i hate this hobby

[muttonchop]

i spent about 700 bucks on my mame cab and its not even done =((
i feel sorry for you guys who make multiple cabs =O


(pics of cab coming once i buy a digital camera..... glad i still live at home =)  gogo highschool)

[JoyMonkey]

I really want to mod the pac-man and mspac-man emulation in mame to blink all the LED's when the ghosts are blinking so the little handle on the joystick only blinks blue when you can eat the ghosts.

You can do this with AdvanceMame's event system. Basically, you need to find the memory address (using the Mame cheat system) for when the ghosts are blinking then add it as an event in event.dat, then add a script to advmame.rc that says 'when my event happens, blink all the keyboard leds'.
I'm not sure if AdvMame's led control works from Windows though, it might be just a DOS and Linux thing.

[Quarters]

My proudest moment so far is my little 4-way joystick, which nobody seems to like as much I do, but I made it for me, and it's all good.  But I'm not burnt out yet.  I'm just getting started.

Sorry to throw my <expletive> up here randomly.  I want some f'n feedback, yo.

I like the pac-control. You should wrap some t-molding around it.

[Taborious]

$700.00 dollars, that's it? I wish that's all mine cost me, I stopped counting around $1400.00 or so. It's all about saying "I BUILT IT", I cut the wood, I screwed it together, I designed the artwork, I wired it and "I" got it running. There is no "team" in arcade cab making, only "I", oh and this board...

[Stingray]

I think I've got about $400 in mine.

**ducks**

-S

[lesserChance]

The nice thing with mine is that before the first one was completely done, I decided it needed to be better, now I have enough for two or three!  I stopped counting money a looong time ago...

[traknfieldSUPAstar]

This hobby doesn't suck... it's just expensive

[Tahnok]

I think I've been doing a good job keeping cost down. I haven't been keeping track, but things like $120 TV for the monitor, using an existing PC and not needing new tools helps to keep things down greatly.

[dema]

If you only knew how much I spent on mine (and the tools for it). I've gone down many different dead end streets for different aspects of my design and construction, which has boosted the cost as well. I deliberately stopped calculating cost because I'd hate myself if I knew.

[CheffoJeffo]

If you still know how much you've spent, then you're not trying hard enough ... 

I'm in the phase now where I "prebuy" stuff (also known as the phase where  you accumulate lots of stuff that you have no need for... just in case you may need it someday) so that when a suitable project comes around, the point-in-time price is lower.

For my next PC-based projects, I already have IPacs, a JPac and an ArcadeVGA lying around, so I can consider those parts as "free", since I already have them. Or, if I find a stripped Ikari Warriors cab, it won't "cost" anything to restore it because I already have a pair of LS-30s (OK ... I still need a PCB) and other items on hand.

It is all in the rationalization ...

Cheers.

[pmc]

Revel in the fact that you will never be done. Everytime I finish one thing, I start something else. Something can always be added, and something can always be changed. I love the endless possibilities and options.

If you finish, then you just have to start another one anyway. 

-pmc

[KungFuJoe]

This definitely was something that ended up costing more than I initially projected.  At first I was thinking 500 at most.  I've got to be over a grand now and I'm not even done (but pretty close!).  However, I did spend money on some stuff that maybe I didn't have to ($130 for flight yoke from ebay...$50 for 4 player coin door...$100 for 2.1 speaker set, etc).  I mean...there is a way to do it cheap, but when I started I told myself that this wasn't going to be something to "short change".

BTW, I didn't even count the cost of a computer in my expenses so far because I already had one.  If I didn't, that would have bumped it up another couple of hundred.

[muttonchop]

i dropped my 600 dollar computer and my tv into this sucker too ><

that wasnt included either

[muttonchop]

in all honesty, im probably not going to get NEAR the amout of money i put into it out of play, but hey,  its kinda fun, and i learned a TON.

[TurboC--]

$700 isn't much for an arcade cab.  $700 was my estimated budget for the CHEAP cab I decided to build.  Heck, just the monitor I would have bought for "The Big Cab" would have been $540.  Just keep in mind all the games you can put on a MAME cab.  As for mine, I kinda drained my bank account so hopefully no new big expenses will pop up.    (There's always credit cards...)

[Bones]

I am up over 3K on my first cabinet with no regrets & I am already considering my next project.

I don't believe you can justify the cash you spend on any hobby, you do it because it interests you and gives you satisfaction or pleasure.

[GameOver]

in all honesty, im probably not going to get NEAR the amout of money i put into it out of play...

