2 sided cabinet - Ideas and Concept sketch.. Planning phase - Check it out.

[Comp1demon]

Im not even done with my first project but I have already been bitten by the bug to build and design.  So I was laying in bed and it hit me.

Most cabinets 1, 2 or 4 player all action takes place on one side.  Multiple cabinets have to be networked and the nintendo dual monitor cabinets are just for a second set of prorpitery readouts since there isn't enough room for the info on one monitor, they use 2. My dual monitor idea is very different.

Fooling around and testing my current cabinet I also realized something else.  Games that requre 2 players at the same time or even games that players take turns - it get annoying to have the contestent next to you.  There are so many psycological games people play to make you MESSUP and or LOOSE.

So I started messing for ideas Short of networking.  -  Also testing S video Vs. Component video (with 2 displays (cloned) hooked up at the same time gave me this Idea.

Make a cabinet that is 2 sided.  With MAME and a PC (most of which have 2 outputs these days on the video card) you can Clone the screen and have the action on both displays) - keeps that pesky freind or relitive away from you and messing with you during the game.

I started designing a cabinet (based on the UAII Design - Modified) that will have 2 displays hooked up to one computer.  (Sure games where you take turn - like pac man and such you can both be on the same side)  Also I would like the design the Control pannels to be fully cooperative with most to all games (trackball / spinner / flight stick/ 360 optical and 4/8 ways and such for only ONE player on both sides.) 

Do you think this is a crazy idea???

Has it been done before?

I like the idea of fighting games and other types of head to head games where your opponent is no where near you while you play. - Like net play without the lag.

Some cons.. 
Will take up probibly twice the amount of room.
will be twice as hard to make.
have to figure out a new way into the middle of the cabinet since there is NO MORE back only 2 SIDES. (was thinking of having it Hinge open in the middle like a door but Im just toossing that around in my mind)
Twice the hard ware for the most part (2 coin doors, 2 sets of speakers, 2 displays.)


My design concept sketch has 2 WG9200 or 27' TVs in mind for the build.. though I did condense the sketch for 2 displays of the flat panel type.

Which do you think is a better idea?  2 TV's/Monitors? Or 2 flatpannels for less footprint space for the cabinet.

Any ideas for this project are greatly appreciated.
feedback greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
C1D




Origianl concept for first cabinet (not to scale of course)


IDEA SKETCH FOR 2 Sided Cabinet

[maxlamer]

................... I also realized something else.  Games that requre 2 players at the same time or even games that players take turns - it get annoying to have the contestent next to you.  There are so many psycological games people play to make you MESSUP and or LOOSE.

Having the 2nd/3rd/4th player(s) next to you when you play is part of the multiple player arcade experience.  Remove that and it becomes more like a multiplayer pc/console game.

just my 2cents

[Fozzy The Bear]

Neat idea.... and if you play more than original arcade games on there (as I do) then it's perfect for networked games of Quake or flight sim or things like that.

The only down side I can see to this is that it's going to take up a heck of a lot of floor space. I hope you have a very big house.

The other question that occours to me is... why is this any different than putting two networked cabs back to back?? apart from having two sides of artwork in one piece that is.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Comp1demon]

Neat idea.... and if you play more than original arcade games on there (as I do) then it's perfect for networked games of Quake or flight sim or things like that.

The only down side I can see to this is that it's going to take up a heck of a lot of floor space. I hope you have a very big house.

The other question that occurs to me is... why is this any different than putting two networked cabs back to back?? apart from having two sides of artwork in one piece that is.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

Well first off I was rethinking the idea for 2 Flat panel monitors so the cabinet can be a bit smaller so the footprint isn't as big.  Though to have authentic monitors and a bigger cabnet is not an idea throw out yet.  I know this wouldn't;t be for everyone but i figured it was different and has some neat side effects.  In essence I could make it a 4 player cabnet if i wanted too by doing 2 players on each side so everyone isn't as cramped together.

................... I also realized something else.  Games that require 2 players at the same time or even games that players take turns - it get annoying to have the contestant next to you.  There are so many psychological games people play to make you MESSUP and or LOOSE.

Having the 2nd/3rd/4th player(s) next to you when you play is part of the multiple player arcade experience.  Remove that and it becomes more like a multiplayer PC/console game.

just my 2cents

Next  Even if I keep the player on each side idea and don't expand it to 4 players, i agree its part of the experience to have people next to you, but i feel that with the way the MAME cabnet PC works, we all try to make it more than just a MAME CABNET.  Anyone who is running more than 1GHZ PC uses their MAME CAB for more than just Pacman, ect... SO yes, it could have some neat Multiplayer implications for PC games and other types of games.

The other question that occurs to me is... why is this any different than putting two networked cabs back to back??

