TableTop Tron Cabinet

[bishmasterb]

I've been working on this forever it seems, finally done...well almost. It's a table top form factor TRON themed cabinet. Equipped with a Tornado spinner and an original TRON cocktail cabinet joystick. I used a notebook computer with a 14" LCD TFT panel. More info an pics at http://www.bishopzone.com/bishopzone/projects/tron.html.

[bishmasterb]

Since I still can't manage to upload images correctly  , I'll link to some off my site, sorry if they load slowly...

[pcdoctor]

Very nice.
I always wondered where the keyboard was in these notebook cabinets.

[patrickl]

That looks really professional! Nice work man  

[menace]

wow thats sweet!  the laptop looks opened--what hacks did you have to do in there? I'm going to check your site before i ask anymore questions

[HagHore]

That is so awesome!  I especially like that you used a cocktail tron stick.  I didn't even know there were sticks like that until the last auction in Dallas, they had a really nice Tron cocktail there.

[Magnet_Eye]

HELL YEAH! I LOVE IT! Man, where do I buy one!?

Nice work! I seriously wish I had one of those!

DAMN NICE WORK!  

[Edgedamage]

Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

[voodoochile]

I say very cool.nice work..I love you...I mean I love it!!..Hhehe, Tron is my favotite...amazing wok

[bishmasterb]

Thanks so much for the kind words! It's good to hear after all the time I put in on this.

wow thats sweet!  the laptop looks opened--what hacks did you have to do in there? I'm going to check your site before i ask anymore questions

Actually, "opened", that's a good way of describing it. Imagine opening the notebook and where the screen would normally stop, somewhere between 90-180 degrees it just keeps going and wraps back around to the bottom of the notebook. It really only took some minor modifications to the back of the LCD panel, cutting away some of the plastic to let the LCD cable come out earlier than it would have normally, making it long enough to wrap around and still connect to the motherboard on the notebook. And of course, removing the LCD panel from the hinges on the notebook.

I especially like that you used a cocktail tron stick.  I didn't even know there were sticks like that until the last auction in Dallas, they had a really nice Tron cocktail there.

I had never seen a TRON cocktail stick either, someone on this site sold it to me after I posted a question asking what trigger stick might be appropriate for a mini-TRON cab. It works great, my only minor complaint is that I thought the standup arcade TRON cabs had an 8 way stick, that was "somewhat" restricted, meaning that the restrictor was diamond shaped (like a 4 way), but you could still hit a diagonal if you tried. This one is strictly 4 way. (which is only a little troublesome on the spiders level).

I always wondered where the keyboard was in these notebook cabinets.

If anyone has any links to anyone else that has used a notebook in a MAME cab, can you please post? I haven't seen any before, and I'd like to see how they ended up constructing theirs for comparison.

[JamIt]

Very impressive!  I like the idea of using the notebook.
--JamIt

[Stingray]

This has got to be the neatest looking bartop cab I've seen. Outstanding work!

-S

[DYNAGOD]

thats a beauty!!
i love these laptop projects.
sleek ,stylish,, small and efficient ..
unfortunetly too expensive still for most of us.
i cant wait till the market is flooded with flatscreens and the price drops to the area of standard monitors.
A glorious day indeed!

excellent job, very nice work!

[Wade]

That has to be the nicest bartop game I've seen!!

Wade

[Karman]

Did you paint the joystick?  I have a few of these and I've never seen one look so nice.

You should print up a miniature version of the sideart!

[bishmasterb]

Did you paint the joystick?  I have a few of these and I've never seen one look so nice.

I bought the joystick in really good condition from someone on this board, but it's been a while I can't remember his name. It does have some minor scuffs and nicks, but overall it looks remarkably good for a 20 year old joystick.

You should print up a miniature version of the sideart!

I know, it looks really bland on the sides. I haven't been able to find the artwork in hi-res or vector form anywhere. It contains a large photo which couldn't be vectorized anyhow. I'm going to have to track down a real cab and take some hi-res shots of the side.

[Mr. Dude]

Awesome work!  That thing really is impressive!!!

[bishmasterb]

Thanks for all of the generous comments, I really appreciate it.

I'm wondering what everyone's interest might be in a pre-packaged cabinet of this form factor for purchase? Both as a ready to play unit and as a do it yourself, assembled cabinet lacking the electronics and display?

[patrickl]

Isn't the design for an important part determined by the notebook you use? That might hinder selling a standard sized cab.

