Single player mini Bartop -EA Sports NHL 94 Theme. Powered by Raspberry Pi2.

[Frank Drebin]

This is my second arcade cabinet build.  My first was a full size and it was fairly successful using OND's very helpful thread.  This time around I want to try something much smaller, which hopefully will allow me to focus a little more on build quality/finishing.

The hope is to keep the costs as minimal as possible while still having a professional looking project.  I think the biggest cost that I can save right now that could be updated later would be the side art, marquee and control panel.  I have used vinyl wrap (di noc) on my last project because the paint job didn't turn out the way I wanted and the wrap looks great.  I'm not sure if I'm going to backlight the marquee, but for now because of the size I can print my own marquee.

So here is a running total for the cabinet only.  (Apologies for the stock pictures, I haven't received anything yet!

$25 - Wood and supplies
$30 - Plexiglass for bezel, marquee and control panel
$45 - Buttons, joystick, and USB interface. (from ebay)

$25 - Vinyl wrap from ebay
$60 - Control board for used laptop monitor (free)
$20 - T Molding
$15 - Switched 110V inlet module & cord

So thats a total of $220 on the cabinet, while still needing to buy some sort of a sound system and pay for paint.

And the running total for the brains of the cabinet
$100 - Ouya
$10 - 32 GB USB drive
$20 - 7 Port USB hub

[Frank Drebin]

So going off this plan, but because this will be a single player only and the goal is to be as small as possible, I took the dimensions off this weecade plan and scaled them down to 75% of original size.  This works out to be 17" high by 14" wide, and hopefully no more than 30 lbs.



And a couple real life update pics:

[Generic Eric]

So do you have an interface for old laptop controller board to DVI/HDMI?  What model of laptop is the monitor coming from?

Also, its not clear from the pics, did you already route the edges for the tmolding?

[yotsuya]

Look, PBJ, a WeeWeecade!

[Frank Drebin]

So do you have an interface for old laptop controller board to DVI/HDMI?  What model of laptop is the monitor coming from?

Also, its not clear from the pics, did you already route the edges for the tmolding?

I got the board from an ebay seller, I can't remember who the manufacturer was of the monitor but I was assured the board I ordered would work.  I think this should work out good for audio with the HDMI and exterior speakers:



And no, I haven't received the slot cutter or tmolding yet.

[Generic Eric]

So do you have an interface for old laptop controller board to DVI/HDMI?  What model of laptop is the monitor coming from?

Also, its not clear from the pics, did you already route the edges for the tmolding?

I got the board from an ebay seller, I can't remember who the manufacturer was of the monitor but I was assured the board I ordered would work.  I think this should work out good for audio with the HDMI and exterior speakers:

So this thing works independent of the rest of the laptop/motherboard it was in?  I didn't know there was such a thing.

[Frank Drebin]

So this thing works independent of the rest of the laptop/motherboard it was in?  I didn't know there was such a thing.

Apparently, yes.  You should see that laptop monitor when its all stripped down.  Hardly any bigger than a sheet of paper.  Its about 1/4" thick, 8.5" high and 11" wide.  I was *this* close to making a Raspberry Pi powered picture frame.  (running xbmc of course!)

Here's an instructables on the subject:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Old-laptop-screen-into-Monitor/?ALLSTEPS

[Frank Drebin]

Looking for low cost options for speakers/volume control.  The most likely thing I do is dismantle a set of computer speakers, but if someone can point me in another direction I'm all ears pun intended.

[Vigo]

Look, PBJ, a WeeWeecade!

 

[JDFan]

Looking for low cost options for speakers/volume control.  The most likely thing I do is dismantle a set of computer speakers, but if someone can point me in another direction I'm all ears pun intended.

For low cost you can't really go wrong with computer speakers - For example the Logitech LS-120's are decent sounding for the <$10.00 price. Like these at walmart for $6.99 on clearance( http://www.walmart.com/ip/12321679?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227009948921&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40880093912&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=78810468872&veh=sem ) or can be found on Ebay for about the same price shipped (think I paid $7.99 for the last pair including shipping)

[pbj]

Look, PBJ, a WeeWeecade!

I'm curious to see how the integration with the Ouya goes.

[Frank Drebin]

I'm curious to see how the integration with the Ouya goes.

So am I.  I was actually going to use this as a Pi build with Retropie  but the OUYA is a much more powerful machine for gaming.  If it doesn't work out with the OUYA I can always try the Pi.

The frontend software Nostalgia is nothing like hyperspin, which isn't necessarily a bad thing with the size and budget of this build.  Its a nice lightweight frontend with a lot of nice options.  I'm thinking of culling down the Rom collections to about ~100 per system in NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, SMS, and of course MAME.  Maybe a couple of dreamcast games?

The ouya works fine with a keyboard.  I'm almost positive I could get it to work with an IPAC.  I'm just hoping this ebay interface works and is recognized.