You'll be surprised!  I've got about $1,500 into my cab which I finished last Sept/Oct 2004.  We play it A LOT!  I haven't kept track in terms of 'quarters', but it's been *WELL* worth it!  I've got 3 boys that just love playing on the cab.  Not to mention I'm an old arcade junkie.  Sometimes I just stand there and look at it...

And besides, if you ever decide to take it apart (blasphemy!) you'll still have the TV & a PC.

You'll get your moneys worth! 

[Effayy]

I am up over 3K on my first cabinet with no regrets & I am already considering my next project.

I don't believe you can justify the cash you spend on any hobby, you do it because it interests you and gives you satisfaction or pleasure.

My thoughts exactly.  Spending $300 or $3k on your cabinet is only the means to an end.  The feeling of accomplishment along the way and enjoying the fruits of your labour in the end is where the real enjoyment is. 

- FA

[muttonchop]

i guess ill get the 700 dollars of enjoyment out of my *cough* 80 gig rom folder *cough*

[missioncontrol]

rule number 1.... don't keep track of the expenses

rule number 2.... see rule number 1

[Havok]

We're all like crack addicts - just accept it, and keep on spending!

 

[DaveMMR]

rule number 1.... don't keep track of the expenses

rule number 2.... see rule number 1

Yeah I started throwing away receipts a year ago.  I don't want to know how much I spent (especially on the 'throw aways' like botched MDF boards) as long as there are results

[Santoro]

I deliberately stopped calculating cost because I'd hate myself if I knew.

You and me both brother.

[tonmazz]

Guys,

    I have over $3000 into mine and now that it's completed, I have no regrets.  It has given me and my two kids so much enjoyment already that I would do it again in a heartbeat.  There were a few moments during the process where I asked myself what the heck
I was doing it for but I kept moving forward and I'm glad I did.

[jedi27]

From the day I started on my cab (almost two years ago) I have tried to be diligent about logging the time and money spent on this project.

[danny_galaga]

I am up over 3K on my first cabinet with no regrets & I am already considering my next project.

I don't believe you can justify the cash you spend on any hobby, you do it because it interests you and gives you satisfaction or pleasure.

compo payout was quite substantial, eh?

[xonix_digital]

Given im not very far into this. but...

I've spent $50.00 on controls. $30.00 on artwork. And a $25.00 gift cretificate on MDF Handy Panel, Drill (paddle) bits, Rulers, primer and sandpaper.

Total out of pocket costs so far is $80.00. and I get Computer equipment for free from my work ... so
All I really need is Plywood (sidewalls), Screws, More paint, Sideart and T Molding. Monitor bezel, coin Mechs + Doors, and an X arcade BYOkit (not CP), and wire. and (correct me if Im wrong but, THATS IT!


I think Ill be around $300-400 total.

I want a real arcade monitor too but Ill settle for a free 21" MultiSync Monitor for now.

GO GO RADICADE!!!


-=XD=-

[xonix_digital]

ADD: Lexan to previous post...

-=XD=-

[lesserChance]

Ha! Thats what you think until you actually get into building it... It will cost you more than you assume... I promise 

[SOAPboy]

I think I've got about $400 in mine.

**ducks**

-S

Yeah same.. 300 or so..

[Dartful Dodger]

Max out your credit cards and buy all the parts you need.  You can pay it back after you win the lottery.  It's now at 250 million.

[ChadTower]

Ha... wish I were in it in the hundreds range...

[javeryh]

I'm around $1,000 so far not including the computer and I'm debating on paying someone for some custom art which won't be cheap...

[RetroACTIVE]

I think what most amazed me is the number of steps... you read... read... read...  prepare... prepare... prepare... rethink... rethink... rethink.... then when you start it is amazing how long it takes.  Especially if you don't have a wood shop where you can leave everything set up.

I got very depressed when I had to re-cut my sides... of course everybody has different standards, I just refuse to accept anything that does not look pro.  I definitely underestimated the job.  I'll be happy when it is done... but right now I am tired.

[missioncontrol]

Max out your credit cards and buy all the parts you need.

[Bones]

I am up over 3K on my first cabinet with no regrets & I am already considering my next project.

I don't believe you can justify the cash you spend on any hobby, you do it because it interests you and gives you satisfaction or pleasure.

compo payout was quite substantial, eh?

This is Australia man. I got nothing, not a cent! 

[Cyclops]

well I have spent $503 so far.....

20 buttons, 2 joysticks and an ipac including some wire
jigsaw and spare blades
circular saw
4 sheets 1200mm x 2400mm
4 x 2.4M of pine (will need more)
pack of 50 15mm wood screws
pack of 100 50mm wood screws
a few small brackets
some wheels
some wood glue
a mallet
a long metal ruler with built in levels
two saw horses
Delivery of everything.....I have prolly forgotten something.