Just saw this - good idea or bad?

[Turnarcades]

Saw this unique design on ebay a minute ago, and can't decide if it's a good idea or not. On one hand the construction+design are OK, but the idea seems pointless to me...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dual-LCD-Arcade-Gamers-Coffee-Table-XBOX-PS3-Wii-PC_W0QQitemZ230407483104QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Video_Games_Coin_Operated_MJ?hash=item35a55b2ee0

[slapaham]

Seems a bit shite to me...

What's the bloody point...? 

[DJ_Izumi]

Seems useless.  Considdering the price, what you could do is buy two suitable TVs or monitors, keep them in the closet, and then when you use'em you can use say the kitchen tabel which would be more comfortable than the pop up TV coffee table.  Especially as you'd need seating on either side, as most coffee tables are positioned you'd have one guy on the floor. o.O

[Expressline99]

I fail to see how it will reduce clutter? It would still need to have wires run for power...and everything sits on the shelf underneath.
Would be much better if they were on the same side of the table. Price = too much.

As well, epic fail on the lack of a keyboard/mouse tray.

[drventure]

Yeah, the only good I see in that design is the way you're facing your opponent. Other than that, there's not much else positive to it.

It's an interesting idea, but it'd make more sense being built into a dining table, a great big square one maybe...

And you'd have to do a lot of 2 or 4 man gaming to justify it.

[BobA]

Only thing interesting is the type of hinges that are used to hold the LCD and the table top.   Could be integrated into other projects like a popup jukebox in a different cab.

[DJ_Izumi]

Ya know, that'd be great if you wanted to play Battleship...

[severdhed]

Ya know, that'd be great if you wanted to play Battleship...

[bkenobi]

Mehhh...  I wouldn't have done a head2head cabinet that way, but I didn't build that one.  Of course, I ain't buyin' it either!

[diazsinger]

Anyone with kids would not even consider a dual coffee tv table an even remote possibility.

[HanoiBoi]

Anyone that's worried about 'tying up the TV' would also probably be not too happy about tying up the living room and competing sounds.  Not to mention, how comfortable would that be?

If it's for kids/teens and someone's worried about space, get them a small TV for the bedroom.  Plus, if they must play a game in the living room, I'm sure they'll find a nice little addictive game on a media player or cell phone. 

Really, there's no need for this.

[diazsinger]

If behind each tv was a cammode then this item would have some worth.

[SavannahLion]

Mehhh...  I wouldn't have done a head2head cabinet that way, but I didn't build that one.  Of course, I ain't buyin' it either!

+1

But then again, I can't really think of any DIY head2head cabinet design I actually like. Most people have this weird idea that h2h cabs need to be well.... head to head.

I'm not sure what it is exactly. Seems like a lot of people consider the Hardcore Playstation 3 DIY Cabinet a mind-blowing piece of work. Personally, I think it's a mind-blowing PoS. Same goes for this weird dual LCD coffee table thing. Makes sense at a party, but how often are you going to have a party to justify something that reduces the number of locations for people to place their beer on?

It just seems to me a scant few h2h cabinets get the design formula just right. Something never seems to click into place right.

Oh well, to each their own. 

[DJ_Izumi]

Seems like a lot of people consider the Hardcore Playstation 3 DIY Cabinet a mind-blowing piece of work. Personally, I think it's a mind-blowing PoS.

So... It's one PS3, just with it's video outputs split into two monitors so they can each have their view?  That's retarded.  Sure, dual screens is awesome for something like Time Crisis or head to head driving games but for a fighting game?  Get in there shoulder to shoulder boys, that way when one of you is at a disadvantage, you can punch the other in the arm!

[bkenobi]

Seems like a lot of people consider the Hardcore Playstation 3 DIY Cabinet a mind-blowing piece of work.

Now that layout would be a true battleship candidate.  Get 1 touch screen for the bottom and you can play old school battleship for $5000 instead of $19.99.  BRILLIANT!!!   

[Benevolance]

Most people have this weird idea that h2h cabs need to be well.... head to head.

I've noticed this, too, and it puzzles me. I can understand a set up that makes it difficult to see an opponent's screen, simply because it's too tempting and easy to watch what's going otherwise. But this setup doesn't solve that problem since you're still seeing split screens.

And what happens if you have ugly friends? You could be happily blasting away in a FPS, glance up and see your friend's hideous mug overtop the screens. You are stunned momentarily as you gasp in shock and awe. And in that moment of distraction, your friend caps you and wins the match. How is that fair?

However, I'm all in favour of hiding modern technology inside furniture. I don't think this is the best implementation, but I'm a big fan of the underlying philosophy.

[DeLuSioNal29]

I guess the concept may come in handy for a LAN party that you and a buddy are attending so that you can play each other on different teams along with the rest of the LAN people.  But it's NOT foldable or portable, so that kind of defeats the purpose.  But with some more thought, it could've been good paired with a Frag box (see pic below)  D'oh!

D

[severdhed]

i guess it could be cool if you hooked up two 360s in system link mode, but still it seems like a waste.

[urbecrisch]

You are one ugly Mother F***er!

[Havok]

Just get a red tent - better and cheaper!

[Ginsu Victim]

Just get a red tent - better and cheaper!

Still trying to find one in my area.....

[Benevolance]

Okay, one of you will have to explain what you mean by a red tent, because Google tells me it's either a pro-feminist sex store in Toronto, or a retelling of the Rape of Dinah from the bible, written in 1997. Neither interpretation reflects particularly well...

[EightBySix]

Anyone with kids would not even consider a dual coffee tv table an even remote possibility.

I have kids... <gulp> My project

[drventure]

@8by6

Don't sweat it. You're project looks fantastic. Just hold the Sword of Damocles over their little heads

Seriously though. The wood cover and all. Much more kid friendly (and resistant).

[Ginsu Victim]

Okay, one of you will have to explain what you mean by a red tent

Two-sided Nintendo VS sit-down cabinet. Supports up to four players

[Jack Burton]

Anyone with kids would not even consider a dual coffee tv table an even remote possibility.

I have kids... <gulp> My project

Hope they're not boys....

[SavannahLion]

Anyone with kids would not even consider a dual coffee tv table an even remote possibility.

I have kids... <gulp> My project

Your table is a single screen. Different breed.

[EightBySix]

Hope they're not boys....

1 boy, 2 girls... That video made me 

Maybe I should brush up on metal work skills instead of woodwork.