Author Topic: A Cabinet for a Dorm room. (Read 5114 times)

LD1984 · « **on:** March 30, 2004, 04:44:21 pm »

Hello. This is my first topic posted here on this FINE website. You should all be proud to be part of such an awesome community. I salute you all.

Now to my question: You see, I'm in college. Here at school, my friends and I try to compete to have cooler items in our dorm rooms. Next year, my roommate and I are moving into a place with bigger rooms. The opposing room is getting a stripper pole in their room. I was thinking that the only way to combat that is to finally go with my dream of owning a MAME cabinet.

Here's the problem: Our room is going to be on the second story of the building. Also, this cabinet will have to travel many miles in order to get to said dorm room, as I live afew hours away. Do you think it would be worth it to build a cabinet that can make the journey (stairs included) for the goodness of my room? Are my dreams just too big!?

Let's hear some responses. Who knows? Maybe we'll all come up with the plans for the most portible MameCabinet ever...with hinges and secret doors! Maybe likes a transformer or something!

dommer · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2004, 04:54:08 pm »

Well, the ultimate arcade plans (which I used as a basis) can be modified to split into 2 parts very easily. Rather than affix the top to the bottom permanently, just I just use 4 bolts. Here's the final result... I think it's got a stripper pole beat:

http://stormclan.servebeer.com/mame/

It's fairly easy to make a cabinet modular. Or, if you dont want to do that, you can build the parts, dry test it for fit, and then stack up the panels and assemble in your dorm room.

Nailz · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2004, 05:09:47 pm »

Welcome! If you want something a bit more portable I would suggest looking at doing a cocktail cab or even a bartop cab, for such a small space as yours, that would be the way to go.

zaphod · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2004, 05:19:58 pm »

Bartop.

Tilzs · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2004, 05:25:20 pm »

A full cab would win in the "coolest" factor. A cocktail however would still be plenty cool and might work a bit better in a small space. Also has the added advantage of serving as a desk

SirPeale · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2004, 05:38:47 pm »

If you really want to show them up get your own stripper pole - complete with strippers.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2004, 06:34:05 pm »

for a dorm room, make a control panel (or two single player panels) and hook up mame to your TV. Like a console system.

NY_in_TX · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2004, 06:42:43 pm »

I would suggest a pedestal type infront of a big TV or projector. That way you could have a big TV AND a huge Showcase type setup.

Take it a step further and mount a DLP projector from the ceiling and make the pedestal easy to move away and you've got a home (dorm) theater.

Show some porn and your the hero...er I mean load up Ms Pac and your the hero

now I don't know where your desks and beds are going to go, but if the guys are having strippers next door..you ain't sleeping or studying

ny

pointdablame · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2004, 06:51:45 pm »

I would definitely DEFINITELY either go with a bartop or a CP attached to a TV. Perhaps a cocktail if you have enough room, but from one college student to another, you want something that you can put away or at least to the side so it doesn't get destroyed. And unless you are really lucky, even a "bigger" dorm room is still only a large closet

CitznFish · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2004, 07:31:05 pm »

Quote from: pointdablame on March 30, 2004, 06:51:45 pm

I would definitely DEFINITELY either go with a bartop or a CP attached to a TV. Perhaps a cocktail if you have enough room, but from one college student to another, you want something that you can put away or at least to the side so it doesn't get destroyed. And unless you are really lucky, even a "bigger" dorm room is still only a large closet

Mini-cab or cabaret sized maybe?

LD1984 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2004, 07:34:20 pm »

Well, word on the street is that housing for next year is gonna be announced in the next few days. I think I'll wait to hear my assignment before making any huge plans. Then I can scout out the room and see if a beautiful Arcade Cabinet would be a worthy investment.

Since I'm here again, I'd like to hear some suggestions as to how I can build the cabinet cheaply (in the event that my dream comes true). I have a hunk of cash sitting around, and I'd like to keep it in hunk form. By that, I mean I'd like to have some left.