[rovingmind]

if you test the Ouya with an IPac post an update.   I've an Ouya gathering dust due to its crappy controller, and i'm unhappy with its response to an xbox 360 controller as well. 

[grippie]

I've an Ouya gathering dust due to its crappy controller, and i'm unhappy with its response to an xbox 360 controller as well. 

Yea this is intriguing for sure since i'm in the same boat. I have an original XBOX, an ouya and an xbox 360 with a broken DVD drive that are all gathering dust and screaming for my next project.

[SNAAKE]

stop stealing weeweecade jokes

[Vigo]

If you power it with an old Nintendo wii, you can have a wiiweeweecade.

[Frank Drebin]

So a little update, I'll split it up between two posts: one for the cabinet build and one for the software (OUYA) part of it.

First of all, the cabinet.  Got a few more parts done, got the bezel cut out, and ordered myself this router table:  I want to bevel the inside edge of the bezel but I'm afraid of what would happen if I tried freehand.  It was a great deal at $105 shipped.

Will be trying my hand at hidden hinges for the back.

And a pic of the loosely assembled cabinet:

[Frank Drebin]

Second update is actually pretty exciting for anyone who is interested in using an OUYA as a low cost option for the brains in an arcade box.

1.  Like I mentioned earlier, the Nostalgia front end is a nice light weight front end for the OUYA.  It is supposed to fetch box art and metadata but I couldn't get it to fetch the box art.  There are other places I'm sure we all know of to get that sort of stuff.

It has a library type view, and you can toggle between systems:

.
 If you want to read about the game you use the U button and you get a screen like this:



I also like the search function in that if you search for "Donkey Kong" you get results for every platform, even if you are just searching in MAME.  I haven't played with it a whole lot but I think you can do favorites as well.  Lots of supported emulators and really all you have to do is install Retroarch which has support for mame .139. 


Now, the big problem with the OUYA and adding buttons/usb interface is that lets say on a keyboard for example, there is no corresponding key on the keyboard that will give the function that pushing the Y button does.  Enter button performs similar actions to the U button and escape is similar to the A button but not entirely the same.

I did some reading and had some help from another member on here and I'm pretty confident as long as the usb interface is recognized by the OUYA you can configure each button just like the controller.  Once I figure out how exactly to do it I will share, as a couple of users have stated that they are interested in the controls already.

You do have to root your ouya to access the keylayout (kl) file.

With each button press or keystroke the ouya recieves a keycode.  For example by pushing button y on the ouya controller the ouya recieves a keycode of 100.  By pushing the letter y on the keyboard you might get a keycode of 73 or something like that.

By editing the keylayout file, you can change what buttons do what.

For example by default, input 100 = button y, if you want the letter y to do the same as button y you change the keylayout file to input 73=button y.

I haven't done it yet but I think I got my head around the idea.

Another very cool thing about the OUYA and Nostalgia is with a little app called autopilot, the OUYA will boot right into Nostalgia on powerup! 

[Frank Drebin]

Rooting the OUYA to access and add custom keylayout files:

This is more for me to have a place to look back on if I ever want to do this again, but hopefully I can help some others out who have OUYA's collecting dust.  Rooting needs to be done to access the keylayout files  (these files are basically in hidden system folders that only superusers (rooted) have access to.  I browsed into that folder and there are quite a bit and there is actually one pre-built for the X-Arcade tankstick.

First things first:  You need to establish an ADB (Android debug bridge) between your console and your computer, this is required to install the necessary drivers on your computer, so that the rooting program "Ouya Toolbox" can recognize, communicate and root your OUYA.  The video below takes you through it pretty good.



Keep in mind windows 8 makes you do some goofy stuff.

https://devs.ouya.tv/developers/docs/windows8.md

link to ouya toolbox
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2350900

I used both the normal and test versions.

http://burdbroscustomarcade.us/forums/topic/how-to-configure-controller-to-work-with-ouya-and-android/

Cliffs of this excellent writeup:

You need es file explorer
Select root explorer and turn it on. Select root explorer again and change both / and /system to r/w
keylayouts are installed in  /system/usr/keylayout/

[Frank Drebin]

Got the speaker grills drilled out:





Thinking of maybe doing some custom art.  EA sports NHL94 theme? 

[Frank Drebin]

[Frank Drebin]

Got the laptop screen controller in yesterday. 

Here's a pic of the stripped down screen:



And with the controller board plugged in (damn what a chitty picture)



And of course the test run:

Nostalgia NES




a little SF2 turbo



XBMC can be launched from Nostalgia as well



Ouya Pinball



Time to get this ready for paint.  Cutting T molding slots tomorrow.

[pbj]

What in the hell is that at the top of this pic?

[Frank Drebin]

What in the hell is that at the top of this pic?

Kids sippy cup.  They are all over the house.

[Louis Tully]

.

[Frank Drebin]

What in the hell is that at the top of this pic?

Kids sippy cup.  They are all over the house.

