Gigantic cocktail cabinet, 4 players, etc

[Com[Plex]]

okay, so this is my first cabinet, but don't let that fool you.

I came into possession of a 31.5" monitor, and decided t was time to make that cabinet Ive been wanting all these years. I dont have a lot of room in my apartment, so a large upright with a frankenpanel wouldnt work. Therefore, I decided to build a cocktail cab big enough to replace our kitchen table, and call it good.

the end result, is a four sided cocktail cabinet, with a 4 player side for those few four player games, a two player joystick side for vertical scrollers like 1942, the oposite side for vertical oriented games with a trackball and custom spinner for tempest, arkanoid, centipede etc, and the second horizontal side for two player HTH combat games.

I had been warned that too many different controls in too small an area was 'tacky', so I felt that four sides for four different style games was just as good as a "spincade" and alot easier to construct.

I also needed it to be modular so I could move it out of the kitchen if I had to, so I built a base to house the tv and computer, and a seperate removeable control deck that can be taken off, alloweing the base to be rolled around

[Flinkly]

my *blank*....

i always aspired to build a cocktail.  but now i don't think i'll even try.  good idea to make it the kitchen table too.  insterad of reading the newspaper everymorning, just play a quick round of pacman or somethin...

i like it, but what about the edges of the glass?  it looks like it overhangs a little too much without any support, i'd be afraid of it breaking.  oh, and while i'm thinking about it, what did you pay for all that glass?  well, i have a ton more questions, but i'll let someone else ask for a bit...

[Silver]

Awesome! I love something a bit unusual.... A 31.5" in a cocktail....

I take you don't play many trackball games where you need a big push - that could hurt!

Ah you do have pics up.... any dimensions?

[danny_galaga]

  

now surely THIS is 'hall of fame' material?

[walls83]

That is the biggest cocktail cab Ive ever seen.  That might be the biggest cocktail cab in the world.   How does it pay with 4 peeps hudled around.   Can everybody see or are people leaning into each other?

[Witchboard]

I like your trackball mounting plate.  Is that a square NBS plate and you just routed a larger round hole so you can see it?  Looks good, and looks very functional as a table as well.

[Com[Plex]]

lets see if I can answer all your questions so far.
the glass:
the glass is quarter inch bronze smoked glass, 48"x42"
the surface it rests on wraps around the TV and distributes the weight nice and evenly.

[Com[Plex]]

That is the biggest cocktail cab Ive ever seen.

[Com[Plex]]

I like your trackball mounting plate.

[Com[Plex]]

Looks good, and looks very functional as a table as well.

funny you should mention that,
last night I was chowing down while playing tempest and trying to trap the memory region for the superzapper, (cheater)
and I had a big bag of chips, dip, bowl of meatballs in sauce and some sub rolls, making mini meatball subs and wailing on a four pack of guiness, and NOTHING was in my way!!

what a great table!!

[RayB]

This is not a cocktail table!
This is insanity!
 
*WOW*
I think this qualifies as a category all it's own. A Dining Table machine.

[Santoro]

I like it.   It is always nice when someone breaks the rules a bit and creates something new.

I especially like the way the glass overhangs.

[Com[Plex]]

This is not a cocktail table!
This is insanity!
 
*WOW*
I think this qualifies as a category all it's own. A Dining Table machine.

LOL, my friend SpyStyle just suggested that I name it the "GIGANTO-MAME"
I think its a good name, and you are right, this isnt a cocktail cab,

its a dinner table cab.

[Com[Plex]]

I like it.

[Witchboard]

In my humble opinion, I think you should just print up some nice instruction cards to put under the glass and let it be.  It looks good the way it is now, like a piece of furnature.  If you start sticking stuff on it, it will look like a nice armoire that some kid has slapped stickers on.

[Gunstar Hero]

*thunk* 

That was my jaw, dude.

That is awesome.

[Com[Plex]]

I want to add a few things

first, it isn't entirely finished. the controls are exposed from below, and I intend to cover them, but I have some minor bugs to work out first.

[Com[Plex]]

In my humble opinion, I think you should just print up some nice instruction cards to put under the glass and let it be.

[RayB]

I'm sure others are wondering... Are you married? If so, how'd you manage to get the green light on something like this?

[Com[Plex]]

I'm sure others are wondering... Are you married? If so, how'd you manage to get the green light on something like this?

