Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: Termin8tor on April 05, 2013, 01:50:48 pm
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ALL PICTURES DELETED. UNTIL I FIND BACKUP BUILD PICS. HERE'S THE ONLY TWO I CAN FIND
Here is my new build. I've been working on this for the last few months and had a thread running on another forum but sadly the forum has been down for a few days now and shows no sign of returning. :hissy:
I'm going with an Arkanoid theme on this one but will also include a joystick and buttons for all the vertical games I enjoy. I bought an original Arkanoid spinner to get that original feel but haven't a clue on how to get it running, I could probably figure it out but think I will just go with a USB one.
Anyway here is my build so far hope you like the pics.
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Get an Opti-Pac for your original spinner.
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Get an Opti-Pac for your original spinner.
Thanks Nephasth, I may still go down this route. I was put off using the opti-pac as I couldn't find any UK suppliers at the time of looking but after re-googling (is that a real word) I've found one.
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Couldn't find any UK suppliers? Ultimarc (who makes the Opti-Pac) is based in the UK. :)
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Hey Paul,
I know that one ;D
Start here where you left of ...
Nice to see you again.... Just started my new topic also...
Greetings
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Here's mine.....
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=101863.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=101863.0) :cheers:
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Couldn't find any UK suppliers? Ultimarc (who makes the Opti-Pac) is based in the UK. :)
Well that about sums me up ???
Hi Superfrog good to know I can still follow your progress. Keep up the good work. :cheers:
Yeah MameMaster I love that bartop what a find. Your bartop was my main inspiration. :applaud:
Thanks Louis as always. :)
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Keep up the good work! termin8tor :applaud:
What happend with Bartopmania :hissy:
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I really like this design, very nice. Can't wait to see this one take shape.
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Keep up the good work! termin8tor :applaud:
What happend with Bartopmania :hissy:
Thanks Almighty. All I know is Bartopmania is no more.
I really like this design, very nice. Can't wait to see this one take shape.
Thanks Dekieon
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looks REALLY good. Arkanoid is one of my grails (and the one I have yet to get) I really like the blue its a nice touch.
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looks REALLY good. Arkanoid is one of my grails (and the one I have yet to get) I really like the blue its a nice touch.
Thanks Malenko. Arkanoid is also one of my favs and the main reason for me building a vertical cab. Although I love playing Arkanoid it's just not the same with a joystick. BTW love your MAME Position, makes me wish I had the space for another full size cabinet.
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looks REALLY good. Arkanoid is one of my grails (and the one I have yet to get) I really like the blue its a nice touch.
I've got both an Arkanoid and Tournament Arkanoid board in my Ark cab. Currently I'm on the lookout for a 25" Dynamo cut corner cab, when I find one the Arkanoid will have to go. If you haven't found one by then, I'll pass the boards, spinner, and marquee onto you if you want.
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I'm just trying to figure out the best button layout. Being right handed I think the best option is to use my right hand for the spinner keeping the action buttons to the left. I know the original Arkanoid caters for both left and right hand users. Should I add another fire button to the right of the spinner?
(http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4894/ark10.jpg)
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I'm just trying to figure out the best button layout. Being right handed I think the best option is to use my right hand for the spinner keeping the action buttons to the left. I know the original Arkanoid caters for both left and right hand users. Should I add another fire button to the right of the spinner?
(http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4894/ark10.jpg)
How wide is the bartop? Any particular reason for going diamond shape and using 4 buttons?
even without those answers, cloning a button to the right cant be a bad thing
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The bartop is 510mm wide from end to end, the coin mech takes up about 110mm. I was debating on 3 or 4 buttons, I chose 4 buttons mainly for ease of use on the frontend.
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I'm just trying to figure out the best button layout. Being right handed I think the best option is to use my right hand for the spinner keeping the action buttons to the left. I know the original Arkanoid caters for both left and right hand users. Should I add another fire button to the right of the spinner?
(http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4894/ark10.jpg)
Is that a joystick? I'm pretty sure Arkanoid doesn't use a joystick.
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I'm also adding a host of vertical games.
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Keep up the good work! termin8tor :applaud:
What happend with Bartopmania :hissy:
Thanks Almighty. All I know is Bartopmania is no more.
