Coffee table / games console - Unique design?

[funkandlove]

Hi all,
New member here, I have a few question to ask so thought an introduction would be a good place to start.

I’m not a gamer, but my 12 year old son is, and he’s recently developed a liking for retro games.  I thought about buying him some retro consoles, but after researching it just looked like a lot of hassle (and expense).  So the idea of building him an all-in-one console was born.

I didn’t really want a huge ugly arcade cabinet sitting in my lounge, so I decided on a cocktail cabinet style system.  I didn’t really have an end design when I started out, instead I found a cheap used coffee table with potential and took it from there.

Ikea Ramvik coffee table - eBay £10




I was originally going to place a monitor under the glass and figure out some way to mount the controls, but my son said it would be weird to have to look down at the screen.  He decided the screen should tilt up, and he is the boss.  That’s when things got really complicated, but ultimately he was right.  Fast forward 2 weeks and the physical build is finished. 





Happy to answer any questions, but here’s the highlights:

27” LCD monitor mounted under glass
Table top mounted on friction stay window hinges
Computer concealed inside and out of view
Controls stored under table top when flat, pull up when in use
USB hub mounted to right of controls for USB retro controllers
Power extension cable stored inside when not in use

Finally heres my son playing some N64 



Lisa 

[Wyo]

Whaaaaat? That's awesome!  Great job!

Man, I was thinking it might be cool to do that with an infinity mirrored table top and have the screen "floating" in the middle of it....or maybe that might be to much.

Regardless, awesome work. 

[stigzler]

Heh. Think that tilt-up screen is unique, yeah. That Ikea table's been used a few times, though...

I like the way that despite all your efforts, he still sits on the couch and uses a controller. You'll have to order him a cab to get him all the way to the control panel...

lastly - 2 weeks!? Really?

[DeLuSioNal29]

Nice work!  Welcome to the forums!

How did you get the joysticks to clear when it closes?  Does the CP swing down as well?

DeL

[GSXRMovistar]

Great job and lucky lad.

Do you have a build log or build photos as I'd be interested to know how the top tilts up and how you raise the CP?

Also very impressed by the 2 weeks, have you been planning this for a while or just very handy when it comes to designing/building?

[Ian]

 

I like how clean it looks... Great Job!

[yotsuya]

So what are your few questions you mentioned in the first paragraph?

[vwalbridge]

I didn’t really want a huge ugly arcade cabinet sitting in my lounge

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[Mike A]

The problem is he said only one.

[Locke141]

Good nod.

It would be nice if you could add some photos of the build in process. It looks like you may have some ideas others may want to look use in other builds.

[thomas_surles]

Is he playing smash with the dpad?