LOL, it was easy! My girlfriend plays it more than I do!

the only hard part about the project, was devoting this huge tv to it. at first, the tv sat out in the hallway, blocking traffic, on the back stairwell, but basically out of sight, out of mind.  when I finally decided to carry it up the rest of the stars and test it out, the picture was so bad that we didnt want to use it. - however, once I fixed it, the picture was great, and my girlfriend(Tory) started using it in the back room to watch movies and stuff off her computer. we Have 3 other Tvs, but they are all smaller. 21, 25, and 27.
I could have used one of those for the mame box, but by the time Tory started uysing this monster for her movie watching pleasure, I had allready constructed the base around it.  I wanst going to change that.

my solution:
I got her a video card that would output over svideo and popped it into her machine back there. that way she can watch a video in theater mode (outputs video in full screen to tv, but on the monitor she can be doing other stuff).
this worked out great!

Ironically enough, she really does play the arcade more than I do.  I want to play mortal combat and stuff, and shes playing bubble bobble and other girly games.... GRUMBLE...

here is a pic of Tory taken after two coats of poly

[Nannuu]

That is the coolest table I've ever seen!  Games and food together.  If you could just place 4 toilets around that baby you'd have it made.  Toilets on casters for the 4 player games.  Good good work, and very nice looking to boot.  Are you going to put a website up for it?

[Nannuu]

You might think about adding some black grommet around the edge of the glass just in case of spills.  It might hold it long enough to clean it up.

[Com[Plex]]

That is the coolest table I've ever seen!

[Santoro]

Dunkin' Donuts and Drakes Funny Bones.  My kinda people!

[tommy]

That looks good man my only concern is that bronze glass, im sure its not temp glass and if its not and someone hits the edge of that glass theres going to be huge mess and i dont mean glass mess im mean a bloody mess ive seen people lose there arms/fingers by not respecting glass make sure they know its very dangerous , that could save you a lawsuit           -tommy

[Gunstar Hero]

Respect Bubble Bobble man! That game is awesome! 

[Com[Plex]]

That looks good man my only concern is that bronze glass, im sure its not temp glass and if its not and someone hits the edge of that glass theres going to be huge mess and i dont mean glass mess im mean a bloody mess ive seen people lose there arms/fingers by not respecting glass make sure they know its very dangerous , that could save you a lawsuit

[tommy]

As a glazier   you should have temperd glass to protect your self

[sasuke_kun12]

oh my goodness! thats GINORMOUS! Hey complex did you have any probs with your joystick microswitches? coz i've got one x-arcade joystick and i had to bend the the prongs.

[Witchboard]

As a glazier

[Com[Plex]]

oh my goodness! thats GINORMOUS! Hey complex did you have any probs with your joystick microswitches? coz i've got one x-arcade joystick and i had to bend the the prongs.

Yes, I had to tune them a little. for sure. but I changed the "button pusher peice" alot too. they work great now

[Com[Plex]]

UPDATE:

http://www.angrymods.com/mame/

I started a web page for it.
its not done, but then, I have to go to work now. hehe. Ill work on it later!

[GGKoul]

Great work!!!  This deserves a MAMEY for sure!!!

[Otraotaku]

Crazy!!! You deserve to be in the news for that... or Ginius Book of records!Jeez Table. I think you should discuss some arcade art with your wife/girlfreind... ^.^

[Mr. Dude]

This may be one of the coolest things ever made!!!  Awesome job man!

[Com[Plex]]

This may be one of the coolest things ever made!!!

[whammoed]

Wowzers!
Certainly no reason it couldn't be in the HOF.  Definitley unique enough.
Interesting way to read the morning paper too!
How is the ergonomics of seeing the entire screen while playing in a seated position?  I thought my 27" cocktail was pushing it a bit which is why I ask...I use office chairs so players can adjust the height for best viewing.

[GGKoul]

I passed this project on to the "MAMEY" people.... so we'll see..

[bioart]

This is impressive.  I'd love to do something like this (though I would still be concerned about the glass not being thick enough for use as a table...)

Hmm...

---
Honey??? we need to move...
Why?
"giganto-Mame" is coming...
---

[RetroJames]

effing awesome.  THIS is why I keep checking back.  Just awesome. 

[KevSteele]

That's no cocktail table...

That's a Kitchen Table!

[Zakk]

Yup, the Mamey people have it.  I give it a rousing "joystick up".  E-mailed his web page link to the other 'judges'.  So far, 2 joysticks up and 3 unaccounted...  whoops I should check e-mail before I post: 3 in favor, 2 uncounted.  That makes it a winner, although I'm going to wait till I hear back from the other two dudes before I post it up.  (judge #3 adds that she voted yes because the woman there allowed it in her kitchen, so it can't be too bad!!)

