FLYNN'S - Almost finished! :)

[MaxVolume]

So I'm now on my second MAME project (unless you count PROTOVISION, which I'll post about in the near future), and it's turning out to be a bit easier on the eyes than SUPER GAMES MUSEUM.  Here's a link to the photos I've taken so far... check back for updates:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/planetdust1/sets/72157630100411654

Also, here is the complete text of the "set description" from Flickr in case it might be easier to read here, or you want to know more (than you ever wanted to know) about it before check out the pics:

This was originally supposed to be called "FLYNN'S Retro Arcade" and was intended to look like a machine Kevin Flynn would have created as a multi-game after the events of TRON.  The cabinet was obtained in a trade about a decade ago, and was originally an Omega Race mini.  The bottom was somewhat water damaged, but with some leg leveler mounting plates, corner protectors, and other trim pieces (not to mention generous overlap from the sideart), it now looks halfway decent.  I really should have taken a "before" picture, but I just didn't have any interest in remembering how awful it looked.  This cab was also with me for many years (and a few different homes) before I finally started on the conversion this Spring.  The idea behind the cabinet now is that it represents the "virtual" arcade as it exists on The Grid, but the server (an old IBM ThinkCentre I bought used) resides inside an old Space Paranoids machine (hence the sideart).  I like to think of it as a SP conversion that Kevin may have started for Sam before he disappeared, and that Sam may have discovered in a secret workroom and added to it over time (which is how I explain the post-1989 games it plays).  That pretty much explains why it has Space Paranoids sideart, but a marquee, bezel and CPO that all show TRON Legacy-era artwork.  It's essentially a conversion of an old SP machine into a virtual arcade.  I plan to have the 3DArcade front end running with the FLYNN'S Classic arcade as a default, but others (Time Out, etc.) selectable as well.

[yotsuya]

Nice. If you want to really make it Tron-ish, go with light-up buttons!

[MaxVolume]

Nice. If you want to really make it Tron-ish, go with light-up buttons!

Thanks... I thought about doing that, but the illuminated ones just don't have the feel of good ol' concave ones.  As someone else here posted, the classic feel is more important than bling.  I did go ahead and use an illuminated trackball, even though the color doesn't really match any other part of the cabinet.  I also could have replaced the reject buttons with translucent blue ones, but again I didn't think the color would match, and I'm not even sure I could get ones for the kind of coin door I have.  I even looked into an illuminated joystick, but the only ones I found were balltop, and I already have balltops on SUPER GAMES MUSEUM, so I definitely wanted a bat-top joystick for this one.

Aside from the TRON theme, whereas SGM was geared toward a Japanese theme, I wanted this project to be 100% American, or at least as much as possible.  That means not only concave buttons, but the US version of as many of the games as possible, as well as an Americanized perspective in all other areas of the design.  It was difficult to make the instruction decals on SGM seem like "Engrish" but still understandable, so on this one it's nice that I can use the wording I would prefer.

By the way, to give everyone a better idea of what my cabinet looked like when I got it, it was only slightly better than the cabinet the ENCOM Discs of TRON mini-cab project is based on.  Mine wasn't beyond repair, but I call it "mini Vader" because it's got so much metal and plastic applied to it in order to hide all the damage.  In fact, I think the guy who's doing the ENCOM mini projects is the one who posted the Space Paranoids sideart.  I probably would have just made mine a Space Paranoids if the logo was the same as the Comicon machine, but it just didn't look right, so I only used the sideart and modified it to work on my cabinet.  Guess I should have got in touch with that guy and sought his help with this project, but it was pretty clear the direction I was going in.  Plus, I don't have that kind of skill, so I knew my cab wouldn't come out as nice as some of those ENCOM minis.

[RetroRik]

Nice. If you want to really make it Tron-ish, go with light-up buttons!

Thanks... I thought about doing that, but the illuminated ones just don't have the feel of good ol' concave ones.

On my Tron CP i am using the classic concave buttons in Blue and mounting a 5V LED onto the underside of each button.
I am using a powered USB hub and connecting the LEDs with a resistor into the hub.

Its simple, cheap and gives a nice soft glow through the top of the button.

Found an example in White...

 

RIK

[MaxVolume]

Nice. If you want to really make it Tron-ish, go with light-up buttons!

Thanks... I thought about doing that, but the illuminated ones just don't have the feel of good ol' concave ones.