So?

shmokes · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2004, 07:38:22 pm »

Yeah...the sad thing is, they went first, and in the end they will still win. Don't get me wrong a MAME cab is cool, but we're talking about naked sorority girls here. You're going to have to do better!

GadgetGeek · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2004, 08:26:31 pm »

Blow the budget and buy this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3085992868&category=49230
(big discussion in http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=17592)
and then hook up webcam or x-10 ninja cam up to watch the other room's stripper pole on the embedded screen while playing arcade games.
Of course, if you are playing video games while watching naked chicks on the screen, then you will probably be limiting yourself to games you can play with 1 hand :-)
OK, to get the coolness factor, I think you need a full size cabinet, but will all the components in the top half and the bottom half would be where the keg and tapper go (tapper on the side of course, so as not to interfere with game play). Whole thing on wheels so it can be wheeled across the hall to watch the stippers while drinking and playing classic games.

hyiu · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2004, 10:59:45 pm »

haaa haaa haaa.... get s tripper pole

....

then all you need is just get the stripper in your room !!!...
haaa haa haaa.....

I'm sure you'll win the popular contest.... ALWAYS !!...

and also... guys will show their "pole" after seeing the stripper... so... your room will have stripper and stripper "poles"..... haaa haaa haaa haaa....

**oops...*** is that to NC-17 rated ??....

slicer_d · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2004, 11:28:00 pm »

Just a few thoughts and observations. A cocktail could be very cool but it might actually need more room than you have. With a cocktail you need to room to sit a person down on each side so in the ultra confined space of a dorm that might not work. Of course if it would fit it acts as a coffe table type of deal and is pretty convienient. I really like the idea of a full size arcade machine though if you get a older smaller cab it should work pretty well. My old taito cab from the 80's is pretty small and you could squezze it in a little space and still have enough room to play some 2 player Street Fighter. But I think a nice big MK cab design is out though.

LD1984 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 31, 2004, 12:41:00 am »

Quote from: GadgetGeek on March 30, 2004, 08:26:31 pm

Blow the budget and buy this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3085992868&category=49230
(big discussion in http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=17592)
and then hook up webcam or x-10 ninja cam up to watch the other room's stripper pole on the embedded screen while playing arcade games.
Of course, if you are playing video games while watching naked chicks on the screen, then you will probably be limiting yourself to games you can play with 1 hand :-)
OK, to get the coolness factor, I think you need a full size cabinet, but will all the components in the top half and the bottom half would be where the keg and tapper go (tapper on the side of course, so as not to interfere with game play). Whole thing on wheels so it can be wheeled across the hall to watch the stippers while drinking and playing classic games.

You're insane.

I think my hopes might be too big. My dream is to have four CP's so that I can beat The Simpsons arcade game with my friends. How could I ever make it happen?

Maybe it will, maybe it won't. Alls I know is that I have a dream....

SkateDetroit · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2004, 08:34:11 am »

Wireless control panels, or not doesn't matter. Four of them even. You could wire them to a playstation controller and then use a PS2-PC adapter. Grab a PS2-XBOX adapter while you're at it. Now you've got arcade quality joysticks for your PC and MAME, PS2, and XBOX. Add 50 Inch tv and your set.

You'll still be able to trick girls into thinking you're not that big of a nerd while having the best old school game partys.

Last step is to add large comfy couch. Voila. Instant dorm room bliss.

GadgetGeek · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2004, 08:41:28 am »

Quote from: LD1984 on March 31, 2004, 12:41:00 am

You're insane.

