Lego (Star Wars, Batman & Indiana Jones) Themed Arcade

[Spaced Ace]

Was thinking about turning my showcase into a Lego (PC version), dedicated machine.  It would have Star Wars Trilogy, Batman & Indiana Jones games, two player...

What do you guys think, please be honest. 

[IG-88]

Are those games easily played with a joy and a few buttons?

[Spaced Ace]

Are those games easily played with a joy and a few buttons?

Yeah, you have 8 way directional, attack, jump, special & switch characters.  Just four buttons.  If you haven't played Star Wars the Complete Saga & if youre a SW fan, youre really missing out.  I havent played Batman yet, but the Indiana Jones is off the hook...

[pgielen]

i love the lego games, and my kids to.
i want to build a lego indy and already made a vector for the side art.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=81296.msg847950#msg847950

[GAtekwriter]

I love the idea, but I would maybe suggest that you only pick one of the themes... those 3 are definitely NOT linked in any way other than the LEGO name.  I'd say pick the one you enjoy playing the most and run with it... can't wait to watch this one develop.

Jim

[ChadTower]

We've played these games so much I considered building a bartop for them myself... so I'll agree it's a good idea.    Gotta build the cab itself out of LEGO, though.  That's the only way to do it right.

[erictrumpet]

Pros:
Original idea
Kinda cute

Cons:
Not really arcade related
Seems random, like a Cocker Spaniel-themed cab

I think random themes work for projects like decorating your downstairs half bathroom, but for arcade cabinets the themes really need to be arcade game related or at least look arcadey, or else it looks goofy.

Remember that when a guest comes over and sees a huge freaking arcade machine in your house they are already confused enough by it, then when it has teddy bears or something all over it, it's even more confusing. If it's covered in arcade art, then oh I see - it's an arcade machine!

But hey, the fact that it's a unique idea is a big positive. So what the heck, go for it!

Eric.

[GAtekwriter]

One word of advice - (as someone who deals with The LEGO Group often):

If you ever think you'll take this thing out in public, make CERTAIN that you NEVER make money on it (no coin door) and I would highly suggest that you put a disclaimer somewhere on the cab (back?) that has the usual "LEGO, LEGO Star Wars, etc... are trademarks of The LEGO Group... blah blah blah"

Why?  Because I can tell you first hand that LEGO protects their brand with a vengeance!  When they get wind of any website or book that has the word "LEGO" in it, they examine it upside down and sideways to make sure you haven't violated their brand in any way.   Trust me, they WILL find this cab, but you can make sure to calm them by stating in any forum writeup that the game is for personal/home use only and that the LEGO games you will be playing on it were legally purchased... etc. (Scan the receipts and post 'em if you have them).

Jim

(Author of "LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT-G Programming Guide, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: The Mayan Adventure, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book 1 and Book 2, FIRST LEGO League: The Unofficial Guide and creator of TheNXTStep blog where I learned ALL about the LEGO legal world the hard way)

[ChadTower]

I think random themes work for projects like decorating your downstairs half bathroom, but for arcade cabinets the themes really need to be arcade game related or at least look arcadey, or else it looks goofy.

Take a look through the history of Project Announcements.  There have been quite a few awesome projects that aren't purely arcade based.  A lot of my favorites fall into this category.  Two that immediately come to mind are theCoder's Xbox cockpit and Kneivel's Guitar Hero.  There are so many Dreamcast based cabs it's not even funny. 

[nexus6]

i like the games too and think, that its a ncie idea – even when its not arcade related. but when i remeber right, the games supports analog sticks. ok, they work with didital also, but you cant walk slow with them. on the otherhand theres no need for walking slow in the game

[Spaced Ace]

Here is the way I see it, everyone has heard of Indian Jones, Star Wars and Batman, everyone knows what an arcade is, so its not like they will be that confused.  I have 12 arcades, this would make 13 and its a big deal to me because its my showcase and the last project I am allowed to do according to my wife.

This is why I asked, LEGO or NOGO....  But thanks for the comments all, I am really struggling with this last project.  I want something different but mainstream and not so far out there....

Thanks ChadTower 

[Spaced Ace]

i love the lego games, and my kids to.
i want to build a lego indy and already made a vector for the side art.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=81296.msg847950#msg847950

Yeah, I played Indy at Best Buy, I loved it...  I heard Batman is just as good if not better.  Thats why I wanted to go LEGO theme, have Star Wars, Batman and Indy.  I dont know, maybe I should go just Star Wars... 

Need more input guys... 

[Spaced Ace]

Trust me, they WILL find this cab, but you can make sure to calm them by stating in any forum writeup that the game is for personal/home use only and that the LEGO games you will be playing on it were legally purchased... etc. (Scan the receipts and post 'em if you have them).

Jim

This will be in a personal collection, which is also on private property and odds are it wont have coin mechs because I'm just lazy...  Any pics I include here within the forums will NOT have any trade marked logos anyway.  And if there are any logos, I will blur them out accordingly....

[ChadTower]

I wouldn't bother taking the trouble until contacted.  Good to know ahead of time that it may happen, though.

[GAtekwriter]

Just to clarify - I very much doubt you'd ever hear from them unless you were doing something that generated income or displayed LEGO in a negative light (there was a HUGE stink a while back about a book titled "Forbidden LEGO" that showed how to create a LEGO gun, for example - a big no-no to LEGO).

