Getting started and getting buy in from wife?

[Capt.Dreamer]

Man, I've had everything pretty much planned out, what kind of wood, a basic idea of what shape I wanted the cab to be, even the fact that I wanted to use an LCD instead of a CRT for my first cab.

Then came the budget... I consider myself pretty good with money and frugal to boot, but having a 7 month old and both parents working was a reallllllllly hard sell to the missus. HOWEVER! I did get her interested when we came to the agreement that A) I would only spend a fixed number of money per month and B) She could design the cabinet (She's a huge comic book fan). We even came to the decision that it would be a Arkham Asylum (Batman being her favorite comic) design.

Now, its been 2 weeks and I'm getting antsy to get started, but we have neither an idea nor a design on what she wants. Since she's not overly interested in the actual cabinet, I have a feeling that this might take a while.

So, my question here is for all you married men out there that have completed cabs, what did you do? How did you do it? and how much grief did you have to put up with after. 

[ahofle]

Cue 16 year olds who 'keep their ho in their place' in 5....4....3....2...
 

[leapinlew]

Refurb a cabinet - thats a budget saver! She may need to see the cabinet shape to get some ideas for artwork and once you have the cabinet you can get started by cleaning it up, setting up the computer, etc. You can then put a little money into it every month.

Start scavenging Craigslist for deals, hustle to make some money on the side, sell off some things with ebay and craigslist are all ways to help alleviate the financial pressures.

We have 3 accounts at my house. The house account, her account and my account. Both of us get an allowance per pay check that we can spend on whatever we want. The main issue is time. Even if you pay yourself only $50 every 2 weeks you'll have enough for controls in a few months.

[Donkbaca]

Build a slim style.  like this:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=103430.0;topicseen

or this:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=55789.0


Then just start building.  If you are going with art instead of staining, its a WAY easier build since you can just hide your mistakes and fill and sand and screw everything.  If you go for a stained cab, you have to be much more careful, since everything is going to be visible, that means you have to miter joints, fasten everything from the inside, cut your wood carefully to minimize chips and splinters.  The advantage of a stained cab, though, is that it looks more grown up, and is usually easier to integrate in your house as it looks more like furniture than frat boy paraphernalia.

The way I approached it with my wife was as follows (BTW, we both work, I have a 20 month old and another on the way):
  
Do you have your pc?  Do you have your monitor?  Do you have your buttons and interface?

I would say the way it goes is like this:

1) Set up your mame pc and software.  Show your wife how cool it will be, get it all set up with the roms, the emulators you want, the front end looking nice.  This is also the cheapest way to go.  You can get a mame adequate pc for anywhere from free to 100 bucks.

2) Go through the hall of fame projects sticky under project announcements, bookmark a few projects you like, show them to your wife, ask her which ones she likes the best.  Then you know what you are going to build.  My wife bought in under the condition that it had to be a slim cab and it had to be a stained cab.  I think a slim cab is pretty much the way to go, especially if you are going to use an LCD anyway.

2) Build your CP.  You will have to do this eventually.  Then you can show her how cool its all going to interface.  Let her play a couple of old games, every person went to pizza with their family and played arcade games there when they were a kid, ask her what she used to play when she went to pizza.

3)  Collect your tools, set up your work area and start working. Take your time, its going to take FOREVER, don't expect anyone to help in your construction, and plan on only working 2-3 hours a week on it realistically.  I do most of my work in my garage late on a friday or saturday night after the fam is asleep.  Don't trade family time for cab time.  The wife will get pissed, she will think that you care more about your stupid arcade box than you do about your family.  Babies are awesome, they grow up fast, you work so your time is limited already.  This is going to be done in your lack of sleep time, not your free time, your free time will be spent with your family.

IF you need any help on putting the darned thing together, or advice on parts, let me know.  

good luck!

[Donkbaca]

Yeah, another good point.  I am sure you probably have something obnoxious that you keep around, that you never use that takes up space.  I got rid of a bunch of comic books and stuff and put the money towards the cab.  The wife approved, it got rid of clutter, and brought in dough.  E-bay all that junk sitting in your garage that you are holding on to.  Better to convert that stuff into cash that you can put into a cab that you will enjoy, instead of having it sit in a box taking up space.