I prefer the term reality impaired

OK, back to reality. If you are building it yourself from scratch, go with something scaled down maybe 3/4 size (since dorm space is at a premium). Then put the basic 2 person fighter arrangement on the CP. In order to accomodate the two extra people for 4 person games, build two single player units (with connectors for easy attachment...plenty of threads discussing options there) that can be attached as wings to the main unit when necessary. If a TB is needed for goldentee (or TW Golf, pc version) or centipede or whatever, a standalone unit that attached to the front should solve that problem (or maybe a flip up unit). By using this approach, it will still look like an arcade cabinet (with out the wings) and fit easily through doors for moving it back and forth.
My opinion is that you would have the better deal. I would bet the room with the stripper pole will just be some drunk guys staring at it saying "gee, it would sure be great if we could actually gets some girls to dance with this pole".
Good luck

nipsmg · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2004, 09:39:24 am »

Sorry to burst your bubble-- but NO WAY an arcade machine beats a stripper pole..

Ok, during the day... you'll have the coolness factor, but your buddies across the hall will be the envy of campus when they've got drunk naked college chicks swinging from their stripper poles at night... while you're pounding buttons playing mortal kombat..

But.. If you were going to go with a machine in a dorm room.... Make it a cocktail if possible, or a cabaret cabinet.. The cocktail could be used for storing stuff when it's not being used.. Dorm rooms, no matter how big, usually can't fit a cabinet comfortably.. I had a HUGE dorm room at school, and there's no way it'd fit with both beds, desks, etc (Unless you've got a living room/common area type of setup to a couple of rooms, then throw that pig in the living room).

I say, only thing better than one stripper pole, is two stipper poles. or a stripper pole & lighting system.. :-D

--NipsMG

Stingray · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2004, 09:54:20 am »

Quote from: LD1984 on March 31, 2004, 12:41:00 am

[I think my hopes might be too big. My dream is to have four CP's so that I can beat The Simpsons arcade game with my friends. How could I ever make it happen?

Most four player cabs I've seen would take up all of the available space in the dorm rooms I've been in. Your best bet is to build a two player cab with USB ports on the front. Players 3 & 4 can make do with game pads when you play four player games.

-S

Mr. Dude · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2004, 11:09:33 am »

I would suggest doing something like this since there is very limited space in a dorm room....

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=16635

HagHore · « **Reply #21 on:** March 31, 2004, 11:28:13 am »

You're wanting 4-player action at minimal cost. Get an XBox, mod it, install XBox MAME. 27" TV with S-Video in. Build an empty cab to host the TV/XBox, this will take the place of your regular TV stand. Then just figure out if you want the controls built in to your cab or if you want 4 separate panels hacked into XBox controllers. (you could do the same with a PS2 as suggested earlier, or even with a Dreamcast as I believe there is a MAME version for DC)

LD1984 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 31, 2004, 11:46:16 am »

Quote from: nipsmg on March 31, 2004, 09:39:24 am

Sorry to burst your bubble-- but NO WAY an arcade machine beats a stripper pole.

What if I'm dancing on the stripper pole? Will the arcade machine win then?

I'm still talking this over with my roommate for next year. We know that it will take up space. We also have some plans to make more space so that we can all just hang out. If we get bunkbeds instead of two twin beds, then that frees up a ton of room. Without bunkbeds, the normal room in the dormitory next year could fit two beds, desks and a couch with all the trimmins.

I just have to wait to see the room.

hulkster · « **Reply #23 on:** March 31, 2004, 12:07:45 pm »

a little OT...but im curious....what college is this? or if you dont feel like revealing that info, what state is it in? the reason im asking is because of your screen name. just humor me and tell me what state you are in.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #24 on:** March 31, 2004, 12:43:31 pm »

Ok, here is the skinny.

Cocktail would be out of the picture. I own cocktails, I own uprights, and a cocktail takes up the space of 3 uprights.

What you need is this.

A standard classic cabinet. Nothing oversized. Nothing with control panels wider than the sides of the cabinet.

A single classic 19" upright DOES NOT take up that much space. It is just a chunk of floor 2 feet wide and 30" deep, with another 18" needed in front when someone actually wants to play. That is NOTHING space wise. That is like an end table.

You COULD go with a mini cabinet, but you would lose 2 player simultaneous action. And anyway. a mini cabinet only saves you a couple of inches in each direction.

