I'm back.....and I've got a project I'm working on.
It's been along time coming. I've been busy... and honestly just don't play enough to make these things a priority.
I picked up a bartop cabinet from Rick @ Gameroom Designs.
Rick is awesome! You can check out his site here : http://gameroomdesigns.ca/
I picked up the "contender" model of Rick's bartop kit.
This thing is awesome, it will look soooo good in my Nintend-ROW.
(that's what I call my row of Nintendo cabinets in my man cave.)
The bartop cabinet is actually modeled after a Nintendo cabinet, just smaller.
I'll post a pick later to illustrate the scale of the cabinet.
For this project I'm trying something new.
The cabinet will be finished in black and I'm going with a "Punch-Out" theme.
I got the artwork printed up locally and with the help of some awesome members
over on the BYOAC site I have some great custom artwork.
I'll be using a Raspberry Pi 2 for the brains of the unit.
I've never gone the Raspberry Pi route, but the fact that you can download the image online eliminates a ton of work. All I need to do is move over my ROM files and some minimal set up.
I'll be using my BLOG to post progress pics of the project and track the spending.
I'll post links when applicable.
Hopefully this will be a fun read.
Thanks all.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Monday, January 27, 2014
More Jukebox
I need to make some changes to my Popeye cabinet.
I sold the CRT monitor with the hopes of replacing it with a larger LCD monitor.
Sadly I missed the boat on Boxing Day here in Canada.
A nice 23" CRT monitor (clearance model) for $70!!!! F**K!
With that said I'm leaving that project for now taking on something that will require less work.
Enter the jukebox (as touched on earlier) !!!!!!!!!!!
Things have been crazy around the house with a six month old daughter.
I have far less "me" time, and when I do have "me" time I confess I don't always have the best time management. I still have not picked up the All-in-1 23" touchscreen PC. I am 100%...........I REPEAT 100% committed to that PC!
We've had one heck of a winter here, and we were hit with another storm yesterday (Sunday Jan 26th).
That was the day I was supposed to pick up the computer. None the less I've contacted the seller to let him know my intentions. All be it he probably thinks I'm a real idiot and he's heard it all before.
However I'm still messing around and trying things out. I'm playing around with Splashtop...........LOVE IT!
My Belkin router however is blocking the connection causing Splahstop to not connect.
When I unhooked the Belkin router (which I was using to give my network more range) I had no connection issues. This issue will need to be sorted out at a later time, for now I can't be bothered.
For now I'm working on properly tagging my music. Making sure my album art is all in check!
I'm also using MP3 Gain to adjust all my levels..........BTW I love that program also!
I've said it before (broken record) but if all goes well I'll get the PC this weekend.
The tablet is all set up and really cool to use as a remote.
I sold the CRT monitor with the hopes of replacing it with a larger LCD monitor.
Sadly I missed the boat on Boxing Day here in Canada.
A nice 23" CRT monitor (clearance model) for $70!!!! F**K!
With that said I'm leaving that project for now taking on something that will require less work.
Enter the jukebox (as touched on earlier) !!!!!!!!!!!
Things have been crazy around the house with a six month old daughter.
I have far less "me" time, and when I do have "me" time I confess I don't always have the best time management. I still have not picked up the All-in-1 23" touchscreen PC. I am 100%...........I REPEAT 100% committed to that PC!
We've had one heck of a winter here, and we were hit with another storm yesterday (Sunday Jan 26th).
That was the day I was supposed to pick up the computer. None the less I've contacted the seller to let him know my intentions. All be it he probably thinks I'm a real idiot and he's heard it all before.
However I'm still messing around and trying things out. I'm playing around with Splashtop...........LOVE IT!
My Belkin router however is blocking the connection causing Splahstop to not connect.
When I unhooked the Belkin router (which I was using to give my network more range) I had no connection issues. This issue will need to be sorted out at a later time, for now I can't be bothered.
For now I'm working on properly tagging my music. Making sure my album art is all in check!
I'm also using MP3 Gain to adjust all my levels..........BTW I love that program also!
I've said it before (broken record) but if all goes well I'll get the PC this weekend.
The tablet is all set up and really cool to use as a remote.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
The Jukebox
I'm proud of my man cave. I think all things considered (room size, budget, etc) it turned out really well.
