The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: mtalkington on December 30, 2002, 09:08:24 pm

Title: Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: mtalkington on December 30, 2002, 09:08:24 pm
It's finally done! Check it Rio's Atomic Arcade at www.canyoudigit.com/index.htm

Technically the cabinet isn't 100% yet. I still have to add my MAME computer into the cabinet, but I'm not going to do that until this weekend, when I get some additional RAM.......but in the meantime, the cabinet has a Playstation 2 and an XBox inside. It's also got a Toshiba 20" (really tough to find with component inputs!) and an Altec Lansing surround sound system. (The rear speakers are wired discretely under a carpet and placed opposite the cabinet...in other words, they're behind the person playing at the cabinet.)

Notice that the sides have neon blue fans and there's a neon blue "portal" on the front/bottom of the cabinet. The pictures (as usual) don't really do these lights any justice.
By the way, the airholes and portal are nonfunctional...just decorative.

The control panel is Happ Supers wired up to a 2 PS2 controllers. Because I suck with soldering, the PS2 controllers were hacked by a fellow on this site, gnateye. (And I had some valuable advice from Spidermonkey, SNAAAKE and David K. Thanks for the help, guys.) I have a ps2 to PC USB converter I'll use to run the MAME games. And for the XBOX, I'm just using MadKatz wireless controllers.

I know that the control panel art kind of sucks, but I ran out of cash...and Kinko's screwed up and printed 2 Marquees. So I just used the second (and free) marquee as a graphic for the control panel. When I strike it rich, I'll design and print something better. In the meantime, this does the trick.




Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: Birdtales on December 30, 2002, 10:06:03 pm
Looks awsome. I really like bezels with instuction cards on them. Did you print those yourself or did you have them printed. I'd be interested in the source files if you don't mind sharing. Just looking for ideas don't want to steal.

I actually like the graphic on the control panel. It's clean and doesn't make it look cluttered.

 Anyway, nice job.
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: mtalkington on December 30, 2002, 10:27:36 pm
Thanks, Birdtales! My girl did the graphics. She made them in photoshop and then I had them printed dirt cheap at www.makestickers.com

It's actually a bumper sticker-size and I just turned it sideways. I just uploaded a .jpg file to makestickers, and they printed them for like 8 bucks or something, and I stuck them to the panel. They are really simple with primary colors because the makesticker printer isn't high-rez enough to get all fancy. In fact, my girl had to recreate the XBox and PS2 logos without so much shading/gradation so it'd reproduce OK.

If you want, I can post the sticker .jpgs on my site for downloading.

Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: SNAAAKE on December 30, 2002, 10:28:22 pm
very nice dude....like the bezel instructions.
and very nice marque.quick question,what paper did you use for the marque?regular?

I know exactly how you feel about this kinko's....in case you never heard my story..

they printed my marque 24"x54" and CP overlay 114"x54"..and my total was $415(they redid the whole thing though..lol.....

I JUST LOVE KINKO'S :P :-*. >:(
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: mtalkington on December 30, 2002, 10:35:02 pm
Thanks SNAAKE...The marquee was printed on high-gloss paper at Kinkos. Cost like 47 bucks. And it took four trips before they got it right. But no sweat, they were gracious about it, so it's all good.


Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: Birdtales on December 30, 2002, 10:52:44 pm

It's actually a bumper sticker-size and I just turned it sideways. I just uploaded a .jpg file to makestickers, and they printed them for like 8 bucks or something, and I stuck them to the panel.

 Great idea they're the perfect size for your cabinet.

Quote
If you want, I can post the sticker .jpgs on my site for downloading.

 Sure if you get a chance I'd like to see them. I'm in the process of designing instruction panels for my bezel now and any good ideas might spark a creative bone in me. I'll be looking for them.

P.S. Off topic but I have the same Ryobi table saw. Makes cabinet building a bit easier. At least for the smaller pieces.
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: Brax on December 31, 2002, 11:46:39 am
Dear god! You killed a defender cabinet!

People have applied arcade conservatism to cabinets that were in alot worse shape than yours. It's sad really. Not to mention selfish.

http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Cabinet/Defender/defender.htm
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: mtalkington on January 01, 2003, 01:15:25 pm
Selfish? Oh, please. Guess, what, Brax: It's a piece of wood, not the ark of the covenant. Wood and paint, and it was rotting in a garage, and now it's being used regularly and providing lots of fun. Not bad for a piece of wood.

Now if I'd lit it on fire to keep myself warm, that might've been selfish.(Unless I was freezing to death and otherwise woodless.)


Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: Dave_K. on January 01, 2003, 02:52:59 pm
Dear god! You killed a defender cabinet!

