*** Retrocade *** Aka "Get that thing out of our living room!"

[Mokthemagicman]

(This is almost same post as Hyperspin Forums but I had to show off my blood, sweat, and a bunch of tears, project here since I lurked around for all the info I could before I began such a big project.)  Thanks for everyone's help and inspiration.  I went big so I could play all the awesome four player games.  That was a must!

I had to be able to play games like Gauntlet, NBA Jam and Sunset Riders with four friends. I also wanted to have a spinner that had pull and push control so I could play one of my favorite games in the 80's, Disks of Tron. A Tron flight stick was also a must but it really feels cool when you play other similar flight stick games with it such as Night Striker and GORF. I also want to change out the yucky black Tron stick with the see thru blue one. It costs 25.00 so I will have to get it when I get a chance.  I made sure I replaced the restrictor plate (purchased here from Forum member Encryptor) on the Tron stick so it wouldn't do the wonky diagonal movements that it is prone to.  Also thanks to Forum member Pongo for the rub on transfers for the buttons.  They came out great!

Anyway, I also made sure that the player 1 and player 2 had dual stick controls available as well (something I don't see often on many mame cabs). That way games like Smash TV, and Total Carnage can be enjoyed with a buddy as well. Don't forget Robotron and Krull ether.  Now I can enjoy Robotron they way it SHOULD be played. I freaking love this cab. My only main gripe might also be the 21" monitor.  I know, I know.... It needs bigger screen. I was going to go with an arcade monitor but they cost $500.00 and I ran out of $$$ for the project. I tried to use a TV tube but everything looked muddy especially the vector games. Blech! The cab has space for a new arcade monitor for the future so it will be an upgrade when I have the dough. Someday....

Speakers are 5.5" Sony Explod. They really boom the sound effects. I can barely turn the volume up very high. It is connected to a Logitech sound system with same 4 olms that has a bass box and volume control I stuck in the keyboard tray. I will mount this somewhere on the cab when I find a good spot.

As I saved money for getting all the parts I created all the Photoshop art for the sides and controller and really researched on placement and accessibility of the controls. I also researched a ton on how to build the darn thing and try to escape some of the pitfalls others have had. I knew I also wanted to have correct placement for Asteroids (and Asteroids Delux) button controls. I created buttons that reflected the same layout as the arcade controls had. The four way joystick is to the left so games like Defender could be played like it is supposed to. With a REVERSE button!

All this planning took a few weeks of on and off work on them, but I think in the end they came out pretty cool. As much as a pain it was, routing all the joystick and trackball plates so they don't look so ugly on the control panel. If I had it to do over again I would have placed the Tron stick closer to the front and move the 4 way joystick to the right a bit so your hand won't rest on the player 3 buttons which they do if you rest your left palm on the control panel. Oh well.

Working full Saturdays and Sundays at my friends house to work on the cab (since he had all the best tools) was taking a bit of a toll on my marriage so I had to curb it down to just Sundays. It took longer to build but the end results were definitely worth it. I know the keyboard is super old but it was the only thing that I could find that had a dedicated PS2 connector (see pic). The IPAC can be fussy with seeing a connected keyboard. After about two months of hard work we were done! I got a hold of a used but working coin mech that takes quarters and boom I was transported back to the warm fuzzy days of the 80's arcade. Yay! My daughter and her friends love to play after school. I have to beg them to give me a turn.

Now if I can only get my wife to play something besides Super Puzzle Fighter.   

See below of all my pics and feel free to comment below. Sorry for the crappy iphone quality.

[Typefighter01]

I am not usually a fan of the "do all" CP's, admin buttons or "arcade character" collage artwork, but I have to say, this is the best example of how to do it right that I have seen yet. Your artwork works great with your button and stick placement and I can tell you took the time to tie specific characters into each control. Your blood, sweat and many tears paid off...good work buddy

[Acids]

I am not usually a fan of the "do all" CP's, admin buttons or "arcade character" collage artwork, but I have to say, this is the best example of how to do it right that I have seen yet. Your artwork works great with your button and stick placement and I can tell you took the time to tie specific characters into each control. Your blood, sweat and many tears paid off...good work buddy

I thought the exact opposite ?
WWAAYYY to much eye candy for me personally.      ( cluttered is the word i would use )

However the cabinet looks clean and nicely finished Awesome!!!
I bet you cant wait for a bigger screen to come your way?

Nice cabinet!!  i hope everyone enjoys it!.

[Le Chuck]

Player 3 & 4 joysticks are angled so that up isn't the same as P1 & P2?

[DaOld Man]

Nice job, but where are the guns? Also some games (Terminator is one) had a gun mounted on the CP.

(Im just poking at ya man. Looks like you definitely took the time to think things out.)