On my Tron CP i am using the classic concave buttons in Blue and mounting a 5V LED onto the underside of each button.
I am using a powered USB hub and connecting the LEDs with a resistor into the hub.

Its simple, cheap and gives a nice soft glow through the top of the button.

Found an example in White...

 

RIK

Dude, I already said I was "almost finished", so why would you want to post such an awesome idea that's gonna make me rethink my control panel?

Seriously, that is a very cool idea, and I will definitely think about it.  I have to say I probably won't do it because I worry that the lighted buttons will be distracting, but it's something to consider.  Funnily enough, I am actually using USB lights to illuminate the coin door reject buttons and the trackball, so I already have an open port I could use for more LEDs.  When I think about the controller board and software that would allow only the active buttons to light up, it really starts the wheels turning in my head.  So much for "almost finished", I guess.

[RetroRik]

  Sorry MV...

I can't take credit for the idea though. Seen it some place else. Just can't remember where..

I have made the Discs Of Tron Deflect button on my stick build using an LED in the same way.

My USB powered hub can output a max of 0.75 amps so as long as my LED setup doesn't draw much it will work fine.

Just make sure you use the correct Resistor for the LED and current of the LED...

http://led.linear1.org/1led.wiz

RIK

[MaxVolume]

Thanks again, Rik.  I'll check the link for info about the resistor, since I had no idea one would be required.  I remember from way back that resistance = heat, so I'm a bit hesitant for fear I'll melt my buttons.  So, do you just take the plunger out, mount the LED inside, and put the button back together? Is there room to run a wire out, or did you have to drill?  When I think "TRON" I think translucency, so I'm not quite sure I'd like the look of solid buttons lit up from within.  Would love to see more example pics of your CP build, for purposes of deciding whether to follow your lead as well as just general curiosity.

[RetroRik]

Hi MV...

Mounting is simple. My button looks like this...



When i take the Micro Switch off the underside looks like this... Note there is even a mark where i drill...  



The resulting hole i will just push the LED into. It fits snug when you use the correct drill bit. If not just glue.
The legs of the LED can just be bent 90 degress either side and the micro switch clicks back into place with space to spare..



The resistor is used as the LED has a milliamp rating. ( current that can flow through it before going POP.! )
The resistor protects the LED from surges also.

The only bit that will touch the button is the LED and they only get warm. Even the high power one i am using. The resistor also only warm as only using 5V and low milliampage.

You could if you want attach the LEDs to a controller like the Ultimarc Pacled64. Im not doing this though.

http://www.ultimarc.com/pacled64.html

Cheers

RIK

[Nephasth]

How's these buttons for a Tron-ish look?







You can make any color combo you want. The ones pictured are clear translucent ILs mixed with black from Paradise Arcade Shop, using their IL-lumination RGB LEDs to light them.

With some extra work, you can do something similar with the joysticks...

[MaxVolume]

Thanks for the pics and explanation, Rik.  My buttons are very similar, but much longer, so an LED on the bottom would have a dimmer glow.  Might still work, but I don't think I'll bother.  I'm okay with just the glowing trackball.

Nephasth, thanks for the pics... I really like the "beasts", but my project has some warts that I think illumination would just make more obvious.  Luckily, the laser-cut trackball hole is perfect, but other things like the bolt holes, etc. are far from it.  I had originally considered adding lights between two layers of my monitor bezel, but that's another area where things are a bit rough, not to mention the potential for glare on the monitor.  They could also be a bit distracting, so for all those reasons I gave up on the lighted bezel idea.  Similarly, I think I'm going to relent on the lighted buttons thing.  I really like how one builder here accidentally lit up his whole plexi, but having a layer of plexi over the control panel is another thing I'm just not into.

It's always nice to see what others have done, even though it makes me wish my projects came out looking so good.  Still, I'm very happy about how FLYNN'S has turned out.  For the most part, I'm just so tired of working on the "hardware" parts of my cabinet and am very anxious to start on the software part... and of course the, um, "playtesting". 

[jarrett]

Just wanted to say the cabinet looks awesome. Those illustrations really took on a life of their own after I posted them, and Im always thrilled to see them used in projects.

[MaxVolume]

Just wanted to say the cabinet looks awesome. Those illustrations really took on a life of their own after I posted them, and Im always thrilled to see them used in projects.

Thanks again, Jarrett.