I feel really bad.... I was complaining on the site the night before about having to log in every time I go to the page... Last post I got TheDude said he was going to check what the trouble may be... Next thing I know the site is gone... I hope he didn't crash it trying to fix the logging in problem! :-[
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I'm sure that had nothing to do with it. From what I know, it seems he just decided he'd had enough. :dunno
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I'm also adding a host of vertical games.
You sure you need 4 buttons?
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No I'm not sure. I'm a fan of less is more, but I would hate to have to go back after discovering a vertical game that needs 4 buttons.
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Hai Unstupid,
Thats the same thing I was thinking about with Bartopmania.
I was trying to give you the tip of cleaning the cash .. and after later the site was gone :hissy:
I never had that login problem because I auto- login always..
I loved Your NeoGeo bartop :applaud:
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Paul,
Do you have to think about a new name for the bartop ;)
Now Bartopmania is no more, still gonna use the name?
Is the artwork coming along ?
Greetings
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Hi Superfrog it's going to be a Arkanoid bartop.
Marquee 1st revision:
(http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/1263/ark11.jpg)
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Here's the control panel. Simple but I like simple.
(http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/6151/arkcp11.jpg)
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Im diggin the marquee
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Thanks Malenko.
Here's the instruction card for either the CP or coin mech area.
Blue
(http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/9659/arkins2.jpg)
or Black
(http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3204/arkins1.jpg)
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Great one's :applaud:
Cp is very slick .. I like that also..
Because you want 4 buttons to use, why not the Neo-Geo setup? You have room for it ;D
Maybe you can setup the 4th button close to the spinner as the fire button if you like ..
When do you plan to got the artwork on it, so we can enjoy the results >:D
Greetings
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Because you want 4 buttons to use, why not the Neo-Geo setup? You have room for it ;D
Neo Geo is horizontal...
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I was thinking of this.. 8)
Color buttons fits the Arkanoid colors
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Kudos to you on the simple yet colorful marquee and control panel.
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Neo Geo. Been there done that.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=109421.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=109421.0)
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Neo Geo. Been there done that.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=109421.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=109421.0)
you should sell me that to finance the arkanoid cab :)
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Nice NeoGeo cab ;)
It was just for the button layout >:D
Never seen the NeoGeo Bartop on Bartopmania ?
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The Neo Geo bartop is no more. I suffered from the fact that I tried to do to much with it. Instead of keeping it simple I went a bit mad, it even had a DVD writer. :dunno I used it for donor parts and still have some in a box somewhere. But it's all experience.
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I know all about it ::)
Your head is full of ideas and you wanted to plug everything in it...
In your mind it's not a bartop but a fullsize cab ;D
And in the end it have to be beautiful to ... so where did it go wrong hihhihi.. that's what always going on in my head.
Also with the emulators, why it have to be 100 different emulators and roms???
So, back to basic is the best way I think...
So your right on track ;)
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Looking great, keep it up!
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Good to see I can follow your progress Paul. It's a shame about Bartopmania, but at least all the gang seems to be on here :applaud: hi Superfrog, Almighty and Unstupid.
I'll have to sart a thread on my bartop progress ;)
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Eeej Tony,
Great to see you again, brings back "old"memories ;D
Lets have Woody come over >:D
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Good to see I can follow your progress Paul. It's a shame about Bartopmania, but at least all the gang seems to be on here :applaud: hi Superfrog, Almighty and Unstupid.
I'll have to sart a thread on my bartop progress ;)
Hi Tony and welcome to BYOAC.
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Coin mech, monitor and marquee retainer done. Next up connect spinner to opti-pac.
(http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/9263/sam0861b.jpg)
(http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/3748/sam0873l.jpg)
(http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/4058/sam0865s.jpg)
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Fitted the marquee today. I'm not 100% happy with it but it will do for now. ;D
(http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/3059/sam0877d.jpg)
(http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/7651/sam0876u.jpg)
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I gotta say it - i love how you worked that coin mech in
makes me want to make a bartop and do that same design!
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Fitted the marquee today. I'm not 100% happy with it but it will do for now. ;D
(http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/3059/sam0877d.jpg)
(http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/7651/sam0876u.jpg)
Absolutely love the marquee!! :applaud:
Any chance you would be willing to share it?
:cheers:
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My Opti-Pac arrived today, but spinner not spinning. I Guess I will have to wait till tomorrow when I can test it with a volt meter. :dunno
(http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/8760/sam0881s.jpg)
Why can't these things just be straight forward for once. :banghead:
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Am I right in thinking when wired up the spinner should move the mouse pointer?
