Pixeloo-Inspired Arcade Cabinet: Design Phase

[rol]

Hello Everyone,

Since this is my first post here, I'd just like to preemptively say thank you - I've been checking out these forums for some time now, and have gotten some excellent ideas from too many sources to mention.

That being said, my wife has given me the green-light to build my own arcade cabinet (I told her I would have a real hobby and she seemed to think that was a good idea.) So I'm just going to post some things as I get them.

I'm not going to lie - this project is going to take quite some time, and currently we don't even have space for this project, though we're moving into a bigger apartment within a year, so I'm crossing my fingers that I can have it done by the time we move.

My cabinet is conditional - it can't be an eyesore, and it has to be expertly done (my wife will get her friends to throw it in the garbage if those conditions are not met)...but luckily I have two excellent resources at my disposal - both my dad, and my father-in-law are woodworkers - and they've been more than obliging in lending me advise (and when the time comes, help) regarding this project...though my dad keeps telling me I shouldn't promote a piece of furniture that forces a person to be so close to the TV... 

I picked up the first major piece for my cabinet a couple of weeks ago - the TV. It's a 32" Sony Trinitron - didn't realize from the pictures how big that really is, nor did I realize that the thing weighs a million pounds. I'm not looking forward to this, but I'm definitely going to have to remove the case, just for the sheer size of it.







Complimenting the TV are a pair of 3D glasses I received for Christmas...according to my wife this makes me nerdier than the nerdiest, but I think they're pretty cool. They've become part of the cabinet, as I want to be able to play Virtual Boy on this bad boy. Oh wait...I guess she was right...oh well.



I've given some thought to my control panel, as it's the part of the cabinet I can probably get away with doing in our current, extremely small apartment. Nothing major yet, just a preliminary sketch I did at work. My requirement for this control panel is that it needs to be console friendly, as well as arcade friendly. Anyways, here's the quick sketch.



Lastly, as mentioned, since space is an issue for now, and time isn't a huge concern, I've started on the artwork for the control panel overlay / marquee, etc. I'm going for a Pixeloo-Inspired theme (Pixeloo is the guy who originally untooned Mario.) Here's my crack at the same thing, except full-bodied.



And here's a preview of who's next...



I'll probably be posting more of these within the near future...gives me something to work on. Provided work doesn't get in the way. And it will... 

--Tom

[rol]

Ok - Finished untooning Zero Suit Samus.



Let me know what you think.
Also, I'm doing several of these, so if there's a game character you would like to see, post it, and I'll see what I can do.
I'm thinking Bonk or Megaman is next.

--Tom

[swaffar]

i see what you're going for... the mario looks pretty good.  but the samus looks a little too cartooney.  not tryin to be harsh; i how some photoshops turn out great and other only get worse the more you mess with them.... it's just too much of a contrast between the two.

as for suggestions, i thought "megaman" just before i read the rest of your sentence.  this might sound too obvious but maybe a peach or luigi to go with mario?  or is that too much mario?

other non-human ideas would be sonic (might be tough)  or a mother brain made of clippings of actual brain matter.

[rol]

swaffar - not worried about you being harsh - I appreciate the comments.

I'm finding that the ones I'm doing that have very human features still look cartooney - I'll just have to see how they all come together.

Sonic crossed my mind.

--Tom

[dkssprs]

Nice to have you with us rol.You remind me the feeling i had when i was new here and spending much time reading all the projects.

I wsh to you good luck with your poject and i have to congratulate you for choicing building an arcade cabinet for a hobbie. 

OK here is my question...i will try to be calm....

DID YOU MAKE THE MARIO BY YOUR OWN!!!!?? 

please lie to me and answer"NO" 

cause if you made it by your self we have a great member 

[rol]

dkssprs - Thanks for the kind words. I'm really looking forward to constructing this (even more than playing it I think).

I did do the Mario on my own - not going to lie  ...but my inspiration for this style artwork comes from this site:
http://pixeloo.blogspot.com/
His artwork is incredible, and he has a lot of links to some pretty awesome art websites too...

My job forces me to be in front of Avid / After Effects / Photoshop at least 5 days a week, so I'm pretty confident that I can pull this off with a high degree of professionalism. That being said they take bloody forever to do...but I'm getting faster.

Which means maybe one every two weeks if I'm lucky...

--Tom