Hidden Gaming Closet

[katoytoy]

I finished the cabinet but not the controls as they can be added later and the primary goal was to hide everything in plain sight now.  However th controls are the most ambitious part of this project.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ktgroupflash/sets/72157607935194620/

[Benevolance]

Personally, I'm a fan of making arcade cabinets blend into the furnishings.

But the cabinet looks pretty full already, where do you plan to put arcade controls?! Judging by the mat on the floor, it looks like you just wheel a chair up to the cabinet when you use the computer? How does that work for you?

[TOK]

Personally, I'm a fan of making arcade cabinets blend into the furnishings.

But the cabinet looks pretty full already, where do you plan to put arcade controls?! Judging by the mat on the floor, it looks like you just wheel a chair up to the cabinet when you use the computer? How does that work for you?

I feel the opposite way... Every room has furniture in it. One in a thousand (or less) has an arcade game. I guess like cars, motorcycles and guitars, it takes a certain kind of person to see them as art.

[katoytoy]

You're both right, but the difference between completely hidden and completely awesome happens to be my wife's permission to build at all At some point my electronic habits were going to be nixed and building covertly buys me a LOT of time.  The struggle is that most things that do everything, do nothing well. 

The joystick design is going into the space over the keyboard, I intend to have this slide out on toolbox shelf bearings and also hide completely. 
The sticking point right now is basing these 2 joysticks on Playstation 2 controller boards so that adapting to usb from them will be compatible both to linux and to PS3.  I have mapped out a workable design for reaching 24 buttons and 6 joysticks with four hands but to do that I need to overcome patching trackballs to analog sticks.
Also the plastic mat is most commonly used with chairs from the dinner table and is brilliant for preventing beer stains.