Arcade machine

graemer

graemer

graemer

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Joined
21 Apr 2004
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536
Location
South Shields
Mods please move if I have posted in the wrong place.

I have been wanting to build an arcade machine for ages now and have finally made a start. I have a design, the wood is coming on Tuesday and the buttons have been ordered. All I need now is a old pc and a 19 crt monitor.

I am hoping to use it to run a few older games unreal, wolfenstein and other classics.

Has anyone had experience of building these and if so could you give me any advice before i start my build.

cheers.
 
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oh boy cant wait to get started soon. A mate has given me a mboard and a duron 800 with 256 ram. He doesnt know if it works but if it does theres another item of my list.
 
For those of you interested. Managed to cut the wood to shape this weekend.
I am using the template found here http://users.adelphia.net/~seanhat/arcade/
I didnt quite realise how big it would be.
I have now got the buttons and joystick. I think I now have a full system based round a 800 athlon (havent tested it yet).
It looks like this will be a long process. I used mdf and it looks like it will need primer and about 4 coats of paint before I can assemble it. (Too big to assemble and move into the room I want it in so painting it first.
Hoping to get the painting finished in next 2 weeks then onto the buttons.
 
kurt_wylde said:
GSXRMovistar.. MASSIVELY impressed with your work.
Just had a browse through your website then and I'm totally jealous..lol
Click to expand...

I agree that is a fantastic example, mine will be no where near as good as that I just dont have the necessary skills.

Would be interested in more info wbout the front end menu system. Email in trust if necessary.

I will take a few pics at the weekend when all the wood has been cut and I have my first coat of paint on.

As for the buttons I managed to get mine of ebaybut they are expensive. I was thinking about just going for the whole already made joystick consoles it was only about £20 more expensive but I fancied the challenge of making it myself.

I have managed to get myself a 19 monitor and it will have to do until I can get something bigger. Was thinking of getting a cheap graphics card with tv out and running the games that way.
 
I have a 19" pc monitor.

VIRII If you have access to a couple is there any chance of you keeping the best one and if I pay postage costs (about £25) could I have the other one? A bit cheeky I know but i had to ask.

The design I am going with can take up to a 25" TV.

I got the full buttons set for £80 delivered that also comes with the circuit board to connect to a pc.
 
0gami said:
Dunno if its any use to you but I know a guy who is selling an X-Arcade 2 player stick which he has used only once and wants to get rid of it, so he may do you a good deal.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer but I have already got the buttons and sticks. I have decided to make them myself rather than buying a control panel.

cheers anyway
 
VIRII said:
Looking nice mate.
Are you going to paint it ?
A couple of build sites I have been reading through used Fablon and it looked really good, especially with chrome edgings.
Click to expand...

Hadnt thought of using fablon was just going to paint it but fablon could well be the way to go.

Havent had time to look at the power on and off side of things just yet. I will leave that till the case is up and there is a pc in it and then I will look at software etc.
 
Have made the control panel now but a major mistake.

When I drilled the holes for the buttons I was careful about the separation to alow 2 people to play but did not realise the wires were not long enough and not well marked when I tried to wire everything up. My only sloution was to fine and online supplier of male / female connectors, some wire and crimping kit. Never mind I guess its a learning curve.

A bit dissapointed as I wanted the control panel ready so I can experiment with the keyboard configurations.
 
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