Simple bartop arcade project

[cRckls]

Hi guys,
I made this project last year when I realised I had pretty much all the parts lying around to make an arcade cabinet of some description. (I had an old pc, a spare monitor, and joystick and buttons from a plug in arcade stick I made previously). I knew I wanted something that would be quite simple and wouldn't dominate the room, so I knew a smaller, bartop cab was the way forward.
I also didn't want to just use a button to insert a coin, or have it set up as free play, so I figured out a way to do it with a slot and chute that accepted poker chips! They simply rolled down the chute, triggered a switch and fell into a container.



For the mini custom marquee I went for translucent fluorescent perspex and engraved the invaders onto it.



The table it is sat on is this kitchen trolley from IKEA http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70011793
Means it fits in with the room and can be used for storage underneath, and it also has wheels on the back two legs so it is easy to move!

I'm very pleased with it as a first attempt, but I'm constantly thinking of ways I'd do everything better, especially after looking at similar projects on byoac!
As a result, I've upgraded the cheap joystick to a ultrastik 360, and recently added a coin door in the side that accepts UK 2 pence pieces. The poker chip idea was fun and it did work, but it was frustrating when it didn't trigger the switch occasionally



I now need to replace the token section on the front though and I'd like to move the buttons closer together, so I've got half an eye on a complete rebuild! Anyone else found building and tweaking cabinets is almost more addictive than actually playing the games?

[vcoleiro1]

Nice job,  I like the work you did engraving the translucent fluorescent perspex.  Great stuff.

[dandare]

Nice job,  I like the work you did engraving the translucent fluorescent perspex.  Great stuff.

Yeah me too, may 'borrow' that idea

Vertical screen is nice too.