Estimate for a fully built mame machine?

[Jack24]

I would like to buy an arcade machine.  I am curious who here would build one for someone else and how much they would charge for it with shipping to fresno CA.  This is a list of what I want on it.  I want a custom cabinet that looks similar to the ultimate game cabinet at hanaho.  I want it all to be black with a pull out keyboard drawer. I would like a door that opens to the compartment that holds the computer.  The control box would have 2 competition joysticks (8-way) with six buttons each and a pac-man reunion controller in the middle with two buttons.  I think it would be best to have a 25" arcade monitor but that is not for sure.  The main thing for me is being able to play nintendo and super nintendo games on the mame machine.  I will need a good enough computer to play all the arcade games plus alot of nintendo and super nintendo games.  I want to be able to play mortal combat 3 ultimate at full speed with sound.  Also I want a galaga game on the machine that has rapid fire not just shooting two at a time.  Also the ms. packman you see in many arcades where she moves faster then the ghosts I believe this is some sort of hacked version.
basically i want a complete package with a computer that can run most pre-1996 game emulator.
So the question is, if someone would be willing to (or if they weren't, just as an estimate), how much would they charge for the WHOLE thing shipped?

[SNAAKE]

You should defiently look for a builder around your area through this site.$1600-1700 would be a fair price for a decent looking cab with atleast a 2ghz pc,27" d9200 and controls you mentioned.May sound like a lot but really isn't because someone else is doing the work for you.You can try eBay but most of them are around $2500.You can also buy the kit from www.slik-stik.com and just put it together yourself like a piece of furniture from IKEA.Check out their site and kevstelee's vide review.Good luck  

http://www.slikstik.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=8

http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/slikcab_1.html

[spiffyshoes]

Yeah, I agree with SNAAKE if you want some one to build it for you it would cost at least $1600-1700 if not more.  Of course it would always be much cheaper if you built it yourself.  You might try the Ultimate Arcade instead of Slick-Stick.  It is cheaper but then it doesn't come laminated so you'd have to paint it and put any sort of T-Molding on yourself.  And then for a control panel you can buy an empty one for $50 from GameCab and put the controls in yourself it's not that hard.  The joysticks and buttons would probably cost you another $50-60.  If you did everything yourself you probably could build it for close to $1000.

http://www.gamecab.com/proddetail.asp?prod=2pdlvnl

http://www.cybertechdesign.net/mameroom/uaIIkit_info.asp

[grueinthebox]

You wouldn't happen to have a penchant for colorful sunglasses, would you?

Quick rough guestimates at materials costs as to what I'd expect to pay if I was building myself a cab from scratch with all new, quality components...  This little exercise actually has me rethinking the approach I was going to take to my next project.  

Wood, hardware and other materials: $200-300
Cabinet wiring, controls, electronics, lighting: $250
Barebones PC (AMD 2800+, 512mb RAM, 80GB):  $300
ArcadeVGA & J-Pac: $160
Kortek 27" Monitor: $500
Artwork printing: $120

Total parts: $1530-1630

Add on a few hundred bucks for the many hours you'd be paying someone to actually build the thing...

Surely I'm leaving something out and/or have made some gross miscalculations, but I'm sure someone will correct me.  Obviously there are places that money could be saved by buying used and/or shopping around as well.  I went for the Kortek monitor just 'cause hey, if you're gonna do it you may as well do it right.  

Personally, I'm of the opinion that if you're not looking for the whole experience of building it yourself and just want something to play, the thing to do would be to pick up a working, converted JAMMA cabinet on the cheap ($100-200-ish), add some additional buttons, plug in a PC with an ArcadeVGA and J-Pac and get to playing.  It's a minimum amount of work, and would save a fortune.

[paigeoliver]

I'll do a nice 19-21" conversion machine for $800 - $1000.

I can do them at that price point because I use very few new components, thus taking advantage of the fact that used stuff is way cheaper.

[dirt]

here is what the cost is with shipping from the 4 player game i am currently building. the spinner and trackball totals include mouse hacks and harness and knob (refurb trackball).
vendors:
oscar controls
ultimarc
bob roberts
haps
home depot
wells gardner
h. betty industries (betson imperial)

prices:
spinner

[paigeoliver]

surge                $10.00      

Soda is so much cheaper when you don't have to pay shipping!

[Apollo]

I can do you a great deal. All the bells and whistles with a pentium 2.8 GHz cpu, 160GB hard drive, 33" arcade monitor, Arcade VGA etc for $300. Just work out the shipping from New Zealand and we'll work out a payment plan for you.

[blueoakleyz]

lol apollo are you trying to scam him?

[GGKoul]

I can do you a great deal. All the bells and whistles with a pentium 2.8 GHz cpu, 160GB hard drive, 33" arcade monitor, Arcade VGA etc for $300. Just work out the shipping from New Zealand and we'll work out a payment plan for you.

Can I send you a Money Order for $500 and refund me the difference?

[Gunstar Hero]

Soda is so much cheaper when you don't have to pay shipping!

LOL. That was bad.  

[Gunstar Hero]

$6000.

Complete with rotating controls.

Women will want you and men will want to BE you.

http://www.1uparcade.com

[blueoakleyz]

gunstar hero that ISNT what he asked for

[Gunstar Hero]

But it's too cool not to tell people about!  

And it has EVERYTHING Jack wants.

Except the ROMS. It's not legal to sell the ROMS.

Sure, it's a bit costly, but really, if you're serious, 6K isn't alot, right?

And 1UP makes some great cabs, right here in CA I think!

So getting one to the wonderful world of Fresno wouldn't be an issue at all!

Yep! I think this is just what Jack needs.

Wonder what he thinks..?