Build your own arcade cabinet

[J T]

One day I want to do this. One day.

http://www.gamespy.com/articles/110/1106724p1.html

[joehero]

I did this about four years ago. I was looking up the game Journey and came across MAME. I couldnt believe it. I read up on everything at BYOAC and decided to build my own. I found a free arcade cabinet on craigslist locally and began tearing it apart. I originally set it up for four players but it seemed a bit crowed. Eventually, rebuilt the control panel for 2 players, added a trackball and spinner. I put only the top 100 or so games from every console ( atari, nes, snes, master system, genesis, gameboy, saturn, ps1, dreamcast, n64, arcade, pc, etc) It sit in my bar, in my house, and is tons of fun. Everytime someone comes over I have to explain what it is, then they say, I remember playing this one game. Most of the time, I have that one game and let them play it again. Its a pretty simple project and I encourage you, if you have the space and time, to do it. I'll have to post pictures of mine on Racketboy, been meaning to for sometime.

[blackmagepwns]

Pretty interesting, I would like to look into this when I have the time and money.

[AppleQueso]

I've seriously thought about doing this off and on for several years now.

[ujnhunter]

If I did this... (and I've had dreams... I just have no space in my apartment!) I would probably look to buy an old cabinet and convert it, rather than start from scratch with sheets of wood. It might be cheaper (or the same price) and easier.

[CRTGAMER]

Very nice. It seems the perfect "Arcade" would be not a dedicated muti game board setup such as say NEO GEO, but a fast PC or MAC fitted with all the various EMUs a mouse click away. Various USB controllers, Sticks for 2 player or twin stick mode, Trackball, even a couple paddles all attached ready to rock with huge built in flat screen CRT. To me, a dream machine could include EMUs of NEO GEO, MAME, IMPACT, FINAL BURN and the all of the Retro home consoles. Maybe a step further including actual consoles in the matrix.

Only need a spare house to hold all of one's original favorites.

[J T]

Very nice. It seems the perfect "Arcade" would be not a dedicated muti game board setup such as say NEO GEO, but a fast PC or MAC fitted with all the various EMUs a mouse click away. Various USB controllers, Sticks for 2 player or twin stick mode, Trackball, even a couple paddles all attached ready to rock with huge built in flat screen CRT. To me, a dream machine could include EMUs of NEO GEO, MAME, IMPACT, FINAL BURN and the all of the Retro home consoles. Maybe a step further including actual consoles in the matrix.

Only need a spare house to hold all of one's original favorites.

I would like to build an arcade cab with a drawer for keyboard support and a foldable side table for mouse support (with a hideaway pocket for the mouse when not in use). I would also want buttons on the sides of the cab for Pro Pinball simulation, and a nice fight stick on the main panel.

[joehero]

Very nice. It seems the perfect "Arcade" would be not a dedicated muti game board setup such as say NEO GEO, but a fast PC or MAC fitted with all the various EMUs a mouse click away. Various USB controllers, Sticks for 2 player or twin stick mode, Trackball, even a couple paddles all attached ready to rock with huge built in flat screen CRT. To me, a dream machine could include EMUs of NEO GEO, MAME, IMPACT, FINAL BURN and the all of the Retro home consoles. Maybe a step further including actual consoles in the matrix.

Only need a spare house to hold all of one's original favorites.

I would like to build an arcade cab with a drawer for keyboard support and a foldable side table for mouse support (with a hideaway pocket for the mouse when not in use). I would also want buttons on the sides of the cab for Pro Pinball simulation, and a nice fight stick on the main panel.

Ive actually have been trying to design a cab that will be dedicated for pc games only. With the joy sticks and buttons on one side, and flip it over to use the keyboard and mouse.

[fedexin]

The sky is definitely the limit when it comes to MAME machines. Some people want it all, and build control panels that actually fit it all. I prefer a more niche approach (one style of game, one cab), but I understand the space limitations argument too. That being said, I've got plans for another full scale cab, but nowhere to put one!

One of my fav's: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=74772.0

[AppleQueso]

whatever you do, don't do what any of these guys did