[leapinlew]

She may just need to be persuaded


Another option is to go out to the strip joints and casinos and see how much you spend in a weekend. Then tell her that your going to give up the party life and stay home, but you'll need an arcade cabinet.

[SavannahLion]

At some point in the process, you will get grief from the spouse. It won't matter as to the why or how much she approves of it, it's inevitable. How you handle it is up to you. When it happens to me, whatever caused the grief disappears into the corner of the garage or the shed. With her, out of sight out of mind is the trick.

I usually get the grief at the project onset. Eventually she calls enough to allow me to continue.

I'll another sentiment, if you have a baby, delay working on the project until the baby is asleep. Babies are stinky little bombs waiting to happen but they're cool little bombs. I have an 18 month old and a three year old, so my projects have been sluggish for a long time. I just introduced my oldest to Sunshine and he's catching on fast. Unfortunately he is too hooked so there's some throttling going on now.

[flashiv]

Then came the budget... I consider myself pretty good with money and frugal to boot, but having a 7 month old and both parents working was a reallllllllly hard sell to the missus. HOWEVER! I did get her interested when we came to the agreement that A) I would only spend a fixed number of money per month and B) She could design the cabinet (She's a huge comic book fan). We even came to the decision that it would be a Arkham Asylum (Batman being her favorite comic) design.

Now, its been 2 weeks and I'm getting antsy to get started, but we have neither an idea nor a design on what she wants. Since she's not overly interested in the actual cabinet, I have a feeling that this might take a while.

So, my question here is for all you married men out there that have completed cabs, what did you do? How did you do it? and how much grief did you have to put up with after. 

Capt D., I also went the same way with the money,  a little each month.  In the meantime I also set up MAME on a PC to show the (ex) wife how cool it was.

A thought on the design... what about having the cab side artwork look like a cell in Arkham complete with the Joker on one side and the Riddler on the other?

Also show her these two games in MAME (if you already haven't).

Batman Forever
http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7028
http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/romset/batmanfr

Batman
http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7027
http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/romset/batman

They've worked in MAME since .074 and .036 respectively.  I have no idea if the games themself are fun, but it might help get her more interested.

[Thenasty]

I just went ahead and built my MAME CAB without the other knowing it HEHEHE 

[Capt.Dreamer]

@Donkbaca - Great suggestions. I never thought of building the CP first. I figured that I would need the cab finished first.

@flashiv- Good idea on the side art! I'll see what she thinks.

Some great suggestions here and some interesting ones. Some of you I wonder how you stay married. 

[RayB]

Browse the Projects thread with your wife.

[Generic Eric]

I have spent about 11 years "planing" this.  When I told my wife I wanted to stain the lowboy cab (that I hadn't built yet) she said "that might be nice in the living room."

OTOH, I don't recommend waiting 11 years. 


Oh...you said completed cabs...nevermind

[wp34]

She may just need to be persuaded

Is that Jonathan Kent?   

[wp34]

Also show her these two games in MAME (if you already haven't).

Batman Forever
http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7028
http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/romset/batmanfr

Batman
http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7027
http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/romset/batman

They've worked in MAME since .074 and .036 respectively.  I have no idea if the games themself are fun, but it might help get her more interested.

A little OT but those two cabinets are interesting--- particularly the CP on Batman Forever.  I don't think I've ever seen those before.

[RayB]

dksjhfkjhfkalsf

[yotsuya]

She may just need to be persuaded

Is that Jonathan Kent?   

That is! I just watched the movie last night with my daughter.

[pinballwizard79]

Take it from me, the old saying "its easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" is quite true (for arcades & pinballs, strippers & toot... um not so much).

As your attorney I advise you to convert an existing cab, you will save a poop ton of money/time.

 

[Donkbaca]

I disagree. If you get a gutted cab it'll proboably be in bad shape. You will have to strip art, sand, finish, fill, build a new cp, mount the monitor, mount a marquee. The only thing easier about it is that it takes less tools

[TOK]

You have a huge advantage in the fact that your wife is artsy and into comics. Artsy types seem to love games, and you can show her lots of comic themed games. In addition to the already mentioned Batman games, show her Marvel vs. Capcom, Punisher, Cadillacs & Dinosaurs -there must be 100 more comic tie-in games in MAME.

My wife was an easy sell... Arcade games seemed so safe, clean and homebound after years of riding & racing dirtbikes.