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It should move the cursor in windows.
Are you sure the 5v, ground and 2 signal wires are properly connected?
See pg 8 of the manual (http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-videogames/A/arkanoid.pdf).
Not sure if it has a visible light LED or IR LED.
A cel-phone camera should be able to see the IR LED that gets interrupted by the encoder wheel.
If you're not sure your camera can see IR, you can verify by pressing a button on a TV remote while looking at the LED.
Scott
Edit: You may find more useful information in this (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,112402.msg1193020.html) thread.
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I'm sure you've already consulted the manual, but if not here's the schematic for the spinner showing which pins get wired to what (notice that the pins are not in order in this schematic).
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Thanks guys, I think I'll just have to wait until I can test it tomorrow. Anyway this is how I wired it up.
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Wiring looks right.
Is it an "active high" device?
Ultimarc has a utility to make active high devices work with the OptiPac.
(http://www.ultimarc.com/images/optipac_util.jpg)
Look for the link almost to the bottom of this (http://www.ultimarc.com/optipac3.html) page.
Scott
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Wiring looks right.
Is it an "active high" device?
Ultimarc has a utility to make active high devices work with the OptiPac.
(http://www.ultimarc.com/images/optipac_util.jpg)
Look for the link almost to the bottom of this (http://www.ultimarc.com/optipac3.html) page.
Scott
"IT'S ALIVE!" Thanks Scott that worked like a charm. I guess it's a high active device.
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I've been playing Arkanoid for the last hour using the spinner. This weekend I should be able to finish off the CP and move onto the software side of things.
Special thanks to PL1 and Nephasth. :cheers:
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Can't decide on button layout. What do you think? If you use 3 action buttons, how are yours laid out?
(http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/2510/cp2e.jpg)
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/690/cp1j.jpg)
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I like the first one, but I don't like the button on the right. I'd delete that button, move the spinner further right, space out the joystick/button group to something close to slagcoin's measurement layouts (if not already), and also move the joystick/button group a little further right as well.
Here's my Arkanoid panel. When I first started playing I would use my right hand to control the spinner, and left for 'fire'. But after playing with a joystick more (I had my Arkanoid running long before I had any joystick/button game running), I naturally use the spinner with my left now.
Normally I'm a fan of options (ambidextrous controls for example), but in this case, with this being a bartop and space being limited, I'd have a preference of not feeling crowded on the CP while playing.
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I've decided on a mixture of both and also lost the right fire button.
(http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/6818/arkcp3.jpg)
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I like the final layout best of those you have posted. I personally like the third button to be vertically aligned like the top row here:
(http://slagcoin.com/joystick/layout/z_face.jpg)
http://slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html (http://slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html)
It lest your right elbow hang out a bit and is more confortable for longer gaming session.
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Lexan cut and button test fit.
(http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/508/sam0887f.jpg)
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Control panel artwork added.
(http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3564/sam0894d.jpg)
Next up spinner and joystick
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That looks very Nice and clean Paul :applaud:
All pieces falling together at this great Bartop :notworthy:
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Great choice on the button layout. Can't wait to see this one completed.
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Now with added spin.
(http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4550/sam0900s.jpg)
It's very tempting to add more games, but there is still so much more to do.
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Looks great! :applaud:
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Looks great! :applaud:
Great choice on the button layout. Can't wait to see this one completed.
That looks very Nice and clean Paul :applaud:
All pieces falling together at this great Bartop :notworthy:
Thanks for all the encouragement guys.
I couldn't help myself. It plays really well.
(http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/1990/sam0902z.jpg)
Still to do:
wire up joystick, buttons and coin mech
install speakers
install marquee lighting
paint back door and install fan and power button
sort out coin door
secure all parts
play more Arkanoid
Take tomorrow off.
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looks phenomenal!
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looks phenomenal!
Thanks.
So much for taking today off. I've wired up and configured all the buttons and plugged in the speakers,for USB powered speakers they sound rather good. I don't think I'll ever go back to using powered speakers and an amp, for one thing there is no feedback issues. Also printed out the instruction card.
The most amazing thing about today is the bartop actually seemed to get the missus seal of approval and she's rather good at Arkanoid. (I may be able to keep this one.)
Instruction Card.
(http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/4999/sam0915e.jpg)
The now obligatory pic of my son playing.
