What's the appeal of a bartop machine?

[erictrumpet]

I don't get it. With no disrespect meant to all the people who have built the many great-looking bartops I've seen on these forums, I simply cannot understand the appeal of a tiny little tabletop machine. I love the mini-cabs, you know the kid-sized standup ones -- those are awesome for pint-sized gamers (or midget BYOAC'ers, if there are any!) But if the machine is meant for full-grown adults and space is a big issue, why not build a cabaret-sized cab? No one ever seems to build a cabaret from scratch. All I see are full-sized cabs, cocktails, or these little bartops. Just wondering if there is something totally awesome about a bartop that I am missing.

Eric.

[brophog]

Half of this hobby is doing something different. 3/4's is doing it just to ---smurfing--- do it.

Practicality is at a bare minimum, as it should be.

[Roughy]

They're cute like puggles with some kick-ass functionality and they impress your friends.  Unfortunately, they don't impress the ladies (usually), but still...

Add a kegerator and a poker table and if someone wants to sit out a hand or two, there's a tiny little PacMan cab for you.  Whee.

[missioncontrol]

because if your sitting at your home bar it gives you something to do while drinking....

plus the advantage of a bar top is you have all that space to put your empty cans while you continue to play....

[DrewKaree]

You're seeing this as a "space-in-general" issue, instead of a FLOOR space issue.  Putting something on your bartop is so insignificant.  Putting something in your room that takes up FLOOR space can be a big hassle.  Picture the guy who has a game room with a bar in it.  Let's say they have a pool table, and putting even a cabaret in there could and would get in the way.  Having a bartop solves that problem while still allowing gaming goodness.  Then, you've got the folks who DON'T have a gameroom, would like a cab but just flat don't have the FLOOR space in their house, the wife doesn't want a machine that takes up that space, they want something they can bring out at parties, or they just flat out hate a laptop/desktop CP and figure they'll create something right in that middle ground.

There's TONS of reasons and situations people would build a bartop.  They obviously aren't an issue for you, and for others such as myself, who have a full-sized cab in their living room and a wife who tolerates it, but they clearly are a solution for a minority of cab builders.

Why build mini cabs for kids who are going to grow and make that cab unuseable?  Like many things we do, it's BECAUSE WE CAN!

[spriggy]

Portability was my guiding light.  I made mine for the kids and also for when I go to one of the boys place for a party and beer.  Very easy to pick-up and throw in the car......well place in the car. 

[Goz]

I'm conidering doing one to put on my pub table for people who are waiting to shoot some pool or just another thing to do in the game room.

I am thinking of doing a bartop Dreamcast with a vertical monitor for mini shmups. (My unique spin on the bartop) but also think the JAKKS Ms. Pacman would kick ass as well.

-Goz

[Bones]

I heard the size of a mans mame cabinet is in direct proportion to the size of his genitals.

Holy Sh!t.  That beast is huge if you are wider than the widest sheet of MDF.  51" wide if my conversion is correct.  Most cabinets are 36" (910mm) deep plus another 8 - 10" for the control panel.

[missioncontrol]

I've got plans to do one for an uncle who's retiring next year..... I'm going to hack a jakks, simple, easy and no maintanence on my end.

[DrewKaree]

I heard the size of a mans mame cabinet is in direct proportion to the size of his genitals.

So far I agree with your theory, yet I know you will somehow tweak your theory to try to make it agree with your opinion that you possess the wango tango fu to top all.  Alas, there can be only one. 

You suck at wango tango fu.

[markrvp]

I heard the size of a mans mame cabinet is in direct proportion to the size of his genitals.

Holy Sh!t.

[missioncontrol]

I heard the size of a mans mame cabinet is in direct proportion to the size of his genitals.

but what does the color of the paint signify?

[brophog]

How many men you've slept with. Bright colors are bad (unless you're into sleeping with men, of course).

[missioncontrol]

except for yellow....yellow is cool

[pmc]

There's TONS of reasons and situations people would build a bartop.

I was going to build one because I have extra 14" monitors, an old laptop, and extra MDF kicking around. Why not put all that garbage to use to make a beautifully themed vertical Galaga or Pac? Easy to build, takes up near-zero space, fits on a bar, and doesn't cost much at all. Why not do it?

The only reason I haven't yet is because it turns out that laptop has no sound and you know how arcade games are without sound.

