inspiration.


Not sure why my cellphone can't pick up my screen properly and the marquee is blown out.


Just waiting for my cpo to be printed at this point and I can call it done.

Wondering if the art is available? I am working on a cabaret 720 myself and looking to use your art instead of re-creating the wheel.

processedmeat

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Re: 720 Atari Cabaret
« Reply #27 on: October 20, 2022, 10:52:17 pm »