[Capt.Dreamer]

I am lucky.

She'll be kicking ---my bottom--- in MvC and any other fighter. Its not the games that we need to figure out, its the design of the cab. A minimal half cab like Knieval's Woody is ideal for size but not ideal for Art as there isn't much surface to work with.

Also, we might want to do something artsy with it instead of just artwork. Something like this:

http://www.geekologie.com/2009/09/29/monstercade-1.jpg

Of course, im not sure I have the design ability, let alone the skill to even start on something like that.

[Donkbaca]

Jeez, all that work on that custom cab and they plop a x-arcade right in the middle of it instead of building a cp.

I think you are over thinking it.  The first thing to come to grips with in a MAME project is that you need to make compromises.  If you like the slim cab, build a slim cab.  If you want more art, just hang it on the wall.  Look at Snake Slayer's build:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=103430.0;topicseen


I think there's plenty of art on that one.

[Capt.Dreamer]

Wow, that's not bad. Hmm, I can work with this.

Thanks for the insight Donkbaca, and yes I completely agree about the X-arcade... 

Another question. Im thinking about a 20" LCD 4:3 ratio monitor and a slim cab. Would a 4 player CP be overdoing it?

[Donkbaca]

In my opinion?  yes.  I personally think that a 4 player is ALWAYS overdoing it because:

1) there aren't that many 4 player games; and
2) its rare that you get 4 mates together to play 4 player games.

Whenever a new console comes out I ALWAYS get 4 players, 4 xbox controllers, 4 wii-motes, etc.  but I have rarely, if EVER used them in my consoles, so I decided to go 2 player for my cab.

In my opinion, 4 players aren't worth it. Its more cost and more space, for not much more functionality in my opinion.  But hey, if you want it, go for it.  I always complain about 4 player cabs and one of the guys on here said he built a 4 player so he and his 2 sons could play ninja turtles.  That makes sense.

[Capt.Dreamer]

Hrrm, yeah. That makes sense. I think I wanted it because its bigger without thinking really about what i'd do with it.

I could always make a 4 player CP later if it suits me.

In Knievel Evolution cab, where did he get those LED Bat Sticks?

Anyone know?

[saint]

I have a 4 player control setup just to play Gauntlet when our friends come over. (Also TMNT and Simpsons, but really for Gauntlet). Of course, it's a stand alone pedestal that we play in front of the projector screen...

[Capt.Dreamer]

Damn you saint...

Now im torn again...

[eds1275]

Print here a copy of those Jakobud plans and tell her to pick one and modify it or just pick one. Might just get her thinking.

I went on 5 years before I did anything. Planning and revising, and life always in the way. Bought a house, major renos, etc. Don't let that happen to you.

[ChadTower]

I'm with the "get a crappy game in a decent cabinet cheap and convert it" crowd.  Artwork can happen later.  Stupid games can be had for under $100.  That gets you a good chunk of the way there quickly and cheaply.  Is is easy and inexpensive to strip and repaint a cabinet.

[Donkbaca]

Yeah, but then you are stuck with the dimensions of a typical cab.  Really the only thing it saves you from is building the sides of the cab. I am in the middle of my build right now (still) and cutting out and assembling the sides is the easiest part.  You would still have to mount the the monitor, build the CP, etc.  You can build a slim cab from 2 sheets of $25 MDF.  Like I said, the only advantage an old cab brings is if it comes with a working monitor, and if its in good shape, and you generally can't find those for 100 bucks where I live.  Really the only thing you are saving on is construction of the actual cab, which is pretty easy.  Its like an afternoon's work.

[ChadTower]

Yeah, but then you are stuck with the dimensions of a typical cab.  Really the only thing it saves you from is building the sides of the cab.

You also get a working coin door, a wiring harness, a working monitor, and a full cabinet.  You might even have a completely functional and usable control panel.  If you get a typical JAMMA game you can pretty much plug and play a PC / Arcade VGA / JPAC.  Not everyone needs a tricked out custom MAME cab.  If the guy has limited time, limited money, small kids, and a skeptical wife, being able to turn the whole thing around for $400 total and two weekends of time could make all the difference.

$25 in MDF only applies if you already have the tools and space to build.  Around here if someone is asking the base question in this thread it usually means they don't have either of those.