Time to get ready to add this to the cocktail page...

[Com[Plex]]

Wowzers!
Certainly no reason it couldn't be in the HOF.

[Com[Plex]]

This is impressive.

[Com[Plex]]

effing awesome.

[Com[Plex]]

That's no cocktail table...

That's a Kitchen Table!

[Com[Plex]]

Yup, the Mamey people have it.

[Com[Plex]]

Time to get ready to add this to the cocktail page...

where exactly is the cocktail page?

[Zakk]

It's riiiiight about there:

http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Awards/Cocktail/cocktail.html

Congrats, everyone loved it.

[RetroJames]

Ok, you need a pic without the stains...

[Com[Plex]]

It's riiiiight about there:

http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Awards/Cocktail/cocktail.html

Congrats, everyone loved it.

haha, Sweet!
thats a killer site you got there.  you are so right on the optipac review. that thing Rules!
I wrote about it a little on my site too. www.angrymods.com/mame

[GGKoul]

It's riiiiight about there:

http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Awards/Cocktail/cocktail.html

Congrats, everyone loved it.

I told you everyone would   

What do you get when you win a MAMEY anyways?

[DrewKaree]

here is a pic of Tory taken after two coats of poly

It appears that you've used a satin poly on Tory.  I think you would have had better results if you'd have used a few thin coats of Semi-Gloss on her, with perhaps a few clear coats on top....wet sainding between coats.

Do you think, though, that she'd sit still for all those applications?   



And my opinion:

That is one emmer effin SWEET cabinet!  It truly ISN'T a "cocktail" cabinet, that's a Highball cab! 

I really like the idea of controls on each side, the only thing different I might have suggested would have been, instead of using casters, to set the thing up on a lazy susan.  I REALLY like the overhanging glass idea as well. 

Kudos

[Redseven80]

Nice work! that would be great watching TV while eating dinner on it, or have some romantic mood lighting on screen with the lights down low, while chowing down, this thing is more than just a mame machine for sure.

[spystyle]

I dub this cocktail
"Giganto-MAME, The 4 sided 32-inch arcade table"

Not only is it sleek and elegant, it takes advantage of the unique oportunities only available to cocktails : to use all 4 sides as seperate control panel layouts and use both vertical and horizontal viewing angles, and with it's extra-large screen both the vertical or horizontal have a big impact. A masterpiece of MAMEgeneering.

And it's a kitchen table!

I dig it,
Craig

[Com[Plex]]

It's riiiiight about there:

http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Awards/Cocktail/cocktail.html

Congrats, everyone loved it.

I told you everyone would

[Zakk]

It's riiiiight about there:

http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Awards/Cocktail/cocktail.html

Congrats, everyone loved it.

I told you everyone would

[Bones]

Great work. Very original.

This is the Goldmine of the cocktail world.

[Zakk]

Hey, how you gonna get that thing out the door when you move? 

[Com[Plex]]

Hey, how you gonna get that thing out the door when you move?

[Com[Plex]]

I dub this cocktail
"Giganto-MAME, The 4 sided 32-inch arcade table"
Not only is it sleek and elegant, it takes advantage of the unique oportunities only available to cocktails : to use all 4 sides as seperate control panel layouts and use both vertical and horizontal viewing angles, and with it's extra-large screen both the vertical or horizontal have a big impact. A masterpiece of MAMEgeneering.
And it's a kitchen table!
I dig it,
Craig

That it is,

[DrewKaree]

* DrewKaree looks on as a lone tear of joy trickles slowly down his face

[RayB]

Wow, it looks very modern with that color thing running.

[Stingray]

This is one of the most awe inspiring cabs ever to be presented on this site. Very, very nicely done.

-S

[RetroJames]

Ok, you need a pic without the stains...

Really...please...no more stains....

[tommy]

No more of the kids leaving the table to play video games 

[BobbyG66]

Totally over the top!

Well done!

[InsaneDavid]

Now if an entire resturant would have tables like this - the arcade industry could thrive again!

Really though, that table is amazing.    Excellent work.

[HaRuMaN]

Now if an entire resturant would have tables like this - the arcade industry could thrive again!

Now that would be a kick-arse idea!!   