I have my machines (that still need some TWEAKING), some really cool artwork, my foosball table, some cool sings, and even a gumball/candy machine.
I can actually say that I've crossed off many of my wants from my list. The one project that has evaded me all these years has been a jukebox. And perhaps not a jukebox in the traditional sense, but some cool means of showcasing and interacting with my music collection.
Years ago I had purchased 4 17" ELO touchscreen monitors, the good ol CRT type. Plan was use these for a jukebox project in connection with "Uncle T's Jukebox." Uncle T's was a great free program distributed years ago on various coin-op related sites. Only issue was that with my limited skills and lack of tools I would have needed someone to build me the jukebox itself. All things considered it simply wasn't worth the cost involved. To this day I still have the PC configured with a custom skin and featuring Uncle T's jukebox.
When my basement got done it was clear to say space was of a premium. Not everything I wanted I could have. The jukebox idea kinda fell onto the back burner until recently. I was looking for a suitable option that would allow me to access my music via my tablet. I won't get into too much detail about this, but in the end I found no suitable options.
Forever on Kijiji I came across some "All-in-1" PC's. I had tracked down an HP model with a 27" touchscreen monitor. It was located about 90 minutes from my home and I had enlisted the help of family to pick it up. The price was super low, about $200, but the machine was "as is." Seller was an older gentleman who was told the PC needed a new hard drive ($100). I figured for $300 this was worth a shot, sadly as busy as I was with my newborn daughter I was unable to pick up the PC. Any my aunt and uncle whom I asked for help were sooooooooooo paranoid they declined to pick it up in a timely manor. As it goes the item was SOLD !!!!!!
Needless to say when I missed this unit I was PI$$ED. But the silver lining was I was made aware of these all in 1 type PC's. Fast forward a few months and I came across a "Gateway ZX6800" with a 23" touchscreen monitor. As it turned out the seller had one with some slight corner damage for $200. I went to his place, saw the PC, gave a verbal promise to buy it and he was to configure it with Windows 7. It was my birthday that day actually, and as I was out for my birthday dinner I got a text from him. "Sorry to tell you the PC isn't responding to touch. I can offer it to you still for $200, or $250 for a working one." He had offered me a $50 discount and I had asked for an additional $25 off....................he didn't budge !
I emailed the seller back a couple days after but he was still unwilling to go down to $225. In the end I agreed to pick one up configured with Windows 7 for $250. Soooooooooooooo I'll actually pick that up this weekend.
Gateway ZX6800 with the following specs :
I'll use the PC as is moving my music collection to the internal hard drive.
The PC will be networked with my existing home network so music can be easily added/removed.
Via the software I can even point the jukebox to music collections on other PC's in the house.
I'll add a Bluetooth transmitter to the PC. I have two as is, I've tested them and they work well.
My existing AV set up (5.1) and additional "in wall" speakers will be hooked up with a Bluetooth receiver.
I picked up a copy of the great "TouchJams" software and created a custom skin for it.
http://touchjams.com/default.asp
Simply put I'll set up the PC downstairs, install Touchjams, and set up the Bluetooth pair.
The PC will boot right up into TouchJams (and perhaps contain other touchscreen friendly games), users will be able to navigate my music collection selecting a playlist. The music will then be sent via wireless
existing system. I'm excited !!!!
I have my machines (that still need some TWEAKING), some really cool artwork, my foosball table, some cool sings, and even a gumball/candy machine.
I can actually say that I've crossed off many of my wants from my list. The one project that has evaded me all these years has been a jukebox. And perhaps not a jukebox in the traditional sense, but some cool means of showcasing and interacting with my music collection.
Years ago I had purchased 4 17" ELO touchscreen monitors, the good ol CRT type. Plan was use these for a jukebox project in connection with "Uncle T's Jukebox." Uncle T's was a great free program distributed years ago on various coin-op related sites. Only issue was that with my limited skills and lack of tools I would have needed someone to build me the jukebox itself. All things considered it simply wasn't worth the cost involved. To this day I still have the PC configured with a custom skin and featuring Uncle T's jukebox.
When my basement got done it was clear to say space was of a premium. Not everything I wanted I could have. The jukebox idea kinda fell onto the back burner until recently. I was looking for a suitable option that would allow me to access my music via my tablet. I won't get into too much detail about this, but in the end I found no suitable options.
