Project Arcade

Project Arcade
Build Your Own Arcade Machine!
IBM PCIG / K-Lug
March 2008
Tim Massaro
Jon Tollefson
The Book
Remember Pac-Man at the local
convenience store, or Street
Fighter at the mall’s arcade?
Tough to find these days...
Wouldn’t it be great to have your
favorite arcade machine in
your own den or recreation
room?
Project Arcade is for You!
Goals
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Play a Double Dragon board I bought at a
Swap Sale
Make use of a broken laptop
Do a Wood Working project with Dad
Build my own arcade machine
Keep it less than a Playstation
Play Games and Have Fun!
Types of Machines
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Desktop/Gamepad
Upright & Mini
Cocktail table
Bartop or Counter top
Cockpit Style Driving
Plan
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Space available
Games you want to play
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See Killer List of Video Games www.klov.com
Is “authentic gameplay” important?
Cost
Skill
Time
Existing Equipment
Buy vs Build
Anatomy of an Arcade Machine
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Monitor (pc/tv/arcade)
Computer (400Mhz) / Jamma/ Gamebox/Console
Computer Operating System
(Windows/Linux/Mac/DOS)
Buttons
Joysticks (4-way/8-way/switchable/analog/digital)
Trackball
Spinner
Leaf switch
Microswitches
Keyboard Encoders
Keyboard Hack
GPWiz, & Ipac Controller
Anatomy of an Arcade Machine
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Keyboard
Controller (usb/ps2)
Wood (MDF, Plywood)
Vinyl
T-molding
Glass
Casters
Lighting
Speakers
Coin Door
Marquee
Bezel
Control Panel Overlay
Graphics
Additional controls (steering wheels/pedals)
Emulators/PCB
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PCB (printed circuit board) - JAMMA (Japanese Amusement
Machine Manufacturer's Association - wiring standard for arcade machines)
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Can swap PCBs out to play different games.
Also several 48 in 1 boards are available.
MAME – Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator
– emulates the JAMMA boards
Other Emulator are out there as well
SNES/Jaguar/Atari 2600/Sega
Where Can I Find Plans?
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Project Arcade includes Upright Plans
Find examples and plans on byoac.com
Buy plans from arcaderoom.com
Tim's is loosely based on
Kyle Lindstrom's Ms Pacman free plans
http://ripplinriver.com/?page_id=4
and Zakk's HouseArcade
http://www.mameworld.net/massive/Cabinet/House/House.html
Design Tool Resources
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Google SketchUp
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http://sketchup.google.com/
SecondLife
(dimensions must
be entered in metric)
Buy vs Build
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Kaytrim Kustoms desktop gamepads
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X-Arcade Prebuilt Control Panels
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Ready to assemble, and
pre-built cabs available at
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Arcade Depot.com
mameroom.com
mikesarcade.com
More at:
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/vendors
Restoring vs Gutting Cabs
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Gutted /broken cabinets can be found for
<$100
Can be cost effective, but
Preserve Classic Arcade Machines/Graphics
Tools Required
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Tape measure
Tsquare
Circular Saw
Drill w/ 1 1/8” Hole saw
Jigsaw
Sander
Screwdrivers
Paint Brushes
Router if using T-molding
Wirestripper & Crimper
quarter Button
1 orange
1.35
esc Button
1 purple
1.35
pinball Button
4 black
1.35
speaker
1 black
5.44
glass
1 1/4 grey
38.96
glass clamps
1 brass set of 4
3.96
GP-Wiz Eco 32 controller 1
23.95
wires
65ft 20 awg
1 red bell wire
5.66
65ft 20 awg
1 blue bell wire
5.66
35ft 18 awg
1 black threaded
6.99
Female connectors
1 100 Red insulated
8.99
screws
1 1.25 inch
3.57
screws 8x3/4"
1
1.98
machine bolts
1 6-32x2
0.79
wood - 3/4 sanded
1 Red Oak Sanded
42.88
Stain
1 1 pt Puritan Pine, already had
0
3/4 x 2" Corner Irons
4 (4 per package)
2.28
1/2 x 2.5"
1 (4 per package)
