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The Tonicade

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Nogginboink:
My sister-in-law (yes, her name is Toni) is a huge Ms. Pac Man fan. So I've decided to build an arcade for her as a Christmas gift.

I'm hoping that by posting here I'll make myself more accountable for progress on the project!

The goals of the project are:


* Run Ms. Pac Man and other 'classic' video games
* Use a tabletop cabinet that can be set up on the kitchen table for playtime, then be taken down and put in the corner at dinnertime
* Be simple to operate for her young kids
* Use some of my spare computer parts instead of having to buy a new CPU/Motherboard
* Be as 'cost effective' as possible
I created a simple SketchUp model of the cabinet:


I'm going to go with a single four-way joystick and probably 2 buttons. The goal is to build something simple and fun, not an 'everythingcade.'

I modeled with 3/4" material but am thinking of using 1/2" MDF to give it a manageable weight. So far the list of games is probably going to be:


* Ms. Pac Man
* Pac Man
* Galaxian
* Galaga
* Donkey Kong
* Donkey Kong Jr.
* Dig Dug
* Space Invaders
* Mr. Do!
* Ladybug
* Frogger
* Dr. Micro
* Burger Time
* Tetris
I'm planning on using an old 700MHz processor on a motherboard with 128MB RAM and (gasp!) integrated video. Clearly this is going to limit my game choices. I expect my list of games to change between now and Dec. 25, but I think it'll probably end up close to what I've got here.

It's been raining for almost a solid week in the Dallas area and I haven't been able to put a sheet of MDF in the bed of the pickup to bring it home. Hopefully we'll get a dry spell here soon so I can bring home some work materials!

drventure:
Looks like a cool project. I just +wish+ I could get a cab done in, what, 2 months. That's ambitious (at least, it would be for me!)

Nogginboink:

--- Quote from: drventure on October 13, 2009, 06:12:05 pm ---Looks like a cool project. I just +wish+ I could get a cab done in, what, 2 months. That's ambitious (at least, it would be for me!)

--- End quote ---

Yeah, it's ambitious. :) I'm posting it publicly for the added accountability and pressure.

TOK:
I think it'd be real cool to shape the upper Midway style. Look at a picture of a Ms. Pac and imagine it cut off right below the base of the control panel.

Its a little more work for you, but other people have done it and the results are excellent.

Bender:

--- Quote from: TOK on October 13, 2009, 06:32:38 pm ---I think it'd be real cool to shape the upper Midway style. Look at a picture of a Ms. Pac and imagine it cut off right below the base of the control panel.

Its a little more work for you, but other people have done it and the results are excellent.


--- End quote ---
funny you should mention that
I'm going to be working on a mini ultra-inexpensive (I'm hoping for $100 total) Galaga project for a friend's kids
Its based off a Jakk plug and play 10 in 1 and an old portable DVD player screen
I'm gonna start a thread when I actually start building

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