Poll: Best looking Custom Arcade so Far

[the3eyedblindman]

I want to see some responces on people's favorite custom arcade's on this site, I myself pick...

1. UltraMame (http://www.ultramame.com/)

2.The Ultimate Arcade Machine (http://netbox.home.mindspring.com/arcade)

They are both based on a defender style, i think is the best looking, and both use nice oak stained plywood.

I just wanted to start a poll seeing some others opinions. You can just make a list. Thanks

[REBIRTH]

Wow - for every post you get on this you'll get a different answer probably since everyone's likes/dislikes are different.  

Since I like the "uncluttered" look of a non-frankenpanel I'll vote for some rotating panel cabs like:

mine (http://rebirth.dgthompson.com - am I allowed to vote for myself  )

1Up's (http://www.1uparcade.com)

Frostillicus (http://arcade.tomvanhorn.com/) - controls based on 1UP's design and with some killer artwork.

[RayB]

Let me be the first to give a "jerk" response and say that an "arcade" in the game sense of the word is a large place/room filled with multiple game machines.

Sorry, it just annoys me so much when people refer to a game as "an arcade". It's not, it's an arcade GAME, or arcade MACHINE, or arcade CABINET. You have to be specific, otherwise you could just as well be talking about an arcade SIGN, or arcade bathroom, ...

I see this done on Ebay lots too...     "I have a nice arcade for sale, no reserve!". Oh really? 1 game comprises an arcade now?

[rant over]

[ChadTower]

Wow, great stuff on the rotating panel.  How is the wiring done?  off to the side via a tube in the middle or something?

[the3eyedblindman]

Let me be the first to give a "jerk" response and say that an "arcade" in the game sense of the word is a large place/room filled with multiple game machines.

Sorry, it just annoys me so much when people refer to a game as "an arcade". It's not, it's an arcade GAME, or arcade MACHINE, or arcade CABINET. You have to be specific, otherwise you could just as well be talking about an arcade SIGN, or arcade bathroom, ...

I see this done on Ebay lots too...     "I have a nice arcade for sale, no reserve!". Oh really? 1 game comprises an arcade now?

[rant over]


Yikes! my bad! "Ok, best custom Arcade MACHINE, CABINET,COIN OP ECT.

Anyways, lets keep the responses coming

[REBIRTH]

Wow, great stuff on the rotating panel.  How is the wiring done?  off to the side via a tube in the middle or something?

Pretty much.  On my cab the three panels form a "hollow" triangle.  All the wires come out the side of the triangle, through the lazy susans they spin on.  I have stops so that the panels can only spin from 1-to-2-to-3, so you can't keep spinning it around and get the wires all $#%@'ed up.  From looking at his website, 1Up does it with a tube in the middle, similar idea in a sense.

[ChadTower]

Pretty much.  On my cab the three panels form a "hollow" triangle.  All the wires come out the side of the triangle, through the lazy susans they spin on.  I have stops so that the panels can only spin from 1-to-2-to-3, so you can't keep spinning it around and get the wires all $#%@'ed up.  From looking at his website, 1Up does it with a tube in the middle, similar idea in a sense.

I'm reading through 1Ups website now... this is brilliant.  Just totally brilliant.  I am awed.  

[REBIRTH]

Pretty much.  On my cab the three panels form a "hollow" triangle.  All the wires come out the side of the triangle, through the lazy susans they spin on.  I have stops so that the panels can only spin from 1-to-2-to-3, so you can't keep spinning it around and get the wires all $#%@'ed up.  From looking at his website, 1Up does it with a tube in the middle, similar idea in a sense.

I'm reading through 1Ups website now... this is brilliant.  Just totally brilliant.  I am awed.  

It is pretty cool.  I don't want to kill this cool thread anymore, I apologize to 3Eyed.  If you check out my website, or the link to my "old" website from there you can see how I did mine which is different than 1Up, even though similar (I am still trying to create a complete website in my spare time - only partial information now on my site).

On with the poll, I really feel bad about the interruption!!!!  

[Mr. Dude]

I love this one...

http://www.said7.com/system7_gallery/

this one's pretty nice too...

http://arcadedreams.phantomtech.info/Photos.asp#

I know there's a lot of others too that have really impressed me.

[Hoagie_one]

I always chuckle when people say frankenpanel

[the3eyedblindman]

I really like how this thread is going, I like how you can just go to the best ones instead of having to search in the examples page, when in my opinion, some dont look very good. Lets keep the favorites coming!

[SkateDetroit]

I put a vote in for mine, and any of the ones I haven't done yet. Cause well, it's a pride thing.  

Anything clean, non "Frankenpaneled" heh, and plays Dig Dug gets my vote.