[Typefighter01]

I am not usually a fan of the "do all" CP's, admin buttons or "arcade character" collage artwork, but I have to say, this is the best example of how to do it right that I have seen yet. Your artwork works great with your button and stick placement and I can tell you took the time to tie specific characters into each control. Your blood, sweat and many tears paid off...good work buddy

I thought the exact opposite ?
WWAAYYY to much eye candy for me personally.      ( cluttered is the word i would use )

However the cabinet looks clean and nicely finished Awesome!!!
I bet you cant wait for a bigger screen to come your way?

Nice cabinet!!  i hope everyone enjoys it!.

It's busy for sure, but it aint raster art printed from the net onto "sticky paper", then cut out and spinkled about, its really well done. Also, (and this is just my opinion) I find Hyperspin in of itself to be a little busy, awesome, but busy. So the CP just seems to tie itself into the whole theme (including the sideart and marquee). I think if you were going to do a simple and clean CP art wise, you would be better off doing something simple in MALA to match. Only thing I would change controller wise, is moving the spinner over top of Donkey Kong's barrel as it looks like you might stub a finger when using the trackball.

Player 3 & 4 joysticks are angled so that up isn't the same as P1 & P2?

I think when someone is first designing a 4 player cab, they have these visions of playing 4 player games every other night with there best buddies, when in reality, players 3 and 4 probably only get used a few guys nights a year and when family shows up. For the few times these controls get used, I don't think the angled sticks will kill anyone. Is it right? Probably up for debate, but meh..as long as everyone playing has fun, it's all good...

[nipsmg]

Sorry if this was asked but I didn't see it..

How did you get the artwork on your "action" buttons (like play game, left mouse, right mouse, etc).  Are those vinyl stick-ons?  If so, where did you get them from?

[Audiowizard]

Nice machine.  I have no problem with well thought out "everything in one" arcades because you're the one playing it so and it's not like you destroyed a classic to build it.

[Mokthemagicman]

Sorry if this was asked but I didn't see it..

How did you get the artwork on your "action" buttons (like play game, left mouse, right mouse, etc).  Are those vinyl stick-ons?  If so, where did you get them from?

From fellow Forum member Pongo.

[Mokthemagicman]

Player 3 & 4 joysticks are angled so that up isn't the same as P1 & P2?

The angled sticks keeps good distance between everyone and is more comfortable for players 3 and 4 since they are on the corners of the controller.  I have used them and they feel great. Nobody complains and they like that they have room to play.  No elbows hitting each other is a good thing.  Not only that but I have mapped my Q-bert MAME config controls to the player 3 stick so it doubles as a Q-bert diagonal control for player 1 playing Q-bert.  Again... it works great!  That is something else I have not seen anyone do.  Innovative?  Right?  I thought it was.

As far as people ever using four player control, I have a 16 year old daughter that brings home a ton of friends that like to play NBA JAM, TMNT, Xmen, Sunset Riders, Bomberman and other 4 player games.  I even have a genre for it.  When I have parties the 4 player control is busy with friends too.  I like having the option to play Gauntlet with four people if I want. 

To all the haters thinking my cab is too busy you are entitled to your opinion but I really like it.  I love the retro cartoon characters and thought it looked better than using boring stock graphics or just plain black or a plain color.  I used my very favorite characters that I loved from my childhood and from all my favorite retro games.  It's okay if you think it is too busy, but it works and means something special for me.  So there.  Haha.   

I think it goes well with Hyperspin too.  BTW,  I created a bunch of Hyperspin themes that are pretty cool.  Ever see Pachinko Sexy Reaction, Night Striker, Galaxy Force, or Lock-on?  Those were mine.  Check them out if you don't have them already.    

[Le Chuck]

Player 3 & 4 joysticks are angled so that up isn't the same as P1 & P2?

The angled sticks keeps good distance between everyone and is more comfortable for players 3 and 4 since they are on the corners of the controller.  I have used them and they feel great. Nobody complains and they like that they have room to play.  No elbows hitting each other is a good thing.  Not only that but I have mapped my Q-bert MAME config controls to the player 3 stick so it doubles as a Q-bert diagonal control for player 1 playing Q-bert.  Again... it works great!  That is something else I have not seen anyone do.  Innovative?  Right?  I thought it was.

As far as people ever using four player control, I have a 16 year old daughter that brings home a ton of friends that like to play NBA JAM, TMNT, Xmen, Sunset Riders, Bomberman and other 4 player games.  I even have a genre for it.  When I have parties the 4 player control is busy with friends too.  I like having the option to play Gauntlet with four people if I want. 

