Author Topic: Finally completed the worlds smallest Space Invaders machine (possibly) (Read 11716 times)

vcoleiro1 · « **on:** July 06, 2011, 11:30:31 am »

After 3 months I have finally completed a 7" tall Space Invaders machine.

The video below shows some of the internals and build design.

I need some ideas for my next project, so feel free to suggest what I should make next. I was thinking of a mini outrun machine with steering wheel and pedals etc.

************** UPDATE BELOW ****************

Since my intial post above some people had asked me to build a micro arcade for them which I have done and thought id post a video of them as an update. See below

syph007 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2011, 11:41:41 am »

neat! Oh and Id love to see your desktop driving cab, tight squeeze to fit in!!

LeedsFan · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2011, 03:02:13 pm »

That looks really cool! The magnets are a neat touch. I might have to log that idea away for future reference.

That wiring though... could you not trim is down a bit and solder them back together? Do they need to be that long and folded up in there?

Excellent build though. These little machines are a constant inspiration to me. I dunno why they just seem cooler.

vcoleiro1 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2011, 06:32:11 pm »

Quote from: LeedsFan on July 06, 2011, 03:02:13 pm

That looks really cool! The magnets are a neat touch. I might have to log that idea away for future reference.

That wiring though... could you not trim is down a bit and solder them back together? Do they need to be that long and folded up in there?

Excellent build though. These little machines are a constant inspiration to me. I dunno why they just seem cooler.

Your correct about the wiring, miss judged the length badly, they should have been a lot shorter. Oh well next time

Bender · « **Reply #4 on:** July 06, 2011, 10:10:09 pm »

Nice!!!!!

Thanks for the props too

thecig · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2011, 12:07:17 am »

That is awesome.
Good to see another person from my hometown on this forum

Encryptor · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2011, 04:56:45 am »

Very nice work!

You mention a Supercard for the GBA. I found their website but I can't seem to find anyone that actually sells it. All I can find are ones for the newer DSOne's and DSTwo's. Any idea where a person might find one? TIA

Coolin · « **Reply #7 on:** July 07, 2011, 11:44:54 am »

well cool dude I gotta make me one of these maybe based around galaxian or pacman 2 of my favs, never thought about a GB Adv I have one of these with a programable multi cart sitting gathering dust so seems a no brainer and way cheaper than the GPX2 builds

col

syph007 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 07, 2011, 12:23:01 pm »

Quote from: Encryptor on July 07, 2011, 04:56:45 am

Very nice work!

You mention a Supercard for the GBA. I found their website but I can't seem to find anyone that actually sells it. All I can find are ones for the newer DSOne's and DSTwo's. Any idea where a person might find one? TIA

For GBA I use EZ Flash IV Flashcard. It was so friggin hard to find one MEANT for GBA not for playing GBA on DS.

I bought 4 of them, cuz well GBA SP is my fav little system. But its exactly the same size of a normal GBA card, and works anywhere a GBA card does.

leapinlew · « **Reply #9 on:** July 07, 2011, 01:30:33 pm »

Very cool.

You're going to be pissed when I project announcement my 6 15/16" Space Invaders.

TopJimmyCooks · « **Reply #10 on:** July 07, 2011, 01:40:54 pm »

Vcoleiro, you're on Gizmodo. Welcome to your 15 minutes, dude!

shrunkenmaster · « **Reply #11 on:** July 07, 2011, 02:19:15 pm »

Another fantastic micro-build, loving it mate

BobA · « **Reply #12 on:** July 07, 2011, 02:38:48 pm »

Fantastic micro cab build. I don't think they can get much smaller and still be playable.

Encryptor · « **Reply #13 on:** July 07, 2011, 08:37:06 pm »

Quote from: syph007 on July 07, 2011, 12:23:01 pm

Quote from: Encryptor on July 07, 2011, 04:56:45 am
Very nice work!

You mention a Supercard for the GBA. I found their website but I can't seem to find anyone that actually sells it. All I can find are ones for the newer DSOne's and DSTwo's. Any idea where a person might find one? TIA

For GBA I use EZ Flash IV Flashcard. It was so friggin hard to find one MEANT for GBA not for playing GBA on DS.

I bought 4 of them, cuz well GBA SP is my fav little system. But its exactly the same size of a normal GBA card, and works anywhere a GBA card does.

That's the issue I'm having. Finding one that is meant for the GBA and not the DS1 or DS2.

vcoleiro1 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 07, 2011, 09:53:55 pm »

Quote from: leapinlew on July 07, 2011, 01:30:33 pm

Very cool.

You're going to be pissed when I project announcement my 6 15/16" Space Invaders.

Thats ok, im planning a 6 14/16" one

.

