Jrousselo Posted February 15, 2016 Posted February 15, 2016 So I've always wanted a 2 player cocktail arcade. And last week I found myself with about 6 hours of free time in a woodshop, and a 4×8 sheet of oak ply- so I decided to just do it. I based my build off of an original pac-man cab. Everything is assembled and I'm ready to cut in my monitor- here is where I'm in need of some inspiration. I'm building this for my 6yr old son, and I know the first thing he will ask when I fire it up is "where is turtles and Mario like we play downstairs?" I have a tournament solitaire conversion cab running HS and my "BARCADE" custom HS cut into the side of my bar in the basement. I've seen the cocktail cabs with side controls for the horizontal games but I'm not a fan myself and I'm looking to keep the look of the original 2 player cab. So anyone have any personal insight on handling the horizontal game play on a 2 player cocktail cab???
Jrousselo Posted February 15, 2016 Author Posted February 15, 2016 Tournament Solitaire conversion + Barcade
Lucky1 Posted February 16, 2016 Posted February 16, 2016 Rotating monitor ? https://youtu.be/luR81rZPVTY Envoyé de mon SM-T230NU en utilisant Tapatalk
Jrousselo Posted February 17, 2016 Author Posted February 17, 2016 I tried all options I had available. 19"-4:3 19"-16:9 dual 19"-16:9 dual 17"-16:9 dual 17"-4:3 dual 17"-4:3. After an hour of playing around I settled on a 24"lcd I had in the workout room. It looks awesome with vertical games and when mame is set to cocktail and splits the screens into the equivalent of dual 17" play windows.So I brought my son downstairs for some beta testing,and he is in agreement. Now it's time to sink this screen.
JoyStickKilla Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 Did you go off plans? Need to get around and built me a cocktail cab.
Jrousselo Posted February 17, 2016 Author Posted February 17, 2016 Ya I used "mikes arcade" pac man plans. Very well done.
phulshof Posted February 18, 2016 Posted February 18, 2016 For cocktail I'd use a 16:10 monitor in portrait mode. Full screen 1 player for vertical games, and cocktail 2 player screen for horizontal games. Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
juicelee Posted February 18, 2016 Posted February 18, 2016 nice i would like to see it when finished, keep it up
Anpanman Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 As phulshof said. You can just force games into cocktail mode. Mame/Mess supports cocktail mode for horizontal games where the screen will be split into two halves. The cocktail mode in Mame/Mess is a simulated mode used to simulate how some arcade companies would have a dipswitch to accommodate their horizontal games on vertical cocktails by rotating the picture and mirroring it. Simulated mode has its perks. It can be used on just about every game. There are a few odd exceptions but they are very few. A 23-24" widescreen monitor should split into something very similar to a 17" 5:4 aspect monitor. Not bad IMO. I've always wanted a cocktail cab myself. As an example, here is windjammers running in cocktail mode
phulshof Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 As phulshof said. You can just force games into cocktail mode. Mame/Mess supports cocktail mode for horizontal games where the screen will be split into two halves. The cocktail mode in Mame/Mess is a simulated mode used to simulate how some arcade companies would have a dipswitch to accommodate their horizontal games on vertical cocktails by rotating the picture and mirroring it. Simulated mode has its perks. It can be used on just about every game. There are a few odd exceptions but they are very few. A 23-24" widescreen monitor should split into something very similar to a 17" 5:4 aspect monitor. Not bad IMO. I've always wanted a cocktail cab myself. That's also why I recommend a 16:10 monitor, which in portrait becomes 10:16. 2x5:4 in cocktail becomes 5:8, which is the exact same aspect as 10:16, so no black borders whatsoever. Using it for 4:3 in cocktail will leave a small black bar at the bottom and top, but less than when you use a 16:9 monitor. The same goes for full-screen vertical games (no-cocktail mode): it will leave a small black bar at the bottom and top, but less than when you use a 16:9 monitor. As for screen size comparison: A 24" 16:9 monitor in cocktail mode is like a (24*9/SQRT(16^2+9^2))*(5/4)=14.7" 4:3 monitor for each player. A 24" 16:10 monitor in cocktail mode is like a (24*10/SQRT(16^2+10^2))*(5/4)=15.9" 4:3 monitor for each player.