[DrewKaree]

That's a place I'd take my kids to all the time.  Something a touch classier than Chuck E Cheese's, AND I wouldn't have to look like the "advance scouting crew" for Michael Jackson!

[InsaneDavid]

What kind of cooling / ventilation system do you have in place? (if any)  I would imagine a monitor of that size would generate some considerable heat.

[NIVO]

OK Com, 3 things here:

#1 Wicked, I love it.

#2 I want a video with the cat gaming against you and kicking your butt! 

#3 Where is the button to push for the top to sink inside itself and flip over to show us the bumper pool table? 

Well done, the monitor and sheer size alone sets it apart.

Unofficial name "Behemoth" LOL    Cheers.

[nipsmg]

WOW

There's nothing else to say.

[Com[Plex]]

This is one of the most awe inspiring cabs ever to be presented on this site. Very, very nicely done.

-S

haha, why thanks
it defenitely is a huge hit at parties. and it gives us a reason to have a party every weekend! 

[Com[Plex]]

What kind of cooling / ventilation system do you have in place? (if any)

[Com[Plex]]

OK Com, 3 things here:

#1 Wicked, I love it.
#2 I want a video with the cat gaming against you and kicking your butt!

[dphirschler]

Love the cab.  Very nice.  Watch TV while eating, play games while eating, surf the web while eating.  You better get some real comfortable chairs.

Tell me more about that spinner.


Darryl

[Com[Plex]]

Love the cab.

[Veinman]

Sweet cocktail! And looking at your very first pic, I can tell you that I have that very same cat.

[D5A1AC]

#3 Where is the button to push for the top to sink inside itself and flip over to show us the bumper pool table?

Haha you beat me to it, I was going to suggest you get a felt sheet and some sort of wall to turn it into a pool table  Kinda like those el-cheapo 10 in one games tables except not el-cheapo. That is a really fantastic dining table cab by the way, well done 

[Com[Plex]]

#3 Where is the button to push for the top to sink inside itself and flip over to show us the bumper pool table?

Haha you beat me to it, I was going to suggest you get a felt sheet and some sort of wall to turn it into a pool table

[Com[Plex]]

does anyone have any questions about this thing that they want answered? anything I should add or remove from the page that I have up for it?

[dphirschler]

One comment.  Looks like the bottom is open.  I would recommend sealing it off so little critters don't crawl up in there.  And you really should use tempered glass.

But, man!  that is cool.  You cat looks nice too.  Makes me miss mine.


Darryl

[ras2a]

Me too.  ABSOLUTELY SUPERB !

Craig

[Com[Plex]]

One comment.

[Com[Plex]]

[dphirschler]

I dont have any cretters in the house small enoguh to worry about, and the chassis really is only an inch off the floor.

Make sure you keep a cat in the house, or critters (mice) will move in.  They will like it inside the nice warm cabinet and close to food.  Who knows... bugs might even like it in there.


Darryl

[Com[Plex]]

Make sure you keep a cat in the house, or critters (mice) will move in.

[teetu]

has anyone else used wooden dowels to fill in the screw holes like i did?

it's funny u mention that, cause I was thinking of doing it myself since wood filler takes a while to dry.  How did it work out for you?

[Com[Plex]]

has anyone else used wooden dowels to fill in the screw holes like i did?

it's funny u mention that, cause I was thinking of doing it myself since wood filler takes a while to dry.

[Com[Plex]]

update:
got this new controller I built from welding a trackball to a very tiny keyboard made for a playstation. check it out!
http://www.angrymods.com/carpc/controller

from this


to this


to this!

[arcadefever]

  wowwwwwwwwwwwwwww this is one of the best cab ever !
what a genius you're,

this cab is unique and well done, imagine how many married man can now present this project to there wifes 

congratulation i LOVE IT !!!!!!

[meanbean]

  Just an incredible job Com[Plex].

[AtomSmasher]

Holy crap that is awesome.  This is the first time I've noticed this thread and I'm glad I did.  I couldn't figure out what to do for my next project, but seeing this thing just gives me so many ideas that I know I'll eventually build something similar.

Awesome job.

[rlemmon]

Wow !

[ZXR]

Sorry to revive this thread, but it's something that new people to the site need to see.  I can't believe it's not on the Hall of Fame page myself...

Have plans been made up for this as it's totally the sort of thing I'd love to build now that I'm starting to get a good collection of tools.

-ZXR

[Com[Plex]]

Hey there, nice to see that people still like my cab. 
I didnt have any plans for this, but I could probably sketch some up. I pretty much just winged it. I knew what I wanted and I went for it.

