I am a n00b, here is my cabinet

[hausjam]

I have been lurking here quite some time now. Probably a year or more before I registered. Lots of good stuff.

After first discovering Mame over 5 years ago, (and giving up my hunt for a cheap Galaga) I am well into the process. So far I have the software almost complete. Layouts, roms, emulators, Mala all set up, etc.

I designed the cabinet, here is the conceptual drawing:




I am open to any hints or tips, comments or criticisms.

To be brief;

Cabinet will be approx 34 wide x 76 tall x 26 deep.
Control Panel is 49 wide x 11 deep. (almost done, the only part I have physically built so far.)
2 U360 and 2 Happ competition joysticks; Logitech extreme 3d flightstick, U-trak and turbotwist.
Planning on a 32" LCD tv @1360x768; Quadcore mainboard and probably Geforce 9800 GTX (for pc gaming)

I have some pictures, and all my Mala layouts and mame artwork (all done in 16:9) that I am going to put up on my website if anyone is by any chance interested.

I have pretty much everything figured out, but there is one thing that has me stumped. I would like to add a jukebox to the arcade. I have been searching here, and download uncleT's player (you da man uncleT, btw). I just can't figure how I can integrate it into Mala.

Jimmy

[ivwshane]

The only thing you might want to consider is how you plan to get it into and out of your house if it's going to be 34" wide.



What was your reasoning for a four player cab and other features such as the steering wheel and pedal?

[Blanka]

I would try to keep it within a 80x80x1m80 envelope. Then it always can pass doors and stairs.
At what height is the middle of the screen? Looks like 1m30 or so. Maybe you should have it lean backwards. Draw a perpendicular line from the centre of the screen to the position of the players eye to check the right angle. With LCD's its very awkward to look slightly down on them.
I would trash the racing controls, player 3 and 4 and the instructions. It makes the cab much cleaner. You might consider a spinner with removable mini-steering wheel.

[Epyx]

Agree with the comments above. While my cab is also 34" wide, it for a certainty won't be leaving my basement...and if it does it will be in pieces

I plan on staying where I am for at least a few years but with that said my next upright will be a lot more "move friendly"...

[Paul Olson]

It looks like players 3 and 4 might have a hard time seeing the whole screen, you may need to set it flush with the front of the cab. That may be too large of a monitor also; the CP is not very deep so the players will be very close to it.

[cmoses]

Always interested in seeing new MALA layouts.  Please post them....

[hausjam]

The only thing you might want to consider is how you plan to get it into and out of your house if it's going to be 34" wide.

I haven't designed the release mechanism yet, but the control panel will be quickly detachable. All my contollers are housed inside it. It will connect to the mainboard via a single usb connection. Therefore, the 26" depth will ensure it fits through doors. It will even swing around my 180 degree staircase..

What was your reasoning for a four player cab and other features such as the steering wheel and pedal?

Besides Galaga and Tron, some of my fondest arcade memories was playing four player games like TMNT and Captain America. Which brings up a good point. Why can I get not get four player Captain America in Mame? It will only do two players.

[hausjam]

Does this forum not have multi-quote button? Or am I missing it?

what height is the middle of the screen? Looks like 1m30 or so. Maybe you should have it lean backwards. Draw a perpendicular line from the centre of the screen to the position of the players eye to check the right angle. With LCD's its very awkward to look slightly down on them.

You are right, it is below eye level. I figure most of the time we will be using a stool. I don't want it too high, nor do I want it to lean back, because it is already kind of high for the steering wheel.

I would trash the racing controls, player 3 and 4 and the instructions. It makes the cab much cleaner. You might consider a spinner with removable mini-steering wheel.

I have to have a steering wheel, because I love racing games. I have considered multiple spinners with the 7" wheels for games like super spring, but my controls are already cluttered.

[hausjam]

It looks like players 3 and 4 might have a hard time seeing the whole screen, you may need to set it flush with the front of the cab. That may be too large of a monitor also; the CP is not very deep so the players will be very close to it.

That has occurred to me. I have already redesigned the cabinet once. I am certain this is not the final revision 

I may go with a smaller screen. Or I may make the game windows smaller within the artwork files. I love the art feature of mame, btw, allowing you to put all the game instructions right on the screen.
I am planning on buying a 32" tv anyway for the kids. If it works out, I will buy another for the arcade. If it doesn't, I will go with something smaller.

And here is my cabinet dimensions





Thanks for all the comments guys! I will certainly take every one into consideration as I redesign, and re-redesign 


I will post some of my layouts soon.

[ivwshane]

I'd forgo the side panels that protrude from the monitor.