(http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/3117/sam0907th.jpg)
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This place has stepped up its collective game over the last couple of years. Everyone seems to be making such high quality builds lately.
I would also add your builds to this collective, Louis.
I've added the miniSLG for scan line goodness.
(http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/9818/sam0916w.jpg)
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if she makes you get rid of it, I CALL DIBS! :cheers:
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if she makes you get rid of it, I CALL DIBS! :cheers:
I'm pretty sure I'm going to be keeping it. When I came home from work today she was playing on it (thats never happened before). I just wish I hadn't made it playable until it was finished.
Tonight I've de-cased and fitted the speakers.
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Here's a little tip I picked up along the way. Don't glue the top down until you've finished. Makes it easier to work on the speakers and lighting.
Topless picture:
(http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/816/sam0920bc.jpg)
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Another day, another obstacle. The coin mech I'm using is a CH-926, does anyone have any experience using one of these in mame. It's wired up correctly and set up to use the right coinage it just not sending a pulse through. It registers the coin via a LED on the top but no joy getting it to add credit. :banghead: or to register a keystroke.
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Search is your friend. ::)
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,122129.msg1296047.html#msg1296047
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,122129.msg1296047.html#msg1296047)
Scott
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Thanks PL1 I did find this, but wasn't sure it worked as there is no follow up reply. I will give its go. Thanks.
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I've been waiting on parts this last week so haven't been able to add much. Today the hinge for the coin door arrived so I've done a test fit, and it's perfect for the job. Saturday I plan on painting the back and adding locks and vent holes.
(http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/7227/sam0923g.jpg)
(http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/571/picture1zf.jpg)
I also have to find a small tupperware box for catching coins. :P
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Classy design, beautiful work! :cheers:
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Classy design, beautiful work! :cheers:
Thanks for your kind words Emphatic. ;D
Been working on the back today. Still have to paint it though.
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/8599/backpic1.jpg)
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Marquee light working. I've used 2 white cold cathode tubes. I was tempted to go down the LED route with this one, but decided to stick with what I know (why fix what isn't broken).
(http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7669/sam0937j.jpg)
(http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/5236/sam0938c.jpg)
(http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/9233/sam0944i.jpg)
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This is now my favorite bartop, you just surpassed Lew's CRT Galaga bartop.
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:applaud: :applaud:
Well Done. I've always loved the sound of Arkanoid even though I only last about 30 seconds.
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Thanks for the nice comments guys it's really appreciated.
Here's a video of the bartop in action. I apologize for the crappy quality I will add another later.
Arkanoid Bartop Arcade Machine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIkjN4_9pkk#)
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:notworthy: Love it!!! Thanks for sharing the video. :applaud: :cheers: :applaud:
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:applaud:
I like the colors
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I've finished working on the back. Added USB ports, fan and door handle. I've also changed the hard drive for a SSD (highly recommended).
(http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1327/sam0958w.jpg)
(http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/4813/sam0954x.jpg)
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Complete...... ;D
(http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/6999/sam0962.JPG)
(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/259/sam0959s.jpg)
(http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/9110/sam0963r.jpg)
(http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/1630/sam0966m.jpg)
(http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/2043/sam0965z.jpg)
Thanks for watching.
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Well done Paul :applaud:
you must be very proud of this finished piece of art :notworthy:
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added to the Hall of Fame nomination thread :applaud:
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Love the original Arkanoid spinner in the CP! :cheers:
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added to the Hall of Fame nomination thread :applaud:
Wow cheers, this has made my day. ;D
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Here is another video showing the boot up times with an SSD, my simple MALA layout and other games including horizontal games on a vertical bartop.
http://youtu.be/FBZHhchcwY0 (http://youtu.be/FBZHhchcwY0)
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Stylish, Well built, Looks the dogs probably one of the best bar tops ive seen in a long time. Love it. Fantastic work mate. :notworthy:
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Very cool build !
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Awesome build!
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That IS a cool build! :applaud: I possess a Revenge of DOH JAMMA PCB that's missing a cab. This just gave me an idea!
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Nice build! You should use a no-nag (and high score enabled) compiled version on MAME though...
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Thanks for the nice comments guys. I parted with this Bartop a while ago now. I did indeed use a no nag version of MAME. It is the only version I'd use now.
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I parted with this Bartop a while ago now.
Ugh, I totally would have bought it. Go build me one :angel: