So I built an arcade machine...

I built an arcade machine recently and thought it may be interesting to log the stages of building it.

I have been playing around with a program called Mame for a while.
It's an arcade emulator.

Going to the arcade was a big part of my life when I was young. I have fond memories of going to Felixtowe and spending all my pocket money on games machines. I never really got into fruit machines (or one armed bandits as some call them) as I would often lose my money. I was much more into video games - even though they were a rip off and I was not much good at them.
I particularly have fond memories of a 'Bubble Bobble' machine that was in a small arcade near where family owned a parked caravan. It was only 10p a go and the music was really catchy. I used to just watch it when I had no money left. I was quite young...

I was trying to introduce Solomon to the world of Pacman and Frogger and Solomon's Key - but using the keyboard to control the games was difficult for him. So I brought this joystick:

http://www.xgaming.com/

I then got the idea to build a machine. I mean - how hard could it be?
To buy one pre-built is very expensive and I could do it on the cheep.

I started with low expectations - maybe just mount an old monitor to a shelf and hook up my mac to it or something - but then I saw that other people were custom building actual arcade machines.
It looked like something I could do - so I started thinking I would just do the bare minimum to get something to look half decent. As I kept looking at other people's projects - I gathered ideas and just designed my own machine cabinet.

I wanted it to be 2ft deep so I could use a 4x8ft piece of plywood cut in half.
Home Depot do a cabinet grade plywood sheet which is just over 3/4 " thick. It was only about $26 per 4x8 sheet - so it seemed an economical option.

I was going to use an actual 17 or 19" CRT monitor for that authentic arcade feel - plus they would be cheep! - but I found a 19" LCD SVGA flat screen monitor at a Good-Will shop. It works and was $20!
It also meant I could keep to the 2ft depth.
I also picked up a fluorescent tube light for $3.50 - would be good for the back light.

I had some speakers that I got from a yard sale for $2. I have an old PC that is not used any more. I also had an receiver amp that I no longer used. All I needed was a marquee...

There is a company that does Marquee art.  Well they do all sorts of art for arcade machines...
http://www.gameongrafix.com/categories/marquees

In fact I saw quite a few companies that specialize in arcade machine parts. Metal strips for holding the marquee in place, joysticks, micro-switch fire buttons and even cash slot units.

I wanted to do a pacman theme - as this game was really significant and iconic of arcades. I don't think I ever played it in the arcade (it was released in 1980 - I was 4 years old) - but certainly had it at home on the spectrum Z80.

I searched all the marquees on the website and did not find anything suitable - but then went to the bargin bin and there it was! It was a pacman 'arcade classics' sign. I liked this as it was pacman - but not exclusively pacman (as there would be other games played on there). It was half price - but postage was $10 UPS...
arcade-classics

It was already printed at 25" by 7.5" - so this determined my width of 25" !

I experimented with the joystick box and worked out a comfortable height from my kitchen worktop. This gave me the joystick shelf height of 35"

I wanted the machine to be no taller than 6ft so worked back the monitor area from that. The monitor would occupy the upper part of this area. I was worried I would not have enough room for the speakers - but figured I could buy smaller ones if needed.

I spent a long time on the plans - but it was necessary if I wanted this to turn out any good.
I deviated slightly from these plans where it was easier and more practical to do something else.
There are limitations to my skills at wood work - so had to change plans 'on the fly'