[bishmasterb]

What I'm trying to do is gauge the level of interest in the form factor, not necessarily the technology inside. You could tackle the technology in a hundred different ways (console, PC, dedicated PCB, CRT, LCD, TV, etc.). What if this form factor of a device (high quality construction, table top playability) could play 5-10 games in a legal, licensed way? I know that this site isn't necessarily the best place to put aside the technology aspects of such a project (that's a large part of why we're all here in the first place, that this is just plain fun to build!), but from a consumer stand-point, I'm interested in seeing what the interest is.

To answer your question directly though, a laptop wouldn't be a good choice for production in any reasonable volume; very costly and difficult to work with. For a one-off unit though, it's great.

thanks,
brian

[RetroJames]

This is such I small detail, hardly worth noting, but as it seems you are very detail oriented I will point it out.  That AWESOME cabinet is screaming for black P1 and P2 buttons.  Someone around here, maybe Peale, has them for sale.

Aside from that and even discounting that suggestion, you have really done a wonderful job.  Very inspiring, I hereby nominate you for a MAMEY award...any seconds?

[Stingray]

I second the MAMEY nomination. No question about it.

In response to your question, I think a kit of this cab would sell quite well if priced reasonably.

-S

[patrickl]

Personally I think that in order to win a mamey the control panel covers should be attached less visible or even replaced by a full CPO print.

BTW, There is no category for tabletops ... I think. There was a Pacman tabletop that won a Mamey (in the Cocktail category), but I can no longer find it on the Mamey lists though.
'
I did keep a picture around since I liked it a lot:

[dmsuchy]

I disagree, I like the fatners you used on the CP, kinda goes with the look. I also think you deserve a Mamey!

[Stingray]

Normally I'd say the same as patrickl, but in this case I agree that those big allen head screws go nicely with the Tron theme.

-S

[patrickl]

It's maybe not even the screwheads, but the fact that you see the sides of the plates. I dunno, but somehow to me this aspect just doesn't look as finished as on the other Mamey winners (looking at the cocktails). Allthough I agree that the overall looks and finish of the cab are great.

[bishmasterb]

Thanks everyone!

I wanted to avoid fasteners, but since the controls that would act as fasteners (only the buttons in this case) were relegated to the right hand side of the panel, I couldn't use those. Additionally, the expense of foregoing the lexan entirely and printing on heavy vinyl seemed a bit excessive. I wanted to avoid the shiny carriage bolt look, I think the black metal socket hex bolts go well with the black, tech theme of the Tron cab.

Thanks again for all your kind words.

[EricDeLee2004]

PATRICKL... you are a freakin' blessing!!!!

DAMN!  I have been looking for that picture for nearly two weeks now.  Did you happen to get anymore of the pics from his auction??

If you can, please send me that picture.  send it to eric_deleeNOSPAM@yahoo.com  (of course take out the NO SPAM) part!)

To the guy that made the TRON cab... very very nice!  It made me want to get back into building again (I'm the guy putting a Mame in a gutted Tempest cab... and will soon be doing this Pacman version as well -- with attacable control panels that I'm working on!   )

[patrickl]

DAMN!  I have been looking for that picture for nearly two weeks now.  Did you happen to get anymore of the pics from his auction??

If you can, please send me that picture.  send it to eric_deleeNOSPAM@yahoo.com  (of course take out the NO SPAM) part!)

That picture was from the Mamey awards site and it's all I have I'm afraid. I saw it on e-Bay too yes. Or at least I think I did, but it might have been a different one since someone was producing cabs like that commercially and got sued for doing so. Allthough I think they looked more like this Tron bartop (with the CP more inside the shape then as a tray sitting in front of it)

[EricDeLee2004]

I agree with you on how the control panel is.  Personally, I don't think the one in the Pacman picture is too bad... but I like the look of the one in the TRON tabletop (where the CP is inside of the game... so to speak).   I will have to try it both ways to see which I like better.  My only worry about the Tron Cab's way is that the sides of the cab interfere with the gameplaying (banged-up knuckles... etc.)

Bishmasterb: Do you have any problems with that?  

General Question for those that know:
When you plug in a new control panel (ie... a control panel that has a trackball, spinner and a few buttons on it).... do you have to program anything for the Optipac to read it or will it be a plug and play thing?  

I like the PacMan theme above, but I may be adding a connector of some sorts that you can just plug in the second control panel and then play.

Back to the Tron above:

I agree that this is a great piece of work!  Very well done.  I was a little baffled by your use of the bolts to hold the CP on... especially after you took the care to mount the joystick and everything without having any bolts showing.  But I too have actually grown very fond of the look and think it is appropriate for the type of game it is (It fits the Tron theme).  But again... I wonder about how it effects gameply.  I hate to scratch my purty hands!!!  

Once you get artwork on the side, I'd admit that this is one of the better tabletops I have seen.  The only other only that may challenge that:  is the Pacman listed above.  

