Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: TalkingBull on August 27, 2010, 06:24:38 pm

Title: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: TalkingBull on August 27, 2010, 06:24:38 pm
So I just got back from a year in Iraq and I spent a lot of time down there reading comics on my laptop.  I found that to be kind of a pain in the ass so when I got home and wanted to start a new project, I decided to create some sort of device which would allow me to read comics on a larger screen and more comfortably. Sure I could have bought an iPad and had the comfort and convenience of a handheld device... but what fun is that?  Since I love arcade machines, I designed a comic reader that essentially is an arcade machine (Bartop-style) but doesn't play any arcade games.  I know it doesn't exactly belong here but I enjoy posting my projects here and this one is definitely inspired by my love for games.

Like any of my projects, I mainly just measure my PC components and decide on the smallest possible size that will still allow for the overall theme.  Here is the first pic of the side
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152372;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152371;image)
The dimensions are (At the greatest) 18" deep x 16" wide x 31.25" tall

Both sides cut and sanded to be completely identical (So far as anyone else knows ;)
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152374;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152373;image)

Sides are now attached to the bottom
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152376;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152375;image)

The light and marquee shelf has been installed.  In the back, there is a lip that I put in there to block the rear door.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152378;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152377;image)

The rear door is installed.  I drilled two 3" exhaust fan holes into the top and bottom, a button hole in the top left for the power button (Not using it after all) and a power cord hole in the lower-right.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152380;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152379;image)

Here's a shot of the rear door with the retaining panels on the back.  I might have screwed up the cut of the rear door just a bit and this mitigated the possibility of any light leaks.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152388;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152387;image)

Retaining boards to support the control panel
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152382;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152381;image)

I painted the inside with a flat-black spray paint.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152384;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152383;image)

Here's the control panel put in place to make sure it all fits just right.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152386;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152385;image)

I installed the monitor which was kind of a pain in the ass.  It's a Dell 21" horizontal monitor which I have flipped 90 degrees.  It's display height is 17" and width 11" so it is great at reading comics.  I also printed out a sample of the marquee on 2 pieces of paper and put it in there.  More detailed images will follow.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152390;image)   (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152389;image)

CP is in place and the mouse is there.  I thought a lot about how to control this and given that I am using ComicRack, I decided to just leave a mouse on the CP.  It doesn't look ideal and I could have used a trackball but I wanted to minimize the expense.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152392;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152391;image)

Here is a shot of the back of the monitor in the machine
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152394;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152393;image)

Here's the computer.  I had to secure it with an old measuring tape (Nylon) which worked out really well.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152396;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152395;image)

This is the working ControlPanel.  I printed it out on 4 sheets and taped it there to see how it worked.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152406;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152405;image)

Here is the sideart for the right side of the machine and below that, the art file that I used.  I made it as a regular image but I thought it didn't really work so I went with a photomosaic instead.  I am still working on it though and will probably change it around a bit.  This one is of Superman and the Daily Planet building.  I wanted to go with what I believe to be the two most iconic comic book characters of the two largest universes (D.C. & Marvel) so I went with Superman and Spider-Man.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152410;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152409;image)(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152414;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152413;image)

Here is the left sideart featuring Spider-Man.  These are not complete and are made up of like 9 sheets of paper each so I could test it out.  I like the look but plan on making some changes.  I went with the Statue of Liberty because I wanted to go with an iconic feature of NYC.  My initial thought was of the Empire State Building but I decided to change it to the statue so I didn't have buildings on each side of the machine.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152408;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152407;image)(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152416;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152415;image)

Here's the art files for the Control Panel and the Marquee.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152418;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152417;image)

(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152420;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152419;image)

Here are the buttons I ordered for the CP.  It is fairly simple and will just have a next page, last page, escape, and enter button.  I am controlling it with a GroovyGameGear KeyWiz40-ST (http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=303&zenid=c09c4f7570ffff38576e715f8584b2fd).  I have used this keyboard encoder in 2 of my last machines and I love GGG's stuff.  It's a bit of overkill for 4 buttons but I don't care :D
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152412;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152411;image)

That's pretty much it for now.  I have read a good 120 books on it to test it and it works really well.  For the art, I downloaded 45,536 different comic book covers from different sources all over the internet (Over 10GB) and used those to create the photomosaics for the sideart.  One thing that I think is really cool that I did with those pictures was to create a screensaver which randomly displays those images fullscreen.  This gives a great effect of displaying nearly a century of comic books of all different types randomly without any repeats.  It's a pretty cool effect.  For the sideart, I think I will go back and redo those with books only from the respective titles (Spider-Man for his side and Superman titles for his).  All I really need to do now is finalize the CP by drilling the button holes and wiring it.  I ordered the Marquee and CP from GameOnGrafix (http://www.gameongrafix.com/) and they should arrive soon.  I am holding off on the sideart until I can afford them.  I actually did this project on the super cheap.  I had everything already except a few items.  I paid $55 for the wood, glue, screws, marquee light, and other building materials... already had the laptop, monitor, cables, and components. I paid about $75 on eBay and other sites for the Marquee retainers, buttons, and the keyboard encoder.

