Anyone interested in a mini arcade machine?

[craigix]

A few years ago I built a tiny mame machine with a GP32. It was the size of a can of beer but in the shape of a classic cabinet.


Anyway, a few days ago I was in the questionable store that is House of Frasier (being disgusted at what they call quality suits) and right there, in the middle of the clothes section, was a mini arcade machine with built in Space Invaders for £20.


It was about the size of the one I built - only the game was some LCD shitness.


My suggestion is a quality plastic cabinet with room for real controls and a Pandora board inside it and a wide screen LCD.


It's a bit of a business mans toy as it would be expensive but it would run MAME and really work as an arcade machine (coin slot and all).


Would any of you be interested in such a folly?

 

[TJFBryant]

Yes... and Yes.


Most definitely Yes.


Let me establish this.... that I've longed for a real Cabinet coin op for decades since I played my first one in a nearby mall over 25 years ago.


I've been in the market for a replica for years.... but never really got up the opportunity.


I think this kind of demand for something like this would have to be extremely niche.


For me my Pandora satisfies my craving... but for authenticity and feel.... sure I'd fork over the cash

 

[Prometheus]

I've been planning to someday get a proper cabinet built to slot my Pandora and a television into (maybe with room for a Supergun for my two Mega Man PCBs, too) at some point, once the TV-out cables are ready, if I ever get around to it.


I was thinking you meant a full-sized or cabaret-sized flat-packed cabinet! (That would be ideal. )


Alas, already having a Pandora and this idea, I'm sorry to say I wouldn't be going in for this one.

 

[Sugar_Kane]

Arcade cabs very much interest me, but I'm probably going to be happy with my Pandora plugged into the tv and my home made arcade sticks.


I've no doubt that there would be a market for something like this though. Gremlin solutions sell arcade machines and parts, and would probably be very interested in selling them on their website (lots of traffic through there from the UK arcade collectors scene). Also you could do an interest check on arcadeotaku.com, that is the place to go if you want to buy an arcade machine second hand, and probably the biggest forum for uk/europe arcade machine fanciers.

 

[DaMummy]

one step at a time craig, one step at a time, lets meet those pandora demands for now

 

[Gruntfuggly]

I would love an asteroids cabaret sized machine for MAME...

 

[- Theo -]

All I'm gonna say is...

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/ion-icade-hands-on-gaming-on-the-ipad-like-its-1979-video/

 

[gruso]

I'm probably in the same boat at Prometheus. Love the idea, but having already bought two Pandoras...


If it incorporated a good spinner control for Arkanoid, however, I'd probably find it in me to cough up the cash.

All I'm gonna say is...


http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/01/icade-hands-on-01062011.jpg


http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/ion-icade-hands-on-gaming-on-the-ipad-like-its-1979-video/

So all you're saying is, buy an iPad for $500-$1000, jailbreak it, then spend another $100 on an iCade. Got it. :/

 

[Blue Protoman]

Especially since the Pandora can play a lot of the same games that the stick is intended for.

 

[- Theo -]

So all you're saying is, buy an iPad for $500-$1000, jailbreak it, then spend another $100 on an iCade. Got it. :/

Well, if you say it like that it does seem a bit expensive doesn't it...


But if you already have a jailbroken iPad, then suddenly $99 seems like a small sum to own your own arcade machine.

 

[Dude]

I'm interested. Those quality joystick, and buttons make all the difference.


I would consider purchasing a kit with or without cabinet enclosure.


(I live in Texas, so it might be easier to cut the cabinet pieces myself, due to shipping costs)


Definitely something to think about.

 

[Asiyura]

Well, if you say it like that it does seem a bit expensive doesn't it...


But if you already have a jailbroken iPad, then suddenly $99 seems like a small sum to own your own arcade machine.

Around here, you can find a generic arcade cabinet looking fine and working well with a good bootleg PCB for around 120€ (± 160$).


Since the iCade, like all the others devices, will use the change 1$ = 1€, I'll favor the real arcade cabinet


But later, I want to get a second pandora and integrate it in an arcade cabinet.


So if you plan on releasing some kind of cheap "naked" pandora kit, with only the motherboard and a touchscreen, mark me interested!

 

[gruso]

Well, if you say it like that it does seem a bit expensive doesn't it...


But if you already have a jailbroken iPad, then suddenly $99 seems like a small sum to own your own arcade machine.

True I was probably a little too snide there.

 

[Prometheus]

The iPad solution seems like a lot of expense to me, I must admit. I bought a real, full-sized JAMMA cabinet for a bit over £150, a few years back.


Fair point about the $99 if you already have an iPad, though.

 

[Trip]

But later, I want to get a second pandora and integrate it in an arcade cabinet.

You don't need to buy a second Pandora for that if you don't want to KodeIn.


The sound and video are both available from the extension port on the Pandora and the controls can be done through the two USB ports on the Pandora. You should be able to make a dock like system for the Pandora and not even have to take anything apart


Feel free to buy another one to support the Project though


I don't have the room for an arcade machine in my new flat unfortunately but I'd love to see a project that shows someone doing this.

 

[- Theo -]

The iPad solution seems like a lot of expense to me, I must admit. I bought a real, full-sized JAMMA cabinet for a bit over £150, a few years back.


Fair point about the $99 if you already have an iPad, though.

I do. And I will buy this thing as soon as it's available.


Although the Pandora-based solution might be another option I'd consider. Need to have more details about it first of course (more than, "order now, you'll get something in Two Months")

True I was probably a little too snide there.

No worries, I do agree the iPad is overpriced. But it's great as what it does.

 

[craigix]

I should say this is just something I'm thinking of making for myself but if enough people were interested I could go with low volume moulding rather than FDM.


I just fancy having such a thing sitting on my kitchen counter with a full romset running. I'd probably just look at it more than play it though!

 

[ashbless]

I'm interested

 

[Sugar_Kane]

If you do make one could you document the building process on the forums? Nerd porn ftw

 

[elinscheid]

I have made my own mini bar-top arcade cabinet. Its about 1 foot tall, 1 foot wide. Seven inch LCD screen and the guts/controls are one of those plug-n-play video games you connect to your TV. It has 12 authentic arcade games built in.


I also have a full size bar-top arcade cabinet I have yet to finish. It will have a full PC inside running MAME and other emulators.


Finally I also have a refurbished SEGA Space Harrier(1986)cabinet. =) =) =) ***huge SEGA fan***


Anyway, I would surely buy a mini Panda-based arcade machine. Ultimately what I want is a room that is filled with arcade machines of different sizes. I mean, why the hell not?