[Donkbaca]

A lot of it is going to be based on where you live.  Around here if you wanted a cab in decent shape with a working monitor and coin mechs, you would be out 300 bucks. Even if you didn't have the tools.  If you are flat out tool less:

150 bucks for a router
50 bucks for bits

cordless circ saw and drill - 150 bucks or so
forstner bit - 10 bucks
 

misc screws, brackets, glue  -20 bucks

t-molding - 25 bucks

monitor - 100-150 bucks for a 21 inch lcd.


You are right in about the same ball park. Plus then you have a whole bunch of tools to do stuff around the house.  Heck, even if you didn't want the tools, you could probably turn around and ebay them and get 70-80% of your investment back.

The thing is most cabs you would but are 20 plus years old, have been drug all over the place and are beat up to hell.  More likely than not you will want a new CP.  You would have to get an arcade VGA, which will run you 100 bucks, and they don't make the AGP one anymore, so that means you need a computer that has PCIE in it, which disqualifies a lot of older rigs that run MAME just fine.

In terms of money, its just about a wash, in terms of time I would also say its a wash, since you would most likely have to repair the cab, strip it, paint it, etc. 

The only advantage an old cab has is that the work you would be doing would be easier, its less intimidating to strip paint and fill in dings with bondo and sand then it is to build things from scratch.

[ChadTower]

A stupid game in a decent cabinet can be had at $100 or under in nearly all places that aren't BFE.  If you can't find one you just haven't figured out your market yet.  We hear that all the time around here and then two years later the same guy is saying "oh, yeah, I remember that.  Now I turn cheap games away because I ran out of space four months ago."

[Donkbaca]

These machines are going to be at least 20+ years old, and most were in public getting beat on for years.  I have yet to see a cabinet for 100 bucks with a working monitor and coin mechs.  And who wants a beat up cabinet in their house? Who wants to fuss with a messed up monitor?  There is nothing wrong with doing those things, but they are certainly not cheaper, or faster than building your own cab. 

[HaRuMaN]

I have yet to see a cabinet for 100 bucks with a working monitor and coin mechs.

$100 working cab with coin mechs...

[ChadTower]

$100 working cab with coin mechs...

...and a working Star Wars yoke.

We've been around this community a long time.  We've seen all the project approaches a thousand times each.  Maybe you have yet to see a working game for that price but they are in your area someplace.  You'll find them eventually.

[leapinlew]

Sorry Donkbaca - they are right.

I've built and converted. I can convert a cab in a few days - including everything needed to make it just like new. Building ALWAYS takes longer and costs more. These aren't 20+ year old beat up cabinets either. Here are a couple of mine:




If you haven't converted a cab yet, try it. You'll be amazed at how quickly you have a machine up and running.

[leapinlew]

Yeah, but then you are stuck with the dimensions of a typical cab. 

You should buy the right cab for the job. If you want to play 4 player horizontal games - get a simpsons, goldentee, gauntlet etc. If you want to play 19" vertical old school games - get a classic cab.

Really the only thing it saves you from is building the sides of the cab.

And tons of measuring and testing. I put the new monitor where the old monitor was. no testing the angle, height, etc. The control panel latches are already installed.

You say you can't find cabs in your area, and if thats true then building is your only option. If you ever get a chance to convert a classic though.... give it a go. It's cool to make something that is instantly recognizable and easy.

[Donkbaca]

So how much time and money were invested in those projects?  And are the MAME cabs or restorations?

[leapinlew]

So how much time and money were invested in those projects?  And are the MAME cabs or restorations?

Both Mame

The Donkey Kong was some generic Nintendo game. I purchased it for $100 working. I ebayed off the marquee, and game boards. Total cost for the bare cabinet was $30. Took me about 4 actual days before it was finished. I'd guess something like 12-16 hours of worktime. I had to buy paint, art, controls, t-mold, etc

The Tabeltop was $75 and was previously a mame cabinet and came with a iPac. The computer was junk, but the monitor was good. This one took a little longer to complete because of wiring and configuration. I can't remember exactly.

Both cabinets were ready for paint after only a few hours of work.

[Donkbaca]

I love those old nintendo cabs, and who doesn't like cocktails? 

I am thinking about taking in the Pasadena auction to see what the action is like there and see if I could get one of those...

Still prefer to build though