Bartop single player

[shanghaiguide]

Its been a good few years since my last builds, most of which have been lost to the sands of time unfortunately.
Wish I had pics..  I still have the posts on here, but photos all vanished.
Oh well.

This time I'm starting again with a smaller model build.  Its a single player that someone asked me to build for their bar.
I also bought some new tools to play with - mainly a band saw.  I wish I'd had one before, it makes cutting MDF feel like slicing butter with a hot knife. 



I still have all 3 of my fingers left 

Started off the design using a photo of a shape I liked, then sketched it out in illustrator, and stretched to fit the 15" LCD i intended to use for this project.

With that done, cut the sides, and base, top, and I had my box shape.
A little bit of glueing and some drilling later I have a box that I can mount the various bits into.

For this build I'm using an old PC and screen.

Once I've tweaked the design a little, I'll be making a second as a NeoGeo MVS unit for myself.  I already splurged on 10 cartridges, just waiting for the machine to arrive.  Looking forward to seeing how Last Blade compares in real life (tm) to my memories of it 

Pics below



Control Panel underneath (haven't cleaned up wiring yet obviously!)


Control Panel



My cough, SSD, cough


Side view


Rear Entry, ahem.

Larger images are here in Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheedl/sets/72157626167216515/

Joystick and usb controller were bought off of Taobao for 80rmb for 2 player set. (Approx 12$)
MDF board was 300rmb odd.

We've ordered some matt black spray paint, and will be spraying the whole case black initially.
Front will be glass - will have that cut to size by the local glass guy.   If I can find some perspex easily locally, I'll also put that above the control panel to give that some gloss.

Will cover sides with some vinyl arcade style design - haven't decided what yet.
I think tomorrow or Sunday I should be able to be mostly complete enough to paint, although I should really route the panel edging first.
If I get that done this weekend, then I'll be able to finish off next week, and update with more photos.

Once I get this one out, I can start on my NeoGeo one, which I'm excited for

[emphatic]

Looks nice. 

[IG-88]

Looks great.   

Thats a great price for the joystick and usb controller. Do you have a linky for them? I'd like a set at that price!

[shanghaiguide]

You'll need to speak Chinese.

This is the shop I bought them from.  I've bought from him before, ships fast, and they're good.  This is an 8 way.  They also sell the lock bottom bit for 4 way too.
http://shop60308518.taobao.com/?search=y&scid=222537952

These are the ones I buy - http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=8455190877
I can even see my comment in the purchasers list hehe (I'm there as computersolutionsloz)

Sanwa sticks are 200 ish for a set+ buttons.  Given the abuse people put mine through I rather get the cheaper local versions and replace.  1/4 the price, and its not like the Sanwa ones are 4x better or last 4x longer.  (Insert Flame war here about sticks!)
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=8455687295

I can sell them to you if you're interested, but usually takes a while to arrive - 3-8 weeks by sea typically.
Air mail is faster, but exponentially more expensive.

China is awesome for stuff like this - lots of stores I can buy random stuff that I'd never find anywhere back home.  However stuff you'd take for granted that you'd find is nigh on impossible to buy locally sometimes!

On an off topic

I'd really like to buy an SGS3000 at the moment, but they don't have any payment methods other than paypal..
That + a Taito X Vewlix cabinet would be tres awesome.  Really really considering making one of those too.  They're so... beautiful.

[IG-88]

Cool! To keep your post on topic I sent you a PM. 

[shanghaiguide]

Some updates.

After a bit of running around for hole bits in various sizes, I found that my buttons need a 30mm bit size.

I now own bits in these sizes - 20mm, 22mm, 25mm, 26mm, 27mm, 28mm, 30mm
(Some buttons are going to be smaller eg the coin credit).

The majority of the buttons are 30mm diameter hole size though.
That does mean that I have the control panel mostly done now though.
Still need to route it.. (and buy a router).

We received our can's of spray paint now though, and played graffitti artiste on the sides of the box, ensuring that the entire office got high off of paint fumes.

Some updated photos below, as today the good people at the firewall in China have deigned that it is again permissible to access the foreign imperialist photo site Flickr  









My assistant playtesting.


