The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: oldgamesrbetter on January 24, 2010, 07:14:10 pm
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ARCADE VORTEX (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmFDx75M5wE#)
MOST RECENT PIC
(http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs418.snc3/25209_413410777844_516737844_5263247_1228758_n.jpg)
Everything below this pic starts from the beginning of my journey
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This is my very first try at anything like this. I've never messed around with the interior of an arcade cabinet or anything of that caliber before. Mostly computers and i'm really average at that.
I started out just wanting a bartop that played MK II & 3 pcbs.. yeah that was a crazy idea.
After a few learning experiences i'm on my way to making a rigged up mame bartop.
Thats my dad. He rocks and likes to help.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/arcade/0802091209.jpg)
Figuring out the monitor.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/arcade/0802091311.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/arcade/0802091400.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/arcade/0802091405.jpg)
This is when I wanted to put 2 pcbs in it.. dumb.. after this pic you'll notice the back is cut down.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/arcade/0802091430.jpg)
Tons of L brackets on the outside.. but after your advice they will be going on the inside.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/arcade/0120001531.jpg)
Yeah I totally went the cheap computer route.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/arcade/0120001532.jpg)
Trimmed down the marquee space. I thought it overpowered the screen so I made it as small as possible.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/arcade/0120001529.jpg)
Marquee I made in photoshop. I have to make it longer though. Made this before I even started planning sizes.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/arcade/marqueeeee.jpg)
..aaaand the control panel I also made in photoshop.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/arcade/cp.jpg)
Intro video.. stole the background warp but the rest is me.
ARCADE VORTEX - mame intro video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnlaAVEGsqM#)
Random notes:
*The control panel is no longer set up like the mortal kombat buttons. Now more like street fighter because i switched over to mame.
*Made holes on the sides for speakers.. and made two arcade button holes on each side for coin and start buttons.
*Never use plywood. Thats what i'm using for this cabinet. It's just a pain.
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just get your dad to move the lbrackets to the inside,the cab will look a lot better for it.
:)
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:applaud: Looking pretty good for your first one! I agree with saleem, hide the L brackets if possible. It will look better.
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lol durrr why didn't I think of moving the L brackets inside? Guess I was just too excited. I'll make sure I do that.
Thanks guys!
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some ventilation holes perhaps,grooves so the computer aint getting all stuffy?
just use a big drill bit and drill a few holes nicely on the rear door?
i mean,you got a pc in there,i can safely assume you will be using an lcd?perhaps a marquee light?so its better that the cab and its components can breathe a little bit.a 28mm drill bit cuts nice holes that are neither too big or too small.if you mark out near top of the rear door you could get a few holes in there and you got some ventillation.
:)
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I was actually thinking of putting a metal vent on the back to air it out... or do you think thats too much and the holes would do better? The holes could be cheaper too.
Also what could I use as edging since this is plywood? I don't think T-mold would work.
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Actually you can use T-mold on plywood. I have on a couple occasions. What thickness is it? The little cab in my sig used 1/2" white. Worked fine for me.
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tmolding is best.just get the correct slot cutter for a router if you got one,or borrow a router and even the bit if you can,use 1/16 size.measure the thickness of the plywood you got,then buy the correct thickness and length.assuming your in the states,with weather like what was in that pic you posted i think your in the sunny south (is it/) as i am in the cold,wind and rain swept united kingdom.well its was freezing and icy and snowing a week ago.you got tmolding in usa so order it from there,even i had mine within a week from there.
:)
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tmolding is best.just get the correct slot cutter for a router if you got one,or borrow a router and even the bit if you can,use 1/16 size.measure the thickness of the plywood you got,then buy the correct thickness and length.assuming your in the states,with weather like what was in that pic you posted i think your in the sunny south (is it/) as i am in the cold,wind and rain swept united kingdom.well its was freezing and icy and snowing a week ago.you got tmolding in usa so order it from there,even i had mine within a week from there.
:)
ummmm. You do know there is t-molding here in the uk too. Got mine from http://ukt-molding.co.uk/ (http://ukt-molding.co.uk/)
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sorry for going bit offtopic,initialy on that site you cant see a price,some how i doubt it will be cheaper than tmolding.com and thats with the delivery ontop from states.i got 20ft worth for less than £15 or something with delivery.
:)
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looking good :applaud: If your going to spend the time to move all the L brackets inside you should just use nailing strips instead it will be super strong. Cool graphics and video
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Haha actually live in the united states. Pittsburgh, PA to be more specific. It was during the summer we started the cabinet thats why the first few pics look like nice weather. Been working on this off and on but trying to mostly finish by next month. Yeah I definitely gotta look more into t-molding. Glad to hear I can do it with plywood!
