Great job with the project, video, and story. I am doing the same exact thing right now for my house and running into the same problems with budgeting, wives, and materials available. Thanks, this will help me keep going. I really like all the compartments!
I must say this project came out to be excellent, far better than I expected! I'm a MAME user myself and have been wanting to start a similar project. To all those planning on building their own, there's three necessities you can't go wrong with for an even better build. 1. install a capable video card for graphics hungry games. 2. lcd or led monitor runs cooler and doesn't take up much space. 3.x-arcade control panel or buttons is a definite must have like the author said.
I told my wife that, i was thinking to build one of those, and she asked me for a new car in exchange...so i changed my mind.....congrats from Brazil...nice work and I loved the way you did painted........
I think I've watched your video over a hundred times lol. Thanks for the great idea. I have always loved arcade games and borrowed your design for my own project. Since then man i have really learned a lot of ways to build em. Cheers.
for the front where the screws are i would have glued 2 pieces of ply and doweled it in so there was no screws showing but thats it. the builds amazing and looks real nice GJ
Looks great and the trackball is a great idea since you've got limited space in that drawer. I'm planning on building one soon and this is great motivation!
I laughed when you said $50. Obviously that wasn't even close, even if you have a lot of the things you need already. It worked out pretty well in the end though.
Looks really awesome! Great job! I'm in the process of building my first one too, it's such a cool project! Making mine a bar top model to save a little on materials and space. I really love the finish you gave yours, it does look like a piece of furniture!
Old video, about to build an arcade an arcade so i have been watching several builds to see what ideas i can steal. I plan on making a wall mount using a RP3 and I didn't think about it but the idea of leaving the top hindged for storage was great and i will be using that for additional USB controllers.
Oh cool! I've been looking for a way to start, and your video shows me exactly how to begin building!! :) I've been planning this for weeks, and you just saved me some of my precious money! Haha! Great video!
Me also, I found out a bar near our neighborhood had a Galaga Machine and went there to play ....of course my parents didn't know and the people at the bar watched over me...Great memories... Very mice and love the all wood cabinet, all for a very reasonable price...Especially considering the Frenzy Machine I bought, cost me about 800$... ;)
Excellent job. I just started mine. I got lucky and found a liquidation company that was selling vintage arcade machines for 50 bucks. So that's a good start. However I refuse to compromise with my wife. I am going for the decals and side art. Good name BTW. Right now I'm calling mine the RETROCADE.
AH! I've been wanting to do this for so long! But every single time I almost get completely motivated, I realize the difficulty involved with the actual controls. The buttons. The Joysticks. It all looks so very intimidating and I have no electronic or circuitry knowledge under my belt. I know there's things like the X-Arcade, but I really truly want to put my own touch on my MAME.
Looks good, just remember having that TV inside a confined box with no ventilation, it could burn up your TV, I would recommend taking the back plastic off the TV or add an exhaust fan if you haven't already.
That is really awesome and well done that is a beautiful cabinet and a great build. My dad has a few old arcade cabinets in storage at his home so for my summer project im building a 60 in 1 jamma for my kids to enjoy. I am going to Customise my cabinet to incorporate all my childhood favourite video game characters. Anyway that came out so cool and it does look like a piece of furniture :) You have to build more :)
I absolutely love this video, the commentary and filming are great, I loved the time lapse. Oh, and the stain made that look amazing. I'm looking to build one of these, possibly a bit bigger over the summer with my dad. It should be interesting, have you found not having a trackball along with your joysticks to be a pain at all? I really want to have one on mine but they seem to be pricey, even on x-arcade. Thanks for the amazing video!
Very nice cab, best thing you purpose built it for your needs and not hacked up a old cab. Hate seeing that, unless it's a old poker machine, couldn't care less for them. :D Love the added storage area, adds to the whole furniture vibe and more of a home use feel.
I want to build an arcade machine too, and looking at your video, I'm under no illusion that mine will look any better than yours! I have no carpentry experience either. I look at other people's efforts, and I realise that mine will be more like yours. Who am I kidding? I'd never be able to do what other people have done! Great job!
Might do something like this with a desk top arcade machine I picked up. Instead of using the regular tube I might just put a tiny CRT in it. Take out all the wires and motherboards then use the little cabinets built into it as console holders. They cabinets were used to protect or hold in the arcade parts.