Forever on Kijiji I came across some "All-in-1" PC's. I had tracked down an HP model with a 27" touchscreen monitor. It was located about 90 minutes from my home and I had enlisted the help of family to pick it up. The price was super low, about $200, but the machine was "as is." Seller was an older gentleman who was told the PC needed a new hard drive ($100). I figured for $300 this was worth a shot, sadly as busy as I was with my newborn daughter I was unable to pick up the PC. Any my aunt and uncle whom I asked for help were sooooooooooo paranoid they declined to pick it up in a timely manor. As it goes the item was SOLD !!!!!!
Needless to say when I missed this unit I was PI$$ED. But the silver lining was I was made aware of these all in 1 type PC's. Fast forward a few months and I came across a "Gateway ZX6800" with a 23" touchscreen monitor. As it turned out the seller had one with some slight corner damage for $200. I went to his place, saw the PC, gave a verbal promise to buy it and he was to configure it with Windows 7. It was my birthday that day actually, and as I was out for my birthday dinner I got a text from him. "Sorry to tell you the PC isn't responding to touch. I can offer it to you still for $200, or $250 for a working one." He had offered me a $50 discount and I had asked for an additional $25 off....................he didn't budge !
I emailed the seller back a couple days after but he was still unwilling to go down to $225. In the end I agreed to pick one up configured with Windows 7 for $250. Soooooooooooooo I'll actually pick that up this weekend.
Gateway ZX6800 with the following specs :
- Processor Type Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200
- Processor Speed 2.33GHz
- Processor Cores 4
- RAM 4GB DDR3
- Hard Drive Capacity 500GB
- Optical Drives 8X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti
- Graphics Integrated Intel GMA X4500HD
- Screen Size/Type 23" touchscreen LCD
- Integrated WiFi 802.11b/g/n
- Card Reader Multi-In-1
I'll use the PC as is moving my music collection to the internal hard drive.
The PC will be networked with my existing home network so music can be easily added/removed.
Via the software I can even point the jukebox to music collections on other PC's in the house.
I'll add a Bluetooth transmitter to the PC. I have two as is, I've tested them and they work well.
My existing AV set up (5.1) and additional "in wall" speakers will be hooked up with a Bluetooth receiver.
I picked up a copy of the great "TouchJams" software and created a custom skin for it.
http://touchjams.com/default.asp
Simply put I'll set up the PC downstairs, install Touchjams, and set up the Bluetooth pair.
The PC will boot right up into TouchJams (and perhaps contain other touchscreen friendly games), users will be able to navigate my music collection selecting a playlist. The music will then be sent via wireless
Saturday, September 14, 2013
The Final Few Touches....
Managed to find some time for myself today to get outside and do some of the final little things on my cabinets. I installed the t-molding on both cabinets and got the cold cathode tube installed on Bad Dudes.
This is such a cool modification for $10, really gives it a cool look.
I'm kinda pi$$ed I broke one of the tubes during the install. Now just the front glows....either way it's neat.
I blacked out the monitor surround on Bad Dudes and with the backdoor on it makes the monitor pop.
I was a little concerned that the monitor looked dim on Bad Dudes, but it was the smoked plexi and light getting through that gave that appearance.
I still need to secure the monitor in Final Fight from the back and cover the monitor logo and power LED.
I tried doing it without removing the shroud, that was stupid, I can't get my fat paws in that small space.
I'll get those two small things done tomorrow, perhaps even adding RGB LED lights to the base of Final Fight.
The cold cathode tubes run you about $10 on eBay shipped for 2 x 12" tubes.
The RGB LED lights with adapter and remote run you about the same thing.
Both plug into your switching power supply.
You can pick up a power adapter for the RGB LED lights.
I think in some way the LED lights are better as you can have them fade from color to color, or just use a solid color. They are flexible with is really cool and self adhesive.
This is such a cool modification for $10, really gives it a cool look.
I'm kinda pi$$ed I broke one of the tubes during the install. Now just the front glows....either way it's neat.
I blacked out the monitor surround on Bad Dudes and with the backdoor on it makes the monitor pop.
I was a little concerned that the monitor looked dim on Bad Dudes, but it was the smoked plexi and light getting through that gave that appearance.
