Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: goofy on August 27, 2004, 03:19:05 pm
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I'm considering mounting my monitor at about a 6 degree layback angle (almost vertical). The control panel will start about 31" up from the ground at the front and be about 34" from the ground at the back (nearest the monitor).
I'd like the cabinet to also work as a TV and be able to see it from a couch 6 feet away, that's why I want the nearly vertical mount.
Any thoughts on this? Is it a bad idea/good idea? What would the issues be?
Thanks for all the help.
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There is no way to answer this without seeing your cabinet. A six degree angle could be fine, or could be terrible, your control panel, and marquee really factor into this.
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I have also thought of doing this, for the same reason you want to. I won't be buying a tv or anything to put in my cabinet yet though. I'm going with an old monitor, since that is what I have.
If you do go ahead with this, post some pics. I would like to see the finished project, because I want to make a cabinet/entertainment center.
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A quick hint for you guys.
This idea is not too hot unless you live in a dorm room. Believe me, you can't just plop a Mortal Kombat in front of your couch without everyone thinking that you are loony toons.
Really, just spend the extra $100-$200 and get another new/used TV.
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That is a good point. This would look very out of place in my living room. Plus my wife would kill me. But this is going into MY den. I emphasize "my" because the other day my wife tried to put some sort of safari decorations in it. She has the spare bedroom to do her stuff in, and it's already full. But we already agreed that the den was mine, muahahaha. Anyways it will be kinda like a gameroom type setup I guess. I have my dart board and computer and the arcade and my drums all in there. So I don't think people will think I'm any crazier than they already do.
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or, if you both are woodworking buffs, you could have an arcade cabinet on one side of the entertainment center and a space for the tv in the middle and put the tv on wheels and a track so it can slide between the cabinet and the tv spot ;D. i made a crude diagram. the red is the arcade cabinet and the green is the rest of the entertainment center.
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this is one solution that someone came up with:
http://www.eamontales.com/livingroom/index.html
(http://www.eamontales.com/livingroom/lracmame.jpg)
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Hey there's a thought. But as I read your reply I remembered a thought I had when I initially wanted to do this.
If you had the right amount of space. You could put the TV on a swivel somehow. (This would definitely have to be sturdy) This way you could tilt your TV back if you wanted to play arcade games, and forward for TV or lightgun games and such. Here's how I "thought" of doing it:
I would make a mounting plate for the T.V. and attach it securelly to some type of durable hinge. This would act as the swivel. But the T.V. would have to stay in a set position when you needed it too else it would always fall backward. So I thought some sort of rail system on the top would work with the back of the rail being the position you would use it in for playing arcade. And the another "stop" of some sort to use when watching T.V.
Actually I would make a sturdy box around the whole TV on a swivel and then put a rod on the top that would slide on the rail. The rail would look something like this.
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| | < For Arcade position
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| |__
| | |< For T.V. position
of course I have no idea if this would work or helps. Just sharing a thought I once had.
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Pieman, I've actually thought about that; still deciding whether it's worth the effort or not.
But, forgetting the aesthetic aspects of the project for a moment (it's going in the room with the pool table, so it won't look too out of place--I think), I am more concerned about how the game play will be on a 6 degree angled monitor. I got that angle from some game somewhere (I think it was close to Marvel vs. Capcom), so I think it will be okay. But, any thoughts here. By the way, I'm about 6' 1". The top of the monitor will be just under the 5' mark, so my eyes will be about 6" above the top of the monitor. The direct line of sight from the center of the TV to me would be just below my shoulders (if I'm standing straight up).
Anyway, thanks for the thoughts. I'd love to hear any other opinions, critiques, ideas--good or bad. By the way, a 28 degree angle would put Line of Sight right to my eyes, but I wouldn't be standing up straight while playing anyway.
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another option...
build your player controls into a coffee table that sits in front of the couch and hook the computer into a big screen tv (or regular tv).
it will look like a regular tv entertainment center but also plays arcade and console video games.
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So, it would be like a sit-down model, but you'd look up at a TV? hmmm, I'd have to think about the ergonomics of that--it is an interesting idea.
It wouldn't be a big screen--that's in the other room--but I could hang a 27" in the corner. What's about the tallest coffee table that would look and feel good in front of a couch--maybe 24" or so?? Would that be too low to play comfortably?
That's what's great about this board, there is such an incredible mix of creative people, craftsmen, technicians, etc. and everyone is friendly and helpful!! Gotta love it.
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What's about the tallest coffee table that would look and feel good in front of a couch--maybe 24" or so?? Would that be too low to play comfortably?
maybe have it at a regular coffee table height for tv viewing but have it raise up a foot or so when you want to play video games. a push button hydraulic lift mechanism would be cool or some type of manual lift would also work.
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31" is awful low for your control panel.
You may want to test that out before committing to it.
The 3" slope may be a little severe too.
I'd test that, as well.
The near-vertical monitor mount should work fine though.
Mine is almost COMPLETELY vertical, which was pretty standard on alot of the classics.
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hmm, I thought 31" was about what most games were at. I roughly measured the Marvel vs. Capcom cabinet and thought it was about 31".
How high do most people have their control panels mounted?
By the way, thanks for the heads up . . . I will look into it more closely.
Cheers.
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Yeah, I think you're right. Maybe 35" - 36" is a bit more accurate.