I built one back in 2003 that had a 27" Wells Gardner that weighed probably 500lbs and would shock the living hell out of you (even when unplugged). I love the classic look and all but if I'm gonna spend $500+ these days, I'll make a 50" flat screen model and it would still weigh tons less...looks nice!
That is so fucking DOPE! I am thinking of building one for myself and I'm in the process now of trying to find building plans for a cabinet and layouts for button mapping with hardware. Your cabinet is by far the best I've seen considering all of the user friendliness. Way to go man. I can only imagine how you felt once it was finished and you hit that start button for the first time. Play some Wayne Gretzky 3d hockey for me.
Idk if you're still active but you're build is awesome! I grew up on SNES and N64, I'm going to cheat and buy a bar top arcade wood shell but I'm going to buy a newer TV for the screen and get a button to USB kit, then adapters to wire it to a NES, SNES, Sega clone console and throw a old laptop with emulators and custom fighting games in with a HDMI switch, it will be named "Mugan Machine" because I have a lot of Mugan street fighter and Mortal Kombat project games on the laptop
good job!!! looks great, I guess you can still tweak it a little to get it closer to the arcade games of the 80's or 90's, but it's PRETTY close as it is!!!
Thank you for making an informative video, without boring stops and ummms all in under 5 minutes, good music, good editing and awesome final product. I agree with the previous poster, do you have blueprints for this arcade that can be replicated by others?
I think you did a great job. I plan on building an upright soon. Love that people are sharing videos like this. It really helps add to the ideas that others may have. And screw the people hating on your wife. Every marriage is different and there's always compromises to make. If you're happy then that's all that matters.
Nope. I'm married and have an arcade. My wife had no say on it...same way I don't have a say on her purchases...unless we ask for each other's inputs... Which on womanly or manly things won't happen. We feel it's out of place.
David Robles My girlfriend and I had this very conversation considering we've talked about marriage and future living arrangements. I'm all for compromising, but that doesn't mean I have to live in a house full of flowery objects and certain color schemes just as much as she doesn't have to live in a house full of neon beer lights and half-naked ladies on the wall. I own two arcade machines and I'd be damned if one of them didn't make to the front room for all the guests and family members to enjoy!
beautiful machine, master. I have a 29" crt tv and I want to build a machine just like yours. I am worried about the tv because it is very heavy. I would like to know the thickness of the wood you used. Thank you.
That's actually a very good first build. You could easily sell it for far more than you spent and build a Mark2 cabinet refining all the original designs using better materials. But then, it wouldn't really play games better, just look better(possibly, again, very nice first build) just a thought.
Duuuude! It looks sick!!! I had no idea that you would actually be able to make it look like a piece of furniture. Congrats! Have fun with your kids! Just one question, did you buy only buy one usb controller? Or two?
The time spent with your sons having fun is well worth it in my eyes, id love to do something like this with my son when he gets older.
Finally one with a CRT.
@Hater_19
ignorant refers to a CRT screen not LCD or LED as they make them now...
This video is still awesome 12 years later
wow, amazing video, your kids are probably all grown now. crazy you shot and recorded this back in 2011. impressive!
Best looking arcade cabinet I´ve ever seen. The furniture look is a very good idea and it turned out really well. Want.
this is one of the greatest videos i've ever seen. i've always wanted to go through with a build and you've inspired me to finally do it.
I am a professional finish carpenter and you are NOT a geek; not only was this a cool video but you did a great job as well -- nice....
Well done. That's exactly what I looking for. To have a good time with my family and friends playing old classic games. Congrats!
Great job with the project, video, and story. I am doing the same exact thing right now for my house and running into the same problems with budgeting, wives, and materials available. Thanks, this will help me keep going. I really like all the compartments!
Love the story, the way you told it, and the music is great, congrats, great work...
Beautiful looking cabinet ! The shape is stylish and the stained wood finish us 👍
I must say this project came out to be excellent, far better than I expected! I'm a MAME user myself and have been wanting to start a similar project. To all those planning on building their own, there's three necessities you can't go wrong with for an even better build. 1. install a capable video card for graphics hungry games. 2. lcd or led monitor runs cooler and doesn't take up much space. 3.x-arcade control panel or buttons is a definite must have like the author said.
