21st century arcade cabinet

KonstanDKAY

Hello fellow board users,

I am thinking of constucting an arcade cabinet, but want to try something a bit new...

Here's the plan:
Ideally, I would like it light and compact (*potentially collapsable). It will need to house a 23" TV, but I will use an x-box in it, so I can cut down in space and other problems.
I am thinking of using materials other than wood, but have no idea how practical this would actually be.
I have an x-arcade controller which I would like to incorporate into the cabinet.

I see the major downfall of actual wooden cabinets, as one of inconvenience due to its bulk and I want to update the design without compromising the gameplay/ arcade experience. An arcade cabinet for the 21st century.

Any suggestions/ comments on such an ambitious project would be great.

Would be happy to share the labour if someone shares my vision.

ambro25

Sounds like you're thinking of something like this



(Sega Naomi cab)

But tubular (steel or alu tubes) and somehow hinged (to be collapsible)?

Here's some ideas 4 ya -
* use LCD instead of CRT as weight/space saving - should be able to get 2nd hand, 1st gen, 4:3 aspect ratio cheap these days,
* hinge the cab transversally at half-height (between sticks and LCD, so LCD folds backwards),
* make counter-balancing legs (extending backwards at bottom) foldable inwards and lockable,
* extract the XBOX innards and devise suitable removable housing at bottom,
* use hollow aluminium tubes (but with thick wall) for carcass and for truncating wiring.

Working on something like this myself with a DELL P4 Optiplex, MAME & a HotRod stick, currently looking for 2nd hand 17" or so 4:3 LCD.

KonstanDKAY

hey thanks ambro, you sound like you have really pimped that arcade cabinet.

however, I was thinking of using the bits and pieces I have lying around (i.e. 23" TV, 2.1 speakers, x-arcade controller, etc) so that I can maybe get away with doing it more cheaply... also i don't know what the quality of an lcd screen would be, esp 1st gen, as these have a lot of lag

make counter-balancing legs (extending backwards at bottom) foldable inwards and lockable --> good idea, but need spec/ more info on how to do this engineering feat

maybe i am not really thinking that BIG after all. I do like the idea of a cab design, but am not sure how this would "feel" when playing retero games.

in the interim, would anyone have a suggestion for how to secure an x-arcade so that it does not move about while playing?... I am not partial to the idea of gluing it to my knees by the way:)

and would you have the specs / photos of your pimped out machine... i am sure all of boards would be impressed