My first build : Clint. Finished.

[yamatetsu]

Sound system. I installed the sound system. It's amazing how such flimsy steel band can hold a 6 kg receiver or a monitor so firmly in place. I was sceptical at first, now I'm a believer 

Here's a shot of the cab's inside :



And a zoom :



As you can see, I ran out of steel band, so it's a trip to the DIY store tomorrow.

Things left to do :

- install computer

-  install USB port

- wiring

- finish it !

[Slippyblade]

That was the idea, but you're right.  The angles are wrong...  Might need to tweak the arm with the gun a little or something.  I just thought it needed "something" to highlight the selected game.

Good use of perspective on the bullet sizing and trail though. 

[yamatetsu]

I'll keep it as it is, I think it would be difficult to put something in black behind the black text without making the text unreadable.
As for altering the graphics, I can't do that. I can convert a photo, but that's about it. On the plus side, the bullet just fits, so that's a win.

[PL1]

How about something like this?

* Small bullet hole on the left side of the selected game
* Move Clint down just a bit
* Streaks pointing from the muzzle to the small bullet hole
* Copy/paste the left and bottom border lines (not done in pic below to show how close the pic already is)

I'm sure someone will gladly help you do a minor edit like this.   


Scott

[yamatetsu]

I dunno ... Compared to the mighty bullet, this looks a little 'weak' ...




Plus, I really like the bullet.

So, to make the selected game text stand out a little more, I have simply chosen another more solid font for it.



Also bear in mind that this is a static image, once you scroll up or down in the menu, there is no doubt which game will be selected.

[Slippyblade]

Ok, I had to chuckle a little bit at "the Mighty Bullet".   

[TZC]

Hi, I like clint and like your cab

I just wanted to share the idea of leveling things up to pass, this was done in about 8 mins and it's supposed to be concept only.

If clint was adjusted to point at the highlighted game, and after a game choice was made the screen washed white for half a second and the bullet struck chosen game through, I think that would look good.





Edit: I suppose it would if animated at all, be best to use the recoil effect look of the other versions of the pic when the game choice is selected and the bullet is fired. 

[yamatetsu]

Cool idea, but that's wayyy out of my league. I wouldn't know how to level the gun, let alone make an animation. Also, I don't know if it is even possible to play an animation in MaLa after the game selection. My graphical skills are pretty much zero and it's my first time messing around with the MaLa layout.

[TZC]

Fair enough. I don't know if it's even possible either

I was only thinking of 2 frames to switch between, but anyway. Best of luck.

[Malenko]

adjusting that pic to make the gun level without making the guy look weird would be easy peasy.

You wanna post the source file or email it to me?

[TZC]

adjusting that pic to make the gun level without making the guy look weird would be easy peasy.

You wanna post the source file or email it to me?

Sorry I know it's not exactly on topic but is it possible to create basic animations within mala then, malenko? I've never touched it.

Ok I should go and look for myself, but yamatetsu wouldn't want the bullet lines masking each game if it couldn't be an animation I'm guessing.

[yamatetsu]

I have googled MaLa and animations. Seems that you can't do real animations, you can only do a mostly transparent pic the size of the background which is scrolled. So you could do a moving bullet, but no trail (at least not a trail that grows as the bullet speeds along). It also seems that this would be a permanent animation, not a triggered one.
So while it's a good idea, the animation is out. Clint constantly shooting the selected game would look a bit silly 

Ok I should go and look for myself, but yamatetsu wouldn't want the bullet lines masking each game if it couldn't be an animation I'm guessing.

Yep, the bullet lines behind the text would make it unreadable 

I've tried red color for the selected game, this works but especially long game names are hard to read. It also clashes with the black/white color scheme (did anyone notice that I even converted the screenshots to grayscale ?).



So, thanks for the offer Malenko, but in terms of readability the original concept still seems to be the best.

[PL1]

How about something like this?

* Keep the "mighty bullet" (turned the image to indicate a horizontal shot trajectory)
* Change the thick swirls on the bullet path to thin light gray dotted lines
* Don't bother aligning the barrel to the bullet path because recoil will cause the barrel to climb when a shot is fired


Scott

[yamatetsu]

This doesn't do much to highlight the selected game. I still like the angled shot better and will use that.

[yamatetsu]

I re-learned an important lesson today. Think before you do something permanent. I took a board of wood (a failed attempt of a CP panel), mounted the computer on it and some L-brackets under it.
Tested it, the graphics card gives me the XP blue screen of death whenever I start a game in MAME. Replaced it with an older one which has a very loud fan but works.

Had much fun balancing the board inside the cab, marking the drill points and screwing it in. Took about half an hour, the computer fit perfectly.
Except, of course, for the fact that I placed it too close to the rear panel. Computer fits, cables that have to go into it don't.

You know that Michael Jackson song 'Scream' which starts with Michael screaming ? By now I can do a resonably good imitation.

Took the computer out again, mounted it further in, managed to ram a quarter-of-an-inch splinter under a fingernail. Fun times. Now the cables fit aswell.
Fired everything up, now that the computer has a nice new home, the sucker won't boot. Michael time again.

So, instead of finishing the cab today, I'll play around with the computer some more tomorrow.

[yamatetsu]

Couldn't get the computer to work. I put another slightly overpowered one in the cab. Worked like a charm, until I noticed that there was no sound. Tried all the audio jacks, even downloaded the manual for the board, nothing. Downloaded two sound drivers, installed the first, nothing. Installed the second, nothing. Put my last remaining Soundblaster card in, the computer didn't boot.
Thought of checking the BIOS and sure enough, onboard sound was disabled 

So now the computer is in and works.