Actually I just received a gameboy micro which I had planned to build an even smaller one with , but Im now thinking hmmmm, should I really. What does everyone think , should I?.
Im actually 6' 6" in the old money and have fairly large hands , so smaller is even more cumbersome for me than it would be for most. That said , I dont seem to have much trouble playing games on the gameboy micro.

ivwshane · « **Reply #15 on:** July 07, 2011, 11:07:34 pm »

Can you post links to where you got your parts from?

vcoleiro1 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 09, 2011, 03:29:57 am »

Quote from: ivwshane on July 07, 2011, 11:07:34 pm

Can you post links to where you got your parts from?

Magnets from: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350201599166&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Joystick from: digikey.com , part # GH7455-ND

Buttons from ebay, the listing for the red and white buttons I used is not there at the moment, although he does have green:
Link

GBA SP: I use a GBA SP backlit model # ags-101.

Hope that helps

macattack · « **Reply #17 on:** July 09, 2011, 06:16:46 am »

Great build, I am off to dig through my daughters room now to find her old pink gab sp

Ryglore · « **Reply #18 on:** July 09, 2011, 03:32:14 pm »

2 words.

Dead Sexy.

Bender · « **Reply #19 on:** July 13, 2011, 04:23:54 pm »

It's up on Gamepron
Cool!

vcoleiro1 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 13, 2011, 09:45:38 pm »

Quote from: Bender on July 13, 2011, 04:23:54 pm

It's up on Gamepron
Cool!

It's amazing how many people have said I sound like Julian Assange in the comments on various sites, dont think I like that.javascript:void(0);
Must be a Melbourne thing as were both from there.

NiN^_^NiN · « **Reply #21 on:** July 13, 2011, 11:16:55 pm »

Hey another melbourne guy here too

Great job i really like it very impressed

Funny enough i was thinking about a mini outrun lastnight and here you are thinking about it too.

I've got to many projects on but i did think an outrun made with a Tomy Turbo would be great

http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Tomy/Tomy-TurninTurboDashboard.jpg
http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Tomy/Tomy-TurninTurboFront.jpg

There's one on ebay right now although it's $80 ouch

The fun to drive one seems better and has flipup headlights
http://speedhero.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/tomy-turbo.jpg

vcoleiro1 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 14, 2011, 02:38:48 am »

Quote from: NiN^_^NiN on July 13, 2011, 11:16:55 pm

Hey another melbourne guy here too

Great job i really like it very impressed

Funny enough i was thinking about a mini outrun lastnight and here you are thinking about it too.

I've got to many projects on but i did think an outrun made with a Tomy Turbo would be great

http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Tomy/Tomy-TurninTurboDashboard.jpg
http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Tomy/Tomy-TurninTurboFront.jpg

There's one on ebay right now although it's $80 ouch

The fun to drive one seems better and has flipup headlights
http://speedhero.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/tomy-turbo.jpg

Check this awesome Ridge Race Micro cab this guy built

NiN^_^NiN · « **Reply #23 on:** July 14, 2011, 08:32:11 am »

Now that is awesome

would of been cooler if the wheel worked although being so small it wouldn't have been the best controller

I do love the daytona mini that was posted recently although it's not as small it does have a steering wheel
http://www.gamoover.net/files/image/dayto.jpg

BTW i found you on here too
http://amazingadgets.com/ultra-tiny-arcade-cabinet-plays-gameboy-advance-games/

And making one would be even easier to do for anyone here if they had a spare psone and screen combo laying around

Now i have a spare pico projector i wonder how i could use that in a mini/desktop arcade

Is this the kinda style you are looking to do if you do a small outrun cab vcoleiro1?

Quote from: vcoleiro1 on July 14, 2011, 02:38:48 am

Quote from: NiN^_^NiN on July 13, 2011, 11:16:55 pm
Hey another melbourne guy here too

Great job i really like it very impressed

Funny enough i was thinking about a mini outrun lastnight and here you are thinking about it too.

I've got to many projects on but i did think an outrun made with a Tomy Turbo would be great

http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Tomy/Tomy-TurninTurboDashboard.jpg
http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Tomy/Tomy-TurninTurboFront.jpg

There's one on ebay right now although it's $80 ouch

The fun to drive one seems better and has flipup headlights
http://speedhero.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/tomy-turbo.jpg

Check this awesome Ridge Race Micro cab this guy built

syph007 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 14, 2011, 08:38:43 am »

I like your space invaders better than this driving cab. Yours is battery powered and would be a sweet little model to have on my desk at work.

The driving one looks well build but completely impractical to play. So while I admire his workmanship, I think the implementation is kind of silly.

vcoleiro1 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 23, 2011, 12:56:28 am »

Since my intial post above some people had asked me to build a micro arcade for them which I have done and thought id post a video of them as an update. See second video in my intial post.

