Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: surface tension on August 21, 2008, 09:58:20 am
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I thought I'd put this out there to get some thoughts and let you see what I've been doing for the past year. I know cocktails aren't everyone's thing, but this is a cocktail with a difference.
The existing table has been completely redesigned with a new and improved hideaway control panel, good specification upgradeable PC, 19" full viewing angle LCD, sanwa sticks, happ trackball and buttons and powerful amp with separate, concealed speaker system.
You can see more at updated website http://www.surface-tension.net (http://www.surface-tension.net)
I look forward to hearing any thoughts or opinions...
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:o
I want it!
Looks very nice, like contemporary furniture. :cheers:
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Nice work! That's beautiful, but the price is the deal-breaker.
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Thanks :)
Yes, it's the old £/$ issue again.
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It looks awesome but is it practical of for playing? It looks awfully low. That said it's absolutely beautiful!
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My wife had the same question. She wondered if you could actually play comfortably from the couch. Her comment was "it looks too low."
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The control panel is the perfect height... but I would say that ;)
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Of course. I'm sure the height is fine, but maybe a few pics of people playing would prevent these questions.
It looks like the CP would hit you in the knees.
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Comfort or not - that thing is badass. I LOVE seeing new designs - especially ones that I could get away with in the nicest room in the house. GREAT JOB. :cheers:
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Absolutely Beautiful stuff!
Good luck man
I hope you sell a ton of them.
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Wow. That is really pretty.
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How much for the table with no PC, no monitor, no controls, etc? ;D
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How much for the table with no PC, no monitor, no controls, etc? ;D
haha, ditto.
Beautiful, but $$$!
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With my market, I can (almost) guarantee I'll never be asked that question seriously!
I'll be surprised if anybody wants one without a PC, but from research, it was mentioned a few times.
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That is drop dead gorgeous. Only two things really come to mind. 1) how are spilled drinks handled? 2) and $5600 US is a lot of money - dam de-valued dollar. Other than that you have a winner.
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1) how are spilled drinks handled?
Easy. Don't put a drink on it.
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that looks beautiful, i'd love to have something like that..but a little more than i'd care to spend.
as for the drink situation...without setting drink's on it, what good is a coffee table?
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Very nice cocktail!
With my market, I can (almost) guarantee I'll never be asked that question seriously!
I'll be surprised if anybody wants one without a PC, but from research, it was mentioned a few times.
Ok...well you were asked twice already in this thread. Market or not, if it's feasible you should think about having the option. Just because this site is mainly "B Y O ers", doesn't mean everyone does.
Good luck with the buz. It's always a plus to get good feedback from this community on a commercial venture like this. It usually means you have a good product. Normally when someone makes a post like this I start to cringe because it almost always means ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- is about to hit the fan! :LOL:
:cheers:
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Looks like a nice design to me.
For the price (I personally) would expect it to be perfect to my eye. The thing that keeps drawing my eye away from the rest of the table is the join between the horizontal section and the angled foot section. I would love to see the whole foot/ horizontal table ends made from one piece of wood with a (at a guess) 50mm radius between the two sections .You would need to put a radius on the edge of the glass/side to match the radius of the top part of the wood obviously but to me that's the only detracting point from an awesome table. That way you could get rid of the unsightly under support pieces too. Hey, not every one looks under their new table but I would.
I realise that would cost a hell of a lot more work to produce that kind of result I'm talking about and yes its obviously 20x cheaper to cut two pieces of wood like you have but that's just the way I'm thinking right now.
At the end of the day tho, If I had £3k to throw at a table, I wouldn't be worried about a wee joint angle. ;)
Good job/luck bud :applaud:
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I love the design and think it's reasonable for the UK market at that price. I once thought about doing a similar design and aiming at that end of the market before starting Turnarcades, but I'm glad someone has done it as I doubt I'd ever have got them that good even if we'd gone for CNC construction.
I liked the old design and was wondering if you will continue the old model too?
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Wow --- beeyooteefull!
:applaud:
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Thanks for the comments guys, it gives me a nice, warm fuzzy feeling. Getting feedback from the community is very encouraging.
Ok...well you were asked twice already in this thread. Market or not, if it's feasible you should think about having the option. Just because this site is mainly "B Y O ers", doesn't mean everyone does.
I didn't intend to come across as flippant to the question. But if someone wants an even more bare-bones table, sure, that's no problem at all. I don't want to offer too many variations on the same thing. If someone wants it, they will ask.
I liked the old design and was wondering if you will continue the old model too?
Thanks. The old design was something I learnt from to move forward with the new design. There was a lot wrong with the old design in terms of business... not the table itself! Complicated design, construction and build. So no, I won't be selling that one any more.
