Custom built arcade machines

[Toitlefan]

Does anyone have arcade machines? I built my MAME about 3 years ago and have spent quite a bit of time and money making it the way I want. It has become a whole new hobby in itself.

The cabinet is from North Coast Customs, I cut the plexiglass to fit, added a dynamic widescreen monitor and new speakers with a subwoofer that also plays music. I also set up a power strip that turns all the lights on when the computer is started up. There are lights for the marquee and keyboard.

[Toitlefan]

Here are the 8-bit turtles that are on the bezel.

There are over 1000 games loaded on, including TMNT the Arcade game and Turtles in Time.

[Toitlefan]

And the cabinet, right side up.

[TigerClaw]

Cool, you should record some video of it in action.

[Bry]

Originally Posted by Toitlefan

Here are the 8-bit turtles that are on the bezel.

There are over 1000 games loaded on, including TMNT the Arcade game and Turtles in Time.

Ha! Love the Mega Man-style Turtles.

Curious how much this ran you? The classic arcade cabinet is my white whale - though I definitely can't afford it and don't have the space for it, if I had an opportunity to buy one I'd probably jump at it. But the idea of having a custom one made at some point (pipe dream though it is) might be even better.

[Toitlefan]

Originally Posted by Bry

Ha! Love the Mega Man-style Turtles.

Curious how much this ran you? The classic arcade cabinet is my white whale - though I definitely can't afford it and don't have the space for it, if I had an opportunity to buy one I'd probably jump at it. But the idea of having a custom one made at some point (pipe dream though it is) might be even better.

Ive spent about $1200 over the years but they can be made much cheaper. I would recommend buying a used, non-working arcade cabinet and gutting it. It's more work but if I did that I would have been more in the $500-600 range. I needed to be able to disassemble the cabinet in order to get it in my kitchen and original cabinets don't come apart easily. The hardest part is getting the software for the games but that was the first thing I (luckily) had access to.

If anyone wants some info on how to build one I would be happy to help. It can be done, patience is required though. It's definitely worth it, there's nothing like hanging out in your kitchen playing arcade games and drinking a beer.

I'm not sure I can post a video of the gameplay but I will at least get some pics up.

[Nameless]

i've built one for around $300-400 dollars but i used a lot of recycled products and got most of my materials for free. i think i only paid for the siding, various building supplies like screws and glue, and the actually arcade controls.

i still need a good monitor that fills the space better, since the cabinet is huge and a piece of plexiglass to finish the whole thing up construction wise. but right now it is playable so i'm content to leave it till i get a bigger place before i through more money at it.

i think the coolest part about my cabinet is that my girlfriend is an artist so she has done all the artwork on the outside of it. still a lot of space left to fill but what she has on it is great. i have the evolution of link on the front, think darwins evolution picture with link from each of the zelda games from first to skyward (skipping twilight). i also have the scene in turtles in time when the turtles find the technodrome in the cave, so yes i have a giant technodrome on it. once its done i'll post pictures though still might be a few years off.

[Toitlefan]

Originally Posted by nameless

i've built one for around $300-400 dollars but i used a lot of recycled products and got most of my materials for free. i think i only paid for the siding, various building supplies like screws and glue, and the actually arcade controls.

i still need a good monitor that fills the space better, since the cabinet is huge and a piece of plexiglass to finish the whole thing up construction wise. but right now it is playable so i'm content to leave it till i get a bigger place before i through more money at it.

i think the coolest part about my cabinet is that my girlfriend is an artist so she has done all the artwork on the outside of it. still a lot of space left to fill but what she has on it is great. i have the evolution of link on the front, think darwins evolution picture with link from each of the zelda games from first to skyward (skipping twilight). i also have the scene in turtles in time when the turtles find the technodrome in the cave, so yes i have a giant technodrome on it. once its done i'll post pictures though still might be a few years off.

I think the home made ones have a lot more character. I bet that Technodrome art is gonna be sweet. I'm still considering other additions such as more side art and I would like to get a inoperable coin door just because it would look cool.