Project $500 Arcade Station

Post by **enderzero** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:53 am

The ones on the top with the obvious price tag are $13-14 ish.

Beeeph · Post by **Beeeph** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 7:09 pm

good, thats about the same from where I get em.

Beeeph · Post by **Beeeph** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 7:16 pm

The tool of the day turned out to be the clamp. By far the most useful tool used in the project thus far. If you're like me and you only have two hands, the clamp can serve as a third. A very strong and fancy looking third, I might add.

Today was friday, the only day of the week I get to work on the Mame Station Alpha Two Gold MX8000 Pro Series Arcade Cabinet that I'm building. With the exception of the speaker and coin door holes cut, I'd like to anounce the completion of the cabinet assembly! I think I'm gonna sleep in it tonight. More pics are posted here for those interested.

Post by **enderzero** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:46 am

Wow man! That is lookin awesome. Can't wait to give it a spin.

Beeeph · Post by **Beeeph** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:44 am

I wish you and the admiral would help me build this heavy bastard. We'd be done by now and in full golden axe form.

Post by **enderzero** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 5:41 pm

Talk to McNevin's gestapo bosses that won't give him a w/e off. How's next weekend look McNev?

McNevin · Post by **McNevin** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 6:39 pm

nope!

Wait (This request has been placed on the waiting list. If available, you will receive a message approval for the wait listed date.)

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:18 am

That's incredibly fucking lame McNevin. Sorry to hear that. Nice cabinet Sleeeph! You'll have to get a couple of bar-stools for extended play.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:19 am

Oh, and definitely make a small cutout for USB connectors on the front. Then you can plug in a couple controllers and sit back in a chair for console emus.

Beeeph · Post by **Beeeph** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:40 am

Excellent idea! I was also planning on making a small cutout for analog audio output. Since this thing is essentially a computer wrapped in a wooden cabinet, it can also be used as a jukebox that should have the capability to connect to any home stereo for maximum air pressure fluctuation

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:44 am

Yes, excellent idea. The ability to fluctuate pressue is alway welcome.

Post by **enderzero** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 9:31 am

Oh wait! Next w/e wouldn't work. That w/e is Halloween, the biggest party of the year in IV. It was ranked the best party in the nation in Maxim. Apparently it is fuXing crazy. They close off the entire 6 blocks closest to the water to traffic from Friday night until Monday morning. Should be a rager.

Beeeph · Post by **Beeeph** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 9:49 am

well have fun at your keg'r old man, I'll post pictures of all the cool additions to the cabinet that you had nothing to do with.

Perhaps the weekend after next? McNevin?

McNevin · Post by **McNevin** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:47 pm

Perhaps...

Goemon · Post by **Goemon** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:12 pm

It was ranked the best party in the nation in Maxim.

You are such a media whore. First it was the clubbing mag in Tokyo and now...Maxim?

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 9:59 am

indeed. Real fun and underground type stuff isn't in magazines. Raging mainstream keggers though, that's where its at. For me to poop on. We don't have an eye rolling smilie. I do enjoy a good pompous fancy club from time to time though, to sip overpriced martinis or Champagne in.

Post by **enderzero** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 11:52 am

This guy's eyes are rolling.

No that is definitely not what I am saying. I by no means am getting all excited about a giant night on DP. These cheap beer infused party nights are a dime a dozen and very low on my list of exciting evenings. Mostly I have just been staying in or hanging out with a few friends anyway. But Halloween is certainly at least a night (err weekend) to be observed. I am looking most forward to it just as somehting to see. It is supposed to crazy huge and something that gets talked about for the following year. Unfortunatley it seems my digital camera isn't working again, but I'll find a way to get some pix up.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 12:25 pm

Yeah, I think it would actually be somewhat interesting. In a spring-break sorta way. Buncha crazy wackos running around acting stupid. Could probably get some good footage.