The comment about drinks is totally legitimate. It's a table after all. There is a certain amount of sealing for the glass so that if you spilt something, you'd have to sort it out straight away. The controls are like any other machine... plenty of gaps to pour your drinks into!
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That's a shame; I liked the lower space underneath as I'd imagine it would be more comfortable for big-footed people like me.
Need to change your avatar now! :cheers:
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From the picture it looks like the sticks aren't mounted correctly, they are way too tall over the control panel.
Also, why use Happ buttons with a Japanese stick? Most of the guys I saw over at killercabs were UK, and they HATED anything Happ.
Looks very very slick otherwise, and I would really like to have something like it my home, now only if it were 5000$ cheaper.
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Also, why use Happ buttons with a Japanese stick? Most of the guys I saw over at killercabs were UK, and they HATED anything Happ.
Why not use Happ buttons with a Japanese stick? :)
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Also, why use Happ buttons with a Japanese stick? Most of the guys I saw over at killercabs were UK, and they HATED anything Happ.
I use Happ buttons with a U360, which is a Japanese stick. I don't see the issue.
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That's a beautiful product. I'm impressed.
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Also, why use Happ buttons with a Japanese stick? Most of the guys I saw over at killercabs were UK, and they HATED anything Happ.
Why not use Happ buttons with a Japanese stick? :)
well, most of the people I know that use Japanese sticks prefer japanese controls in general. They are fighting gamers and shmup players, so they prefer the japanese style buttons.
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I love fighters and shmups. The Happs have given me no problems with those types of games (plus, I like concave buttons better).
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Happs (or more specifically Industrias Lorenzo) are 99% fine for most games. Just like Happ joysticks. But, in the competitive fighting game and shmup communities, sanwa and seimitsu buttons are the gold standard these days. And concave buttons are almost unheard of.
The buttons on the control panel for this cocktail are arrange in the Japanese arc, and considering the price of the table, I would expect to see Sanwa extra durable RG buttons.
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The buttons on the control panel for this cocktail are arrange in the Japanese arc, and considering the price of the table, I would expect to see Sanwa extra durable RG buttons.
If a customer came to me and said they wanted Sanwa extra durable RG buttons... then that's what they will get. No problems.
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You Killercabs people sure do hate Happ....
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Happs (or more specifically Industrias Lorenzo) are 99% fine for most games. Just like Happ joysticks. But, in the competitive fighting game and shmup communities, sanwa and seimitsu buttons are the gold standard these days. And concave buttons are almost unheard of.
Since Happ bought ChinaTec, they are manufacturing as many of their products as possible in China and I would be surprised if they are still buying buttons from Industrias Lorenzo. Word on the street is many people in the professional coin-op field are noticing the ahem.. difference, in the quality of many Happ items since the China takeover.
In our experience there seems to have been a polarization in button preference with US customers largely staying with the concave buttons but everyone else going with flat-top in general. I think a contemporary cabinet would be much better having modern flat-top buttons.
Andy
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That is pretty sick, man. It's unfortunate it's a necessary candidate for qualification as a viable arcade machine in some homes....I think the 'hide away' factor is just cool.
On what FrancoB was talking about. I think some planing and sanding could easily take care of that, yes?
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On what FrancoB was talking about. I think some planing and sanding could easily take care of that, yes?
I am planning on trying out high-gloss black and maybe white versions, which will be seamless.
The wooden versions are veneered.
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Looks awesome.
If it had rounded corners so my little daughters don't hit their heads. I would be so tempted to get one.
But is it good to have an LCD lay flat like that? I know it isn't good for a Plasma but LCD does stand for Liquid Crystal Display.
So I would think it isn't good for it in a Long Term dealio but that might just be me.
Brent
www.extendedplayarcade.com
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But is it good to have an LCD lay flat like that? I know it isn't good for a Plasma but LCD does stand for Liquid Crystal Display.
It isnt a worry. The liquid in an LCD is encased in the millions of tiny subpixel elements. It can't flow around or anything (unless you smash the display to pieces ;) ). The reason for the existance of Liquid crystal displays, is that the molecules in the liquid can be selectivly made to form helix shaped crystal latices that are aligned with the poles in front of and behind each subpixel. The helix latice rotates the light as it passes through, this allowing or conversely disallowing, light to pass through the two polarizing filters (one in front of the display, and the other behind)
Interesting side note, I had a small calculator as a kid, that when taken apart, I could remove the front polarizer and flip it over. When I did that, the numbers where white, with a black background :D
Oh, and to the guy who made the cocktail cab: Awesome! Move to the US and make them here so they will be cheaper for us! :P
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I showed this table to my wife last night, and she thought it was awesome. Almost immediately, though, she voiced a concern that we've already heard a couple of times: It doesn't look like it would be comfortable to play. I pointed her to the gallery link (which is WAY too hard to find on your website, BTW) and she said, "Yeah, I want to see a picture of someone actually playing it."