Why yes, that is real software


This is not an emulator! (jamma + some bits and pieces)

[emphatic]

With an SLG3000 (I think that's what you meant to write?) it'd be perfect for JAMMA games. It looks awesome even now though. 

Like this fellow did here:

[shanghaiguide]

Unfortunately, being in China means that youtube is little more than a grey square that doesn't load within my browser.

Yes, thats what I was referring to.
I'd love one, but their hokey payment methods rule it out for me sadly.

Paypal only?

Sheesh.

Linkys here for those who know nothing about what we talk of.

http://shoryuken.com/f177/scanline-generator-slg3000-264500/
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=33454&start=540
http://forum.arcadeotaku.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=14441&start=30&hilit=slg3000


A circuit to do the same thing for pennies here -
http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=4422.0

(Which I might go for, as its impossible for me to buy the nicer version).

[emphatic]

Did you try e-mailing the seller (arcadeforge.de)?

[shanghaiguide]

@Emphatic, no, haven't, but then again, can't even get to his blog site!

China blocks bits of the net for our safety(tm)., and unfortunately he uses most of the blocked stuff for hosting etc..
I'll probably build the cheap version, and see. 

When I'm back home next month will try order one if the DIY version doesn't make me happy.


Without further ado though, here are the next build updates


Glass in place.  I was sick when the glass guy came, and he did a few things I'm not happy with.  The LCD panel got a nice big scratch, plus he screwed through the side with screws, and the glass quality is pretty crappy     Not huge issues, and I'm going to put stickers over where he ruined my paint job, so not the end of the world.



Checking out the Marquee design (from arcadeartlibrary)


Side panels being worked on by my designer, those should be ready to check next week.  I'm happy with the bezel, so will print that next week also..


My trackball's arrived
They light up too, this one is green, I also have a red one.  Both have transparent balls.  That image is 
Haven't tried them in use yet, but the OS see's them, and I can mouse around with them.
Missile Command in 5.. 4.. 3.. 2..  haha



Here is a shot of all of that - with Groovy Arcade attempting to install.


Groovy Arcade doesn't want to install though, dies on Installing Mame XML.
I left it running overnight, but still shows that, so will investigate more, and try contact the guy in the other thread about it.

Kind of convoluted to download too.  I have to login to my USA server, browse through there to the Groovy Arcade site.  His download links don't work, so I copied the download directory folder, then got the correct links from there, downloaded to my US server, then from there to Shanghai.

Also tried out Puppy Arcade, but I think Groovy might be better, assuming I can get it installed.
Damned if I use Windows for this (although we did have that running just to test).

Next week - should have artwork done, and mounted.  I should also have finished spraying the glass for the bezel, and hopefully have finished the OS.

Starting to look like a real machine now though, so I'm happy 

[BobA]

Your flickr photos are not being shown.  Says "This photo currently unavailable"

[IG-88]

Your flickr photos are not being shown.  Says "This photo currently unavailable"

Maybe Hu Jintao was in the background???

(just kidding) 

[shanghaiguide]

2nd try, as Flickr - she don't like me...

Assume this is the same as above, and I've written all the inbetween twaddle.
Hopefully this works - I'm a paid up member of flickr, and I don't see why I can't quote my own damn photos! 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5222/5560143367_6fe1a8a8dd.jpg

[BobA]

Looks much better now. 

[shanghaiguide]

This comment is currently unavailable 

[shanghaiguide]

As I've been a bit slack on this due to work (I leave in 2 days for 2 weeks, so everyone is oh kak, you're leaving, we need this done noooooooooooow!)

Side art mockup.


I've basically been spending time dicking around with controllers and whatnot - and getting the parts to build my SNK MVS when i'm back in CapeTown.
I have discovered that I really do like HyperSpin over others i've played with.

Now I see what all the fuss is about.

I need about another 3 weeks to finish the download though - 99gig rarred for the frontend is a tad large, but its doable. 
I spent at least that long getting the CHD's downloaded.  This is going to be a rather complete gaming arcade once its done.
It has made me renew my faith in windows 7 as a front end - if I can boot into something that nice, its worth spending 2 minutes booting up.

I still need to get it working properly, but its looking like its the winner in the ooh - shiny stakes.

So much so that I didn't even get to route the wood for the control panel as I planned.
Oh well, that can wait till next month