How to build a Nintendo arcade

This Instructable will show you how I built my Nintendo arcade. It is a bartop cabinet that plays original Nintendo game. The arcade is completely self contained with one power switch for everything.

You can see a video of the arcade in action at Youtube, here.

Things you will need:
1 sheet of 4'x8' 1/4" MDF
1 sheet of plexiglass
1 set of joystick and arcade buttons
1 posterboard
several cans of spray paint
an older PC
an LCD monitor
1 USB keyboard
soldering equipment
nes controller ports (ripped from a four score)
DB-25 connector
2 cases of Diet Coke :)

Inside is an old PC and a 17" LCD monitor. The back of the cabinet has two USB ports and two NES controller ports. You can connect regular, un-modded NES controllers and play with those or use the joystick and buttons on the control panel.

The front end is a simple VB program that auto loads when the PC boots. You never need to connect a mouse or keyboard to load your games. The VB program gives a list of games installed. Using the joystick, you can select the game you want to play.

Also, you can connect a keyboard and mouse to the USB ports in the back and use the set as a regular PC. It has wireless internet built in.

Step 1: Building the cabinet

Draw out the arcade shape onto 1/4" MDF. Cut it out with a circular saw, jig saw, etc... Measure and cut out the remaining parts. My cabinet is 24"x18"x 24" (H x W x D). Screw all the pieces together.

Comments

[Br4inFr33z3]

Probably not unless you can find A: a compatible emulator program and B: a way to start it on bootup.

[Ekloef]

I have one word... WOOOOOW! O_O

I have to do this some day! the relssy great part is how easy it word be to use the same machine with various emulators!

You made my head spin with inspiration! Thanks a lot =D

[Krayzi99]

it would be easier to get a joystick with buttons and use joytokey to configure it to keys

[orangeguy81]

Cool job. I did notice you attached the joystick on the top of the panel. You are supposed to put it under the wood. Otherwise, awesome.

[Krayzi99]

i think it looks awesome like that. looks retro

[russm313]

22,000 hits and you are the first person to mention that. I thought for sure, when I posted this, I would get eaten alive because of that screw up! I didn't notice it until after I had finished. I am actually redoing the control panel this weekend. I will be fixing the joystick and adding a thicker piece of plexiglass.

[orangeguy81]

ha ha.. I only noticed that because I am building my own stand up cab. awesome job!

[Spokehedz]

I am thinking space dictated this design, rather than aesthetics... I personally like it looking like that, as it reminds me of a old-school arcade where they were exposed like that. Kudos!

[russm313]

Actually, it wasn't space. I wanted it to be an all in one bartop arcade.

[Spokehedz]

Nono... I meant installing the joystick on top of the control panel instead of from the underside.

[russm313]

Oh I understand what you mean now. No, it wasn't a space issue. There is plenty of room below the control panel. I honestly just screwed up and put the joystick on the outside. This is the first arcade I've ever built. I am fixing it this weekend, though. I'll post updated pics once the repairs are done.

[ahmad2117]

is there a way to install a driving wheel? theres a game that has 1 button a driving wheel and a joy stick its a really awsome game and i want to play it all the time thanks

[pjrpumpken]

@mitch and sean the diet coke is for drinking so he can get energy from all that sodering

[mitch and sean]

Wowee this is pretty cool. Like I've seen cool things on instructables but this just like tops the scales
Good job I would like to see what else you have made:)

[HurcanDewit]

i love this. a lot.

[craig3]

Is it possible to get a drawing of the measurements for the side of it? or even possible all the pieces of it? sides, back, top and the piece underneath the tip hangover?

[jackman27]

did you guys know that it is illegal to play roms with a copyright on them, even if you do own the game? look at this website http://www.nintendo.com/corp/legal.jsp

[smccreery ii]

Well they aren't exactly going to encourage it. It would be hard to run down to Walmart and buy one of these NES games. How are Nintendo or the makers of those games profiting on no sales of the NES game cartridges?

BTW, it doesn't say it is illegal to play or have the ROMS, it says it is illegal to download them. It actually says that you CAN have them with restrictions.

[uhsnamih]

Hi i always wanted to make a portable arcade system outta an old laptop. Putting a laptop and doing a few modification to your control system would make it very lightweight portable all in one laptop + arcade machine. Now how to setup everything in place is the only tricky part.

[jceason]

how much does the stuff cost?

[jceason]

Could you send me the pdf? [e-mail]

[chance313]

This is just great!

[apoorveinstein]

how can we shut down the arcade without a keyboard??

[mcaliber.50]

i would make it so you could switch games, like the original nes

[zeroblood]

correct me if im wrong but the VB program brings up a list of roms to choose when the computer boots right? here is a way to do that with a batch file
put all your roms into a folder ("nesroms" in this case) put them in your C: folder then open notepad and type:

cd C:
start nesroms
exit

then save it as .bat and put it in your startup folder and that should do the trick. just 3 simple lines. great project by the way

[chuckspencer]

How would i go about adding more buttons?

[thorstenfjord]

hey so im making something similar, except im simply placing a sega genesis inside the box. how can i convert the av cables so that the game can be played on a dell computer screen?

[jtellez muñes]

what program u use
????????

[jporter-2]

can you use a 20"

[pjrpumpken]

U can use Wat Ever screen u like

[blackdragon27]

you can use any size he probably just had a 17" laying around

[recordmasta001]

Do all the switches use the same ground?

[russm313]

Yes, I used one common ground for all the switches

[king kolton9]

is their a site dedicated to consoles turned into stand up arcades?

[recordmasta001]

http://www.koenigs.dk/mame/eng/

[andrewn1]

http://www.recroommasters.com/x_arcade_p/rm-xt-arc-t.htm

[Foxfur]

Does anyone know of a good MAME or other emulator tutorial? I never have been able to use an emu or get one working. Also where one can DL a MAME excecutable for winders 7? I found uncompiled ones @ MAME's site. Kick me if I'm lame but along with the kick an answer would be much appreciated.
Thanks russm313, great project!

[jackman27]

i cant get the sticky key trick to work, any help?

[jackman27]

i found out you use mouse keys

[andrewn1]

This arcade looks really great, but for the time and material cost, buying one makes more sense to me. I bought one a few months ago from a company that makes them here in the US, shocker. Here's the link to the Xtension Mini Arcade I bought from Rec Room Masters.

http://www.recroommasters.com/Xtension_Mini_Arcade_Bartop_Cabinet_p/rm-xt-mac.htm