Projects gone, forgotten, walked away from, missed ?

[mike boss]

I thought I'd create a thread about projects. Projects you've completed and sold (and miss!), projects you wanted to do but never did. Projects that stalled, where and why they stalled. Projects you just said "F**K IT!"

I had set a personal goal to complete my Final Fight before the birth of my child (daughter, we didn't know what we were having). With all that has gone on, the birth of my daughter and the passing of my father this didn't happen.

HOWEVER ...... I can say that I will indeed complete the FF, perhaps working on it this weekend (it's ready for paint). I also have to add some final touches to my Bad Dudes before I can list it for sale.

As I sit back and look over my inventory of parts, projects that I started and didn't finish, projects (ideas) that I just cant shake I thought I'd ask others about their individual projects.

I'm bad....I should pick a project and see it to completion. However sometimes an idea pops in my mind, or I have an opportunity to get a part/project and I jump ship. I don't know if people have this problem also, but I can't use parts for one project on another. For example, I have a pair of Aim Trak modules that I need to install in some GunCons. I had picked up a pair of GunCons and read about GunCon 2 Mouse and some other type programs. They let you use the GunCon (as is) and play light gun games. SOOOOOOOOO...........all be it I could not get it to work I simply couldn't use these GunCons for my Aim Traks. I needed new GunCons. So sure enuff I got another pair. The reality of it is I didn't revisit the GunCon 2 Mouse program. One of the worst things is it took my CRAZY long to find another pair of GunCons. So this project stalled !
Seems to be the story of my life !

Projects I can't shake : Jukebox with tablet support
- This project has taken on many forms (or concepts) over time.
Trying to find a solution that would work best with the equipment I have.
I've looked all over trying to find something that will do what I want/need. I recently purchased "Touchjams" jukebox software. I'm leaning towards picking up a 17" ELO LCD touch screen monitor to get this project back on track. I picked up a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver to use with the Jukebox PC. Hoping I can check this project off the "To Do" list.

Projects I've stalled on : Mario MAME
- This is my Mario MAME project. PC features MAME + console emulation. Machine is working and playable. However I've been meaning to add the PC versions of SUPER STREET FIGHTER IV : ARCADE , STREET FIGHTER VS TEKKEN, and even the newly released MK : KOMPLETE . Not to mention I need to install my Aim Traks and some light gun games.
I have all the software and the Aim Traks (with GunCons).... but I've stalled because I'm scared I'll f**k up the Aim Traks when I solder.

Projects I've stalled on : Aim Trak modules in GunCon's
- As noted above I have the Aim Traks ready to go. The GunCons all broken down and new switches. Really everything is ready....I'm just hesitant to solder the Aim Trak modules.

Projects I wonder why I started ? : Android Arcade
- Picked up a very basic Android tablet. Sadly the tablet resolution is sooo low that many of the programs (apps) I wanted it to work with are not supported. Kind makes it useless ! Sooooo I found out about MAME for Android. I seem some cool projects over on BYOAC where guys make lil mini cabinets using these tablets. I'm looking to pick up a 2nd iCade that I can customize and house the Android tablet in. I've pick up some needed parts, be it a KADE encoder and couple other things. Project hasn't cost much....but honestly I have no idea why I even wanted to do this.

[mike boss]

I should add, I've found a new motivation to get projects crossed off my list. Knowing that as my daughter grows I will have perhap less and less time I really must get things done.

I'm looking to pick up an HP Touchsmart PC w/ 27" monitor to complete my juke project.
It requires a new hard drive which is a simple install. Nice lil all in one PC with some cool ambient lighting effects built in. It's got Bluetooth built in and with the Bluetooth audio dongle I purchased it will allow me to send the music to my existing AV equipment. I think this will be a great thing for the Man Cave (edit, man, wife and child cave). I can perhaps add MAME with some touchscreen games ?

I continue to get parts for my Android MAME project and watch the development of an existing project on this very site. I've also decided that I will use my existing iCade...which for me is a big step. For some reason I like owning multiples of things I'll never use!

I think we in this hobby enjoy the work, it's in part why we are "never done." Always tinkering and adding things, making changes, etc.

My list is perhaps not as extensive as others, but again I take pride that I've found new motivation. Simple things like install t-molding remain to be done on my Bad Dudes cabinet. Why I've never done it, I don't know. However I will push and push and push !

[Le Chuck]

I'm stalled on my micro Gauntlet and Tron.  Gauntlet the cab is totally done I just need to toss an RPI in it and call it good.  Have the monitor and controls and wired and everything.  Lazy lazy lazy. 

