Some of my interesting ideas.

[ViciousXUSMC]

Im an idea guy, I can often times think up or design several cool enhancements to current the designs of things.

Im in the process of building my first CP and in that process I have come across a few ideas that I have not seen used yet by anybody so I just wanted to share them and see what everybody thought, so looking for feedback and feel free to use any of my ideas.


The V.S. Arcade Cabinet

First is my cabinet design, my friend likes this one and is actually going to use it.

The idea is that with LCDs these days being so thin & light to create a competitive double side arcade cabinet.  It will be symmetrically split in the middle with a screen on each side in opposite sides with controls for one player on each side.

This way you have all your own space and elbow room, you dont have to worry about if the other guy smells, and the main reason I thought of this is because I used to hate when people would look at my hands to see what I am doing.  This gives you privacy when you play.  It would give that cool feeling of playing a live opponent over the internet or something except you can hear there screams of agony in person after you beat them for the 100th time in a row.



Easy Modular Connections

I came up with this idea since I am a computer builder and my CP is going to have to be able to interface with multiple systems.  For now I am going for PC & Dreamcast.  I wanted an easy no hassles way of having it modular without soldering and stuff.  My solution that I am going to try is a normal computer ATX power supply extender:



Just cut it in half and your done, you have wires you an strip and tie directly to your other wires, or better yet insert them into a terminal block.  The connection is secure and solder free and relatively cheap.



Variable Control Panel Tilt

There was a thread I just answered here on the forums yesterday where somebody was asking opinions.  "Whats better a flat control panel or one with a tilt?" My answer was... Why not both??  More than once watching mythbusters on tv I have seen them use hydraulic pistons to mechanically move stuff remotely.  You could use something like this or many other things and have the CP on a axis or hinge system so that it could easily be adjusted from 45-90 degrees at any time on the fly.


Optical Control Panel

This first project of mine is super budget, and I have no space in my house with 4 kids to keep a CP setup or build an arcade.  So I am modding my computer desk into the CP,  To make it look more official and to cover my holes if I have to end up top mounting the joysticks I knew I needed an overlay of sorts.

I decided the best/easiest way to do this was with a adhesive vinyl print, It was hard to find a place to do this in the size I needed and anybody that did it custom wanted WAY to much money.  I got lucky and finally found a link from here in another thread to mamemarquees.  There prices are not too bad but what I found interesting is they have different stuff, the Vinyl was more expensive than the marquee and the marquee being a nice plastic material seems like it would hold up as a CP just fine, even if the marque product is not supposed to be suitable for a overlay under a piece of lexan or plexi I see no reason it wont work. 

I thought to myself what a waist though, it.. could light up for a great effect as thats what it is designed to do.  So thats when I figured hey why not just cut my entire wood CP out except for the frame and put a nice piece of plexi in there, mount all the controls to the plexi and put the marquee under it and then wire some lighting up.   Forget light up buttons... how about an entire light up control panel???

Here is the 30 minute mock up of my control panel design.


What I am going to do is install the stuff into the panel, take a picture of it, and then in photoshop overlay the CP with this design and move things as needed, stuff like the blue circles are supposed to be centered on the joystick.  I designed this with the idea of vinyl I did not even have the clear CP w/ lights idea yet.  However this design seems almost already absolutely perfect for that idea, the black should block out the light mostly or completely and the red/blue will light up like fiber optics.


Easier Gamepad Hack?


This one I have no idea about, its just as much of a question as it is an idea.  I was thinking we should check out the game adapters sold by x-arcade for there joystick to be used with consoles.  It maybe easier to hack one of those instead of a gamepad.  They are like $20 so its cheaper than a $30 controller and you already have an interface point and a project box.  I just have to be willing to drop $20 + ship one day to break one open to see how it works and if we can use it for this purpose.

[NickG]

Nice Ideas. I like to innovate as well.

@ The V.S. Arcade Cabinet
Sounds neat if you have the room.  Hey, if you are going to swivel your CP top, you may as well swivel two sides of the cabinet to a side-by-side formation for multiscreen cooperative games such as X-men and stuff like Darius as well.
@ Easy Modular Connections
I have used this idea before and would recommend against the power supply extension cable in favor of types which can be bolted down on at least one side;  many of the DB types, for example.  This makes connecting them easier.
@ Variable Control Panel Tilt
That's funny, I was considering this for a panel earlier today.  I am using static tilt on my arcade style controls but I am planning a blank topped CP to set my KB+M and other various controllers on.  I figured that an adjustable top would suit many configurations.
@ Optical Control Panel
I don't see an image?

@ Easier Gamepad Hack?
These modules just talk to the X-arcade PCB which is included in the X-Arcade joysticks and the BYO-X-Arcade kit
Pretty similar to the converters from Ultimarc in that you need two parts.  (BTW, they [X-arcade] take a pumice stone to the top of their ICs, so good luck)  So you could use the BYO kit, the Dreamcast module and the PC module.  Keep in mind that you will be limited to digital controls for the DC using X-arcade parts versus hacking some pads.   

[ViciousXUSMC]

I forgot the last one, and it was my first idea actually.

The Arcade "Podium"

For the sake of building materials, size, weight, and cost I though about building a cabinet that only goes as high as the control panel.  There is no top half with a monitor in it.  Instead in the back of the unit will be a projector to throw the image onto a wall or screen.

This setup could potentially be super easy to make and actually become portable, so you can take your arcade to a friends house and wow them with it.  Id have the projector bolted down or on a projector mount.  The front o the case where the projector is will have "modders mesh" or some other porus material and a fan so move air though the cabnet to keep the projector nice and cool (and the pc too)

I love projectors HD projectors these days are getting nice and cheap and give you HUGE screens.  However for arcade emulation a cheap ol' SD one will probably do the job just fine.

To make a super mini version, dont even integrate the control panel instead have just the pc & stuff in a box like enclosure and have a CP that plugs into it with a stand alone CP stand.  I saw a design I really liked the other day but forgot where I saw it.

Due to my lack of building skills/tools and my love for versatility and projectors my first "real" full cabinet will probably be like this.

It will double as a home theater on the go   Take it to a friends how, game away for a while and when everybody has sore hands, kick back and watch a movie on a 100" screen.

I use to throw a hotel party once a year around Halloween me and my game buddies would get together and have a blast with some fighting games, something like this would just blow every bodies minds.