It's different because its a Single Cabnet.  The Whole point of BYOAC is that YOU built it.  You designed it (even if you used a Kit for the cab), It's something new and different to add to the mix.  It also would add Psychological elements to arcade gaming.  I personally as well as many others in certain games like Karate Champ, Tekken, MK, Ect... Look at the other players hand movements.  and in tern can tell what they are up to and try to come up with a defense move and in a way it's cheating, but i know i have been doing it for 20+ years now... SO it's more instinct and strategy than cheating and I know a bunch of you play like this too.  Yes it is allot like multiplayer gaming, but Imagine play MVC or something and your friend is on the other side of the cabinet.  You can talk trash and have no clue what either of you is doing.  Makes it a bit more of a fair match in my opinion.  Then at the end its easier to reach out the side of the cabinet to slap hands or such then to turn and slap hands. So you can be ready for round 2 allot faster and still congratulate the other player.  (yes good sportsmanship pertains to video gaming I believe)

Lastly I would be an Excellent opportunity to experiment with something COMPLETELY NEW and see what the community can contribute.  I also feel just announcing a project like this can get people to think in new ways to make a new and refreshing project that we can all drool over.

I still have to finish RIDE THE LIGHTNING. But I am already scheming to start building this.  MY Wife is gonna kill me.. but I will do it slowly - and since there is no KIT I can but It will be a great shop project to learn how to take my time and give patience to a project and watch it come to life.



WITH FLAT SCREENS

[quarterback]

I think it's a cool idea but, personally, I'd make two cabs that fit 'seamlessly' together back-to-back.

First off, it would allow you to get into the 'back' of the cabs, which is usually how the insides are accessed. 
Secondly, it would allow you to separate the cabs and put the 2 cabs side by side, or even in different rooms of the house.

You could even hinge them on one side and just partially 'open' them up into a V angle to provide head-to-head gaming where you could actually see the other person.  (obviously the hinge wouldn't be 100% necessary to put them at an angle to each other, it just seemed like a good idea )

[missioncontrol]

I like the idea but not sold on the cabinet style chosen. I'd fool around with a few other designs besides going from the UA2 but that's just me........

[soulblazer28]

Have you considered the Cyberball Tournament style cab? The displays are at a 90 degree angle or so

[MPTech]

That's going to be a big piece of MDF to make that side panel, just a single cabinet was almost the full 4x8 sheet.  Also, with size comes weight!
Mounting even flat panels could be tricker to, there's no backside to mount them from.  As I said, it could be done, but it get complicated not having a back to an Arcade to access the goodies.

But, I think the 2 cabinet idea is very cool and if you could network them together and have multi player! Wow, you have your own permenet LAN Party!

[d123456]

Sega allready has one:
Sega - New Versus City

• http://www.arcaderick.de/machines/newversus.jpg

[kelemvor]

I think it's a neat idea.  Good thing about standard cabinet is it can be stuck in a corner.  A 2 sided one would take up more space in the room.  And depending on how you made it, you'd have to wire it so that players are always on opposite sides.  Not sure how easy it'd be if for one game you wanted 1 and 2 next to each other when for another you'd wat them apart.

I'd assume youpd put 1 and 3 on one side and 2 and 4 on the other side...  But then you'd also have to buy 2 trackballs, 2 spinners, etc if you wanted to get that much into it.  Or just have one but then you have to have 1 and 2 wired to the same side which might just mean configuring those games' controls individually.

And if a video card doesn't support 2 ouputs, you can just get a splitter cable that would work fien as well.

[unclet]

I would not make each monitor be back to back to each other.   Part of the fun for people watching the game (not playing) is to see all players at one time.

I understand you do not want a traditional cabinet where players stand next to each other, so how about having a couple of monitors which are angled out from each other.  Not necessarily 90 degrees from each other,   but a more subtle degree ... like 45 degrees only.  

That would still hide the monitor play from each player, give you enough space from the additional player, allow people who are watching the games being played stand back a bit and see both monitors/players and allow you to have a backpanel still to access both halves of the cabinet.....

If you got the cash .... I would use two flat panels so when you are done, then the completed cabinet could still fit through a standard door width in case you "ever" want to move it to another room without having to dismantle it.

Something like this pic:

[MinerAl]

Nintendo Vs. "Pizza Hut" Cocktails

(picture swiped from ebay)

Has a monitor on each side like what you are planning, but with much smaller footprint... even with a frankenpanel attached to each side.

[SlyDog]

hooking up two monitors to just one pc would be easy or if you want to use two seperate PCs you can set it up with mamek (mame kailera online multiplayer) on your network

[daywane]

I have one of these

[unclet]

Exactly .... that is a much better design than a back to back full-sized standup machine IMO .... Looks kind of cool as well. 

[Mark70]

I think you'd be asking for trouble with the monitors in the back to back anyhow.

Besides, it' not any fun if you can't dig at you opponent with an elbow right at the critical moment.  Or reach over a poach a button.