Tron is about 1/2 built, need to get the RPI and crack the spinner nut.  That's longer term.  Both started off as GP Cannoo builds but the cannoo just won't groove with those titles the way i'd prefer. 

That leaves me a left over cannoo to do something with so I need to do that too. 

I have a few projects in the wings that I'm waiting to start but I want to get R2 wrapped first...and of course I've got the speeder but that's never not being worked on in some form or another so doesn't count against me 

[SavannahLion]

One of the very first cabinets I bought is a Hang-On. The monitor was taken and used for another cab by the previous owner.  I've been having trouble locating an appropriate 19" monitor for it. I managed to find four 21" monitors but only found the time to get one working. With the "care" the previous owner took to remove the monitor, I also have to repair the wiring harness inside. ---uvula--- even severed the fan and lighting inside.  What the Hell The controls were a mess as well. From the way the guy hacked the loom, it seems that "gas" was permanently tied high and the only way to control the bike was by applying the brakes. Most of the gears and all but one pot were scavanged. I didn't notice the extent of the damage until I pulled the schematic.  I managed to obtain a new control from a member here in far better shape but it too has had some damage and modification to it. Neither loom matches the other (or what was left) and it's unclear which is the correct.  I've acquired enough skills, tools and understanding of the cabinet that I can rebuild it with a compatible design by fabricating my own parts (for a lower cost) but not enough to fabricate exact matches ala a particular well known scam artist.

I have others but that's the second biggest and by far the longest on the burner.

[Well Fed Games]

I finally let go of my upright Outrun project, which started with a structurally solid but empty cab. Now all that I have left is the marquee… I got kind of crazy with buying console wheels for a while so I can still get a little bit of my driving fix that way. Tough part was that working outrun uprights actually sell pretty cheap but the parts are prohibitively expensive.

Chances are my PS1 based lightgun cab is going to go by the wayside as well, and I'll just play those games on the TV. Point Blank sure is fun, though.

As far as missed cabinets, I almost got an empty space themed cockpit for sale a while back (I don't even remember the game, but it was in great shape.) Just had no space for it. It would've ended up with a PS2 inside as a dedicated Rez cockpit  with thumping speakers and a rumbling seat.

[mike boss]

As I think and write this down I think "Wow, I got TONS to do!"
My DK is playable and complete with 60-in-1 board.
My Popeye is playable and complete with WWF Wrestlefest ! (fun game)
My DK Jr is complete with custom MAME + MaLa set up w/19" LCD. However I need to add my sideart. Same with my Mario Bros, complete with MAME + MaLa and multiple emulators. This is the system I plan on adding the Aim Trak guns to. I need to install the side art on this also.
Ways back I got one of these Hyperspin HDD images. All the systems, art, etc. I picked up a really nice part PC (complete, but apart). Plan was to use the Hypserspin set up on that PC and swap out the Mario. Don't know if I'll end up doing that.
Last of my in house cabinets is a 48 in 1 bartop machine that is complete and working also !

The scary thing is whats left.......sadly with the inside stuff, the fact that it looks good, works good serves as little motivation to do the final touches. Thats the honest truth !

Right now I'd say im most bothered that I have not done my Aim Trak/GunCon project. I think they would give so much more life to my Mario Bros Mame. Keep in mind that unit has emulators such as NES, so games like DuckHunt would be fun.

I'm confident if I can find the time one weekend I could really make a push. Wrap up my Bad Dudes by installing the t-molding and just creating a blackout bezel of poster board that would sit behind the smoked plexi.

My Final Fight needs to be painted and then put together. I am going with an LCD monitor in this and a scanline generator  for authentic feel. I really do thinka weekend of work would get this done. My daughter is one month old, so my time is limited.

Other projects liek assemble the PC for a later project or my Android MAME project have very little appeal @ this time to me. So when (if) I do them remains to be seen. I can take the small loss on parts and chalk this up to "Why did I start this ?"

Over and above that is my Jukebox. Man this project has taken on so many concepts over time.
As of today where it stands is ..........

Purchased TouchJams and created a custom skin.
Purchased a Bluetooth dongle that hooks up to my existing AV equipment.
Purchaded an Android tablet that can also be used to control Juke
LOOKING to purchase a HP Touchsmart PC w/ 27" monitor.
** The catch ** - PC is an all in one PC with a failed hard drive according to the seller. I'll replace that easily. The hope is that is the only problem. I'm confident I can fix it and seller did agree to refund me if I could not fix it. So that is where I stand !