I still need to secure the monitor in Final Fight from the back and cover the monitor logo and power LED.
I tried doing it without removing the shroud, that was stupid, I can't get my fat paws in that small space.
I'll get those two small things done tomorrow, perhaps even adding RGB LED lights to the base of Final Fight.
The cold cathode tubes run you about $10 on eBay shipped for 2 x 12" tubes.
The RGB LED lights with adapter and remote run you about the same thing.
Both plug into your switching power supply.
You can pick up a power adapter for the RGB LED lights.
I think in some way the LED lights are better as you can have them fade from color to color, or just use a solid color. They are flexible with is really cool and self adhesive.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Project Updates
With little baby girl now in my life "me time" is few and far between.
Since in reality I don't play my games very much I figure there really is no point to hang onto this excess inventory. I've started to sell off extra parts, decide what are "must do" changes I'd like to make to my machines, and what are "not such big deal" changes.
I've pretty much finished my Bad Dudes project, it just needs minor cosmetic things done.
Add the t-molding, a bezel (or blackout) around the monitor, and I think that's all.
I've also got my Final Fight 98% done, needs a little more trim added around the monitor and the t-molding installed. I'll add the mini-SLG (scanline generator) to give it a retro look and it will be done.
I'll keep these for a bit I'm sure, but since they will never make it into the house they will get sold.
Such is this hobby I guess.
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Since in reality I don't play my games very much I figure there really is no point to hang onto this excess inventory. I've started to sell off extra parts, decide what are "must do" changes I'd like to make to my machines, and what are "not such big deal" changes.
I've pretty much finished my Bad Dudes project, it just needs minor cosmetic things done.
Add the t-molding, a bezel (or blackout) around the monitor, and I think that's all.
I've also got my Final Fight 98% done, needs a little more trim added around the monitor and the t-molding installed. I'll add the mini-SLG (scanline generator) to give it a retro look and it will be done.
I'll keep these for a bit I'm sure, but since they will never make it into the house they will get sold.
Such is this hobby I guess.
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Thursday, July 4, 2013
Primed And Ready!
I'm not sure if this cabinet had been painted with oil based paint. And being me I didn't look online to see of any tests I could do prior to painting. Instead I just primed it with some extra paint I had kicking around.
The paint seems to have taken will, all be it when I scraped off some highs spots they came off perhaps a lil too easy! So I decided I' leave it for a week so the paint could really cure. Depending on the weather here just east of Toronto, Ontario Canada I may or may not paint this weekend.
I'm actually confident I'll make the deadline I set for this project!
TO DO :
The paint seems to have taken will, all be it when I scraped off some highs spots they came off perhaps a lil too easy! So I decided I' leave it for a week so the paint could really cure. Depending on the weather here just east of Toronto, Ontario Canada I may or may not paint this weekend.
I'm actually confident I'll make the deadline I set for this project!
- Finish painting cabinet sides (front, coin door, and plastics all done)
- Clean up the base area, either adding a base, or modifying the feet on the cabinet.
- Install base cold cathode lighting
- Install coin doors, board, jamma harness
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Painting Prep
July 1st long weekend here in Canada.
A time for celebration, family, BBQ, and for me arcades.
Today was a busy day for me, however I was lucky enough to get out to Home Depot and pick up some paint and my marquee fixture.
I picked out a nice bright red called "Chilli Pepper." I think it will look great with the reds, oranges, and yellows in the Final Fight art work.
Today I managed to install the marquee fixture and start to spray on the black paint. I'll need to do a second, even third coat tomorrow. It's not covering the drywall patching compound very well to be honest.
If I can get a couple coats in early in the morning I'll leave the cabinet outside in the sun for awhile, letting it bake on. Returning later that day to roll on the red paint.
Once painted I think it will come together quite well...and fast. My VGA adapter I expect in about 10 to 14 days. However I'll do the Jamma wiring, even installing the monitor early if needed.
I'm going to use the existing marquee and even the monitor shroud, I'm hoping it works out well with the LCD. My concern is part of the image cut off when finally put into place.
A time for celebration, family, BBQ, and for me arcades.
Today was a busy day for me, however I was lucky enough to get out to Home Depot and pick up some paint and my marquee fixture.
I picked out a nice bright red called "Chilli Pepper." I think it will look great with the reds, oranges, and yellows in the Final Fight art work.