Beeeph · Post by **Beeeph** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 7:37 pm

Ok J3RK, I'm gonna look into the audio portion for this plot of mine. I'd like to go with the car speakers as you mentioned. When you get a sec, would you mind explaining to me in somewhat simple terms how I should go about hooking up car speakers to Mobo integrated audio out? What equipment will I need? How does it all connect? How do I power the speakers/amp/etc.? Should I add a sub to all this? Thanks buster!

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 12:18 am

I'm a wee on the spaced side at the moment, so I shall relay this information to you tomorrow. Over...

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 9:53 am

I'm having discussions with Seth, about the best way to implement sound for as little $ as possible. I'll let you know what we come up with. There's one possible issue with using car-speakers, and that would be the lack of magnetic shielding. This could affect your monitor, so I'm looking for inexpensive, free-air, magnetically shielded speakers. I haven't found a suitable amplifier yet, but that's what I'm talking to Seth about. Are you opposed to building in some small cabinets behind where you're putting the speakers? You could get a lot better audio quality if the speakers were in properly sized enclosures. If done properly, there would be no need for a subwoofer.

Beeeph · Post by **Beeeph** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 10:37 am

Thanks man!

An enclosure sounds like a good idea, but the only problem is the space I have to work with. I've currently left myself with about 6^3 cubic inches of space for each speaker, which amounts to roughly the size of a shoebox. But if I could build an enclosure to increase the quality, I'm thinking I could also line it with metal shielding to protect the monitor. I'll see what I can do.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 11:05 am

Here is the official word from Seth:

I think they normally use 6x9s in arcade cabinets with a reasonable power
amp and usually they boost up the bass frequencies a bit. I think the
speakers are normally mounted in the logo section above the screen and
point down toward the controls. Here is a rough hand sketched diagram:

http://www.eskimo.com/~strohs/ArcadeCab1.bmp

I will look into a small power amp - I did this once before for that movie
preview KIOSK prototype. We even had a subwoofer in the bottom of that
cabinet. (I dont think they do that with arcade games - maybe - but I
think they just use 2 6x9s and an amp that boosts the bass a bit. Free
air speakers are fine because the arcade cabinet itself works as the
speaker box.)

Post by **enderzero** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 12:32 pm

PC speakers would definitely be the less expensive way to go. Maybe not as authentic, but it would save you money.

These Logitech Z-3s are only $35. Or the next step up, the Z-3i Premiums are $65.

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 12:48 pm

The problem with PC speakers is mounting them. They will look silly no matter where you put them. I'd say buy a pair of these at $25 each:

http://mcm.newark.com/NewarkWebCommerce ... 1-1025&N=4

There are a million other types here too, and I've ordered a lot from these guys.

We're working on a suitable amplifier right now.

Beeeph · Post by **Beeeph** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 4:30 pm

First, I'd like to say thanks to all!

Second, I'd like to say that diagram was awesome!

As of now, I may have to take the PC speaker route due to my time, space, and money constraints, Originally, I was planning on using a spare set of altec lansing pc speakers for this project (cost: $0.00), which part of my cabinet design is based on. So if I take the car speaker route, not only will I have space and shielding issues to worry about, but it looks as though it will cost me upwards of $75 - $100...and this ain't Project $600 arcade. But I'm a long ways away from setting up the audio on this thing, so I'm definitly gonna keep all options open and cross that bridge when I get there. Thanks again to the all-powerful J3RK, Tehnderzero, and everyone else involved in the creation of the PC Cabinet diagram. Much more to come...

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 6:30 pm

If the speakers are where they were in the diagram, you will likely need no shielding. Also, they are free air speakers, so they won't need cabinets built around them. If they are under the top area, facing down, I think there is more than enough room there. The only difference will be the price. The amplifier will likely not cost much... That could be a future expansion though.

McNevin · Post by **McNevin** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 2:40 pm

I have sat nov 6th off!

R3C · Post by **R3C** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 2:50 pm

Wooooo!!! Frabjous day for you!

That's amazing. How many people had to drop off a waiting list for that? [TEE HEE HEE]

McNevin · Post by **McNevin** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 3:00 pm

Think im 285 out of 325 of seniority...

Sucks... i wnat weekends off.

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