All I need to do is primer and paint it all black and then put on the T-Molding (I went with black since I have about 60 feet on hand) and it will be ready and waiting for the sideart.  I already made the bezel by painting the necessary area with the spray pain I used for the rest of the project but I accidentally broke it and have to redo it.  That really upset me because I now have to go out and buy another sheet, cut it to size, and repaint it.  Not a huge deal but a good deal of work nonetheless.

For those of you unfamiliar with ComicRack (http://comicrack.cyolito.com/), it is an excellent program for not only reading but also organizing your digital comic book collection.  It worked perfectly for this machine and I was very happy to pay the $25 donation to show my support (Though it is not necessary to use the software).  One of the best benefits of this program as it pertains to this machine is that you can load a comic; say Amazing Spider-Man #1 and so long as you have all subsequent issues in the same folder, it will seamlessly transition from book to book as you finish them without requiring you to open the next book manually.  this is where the "Next Page" button really pays for itself.

Let me know what you all think.  I know it isn't 'exactly' an arcade machine but I am hoping to get some good feedback on it.  Lemme know what you think!
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: BadMouth on August 27, 2010, 06:51:43 pm
Welcome back stateside!

Pretty cool.  I was a little lost as to why you wouldn't put games on it when already has almost all the hardware, but then you mentioned other projects and I looked at your signature and saw you already have other machines.

Cool and original project.

Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: abispac on August 27, 2010, 08:05:27 pm
it sure belongs here, its a project...
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: Gorotsuki on August 27, 2010, 10:58:39 pm
It's awesome!
Seriously, if your going this far with the arcade theme
in the future you may really want to ditch the mouse and go trackball + buttons.

Maybe rip some comic book hero sound effects from movies/cartoons
and add them to your windows actions to really take it over the top.
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: TalkingBull on August 27, 2010, 11:00:37 pm
I hadn't even thought of that!  That's a really good idea... 
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: DaOld Man on August 29, 2010, 08:22:04 pm
Welcome back soldier! Thank you for your service.
Pretty good project there.
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: Shortbus on August 30, 2010, 08:34:40 am
Welcome Home Dude! Thanks for your service! Cool Project.... :cheers:
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: TalkingBull on August 30, 2010, 10:39:06 pm
Got some artwork today (CP and Marquee) so I went ahead and set them and the buttons up. 

Here is the CP installed with and without the mouse
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152572;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152571;image)(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152578;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152577;image)

Here's the wiring.  There is a problem though... I can't get the laptop to connect to the HID.  It installs correctly but it won't connect... still working on it...
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152580;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152579;image)

Here's the Marquee
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152576;image) (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=152575;image)

Still need to paint it and put on the T-Molding.  Will get to that this week sometime.
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: MikeDeuce on August 31, 2010, 12:32:44 am
Cool stuff!

So... uh... how do you use this thing on the toilet?  ;D
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: TalkingBull on August 31, 2010, 02:11:58 am
VERY carefully ;)
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: mgb on August 31, 2010, 08:41:11 am
Thats a pretty cool (and different) idea.
very nice.
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: Gorotsuki on August 31, 2010, 01:10:03 pm
I really like the
Next page, Last page buttons, good choice.
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: TalkingBull on August 31, 2010, 01:38:36 pm
Got the buttons working.  I accidentally bought a gamepad encoder instead of a keyboard encoder.  Once I realized this, it took less than a minute to set it all up.  I love it too because it scrolls the pages much faster with a button press rather than a mouse scroll.  My daughter is really enjoying reading Inu Yasha right now!
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: Rick Dangerous on August 31, 2010, 02:51:04 pm
Nice idea and nice work too :)
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: TalkingBull on August 31, 2010, 09:04:14 pm
Finally went out and got the black paint so I threw two coats on.  Since I am putting the sideart on (Once I order it), I didn't put too much.  With the paint on, I added the T-Molding.  All I need to do now is redo the plexiglass and bezel which I will get to sooner or later... otherwise it's completely finished!
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: MriswitH on August 31, 2010, 09:14:42 pm
Beyond awesome!

I'm going to have to send this to a couple of my buddies, they're reaaaally big into comics!
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: TalkingBull on August 31, 2010, 09:19:16 pm
Cool!  If they have any questions, shoot me a PM.  I will take a video of it working once it is 100%.  Should be this week sometime.
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: Malenko on September 01, 2010, 12:50:41 pm
you're a 4way and a button away from having a sweet comic reading vertical mame cab
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: TalkingBull on September 01, 2010, 07:50:46 pm
I don't need another MAME cab... that's kind of the problem with these things.  You only have so much space so once you build a full-size upright with 673,745,336,214 games on it, there isn't much of a reason to build any more.  I prefer to make these 'specialty' machines... gives me something to do
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: l3v3r2ooo on January 18, 2011, 08:46:01 am
this is going to be my next build ever since my comics got stolen including ironman #1 i will never buy another one great idea
Title: Re: Not exactly an arcade machine but arcade inspired...
Post by: Encryptor on January 18, 2011, 05:55:55 pm
Just curious. Can you use ComicRack to read Ebooks?

Encryptor