People have applied arcade conservatism to cabinets that were in alot worse shape than yours. It's sad really. Not to mention selfish.

http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Cabinet/Defender/defender.htm
You must be joking right?  The pics of the original cab show it completely gutted, with non original control panel.   About the only original thing on the cab is the glass artwork.  I've seen far worse conversions of cabinets that were 90% complete classics converted to Mame...these are the real tradjeties.

Really nice job mtalkington.
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: mtalkington on January 01, 2003, 02:55:57 pm
Thanks, Dave...You're right, the control panel wasn't original, and the insides were gutted. The only thing left (other than the cabinet itself) was the marquee, as you said, which I sold to someone who was restoring a Defender cabinet. :)
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: motorfish on January 01, 2003, 03:15:54 pm
"Selfish? Oh, please. Guess, what, Brax: It's a piece of wood, not the ark of the covenant.

Close your eyes Marion! Don't look at it!
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: motorfish on January 01, 2003, 03:18:10 pm
By the way mtalkington, I really like how the instruction cards on the left and right of the monitor bezel came out on your cabinet.
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: Brax on January 02, 2003, 05:56:59 pm
Selfish? Oh, please. Guess, what, Brax: It's a piece of wood, not the ark of the covenant. Wood and paint, and it was rotting in a garage, and now it's being used regularly and providing lots of fun. Not bad for a piece of wood.

Luckily many other people in the world don't feel the same way. And because of them you have classic cabinets to continue to enjoy. But then again you're only one person and it's only one cabinet. No big deal right?
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: eightbit on January 03, 2003, 12:25:30 am
Hey Brax aren't you asking Animeka about a coin door? Aren't you worried that your taking parts away from someone that may actually be restoring a game that the coin door came out of?

I believe restorable games should be restored but you also need to draw a line and converting a cab is a far better end than burning it. Think of it not as the cab be destroyed but of it being rescued.
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: mtalkington on January 03, 2003, 08:25:54 am
Brax, despite my flip comment earlier, I really did give some consideration to the fact that a Defender cabinet is a classic and whether or not it was OK to convert it. Not that I personally think it's a big deal either way -- certainly not one that warrants calling people selfish :) -- but I do respect that others feel that way.

Ultimately, I decided that a conversion was fine, given that all that was left was the glass front, which I sold to someone else, and the frame/cabinet itself, which is intact and, I think, in much better shape. The holes could be patched someday if someone were inclined to convert it into a Defender cabinet.

Regardless, if there's some kind of "vibe" or something special about the physical cabinet itself (or any classic cabinet) that warrants saving, it's not as if that's been snuffed out or something. Like the previous post said, if anything, it's been rescued. And as for my cabinet, it's being enjoyed regularly by me and my friends. So it's all good :)
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: mtalkington on January 04, 2003, 07:11:58 pm
I had to change the address for my site, for some technical reasons. Here's the new link:

http://www.canyoudigit.com/ArcadeIndex.htm
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: mtalkington on January 04, 2003, 07:16:09 pm
I'm such an idiot. The link is:

http://www.canyoudigit.com

Then you have to click on the link that says "Click Here For Arcade Cabinet."

Obviously I'm not too sharp with HTML. Sorry for any confusion!

Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: romid on February 11, 2003, 06:22:53 pm
Were you planning on posting the jpgs of the instructions?  I would be interested to see them too
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: CurmudgeonlyBastrd on February 24, 2003, 07:21:21 pm
    You think thats bad? When I was around 15 I had to watch a defender and missle command cab rot in my driveway because I had nowhere to put it. Just the other day I took a sledge to the rain-destroyed asteroids cab and salvaged what I could either for my mame cab or for someone restoring and asteroids. I ganked the marqee and the plexi, the coin door, a couple of odds and ends. Its not perfect mint though. The marquee has a couple small scratches (could be easily repainted) and the plexi is of course covered in tiny scratches from years of use. Its still good though and I'll probably use it in my new cab. The metal hardware is all rusted on this puppy heh heh, could be repainted, the control panel that is. Its ok otherwise.

Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: Dr. J on February 24, 2003, 10:29:06 pm
That looks really cool.  I like the little window on the bottom.  I did something similar.  Click my www and check it out if you like.  What is that emblem on the side?  It looks neat, but I can't see it very well.  It's a nice touch though.  Creative.  --Jay

Nevermind, I just saw that they're those fans you mentioned.  Any chance of posting a closer pic?  
Title: Re:Playstation/Xbox/Mame cabinet
Post by: Hellfromabove on March 18, 2003, 11:45:38 am
Looks great man! I really like the design for it too. Not too much and not too little. Thanx.

-See Ya!!!