The New Zealand Story...

[MD Draco]

One more thing I almost forgot... Listen to OND and LeChuck... These guys are the guru's!! 

One day we may be worthy, but I suspect that's a long way off!!

[MD Draco]

Time for an update...

Artwork arrived, and it's spot on this time... Right size, right art, thanks Scott (game on grafix) ... It looks amazing! Vlad (GoG's recommended artist) is a genius designer, as he got what I wanted down to a tee So, just had time the other day to lay it flat and take a photo on my way to work... Then I fitted it... and now, t-molding is currently letting glue set in place, so it's all taped up... but impatient as I am, couldn't wait for an unveil... So, here we are... The artwork (the important bit for a lot, I would assume!).

So, what did I want? Well, as with most here, I've grown up with the arcade, and seen its evolution, and eventual demise in most cases (thankfully there are still a few around... but largely just in cinemas over here now), so, I wanted something to reflect that... but my artistry skills go about as far as drawing Garfield on people's white boards at work, so I needed help!! I had a look around, and I decided to go with Vlad (who's work is showcased at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Custom-Grafix/111293578954130?fref=ts ) who also happens to be the recommended artist of GoG, as I've said above, and he is good, very good! I gave him this brief, and a few pics of characters and asked what he could come up with... He liked the idea of showcasing the evolution, and I love the end result... so, open season on whether it's liked or not... just have to remove the tape from the t-molding when the glue has set tomorrow, and maybe some more photos...

[monkeychunkuk]

Its awesome love the artwork !
Great work

[MD Draco]

Thanks Monkeychunkuk! I'm going to do some better photographs when I've got the tape off (did the other side last night, so that's just setting now too) ... What you can't make out on these photo's is that the background starting right at the bottom is a a grid, actually I thought I should upload the sample .jpg confirming what I wanted from the artwork, though the grid really isn't that visible on there either, but perhaps a better example until I can do photo's with my actual camera, and during the day

[talkgeek]

Really like what you have done!

.....unfortunately is making me re think my artwork for my LowBoy CAB (same size/style as yours) - was planning just to do a Street Fighter II theme (already bought the Marque), but given i'm putting in a 355-n-1 JAMMA game board, now thinking it should be a mixture of the KOF, Metal Slug, Street Fighter and Moon Patrol images ...hmmmm

I see you also have the same coin door as me, are you planning to put a coin mech in?  ..and if so have you found one to fit the size of cut out? (I haven't and am seriously thinking of bringing in a new door and coin mech to replace).

all the best

[MD Draco]

Hey Talkgeek

Thanks for the compliment!! Always welcome and gratefully accepted ... It took me long enough, and after nearly 3 months, I've shed blood on 3 separate occasions for this build! (nothing major, I'm just clumsy)

Anyway, If you're good at artwork, and it's a more than 1 game, I would say do it... I paid for someone else to do mine, because whilst I have ideas in my head, there's some kind of hardware fault between head and hand which doesn't allow me to put them down on paper in anything other than words (thankfully, I am never shy of a word) ... My reason for saying do it, is because, well... It's not just a Street Fighter ][ machine, it's so much more than that; advertise that fact, and if you can, make something completely custom

I had this idea in my head since the day I got the cabinet, because to me games have encompassed my life; I was raised as the Arcade hit its high point, and I saw its ultimate demise to an unloved room at the back of every cinema you go in, but I still have the love for the arcade, and I wanted something that showed the evolution of games, rather than just showcasing one, my issue was, I couldn't find anything that did that, and believe me, I looked everywhere... There were ideas that came close, but nothing that was quite right for me, so I got in touch with Vlad (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Custom-Grafix/111293578954130?fref=ts ) who drew this up for me after I gave him my ideas

As for the coin door, I've seen one or two on ebay (all seconds, which is fine by me, as I'd rebuild anyway) going for *reasonable* prices, right up until I get a quote for postage, which for me, adds 150% to the overall price So, I decided to scratch that idea, and I'm working on making a new item; I'll make a blanking plate to go there to fill the hole, but make it useful by putting a power button in (extended from computer) and I picked up a USB port from arcadeshop.de (http://www.arcadeshop.de/Connectors-Neutrik-NAUSB-W-B_1011.html ) so there'll be a front jack; meaning for those times a keyboard is required, it can be attached easily and without having to open up the cab ... Hopefully it should look good when I build it, otherwise it's back to the drawing board!! And by the drawing board, I mean pretty much following your lead and getting a whole new door with coin mech... Postage is about the same as just for the coin mech, and more justifiable as it's for the whole unit

Curses to the price of postage living in NZ!!

Anyway... As it was reasonably daylight this morning when I left for work, here's a quick shot of it with the tape off the t-molding... glue seems to be holding okay, otherwise I'll have to figure out somewhere that sells t-molding with a 2mm slot!!

[MD Draco]

Finally got the good camera out... Apparently; turns out my rechargeable batteries have exceeded their LE to the point where they charged (got very hot, which concerned me!) then after cooling down, I tested them... Got one photograph and they packed in... 3 years & goodness only knows how many charges, can't really grumble... Just have to remember to buy some mroe... But anyway... The one good photo before the camera suffered an ignominious death due to the battery failure...