the EMDKAY BARTOP!

[emdkay]

coming up with the name for the cabinet was the easiest part  

special thanks to users on this forum that provided parts for the cabinet:
HarumaN - for supplying the hacked xbox controller pad, thanks!
divemaster127 - for supplying the buttons, joystick, and several misc items, thanks!
saint - for byoac!

here we have the before...


and here we have the after!




the cabinet stands 28" tall x 18" wide x 27" deep.  to keep the cabinet as portable as possible, i was able to go with a 17" widescreen dell LCD.  the next cabinet is going to be the same dimensions except 5" less deep since i won't need the extra room for a CRT.

it's running an xbox system with several xbox compilation titles... capcom, namco, taito, tecmo, and midway.

progress pictures and some narratives can be found here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/brenticusmaximus/EmdkaydeBartop?authkey=6i6Noh43Zy0

 

[Knievel]

Very sharp! I love the instant gratification of applying that black vinyl finish.

[IG-88]

I loved everything up until you said xbox.    Looks cool tho....

[emdkay]

I loved everything up until you said xbox.    Looks cool tho....

ah c'mon!   

i'm a big fan of the xbox media center.  i had to do it!

[emdkay]

Very sharp! I love the instant gratification of applying that black vinyl finish.

indeed!  it's actually a textured laminate..



although it's not AS textured as the photo makes it appear

[IG-88]

It's OK.... I just like the old stuff. Old games, old controls, old computers, old monitors. Must be cause I'm old 

[HaRuMaN]

Wow... very cool to see what my hacks ended up in.... 

[danny_galaga]

swoopy!

[metahacker]

wow.  i really like it.  makes me want to buy a tablearcade bartop kit

[def78901]

VERY NICE!!!
I think that you have inspired me to make my first project and i think that is gonna be a bartop just like yours, i was wondering what mod chip you used for your xbox, also do you need access to your xbox or is it all done with the media center?

[leapinlew]

Whats the viewing angle on that thing? Seems to me it might be hard to see if your looking down on it?

[mountain]

Wow, i really like the looks of this thing. Fantastic job!

[emdkay]

wow, thanks!

this xbox has an xecuter soldered in, but i have another modded xbox that i softmodded through the splinter cell exploit.  it boots into xbox media center and all controls are done through the arcade panel.  the only access needed to the xbox is to power it on, which i'd like to run a power button to the front actually.

yea, the viewing angle is pretty much straight head on.  along with a bar stool, it'll definitely needs to be on a small table of sorts

[Tahnok]

Great job emdkay; It looks really good. I'm sure I'm rather biased though, for obvious reasons .

[spacies]

Thats pretty cool.
Well done.

[def78901]

thank you for your reply, another quick question how did you hook up the monitor to your xbox, would it be easier to just use a tv?

[emdkay]

thank you for your reply, another quick question how did you hook up the monitor to your xbox, would it be easier to just use a tv?

you can use any game to vga box adapter, but i used an original x2vga:
http://www.absoluteinsight.net/images/hardware/x2vga/x2vgacorded.jpg

if you prefer, it would be easier to use a tv since you wouldn't need this adapter. 

[rberger3]

Do you have sketches? or plans?

[leapinlew]

Do you have sketches? or plans?

Seriously? Come on dude.

http://www.tablearcades.com/

[rberger3]

Do you have sketches? or plans?

Seriously? Come on dude.

http://www.tablearcades.com/

sorry.

[DeLuSioNal29]

wow, thanks!

this xbox has an xecuter soldered in, but i have another modded xbox that i softmodded through the splinter cell exploit.  it boots into xbox media center and all controls are done through the arcade panel.  the only access needed to the xbox is to power it on, which i'd like to run a power button to the front actually.

yea, the viewing angle is pretty much straight head on.  along with a bar stool, it'll definitely needs to be on a small table of sorts

Funny, I have two modded Xboxes as well.  One with an Xecuter and 200 GB hard drive and one that is softmodded using splinter cell (never had to open it).  Both are running media center and both are connected to the net.

First question, why not run MAMEoX?  (MAME on the Xbox).  Both of mine are running MAME and other emulators along with the media center.  Was thinking of making my bartop with an Xbox engine myself, running MAME.  It would be an economical solution considering the last Xbox I bought (used) cost me only $25!

Second question.  The hacked controller that was supplied to you.  How was that hacked and how can one adapt it to arcade controls?

Nice clean work... Congrats!

~ DeLuSioNaL

[HaRuMaN]

I did the hack...  here's a picture:

[DeLuSioNal29]

I did the hack...  here's a picture:

Looks quite simple actually, thanks for the pic!  I have to try it!

I also noticed that you only soldered contacts to the directional pad and not the analog joys.  I would want to use the analog joys for games like Robotron or Smash TV (they work perfectly in MAMEoX).  Any idea on how I would do that?  Would I need a special encoder since it's analog?

~ DeLuSioNaL

[HaRuMaN]

I did the hack...  here's a picture:

Looks quite simple actually, thanks for the pic!  I have to try it!

I also noticed that you only soldered contacts to the directional pad and not the analog joys.  I would want to use the analog joys for games like Robotron or Smash TV (they work perfectly in MAMEoX).  Any idea on how I would do that?  Would I need a special encoder since it's analog?

~ DeLuSioNaL

There's no real way to do that, as far as I know.  The analogs work off two pots each, it may be possible to emulate that, but not likely

[DeLuSioNal29]

There's no real way to do that, as far as I know.  The analogs work off two pots each, it may be possible to emulate that, but not likely

Yeah, the only way I know of to do it right now is with the Quasicon controller:
http://www.quasimoto.com/quasicon.php

But there is still hope to use dual joys, I could always install an extra digital joystick on the right, and then solder the contacts to the a, b, x and y buttons.  They I simply have to reprogram the MAME controls for THAT game only to the a, b, x and y buttons for the right side joystick. 

~ DeLuSioNaL

[HaRuMaN]

But there is still hope to use dual joys, I could always install an extra digital joystick on the right, and then solder the contacts to the a, b, x and y buttons.  They I simply have to reprogram the MAME controls for THAT game only to the a, b, x and y buttons for the right side joystick. 

~ DeLuSioNaL

That is true.  I didn't even think of that.  You could also have the second joy AND 4 buttons wired to the A,B,X, and Y buttons.  My hack is a solderless solution, btw.  All you have to do is crimp quick-disconnects to some wires, and insert the other end in the terminal block, and screw down.   

[DeLuSioNal29]

That is true.  I didn't even think of that.  You could also have the second joy AND 4 buttons wired to the A,B,X, and Y buttons.  My hack is a solderless solution, btw.  All you have to do is crimp quick-disconnects to some wires, and insert the other end in the terminal block, and screw down.   

Yes, that is what I plan to do.  It's assumed that I would leave the normal A, B, X and Y buttons included as well.

[Stobe]

special thanks to users on this forum that provided parts for the cabinet:
tablearcades - for supplying the cabinet body, thank you!
HarumaN - for supplying the hacked xbox controller pad, thanks!
divemaster127 - for supplying the buttons, joystick, and several misc items, thanks!

Hint Hint...nudge nudge......

Never forget Saint in your "thank-you" list.

[emdkay]

special thanks to users on this forum that provided parts for the cabinet:
tablearcades - for supplying the cabinet body, thank you!
HarumaN - for supplying the hacked xbox controller pad, thanks!
divemaster127 - for supplying the buttons, joystick, and several misc items, thanks!

Hint Hint...nudge nudge......

Never forget Saint in your "thank-you" list.

it's somewhat of a given!  but good point