Today I managed to install the marquee fixture and start to spray on the black paint. I'll need to do a second, even third coat tomorrow. It's not covering the drywall patching compound very well to be honest.
If I can get a couple coats in early in the morning I'll leave the cabinet outside in the sun for awhile, letting it bake on. Returning later that day to roll on the red paint.
Once painted I think it will come together quite well...and fast. My VGA adapter I expect in about 10 to 14 days. However I'll do the Jamma wiring, even installing the monitor early if needed.
I'm going to use the existing marquee and even the monitor shroud, I'm hoping it works out well with the LCD. My concern is part of the image cut off when finally put into place.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Final Fight.......not quite the Final Push !
I won't complain about the heat here just east of Toronto, Ontario Canada.
It does make it hard to get outside and work in the sauna.........I mean garrage.
None the less I do what little I can when I find the time.
As I said I've set a deadline to complete this project, all be it in the past deadlines didn't mean much to me!
Over the weekend I managed to get some patching and sanding done. All metal and plastics were given an extra coat of paint if needed. I also painted my coin door bolts in the same hammered finish. They look quite good! The Final Fight had a make shift marquee fixture for 2 standard light bulbs, I'll replace it with an under the counter version from Home Depot. (I use these in all my cabinets)
Found here : http://www.homedepot.ca/product/f15t8-plug-in-fluorescent-undercabinet-fixture-18-inches/980574
The cabinet was cleaned internally and a piece of 1"x3" was picked up to use as a base. As is the cabinet sits on the floor, I don't know if I should simply add feet or add the base. I'm unsure if the base will make the cabinet sit to high. As I had mentioned prior I'd like to add some lighting modifications to the cabinet. The base would allow me to mount either the cold cathode tubes or the RGB LED.
One thing about the Final Fight is that it has quite a gap in the back where the back door is. This is great to allow animals to come inside to nest and release heat. One of these things I welcome, the other I don't! I'm sure you can guess which. If I go with the cold cathode tubes on the base I'm unsure how I'll incorporate the RGB LED lights. I need to make sure that when powered on they don't bleed through and interfere with the picture during play.
That's all for now.
It does make it hard to get outside and work in the sauna.........I mean garrage.
None the less I do what little I can when I find the time.
As I said I've set a deadline to complete this project, all be it in the past deadlines didn't mean much to me!
Over the weekend I managed to get some patching and sanding done. All metal and plastics were given an extra coat of paint if needed. I also painted my coin door bolts in the same hammered finish. They look quite good! The Final Fight had a make shift marquee fixture for 2 standard light bulbs, I'll replace it with an under the counter version from Home Depot. (I use these in all my cabinets)
Found here : http://www.homedepot.ca/product/f15t8-plug-in-fluorescent-undercabinet-fixture-18-inches/980574
The cabinet was cleaned internally and a piece of 1"x3" was picked up to use as a base. As is the cabinet sits on the floor, I don't know if I should simply add feet or add the base. I'm unsure if the base will make the cabinet sit to high. As I had mentioned prior I'd like to add some lighting modifications to the cabinet. The base would allow me to mount either the cold cathode tubes or the RGB LED.
One thing about the Final Fight is that it has quite a gap in the back where the back door is. This is great to allow animals to come inside to nest and release heat. One of these things I welcome, the other I don't! I'm sure you can guess which. If I go with the cold cathode tubes on the base I'm unsure how I'll incorporate the RGB LED lights. I need to make sure that when powered on they don't bleed through and interfere with the picture during play.
That's all for now.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Final Fight Progress
Today when I got home the plan was to work on the Final Fight project.
I'm proud to say I did just that !
I've got the cabinet gutted and waiting to be cleaned....the cleaning I'll do tomorrow.
All the metal and plastic has been removed and first coat of black/hammered paint has been applied.
I decided I'd do the speaker grill in red, not sure I like this. I'll need to see how it will look all together.
I guess the beauty of paint is I can easily redo it.
I still havent picked a color for the cabinet or molding, but I'm not sweating that for now.
I also havent decided if I'd paint the bolts in black or the same matching hammered finish paint.
These little details will really depend on how it all looks when coming together.
Lastly for today I polished up the marquee, there is some flaking and I can't decide if I should use a black paint marker on the back to color in these areas. I might do a test to see how it will look.