Still considering a Jakks version though...

-pmc

[Bones]

The same amount of thought and effort goes into making a BT as a regular size cab. It is probably harder in fact, there is not much room for error.

I think they are brilliant. The real question is why wouldn't you want to make one of these?


Credit

[erictrumpet]

Hmmmmm. Hadn't thought about portability, so you can take it to a party or whatever. Interesting. And yes I recognize there is a ton of work involved, that's mainly why I was wondering why anyone would put so much effort into such a weird little thing. I guess I've just never had an old laptop and 14 inch monitor lying around, if I did I would probably already have a bartop. Any by the way, that multi-Williams bartop by KenToad is absolutely fantastic, that's one of the best-looking machines I've seen in any size!

Eric.

[versapak]

I love the mini-cabs, you know the kid-sized standup ones -- those are awesome for pint-sized gamers (or midget BYOAC'ers, if there are any!) But if the machine is meant for full-grown adults and space is a big issue, why not build a cabaret-sized cab?

I'd much rather build a bartop than a mini-cab.

A mini is nice for kids, as long as they are the right height for it, which (in case you don't have kids) does not last a very long time. It seems more of a waste to build a minicab, as it requires floor space, and will loose its usefulness (then what?).

A bartop can easily moved to any location and height. It is great for kids and adults.

[quarterback]

I'd much rather build a bartop than a mini-cab.

A mini is nice for kids, as long as they are the right height for it, which (in case you don't have kids) does not last a very long time. It seems more of a waste to build a minicab, as it requires floor space, and will loose its usefulness (then what?).

I agree 100%     No offense to the mini-cab builders, those mini cabs are cute and all, but seems really impractical.   I'd rather have a full sized cab or a bartop... and right now I'd love to have a bartop.

I like the fact that they can be placed in a potentially more socially convenient place.  You can have a bunch of people sitting around with drinks in the kitchen or living room, and one of them can be playing the bartop.  With a full sized cab, you have to make a significant decision about where you want this 300-pound piece of "furniture" and it's probably going to live in that place for a long time.

And man, that multi-williams bartop is the BOMB!  The only other bartop that compares, IMO, is the Tron bartop.  Those are both freakin' cool.

[jcrouse]

except for yellow....yellow is cool

I agree.

John

[spriggy]

I guess I've just never had an old laptop and 14 inch monitor lying around, if I did I would probably already have a bartop.

A gutted 15" PC monitor and micro Motherboard will do the job....just damn tight!!

[ChadTower]

Oof, that is going to present problems later on... too much heat in there.

[brophog]

These bartops are top notch!

[eccs19]

Oof, that is going to present problems later on... too much heat in there.

It should be easy enough to add a fan to circulate the air if things get to hot in there. Any PC Chasis fan should plug right into the PSU or Motherboard.

[ChadTower]

And where exactly does it put it?  The issue is that there isn't any space.

[jcrouse]

Your pic isn't big enough to tell but how bout two small fans in the cross piece above where the rear doop closes. That's where mine are.

John

[nostrebor]

My mini was built for my 6 year old, and has seen tons of use, but I realize that soon it will be too short. The solution is to build an extension base, and design your mini for it, so it can be raised to cabaret height.

I already have the extender base plans done for sis's cabinet, right down to the quick connections. When she stops using it, I'll simply add the base and have a cabaret sized machine.

[eccs19]

And where exactly does it put it?

[ChadTower]

You would need holes AND a fan.  Adding only the fan doesn't do much because you need air entrance and exit.  Adding only the holes helps but only if you put them near the top of the unit.  Putting them near the bottom or the middle physically limits how much of the heat will escape (heat rises).

[erictrumpet]

Since it's shaped like a little house anyway, stick a tiny chimney on top.

[spriggy]

Oof, that is going to present problems later on... too much heat in there.

She's been flogged to death by the kids (ok..... and me and the boys) since May '05.  At this stage, no heat worries.   The rear door has a grill, 2 x vents in the base and 2 x 80mm Fans on the top.  Here's an old pic during the build as a fan reference.

[pmc]

I love that glossy green finish.

-pmc

[spriggy]

I love that glossy green finish.

-pmc

Cheers.  The build thread for this corny little thing is here ... http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=33678.msg291235#msg291235