Designing a cabinet for a tall guy...*edit- Questions about 8 way joysticks!

[Doom bucket]

Hello! I'm 6'2 and have alot of trouble with most arcade cabinets in that I am usually scrunching over or not fitting comfortably inside them! That is why I would like to either:

-Design an arcade cabinet to fit me perfectly
Or
-If somebody has already done something similar, for them to provide some plans for me to use!

I'm new to this kind of thing, I've never done any woodworking, I'm kind of confused as well. I've read most of the stuff on the main site over and over and I'm still not very confident though. I downloaded an Autodesk 3ds program and can't really understand how to use it :/

[Doom bucket]

Also should I pick out a TV before designing the cabinet?

[AtomSmasher]

I should be easy to customize a cabinet that your building, just make it taller or shorter.  Theres not a whole lot to it.  I'm 6' and I find that the design in the project arcade book (the Lusid design) is the perfect height for me.

[NoOne=NBA=]

The way I designed my cabinet was to mock up a control panel, and then adjust it for perfect height.
To do this I just built a three-piece control panel (top, and two legs), and then put it on my breakfast bar, and adjusted it with magazines under the legs until I found the perfect height (38" for me).
Once I knew that, and the optimal angle for the CP, I designed around that.

At that point, I built what was basically a rolling table to hold the monitor/CP, and then designed the skin of the cabinet around that.
That method worked really well for me, but I had some involutary indecisions while designing.
My wife didn't want me to decase the brand-new 21" monitor that I bought, so I had to make the cab larger than was absolutely necessary.

As far as the monitor/TV goes, you should definitely decide on what you want, and how you want it (in the case, or decased) before you begin overall design plans.
If you don't know what you want before you begin design, you are going to have to design generically, so that you can fit whatever you get later.
If you know beforehand, you can design specifically, and end up with a much better result.

[LPZ]

Talk about not being able to see the forest because of the trees....(thinking outside of the box).  I am 6'7'' and just use a stool.  Most of my friends are tall also, but they tend to sit too.  If you can snag a empty cab, think about going the stool route.

LPZ

[Tahnok]

Really now, how can you get that vintage arcade feel without the aching back, neck and wrists?

[leapinlew]

Yes! Either get a stool for you to sit on, or a step stool for your vertically challenged friends to stand on.

[mahuti]

I'm about 6'4"... I just added wheels to the bottom of my cabinet, which bumped the height up enough to make it more comfortable for me.

You could also just add a taller wood base to any premade cabinet, or set of cabinet plans.

[Doom bucket]

Hmm... I think I'll go the "add wheels" route, since that would give the benefit of being able to move the thing around!

[horseboy]

If you're so tall, why do you call yourself the nub?

[mahuti]

If you're such a horseboy why does your avatar look like a gigantic humanoid crab?

[MYX]

Well Mahuti, why does your avitar look like a stone sculpture of a man.

I am 6'3 (6'8 with the afro...(Fletch))
I designed my cab with a laid back monitor and built the cab control panel to sit right at the point that my arms can rest without having to lean. It seemed like a good idea when I was designing it. I am almost done, so I can not tell you if it actually is yet.

[mrjah]

Another vote for putting wheels on a regular cab.

I'm 6'-4" in bare feet.  Putting my cab on 1.5" casters lifted it those extra critical inches.  It's amazing what only a small difference in height will do to improve your playing posture.

[Lilwolf]

I don't know... I would consider going into an arcade and decide which type is most comfortable for you and go that route.  But making it too tall might make it so others cant use it... or make it -nonarcadey-

Do you like pedistal cabs?  Or maybe the sit down type?

I personally always sit on a stool myself.  I would have to hunch over to play without it.  But thats what I did in arcades..

[horseboy]

If you're such a horseboy why does your avatar look like a gigantic humanoid crab?

Touche.

[deadkenndys1105]

Well im glad im 5'5".  I know you wont like using my cabinet because is 6'2".  Its kinda funny when my super tall friends come over tho.

[mahuti]

well Mahuti, why does your avitar look like a stone sculpture of a man.