I'm also proud to report that I've finally got smart when it comes to these projects.
Let me explain............I'm forever losing parts, be it bolts, monitor connections, etc.
So with Final Fight I grabbed an empty box, labeled the box Final Fight and all the parts go into it.
I also bagged all the bolts, washers,screws,etc together.
I'm sure I wont lose any now !
If I make progress tomorrow in addition to the cleaning I'll begin the body work and sanding.
I'm proud to say I did just that !
I've got the cabinet gutted and waiting to be cleaned....the cleaning I'll do tomorrow.
All the metal and plastic has been removed and first coat of black/hammered paint has been applied.
I decided I'd do the speaker grill in red, not sure I like this. I'll need to see how it will look all together.
I guess the beauty of paint is I can easily redo it.
I still havent picked a color for the cabinet or molding, but I'm not sweating that for now.
I also havent decided if I'd paint the bolts in black or the same matching hammered finish paint.
These little details will really depend on how it all looks when coming together.
Lastly for today I polished up the marquee, there is some flaking and I can't decide if I should use a black paint marker on the back to color in these areas. I might do a test to see how it will look.
I'm also proud to report that I've finally got smart when it comes to these projects.
Let me explain............I'm forever losing parts, be it bolts, monitor connections, etc.
So with Final Fight I grabbed an empty box, labeled the box Final Fight and all the parts go into it.
I also bagged all the bolts, washers,screws,etc together.
I'm sure I wont lose any now !
If I make progress tomorrow in addition to the cleaning I'll begin the body work and sanding.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Final Fight
So this is a Final Fight I got last summer.
I knew I wouldn't start it last year, a few other projects were "scheduled" to get done first.
One of which I completed and sold, the other I stalled at 90%. I managed to get a second set of hands and complete my Bad Dudes a few weeks ago. So now my partially gutted Final Fight takes center stage and will be my latest refurb.
I've taken the monitor out from this cabinet, but I'm yet to remove the remaining internals.
This weekend I plan on gutting, cleaning, and starting to paint the black metal.
I picked up three cans of semigloss black and I'm going to use the hammered finish paint I've used in the past for the coin doors. It gives a nice contrast as the front of Final Fight will remain black.
I knew I wouldn't start it last year, a few other projects were "scheduled" to get done first.
One of which I completed and sold, the other I stalled at 90%. I managed to get a second set of hands and complete my Bad Dudes a few weeks ago. So now my partially gutted Final Fight takes center stage and will be my latest refurb.
I've taken the monitor out from this cabinet, but I'm yet to remove the remaining internals.
This weekend I plan on gutting, cleaning, and starting to paint the black metal.
I picked up three cans of semigloss black and I'm going to use the hammered finish paint I've used in the past for the coin doors. It gives a nice contrast as the front of Final Fight will remain black.
Projects Update
Proud to say that next month, around July 23rd if all goes to plan I'll be a father.
I'm very much looking forward to this new chapter of my life.
I'm by no means done with the arcade/coin-op hobby, all be it I don't see many more projects in my future.
I'm working on an Android tablet based project that I plan on housing in an iCade.
I've wrapped up my Bad Dudes project and this weekend I'll be moving onto my Final Fight cabinet.
I actually picked up some paint today for this !
In terms of items in the house all cabinets are in great shape and some of the minor tweaks done.
From securing (or better securing) the control panels to changing micro switches, and cleaning up the wiring all is done.
It's a good feeling and I'll get some pics up ASAP!
I'm very much looking forward to this new chapter of my life.
I'm by no means done with the arcade/coin-op hobby, all be it I don't see many more projects in my future.
I'm working on an Android tablet based project that I plan on housing in an iCade.
I've wrapped up my Bad Dudes project and this weekend I'll be moving onto my Final Fight cabinet.
I actually picked up some paint today for this !
In terms of items in the house all cabinets are in great shape and some of the minor tweaks done.
From securing (or better securing) the control panels to changing micro switches, and cleaning up the wiring all is done.
It's a good feeling and I'll get some pics up ASAP!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Never Really Finished
Something has become clear to me as of late, your never really done with these projects.
Truth be told could be the quality of work that I put in requires me to come back, could be the desire to always make them better, could be boredom ! I don't really know.