BobA · « **Reply #26 on:** August 25, 2011, 10:54:38 am »

Looks great

Nice little arcade that you have going on your desk.

javeryh · « **Reply #27 on:** August 25, 2011, 11:01:57 am »

Seriously. You can really crank those mini cabs out. So cool - I'd love to make something similar for my office desk! Where are you getting all of those GBAs?

vcoleiro1 · « **Reply #28 on:** August 25, 2011, 11:20:41 am »

Quote from: javeryh on August 25, 2011, 11:01:57 am

Seriously. You can really crank those mini cabs out. So cool - I'd love to make something similar for my office desk! Where are you getting all of those GBAs?

Ive been getting the GBA SP's from ebay.com , unfortunately the backlit version was never sold in Australia so I need to get them from the US.
I cant take full credit for these, I actually got my brother to make the mdf cab's to my specs as per the first one I had built, I then then did the rest.

Dazz · « **Reply #29 on:** August 26, 2011, 09:44:00 am »

Quote from: vcoleiro1 on August 25, 2011, 11:20:41 am

Quote from: javeryh on August 25, 2011, 11:01:57 am
Seriously. You can really crank those mini cabs out. So cool - I'd love to make something similar for my office desk! Where are you getting all of those GBAs?

Ive been getting the GBA SP's from ebay.com , unfortunately the backlit version was never sold in Australia so I need to get them from the US.
I cant take full credit for these, I actually got my brother to make the mdf cab's to my specs as per the first one I had built, I then then did the rest.

Would you consider selling flatpacks of the cabinets?

Also, where are you sourcing the mini/micro joystick from?

vcoleiro1 · « **Reply #30 on:** August 26, 2011, 09:55:12 am »

Quote from: Dazz on August 26, 2011, 09:44:00 am

Quote from: vcoleiro1 on August 25, 2011, 11:20:41 am
Quote from: javeryh on August 25, 2011, 11:01:57 am
Seriously. You can really crank those mini cabs out. So cool - I'd love to make something similar for my office desk! Where are you getting all of those GBAs?

Ive been getting the GBA SP's from ebay.com , unfortunately the backlit version was never sold in Australia so I need to get them from the US.
I cant take full credit for these, I actually got my brother to make the mdf cab's to my specs as per the first one I had built, I then then did the rest.

Would you consider selling flatpacks of the cabinets?

Also, where are you sourcing the mini/micro joystick from?

Never thought about selling flat packs , maybe, but the postage from Australia to the US might be a put off for some.

The joystick is the same joystick bender uses, its the Grayhill PN 04A-B01 joystick which you can get at digikey.com amongst other places.

vcoleiro1 · « **Reply #31 on:** August 26, 2011, 10:04:34 am »

Quote from: Dazz on August 26, 2011, 09:44:00 am

Quote from: vcoleiro1 on August 25, 2011, 11:20:41 am
Quote from: javeryh on August 25, 2011, 11:01:57 am
Seriously. You can really crank those mini cabs out. So cool - I'd love to make something similar for my office desk! Where are you getting all of those GBAs?

Ive been getting the GBA SP's from ebay.com , unfortunately the backlit version was never sold in Australia so I need to get them from the US.
I cant take full credit for these, I actually got my brother to make the mdf cab's to my specs as per the first one I had built, I then then did the rest.

Would you consider selling flatpacks of the cabinets?

Also, where are you sourcing the mini/micro joystick from?

Never thought about selling flat packs , maybe, but the postage from Australia to the US might be a put off for some.

The joystick is the same joystick bender uses, its the Grayhill PN 04A-B01 joystick which you can get at digikey.com amongst other places.

GingerTroll · « **Reply #32 on:** August 28, 2011, 08:46:25 pm »

First, I would like to thank you vcoleiro1 for your reply to my email for additional information with a very detailed note. You are an outstanding citizen of the Arcade Kingdom!

Your graciousness to an old noob is appreciated. Second, you and Bender

are an inspiration to me and I have started accumulating the pieces to build a personal arcade like the one you have completed for others. If I can screw up the courage, I will post my first on BYOAC!

I have a question, have you attempted a vertical screen orientation from the AGS-101? Some of the re-issued arcade classics have a vertical play option that I was hoping to utilize.

vcoleiro1 · « **Reply #33 on:** August 28, 2011, 10:57:45 pm »

Quote from: GingerTroll on August 28, 2011, 08:46:25 pm

First, I would like to thank you vcoleiro1 for your reply to my email for additional information with a very detailed note. You are an outstanding citizen of the Arcade Kingdom! Your graciousness to an old noob is appreciated. Second, you and Bender are an inspiration to me and I have started accumulating the pieces to build a personal arcade like the one you have completed for others. If I can screw up the courage, I will post my first on BYOAC!

I have a question, have you attempted a vertical screen orientation from the AGS-101? Some of the re-issued arcade classics have a vertical play option that I was hoping to utilize.

I have heard some of the re-issued arcade classics have a vertical play option but I have not attempted to orient the screen vertically. That said the LCD ribbon is long enough to do it.


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