I know all about that. In the couch, behind it. Had one inside my Asteroids cab once because I left the coin door open. 

Ha ha.  not too bad as long as its water not milk in there.  We've dumped out many cups of solid milk.

[Frank Drebin]

So got a fella from another board who generously donated his PS skills to help design me some control panel, marquee and side art.  Liking what he came up with for the control panel so far.

[SNAAKE]

does ouya even run ps1/n64 games?

still gotta pick one up just to mess around with it lol (I have too many xboxes tho!)

[Frank Drebin]

does ouya even run ps1/n64 games?

still gotta pick one up just to mess around with it lol (I have too many xboxes tho!)

I haven't spent a whole lot of time messing with the emulators, it seemed to play Mario Kart 64 pretty decently, I have watched quite a few videos and it seems to handle N64 fine.  I haven't tried emulating PS1 at all, even on my PC so I can't answer your question there but I have tried a few Dreamcast games and they seemed to play OK as well with a bit of cracking in the sound.  Actually haven't played a game on it until I started messing with this project.  The controller is absolute garbage.  So much lag you can't even play a proper game of Pacman.  The Logitech F310 plugs and plays quite nice though.   I do expect lag free play with the encoder/keyboard, I suspect its just the BT connection that is the problem.

I never purchased the OUYA to be a gaming machine, I bought it as an XBMC machine, and while it is decent for that purpose, the wifi reception isn't the greatest at times.  Long story short I got frustrated with it and bought the Rasp Pi, then got the OUYA working satisfactorily again and had the extra Pi....but Pi won't play even some MAME games properly...so decided to leave the PI as an XBMC machine and try the OUYA for this project.

[Frank Drebin]

T molding slots cut and vent holes drilled.  Figure 5X3/8" holes should be sufficient for the OUYA and monitor.

[pbj]

I can't stand weecades but I'm watching this one with interest.  Keep it coming.

 

[Frank Drebin]

I can't stand weecades but I'm watching this one with interest.  Keep it coming.

 

Ha ha appreciate it.  Its like a ghost town in here except for the wee wee jokes.  Whats up with the weecade hate anyways?  I don't know what I'm going to do with this when I'm done but I had the parts (ouya/Rasb pi & monitor) already kicking around, plus I already have a stand up, plus I needed a hobby for the next few months, plus the fact that a full size absolutely takes over your garage so I decided on the wee-wee.

[yotsuya]

I can't stand weecades but I'm watching this one with interest.  Keep it coming.

 

Ha ha appreciate it.  Its like a ghost town in here except for the wee wee jokes.  Whats up with the weecade hate anyways?  I don't know what I'm going to do with this when I'm done but I had the parts (ouya/Rasb pi & monitor) already kicking around, plus I already have a stand up, plus I needed a hobby for the next few months, plus the fact that a full size absolutely takes over your garage so I decided on the wee-wee.

Jim's the only one that hates Weecades.

[SNAAKE]

I like my weewee..cade

[Frank Drebin]

~delete~

[Frank Drebin]

Marquee draft. 

I am, and the guy doing the artwork for me are Montreal Canadiens fans.  NHL 94 is the last year that the Habs won the cup.  I kind of like the idea of the cup winning team in the emblem but I asked to see how black would look too. 

Thoughts?

[Frank Drebin]

And a couple pics of the control panel printed out.  I was going to go with a more ergonomically friendly slagcoin layout but it messes up the CP.  I think the classic SF2 layout just works.  Thoughts?

[yotsuya]

Any project with Patrick Roy in it should be immediately rejected. 

What's your favorite team? Wouldn't an action shot of that be better?

[Frank Drebin]

Any project with Patrick Roy in it should be immediately rejected. 

What's your favorite team? Wouldn't an action shot of that be better?

I'm a Canadiens fan as well but I just can't bring myself to like the guy after the whole trade fiasco.  I understand how it all went down, and recognize how great of a goalie and how great of a career he had, but I'm just not a huge Roy fan.

I'm actually leaning towards having no NHL players or teams involved at all, and making it all about the NHL '94 game.

[Frank Drebin]

So now that I've decided to spend a bit more time and money on this cabinet than originally planned on this little cabinet, I found that the idea of hacking up a pair of cheap computer speakers was kind of bothering me.  They didn't sound very good, at all.  They were OK for the classic games but I put a movie on XBMC and they sounded like absolute crap, almost unlistenable.

Did a quick bit of shopping and found this set on sale for $40.  Edifier Aurora MP300 plus.  The speakers are a bit larger than a golf ball and the Subwoofer tube is 10" long.  So I guess I've got a bit in common with Aurora speaker designers (ha ha)

It kind of sucks now because I'm on days off and have some time to work on completing the cab but I have to wait to see how I'm going to integrate these things.  The volume control and sleep buttons (push both volume buttons) are on the top of one speaker, so I hope I dont' have to wake them on power up or thats going to make things tricky.  Anyways cabinet is pretty much on hold till I figure that out.

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