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Flat Pack Arcade Cabinets

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JustMichael:

--- Quote ---Hi Lilwolf,

I like that idea, provide everything except the wood and a variety of monitor mount points for a range of popular viewscreens that could be used.

What could also be done is to provide the code on CD for the automated cutting / routing machine to slice and dice a flat MDF board into the parts required.  All you would have to do would be to screw, glue and wire it all up.

Regards

Nick.W



--- End quote ---




I do see one very big problem with this idea.  Most people don't have access to such a machine.

Abelard Lindsay:

--- Quote ---
For example all parts pre drilled and cut to size.
--- End quote ---

Howard_Casto:
Many people have tried this and many have failed.
I remember one such venture that someone advertised several months ago on this board.  

I pointed out to them that it would never work for various reasons including the ones mentioned above. They not only got very angry with me but informed me that they had already invested a great deal of money/equipment/time into the project without asking the community what they think.  Needless to say they weren't very successful as I've only heard tale of them selling one of their prototype cabs towards the initial startup.

This isn't a case of me saying I told you so to those guys, but of me trying to keep you from starting a  bad business.  

Here's some reason's why it wont' work......

#1 Cabs are too darn heavy to ship...

#2 No one is going to pay for cabinet plans unless they are the best darn plans in the world. They're are way too many free plans out thee already and the community is very open to sharing how they did things.

#3 This is build your own arcade controls not buy them...

I know what your thinking on that one so let me explain.  The general mame public doesn't really respect the original arcade feel and are perfectly happy to play pacman on their computer with their joystick.  We arcade control loving guys are a very small part of that market.  Also the few people that do buy pre built control panels aren't necessarily interested in a full cab for both monetary and space reasons.  So you take taht number and cut it down again.  When you get down to it there's just not enough people out there.   But just for arguments sake I'll go on.

#4 The public is very demanding. .... Your not going to get away with cutting out lumber in your garage and screwing it together unless your a master carpenter or have several 1000$ worth of tools to help you.  A simple plywood shell proabably wouldn't go, it would have to be laminate and /or a very good design at that.  Like this:  http://www.cybertechdesign.net/mameroom/ultimatearcadeII/day15.htm

#5 DIY means generic and the majority of us each want something different.... You'll notice that the cabs cyberpunk built were basically made to order.  It took him several months and alot of hard work just to produce those two cabs btw.  And from what I understand the buyer didn't want to fool with assembly. Which brings me back to what I said earlier, those who are too lazy to build/convert their own cab generally don't want to fool with assembly either.

#6 What would your kit have that makes it special?  It's the first rule of marketing.  Just because you build it doesn't mean they'll come.  Are you going to have special retainters/ bezels/ ect made for your kit?  If so are they going to be as good a quality as happs stuff?  Also if your kit merely consits of the cut out pieces, that is by far the easiest part of the cab.  If your design is simple enough 90% of the cuts can be done for free in the lumber yard.  Some even cut laminated panels now (although i'll admit that's rare)

Ok I'm done.... Once again I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm just stating the obvious to help you make your decision.  Remember 75% of all small businesses fail in the first year.  With the current world events I think that ratio is even higher right now.  (But 75% is the given business rule of thumb)

Remember:
No project is a small project.
No business that produces a product has small start-up costs.
No un-tested market is without a great deal of risk.


My finance teacher would be so proud.  ;)


 

pyrobrit:
Howard,

That is an excellent reply!  BTW I am the poster who started this thread but finally registered properly.

I think you hit the nail on the head in several of your points for reasons against attempting a flat pack.

1. Weight

2. Personal builds

3. Damage in transit (this package would be large)

4. Why reinvent when good plans exist on the internet?

And all the others mentioned previously.

At the end of the day it was an idea I was bouncing around whilst driving to work.  As you say, this is a build your own web site and that is certainly what I shall be doing and presenting you all with a look into my finished cabinet one day in the next few months/years :)

My joysticks, buttons, ipac have all arrived so I need a control panel first to cut my teeth on.  Oscar is posting a spinner pro as I type this and I shall add the opti-pac interface next month.  I can't do it all on one pay packet!

The trackball will have to wait for a while as I want it for marble madness.

I'm looking forward to some real arcade quality gaming.

Thanks for all your comments.

Regards

Nick.W

lusid:
I considered that same business idea when I was building my cabinet, but set it aside for all those same reasons.

But, having that kind of cabinet design made moving it from miami to LA pretty easy.  I just took the whole thing apart, packed the cabinet flat, boxed the rest of the parts up and shipped it with all my other stuff.   It survived the move it great shape, and all I had to do was put it back together.  That took about 1 or 2 hours, and I was playing again.

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