Im using 3/8" plywood. I get it free from work and thats the ONLY reason i'm using it.
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I need help with the PC power button. I have a smart strip so all I need is to start the PC to get everything else started. But in the bios it doesn't have anything to start up the computer with a keystroke on this dell... damnit..
Are there any external buttons I can buy or tricks anyone knows that I can use?
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if it wont just turn on when its fed power,you will need to rig the pcs power button to a switch of some type.you can even use an arcade button,you can get the ones with the power icon on,you can basicly use any button and wire the pcs power on wires to it,no particular way either,you just connect the wires any way round you want.
so up to you what button/switch you want to use.just so you get idea:
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/pushbuttons.htm (http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/pushbuttons.htm)
your imagination is realy gonna be the limit of what you want (oh and how many dollars you want to spend) theres vendors in the for sale thread who might have smaller buttons seeing as you got bartop or you could go ebay and actualy buy some of the smaller atari buttons like you get on games like battlezone.
:)
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Don't forget it has to be a momentary switch and not a permanently on one if you know what i mean.
I used this one and have the LED always on even when cabinet is off so people automatically know its the power button. Just connect the middle wire and one either side of it with the two wires going to your PC's power switch and away you go.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-Momentary-Blue-Light-SPDT-ON-ON-Switch-12V-B11E_W0QQitemZ120522729447QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c0fb6e7e7 (http://cgi.ebay.com/1-Momentary-Blue-Light-SPDT-ON-ON-Switch-12V-B11E_W0QQitemZ120522729447QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c0fb6e7e7)
By the way, If this is you I think your cheating as you have an unfair advantage ? You look very like this guy :lol :lol
(http://www.hotmoviesale.com/dvds/23452/1/Holmes-on-Homes-Season-1.jpg)
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lol Nacimroc you are crazy but I like it!
Drilled a skull design on the back for the air vent. Bottom holes are a lil crooked but F it. Works for me.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/arcade/IMG_6647.jpg)
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It's all coming together and I keep getting more excited with each step!! Hard to find time with a full time job thats labor, a fiancee, and a baby.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/0306001956.jpg)
Spray painted it, added carry handles on the top, speaker covers on the sides, control panel is
velcroed down (ghetto i know.. but works), marquee light installed, checked button
placement, 4 rubber feet on the bottom, plexiglass screen screwed in.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/0306001957.jpg)
Ahhhh the light up skull vent. You make my heart melt with light bright goodness.
More pics to come soon. Anyone know if Kinkos prints on decal/sticker material? Theres one right down the street and that would be perfect for the control panel and cabinet artwork.
EDIT: Sweetness nevermind. Found out they do riiiight HERE http://fedex.com/us/office/marketing/signsbanners/ (http://fedex.com/us/office/marketing/signsbanners/)
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I used fed-ex for my CP artwork. DO NOT LAMINATE.......I printed on a poly banner type material and it came out nice. I didn't do adhesive, but I would not recommend adhesive for your CP if you plan on covering the the entire CP. Not sure if this in in your build plans but some plexi over the top would anchor it down and your buttons would secure it.
Also the poly scratches really easy, so if you not gonna protect it, it gonna look like manure in a few months......
If you plan on doing a marquee, do the backlit film, its very nice and you can have them laminate that.....A bit pricey but looks good
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=90051.0;attach=141783;image)
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The air vent is a cool idea, and as long as you use industrial type Velcro to hold the cp down it's not going anywhere if this is going to be use solely in home with fam and friends. :cheers:
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(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/0308001629.jpg)
My artwork I designed in photoshop. Good job printing FedEx/Kinkos!
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/0308001727.jpg)
Placing it jusssst right..
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j91/steve1331/0308001956.jpg)
add the joysticks and buttons.. looking sweet to me!
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do you have plexi over your artwork?
Kick ass artwok though............
Also have you figured out your power up issue. If not, I can show you how to do it by a remote keyring......
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I do not have plexi over the control panel at the moment. Do you think it'll really turn to poop if i dont put it over it? I figured out a way to rig the power button.. but im intrigued on your remote keyring. Please do explain.
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It depends on the quality of the material that you printed on. My dedicated mk1 cabinet didn't have any plexi over the cpo when I bought it, and it wasn't terrible. You could probably get away with it but it would be better to have it so you never need to waste Money on printing again.
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Well it depends on how pristine you want that overlay to look over time.
