Large Non-Arcade Monitor Screen Options

[blindchild]

Hello all.

Apologies for what is no doubt a common question on this board.  I have looked around and done my own research, but everywhere I look there is conflicting information, or the information is outdated.

I am looking to build a 4 person arcade machine for my 3 brothers and I. It will be kept in at my parents garage, Phoenix. AZ.  And used during two periods a year, once during summer and once over xmas.

We are all quite big guys, all over 6'4" and broad shoulders etc.  So I am struggling to imagine how we will all fit around a small control board and monitor.  However the games we will play will be Simpsons, TMNT, Street Fighter, NBA Jam etc.  So preference to 90s games.

So my question is what is the best larger screen option for an arcade machine.  I am not too concerned with true authenticity, meaning an actual arcade monitor.  However I want the games to feel right, 4:3 display, correct frame rates, refresh rates etc.

I have limited electronics skills and am thinking we will need a screen that is 27"+.  Possibly even a large television screen or computer monitor?  My budget for the screen is around $400.

Any advice would be much appreciated, even if it is the way of further reading.

Thank you

[Sarver Systems]

Why not use a projector and throw the image onto a painted white wall? Its a garage, so maybe you luck out and have 1 wall already completely bare.

Put your electronics into a pedestal, and BAM, done!

[yotsuya]

Hello all.

Apologies for what is no doubt a common question on this board.  I have looked around and done my own research, but everywhere I look there is conflicting information, or the information is outdated.

I am looking to build a 4 person arcade machine for my 3 brothers and I. It will be kept in at my parents garage, Phoenix. AZ.  And used during two periods a year, once during summer and once over xmas.

We are all quite big guys, all over 6'4" and broad shoulders etc.  So I am struggling to imagine how we will all fit around a small control board and monitor.  However the games we will play will be Simpsons, TMNT, Street Fighter, NBA Jam etc.  So preference to 90s games.

So my question is what is the best larger screen option for an arcade machine.  I am not too concerned with true authenticity, meaning an actual arcade monitor.  However I want the games to feel right, 4:3 display, correct frame rates, refresh rates etc.

I have limited electronics skills and am thinking we will need a screen that is 27"+.  Possibly even a large television screen or computer monitor?  My budget for the screen is around $400.

Any advice would be much appreciated, even if it is the way of further reading.

Thank you

I have a big 4 player cabinet you can have for cheap. It's this one:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,118511.msg1255081.html#msg1255081

I live in the Phoenix area. I got it to assist a nephew with getting cab, but he was married to my niece and they ended up getting divorced (in fact, they separated the DAY after I got the cabinet from HaRuMaN). 

If you're interested, PM me. I can send you details. Edit: you probably can't PM, so email me at yotsuya@gmail.com.

[blindchild]

Why not use a projector and throw the image onto a painted white wall? Its a garage, so maybe you luck out and have 1 wall already completely bare.

Put your electronics into a pedestal, and BAM, done!

I did half investigate this as an option, but would much rather have a screen.  Thanks for the suggestion though...

[blindchild]

I have a big 4 player cabinet you can have for cheap. It's this one:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,118511.msg1255081.html#msg1255081

I live in the Phoenix area. I got it to assist a nephew with getting cab, but he was married to my niece and they ended up getting divorced (in fact, they separated the DAY after I got the cabinet from HaRuMaN). 

If you're interested, PM me. I can send you details. Edit: you probably can't PM, so email me at yotsuya@gmail.com.

I could potentially be interested, but was sort of looking forward to building a cab myself and making a little project out of it.  Doing my own artwork etc.

The cab you have looks great, but I feel this would maybe be too small for all us to fit around.  I guess thats what I mean, I am looking at something with these sort of dimensions...

http://arcadesrfun.com/files/P1020140-700x700.jpg

But this screen is 16x9 and I guess allows you to play some of the more modern games, where as I would prefer my machine to take preference for 4:3 games.

Thanks

PS. I'll PM you out of curiosity anyway.

[Malenko]

ugh.

Why does everyone keep showing  arcadesrfun as an example? They have some of the ugliest cabs.

to OP, sounds like you want a giant aircraft carrier or MAME a 6 player XMen cab. You mentioned NBA Jam, why not an NBA Jam style cab?

[yotsuya]

I have a big 4 player cabinet you can have for cheap. It's this one:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,118511.msg1255081.html#msg1255081

I live in the Phoenix area. I got it to assist a nephew with getting cab, but he was married to my niece and they ended up getting divorced (in fact, they separated the DAY after I got the cabinet from HaRuMaN). 

If you're interested, PM me. I can send you details. Edit: you probably can't PM, so email me at yotsuya@gmail.com.

I could potentially be interested, but was sort of looking forward to building a cab myself and making a little project out of it.  Doing my own artwork etc.

The cab you have looks great, but I feel this would maybe be too small for all us to fit around.  I guess thats what I mean, I am looking at something with these sort of dimensions...

http://arcadesrfun.com/files/P1020140-700x700.jpg

But this screen is 16x9 and I guess allows you to play some of the more modern games, where as I would prefer my machine to take preference for 4:3 games.

Thanks

PS. I'll PM you out of curiosity anyway.

The control panel on the machine I have is pretty big. Here's a full-size shot of it without the monitor (but it does have one).

[pbj]

Nobody wants that albatross.  Throw in the burn pile.

blindchild - build a pedestal, throw a 50" flat screen LCD on the wall.

 

[blindchild]

ugh.

Why does everyone keep showing  arcadesrfun as an example? They have some of the ugliest cabs.

to OP, sounds like you want a giant aircraft carrier or MAME a 6 player XMen cab. You mentioned NBA Jam, why not an NBA Jam style cab?

haha I agree with you there, it's not a reference for the design of it, the whole things looks too plastic and not cool.  The screen is if anything too big here...something in between an NBA cabinet and this arcadesrfun is what I am after.

But the dimensions of it that I like...I can see the four of us around a machine that size.

Thanks

[yotsuya]

Nobody wants that albatross.  Throw in the burn pile.

blindchild - build a pedestal, throw a 50" flat screen LCD on the wall.

 

It's a solid cabinet. I was going to convert it to a gun cab, but if the OP wants a 4P cab, this is up his alley and can save him some $$$.