With the idea of recycling an old PC I had at home, I decided to build a mini arcade machine, thanks to the MAME emulator, we can play to thousands of old games we played as children. If you're nostalgic for old games, you would like this tutorial.

Con la idea de reciclar un viejo PC que tenia en casa, decidi construirme una mini maquina recreativa, gracias al emulador MAME, tenemos a nuestra disposicion miles de antiguos juegos como los que jugabamos de pequeños en las recreativas. Si eres un nostalgico de los juegos antiguos, este tutorial te gustara.

Step 1: What Do I Need?

Much of the material I used what I had at home, wood, computer, etc ... but what we need is the following:

1x Old PC (I have a P4, with an 80 Gb HDD)
1x LCD Screen 17" (o whatever you have)
1x joystick arcade
9x botones arcade
1x Jamma to USB controller
various woods, I used 10mm MDF.

How to connect the buttons and joystick to the computer is done with the controller Jamma to USB, I had include a picture with the wiring. Once everything is connected to the board plug to computer's USB port and it recognizes it as a joystick you can configure by software. I made in Windows XP, which is the O.S. I used for the emulator. I don´t try in LINUX yet, but I would try with a big brother of this machine I had in my mind.

Mucho del material que he usado lo tenia por casa, madera, ordenador, etc... pero lo que vamos a necesitar es lo siguiente:

1x Ordenador antiguo (en mi caso un P4, con HDD de 80 Gb)
1x pantalla LCD 17" (o lo que tengais disponible)
1x joystick arcade
9x botones arcade
1x controlador Jamma a USB
maderas varias, yo he usado DM de 10mm.

La forma de conectar los botones y joystick al ordenador se hace con el controlador Jamma a USB, incluyo una imagen con el cableado. Una vez conexionado todo se conecta la placa a un puerto USB del ordenador y este lo reconoce como un joystick al que puedes configurar por software. Yo solo lo he probado en Windows XP, que es el S.O. que he usado para el emulador. Como mi idea es hacer un maquina pero en grande, intentare con LINUX, a ver que tal.

Step 2: Starting

We first make a plane (approximately) of what we cut. In my case the size was given by the computer screen I had, so I figured everything by eye, obviously not the best way to do it. Cutting the sides began to leaving the same, while the cut. Then cut and paste the top and the bottom, which already have a drawer made. As I put a lid on the back to get inside, the back cover has two parts, one fixed where the computer power supply wrath and a door that opens.

Lo primero hay que hacer un plano (aproximado) de lo que vamos a cortar. En mi caso el tamaño estaba dado por la pantalla del ordenador que tenia, asi que he calculado todo a ojo, evidentemente no es el mejor modo de hacerlo. Empezamos cortando los laterales, para que salgan iguales, los cortamos a la vez. Despues cortamos y pegamos la tapa y la parte inferior, con lo cual ya tenemos un cajon hecho. Como quiero poner una tapa en la parte de atras para poder acceder al interior, la tapa trasera consta de dos partes, una fija donde ira la F.A. del ordenador y una puerta que se abrira.

Step 3: The Control

We cut the wood that will hold the joystick and buttons (there are many schemes and different styles), I have chosen the model CAMPCON of 6 buttons, and I have added another three for one or two players and start. We put in place with hinges as the size we have is very small and we can access the wiring. In the photos we see open and closed.

Hacemos la madera donde irá el joystick y los botones (hay multitud de esquemas y diferentes estilos), yo he elegido el modelo de CAMPCON de 6 botones, y le he añadido otros tres para uno o dos jugadores y comenzar. La ponemos en su sitio con bisagras ya que el tamaño que tenemos es muy pequeño y así podemos acceder al cableado. En las fotos lo vemos abierto y cerrado.

Step 4: The Screen

We put a side table to hold the screen in our case with three screws arranged on the screen, the table will give you an angle so that the display is correct. We also added the back door and put a PC fan to avoid heat buildup.I have also placed a mailbox key to open up and close.

Ponemos una tabla lateral para sujetar el monitor, en nuestro caso con tres tornillos dispuestos en la pantalla, a la tabla le daremos un angulo apropiado para que la visualizacion sea correcta. Tambien añadimos la puerta trasera y le colocamos un ventilador de PC para que no acumule calor. Tambien he puesto una llave de buzon para poder abrilo y cerrarlo.

Step 5: Painting

Put the bottom of the canopy (where will the speakers), we drop everything and give it a couple of filler and paint layer.

Ponemos la parte inferior de la marquesino (donde iran los altavoces), soltamos todo y le damos un par de capa de tapaporos y pintura.

Step 6: Electronics

We put the speakers (I have a couple of recycling old PC speakers, as we can see with independent amplification) As the games were not exactly high fidelity, serve to spare. We also put the power supply, the computer and the screen. The hard disk is located under the controls.

Ponemos los altavoces (los he reciclado de un par de altavoces antiguos de PC, como podemos ver tienen amplificacion independiente) Como los juegos no eran precisamente Alta Fidelidad, nos sirven de sobra. Tambien ponemos la Fuente de Alimentacion, el ordenador y la pantalla. El disco duro va situado debajo de los controles.

