Hidden arcade machine project

[strykerX_X]

I am building this project for a friend of mine. The goal is to make a hidden arcade machine for in the living room. I have come up with a plan to build a hidden control panel inside an ottoman that has a removable top. I would also house the computer inside of the ottoman. On the side of the ottoman I would have 3 rca plug ins and a power plug in. This design would allow you to simply plug the av cables into the tv and the ottoman, remove the top to reveal the controls, and then play games. If you guy shave any other good ideas for hidden arcade machine, let me know. I will post pictures of the project when i am done. Let me know what you think of the design.

This is a picture of the style ottoman i am talking about



Here is a example of the av outlet i would have on the ottoman ( I would paint it or cover it with fabric to match the ottoman)



This is the type of power inlet i would have

[Donkbaca]

USB outs on the side, and then buy/make 2 fight sticks, you can play by setting the sticks on top of the thing, or in your lap, whatever.  If you get Tekken 6 fight sticks for the xbox 360, and a wireless xbox receiver for the PC, you wouldn't even have to worry about the USB ports, just store the controllers in the ottoman.  I would do HDMI out instead of RCA.  Make sure there is enough ventilation when its running

[brad808]

could put hinges on the lid and mount an lcd in it, then mount a control panel in the top of the lower portion and have the computer underneath the joysticks and such

[drventure]

I'd probably lean toward Donkabakas suggestion, though, at that point, you might alternately consider saving the money on the ottoman, and just put together a good performing PC as an HTPC that can also run Mame and a front end. Pick up (or build) a couple of wireless fight sticks and you're golden. You can put the pc in your equipment rack or wherever you're keeping your amp, DVD etc. It'll be close to the tv hook ups so that's an extra benefit.

[Le Chuck]

I'd probably lean toward Donkabakas suggestion, though, at that point, you might alternately consider saving the money on the ottoman, and just put together a good performing PC as an HTPC that can also run Mame and a front end. Pick up (or build) a couple of wireless fight sticks and you're golden. You can put the pc in your equipment rack or wherever you're keeping your amp, DVD etc. It'll be close to the tv hook ups so that's an extra benefit.

+1000

OR!!!

1) Rob jewelry store
2) Use a small amount of proceeds to build/buy the cab you ACTUALLY want
3) Fill ottoman with left over gems and gold
4) When significant other complains of the cab in the livingroom scream in fake rage and kick ottoman over sending swag everywhere. 
5) Claim it as devine intervention and tell her that God clearly wants you to keep the cab. 
6) Bask in the adolation and then take her to school on some tekken. 

[Seith]

+1 on Donkbaca's suggestion on the simple principle that an ottoman is just too low to the ground to be able to play games on comfortably for extended periods of time.

[EightBySix]

What about installing the controls on the underside of the lid. Then you could flip it over and put it back on the ottoman to have a playing surface. If you made it wireless, you could have it on your knee whilst playing...