One of the following is the correct answer;

a. I've been told that I'm a fantastic looking guy, almost like one of those grecian god statues.

b. Mahuti is latvian for "stone sculpture of a man"

c. next time you come to the word game, bring a tastier retort..

[Quarters]

One tip, especially for the tall guy, include an external switch for the marquee light. Lit marquees look cool and if your just going to plunk a few quarters and move on it's no big deal. If your having a long gaming session that light right in front of your eyes can get annoying.

[crashwg]

I hate to sound like I'm trying to "one up" all the tall people on the boards, but I'm 6'8" and I'll second the idea of using a stool.  Your shorter friends will apreciate it and you'll get the comfort of the stool.  It's a win/win!

[JoeJoe97]

I made a very big cab.  I can try to measure some things if you wanted dimensions, but really we just took everything from what we thought normal would look like and multiplyed it out.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=54953.0 is the pics.  You can see its about waist high on my brother and I, both about 6'3".  I knew I would be the one playing it the most, so I built it for me.

[Havok]

well Mahuti, why does your avitar look like a stone sculpture of a man.

One of the following is the correct answer;

a. I've been told that I'm a fantastic looking guy, almost like one of those grecian god statues.

b. Mahuti is latvian for "stone sculpture of a man"

c. next time you come to the word game, bring a tastier retort..

Must be choice B...

 

But, to add to the debate: I would say also to take the approach of designing the cab around where your arms are comfortably bent at a 90 degree angle resting on the control panel, and choose the monitor and style of mount before actually building, and design around that. One thing you really don't want is a nice, beautiful large cabinet, and a dinky monitor (or at least the appearance) in the middle. Nothing is worse on a cab than seeing a small monitor, and a huge, boring bezel.

[Doom bucket]

Yeah, my avatar is "the nub" because I'm new to this and inexperienced, not because of my height 

Anyway, I've already cut and laminated the pieces, and will start assembly this weekend, putting the side pieces up right they are a little short, but I'm sure the wheels will solve that problem, and if not I'll just use a stool.

But the real reason I'm bumping this topic is because I don't want to make a new one about some lame questions about control panels. Alright, here's how it goes...

I prefer fighting games, and Golden Tee 2005 is my most favorite game. That is why after seeing http://www.slikstik.com/detail.aspx?ID=10 I decided that that is exactly the kind of control panel I'm going for. So, my question is...

What 8-way stick do you guy's recommend? I only need 8-way because I will just buy a dedicated 4-way to put at the top. Also, if you guy's have seen any arcade control panel plans that closely mimic the slikstik control panel that would save me alot of time >_>

[crashwg]

the real reason I'm bumping this topic is because I don't want to make a new one about some lame questions about control panels.

If you edit the title of the first post it will reflect that on the topic list.

[Doom bucket]

Really? Thanks!

[Crowquill]

Instead of trying to go up, maybe you should take a step back. I would suggest designing something that has a fairly deep control panel. Maybe look to the Konami 4-player cabs for inspiration. Personally, though, I'd try to work out a design that has the monitor a bit more upright to avoid neck pain in long play sessions. Also it would avoid having a fluoresent bulb a foot from your face when playing (a minor gripe with my frogger-style cabinet). Maybe the Ultimate Arcade plans would work well.

It's getting harder and harder to find places that have old cabs, but if you could "test" a variety of designs that might help.

Here's a Konami cab example:
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=9550

[u_rebelscum]

I prefer fighting games, and Golden Tee 2005 is my most favorite game. ... So, my question is...

What 8-way stick do you guy's recommend? I only need 8-way because I will just buy a dedicated 4-way to put at the top.

The joystick is a very personal choice.  Do you have any preferences in what you look for in a joystick?  Such as circle vs octogon vs square(ish) movement along the edge?  Long, medium, or short "throw" (movement of joystick)?  Ball top or bat?  Do you like to feel/hear the direction sensors close or do you want it quite?  How much are you willing to spend? 
(Some of the above will be more important to you than others, or you might not have an opinion on one or two.)

You can try searching this forum for past recomendations (there are a lot of of them), but check out reviews starting at retroBlast.

Since I don't, umm, enjoy fighters as much a you do , I'll let others more like you make the recommendations.