What to do with an old analog TV and VHS video tape player? Can't bear to get rid of them just like those old cassette and 8-track players you've got lying around? Well, round up some retro electronic junk and save it from the landfill. Go GREEN and rescue some cardboard while you are at it.
No one can resist the appeal of real arcade games. And who can live without Pac-Man or Galaxian? Well, I'm not sure if Instructables member Lithium Rain was even born when these classics existed. So if you yearn for 8-bit gamey goodness from yesteryear, build this bar top sized arcade gaming console with some obsolete junk around the house. No MAME emulator or PC needed because this one is based on a standalone-video-game device that you plug into the TV (yeah, you might have to buy that).
Best thing is you don't need a bunch of change in your pocket in order to play the game. But then again, if you are the champ, you only need a quarter to start you off.
Make the arcade cabinet out of cardboard. Yes, CARDBOARD. I'll show you how it's done.
No one can resist the appeal of real arcade games. And who can live without Pac-Man or Galaxian? Well, I'm not sure if Instructables member Lithium Rain was even born when these classics existed. So if you yearn for 8-bit gamey goodness from yesteryear, build this bar top sized arcade gaming console with some obsolete junk around the house. No MAME emulator or PC needed because this one is based on a standalone-video-game device that you plug into the TV (yeah, you might have to buy that).
Best thing is you don't need a bunch of change in your pocket in order to play the game. But then again, if you are the champ, you only need a quarter to start you off.
Make the arcade cabinet out of cardboard. Yes, CARDBOARD. I'll show you how it's done.
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I found these standalone-video-game devices on my stroll through the toy aisle at my favorite discount retailer for about $20 US. It contains the game buttons/joystick and has an output cable for audio and composite video. There are many different versions but this one was one has 10 different games onboard and it included PAC-Man. This would be perfect to use to set up an arcade game console without needing a computer system to run an emulator.
This is the JAKKS game device. I'm sure you canspam search the details if you want to purchase it.
There was also other gaming devices with a Spongebob theme, Star Wars, and a Deer Hunter rifle emulator, cool.... Go pick one and build a console with the theme you like.
You can of course, build the console out of wood or other materials, but it wouldn't be as cool - and it wouldn't work for the cardboard contest. You can even make a full-size video cabinet too but it would be kinda hard to fit in small places, like if you need to drag it up to the dorm room or down to your basement bedroom ( you still living with your parents? it's alright...but do your own fn laundry...).
You need:
The game controller device
Get one that you want to turn into an arcade console.
TV
Recycle an old one that won't do HD. I am using an old 13" CRT-type color TV.
And you might need an RF Modulator:
The game device outputs composite video and sound (yellow and white RCA plugs).
I had tried to use this with an even older RF modulator which converts those "newer" composite signals to regular TV antenna signals and you can pick it up on channel 3 or 4.
Something with the way the output was being sensed caused it to burp the output on the RF modulator and quit displaying the signal.
It may work on newer RF modulator units but I was not going to spend another 20 bucks on a new one
So what has an RF modulator built in? My old VCR has composite line-in and RF out.
Did I mention my TV was so old it does not have composite line-in jacks, hence the need for an RF modulator.
So now I can also put to use an "obsolete" video cassette recorder/player unit.
Bonus: Now we can also make a dual-purpose video gaming console - kinda like xbox/blue-ray player - not really.
You will also need cardboard and about 2 quarts of glue:
Recycle box cardboard - uncoated, unwaxed, boxes work best, IKEA-like cardboard is pretty minimalistic
I like to use carpenter's wood glue - better tack and set up for construction. Get a big bottle of regular white glue for the papier mache part.
Papier mache
Rough exposed cardboard edges will be covered in paipier mache. In addition to making the joints stronger, it will give a nice smooth finished look. Go recycle all of those envelopes from bills and reuse any uncoated typing paper.
Marker, scissors, utility knife, and straightedge
CAUTION: Know how to connect and use electric and electronic devices. Paper cuts are an occupational hazard. And whatever you do, don't get talked into buying an expensive HDMI cable which works exactly the same as a reasonably price one, even if you listen to part time know it all salesman rep in a big blue electronics retailer chain instructables member KentsOkay.
This is the JAKKS game device. I'm sure you can
There was also other gaming devices with a Spongebob theme, Star Wars, and a Deer Hunter rifle emulator, cool.... Go pick one and build a console with the theme you like.
You can of course, build the console out of wood or other materials, but it wouldn't be as cool - and it wouldn't work for the cardboard contest. You can even make a full-size video cabinet too but it would be kinda hard to fit in small places, like if you need to drag it up to the dorm room or down to your basement bedroom ( you still living with your parents? it's alright...but do your own fn laundry...).
You need:
The game controller device
Get one that you want to turn into an arcade console.
TV
Recycle an old one that won't do HD. I am using an old 13" CRT-type color TV.
And you might need an RF Modulator:
The game device outputs composite video and sound (yellow and white RCA plugs).
I had tried to use this with an even older RF modulator which converts those "newer" composite signals to regular TV antenna signals and you can pick it up on channel 3 or 4.
Something with the way the output was being sensed caused it to burp the output on the RF modulator and quit displaying the signal.
It may work on newer RF modulator units but I was not going to spend another 20 bucks on a new one
So what has an RF modulator built in? My old VCR has composite line-in and RF out.
Did I mention my TV was so old it does not have composite line-in jacks, hence the need for an RF modulator.
So now I can also put to use an "obsolete" video cassette recorder/player unit.
Bonus: Now we can also make a dual-purpose video gaming console - kinda like xbox/blue-ray player - not really.
You will also need cardboard and about 2 quarts of glue:
Recycle box cardboard - uncoated, unwaxed, boxes work best, IKEA-like cardboard is pretty minimalistic
I like to use carpenter's wood glue - better tack and set up for construction. Get a big bottle of regular white glue for the papier mache part.
Papier mache
Rough exposed cardboard edges will be covered in paipier mache. In addition to making the joints stronger, it will give a nice smooth finished look. Go recycle all of those envelopes from bills and reuse any uncoated typing paper.
Marker, scissors, utility knife, and straightedge
CAUTION: Know how to connect and use electric and electronic devices. Paper cuts are an occupational hazard. And whatever you do, don't get talked into buying an expensive HDMI cable which works exactly the same as a reasonably price one, even if you listen to
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not even the actual Jakks Pacific website had the one I wanted......
If one could find a VGA adapter for one of those, you could have a MAME emulator running and...yes....That would be fantastic! Maybe save this project for a rainy day....Excuse my musings...
Small lots you could cut by hand, and if it takes off, buy a vinyl cutter of an appropriate size for around $500. (Or find the right print shop, they may cut it to shape for you for a small extra charge)
Might make for a nice kickstarter project?
regards,
G
just cover the blinking 12:00 with some electrical tape