The TARDIS as an arcade cabinet

[Martoon]

I really like the idea of a cab that resembles the TARDIS in some way (if you

[Bgnome]

what about having the cab inside the phonebooth thing?

[mahuti]

yeah, since the Tardis is bigger on the inside than the outside, you should have plenty of room.

[Apollo]

You could stick a whole arcade inside that thing, cool.

[rdagger]

You might want to check out Dr. Who Pinball for inspiration.  The first prototypes had moving Dalek heads.

[Martoon]

You might want to check out Dr. Who Pinball for inspiration.  The first prototypes had moving Dalek heads.

Thanks!  Never knew such a thing existed.

As for the comments from other people, unfortunately the one I build won't actually be bigger inside than out.  My construction skills just aren't up to that level.

Actually, Bgnome, were you being serious?  If so, I'm not quite sure what you mean.

[Bgnome]

actually, yeah.  like have a sliding, folding door in front and fake windows on the side, so it will actually look like a phone booth when the door is closed.  then when you open the door, you can step in and play on the arcade machine inside the booth.

[DYNAGOD]

 



but seriously i would build one of a dalek, it looks like a damn arcade game, and it is a machine..

[Martoon]

actually, yeah.  like have a sliding, folding door in front and fake windows on the side, so it will actually look like a phone booth when the door is closed.  then when you open the door, you can step in and play on the arcade machine inside the booth.

Hmmm... Interesting idea.  If you actually "stepped in", the TARDIS would have to be pretty big (about as big as the actual TARDIS prop), and it would be a little claustrophobic, especially with two players.  Also, other people couldn't really watch from the sides.  And I just don't have that kind of room.

As a variation on that, I suppose the doors could swing open to reveal the screen directly behind them (but still angled back like a typical arcade cab), and the motion of the doors opening could extend the CP out toward you on a sliding track (and the CP would retract back in as you close the doors).  I'd still have the problem of not being able to see the screen from the sides, since the side walls wouldn't be cut away.

This is probably getting a little complex, with some usability problems.  But thanks for the idea.

[Martoon]

but seriously i would build one of a dalek, it looks like a damn arcade game, and it is a machine..

Not quite sure how I'd build a cabinet out of something like that (and I really want to stick with the TARDIS concept).  Thanks anyway for the feedback.

[Minwah]

You might want to check out Dr. Who Pinball for inspiration.  The first prototypes had moving Dalek heads.

I was gonna say the same - Kev Steele has one: www.retroblast.com

Sounds like Dr Who is/was pretty popular in the US, more so than I would have imagined.  I haven't seen it for years, must make the effort...I remember the cricket-gloves-painted-silver Cybermen pretty well tho

[KevSteele]

Yup, I'm a proud owner of a Dr. Who Pinball. Only one article about it so far on RetroBlast, though:

http://www.retroblast.com/articles/drwholights.html

It's not really all that relevant to a Tardis arcade cab (even though I love my moving Dalek head topper )

A Tardis cab would be great - add a Tardis theme to MAMEWah, and assign the classic, creaky "dematerialze" sound to a game launch (heck, get the blue light on top to blink at the same time!) You know, even with just sideart and a blue light on top, a Dr. Who "theme" could be done to almost any cab.

And yes, Dr. Who was fairly popular in the US (I'm a big fan, at least...) I'm hoping the Sci-Fi channel will finish their negotiations to bring the new Dr. Who series to the US (and finally get reruns back of the old episodes! I haven't seen one on TV since 1990!)

Kevin