Yes you can get away with it depending on the material it was printed on. Just realize all the sweat and oils the hands produce, not to mention fading. The cab hobbyist doesnt want to go and spend hundreds of dollars on the durable overlays we see on pro built machines. We tend to get creative and choose look over durability, and printing can get expensive. So you have to protect your investment with the plexi. Your CP is small so you can get a nice size sheet for about $30.00 and get about 3 maybe 4 plexi overlays out of it. Just cut 4 out the same size and when one gets messed up you just replace with your surplus. No going back to Kinkos every 6 months, or staring at it and saying wow all that hard work now it's looking aged.
Here is the contraption to do the remote keyring. Just a few internal computer connections and you got yourself a remote controlled cab. It turns it on and safely off. It can also monitor your the heat on your CPU as well. I've had mine about 5 months now and it's worked flawlessly. Has a range of about 40 to 50 feet. Cool feature when your showing off your work.
http://www.xoxide.com/logisys-multifunction-panel-silver.html (http://www.xoxide.com/logisys-multifunction-panel-silver.html)
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Wiring & main screen
(http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs433.snc3/24939_410595572844_516737844_5187016_3297852_n.jpg)
FIGHT!!!
(http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs413.snc3/24939_410595577844_516737844_5187017_5682159_n.jpg)
Now need to get some corner molding or something to hold up my marquee.. a longer light cause the one I have now is shorter and doesnt project the entire marquee.. fill in the side holes with putty cause I had to move the coin and start buttons because they were too close to the control panel buttons.. some random artwork.. get everything setup software wise.. and I'll be basically done! ...but i'm sure i'll always be randomly updating this here and there.
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Lookin good........nice job
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Thanks rablack97!!
(http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs413.snc3/24939_410871847844_516737844_5194915_3542353_n.jpg)
Still have to attach the marquee.. just seein what it will look like.. and the skulls on the sides i'm not keepin. Gonna add more artwork that fills up the black space.
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(http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs413.snc3/24939_411903157844_516737844_5221385_4099406_n.jpg)
My buddy testin out dig dug. Notice the two holes next to his left hand? the buttons were too close to the control panel buttons and it wouldn't sit right at all. Guess thats what I get for jumping into a project without completely planning it. But its worth it and a great experience. The holes are now filled with putty. Never took the L brackets off the outside cause i'm impatient. Oh well. Doesn't bother me and I'll find a way to cover them.
(http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs433.snc3/24939_411903162844_516737844_5221386_5272959_n.jpg)
Getting it handed to him by Kung Lao. Marquee is now attached and my camera makes it look way brighter than it actually is. Looks perfect in person.
(http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs453.ash1/24939_411903167844_516737844_5221387_2749298_n.jpg)
Us rockin it. Tested out the machine for about 8 hours straight. Only stopping twice for 2 Sheetz runs. The skulls on the side are temporary. Soon i'll design some more photoshop stuff for it, the top, front, and monitor. Also those scissors on the table are my sweet power button at the moment til I rig it. The sound is currently running from the computer's internal speaker. That's why you can see right through the speaker covers.
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Mooooooooooooore photoshop work
(http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs413.snc3/24939_413102822844_516737844_5252144_2212352_n.jpg)
Top & Side artwork pic #1...
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs433.snc3/24939_413102827844_516737844_5252145_7301419_n.jpg)
Top & Side artwork pic #2...
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(http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs418.snc3/25209_413410777844_516737844_5263247_1228758_n.jpg)
Now I just need to print some artwork for the front of the control panel.. still deciding if i need artwork for the bezel area.. and a power up button and outside of the cabinet is done!!!
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Wow, love the design and how compact this bartop is! How was it working with plywood on this project (besides being a pain?) Love the carrying handles! :applaud:
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Turned out great man.....love it, nice recovery from all of your small minor mishaps :applaud: :applaud:
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@ kyoke: Thanks buddy! Don't ever use plywood!!!!! haha. I can't tell you how much putty I had to put on this cause of things chiping away more than they should. The carrying handles definitely come in handy on this beast. Can't wait to see how yours turns out man!
@ rablack97: Thank you!!! Well worth the road bumps and craziness these machines put us through. By the way I love your avatar pic. Big Trouble in Little China is one of the best movies EVER.
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Now I just need to print some artwork for the front of the control panel.. still deciding if i need artwork for the bezel area.. and a power up button and outside of the cabinet is done!!!
I think the bezel looks fine and now with all the other MK art there that now the skulls on the marquee look "out of place" and might be better served by the dragon logo.
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@eclipso: Very true very true. I was going to incorporate more skulls but I never did. But only us Mortal Kombat nerds would know thats kinda outta place and doesn't bother me. Theres a skull vent on the back.. yeah!... good save right? yeah.. nah.
