How to start building a 4 player arcade cabinet and system

[superpimp1975]

Hello everybody,
thank you for letting me join the group.  I was wanting some plans to start a build on a 4 player arcade system.  I don't have a lot of experience in this field but I want to learn and build one for my kids.  I would like to know what kind of systems there are besides the raspberry pie setup.  the one that runs hyper spin.  I would like to have the tracking ball and a couple of guns under the control panel.  Again thank you for letting me in the forum.  I am very excited to hear from you guys. 

[thorr]

Welcome!  I don't have a lot to offer.  I built my own joystick control panels and am working on my trackball enclosure this weekend, but I just figured it all out on my own and didn't really rely on others because I don't have a router which always comes up in these designs. 

In terms of a Retropie alternative, I would recommend Launchbox / Big Box.  Big Box is basically very similar to RetroPie but it runs on Windows and allows a much faster computer to run everything.

[javeryh]

Go browse the Project Announcement forums and search by number of posts to see some of the more talked about (and usually completed) projects.  Also read the Hall of Fame thread.

I would also think about whether you need a 4P cabinet and guns and all the bells and whistles.  A lot of people come here wanting to build one cabinet that "plays everything" and those often end up doing nothing particularly well - that's why a lot of us own multiple cabinets!  Also, 4P games are mostly terrible and getting 4P together to play is pretty rare so to me it adds a lot of size and expense to the build for not a lot of return.  There are a handful of 4P games that everyone remembers liking but no one actually does (X-Men, TMNT, Simpsons, etc.).  The only one that I still enjoy is Gauntlet but it is totally fine with 2P. 

Also, people here can seem harsh with criticism but I promise they are just trying to make your project the best it can be so don't take it personally.

Good luck and make sure you take a lot of pictures of your build so others can learn.

[Mike A]

Javeryh. Go find three other people, get liquored up, and play Trog. Then come back here and apologize.

[KenToad]

There are quite a few great 3-4 player arcade games. I made a list and was surprised by how many great games there were. Some of them are the most fun and well-loved games on a cab, assuming you've got people willing to play them.

Lightgun tech seems to be at critical juncture. I would wait a year or two to see what pans out. Check out the Lightgun forum for more info.

[javeryh]

Javeryh. Go find three other people, get liquored up, and play Trog. Then come back here and apologize.

I might have to do this - I've never played Trog before.

There are quite a few great 3-4 player arcade games. I made a list and was surprised by how many great games there were. Some of them are the most fun and well-loved games on a cab, assuming you've got people willing to play them.

Can you post the list?  I'm never going to build one (no room) but I'm curious now... 

[PL1]

There are quite a few great 3-4 player arcade games. I made a list and was surprised by how many great games there were. Some of them are the most fun and well-loved games on a cab, assuming you've got people willing to play them.

Can you post the list?  I'm never going to build one (no room) but I'm curious now...

Malenko compiled this list for the wiki.   

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/Multi-Player_Games


Scott

[KenToad]

Javeryh. Go find three other people, get liquored up, and play Trog. Then come back here and apologize.

I might have to do this - I've never played Trog before.

There are quite a few great 3-4 player arcade games. I made a list and was surprised by how many great games there were. Some of them are the most fun and well-loved games on a cab, assuming you've got people willing to play them.

Can you post the list?  I'm never going to build one (no room) but I'm curious now... 

Here's the thread with my lists, along with xml's for Hyperspin or other compatible frontend.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,160325.msg1687484.html#msg1687484

Additionally, Smash TV and Total Carnage are two of my absolute favorite games that require four joysticks. It's just not the same playing them with twin stick controllers.

I didn't realize that there was a Wiki entry. Looks like it needs to be updated. Just browsing the 3 player list, it's missing several good ones.

*Edit* And now I notice that you're the first post on that thread. Apparently, you weren't convinced the first time you saw it.   

[PL1]

I didn't realize that there was a Wiki entry. Looks like it needs to be updated. Just browsing the 3 player list, it's missing several good ones.

Both lists are missing a few titles.

The wiki is missing 20 titles on your list including . . . The Simpsons??!!??      D'oh!   

Thanks for the heads-up.   


Scott

[BadMouth]

look at the pic in my signature 

Also, only the two Dungeons and Dragons games in MAME use 4 buttons for player 3 and 4.
The rest of them only use 3.
So no reason to have more than four buttons for those players unless you are planning on emulating "newer" consoles like PS2.

[superpimp1975]

Yea I think I want to build the 4 player set up.  If I just build two controller, my son and his cousin will just fight over whos turn it is.  lol.  I'm not sure which way to go first.  I would like to narrow down what system is the best to run with my system.  I really don't want to do the raspberry pie setup.  I would like something up to date that we can upgrade easily.  Can you put a system in that you can play up to like ps3?  I really don't know.  I want to at least run a 32" tv for the monitor.  I would like to see how to wire up the control panel.  Like I said I have a lot of questions.   once again thank you for all your help, and again sorry for asking dumb questions. 

[opt2not]

look at the pic in my signature 

^this!

[PL1]

I'm not sure which way to go first.

Start at the beginning.   

Go to the wiki (link above) and read through the whole FAQ.

That will help you with the basic ideas and big picture.

Then go through the "What type of build meets my need?" section again -- take your time and carefully think through each step.

I would like something up to date that we can upgrade easily.

A Win7 or Win10 system would be a good choice.
- Intel processor with 4 cores and 3+ GHz clock speed is your friend.

