Has anyone made a cocktail cabinet with a monitor that physically rotates?

[spystyle]

Hello from Maine,

I bet this has been done before. I have seen Danny Galaga's a long time ago. Has anyone else made one?

I was thinking of making one that turns by hand, like a Lazy Susan table. I was thinking of putting a wooden circle around the monitor a la Salty's cab. I was thinking the wooden circle would extend out of the table at one area, maybe a cutout on the table, to facilitate hand turning.

Does this exist? If not, care to help me design it?

Thank you,
Craig

[Lilwolf]

I considered it years ago, but then I kept added and adding, then realized it would be a monstrausity.  (I was going to have an 8sided cocktail table).  I was going to rotate so I could have horizontal and vertical on each side...  Lazy Susan will definately work if you can get one with a big enough center to fit the monitor.  They come in sizes and can handle a LOT of weight.  You end up paying for it though.

btw, you can get away with just some wheels.  Horizontal rotation is a LOT easier then angled or vertical.

[Kangum]

whats the point on a coctail. the 2 ends are for vertical and the 2 sides are for horizontal games. just change where your standing?

just seems like a whole lot of work when all you have to do is walk 12 inches away for the same result.

[leapinlew]

whats the point on a coctail. the 2 ends are for vertical and the 2 sides are for horizontal games. just change where your standing?

just seems like a whole lot of work when all you have to do is walk 12 inches away for the same result.

[fixedpigs]

whats the point on a coctail. the 2 ends are for vertical and the 2 sides are for horizontal games. just change where your standing?

just seems like a whole lot of work when all you have to do is walk 12 inches away for the same result.

a few reasons...

1 - you don't have to buy redundant joysticks & buttons...

2- a cocktail cabinet may not always be able to be put in a place where people can sit on all four sides of it...

[Kangum]

whats the point on a coctail. the 2 ends are for vertical and the 2 sides are for horizontal games. just change where your standing?

just seems like a whole lot of work when all you have to do is walk 12 inches away for the same result.

a few reasons...

1 - you don't have to buy redundant joysticks & buttons...

2- a cocktail cabinet may not always be able to be put in a place where people can sit on all four sides of it...

the joys are not redundent in the case of 4 people. even if they were redundent, the cost of them is still cheaper then a full rotation config.

even if cornered you can choose horizontal play or vertical. in the case of 4 people and there is no room for all 4, how would rotation help. it wouldnt.

there is no point in coctail rotation. this is my opinion after actually owning a coctail machine. if you think its worth it then it would make an interesting read. just not particulary useful imho

[fixedpigs]

you're focused on one person or four...

two players at a table placed alongside a wall would benefit greatly from a rotating monitor in a cocktail cabinet...

[spystyle]

whats the point on a coctail. the 2 ends are for vertical and the 2 sides are for horizontal games. just change where your standing?

just seems like a whole lot of work when all you have to do is walk 12 inches away for the same result.

I had the idea that a cocktail table has the unique opportunity to have 4 different sets of controls, for example:

Top : (1) 4-way stick with 3 buttons and a trackball (Dig Dug, Centipede)
Side : (4) 8-way sticks with 2 buttons each (Gauntlet)
Other side : (2) 8-way stocks with 4 buttons each (Neo Geo fighting games)
Bottom :  (1) 4-way stick with 3 buttons and a spinner (Dig Dug, Tempest)

Or some variation like that.

Cheers,
Craig

[spystyle]

a few reasons...

1 - you don't have to buy redundant joysticks & buttons...

2- a cocktail cabinet may not always be able to be put in a place where people can sit on all four sides of it...

you're focused on one person or four...

two players at a table placed alongside a wall would benefit greatly from a rotating monitor in a cocktail cabinet...

Excellent points.

A cocktail table who's monitor physically rotates is simply more versatile.

I like this design on an upright:

http://rebirth.dgthompson.com/old/

That really is an exceptional cabinet

Here is a motorized rotating cocktail:



It's interesting... But I prefer the simplicity of manually turning it.

Both of the above cabs have screens that are too small, in my opinion.

Cheers,
Craig

[Lilwolf]

You will probably run out of room on each side.  The size of the glass needed to get 4 people is pretty darn large.

I would look at what games you care to have end to end play on and see what controllers they need.

I would look at getting some of the 4/8 way top switchable ones (a few out there) for two sides opposite each other.  Then on one side 2 8ways for fighters / robotron (and forget about the switchable ones there).  and then on the other side to that, your 'different' controls (like steering wheel or whatever).   

But I would stay away from 4 players on one side.  And a bunch of combo ones. 

[Kevin Mullins]

Danny_Galaga built one...... http://dannygalaga.com/page3.htm

Check out his short video clip.

[shock_]

There's a lot variety in cocktail shapes out there.  In my part of the world, we're much closer to Japan and almost never saw the classic "Ms Pac" cocktail shape in the wild.

Some types of cocktail make much more sense for rotation than others, and yes, it definitely matters what controls you want to have, and whether you're happy, for instance, playing Centipede with a trackball that by necessity lives on your horizontal side.

Don't rule out swappable control panels as an alternative to rotating monitor for a cocktail, either, depending on the shape and style you're considering, and how many games you think you'll need to support. The only thing I would suggest is drawing the line at games that need lightguns.  Although it would look kinda funny to watch someone playing like that, shooting at their feet.

Follow the link in my sig and have a look at what I've just done, anyway.

[danny_galaga]

whats the point on a coctail. the 2 ends are for vertical and the 2 sides are for horizontal games. just change where your standing?

just seems like a whole lot of work when all you have to do is walk 12 inches away for the same result.

yeah, but it looks crap 

the joys are not redundent in the case of 4 people. even if they were redundent, the cost of them is still cheaper then a full rotation config.

even if cornered you can choose horizontal play or vertical. in the case of 4 people and there is no room for all 4, how would rotation help. it wouldnt.

there is no point in coctail rotation. this is my opinion after actually owning a coctail machine. if you think its worth it then it would make an interesting read. just not particulary useful imho

edit: it's a cocktail. when you decide to have a cocktail, you accept that you cant play EVERY game available. in my opinion the main reason for a rotating monitor in any case, but especially for a cocktail is to make use of the whole monitor. also, it cost me maybe $30 for the motor, and about $20 for miscellaneous stuff like wheels (i used bearings) and microswitches. how is that more expensive than buying an extra two sets of controls and possibly a more expensive keyboard emulator?

shocks your man, spystyle. exactly what youre looking for...

edit: just looked at that youtube vid. im not sure why he has it rotating 180 degrees...

[polaris]

edit: just looked at that youtube vid. im not sure why he has it rotating 180 degrees...

possibly for games that dont support cocktail flipping? only thing i could suggest

[spystyle]

Thanks for the replies fellas

As for the Youtube video - he is using a PS2 MAME which apparently doesn't flip.

Cheers,
Craig

[danny_galaga]

Thanks for the replies fellas

As for the Youtube video - he is using a PS2 MAME which apparently doesn't flip.

Cheers,
Craig

ahhh, that explains why he STILL has a vertical game running on a horizontal monitor! such a waste of potential. nice rotation though.