Anpanman Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 That's also why I recommend a 16:10 monitor, which in portrait becomes 10:16. 2x5:4 in cocktail becomes 5:8, which is the exact same aspect as 10:16, so no black borders whatsoever. Using it for 4:3 in cocktail will leave a small black bar at the bottom and top, but less than when you use a 16:9 monitor. The same goes for full-screen vertical games (no-cocktail mode): it will leave a small black bar at the bottom and top, but less than when you use a 16:9 monitor. As for screen size comparison: A 24" 16:9 monitor in cocktail mode is like a (24*9/SQRT(16^2+9^2))*(5/4)=14.7" 4:3 monitor for each player. A 24" 16:10 monitor in cocktail mode is like a (24*10/SQRT(16^2+10^2))*(5/4)=15.9" 4:3 monitor for each player. You definitely know more about it than i do.
Metalzoic Posted February 19, 2016 Posted February 19, 2016 For inspiration I think it should have naked chick art all over it with a usable stripper pole sticking up out of the middle.
phulshof Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 Just to get an idea of what this would look like with some bezels: http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/topic/14975-generic-mame-cocktail-bezel/?p=209125
Jrousselo Posted March 14, 2016 Author Posted March 14, 2016 So I made some progress on the build this weekend. I'm lets say 80% done.... I keep seeing jeepguy81's vertical theme but cant find the download. Anyone have a clue where I can get it?
Jrousselo Posted March 14, 2016 Author Posted March 14, 2016 I will post some pics later today! It's taking shape so all I can think about is leaving work so I can get home and get back to my build. I scored some 50's - 60's style diner stools this weekend, they kind of "make" the entire build.
Jrousselo Posted March 14, 2016 Author Posted March 14, 2016 Just to get an idea of what this would look like with some bezels: http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/topic/14975-generic-mame-cocktail-bezel/?p=209125 I'll dive into this later, it looks awesome at first glance....thanks!
Jrousselo Posted March 14, 2016 Author Posted March 14, 2016 Here is a few pics of the build. Finishing the top today, just got home and the T-molding I ordered was waiting for me!!! I found 2 of these stools I will cut them down to the appropriate height for the cab, and I have a friend at a local steel fabrication shop designing new bases for them so they can be free standing.
Jrousselo Posted March 14, 2016 Author Posted March 14, 2016 I haven't decided if the top of the cab will be fixed to the cabinet or if it will attach to and open with the back access door, still playing with some different hinge ideas. I'll start the control panels after the top is covered with the piano black vaneer I have.
Jrousselo Posted March 24, 2016 Author Posted March 24, 2016 Almost finished. Little configuration left to do and some finishing touches. 90%.
Metalzoic Posted March 24, 2016 Posted March 24, 2016 Nice. I find that final 10% is where the real time and work is.
Jrousselo Posted March 24, 2016 Author Posted March 24, 2016 Agreed! But with all of the "mini" projects within a project like this, started from scratch, Im ready. I'll have some detailed pics of the guts of the cab at the finish.
Goodboyparker Posted March 26, 2016 Posted March 26, 2016 It looks really nice... I always liked the console game at pizza hut when I was a kid. Did you use biscuits when joining the wood together? If so, we're they pretty easy for a large panel? I have only used them on small things. Thanks
Jrousselo Posted March 27, 2016 Author Posted March 27, 2016 It looks really nice... I always liked the console game at pizza hut when I was a kid. Did you use biscuits when joining the wood together? If so, we're they pretty easy for a large panel? I have only used them on small things. Thanks Thanks, that is what I was going for. Yes biscuit joints for the assembly. I had to use some jigs, to get the biscuits where needed on the larger pieces but yes quick and easy. Plus strong as anything, this is going to be in my sons room so it being used as a jump pad isn't out of the question, this cab should hold up for 30+ years.
Jrousselo Posted June 7, 2018 Author Posted June 7, 2018 So.... long over due update. The cocktail cab is now over 2yrs old and I can honestly say there are way more "gaming hours" than "tinkering hours" logged on this cab. It is by far my favorite build to date. My son and I go rounds on galaga & bosconian at least twice a week. I ended up using HyperTate but I'm not really sure who to thank for this gem , so I will give props to JeepGuy and anyone else who put time in on Vertical Themed HS. Here are some updated pics of the cab. Service Access. The inside of the cab. Underneath shot of the panel.Back of the cab which has a USB Jack, power button and detachable power cord. Player 2 CP.
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