want to build a bartop arcade cabinet

[alexis524]

i spent most of my work day yesterday drooling over arcade cabinet projects. Many look so very nice, and i would love to build one, but don't have the time to wrap my head around the project. Not so much the cabinet construction itself, but the circuitry involved. But here is my problem, i want to build one just to say i did and to have it, but knowing full well that i will not have the time to sit and enjoy it. I doubt it will ever get played

[sevin0seven]

this might help you started:

http://emdkay.net/catalog/bartop-arcade ... -c-18.html

or

http://www.recroommasters.com/Xtension_ ... xt-mac.htm

[presicion25]

Heres something similar:

http://www.mameroom.com/Products_Bartop_Kit.asp


I had planned on building one myself but ran out of money.

[pjvdg]

I doubt it will ever get played

I know the feeling, about 8 years ago I built a small arcade myself with the help of my dad (he's a carpenter so that came in handy), but I only play it once a month at most.
(for pictures see here: http://www.puregaming.org/aquacade.html).

As for circuitry, it isn't that complicated... Even in a bartop you could put in a mini-pc with ease.
I used the internals of an old keyboard to hook up the buttons and joystick.

Anyway, I had a great time building it and when you do play it, you know it was worth putting your time into

[sevin0seven]

I doubt it will ever get played

I know the feeling, about 8 years ago I built a small arcade myself with the help of my dad (he's a carpenter so that came in handy), but I only play it once a month at most.
(for pictures see here: http://www.puregaming.org/aquacade.html).

As for circuitry, it isn't that complicated... Even in a bartop you could put in a mini-pc with ease.
I used the internals of an old keyboard to hook up the buttons and joystick.

Anyway, I had a great time building it and when you do play it, you know it was worth putting your time into

i can relate to this. i also have a mini mame cab that i barely play or touch anymore. mostly is just in my living room for display only now. there are times that i thought about selling it, but i got a feeling i might regret that move since it's kinda one of a kind..

[joehero]

Before I built my cab I used www.byoac.com for all the info I needed. It was alot of fun building and playing. As for the circuitry, its not that hard. The easiest way is to purchase a keyboard encoder. Purchase joystick and buttons, they will hook up to the keyboard encoder that plugs into the keyboard port on your pc. Track ball and spinner is optional and plugs into a usb port or mouse port. The mame program is already configured for you. Last is a front end to hide windows and make it look and feel like a real cabinet.

[the King]

why do a bartop cab when you can just build it into a bar?




http://gizmodo.com/5053212/video-game-b ... ns-at-once

[fastbilly1]

I never really played on the cabs I have owned by myself. I often would just load up an emulator on a pc and go that way. BUT when I had company over the cabs were always a hoot. The trick I found is to limit the games on there.

[noiseredux]

why do a bartop cab when you can just build it into a bar?




http://gizmodo.com/5053212/video-game-b ... ns-at-once

I have seen the light.

[alexis524]

nice setup King. after i checked out the hyperspin project over at UG, i will not sleep until i have it set up in a bartop cab. Oh yes, she will be mine...