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Cheapest generic cab design you can think up?

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Jack Burton:


--- Quote from: TOK on May 13, 2008, 08:06:39 pm ---I'd prefer the X-Arcade and just playing games on my PC to a cheapie ghetto looking cab.  :dunno
I paid $125 for this. Only problem with it is a burnt out marquee light.




--- End quote ---

I don't think it would be ghetto looking.  That's one of the rules I made.  It must not look "ghetto".  But may look plain and functional.

The point of building such a cab is the benefit of playing on a cab itself.  I was playing Galaga on my Xbox today alongside my cab.  I must say, there is no way I would actually want to play that game sitting on the floor with a joystick, or on my computer desk.  There's just something about playing on a cabinet.

TOK:

Your design criteria stripped most of the things that make an arcade game feel like an arcade game to me, so it isn't like playing on a cab. Its like having an arcade controller on a wooden box.


Jack Burton:

Well, I suppose adding a Marquee isn't too expensive.   One more piece of plexiglass, a lightbulb and something nice to illuminate could probably be done for less than $20.


Also, add in a powerstrip or extension cord along with some hinges for the back door.

Make sure the paint job is Arcadey enough looking.

wbassett:


--- Quote from: megaultrasuper on May 13, 2008, 03:03:42 pm ---I like to sit around sometimes and design different kinds of MAME cabs.  One of my favorite subjects is to think up really simple kinds of cabs that can be built and replicated quickly and cheaply.

--- End quote ---
I agree that if you use items you already have or can get for free you can greatly reduce the overall cost of things, but one of the things you mentioned doesn't fit in well with what you outlined... and that is 'can be built and replicated quickly and cheaply'.

You may be able to do it cheaply, but as far as quick... unless you live someplace where you have ready access to a consistant stockpile of usable stuff people just happen to be throwing out, it could take some time gathering your materials.  As far as 'replicated', I honestly can't see how a consistant pattern can be made when you are depending on scrap parts and I'd think no two cabs would look alike.

Even paint will cost you.  Yes you can get Walmart brands of paint that are cheap, but they are... well, 'cheap'.  People often don't realize that paint that costs a bit more is better quality and covers better, rolls smoother, and looks better in addition to lasting longer.  You can go through a gallon of paint easily on a full size cab.  Then you have primer.  Throw in nails, screws and all the little things and it does add up. 

I think you can probably make the cab itself for around the cost of the controller, and if you keep the cp to a bare basic cp with minimum sticks and buttons, even using all hacks and no ipaqs or controller boards I think it's going to cost more than you expect.  I think you could throw together a quick inexpensive basic bar top for around the price you're talking but I'm not so sure about a full size nice looking cab and cp.

It will definitely be interesting and fun to see how you make out.  Make sure to take plenty of detailed pics for a photo journal of your build, I'm sure many would like to see how you put this together and how it comes out. :)



DaveMMR:


--- Quote from: megaultrasuper on May 13, 2008, 03:03:42 pm ---$60 for lumber if you use the cheap stuff.

$0 for a pc monitor.  They can almost always be found for free on craigslist.

$20 for a cheap computer off of Ebay or Craiglist.  Probably could easily get this down to $0 if you look around.

$15 for controls.  You can find plenty of cheap knockoff eight way joysticks and buttons on ebay. 

$5 for control interface.  You'll need a soldering iron to hack a pc gamepad.  Or $0 if you want to hack a keyboard.

$20 for paint, glue, screws, etc.  This stuff can almost always be scavenged for free from somebody, but you might need to pay for a few things so I'll add $20

$20 for plexiglass.  This is entirely optional of course.

$5 for speakers.

No T-molding or coin door.

No need for keyboard and mouse, computers can be set up to boot directly into a frontend.

No Marquee

No lights

I think a person could make a very nice, very basic MAME cab for as little as $80-145.  Are you guys in agreement?  Am I forgetting anything? 

--- End quote ---

Some people have managed to build for cheap, but if you count on skimping and cutting corners, you're more likely to end up with a sloppy-looking and playing cab.  And despite what others say, when it comes to the full-sized machines, looks ARE important.  A big marquee-less box constructed out of free lumber with only $20 worth of screws, glue, etc. and random-color free paint with third-rate joysticks hacked to work through an even cheaper joypad pumping visuals and audio through a cruddy computer monitor and $5 speakers is going to look like the hobo at the formal banquet in the middle of your living room.  See also: CrapMAME.

For that $145 ceiling you quoted, I'd check to see if there are any working, who-cares game on Craigslist that can be converted easily. 

ADDENDUM:  That's not to say you can't build inexpensively. You can make do with Happ's Supers, get black paint, obtain a generic marquee and plexiglass, skip the trackball, etc.   But there's going to be a point where you'll have to throw a few bucks down if you want your end-result to be both enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing. 

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