Tomorrow I shall screw the speaker covers and the back panel on, wipe some dust off and hope for good weather to be able to take some good final pics.

[pbj]

Paint the inside of the cabin

[yamatetsu]

Nope, I've spent way too much time painting this thing already. Taking out all the stuff that is installed to paint parts that no one ever will see and then reinstall everything is more than I care to do. I want to finish this tomorrow.

[johnrt]

Nope, I've spent way too much time painting this thing already. Taking out all the stuff that is installed to paint parts that no one ever will see and then reinstall everything is more than I care to do. I want to finish this tomorrow.

I totally agree! It's no point in painting the inside of the cab.

[yotsuya]

Nope, I've spent way too much time painting this thing already. Taking out all the stuff that is installed to paint parts that no one ever will see and then reinstall everything is more than I care to do. I want to finish this tomorrow.

I totally agree! It's no point in painting the inside of the cab.

Amen, brothers.

[dkersten]

I have done some furniture pieces and other projects in the past where I spent some time making the parts you don't see look good, and years later when I opened them up for the first time I was amazed at how good it looked inside because I had completely forgotten.. it was like a little treat.  To do it is a waste of time (as is doing the back since it will be up against a wall), but even if you waste the time on it, one day you will really appreciate the work you put into it.  I understand your anxiousness to get the thing done though, the last 5% is always the hardest, you just want to stop working and start playing.

[Slippyblade]

Totally glad I painted the inside of mine.  Nothing fancy either, I just used a can of cheap spray.  It helps seal and protect the wood and give it a little extra 'pop'.  Granted, you will be the only one to ever see it, but it is nice to see.

[yamatetsu]

I sincerely hope that I don't ever have to see the inside again ... Because that would mean that  there is some kind of trouble.

Also, the cab is standing in my living room. There will be no messing around with paint and especially not spray paint if I can help it.

[pbj]

When you spill a beer on it, and frantically open it up and sop it up with paper towels, and then watch the wood swell up three days later.... You'll wish you had listened.

 

[Generic Eric]

I painted the inside black.  It's hard to see inside withe the best of lighting in the basement.    I'm gonna paint it white eventually.

[yamatetsu]

When you spill a beer on it, and frantically open it up and sop it up with paper towels, and then watch the wood swell up three days later.... You'll wish you had listened.

 

That particular risk is very small since I don't drink beer (or any alcohol at all), and I somehow forgot to put cup holders on the cab. So there will be no comfortable way to put a drink on the cab.

Painting is definitely out, one thing that I can do is give it a coat of car polish (Meguiar's Carnauba Wax) around the installed parts. That may seal the wood ... or it may not. That's a chance I'm willing to take.

[pbj]

I don't drink beer (or any alcohol at all), and I somehow forgot to put cup holders on the cab. So there will be no comfortable way to put a drink on the cab.

You sound boring.

[yamatetsu]

Yep, I am completely boring. It's an art form which takes years to master.

[AzureKnight]

Yep, I am completely boring. It's an art form which takes years to master.

I've mastered that same art form

[yamatetsu]

That's boring 

[yamatetsu]

Some words of gratitude.

Thank you BYOACers, for all the inspiration, help and nudging in the right direction  This would have turned out vastly different without this forum. Special thanks to talkgeek and Malenko for offering to do work for a struggling stranger. You guys are amazing.

So, without further ado, I present to you Clint's final pics.




















A word to all the people who can't decide to build a cab : DO IT ! It simply is an amazing experience building it, and nothing beats the feeling you get when you finally have done it.
You don't need that many tools (though the right tools will certainly make it easier), you can get the wood precut into rectangles so that the basic structure can be glued together pretty easily, or go and buy a kit. But DO IT ! You will miss an incredible experience if you don't.

[pbj]

Beautiful

 

[DaOld Man]

Great job 

[Malenko]

fantastic job, cant wait to see the next one

[Vigo]

All your artwork came together very well. Excellent work!! The hard work really paid off.

[Slippyblade]

Yep, agreed with the others.  Great job!  Now, have you actually played any games on it yet or just fired em up for photo ops?

[yamatetsu]

Thank you !

fantastic job, cant wait to see the next one

I will not rise to that bait 

All your artwork came together very well. Excellent work!! The hard work really paid off.

Yup, it really does. This has been a really rewarding experience. I have been working on this thing for eleven months now and I still can't believe that I did it. Every time I enter the room, I have to steal a glance at it 

Yep, agreed with the others.  Great job!  Now, have you actually played any games on it yet or just fired em up for photo ops?

I actually haven't seriously played on it, as I didn't want to fall into the 'play on it while it's not finished and you'll never finish it' trap. It does feel weird though playing with real controls, as I have used a keyboard up until now. But I shall get over that.

Now it's time to show Clint to some friends and get some serious gaming going.

[ChanceKJ]

Nice,

The name of this cab reminds me of the "problems" our Entertainment Dept had merchandising the Clint Eastwood boxed sets back in the day when i worked at Futureshop....





from then on, only the most nasty and despicably rude customers were know as "Eastwoods"

[talkgeek]

Stunning job, well done 

Looking forward to seeing your thoughts / progress on the next one 

[johnrt]

Congratulations with a brand new arcade cabinet. Very original execution. Me like!