Cardboard Arcade Cabinet

by worty24

15K1322

Intro: Cardboard Arcade Cabinet

Here I show my completed Cardboard arcade cabinet. I do not have any pictures of the build, but I will tell you the basic idea, then you can built to your liking

STEP 1: Gathering Materials

Heres the things you need

-5 or 6 cardboard boxes, the same size is the best, so you should use the boxes that you buy copy paper in. Thats what I used

-An Old CRT television, from 9" to 13"

-A PS 1, PS 2, or xbox

-A Game for that console

-Blue painters tape

-Sharpie

-A box opener blade, xacto, scissors

STEP 2: Building the Base of the Cabinet

First Put the cabinet together how you would like it. Consider all elements, such as where the tv will fit, as well as where the gaming system and cables will go.

This is the way I did it.

I stacked three boxes. I taped them together. I had the third box so the open side was facing out. I cut an opening in the second box for the ps2. I put the tv in the third box, the ps2 in the second. Run the controllers out through a hole in the front., and nothing in the first. I recommend adding re-enforcements in the second box, as this will be where the weight of the tv will make the most torsion on the cardboard.I put another piece of cardboard on top with a piece on top so it looks like the real arcade cabinets. Look at the pics to see what I mean. After this. Insert all of your components, and make sure it works. Next, cover up the back of the tv with another box, as it will be hanging out. Cut a whole in the back of the second box, run the game system cables through there. Cover up to original hole you made for the ps2, then make a smaller one on the back of the second box near the gaming systems power button. Make sure its only big enough for your hand. Nows the hard part. You have to decide whether to cover it with tape or not. I decided to do so. It is harder to spray paint because you have to take all of the components out, spray it, and then put them all back, and when the gaming console starts baking in the enclosed compartment, it might start to smell. So, I just covered the whole thing with painters tape. It looks pretty good. Once you have done all this, Label it with a sharpie, and power it up, and remember to leave it at the "press start" Screen of the game for realism. You can add a coin slot on the front and an hole in the back for retrieving the money. Enjoy your new arcade cabinet!

STEP 3: Namcomuseum

I use the Game Namcomuseum for realism as to it being a 1980's gaming machine. Here are some pictures of the games


Have Fun!

21 Comments

eva_maree_dixon 10 years ago

Hey good job but you need air vents I have built one of these to and without proper
Cooling it melts

knexhero 14 years ago

do you think you I could use a portable dvd player as a screen

worty24 14 years ago

 Sure you could, you would have to find the correct cable to use your video game console with it. Fortunately, in using a dvd player screen you will be able to save weight and not have to try to support a heavy tv with cardboard. Good luck with your project!
Scott

knexhero 14 years ago

thanks for the info I don't exactly have at tv to spare right now

knexhero 14 years ago

I just finished it today and it works like a dream. I ended up putting pacman world for ps1 in it

cotton 14 years ago

 dude .... tahts DANGERUS not all portable dvd players do it so my recomendation is to ignore the author as u ca fry ur pdvd player and burn your house down

worty24 14 years ago

 It should be fine if he has the correct cables to connect his dvd player to his game console...

thewildman 10 years ago

Heat build up may be more of an issue...

thewildman 10 years ago

Cardboard CAN look stunning (ie. http://kartongroup.com.au/) by well planned design and execution. I don't think cardboard has the structural properties required for an arcade machine though.

hankhill34 13 years ago

Im going to try to use a 19 inch hdtv and make it higher up using more boxes

XCVG 14 years ago

Man, that thing is fugly. But I congratulate you on it nonetheless. I thought the TV would be too heavy and it would collapse. Did you reinforce it at all?

waffleman 14 years ago

haha very (very very very very very) cheap, but very creative. should make it bigger though, so you can stand up and play? or have chairs or something, otherwise its kinda useless.

MillenniumMan 14 years ago

Reminds me of something I tried doing when I was ten (only had an Atari 2600 Rev. 3 to work with) Even had my little brother putting coins in the "money hole" until he figured out that he could play it for free.

bdawg12348 15 years ago

u no wat wood be sweet, is 4 namcomusuem u can use a keyboard, i would of hacked the keyboard, and put it in there

N1CK4ND0 15 years ago

Good idea! But if you could find a way (slots maybe) you would not have to use so much tape, then it would look much better. Just a suggestion.
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