New arcade control idea - cocktail table + ergonomic discussion

[statikeffeck]

I've been thinking about health and ergonomics when playing arcade games -- I think the Nintendo Wii has breathed new life into the video game & health discussion.

The other day I spent two hours (with 10 minute break) on the couch hunched over to use my custom built arcade controller on the coffee table. It really started to kill my back! That can't be healthy.

I'd like to fancy the idea of playing standing up, but without building a full blown cabinet. Then I thought that if it was built almost like a tall table the controls could be hidden if needed.

After brainstorming I came up with this rough illustration showing at left in play mode, and at right a cover that hides the controls when placed over.
http://i6.tinypic.com/835nd61.png

Has this ever been done or documented? Do you think it is healthier to play standing up than sitting down?

[ahofle]

I have seen a few of these attempted before.  One that sticks out in my mind is the one from Crap MAME.
http://www.wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/14.html

[Kangum]

rather then have that massive heavy cover, might as well leave it as 1 piece permently attached and have it so the entire thing turns and places the controls upsidedown facing the floor when not in use.

[Turnarcades]

This is a project I've thought about a couple of times, then gone back to the drawing board about.

Think about it first; to play standing up, it needs to be pretty high, around 32-36" at surface height. Styling it as a regular table would look like you've got Gulliver round for dinner!

Instead, why not think about re-designing it as a furniture cabinet? If you built it like a proper cupboard or something, with the controls housed in a flip-over panel, you can create a usable space when not in use, and it wouldn't look so odd.

I've been working on a design for a cabinet like this for a customer, with a projector mounted in the back, so it can be wheeled in front of a wall and just played against any surface. Here is a quick sketch:

[Jimbo]

Ooooh now THAT's nice!! 

[Turnarcades]

Cheers

I'm hoping to get this 'out there' as a regular fixed-price cabinet. What do you guys think of it? Sorry there's no photos yet, but I don't build until someone is buying. I'm hoping to put it out for between £600-£900, depending on the projector people want.

Opinions always welcome....

[leapinlew]

Do you think it is healthier to play standing up than sitting down?

The diet soda I'm drinking while playing is sure to kill me before sitting/standing does.

[vertygo]

The other day I spent two hours (with 10 minute break) on the couch hunched over to use my custom built arcade controller on the coffee table. It really started to kill my back! That can't be healthy.

I actually really like this idea, here's my 2 Canadian cents, eh:

- illuminate the 'glass' cover.. ohhh pretty

- adjustable height ? something incremental like a hand crank would give you.

- a franchise of healthy arcades, a total juxtaposition of the smoke filled dens of neon we all experienced.  All across the country, people attend them instead of their local fitness clubs. Suddenly women get into it, Curves Fitness becomes "Curv3s" and is promptly sued. A record-setting IPO, global licensing and branding becomes more recognizable than the new "Healthier Coke, Healthier You" campaign. Uh Oh! Suddenly scandal appears in the headlines.. a little used term suddenly becomes an epidemic.. subliminal messaging! Turns out the so called Healthy Arcades were indoctrination centres for a new mind-control algorythm. Stock market crash as even unrelated sectors are beat down in the scandal..

<breathes> ok.. I'm ok now. 

Cheers