So you may have seen me hint at it in the site’s comments lately, and basically the entire reason I made that previous introduction post was so that I could share this. I just wanted to start my C-Blog all proper-like. Anyway, for the past month or so, I’ve been building an arcade cabinet. It will be a MAME machine. For those of you not familiar with it, MAME stands for “Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator.” Not only will my arcade cab have hundreds of arcade games, but it will also have several more retro systems and games. I’m thinking of including Atari 2600, Spectrum, NES, Master System, TG-16, SNES, Genesis, and maybe even Gameboy and Gamegear, among others.

I’ve spent about three months doing research, and the last two weeks working on the actual construction. My goals for the project are:

-Minimalism
-Compact style
-Ease of use

My design went through MANY revisions before now. Originally, I was going to do a full on, full size Donkey Kong reproduction. Then it was a Galaga style, then a mini cab, a bartop, a cocktail, mini Donkey Kong, and then I finally settled on the Australian Lowboy style. I discovered this cabinet design while browsing the Build Your Own Arcade Controls forum (byoac.com). It fits my design goals, it’s more compact than the American Cabaret style cabinets, and it’s more minimalistic. I’m going to use the Maximus Arcade front end to power everything to make it easy to use as well.

Some specs:

-Dedicated PC; Dell P4 desktop (free from work)
-Windows XP
-22” CRT Monitor (had a free 19” Dell, but I upgraded so the screen would fit the -proportions of the cab better)
-2 players, 6 Happ buttons each in straight “Street Fighter” styled layout
-2 Happ Competition joysticks with Versa Ball-tops
-3 inch Happ Arcade Trackball
-Custom artwork

Anyway, enough of that, onward to the pictures!

Some early concept designs & mockups for the cab and control panel.




Now the build pics…

First day of construction:
Cutting the pieces.


Bottom built.


Assembled


Second day of construction:

Monitor shelf installed & test fitting monitor.



Control panel test fit.


I just had to stick in the controls and see how everything looked. This isn’t the final layout exactly, just playing around. (Nothing is wired yet)


Third day of construction (yesterday):

Added a piano hinge & latch so I can easily work on the CP.


Added casters for ease of movement; fixed in the back and free-moving in the front.


And finally, the artwork, this is my favorite part! I’m an artist, and I knew from the beginning that I wanted to create my own custom artwork for this project. I just couldn’t decide on a name or a theme. Then, one night I went for a run with my iPod. I was listening to my favorite podcast, Destructoid’s own Retroforce Go, and it came to me! “Retroforce” always has sounded like an old arcade game to me, and it just fits this project perfectly. You’ve already gotten a glimpse of the artwork in my banner, but here is the full piece. I’ve based it off the original Galaga sideart. Everything was hand drawn in Adobe Illustrator. I’ve even included the RFGO rubik’s cube logo! And of course, our own Mr. Destructoid.



I’m still working on the artwork for the marquee and the control panel overlay. I was inspired by the recent Atari 2600 podcast, and I’m thinking they’ll have a wood veneer look to them. :)

My next tasks will be to install the speakers, marquee, and doors. I also need to route out a slot for t-molding, and smooth the front corner of the control panel so the artwork will adhere easily. Then painting, installing the marquee and lights, and wiring up the controls.

You guys should totally come play it when I’m done.

Well, I'm finally going to make the dive head first into the c-blogs. I suppose I don’t feel very comfortable with blogging, it’s definitely not my medium of choice, and it surprises me each and every time I hit “publish” that I’ve actually written something that could be read by anyone in the world. The thought is petrifying! Anyway, I’ve attempted to get my foot in the c-blogging door before (and failed miserably) so I’m gonna give this another shot, we’ll call this “My First Post v.2.0”.

My name is Adam Welker, I’m a twenty one year old college student going into my fourth (but probably not last) year at The Ohio State University. I’m working toward a double major in Art and Italian, two studies that will set me up for a nice cardboard box someday. I’m really interested in making digital art in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. I mostly enjoy creating imaginary worlds and characters to populate them. One day I hope to work as an artist for a company such as Disney, Pixar, or Industrial Light and Magic. I would also love to work in video game design as an art director or concept artist.



As far as the “lazy gamer” stereotype goes, I would probably be the exact opposite. In high school I discovered running, and I was on the track and cross country teams. When I came to university, on the recommendation of my running coach, I joined the rowing team and I never looked back. I am now a varsity member and Vice President of the OSU Crew Club. Crew is a lot of hard work, but I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t rowing. Although, since we do so much traveling to races, I do get to spend a lot of time on the bus with my DS. :)

My first console was a hand-me-down Atari 2600 from my parents. I spent many an evening in our cement basement, squatting in front of the old TV and guiding frogs across the street to the pond. Because we lived out in the middle of nowhere, I was very far removed from the video game world. I often saw strange consoles and games at Toys R Us, but was never allowed to explore further because “they’re too expensive.” When I turned 10 I get another hand-me-down console, this time an NES from my parent’s friends, and I happily played that little gray box for years.


No, seriously, I did...

As you can probably tell, I’m a retro gamer through and through, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like modern games too! I currently own an Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, DC, SNES, NES, DS, PSP, and GBC. They all get sufficient playtime, even the GBC! I often find myself paralyzed by the sheer number of games I own, and the paradox of “choice”. Sometimes, it seems it would be nice to go back to the days of the single console, though I’m not complaining!

My favorite games are RPGs, but I just don’t have the time to devout to them anymore. I also enjoy a good shmup or puzzler every now and then. If you’d ask me what my favorite game is, I’d probably say the Phantasy Star series, but I love so many different games that it’s hard to pinpoint a series or a single game. I recently went on an XBLA binge-buy so I’m currently working my way through some amazing games like Pac Man CE, Ikaruga, Bionic Commando, Geometry Wars 1 & 2, and Braid. I also DIDN'T get a NOT R4, and I have been NOT playing Pokemon Versione Perla to brush up on my italiano. Italian and Pokemon-two great tastes that taste great together! Oh, and I'm building an arcade cabinet... but more on that later.



So yeah, that's me in a nutshell (help! get me out of this nutshell!). I hope I can become more involved in this community, and make some SW33T gamer friends in the process!