My MAMERoom

[Rip]

Over the past few years,   I've spent more than a few hours tinkering with and/or MAMEing arcade cabs.  I've put together a photo gallery of my efforts.

http://www.pbase.com/jripley/gameroom

I haven't documented my projects, but if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer what I can.

John

[Hurray Banana]

I'm pretty jealous.

Wish I had room for all those cabs

How long as the collection taken to build/put together?

[Rip]

I had my first for about a year, then we bought the new house 1 year ago and it took off from there.  I have already filled that room, and I am lobbying for a bigger space, without much success I might add.  I really miss having a basement.

[billf]

Would love to check it out, but the link isn't working for me.

[Hurray Banana]

I've always wanted a house with a basement. I've just finished my first but I'd really like to build a cocktail. I don't think my other half would be very impressed though

I was thinking of selling my first one so that I can free up space so that I can build another but I don't know if I could part with it, being my first and all

[Rip]

Looks like pbase is down for maintenance (of course the day I posty my link).    .  I'll update when the site is back up

[Gunstar Hero]

I LOVE the Driving Cab. I want to do one of those soooooooooo bad!!!

[quarterback]

I LOVE the Driving Cab. I want to do one of those soooooooooo bad!!!

That is a pretty hot driving cab!

[GameOver]

Your driving cab is crazy.  I recently started a thread on driving cabs, but it didn't get too far.  Wasn't any interest.  I'm thinking about doing one but don't want to make that leap until I get more feedback. 

Did you build that cab?  Got any plans for it?
Does it play as good as it looks? 
Would you build another driving cab?
It doesn't look huge - how long is it?
Any links or other advice regarding that cab?
Wanna sell it? 
Can I sleep over?   

Nice gameroom.  I know it's making lots of us drooool.  I like what you did with the classic consoles.  How'd you convince the little lady of this necessity?  She must be a bigger arcade nut than you!

[flampoo]

In my best Napoleon Dynamite impression I say, "Lucky."

[Rip]

Did you build that cab?  Got any plans for it?

It is (was) a completely gutted Atari Red Baron Cockpit

Does it play as good as it looks? 

Plays really nice.  The sub-woofer and force feedback wheel feel great...and the fact that it is a Dreamcast, all the controls are right on the wheel.  I left the pedals free so that they can be moved all the way back for me, and all the way forward for the kids (with a piece of wood cut to size to stop the pedals from sliding back)

Would you build another driving cab?

Doubt it...but as time goes on, I may replace the Dreamcast guts with a PC or PS2 for a wider selection of games.  The wheel assembly is pretty modular and I could replace it quite easily.

It doesn't look huge - how long is it?

It is about 5 1/2 feet long.  Also if you look closely, you'll notice the original was designed to break into two pieces...well almost.  Although there is a clean distinction of front and back on the side panels (t-molding goes all the way around a front quarter panel and rear quarter panel), and on top, for some reason, the entire floor is made from two solid 5 1/2 ft pieces of plywood which are attached together by a series of 2x4s (on edge) to form a somewhat hollow floor (this where the wires run from front to back).  I searched high and low for a clean breakpoint in the floor to no avail.  I ended up running 2.5" circular saw across the floor right at the two visible (black t-molding) joins and it broke apart nicely (and it turns out there wasn't any clean break point).  I then reinserted a couple of 2x4s to give it back its strength and can now assemble/disassemble at will with a few screws.  I had to get this baby upstairs and around a corner and wasn't going to go in one piece. You'd never know by looking at it that it has be halved.

Any links or other advice regarding that cab?

Advice...just hold out for the right cab...make friends with the local operators...and just have fun 

Wanna sell it? 

Sorry...but all in all, the cab cost me $75 (delivered), DC and whell cost next to nothing from a local pawn shop, 20" monitor was free from the local "freecycle" group, and decals totaled about $20 on a bulk buy on ebay...there are close to 60 decals on all sides combined.  Paint was leftover from cocktail project.  Probably the cheapest cab I have put together.

Nice gameroom.  I know it's making lots of us drooool.  I like what you did with the classic consoles.  How'd you convince the little lady of this necessity?  She must be a bigger arcade nut than you!

Thanks.  The deal when we bought this place was that one of the rooms was mine, and she got the rest.  I see now that I should have held out for more room 

[GameOver]

Thanks for all the info.  I'll take that as a 'no' for the sleep-over.

I went to KLOV after making this post & looked at the Pole Position cockpit cab.  I was convinced that's what it was, but never thought of looking at a Red Baron cockpit.  Afterlooking at it - they both look the same to me. 

Ill have to keep that deal you made w/your wife in mind if we ever move, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.  I guess I'll have to go w/plan B - build another garage.

Thanks again.

[ChadTower]

guh - Do you know what I would give to get a real Red Baron cockpit, even gutted?   

[BobbyG66]

The driving cab looks great with the "Nascar" decals all over it.
Like the console museum also.

You lucky Bast***!

[nighthawk2099]

what are the room dimensions and how many games total are in there?

do you have a pool table or anything like that in there as well.?

thanks.

[Rip]

what are the room dimensions and how many games total are in there?

do you have a pool table or anything like that in there as well.?

thanks.

I don't have the exact dimensions, but you can see a picture of it empty here right before we moved in.

http://www.pbase.com/jripley/house&page=6 (second picture on top, DSC03680.jpg).

[GameOver]

Yeah that loft area looks nice.  Good luck! 

I was looking at some of your pics -  are those hot water tanks in your attic?

[Rip]

Yeah that loft area looks nice.

[Rip]

I added a custom Q*Bert cab I built from a parted out Tron mini.  Also added a few more shots of the Mameroom as it stands today.

http://www.pbase.com/jripley/gameroom

http://www.pbase.com/image/47626303

Now I only have room for a couple more cabs or maybe a pin!

[TheRed]

wow...the dreamcast driving cabinet is a great idea. Easy hook up etc..via the vga box if wanted. I definitely see posibilities there!

wish I had the room, lol

NICE stuff