Step 7: Decoration

For the decoration of the machine have chosen the game Galaxian, so the machine is placed in the white, instead of the usual black. Prepare a design for the controls, then glued to the table and cut to fit the buttons and joystick. I have also prepared a metaclilato plate to protect from the bad life will take.

Para la decoracion de la maquina he escogido el juego Galaxian, por eso el color de la maquina es blanco, en vez del negro habitual. Preparo un diseño para los controles, iran pegados a la tabla y recortados para que encajen los botones y el joystick. Tambien he preparado una placa de metaclilato para protegerlo de la mala vida que va a llevar.

Step 8: Finally

To finish put the bezel between two glass and put in place. Add the marquee and paint with light green edges which is how the original machine was. Now we only have to install the operating system, the MAME simulator, configure everything ...and Playing!.

Para acabar ponemos el bezel entre dos placas de cristal y lo ponemos en su sitio. Añadimos la marquesina con su luz y pintamos los cantos de color verde que es como los llevava la maquina original. Ya solo nos queda instalar el sistema operativo, el MAME, configurarlo todo y ... ¡a Jugar!.

Runner Up in the
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51 Comments

Cleber RobertoM

5 years ago

Do you have cabinet design?

themacguru

8 years ago

How much would it cost me for you to build me one of these?!! I live in riverside, California.. Please let me know!!! Thanks in advance!! :)

cendoval

9 years ago on Step 8

SE VE DE LUJO AMIGO, PERO, TENGO ALGUNAS DUDAS, OJALA PUEDAS AYUDARME A HACER EL MIO, PODRIAS AGREGARME AL SKYPE? ENDOWOLF EN MI NICK Y MI CORREO ES: CKODRA@HOTMAIL.COM SALUDOS!!!

baroquedub

9 years ago on Introduction

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the inspiration provided by your post.

If like me you've been dreaming of building one of these bad boys for a while but thought it couldn't be done... give it a go. :) It's been a great learning experience (especially for someone with very little DIY experience) and the result is a lot of fun. My version's not exactly one for the purists but it's an absolute retro gamer's joy.

When I get the chance I'll write up my experiences and share some of the pitfalls and solutions I found. Thanks again Paxpan.

fariello

9 years ago on Step 8

I L♥VE IT!

baroquedub

10 years ago on Introduction

Like it a lot! Inspired by your build I've been working on my own cabinet but I'm stuck where it comes to connecting the buttons to the USB controller.

This is the interface I've got: http://www.arcadeworlduk.com/products/PC-And-PS3-Arcade-Controller-Interface.html The pin configuration is a bit different to the JAMMA controller you've posted a picture of, however I can cope with reconfiguring the connection to the pins. The problem I've got is that you haven't numbered or labelled the buttons as shown on your diagram - and the picture shows only 8 buttons and the joystick. So...

My question is, as per your plate/button layout, have you connected it as:
1,2,3
4,5,6

And what did you do with the other three buttons? Are they being used as '1 player', '2 player' and 'Coin in'? (If so what connections are you making to your USB controller?) For my interface (http://www.arcadeworlduk.com/products/PC-And-PS3-Arcade-Controller-Interface.html) would you connect to buttons 7,8,9 ? Or 'Select/BTN9', 'Start/BTN10' and ????

And are you having to do any keyboard mapping in MAME to get the buttons to work?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated! Thanks.

lferrer bailach

10 years ago on Introduction

Yo voy a empezar con la pequeña, a ver que tal se me da. He hecjo una maqueta en cartón para ver las medidas, te pongo una foto. Por cierto, los componentes los compras en Arcade outlet?
Saludos!

lferrer bailach

10 years ago on Introduction

Hola! lo primero felicitarte por tu trabajo. Genial!
Quiero hacer una parecida a la tuya pero para dos jugadores. Lo único que cambia es poner dos mandos y el doble de botones, no? Y tendré que poner dos placas que conectan por USB, claro. ¿Tu has probado a conectar dos yoisticks a la vez?
Saludos!

mchabot

10 years ago on Introduction

This is the exact same grid pattern I used for my speaker grids..
(I don't even think I have a picture)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150666247925297.694241.837370296&type=1&l=3fe3fc09b5

Solannis

10 years ago on Step 2

Awesome project. Extremely impressive. I definitely want to make my own. Couple of questions on this step:

1) Can you provide any measurements for the boards I will need to cut? Even general width and height would be helpful.

2) What did you do for/to the finish of the edges of your MDF board? Did you just sand them smooth or apply plastic to them or ??

steve000

10 years ago on Step 8

Very cool, for me a little 2 modern I personally would have used an old TV or CRT monitor but thats just me. Still looks fantastic and best of all its pretty cheap which is better than what i was looking at for a few hundred $

Kayoken

10 years ago on Introduction

This can save me well over $600 bucks thanks so much :D

Introduction: Retro Arcade Machine

Step 1: What Do I Need?

Step 2: Starting

Step 3: The Control

Step 4: The Screen

Step 5: Painting

Step 6: Electronics

Step 7: Decoration

Step 8: Finally

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51 Comments