As far as it being on the second floor. So what? I live on the second floor, behind a complicated 180 degree turn stairset, and do you have any idea how many full sized cabinets I have? I rarely go a month without moving one in or out. Sure it isn't any fun moving them in, but it only takes a couple of minutes, and then it is over with. These things are no more difficult to move around than couches are.

Lilwolf · « **Reply #25 on:** March 31, 2004, 12:55:01 pm »

I would say a multi - use cab.

SVid TV for the monitor...
Mame with everything...

but...

Add a TV encoder and get TiVo running..
Also have XBox and PS2 connected to the controllers also.

In small spaces... you need dual uses!

And last...

STRIPPER POLES AREN'T COOL UNLESS THEY LOOK LIKE STRIPPERS!

Remember... they will probably use it 95% of the time... the chance of getting a woman to come into the room and use it...well... will offend them...

So expect to see a BUNCH of guys saying... "cool... let me try it!"...

just wrong...
really really wrong!

Tiger-Heli · « **Reply #26 on:** March 31, 2004, 03:02:14 pm »

Quote from: LD1984 on March 31, 2004, 11:46:16 am

Quote from: nipsmg on March 31, 2004, 09:39:24 am
Sorry to burst your bubble-- but NO WAY an arcade machine beats a stripper pole.

What if I'm dancing on the stripper pole? Will the arcade machine win then?

I'm still talking this over with my roommate for next year. We know that it will take up space. We also have some plans to make more space so that we can all just hang out. If we get bunkbeds instead of two twin beds, then that frees up a ton of room. Without bunkbeds, the normal room in the dormitory next year could fit two beds, desks and a couch with all the trimmins.

I just have to wait to see the room.

When I was in college we made a framework of 4x4's and hung the beds from these (with chains), then we had room for a couch under one bed and a TV/Stereo under the other one.

Tilzs · « **Reply #27 on:** March 31, 2004, 03:57:52 pm »

Christ. Bunk your beds

When I was in college it wasn't even an option if you wanted to bunk your beds or not if. Everyone had their bunks suspended from chains unless they didn't have a TV or computer.

Sounds like you guy are spoiled for room

LD1984 · « **Reply #28 on:** March 31, 2004, 07:00:49 pm »

My friend and I just had a thought: What if we could somehow combine the mini fridge that we have in our dorm with the cabinet? That would mean no traditional coin door, but it would also mean sodas right within reach! it would also take a necessary object and combine it with the cabinet to make MORE space!

Plausible?

SkateDetroit · « **Reply #29 on:** March 31, 2004, 09:35:10 pm »

Uber plausible. I believe most CPs are somewhere around 36 inches high? Of course you can always make your own cab to fit your needs.

Who needs water cooling. Put your motherboard in the freezer.

TalkingOctopus · « **Reply #30 on:** April 01, 2004, 12:09:39 am »

Quote from: SkateDetroit on March 31, 2004, 09:35:10 pm

Who needs water cooling. Put your motherboard in the freezer.

Bad Idea... The motherboard would not mix well with water vapor and frost.

ButeLegz · « **Reply #31 on:** April 01, 2004, 01:37:45 am »

Bar fridge mame cab... sounds good. Probably doesn't beat a stripper pole (depending on how much that thing actually gets used!) but adding the fridge definitely gives it a little more college binge drinking cred. Got a favourite beer... theme the cab based on your irresponsible & excessive alcohol consumption! Tastefully of course. I don't think it's been done yet & it's a good way to get girls to actually come within 10 feet of an arcade machine... You could always pull the 'While your down there...' line too. Can you guys drink booze on campus? If not, ignore all my babble. But I reckon it's a boss idea.