[REBIRTH]

I love this one...

http://www.said7.com/system7_gallery/

Very cool looking, love the graphics (and the b**bs on the front end    )

[Jakobud]

... both use nice oak stained plywood.

 I don't remember a single arcade game that was oak stained plywood and you are voting these two the best out of ALL the examples??  wierd.

[the3eyedblindman]

... both use nice oak stained plywood.

 I don't remember a single arcade game that was oak stained plywood and you are voting these two the best out of ALL the examples??  wierd.

Why, yes I am, I didnt say they had to look like real arcades, I said What do you think is the best looking custom arcade machine, and I like oak plywood, its my opinion, keep bringing in opinions on ur favorites!

[REBIRTH]

... both use nice oak stained plywood.

 I don't remember a single arcade game that was oak stained plywood and you are voting these two the best out of ALL the examples??  wierd.

I am not a big fan of the wood grain myself but many of the very early arcade machines were indeed wood colored.   Space invaders started out as wood grain, later changed to black with graphipcs....  may have been the first to change to a classic look with graphics and crap.  Obviously most of the arcade machines people are "cloning" were from the 80's/90's which were not wood grained.  But I can see the appeal, especially if you stick the thing in a prominent place in your house with other like wood grain items (I wouldn't do that, but if you are into it - go for it...)  

[pocketbikez]

this has always been one of my favorites.

http://www.cybercoma.com/supercade/

[the3eyedblindman]

this has always been one of my favorites.

http://www.cybercoma.com/supercade/

Whoa, I dont believe this, you are the person that introduced me to arcade building... Whoa!! One day I came across your site "The Ultimate Arcade Machine" because I wanted to try building my own arcade. At this point i knew nothing about mame or anything. I beleive when i first started researching I even emailed you asking for a step by step guide, and you even introduced me to this website, I now am in the process of building my own cabinet based on ur oak plywood cab. I just want to thank you for introducing me with that great site you have, and just want to let you know how youve made a difference, introducing me to all this information! I cant believe its u!

[SNAAAKE]

I always liked mamestation 2 cab,then again I kinda REALLY liked ultimate arcade 2 but back in the day it looked really REALLY complicated to try and build one myself.
But hey I did it !

http://www.mamestation.com/ms2home.html gets my vote  

[GGKoul]

My favourite is LuSid's.. its the one that launched 1000 Mame projects.  

[spystyle]

I like this the best :

http://www.ugiansky.com/trashcade/

Dig it?
Craig

[Doc-]

Ok,
  I have to agree that the trashcade is the hands down winner.  The toothless owner is a nice touch as well.

Doc

[Tilzs]

Well this thread has been done before and when I was building my cab it was very helpfull.

I know that there are a ton of links to completed cabs on the site, but I really do think it would be helpfull if there was a list of the top 10-15 or so cabs, top 5-10 cocktails and maybe 5-10 showcase/sitdowns.

When thinking of designing a cab, it is really helpfull to get design ideas off of the best of what others have done. I also think a list of "best of" should be added to the sticky or FAQ.

[saint]

Done!  See the top of the examples page, and the following new message forum.

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=20

--- saint

Well this thread has been done before and when I was building my cab it was very helpfull.

I know that there are a ton of links to completed cabs on the site, but I really do think it would be helpfull if there was a list of the top 10-15 or so cabs, top 5-10 cocktails and maybe 5-10 showcase/sitdowns.

When thinking of designing a cab, it is really helpfull to get design ideas off of the best of what others have done. I also think a list of "best of" should be added to the sticky or FAQ.

[g-rock26]

Here's my favorite "Custom Arcade" Machine...lol

[krick]

Anyone remember that guy who had the "Crap MAME" site?

He humorously "reviewed" MAME cabinets that he thought were particularly badly done.

A lot of people were offended but it did showcase a lot of shall we say "interesting" cabinets that wouldn't have gotten attention any other way.

The majority of the cabinets he made fun of were people trying things that would be considered "unorthodox" by most people's standards.  One that stands out is the MAME machine inside a coffee table.  Another is the giant rotating control panel cabinet that had like 3 sets of driving controls.

Personally, I love when people try "crazy" things.  The result may not always turn out to be the "best looking" design but often they inspire other people to think outside the box (or cabinet, if you will) as well.

I, for one, would love to see "Crap MAME" come back.

[danny_galaga]

this one rocks but i have no ideas whos it is

[the3eyedblindman]

Hey danny galaga thanks for the reply, and gettin this thread back on the main page, lets keep gettin more replies people!!! Dont let this die!!

Anyhow, i found this badboy on ebay, and i love it, i am using this design now, and ill probably even get the canyon blue laminate and build a 4 player control panel...take a look....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13716&item=6102714994&rd=1

Its a beauty, keep givin your opinions!