I think a cab with a LEGO game theme would be great - especially if you could incorporate a brick look to the cab - even if it were painted to look like it were made of large bricks (or small).  LEGO Star Wars is too cool IMO, and there's enough stock imagery out there to do a CPO and marquee as well as sideart.

I say go for it - it'd be unique and definitely entertaining to read about your progress.

Jim

[deadpool18]

This is a great idea!  I say go for it.  My son is the biggest Lego fan and would kill for a Lego themed cab.  If you are creative, I think that you could pull off all three (Batman, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars).  Besides, indiana Jones is a hidden character in Lego Star Wars and Han Solo is hidden in Lego Indiana Jones (among other SW characters).  There's your connection! 

[Spaced Ace]

Yeah, I think Im going to go with this one.  I'll do some artwork this weekend and post it here...

Thanks all....

 

[IG-88]

Ya, you wanna talk longevity. Put all 3 of those in a cab and people will be playing it for a looong time

[ChadTower]

Ya, you wanna talk longevity. Put all 3 of those in a cab and people will be playing it for a looong time

They'll have to... those are some longass games.   

[Spaced Ace]

Kinda worries me though...  The showcase cab cp is just high enough to stand and play.  I have tried several types of stools for sitting and it doesnt just work or feel right.  Your legs wont fit under the cp and when you set the controles are a little "off".

[erictrumpet]

Someone mentioned the idea of making the thing OUT OF LEGOs. Holy crap that would be awesome! Even if you just did a Lego edging in place of T-molding somehow. Okay, that would be badass enough that I would rescind my previous poo-poo of this idea.

Oh and Chad, agreed on many non-arcade themed cabs being awesome, such as Kneivel's Guitar Hero cab. But dude, the GH cab is so obviously its own theme that it totally works. A better example of what I am talking about would be if his GH cab were Lego themed. That would be like, huh?

Eric.

[Spaced Ace]

Yeah, uh Eric, man the cost of that many Lego's would be worth 10 arcades.  Would still be cool though...

[Franco B]

Sounds like a cool project, I love the Lego series

There was someone (Lego employee?) a while ago who made a arcade cabinet from Lego but I cant seem to find it. 

Edit: Found it



More info [here].

[thatitalian]

HOLY CRAP! That is crazy!

[Spaced Ace]

   thats too sweet...

[GAtekwriter]

Plenty of room for improvement here for your new cab, though:

1.  Marquee could be added
2.  Sideart should match your theme (Star Wars, for example)
3.  Speakers

Jim

[ChadTower]

Yeah, uh Eric, man the cost of that many Lego's would be worth 10 arcades.  Would still be cool though...

You don't have to build the whole thing out of LEGO.  Maybe you could build it out of ply and just cement on an outer shell of LEGO.  Or have a "window" in the side of LEGO.  However it gets done there has to be some actual LEGOs in there.  It would just feel wrong to build something LEGO themed that has no bricks in it.

[Spaced Ace]

I dont know guys, sounds like a huge task.  What about just printing up some lego brick  vinyl?   

[Franco B]

I agree with Chad, you do need some physical Lego in there somewhere.

Obviously you cant use Lego for your main buttons but it would be pretty cool to have some 2x2 or 2x4 blocks for admin buttons (if you are using them). You could cut some square holes in the CP for them to locate in so they just sit proud of the CP. You could easily mount a switch below them for the Legos to activte when pushed.

[SithMaster]

Perhaps the bricks can be used for a bezel or to decorate a bezel?  If you are going to make a custom marquee then use legos to make a little scene.  Maybe lego indy using his whip against a squad of stormtroopers while luke uses his lightsaber against a mummy.

[ChadTower]

If you are going to make a custom marquee then use legos to make a little scene.  Maybe lego indy using his whip against a squad of stormtroopers while luke uses his lightsaber against a mummy.

Oooh.  The marquee area is deep on a cab.  That's a damn good idea.  3D marquee of real LEGOs.

[erictrumpet]

Yeah I was not suggesting the whole damn cabinet be made of Legos, just some trim pieces.
That all-Lego cab linked above does reveal an interesting possibility though - using Legos to create sideart of classic characters seems perfect since the pixels are like 1x2 blocks. You could perhaps just do this as an inset in a normal cab side built of MDF. But definitely use real Legos - not merely a printout of art made to sort of look like Legos.
I still gotta say, though, other than those recent Lego console games, gaming and Legos simply do not go together. It's like making an arcade cab with an Iron Chef theme. Too random.

Eric.

[YoGaBaR]

This would be AWESOME!!! You have to do it out of Lego's too.

[dmworking247]

Damn I just found that other lego project too and then realised someone already posted it.

( http://sdi.homepage.dk/ )

I really like that idea of the 3D marquee though, especially if you used a few transparent bricks and some creative lighting.
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[GadgetGeek]

Use some mindstorms and have a really amazing marquee...

[Spaced Ace]

If you are going to make a custom marquee then use legos to make a little scene.  Maybe lego indy using his whip against a squad of stormtroopers while luke uses his lightsaber against a mummy.

Oooh.  The marquee area is deep on a cab.  That's a damn good idea.  3D marquee of real LEGOs.

You guys think Legos are thin enough for a backlight to shine through and look right?

[Twin-X]

You guys think Legos are thin enough for a backlight to shine through and look right?

Only the transparent blocks are

[nullb0y]

the idea for the marquee is awesome
Just use normal plexi up front
But have a 3d scene inside with a lego floor and backdrop
Then hide a light tube behind some legos for lighting