To all the haters thinking my cab is too busy you are entitled to your opinion but I really like it.  I love the retro cartoon characters and thought it looked better than using boring stock graphics or just plain black or a plain color.  I used my very favorite characters that I loved from my childhood and from all my favorite retro games.  It's okay if you think it is too busy, but it works and means something special for me.  So there.  Haha.   

I think it goes well with Hyperspin too.  BTW,  I created a bunch of Hyperspin themes that are pretty cool.  Ever see Pachinko Sexy Reaction, Night Striker, Galaxy Force, or Lock-on?  Those were mine.  Check them out if you don't have them already.   

Wow.  Way to respond defensively to a yes or no question.  If you have a 8 way stick with a square restrictor you can do a really easy q-bert mapping using only the diagonals and achieve the same effect.  I love playing q-bert from the side of the CP.  Enjoy your innovation.     

[Mokthemagicman]

"If you have a 8 way stick with a square restrictor you can do a really easy q-bert mapping using only the diagonals and achieve the same effect." 

Ah.... thanks, I guess?  That means I have to use a different joystick than a Street Fighter 2 bat style if I went with a four way or diagonal restrictor stick with ball top.  There is a reason for the madness and NO I don't play from the side.  You use the stick normally and stand directly behind it. 

I have had my coffee and I am fired up.  Sorry for the extended answers but there are reasons behind all of it.

[yotsuya]

[kahlid74]

"If you have a 8 way stick with a square restrictor you can do a really easy q-bert mapping using only the diagonals and achieve the same effect." 

Ah.... thanks, I guess?  That means I have to use a different joystick than a Street Fighter 2 bat style if I went with a four way or diagonal restrictor stick with ball top.  There is a reason for the madness and NO I don't play from the side.  You use the stick normally and stand directly behind it. 

I have had my coffee and I am fired up.  Sorry for the extended answers but there are reasons behind all of it.

There's also a great deal of simplification and innovation on these boards to avoid clutter and overload and maintain the feel you're looking for.

Here's the bottom line, at the end of the day if you're happy with it, then you're good to go.  No reason to get so aggressive defensive.  It's something seen a lot that has a lot of opinions and one "right" answer.

My thoughts are I've never been a fan of that cab design, it feels so blocky and cumbersome.  I also feel like there's so many buttons on the CP that I'm lost.  I get the functionality but for me personally it's not my cup of tea.  I like the artwork you've got on there too but it's a lot going on.

So welcome to the boards and great job on the completed cabinet.  It sounds like your family has a lot of fun playing it so rock on!

[yotsuya]

It sounds like your family has a lot of fun playing it so rock on!

In the end this statement (and the fact you can play Galaga on it) are all that matters.

[Le Chuck]

"If you have a 8 way stick with a square restrictor you can do a really easy q-bert mapping using only the diagonals and achieve the same effect." 

Ah.... thanks, I guess?  That means I have to use a different joystick than a Street Fighter 2 bat style if I went with a four way or diagonal restrictor stick with ball top.  There is a reason for the madness and NO I don't play from the side.  You use the stick normally and stand directly behind it. 

I have had my coffee and I am fired up.  Sorry for the extended answers but there are reasons behind all of it.

The handle has nothing to do with the restriction, there is a language with this hobby just like anything else and being able to speak it helps avoid confusion and frustration.  It doesn't matter if it's a ball or bat top.  Those look like Happ Ultimates, please correct me if I'm wrong.  Happ Ultimates have a square restrictor for 8way that helps you hit the diagonals so you could do a q-bert diagonal mapping on your P1 and P2 stick.  That way you can slide between the corners just like you do on your P3 stick.  I'm not saying you did anything wrong man, I'm just saying that you can very likely play 'bert from P1 and P2 rather than P3 if you want to.  It's an option.  Take it or leave it.  It's great that you're all riled up and love your build.  I'm sorry I came off so threatening I guess.         

[Mokthemagicman]

It's all good.  I like the fact that people even have an opinion.  I was just trying to explain the reasons.  I thought that the type of joystick that converts to diagonal four way was different so I didn't bother.  I didn't want to spend the dough on swapping out with bat sticks ether.  Since I was already doing angled player 3 & 4 I figured why not just map Q-bert controls on it.  I was already happy with the player 1 & 2 controls. 

People on these boards have all sorts of great ideas.  Some you take, some you don't.  Like a salad bar.  In the end it's all about if your happy with your build.  I just don't want to be the guy who is on their fifth version of their cab ether.  It just costs too much time and $$$ so I wanted to try to make sure I did everything right the first time.  I am 90% content with my build.   

I personally like the Ultimate Arcade II design.  Some don't and that's okay. 

[Mokthemagicman]

It sounds like your family has a lot of fun playing it so rock on!

In the end this statement (and the fact you can play Galaga on it) are all that matters.

Brahahahahaha. 

True, true.