Think about when your playing it though... you don't want people constantly coming up & digging in around you & your mate's legs, scrambling to get to the fridge... (unless it's the pole-dancing girls from across the hall, that is!) I'd fit the fridge in the side of the cab rather than the front. That then means you can't slide the cab in a corner or between two things & still be able to open the door. The only thing I can think to do is make the bottom half holding the fridge & the top half with the screen controls independent of each other. You could stack it, & rotate the fridge door side of the bottom half to whatever suits your set up at the time.

Seriously though, by the time you finish making any sort of cab, modular bar fridge or otherwise, your going to have finished you stay at college... unless your doing a triple degree!

JustMichael · « **Reply #32 on:** April 02, 2004, 07:12:42 am »

I like the Mame cab idea best but perhaps a keg refrigerator with a tap would be good also?
http://kegworks.com/shoppingcart/catalog/category_418_Draft_Beer_Equipment_Keg_Refrigerators_page_1.html

Lilwolf · « **Reply #33 on:** April 02, 2004, 10:44:39 am »

Why are keg refriges so darn expensive? Is it that they need to be able to play with the pressure to keep it fresh?

Small refridge... 100 bucks
tap - 29 bucks (just don't return it)
cut a hole and pop the tap throught...

OR

Small keg refridge - 700 bucks??

Seems like they should be a few hundred...

Lilwolf · « **Reply #34 on:** April 02, 2004, 10:49:06 am »

btw...

you might consider a touchscreen virtual MP3 / juke box.

Much cooler (to the ladies)...

I still want one... don't have the time...

drunkatuw · « **Reply #35 on:** April 02, 2004, 01:57:53 pm »

Quote from: Lilwolf on April 02, 2004, 10:44:39 am

Why are keg refriges so darn expensive? Is it that they need to be able to play with the pressure to keep it fresh?

Small refridge... 100 bucks
tap - 29 bucks (just don't return it)
cut a hole and pop the tap throught...

OR

Small keg refridge - 700 bucks??

Seems like they should be a few hundred...

They're expensive because you can't use a normal dorm fridge. The compressor on the back creates a shelf so a keg will not fit.

And the custom stainless steel is not cheap either. I built my own and it cost $250 just for the parts (not including the fridge...that was free from my parent's basement). All parts were bought from beveragefactor.com which had the best prices.

http://www.drunkatuw.com/keg/album/index.html

Looking back at it, I don't know how I survived the first few years of college without it. Now, after college, I still couldn't imagine coming home and opening a bottle of beer when I have cold beer on tap in the basement (next to the arcade of course).

Witchboard · « **Reply #36 on:** April 02, 2004, 02:34:44 pm »

I say go for a lowboy. You could build your kegerator into it. Person with high score gets free draft. LOL

GadgetGeek · « **Reply #37 on:** September 24, 2004, 07:25:46 am »

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=816&e=1&u=/ap/20040923/ap_on_re_us/stripper_pole

Wiss · « **Reply #38 on:** September 24, 2004, 08:32:43 am »

Does your dorm allow you to build decks or lofts? With a deck you can drop your beds below and storage with the living space above. A cocktail might work out with the floor space you'll have freed up above. A loft will get your beds off the floor and allow a couch below and will probably work out better with a stand up. If not then bunk beds for the win.

Dekelia · « **Reply #39 on:** September 24, 2004, 09:06:14 am »

I would have loved this in college and it could have easily fit into my dorm room (circa 1994). Some of the new dorm rooms I've seem are much bigger.

Here is what you do:

Do a double loft to get both beds off the floor (assuming 2 people - if more just loft them all).
That should give you room for a couch under one, with one of your desks across form it holding the TV (you won't be able to study in your room anyway - frees up the furniture space). You should still have room to put the cab either next to the desk with the TV or in the space freed up by moving the desk under the bed.

And yes, this would be much cooler than a stripper pole. As other people have mentioned, they will probably never have girls over anyway. In the off chance they do, you could go over and enjoy their 15 min of fame but the arcade cab is cool all the time. Also, many girls actually like the classic games, and it is certainly a better conversation piece than "so I see you have a stripper pole..."


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