Main > Main Forum
How much money do you have in your project?
<< < (13/16) > >>
Zeno:

--- Quote from: extendedplayarcade on August 14, 2008, 04:50:57 pm ---Don't think of all these post as discouraging.  Think of them just being really honest (brutally honest).  But they are telling ya like it is.  This is a very addicting hobby.
--- End quote ---

Yeah... that is an understatement.  I started out looking to spend under $150 on an x-arcade stick for my computer.  Today I have 4 machines in my gameroom (plus the ever present project cab)!  My $500 was just for the MAME.  I'm over $1000 easy on the entire hobby.

It's all about the hunt.  Looking for those diamonds in the rough that can use some TLC.  It's great finding that perfect working cab for $100.
Paul Olson:

--- Quote from: wbassett on August 14, 2008, 03:30:20 pm ---Seriously?  $5G on tools?

Wow and man am I in the wrong line of work!

--- End quote ---

I drove old beat up cars until a couple of years ago. There was a lot more cash for hobbies without a car payment.  :D

I actually started out buying cheap tools, and I hated them all. Quality tools are just worth the cost to me. I hated my table saw when I got it, but after I added a Biesemeyer fence, I love it.
Loafmeister:
It's been a while, so I might be remembering my $$$ wrong but:

Bought mini-cab (Excellent shap!  Came with crappy 2 player 6 button setup, with a 14" CRT and with old pc)=$300

added (includes shipping where relevant):
- spinner ($100)
- trackball ($100)
- various buttons/joysticks ($50)
- got a friend to help me with redesign and build of new CP (thanks Sparky!), personalized Marquee, speaker array/sub woofer, extra CP stuff like trigger stick, pinball accessories,  ($300)
- 19" LCD monitor ($150?)
- upgraded PC ($150 when factoring in selling of older pc)
- GGG steering wheel (works great!) ($30)

So that comes too (AGAIN, looks around to see if wife is looking over the shoulder...): about $1200, give or take a few.  But it's been worth it, play it a lot more than I thought I would.
bigredsk10:
Im going to agree with the original poster and say that a $250 cabinet is very possible if you are wise about how you spend your money. I built mine for about that much and I am very happy with it, especially the way it looks. You just need to be okay without every bell and whistle there is. A good design sense will keep it from looking like something that was just slapped together.

My cabinet is a 2 player cabinet/ 6 buttons each player

gutted cabinet - $20 (craigslist) (it still had the coin door)
21" monitor - $20 (craigslist)
i-pac - $40
Happ joysticks and buttons - $50
t-molding - $20
computer - used my old one
speakers - $20 (logitech 2.1 something or other that work plenty well enough)
Print of control panel and side art - $30
various paint and wire and stuff - $30 ish
_______________
$230

And thats all I bought and Im perfectly happy with my arcade machine. Granted, Im not a purist in any sense, but I couldnt afford to spend $1000 on my arcade machine. So I built one I could afford and havent regretted it for a second. I still get that authentic arcade feeling when I play it.

Craigslist is an awesome resource. If youre not seeing anything on there just put up a request for what youre looking for and how much you can spend. Who knows, sometimes it works. Thats how I got both the cabinet and the monitor.

Im missing all the specialty controls (trackball, spinner, lightguns) but it just comes down to whats worth the money to me. I would love to have a track ball. I would really love to have one. But not $100 love to have one. I put that $100 towards buying a wii instead.

So if you want to build a cabinet for $250 go for it. Make sure you dont skimp on the joystick or buttons but dont think you have to buy every control option there is out there. Expect to put MONTHS of work into building/programming/tweaking it. Its all fun though.

Ginsu Victim:

--- Quote ---I would love to have a track ball. I would really love to have one. But not $100 love to have one.
--- End quote ---

Though I don't normally recommend Xgaming products, this is the one exception. On sale for $49.95 right now. Just take it out and put it in your CP.

X-Arcade Trackball Controller

I know there are cheaper trackballs on eBay right now, but those aren't PC ready. However, if you want a $20 trackball, just go here:

Betson 3" Trackball
Navigation
Message Index
Next page
Previous page

Go to full version