is a 10'x10' room to small for a modest arcade room?

[Anakin]

I have one room in my house that is all mine to do what I want with.  Only problem is, its the smallest room in the house.  I wanted to put atleast 2 cabinets and 1 driving sit down cab in there too.....Anyone think this is to small of a room?  I was planning on making the 2 arcade cabinets modeled after a UAII and the other off of NFL Blitz cabinet dimensions...

[ChadTower]

I've seen game rooms roughly that size.  The issue is usually that once you get 2-3 games in there it's a ---smurfette--- to get them out again since you can't do a lot of maneuvering if the doorway is regular sized.

[Herk]

Anakin,

You only have two rooms in your house?

Couldn't resist,

Herk

[shardian]

Get yourself some graph paper and lay out the room with some generic cabinet measurements. Assume each machine has a 30"x30" footprint, and you could fit 5 games in there comfortably.

[ChadTower]

Make sure you have enough outlets in there, on proper circuits, and also a way to vent hot air.  It will get hella hot in a 10x10 room with 5 cabs on.

I'd probably top out at 4 games, myself, just so that there is room to rotate one for when you have to work on it/swap one out.

[Ninten-doh]

If you have to compromise on the sit-down cab, I would recommend getting a mini driver (Minnie Driver?  ) like the Outrun mini.  It's a tradeoff I had to make for space reasons, but at least I get to enjoy a good driving game.

[ChadTower]

Turn the room into one giant driving cab.  That would rock.  Build it all into the walls.

[Ed_McCarron]

Turn the room into one giant driving cab.  That would rock.  Build it all into the walls.

Better yet, get some brick and build Chad into the walls.

Oh yeah, serious...

I've got two machines in a space not much smaller than that.  4 player panels need more space, and the people standing around holding beers will need some space, too.

The heat comment is true - do you have central air in that room?  Those monitors kick some heat...

[TOK]

I have 2 uprights and a bartop, along with my PC in my computer room, which is 10x12. Its not too bad. I have the two uprights facing out in corners, and the bartop on a spare computer table.
Its functional, but not a permanent setup for me. I'm in the process of converting a 12x20 Florida room into a bar/gameroom.

I can try to get pics of my setup if it'll help you visualize, but in a room that small, once you're in there with the camera, you're cutting 1/3 of the room out in the picture. 

[ChadTower]

Better yet, get some brick and build Chad into the walls.

WTF!  There is no Amontillado in here!

[somunny]

10 x 10 will work but be careful, that's also a good size for a nursery! 

I had one UAII in a room that size (before the baby) and could have easily fit another in there.

[HaRuMaN]

Better yet, get some brick and build Chad into the walls.

WTF!  There is no Amontillado in here!

hah.  nice Poe reference.

[ChadTower]

10 x 10 will work but be careful, that's also a good size for a nursery! 

I had one UAII in a room that size (before the baby) and could have easily fit another in there.

Priorities, man, you can fit a baby in a cab.

[Anakin]

Turn the room into one giant driving cab.  That would rock.  Build it all into the walls.

That has seriously crossed my mind.....

[Anubis_au]

Priorities, man, you can fit a baby in a cab.

 

[Paul Olson]

My office/Gameroom is the same size, and I would say the driving cab would be too much. I have 1 cab, a small desk, and 2 bookcases in here; and it is pretty full. I am thinking about putting my cab in the closet so it doesn't take up so much space in the room. It will still stick out some, but I hope it will be better. If you could fit a driving cab sideways in the closet, that might work pretty well.

Don't underestimate the heat problem everyone is mentioning! Just the one cab in here made it almost unbearable during the summer. I put in a ceiling fan, and that helped a lot, but these cabs put out a lot of heat.

[ark_ader]

Today you don't need multiple cabinets or one big one either.

Heat is a huge factor and 10'x10' with out a fan will be roasting.  You might as well add a sewing machine and kick out some T shirts at the same time as it will really be a sweat shop.   

Do a wall mount or slim mount cabinet, ram as much as you can game wise into it and use the extra space as a chill out room.  A nice LCD some cool vintage movies,  posters,  a beanbag or Lazy Boy will definately work in there. 

And as the guys said it won't be a painful chore to debunk the room if a little nipper arrives.  Oh and don't forget the minibar and the ceiling fan, essential items indeed.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[Wade]

I've seen pictures of someone's home gameroom that was about that size, maybe smaller.  It looked to be a large closet or small utility room, and he had 6 or 8 games packed in there.  He had neon patterned carpet, brightly painted walls, etc. so it definitely looked like an arcade and not a storage room (though he did have a few parts stored on top of the games).

Sure, you couldn't invite your favorite 20 gamers over to play at the same time, but for the times you are in there by yourself (probably will be 95% of the time, after all) you can get that perfect arcade feeling and ambience, even with a tiny room.  I say go for it!

Wade

[FrizzleFried]

Turn the garage in to your arcade.   So when your wife locks you out there because of the amount of time you've been working on your arcades when you SHOULD have been working on your wife,  all will be good because,  well,  you're with your arcade machines, of course!

[Jouster]

...and we get a small look into Fred's home life.

Jouster

[Jeff AMN]

While it's not that small, my arcade room isn't much bigger. I do have a massive walk in closet that I could knock down and expand the room, but I still have space for 2-3 more cabinets and maybe another pin before I consider that seriously.

Check it out here: http://stupidgamer.com/2007/10/12/the-arcade-is-looking-good/

[bluevolume]

Turn the garage in to your arcade.   So when your wife locks you out there because of the amount of time you've been working on your arcades when you SHOULD have been working on your wife,  all will be good because,  well,  you're with your arcade machines, of course!

That is a good point.  ANY arcade room that is being built should have some provision for sleeping in it.  Chances are very good that this hobby is going to get you kicked out of the bedroom, so you might as well be comfortable.

[vidmouse]

Maybe you could build your driving cab coming halfway out of
(or into) the wall or corner, so that you not only save space
but have a kickin' display.

Are you planning on 3 cabs or 5?  I thought your orignal post
read as 3.  10' x 10' doesn't sound like 3 cabs would be a problem
other than heat.  If you wanted to go up to 5 I would say consider
swappable control panels if that's what's driving you to have
that many.