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@eclipso: Very true very true. I was going to incorporate more skulls but I never did. But only us Mortal Kombat nerds would know thats kinda outta place and doesn't bother me. Theres a skull vent on the back.. yeah!... good save right? yeah.. nah.
Fair enough, it still looks great either way and here is hoping MK9 turns out to be more of a return to the old school if / when we ever get more then just tweets from Ed.
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Fair enough, it still looks great either way and here is hoping MK9 turns out to be more of a return to the old school if / when we ever get more then just tweets from Ed.
Thanks! I hear ya on that! I'm sick of these crappy 3d games. I mean the only sweet thing about armageddon was all the kombatants.. shaolin monks was ok.. dc vs mk was ehhh.. MK4 started the downfall for me... you just can't beat the old 2d arcade games with actors! No matter what new MK comes out I always go back to the old ones and still play them over and over again. Haha I look at his twitter page all the time too. He has some cool random pics in there. Tryin to figure out what that one pic was of costumes for mk9.. please for the love of jebus go back to the old style.
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I agree, its been and uphill downhill ride before and after 4.........We could have done without the friendships and babalities, brutalities etc. The heart of the game was cool moves, skillful combos that really werent suppose to happen, and finish moves. Now its all about ridiculous combos and multiple skillsets, getting more like soul caliber. They need to go back to the old school characters with the current technology flow. Maybe SFIV type MK, get back to the violence and cool fatalities. I wish they would redo the 1st KI with todays graphic power. Ed needs to create so Jago type characters with a KI combo system with some War Gods fatalities..........
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I believe that's exactly what they are doing with MK9, going to the "2.5D" look like SFIV and Capcom has done a great job reinvigorating the fighter genre. Even if most everyone questions their doing a game with DC, as far as the mechanics go it was the best of the bunch since UMK and not nearly as broken as the others. I am hoping WB is giving them a nice budget again to take their time and make a worthy game again but only time will tell.
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ARCADE VORTEX (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmFDx75M5wE#)
Watch the whole video! Its broken down into 3 sections!
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"You! Invaders! Get you the hot bullets of shotgun to die!"
:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:
classic!
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"You! Invaders! Get you the hot bullets of shotgun to die!"
:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:
classic!
That's great. What game was that from?
Also, great vid! What did you use to edit your vid (both the intro vid and the vid of your cab)?
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Thank you!
lol it's from a game called "Bloody Wolf". Quite possibly the best japanese to english game i've ever played and the engrish gets better and better as the game goes on.
For the intro vid I used a program called Studio 10 on my pc.. but then my pc went poop. So now I use a mac and used IMovie HD for the vid about my cab.
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I'm looking to build my first bartop, and I like the button layout better than Weecade, as I plan on playing NBA Jam, plus Mortal Kombat and others.
Is it a cinch to wire your own buttons and joysticks?
I loved the video, too. That ---smurfing--- ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- was funny as hell, ---smurfette---.
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Wiring the buttons was incredibly easy. Especially with the mini-pac. Just had to figure out what went where and It was kinda fun and exciting.
Thanks broski!! I love this thing and play it all the time. All my buddies are obsessed with it.
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Really turned out nice! I just love bartops. What is the width of the CP? Is it quite comfortable with two players?
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Thank you! I agree! Bartops are great and save space at home. The CP is 20.5"x6.25". I found it's just the right size to have two players.
Side note: just bought a townhouse and you better believe this will be in my man cave.
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That is one cool Bartop
You must be wrapped with how it turned out. :applaud:
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Oh most definitely! I'm ecstatic! Thank you. Especially seeing that this is my first time attempting to make something I like this. Lots of trial and error though. If I ever make another one I will have an actual game plan so I can make it faster. This cab I kinda just jumped into it without thinking lol. It was a fun and frustrating experience! Completely worth it in the end.
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Congratulations on a Cool build, how I missed this i'll never know.
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Thank you kind sir. BTW your Street Fighter Bartop turned out nice! It looks like it was built very well with good materials unlike my plywood bartop haha.
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What computer are you running in that thing (SPECS)? Turned out AMAZING by the way!
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What computer are you running in that thing (SPECS)? Turned out AMAZING by the way!
Thanks dudener!
System: winXP
Computer:
Intel(R)
Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.00GHz
1.99GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM
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Love the vid, shows the good times the hobby brings. Also reminds me how badly I need to get back into my own project. Great job though dude.
:cheers:
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Love the vid, shows the good times the hobby brings. Also reminds me how badly I need to get back into my own project. Great job though dude.
:cheers:
Hope You got back into your project!! Its completely worth it! We still use Arcade Vortex all of the time :)