I could sketch up the plans easy enough,. if there is an actual demand for em

[Com[Plex]]

oh yeah, the link to my incomplete writup about the proccess of building this, is on www.angrymods.com/mame

[Com[Plex]]

in case anyone had doubts as to whether you could convince your wife to let you have this as a dining room table, here is an example.




it has a nice pair of speakers inside of it, and when we have dinner guests we like to play portishead or something easy with the winamp visualizations going on the screen.  it certainly adds to the ambience of the event.

[loadman]

I don't know what FE solution you choose (i could not see it) but I think that beast would benefit from MaLa fe rotation options I think, especially as there are diffrent controlls om each side. You can have the gamelist change depending on what side it is rotated.


Nice work.

I waiting for someone to build a mame cab you can play in the pool 

[Com[Plex]]

I don't know what FE solution you choose (i could not see it) but I think that beast would benefit from MaLa fe rotation options I think, especially as there are diffrent controlls om each side. You can have the gamelist change depending on what side it is rotated.


Nice work.

I waiting for someone to build a mame cab you can play in the pool 

dude, that looks awesome! where can I get that?

[gamecreature]

dude, that looks awesome! where can I get that?

http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/

[Com[Plex]]

dude, that looks awesome! where can I get that?

http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/

thanks!

[Com[Plex]]

So, this is just a feeler, but I am thinking about selling the arcade... it doesnt get a lot of use where it is, and I could really use the money for parts for my race car (my new hobby)

if I were to put this up for sale, completely with the 2ghz computer inside, etc etc.
how much should I ask for it?

its still in great shape. I have kept it in nearly immaculate condition. it has a great finish on it. and the glass is virtually scratch free.

it weighs 400 lbs, so local pickup is pretty mandatory.
(I live in Maine)

[DrewKaree]

if I were to put this up for sale, completely with the 2ghz computer inside, etc etc.
how much should I ask for it?

I think a fair price for me to give you for it is $30, and to sweeten the deal, I'd pay that in C-A-S-H money!  Now I just need your address and a n agreed-upon time when I can stop by and pick it up.  Since I will be driving from WI, I will need directions, for which I am also willing to pay the princely sum of $10 for your troubles, and if you drive back with me and help me see if it fits in my basement.....

[AtomSmasher]

and I could really use the money for parts for my race car (my new hobby)

now that is an expensive hobby, your going to need all the money you can get.  I went from that hobby to this one largely because this one is much more affordable.  What kind of car do you have?

[Com[Plex]]

and I could really use the money for parts for my race car (my new hobby)

now that is an expensive hobby, your going to need all the money you can get.  I went from that hobby to this one largely because this one is much more affordable.  What kind of car do you have?

I got a vw gti. 16v 2.0. its screams. just picked up two close ration racing transmissions for it. 
here is us on the cover of killboy.com

[Com[Plex]]

still thinking about selling this.

Im considering putting a 3,000$ price tag on it and trying t sell it locally.

what does a brand new arcase machine go for? (non mame)

[spystyle]

W00T !!!

[Franco B]

Ooook, thats a normal reply to resurrect a thread! 

It is an awesome cab tho 

Did you sell it in the end Com[Plex]?

[Com[Plex]]

Ooook, thats a normal reply to resurrect a thread! 

It is an awesome cab tho 

Did you sell it in the end Com[Plex]?

no actually, I still have it. dont use it nearly as much anymore tho... I should still consider posting it for sale

[DJ Infinity]

Can I have it plz? I'd pay for shipping  Excellent original design     

[Com[Plex]]

Can I have it plz? I'd pay for shipping  Excellent original design     

hahah, yeah, could happen. No ones shown me any real interest in purchasing it.  I would consider any reall offer.  bu I dont know what its worth..

[DJ Infinity]

I couldn't afford it right now.  but it would be a welcome addition here.

[Com[Plex]]

I couldn't afford it right now.  but it would be a welcome addition here.

most of us couldnt afford it, thasts why we build them ourselves

Id probably let it go for a little more than what I have into it.

anyone care to guess how much that is?

[Stub]

hmmm maybe, 400 in controls, 500 wood laminate trim and glass, 600 for the pc?

[Com[Plex]]

hmmm maybe, 400 in controls, 500 wood laminate trim and glass, 600 for the pc?

I think you are pretty close actually. I think I was closer to 1600 actually, but that was a while back so its hard to remember exactly...