First project, upright slim cabinet: ReCade, finished!

[retango]

Hi!
First of all thanks to everyone on this site. I'm still amazed at the sheer amount of information shared here. I found answers to almost all my questions on how to build an arcade.

I'm from Argentina, and below you will find my first project: ReCade. I did not do the actual woodwork - I don't have the tools/ skills to do it, so someone helped me with this (Santiago, thanks a lot!). After a little more than 1 year, the project is now finished, at least the "hardware" part.  As for software, it seems it is a never ending job, with all the updates and new emulators constantly evolving!

I use the PC in the arcade cabinet for:
* Running the arcade
* Emulating consoles (Atari, NES, Sega, C-64) to play them on an external TV, using hdmi and usb retro-controllers.
* Running a media center to watch movies on the TV (connected to a media server I have at home)

Below pictures of the arcade.

Features:
* Control Panel with a 2 joysticks, 6 buttons each, spinner, trackball, and 2 additional buttons
* Additional panel with 5 buttons and volume control,
* Possible to connect light guns.
* Back connectors: Power socket, HDMI out, 2xUSB , Lan connection
* Front pannel connectors: 3x audio connectors, 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0
* Front Storage: 2 trays with space for the light guns, usb controllers, karaoke mics, etc..

Below is the layout, inspired in the Apex Arcade from bespoke arcades in the UK. I incorporated many suggestions from this forum: angle for the monitor and CP, height of the CP, construction details, ideas for connectors, and many more!. Also I got invaluable help from Jigenjuke for the marquee art (High def of Galaga with a white background)..

As for the CP I took into account many points mentioned in this forum. And had to make 2 versions. The first one was flawed: I put the trackball above the spinner, and was very uncomfortable to use. After some time I decided to do it again, and am very happy with this new layout..

I used the items in the attached images, and detailed below.

OK, Thanks a lot again for all the help and the suggestions along the way, and please contact me if I can be of any help.

Here post with more files (sketch up, side art, etc..): http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,137357.msg1512422.html#msg1512422

Items:
Control Panel
2 Ultimarc U360 joystics, with hard springs, back restrictor, each connected to 8 buttons (http://www.ultimarc.com/)
1 Utrack trackball  (http://www.ultimarc.com/trackball.html) + Black ball
1 Spitrack Spinner + Wheel (http://www.ultimarc.com/)
1 IPac 2 (for the 2 "mouse buttons", plus the plated butons on the top panel)
1 Volume USB controller:  Fusion Control USB Powered and Controlled Rotary Volume Knob  (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ANRRZCG)
1 Vinyl decal

Monitor: 19 inch square LCD monitor

Audio
1 Pyle Home PCA2 2X40-Watt Stereo Mini Power Amplifier (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P2VV50/)
1 Pair of Polk Audio RC60i 2-Way In-Ceiling Speakers (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005T3BD)
1 Monster iSplitter 1000 Y-Splitter (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002E9HHYM/)

Connectors
For the front, I bought a custom wall plate from Data Pro (www.datapro.net). For the back connectors, see images below

Software
Hyperspin (www.hyperspin-fe.com) with Rocket Launcher,
JRiver Media Center(www.jriver.com, excellent software which I already use at home),
Sound Switch (http://soundswitch.codeplex.com/) to have a key switch the audio source
JoyToKey - To map buttons to keys (Win+p for switching monitors) (I made an Excel tool to program de cfg files, http://www.rlauncher.com/forum/showthread.php?1067-Controller-Mapper-for-JoyToKey-Excel-Tool&p=10666#post10666)
AutoHotKey - to map the additional control panel buttons to Monitor - External HDMI
Many more, still working on it.

Controllers
EMS Top Gun 3 (http://www.hkems.com/product/xbox/1108.htm)
Logitech F710 (http://gaming.logitech.com/en-us/product/f710-wireless-gamepad)
Atari 2600 Joysticks (www.amazon.com/Joystick-Controller-3RD-PARTY-Atari-2600/)
Retrolink Atari to PC USB Cable (www.amazon.com/Atari-PC-USB-Cable-RETROLINK-2600/dp/B007ZS35CU/)
Retrolink Nintendo 64 Classic USB enabled controller (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008L3UUPS/)
Classic USB NES Controller for PC (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YVD3KM/)
Nintendo Retrolink USB Super SNES Classic Controller (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002824SNS)

[retango]

Cabinet is progressing, some pictures below...

[DarakuTenshi]

I like the curves on this cab.

[retango]

Thanks!!
More pictures of how its progressing, and one request for help!.
I would like to have a white Galaga marquee art (see below), but I can't find a high definition file for printing it. EMDKAY used to sell it, but they are no longer producing marquees.. Anybody can help me with this? Thanks a lot!
I hope the arcade will be finished in the next couple of weeks..
Regards

[retango]

More pictures with details of the back and front connectors, and the front power switches to turn on-off each outlet..

[Typefighter01]

I also like the shape of your cab.

My cabinet is a "Whitey" too 

[Jigenjuke]

Hey there Retango,

I couldn't find the marquee that you were looking for so I just threw something together with bits and pieces of the Artwork for Galaga that was availble.  Hope this helps.

Jigenjuke

[retango]

Wooooww!!! Thanks infinity!!!!  I really appreciate your help and effort, it was the only missing piece of my arcade!!!
Will post pictures as soon as the marquee is in place.. Below am attaching the pdf and jpg versions in case anyone needs them
Thanks again and regards,
Retango...


White Galaga Marquee

[pbj]

"Whitey?"  Really? 

[retango]

Hi pbj!
I put it really for lack of a better name, and I liked the "woody" cabinet.. But I am not a native english speaker, so perhaps there is a connotation to the word "whitey" I'm not aware of.. does it mean anything different than "white colour"?
Thanks!

[pbj]

It was a racial slur in the Caribbean, as in "kill whitey."  Can't really speak for the US but I know things like "blackie" are frowned upon.

 

[retango]

Ok, new name then..ReCade... (thanks for the heads up pbj!)
More pictures... Next week it should be finished!

[PL1]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like you put the trackball way too close to the back of your CP.   

In the renders you posted above it was towards the front.   


Scott

[Slippyblade]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like you put the trackball way too close to the back of your CP.   

In the renders you posted above it was towards the front.   

Yeah, swapping the trackball and spinner may have been a better option.

On a side note, those are some SERIOUS speakers up there!

[retango]

Thanks a lot for the comments! You're right. After planning the CP, I realized that I would not use the trackball that much (there are not many games I plan to play that need a trackball), so I decided to prioritize: 1) Joysticks and buttons, 2) Spinner, 3) Trackball. So I put the joysticks and spinner in what I considered the ideal position for them, and then put the trackball where it fitted.
However I am now not sure it was a good move  . I still did not play any game with the arcade, but after trying the trackball it does a little bit uncomfortable. Also, when adding the 8" wheel to the spinner, the wheel is too close to the right joystick: my hand does not fit. And the left joystick ended too close to the side of the arcade.
So I will try this CP for a little while, and will almost sure make a 2nd version with improvements...
Thanks a lot again, and will post comments on usability once I finish it..
Re tango

PD: Yes, speakers are big! I plan to use the arcade for Karaoke also

[retango]

Some files about the project, please contact should you want anything else..
* Sketch Up Model
* Components list
* Layout
* Side Art
* Back Plate

Thanks again to all..