[REBIRTH]

Hey danny galaga thanks for the reply, and gettin this thread back on the main page, lets keep gettin more replies people!!! Dont let this die!!

Anyhow, i found this badboy on ebay, and i love it, i am using this design now, and ill probably even get the canyon blue laminate and build a 4 player control panel...take a look....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13716&item=6102714994&rd=1

Its a beauty, keep givin your opinions!

I'm not a fan of that CP setup.  Check out the joysticks - for most of the games, where it is just you playing a 1 player game, you'll be standing way off to one side.   If you like the setup then I might suggest a smaller trackball, maybe mounting it without the mounting plate so that the front two joystick sets can be more in the middle.

[Ghoward]

I want to see some responces on people's favorite custom arcade's on this site, I myself pick...

1. UltraMame (http://www.ultramame.com/)

2.The Ultimate Arcade Machine (http://netbox.home.mindspring.com/arcade)

They are both based on a defender style, i think is the best looking, and both use nice oak stained plywood.

I just wanted to start a poll seeing some others opinions. You can just make a list. Thanks

My own!! My cab was based on the Ultimate arcade.

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=14915

I think I need to work in a webpage for it......

Gary

[DarkKobold]

I want to see some responces on people's favorite custom arcade's on this site, I myself pick...

1. UltraMame (http://www.ultramame.com/)

2.The Ultimate Arcade Machine (http://netbox.home.mindspring.com/arcade)

They are both based on a defender style, i think is the best looking, and both use nice oak stained plywood.

I just wanted to start a poll seeing some others opinions. You can just make a list. Thanks

Wow. UltraMame is the cabinet  that inspired me to build my own mame cab. I love the classy look that it has. I've been working, albeit, incredibily slow, on a four player rendition of the ultramame cab.

[hyiu]

There are 2 cabs that I have to vote...

first is the MameStation by PhantomPower... (Excuse me if I got the name wrong...)

I mean... the Original mamestation with the Spiderman and Wolfervine artwork on the cab.... VERY NICE !!!.. this one inspired me to start on a cab....

and 1UPs rotating cab.... simply amazing.....
it has rotating panel, all the bells and whistles of a custom cab while holding the general simple shape of an original arcade....

this 2 cab gets my vote.....

ps: said7 also has a very special feel cab too....

these are cabs that stands out in my memory.....
 

[g-rock26]

Here's some more of my favorites...I guess this would classify as an arcade:

[Minwah]

Personally, I don't like many of the types of cabs previously mentioned...more specifically I don't like wood finish, and large control panels.  No offense intended, I do understand *why* people make cabs like this, but they're not my cup of tea personally.

I like cabs with control panels the same width as the cabinet, and look like they could've sat in an 80's arcade.  Also I'm not keen on seeing 800 controllers on 1 panel...

[danny_galaga]

then you'd just have to love docs modular cab (",)

http://www.beersmith.com/mame/

[hunky_artist]

I like cabs with control panels the same width as the cabinet, and look like they could've sat in an 80's arcade.  Also I'm not keen on seeing 800 controllers on 1 panel...

I couldn't agree more. Give me an old Taito style cabinet any day.

oh no.. hang on. You won't have to. I'm building one!  

[Ghoward]

Personally, I don't like many of the types of cabs previously mentioned...more specifically I don't like wood finish, and large control panels.  No offense intended, I do understand *why* people make cabs like this, but they're not my cup of tea personally.
...

I don't know abut anyone else but I built a wood finish cab since I don't have a  game room yet and a big black arcade machine looks out of place in most peoples living rooms.

Gary

[pointdablame]

I personally think 1up's arcade is amazing.  It got me interested in building a MAME machine.

And on another note entirely.... g-rock26.... ok, we get it...  you sell arcades... good for you.  Why not actually giving us an opinion though instead of just pimping your site?  sheesh.

[Minwah]

Ghoward: heh, I live with parents and mine's in my room so I have no probs there

pointdablame: I agree, 1up's is the kindof cab I was thinking of too...

d_galaga: doc's is cool because he can have as many controls at once as he likes...Must come in handy sometimes to have a few different controls at once, but also he can go for a simple setup when he wants.

[patrickl]

I like Carlos' Centipede. Beautifully built. Nice site too.

For me there are way too few "curvy" cabs. Most are basically straight lines. I like Galaga and PacMan style cabs best. I guess I'm just "old" though.

I have to agree with Minwah on the "big CP" cabs and the wood finish cabs shown here. Allthough I'm afraid I will be doing a wood finish cab too. Really, that's the only way I could convince my wife the cab has to stand in the living room (actually more the game room section of the living room)


:edit: I guess I was posting this in the wrong thread. I have added a nomination poll for Carlos' centipede in the Hall Of Fame nominations forum.