Convertible Cocktail Cabinet, all linux...

[bagleemo]

Hi Everybody -

Just been a lurker here until now, but now that I've completed my cabinet I thought I'd post a picture and a link to a gallery with a few more pix.

I built it based in large part on the great design made by David Case (see link on page below). I used a flatpanel instead of a CRT and made the tabletop hinge so folks can play both portrait and landscape oriented games. This project uses Ubuntu Linux, Wahcade as the front end, sdlmame and stella for emulators. I used a VIA PC-2500 mini ITX system for the guts, which I DO NOT recommend because VIA only pretends to make Linux drivers. Hope you dig it.

http://bokonen.net/arcadeCab/index.html

[Encryptor]

Very nice. I think the design is ingenious. Nice Job.


Encryptor

[bagleemo]

Thanks! I like it cause it's unobtrusive enough that my wife lets me keep it in the living room.  But when it's time to play it does the job nicely!

[Franco B]

Very cool 

I was going to do the same thing with my cocktail originally but I couldn't find a suitable LCD within my price range.

Good job 

[tomdotcom]

Definately looks nice enough for my living room to. I've been telling my GF that I am slowly turning our house into an arcade, although we only have 2 right now. I told her a cocktail is next

[jthompson]

Now it just need one of these stickers



in a discreet place of course.

Awesome cab!

[SavannahLion]

I used a VIA PC-2500 mini ITX system for the guts, which I DO NOT recommend because VIA only pretends to make Linux drivers. Hope you dig it.

That is the first time I've ever heard that. Got a linky to more info about that?

[danny_galaga]

that is a great idea!  what do you do with the CPs though? just rest them on something?

[bagleemo]

Re: VIA pretend linux drivers, you could read the petition here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/vialinux/petition.html
Basically they provide drivers on their website, only they just never work.  So the great folks at openchrome try to make them, but are crippled because VIA won't give them specs they need to do it right.

As for the control panels - there are rails attached to the sidewalls with metal pegs sticking up.  The control panels have holes drilled to mate with the pegs.  So you seat the control panels down on the rails. It holds pretty well - not perfectly, but they managed to stay in place even with exuberant players mashing the CPs in all directions so far.

[jban4us]

Looks great. The design is cool, pretty unique, and the wood looks wonderful.

[opt2not]

I really like the ergonomic design of the base. Nice woodworking on the curvature, I could see this being wife-friendly. 

[mame-arcade]

Hello,

Very very nice 
Please, how much for this jewel?

Thank you!

[kizer]

Welp I got the go a head to build a cocktail because the wife really doesn't want a HUGE hulking cabinet in the rec room aka where people gather. However this is really nice and I think she might even go for it.

[SavannahLion]

Re: VIA pretend linux drivers, you could read the petition here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/vialinux/petition.html
Basically they provide drivers on their website, only they just never work.  So the great folks at openchrome try to make them, but are crippled because VIA won't give them specs they need to do it right.

Yikes!  I was never made aware of the VIA issues. Either I've had the pure dumb luck of never having to install Linux on a PC with VIA chips or I've never purchased a VIA chip based motherboard due to [INSERT APPROPRIATE REASON HERE]. Thanks a bunch for that link.

[chepnut]

Thats awesome!

There must be something in the air.  My wife came up to me last month and wanted to get rid of the table we never use, she said that if I wanted I could put a mame cab that I have always wanted in its place.  I have been making plans to do the exact same thing.  Its going to be a cocktail with head to head action and then have the screen flip up for side to side 2 player games.

[Games001]

Funny, I have been talking to my wife the last few days about a conversion cocktail... we all are smoking the same stuff it seems.

I was considering the skill needed to make a 'waiter' style table where 2 screens, placed back-to-back, would rise out of the center of the table on a sprint or the like.  A sort of Battleship Table.

If anyone can think of a simple system for the 'raise/lower' mech for the screens, let me know.

[JamIt]

Well done! 

[DaOld Man]

Great job!