I had some buddies over on Sunday for a poker game, had all four machines fired up and playing.
I learned that I play these machines like they were fragile eggs, tapping buttons, not SMASHING buttons !
During play my buddy was hitting the buttons so hard on DK Jr that the E-Clip came off the jump button.
My other buddy was so rough with the joysticks that a micro switch in the joystick went.
Not only that, but I learned that I need to secure my control panels in place, as several times the panels almost came off my Popeye and Mario machine.
When everybody left the poker game I was downstairs doing my repairs.
I still need to add some latches to my Popeye control panel. My Mario panel however is so full with the 2 player, 6 button layout that the latches when raised interferer with the wiring. So for Mario I'll need to find another solution to lock the panel down.
My Mario cabinet was also plagued with the fact that connections to the iPac were forever coming loose.
I promised myself while on vacation I'd get the inside of Mario cleaned up and all wires secured properly!
Truth be told I should have done this the first time when I did the install! Ah well, another lesson learned, another reason why I'm NEVER DONE with these machines.
Anyway vacation for me has started, I'll be off the majority of December and to be productive I pulled out the trusted iPhone and did the all too familiar "To Do List."
Topping the list.........................FIX MARIO !
And I'm happy to say today that I did just that.
PC mounted to the inside wall of the cabinet, iPac mounted to the opposite wall.
All wires nicely wrapped and not all wrapped up together.
Everything done, and fired up for testing, happy to report all was working.
Another project off the to-do list ! Now all that remains is install side art!
Oh I also added an additional support to the back of the cabinet where the monitor is.
I needed this to hold the blackout paper in place and stop light bleed thru.
Truth be told could be the quality of work that I put in requires me to come back, could be the desire to always make them better, could be boredom ! I don't really know.
I had some buddies over on Sunday for a poker game, had all four machines fired up and playing.
I learned that I play these machines like they were fragile eggs, tapping buttons, not SMASHING buttons !
During play my buddy was hitting the buttons so hard on DK Jr that the E-Clip came off the jump button.
My other buddy was so rough with the joysticks that a micro switch in the joystick went.
Not only that, but I learned that I need to secure my control panels in place, as several times the panels almost came off my Popeye and Mario machine.
When everybody left the poker game I was downstairs doing my repairs.
I still need to add some latches to my Popeye control panel. My Mario panel however is so full with the 2 player, 6 button layout that the latches when raised interferer with the wiring. So for Mario I'll need to find another solution to lock the panel down.
My Mario cabinet was also plagued with the fact that connections to the iPac were forever coming loose.
I promised myself while on vacation I'd get the inside of Mario cleaned up and all wires secured properly!
Truth be told I should have done this the first time when I did the install! Ah well, another lesson learned, another reason why I'm NEVER DONE with these machines.
Anyway vacation for me has started, I'll be off the majority of December and to be productive I pulled out the trusted iPhone and did the all too familiar "To Do List."
Topping the list.........................FIX MARIO !
And I'm happy to say today that I did just that.
PC mounted to the inside wall of the cabinet, iPac mounted to the opposite wall.
All wires nicely wrapped and not all wrapped up together.
Everything done, and fired up for testing, happy to report all was working.
Another project off the to-do list ! Now all that remains is install side art!
Oh I also added an additional support to the back of the cabinet where the monitor is.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Final Four...........Near Done!
I have a few buddies involved in this coin-op hobby that feel exhausted by it.
Seems for many they are always working on machines and never enjoying them.
And while I would not say that is true of me, I'm not always working on them, I seldom enjoy them.
This is such an amazing community to belong to. The internet is full of information and amazing tools.
Sites like EMU MOVIES, forums like CGCC.CA, BYOAC, and KLOV are great sites.
Of my "final four" machines, the only four that made into the basement, Mario MAME was not yet complete.
The PC of this project was a daunting task as I mentioned prior. I had some issues with Dreamcast emulation. In the end I decided that older systems with a maximum of 6 buttons would be best suited for this cabinet. Consoles that features both analog and digital sticks are slightly more complex.
In fact one of my buddies was doing something similar to myself in the aspect that he included console emulation. However he was using the USB equivalent of the console joystick.
Which reminds me when I see him I'll be picking up two USB SNES joysticks.
I'll probably source of a GameCube and N64 version also.