The only BAD thing about that Pacman... is the size.  It needs to be a little smaller than it is.  (A Laptop would work very nicely for this!  )


Anyone know where I can get a cheap used laptop to run the basic games (Space Invaders, Pacman, Galaga.... etc).  I don't want to chop up my laptop just yet!  lol  

[patrickl]

OK, one more time some Midway style bartops and then I'll shut up about it  

I just found 2 ebay auctions (that ended a few days ago) of a Galaga and MsPacMan bartop:
Galaga Bartop
MsPacMan Bartop

Apparently this guy is churning these cabs out by the number ...

In comparison I think the Tron cab here looks much better. Probably a lot smaller also since the above models use a 17" monitor.

Here is the one I meant (with the CP being more inside) (click for the auction)


BTW Eric, I don't think it will be easy to fit a trackball to a cab this size.

[bishmasterb]

I agree with you on how the control panel is.  Personally, I don't think the one in the Pacman picture is too bad... but I like the look of the one in the TRON tabletop (where the CP is inside of the game... so to speak).  I will have to try it both ways to see which I like better.  My only worry about the Tron Cab's way is that the sides of the cab interfere with the gameplaying (banged-up knuckles... etc.)

Bishmasterb: Do you have any problems with that?

No, that's never been a problem. Although I did keep the layout really simple, just the spinner, joystick and one button (which is wired in parallel with the trigger on the joystick).  However, if you tried to put six buttons in there, it very well might be a problem.

Gameplay on the unit is great. My only minor complaint is that the joystick (from a Tron cocktail) is only 4-way. If I remember correctly, the Tron standup unit had a diamond shape 4-way restrictor, but actually would let you hit diagonals for a brief space. This one doesn't at all, which is a little bit tricky on the spiders stage.

Patrickl is right about the trackball and space on these things. I'm considering doing a trackball unit, but I will probably only do it as a dedicated trackball cab, and not try to put any additional controls that aren't needed, such as a joystick or extra buttons.

[Minwah]

Great job.  I haven't paid much attention to tabletops before but this is quite a head turner

[Stingray]

Patrickl, I like the second Ms. Pac that you posted, that's another really nice one. The CP fits nicely with the overall shape. The other two (first Ms. Pac & Galaga) look a bit amatureish to me. The CP looks wrong and out of place, and there's too much of the sides sticking up above the marquee, at least IMO.

All in all though I sick with my original statement. This Tron bartop remains the neatest looking bartop cab I've ever seen.

-S

[patrickl]

You're just saying that because the second MsPac looks a bit like an old Mac   Actually, so does the Tron tabletop, he, he.

But seriously, I have to agree the Tron cab looks best of all yes.

Allthough I still don't like the CP covers or the bolts, but apparently that's a matter of taste. Now that I look at it again I notice the bolts even go through the artwork/texts.

[Stingray]

You're just saying that because the second MsPac looks a bit like an old Mac   Actually, so does the Tron tabletop, he, he.

I guess they do a little bit (he knows my weakness). I may have been subconsciously picking up on that.    Speaking of old Macs, wait until you see my next project. I'm still in the parts gathering phase, but the "old Mac" look will be all over this one!

-S

[bishmasterb]

Ha! I was thinking of building a MAME cab out of an old Mac 128K shell, how funny that you guys brought that up. I don't have the time though, I wish someone else would do it, I think it would be very cool.

Not sure how to handle the controller though. The original keyboard and mouse would be cool, but where to put a joystick...

[Stingray]

Ha! I was thinking of building a MAME cab out of an old Mac 128K shell, how funny that you guys brought that up. I don't have the time though, I wish someone else would do it, I think it would be very cool.

Not sure how to handle the controller though. The original keyboard and mouse would be cool, but where to put a joystick...

Well Okay, now that you mention it that's pretty close to what I have in mind. I'm using the case from a dead Mac Plus, which is the same as the 128k case. Since I already have a MAME cab, though it's not going to have a MAME system in it, it's going to have an Atari 2600 in it. The built in handle slot at the top is just about the perfect size for an Atari cart to slide right in.

As far as the control panel goes, I'm thinking about building one on to the front. My inspiration here is the MacMame icon:



Wadda ya think?

-S

[bishmasterb]

That image of the Mac with controls on the front is too cool. It would be pretty difficult to match wood to the texture/color of the plastic case though. On the other hand, perhaps if you didn't try to match the control panel to the case; if you purposely made it contrast, that might be the way to go.

Either way, it would be a very cool project. The cart-in-the-handle is a good idea too.

[Stingray]

My thought actually was to make the panel out of steel, sand the texture off the case and blend the two together with body filler.

-S