Of course there are no pictures like that in your gallery, but it might go a long way to assuage the concerns of people about the playability of your cabinet.
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Of course there are no pictures like that in your gallery, but it might go a long way to assuage the concerns of people about the playability of your cabinet.
Good suggestions.
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Of course there are no pictures like that in your gallery, but it might go a long way to assuage the concerns of people about the playability of your cabinet.
Good suggestions.
Thanks ;)
Of course. I'm sure the height is fine, but maybe a few pics of people playing would prevent these questions.
It looks like the CP would hit you in the knees.
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. . . a concern that we've already heard a couple of times . . .
You're welcome. ;)
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I know, I read that, but the "HEY! What about me?!?" kicked in. ;D
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Its beautiful man ...
I think the price is right for the quality and workmanship that has gone into it.
Congratulations on a fantastic product, and all the best with it. :cheers:
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Thanks ratzz.
Thanks for the other comments and suggestions... it's all helpful.
I will aim to get some photos with people playing. I tried it with the last system and none of them came out particularly well, so they were left out. I was also trying not to be suggestive about what sort of people should be playing on this system... but sometimes I think too much :-\
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You should be suggestive. You should show attractive, successful people playing the system. It's advertising.
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You should be suggestive. You should show attractive, successful people playing the system. It's advertising.
That rules you out then, doesn't it? ;)
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I came across these videos showing the opening and closing of the drawer with the control panel flipping up and down.
surface tension arcade table control panel opening (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEzC2_s7lqw#)
surface tension arcade table control panel closing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMpz_9FyeI#)
Just wondering what sort of mechanism do you use to achieve that?
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Seems Dan hasn't been on for a while, so in his absence, from what I understand from talking to him it's a custom mech they designed or had designed. I played with the mech myself at Replay last year and can tell you it's very smooth and not secretly awkward, but I'm unsure what's actually involved in the mechanism.
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Seems Dan hasn't been on for a while, so in his absence, from what I understand from talking to him it's a custom mech they designed or had designed. I played with the mech myself at Replay last year and can tell you it's very smooth and not secretly awkward, but I'm unsure what's actually involved in the mechanism.
Thanks for the reply Turncades, it seems very ingenious.
How did it feel tugging away at the joysticks? Did the drawer want to move at all and did the control panel feel like it would fold down?
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Seems Dan hasn't been on for a while, so in his absence, from what I understand from talking to him it's a custom mech they designed or had designed. I played with the mech myself at Replay last year and can tell you it's very smooth and not secretly awkward, but I'm unsure what's actually involved in the mechanism.
Thanks for the reply Turncades, it seems very ingenious.
How did it feel tugging away at the joysticks? Did the drawer want to move at all and did the control panel feel like it would fold down?
Watch her right hand, I'd say there's a lock or a catch mechanism that releases the drawer and "mechanics" inside so the drawer would close. That's just a guess though.
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Watch her right hand, I'd say there's a lock or a catch mechanism that releases the drawer and "mechanics" inside so the drawer would close. That's just a guess though.
Yeah, she definitely releases something to fold it up.
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The control panel locks in place automatically when the drawer is opened fully out, so it doesn't drop or wobble during use. Underneath there's a light-touch release catch, the closest of which I can compare is like opening a car boot catch.
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I like!!!
but there is only one thing I dont like,
That silver control panel, It doesnt match anything...either black or wood grain wook look better IMHO.
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That would be so sweet if it was motorised :afro:
A hidden switch somewhere to start it up AND have the drawer open up silently, gliding open :)
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I like!!!
but there is only one thing I dont like,
That silver control panel, It doesnt match anything...either black or wood grain wook look better IMHO.
It comes in different colours.
(http://www.arcade-lounge.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/surface_tension_control_panel_colour.JPG)
(http://www.surface-tension.net/external/byoac/st4_panel.jpg)
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That would be so sweet if it was motorised :afro:
A hidden switch somewhere to start it up AND have the drawer open up silently, gliding open :)
Easy peasy - the one I'm building at present will have a pop up control panel and be motorised ;)
The way it works is very very simple.
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i could see the draw being closed with something as simple as a door hinge. you slide the draw out which opens the piston and then it locks in place. releasing the lock allows the piston to close. and with door hinges there is like 2 or 3 screws you use to adjust the speed and the stop speed to your preference.
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Interesting side note, I had a small calculator as a kid, that when taken apart, I could remove the front polarizer and flip it over. When I did that, the numbers where white, with a black background :D
I did that one time when I was a kid and then my brother did it to another one to try it too ;D
This is a great Table from what I can see, I hope I get to see one in person one day, if I do I'll be like "OMG you have one of them awesome tables I saw on the internets"