Most people find it's usually not worth their time and effort to keep updating to bleeding edge MAME every month.
- Find a relatively recent ROMset then use the corresponding version of MAME.
- Update your setup if/when something you really want is added/fixed.


Scott

[slickam]

Also, only the two Dungeons and Dragons games in MAME use 4 buttons for player 3 and 4.
The rest of them only use 3.

The 4 player PGM and PGM2 games (Knights of Valour series, Oriental Legend series, and The Gladiator) also use 4 buttons per player, but it's still not a lot.

[superpimp1975]

Well I have got a 50" for my monitor for the cabinet on black Friday.  I got it for only 149.00. We in Texas say go big or go home.  lol

[superpimp1975]

Here is the side view. 

[pbj]

Well I have got a 50" for my monitor for the cabinet on black Friday.  I got it for only 149.00. We in Texas say go big or go home.  lol

I like this guy already.

[leapinlew]

Did anyone mention the book? The guy who runs this site is known as LeapinLews pal, but some people just call him Saint, he published a couple books called "Project Arcade"

https://www.amazon.com/Project-Arcade-Build-Your-Machine/dp/047089153X

[superpimp1975]

Well guys,
I am about to start on the cabinet part of my build maybe on Saturday.  I am very excited and looking forward to it.  I will upload a few when I get started.  Thank you for all your help to get started. 

[superpimp1975]

Hey guy,
I just wanted to share some pic on the arcade project.  I started Saturday on it.  I'm very excited.

[superpimp1975]

Build a sub floor with rollers

[superpimp1975]

About to put the side panels to the floor

[superpimp1975]

Attached the two side panels to floor

[superpimp1975]

Another pic with the two sides on

[superpimp1975]

Started to put the front side together

[superpimp1975]

Backside view of the front panel install

[superpimp1975]

Installed the back panels of cabinet

[superpimp1975]

Started installing the front panels

[superpimp1975]

Finished the bottom front panel.  Im about to start on the draw for the front opening.   I hope you guys like.  thanks again for letting me join the group.

[jennifer]

Well I have got a 50" for my monitor for the cabinet on black Friday.  I got it for only 149.00. We in Texas say go big or go home.  lol

I like this guy already.

Just what we need around here more Texas.🤔

[Mike A]

 
You seriously need to start over.
That design is horrible.

[opt2not]

I think he’s way to far along to start over, Mike. Not many people can make that kind of call after putting in that amount of work.

But this can still be salvaged. Keep the sides panels, rethink the front.

Ditch the 50” screen, it’s waaaay too big for the distance you’ll be standing away from it. I know Texas is all about BIG, but seriously, that’s not going to be comfortable to play on.

The entire CP doesn’t need to be enclosed into the cab. You could have it overhang like all the older multiplayer cabinets from BITD. Konami, Midway, even Capcom titles had a overhanging CP on the sides.

With the overhang method, you can make the cab less wide, and get a smaller screen to accommodate.

(Ps, getting serious Monolith vibes from this one. That project crashed and burned too)

[jennifer]

It does have some issues, But it does also possess a certain charm...My first thought is it is physically to big to move up the stairs around corners and such, so, cut it right up the middle and make it sectional (4 pieces, left, right, control panel and monitor) and bolt the halves together... Next the Cp needs needs to be massive and overhang the front by 2 feet or so (IMO) to get the players away from the screen some (this could be achieved with plates on each end boltes to sides) effectively giving it a double clad look...The marqee hole is too small and by design too late however, flashers in sequence behind opaque plexi could if done right give the state fair vibe, Or cut it off enlarge it as a 5th sectional piece and like the Cp double clad the ends..Again IMO.💋

[Mike A]

You guys both say it can be saved, but then recommend to saw it in half. You said the same thing I did. You just used more words.

[Mike A]

You really should take some time and look at what other people have built and the comments associated with them. You will not be happy with the cab as it is currently designed.

[jennifer]

You guys both say it can be saved, but then recommend to saw it in half. You said the same thing I did. You just used more words.

I noticed changes, Spose it could be viewed as starting over, but done with minimal waste, reusing virtually everything he has already done.

[JDFan]

Ditch the 50” screen, it’s waaaay too big for the distance you’ll be standing away from it. I know Texas is all about BIG, but seriously, that’s not going to be comfortable to play on.

IF you want to still use the 50" look into a pedestal cab and mount the screen to the wall - that way you can get far enough away from the screen to play comfortably - As others mentioned with a 50" standing 2 feet away from the screen is not going to be a good experience ( IF you need to verify this just measure the depth of your current cab - set the tv on a countertop and try standing that distance from the screen with it turned on with a video or TV station on and see what it looks like. )

[superpimp1975]

Thank you for all the comments.  I took the idea from the megacade 50" arcade website.  They build them with 50" screens.  I do understand that my header is small but I wanted it to fit thru a door.  Also,  I would not have built such a big arcade if I have a two story. I live in a single story house.  I don't have to worry about getting it up stairs.   Thanks for all the comments about Texas.

[ZTylerDurden717]

Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---!  50 inch screen from 2 feet away is ---goshdarn--- madness and I love it.

You could make a bezel with two LCD cut out holes to fit two smaller displays in duplicate/mirror mode as an alternative.  Each player gets their own screen.

[superpimp1975]

im about to start on the vents and fans on the back.  Im about to order a amplifer and speakers.  Any suggestions.  I saw the kit on amazon for 45.00.  Just didn't know how great it was.