1.9
Draw Catch
1
1.98
Draw Catch
1 package of 2
4.87
Oak Trim
1 ironon
5.97
hinge
1 Piano Hinge
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Casters
1 4 3" (2 locking)
4
3/4" x 10' Galv Pipe strapping
1 Monitor Strapping
1
bezel
Light
1 LED
1
coin door
n/a
tmoulding
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1.35
1.35
1.35
5.44
38.96
3.96
23.95
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
4
4
1
1
1
1
1.99
0.88
5.66
5.66
6.99
8.99
3.57
1.98
0.79
42.88
0
9.12
7.6
1.98
4.87
5.97
0
7.96
0.88
12.59
12.59
1
2
1
1.85
5.18
2.99
$322
Key Cost Items
Wood
Glass
Joysticks
Buttons
Controller
$43.00
$41.00
$38.00
$27.00
$24.00
n/a
push button wrench
terminal bracket euro mini
Insul stand offs
1 Pkg of 4
1.85
2.59
2.99
$322 Total
Tradeoffs
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4/8 Joystick (switchable from above) $29 vs
a 4way and an 8 way for $10 each
GpWiz Eco least expensive USB controller,
required Joy2Key and only 32 contacts vs
more common IPAC
Spinner, Trackball essential? Not for extra
cost (Optipac required) (But, depends on
your fav games!)
Oak wood actually cost less than MDF/Vinyl
and T-molding
Rectangular glass vs rounded glass
Software Front-Ends
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Allow users to select games .
> 20 Front-Ends available.
GameLauncher, MaLa, MameWah...
Menumaker for GameLauncher helps
MameWah
MaLa
Time Spent
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Planning – who knows?
3 ½ days carpentry
2 days wiring
Lessons Learned
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GPWiz Eco 32 emulates Gamepad not
keyboard, needed Joy2Key software
2 Player games, watch for key combos (ie
one player hits Enter the other Alt)
Shop around for parts, Glass/Controllers
big difference where you order.
Mockup control panel good for getting
software down
Fun! (playable = hard to finish)
Legal Issues
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Jamma board machines are Legal
PC Games you own are legal
Grey-area, roms for emulators where you
own boards.
A company starroms.com created a legal
compilation of roms (now out of business).
Mame cannot be used in machines that
charge money.
Not O.K. – Roms for emulators are not legal
ala RIAA, same as mp3 file sharing.
Legal Software
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Many good legal pc games available some
free, some cost. Most selection on windows.
Check for configurable keys
Examples:
● Packages Atari Arcade Hits / Pacman pacs
● ChoRenSha & Prototype– R-type style
● Ultimate Pro Pinball
● More can be found at:
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Cabfriendly_games
Mockup device
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Handy for testing out software
Test button/joystick layout
Some find a good gamepad is close enough
to authentic (see Kaytrim Kustom example)
Linux Considerations
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Keyboard Controller software and Mame
emulator runs fine
LemonLauncher a good front end
Some, but not as much PC game software
Dosbox can be used to run old Dos games
LiveCD mame projects are out there
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http://advancemame.sourceforge.net/index.html
http://sourceforge.net/projects/knoppixmame
Pics of “The IceBox”
Resources/Links
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Project Arcade the Book
http://www.projectarcade.com/
Byoac website, wiki and forums (very helpful)
http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com
Mameworld.net http://www.mameworld.net/
Killer List of Video Games www.klov.com
IceBox under construction
http://ripplinriver.com/?page_id=4
Glass http://www.onedayglass.com/
(or Hentges Glass locally)
Parts Resources/Links
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Happ Controls http://www.happcontrols.com/
KeyWiz GPWiz controller
http://www.groovygamegear.com/
Ipac Controller - Ultimarc http://www.ultimarc.com/
Us supplier “divemaster” http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?to
pic=47066.0
Misc Parts http://www.therealbobroberts.net/
More Vendors can be found at:
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/vendors
Questions?