Until such time I've prepared Mario MAME with NES, SNES, N64, SEGA MASTER SYSTEM, and even some DREAMCAST games.
This weekend I decided I would wrap this project up and do the final assembly. I had previously installed the marquee light fixture and speakers. I also mounted the monitor and cut the inner shroud (black out). Of course for me nothing can ever go to plan. The iPac I bought used off a CGCC member quite some time ago didn't work ! It was my fault for not testing it prior. I ended up spending $10 and sending it back to Andy @ Ultimarc to look it. In the event that it could not be fixed I ordered a new iPac VE.
I then moved onto my Rocketfish Smart Strip, I've used one of these prior in my DK JR. I love it, you have a "master" and four "slave" spots on the powerbar. When you turn off the master the slave items also turn off, likewise when you turn on the master the slave items turn on. This is awesome in an arcade ! For example for me (in both cabinets) the PC is the "master" and the marquee, monitor, and speakers are slave. PC power on....all systems GO! PC off...........everything off ! However in Mario it didn't work. I replaced the smart strip, but the same result. The manual says perhaps the item draws too much current, however I tried to use the speakers and monitor as alternates but the result remained the same.
For Mario I had to end up housing a power bar inside the coin door, I'll need to open the door to power up the machine. It kinda sucks because I had mounted a button under the control panel that provides power to the PC. I had never done this before, its kinda bad ass if you ask me. Would have been sick if it had worked. I might in the future try a different brand of power bar with the same feature. For now I'm ok with the result.
Seems for many they are always working on machines and never enjoying them.
And while I would not say that is true of me, I'm not always working on them, I seldom enjoy them.
This is such an amazing community to belong to. The internet is full of information and amazing tools.
Sites like EMU MOVIES, forums like CGCC.CA, BYOAC, and KLOV are great sites.
Of my "final four" machines, the only four that made into the basement, Mario MAME was not yet complete.
The PC of this project was a daunting task as I mentioned prior. I had some issues with Dreamcast emulation. In the end I decided that older systems with a maximum of 6 buttons would be best suited for this cabinet. Consoles that features both analog and digital sticks are slightly more complex.
In fact one of my buddies was doing something similar to myself in the aspect that he included console emulation. However he was using the USB equivalent of the console joystick.
Which reminds me when I see him I'll be picking up two USB SNES joysticks.
I'll probably source of a GameCube and N64 version also.
Until such time I've prepared Mario MAME with NES, SNES, N64, SEGA MASTER SYSTEM, and even some DREAMCAST games.
This weekend I decided I would wrap this project up and do the final assembly. I had previously installed the marquee light fixture and speakers. I also mounted the monitor and cut the inner shroud (black out). Of course for me nothing can ever go to plan. The iPac I bought used off a CGCC member quite some time ago didn't work ! It was my fault for not testing it prior. I ended up spending $10 and sending it back to Andy @ Ultimarc to look it. In the event that it could not be fixed I ordered a new iPac VE.
I then moved onto my Rocketfish Smart Strip, I've used one of these prior in my DK JR. I love it, you have a "master" and four "slave" spots on the powerbar. When you turn off the master the slave items also turn off, likewise when you turn on the master the slave items turn on. This is awesome in an arcade ! For example for me (in both cabinets) the PC is the "master" and the marquee, monitor, and speakers are slave. PC power on....all systems GO! PC off...........everything off ! However in Mario it didn't work. I replaced the smart strip, but the same result. The manual says perhaps the item draws too much current, however I tried to use the speakers and monitor as alternates but the result remained the same.
For Mario I had to end up housing a power bar inside the coin door, I'll need to open the door to power up the machine. It kinda sucks because I had mounted a button under the control panel that provides power to the PC. I had never done this before, its kinda bad ass if you ask me. Would have been sick if it had worked. I might in the future try a different brand of power bar with the same feature. For now I'm ok with the result.
Monday, October 1, 2012
The Unknown...........What Will I Be ?
Here is the Bad Dudes, Final Fight, WWF Superstars, combo of both, perhaps all 3 project to date.
Monitor installed on the weekend.
Board testing tonight, more this weekend.
Fate determined this weekend ?
Arghhh.................I'm so confused. LOL!
Monitor installed on the weekend.
Board testing tonight, more this weekend.
Fate determined this weekend ?
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