Anyone ever build/customize an Arcade Cabinet?

**the_mango55** · September 04, 2008, 02:15 PM

I have been extremely tempted recently to start gathering parts to build an arcade cabinet in the next few years, one that will run MAME emulated games.

Anyone have experience doing this or know someone who has?

This is pretty much my dream system, the ultra quad cabinet from dream authentics. It's got 4 player stations with 8 way joysticks and 7 buttons each, a 4 way joystick for pac-man and the type, and a trackball for games like galaga, breakout, and golden tee. Also a slide out tray with keyboard and mouse to make game installation easier.

Of course, it's also $4,000.

If I could figure out how to build something like this for under $1,500 (of course it wouldn't be nearly as pretty) I would be all over it.

**Freddie** · September 04, 2008, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by the_mango55

I have been extremely tempted recently to start gathering parts to build an arcade cabinet in the next few years, one that will run MAME emulated games.

Anyone have experience doing this or know someone who has?

This is pretty much my dream system, the ultra quad cabinet from dream authentics. It's got 4 player stations with 8 way joysticks and 7 buttons each, a 4 way joystick for pac-man and the type, and a trackball for games like galaga, breakout, and golden tee. Also a slide out tray with keyboard and mouse to make game installation easier.

Of course, it's also $4,000.

If I could figure out how to build something like this for under $1,500 (of course it wouldn't be nearly as pretty) I would be all over it.

Wow, that has to be the ultimate boys toy (well not quite a Ferreira would be nice), I would love to have one of those in my living room. All those memories of playing Final Fight, F-type, Double Dragon in my Dad’s pub.

I doubt you're going to find anyone around here who has ever built one of them. The only person who I can think of you might be able to help you is Rush Limbaugh who wants to start his own Virtual Racing/arcade centre.

**GrnEyedDvl** · September 04, 2008, 03:18 PM

Look around some of the MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) sites. Building a cabinet isnt that hard if you can draw and cut a square line. For hardware go to Happ Controls.

I doubt you're going to find anyone around here who has ever built one of them.

I actually used to be in that business

**the_mango55** · September 04, 2008, 03:35 PM

This guy claims he built this bar-top one for under $100

http://www.hak5.org/episodes/hak5-episode-4-released (starts at about 3 minute mark)
http://www.hak5.org/episodes/hak5-episode-5-released (starts at about 5 minute mark)
Materials, components, and plans
joystick and buttons
Trackball
I-pak button interface

Apparently they had most of the PC parts, and I would add a trackball and use the more expensive (but much easier) method of connecting the controls for the PC, and I would need more MDC because I don't really have a bar-top to put it on, but I may be able to do it for $250 or so (I have the monitor, speakers, and hard drive), which is far less than I thought.

Not sure if I would do 2 stations and an I-Pac² for $80 or 4 stations and an I-Pac⁴ for $150.

I think 2 player would almost always cut it, but sometimes you just get the craving to play some 4 player X-Men arcade (6 player would be even better, but you take what you can get).

It wouldn't be anywhere near that $4000 behemoth, but it could still be sweet.

And if I ever want to upgrade I figure I could ebay it for at least what it cost to build.

**the_mango55** · September 05, 2008, 12:40 AM

So what do ya'll think of this first blueprint?

Large round ball = trackball

**the_mango55** · September 05, 2008, 11:51 AM

I think if I did an extremely basic 2 players I could do it for just over $300, but with 4 players plus a trackball, plus basic 3d acceleration for the ability to play PC games, plus the drawer, mouse, and keyboard, plus a wireless network card to update the system without running a cable all over the house, it's gonna run me about $550 or a little more.

PC parts:
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...ListTitle=MAME

Antec 350w PSU
BIOSTAR Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 3200+
ASUS Radeon HD 3450
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM
Already have the 80GB HD
Already have the 19" LCD
Already have the dvd drive
Cyber Acoustics 14 watts 2.1 Speaker
2 fans to keep the case cool
TRENDnet Wireless network Adapter
Linkworld PS/2 Slim Keyboard
A cheap mouse from Wal-Mart (newegg's all have like $6 shipping)

Here's a basic sketch of how it will function

**GrnEyedDvl** · September 05, 2008, 02:42 PM

Not bad. Make sure you ventilate the case and thorw couple of fans in it. There are several kinds of cheap 12v fans that will work.

**the_mango55** · September 07, 2008, 12:19 AM

I have decided to go with just a 2 player system right now to save some cash, and in a year or two I'll build a 4 player system with a huge monitor, like this (but 4 player).

So I redesigned this one, and it's going to have an NC State theme. Here's my preliminary sketch of the final coloring, the logos on the sides and control panel are vinyl stickers.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**the_mango55** · September 11, 2008, 06:23 PM

I built a test control station to make sure I was knew what I was doing and liked the control scheme. Used some of the MDF I'm not going to need and some scrap plexiglass I found lying around.

I'm pretty happy with the results.

**dwringer** · September 11, 2008, 06:53 PM

Haha, that's pretty wicked stuff you have so far. I especially like the idea of putting a wireless network interface in there. It's funny to think how far-out that would have sounded back when we were playing these things in the arcades and pizza restaurants ;p