You using a CRT reeeeeeally helped me dig your work even more.
A video like this that is 7 years old deserves over a million views at least.
The wood. OMFG I LOVE THE WOOD.
This is almost exactly the kind of thing I want to setup.
I wish I had the space, tools, knowledge to start cutting.
An awesome project and it does look elegant in the living room. Kudos to you.
Awesome! I thought you would come up with an idea of an arcade game and build the control panel for it, but.... THIS IS AWESOME
I told my wife that, i was thinking to build one of those, and she asked me for a new car in exchange...so i changed my mind.....congrats from Brazil...nice work and I loved the way you did painted........
He must respect his family enough to ask their opinion. WOW so many people in the comments dont.... what a shame.
I think I've watched your video over a hundred times lol. Thanks for the great idea. I have always loved arcade games and borrowed your design for my own project. Since then man i have really learned a lot of ways to build em. Cheers.
Looks awesome. I'm heading down that road myself.
You're the dad I always wanted. I will say my dad played video games but was more of a workaholic and never came home.
for the front where the screws are i would have glued 2 pieces of ply and doweled it in so there was no screws showing but thats it. the builds amazing and looks real nice GJ
I’m 9 years late but this is awesome. Been looking for a way to incorporate a crt for my own cabinet build!
Looks great and the trackball is a great idea since you've got limited space in that drawer. I'm planning on building one soon and this is great motivation!
I love building arcade cabs. I’ve never gone the natural route as I love the old full authentic look.
I laughed when you said $50. Obviously that wasn't even close, even if you have a lot of the things you need already. It worked out pretty well in the end though.
nice work supergeek. I like that it's not just a mame dedicated cabinet.
Looks really awesome! Great job! I'm in the process of building my first one too, it's such a cool project! Making mine a bar top model to save a little on materials and space. I really love the finish you gave yours, it does look like a piece of furniture!
came out great, And I have to gives props to using a CRT....Damn good build man
Man, that looks pretty freaking amazing for your first try. I would love to build my own but sadly I have zero tools to use to make it.
sweet finish on the wood, well worth the work by the looks of it
Old video, about to build an arcade an arcade so i have been watching several builds to see what ideas i can steal. I plan on making a wall mount using a RP3 and I didn't think about it but the idea of leaving the top hindged for storage was great and i will be using that for additional USB controllers.
Oh cool! I've been looking for a way to start, and your video shows me exactly how to begin building!! :) I've been planning this for weeks, and you just saved me some of my precious money! Haha! Great video!
Me also, I found out a bar near our neighborhood had a Galaga Machine and went there to play ....of course my parents didn't know and the people at the bar watched over me...Great memories...
Very mice and love the all wood cabinet, all for a very reasonable price...Especially considering the Frenzy Machine I bought, cost me about 800$... ;)
Nice one man. Thanks for sharing ☮️
Excellent job. I just started mine. I got lucky and found a liquidation company that was selling vintage arcade machines for 50 bucks. So that's a good start. However I refuse to compromise with my wife. I am going for the decals and side art. Good name BTW. Right now I'm calling mine the RETROCADE.
AH! I've been wanting to do this for so long! But every single time I almost get completely motivated, I realize the difficulty involved with the actual controls. The buttons. The Joysticks. It all looks so very intimidating and I have no electronic or circuitry knowledge under my belt. I know there's things like the X-Arcade, but I really truly want to put my own touch on my MAME.
Looks good, just remember having that TV inside a confined box with no ventilation, it could burn up your TV, I would recommend taking the back plastic off the TV or add an exhaust fan if you haven't already.
Looks gorgeous brooo
Awesome! I want to build one of these for me and my kids to enjoy, Great Job!
That is really awesome and well done that is a beautiful cabinet and a great build.
My dad has a few old arcade cabinets in storage at his home so for my summer project im building a 60 in 1 jamma for my kids to enjoy.
I am going to Customise my cabinet to incorporate all my childhood favourite video game characters.
Anyway that came out so cool and it does look like a piece of furniture :)
You have to build more :)
Great video! I wish I had a garage to do something like this!
Looks beautiful
I absolutely love this video, the commentary and filming are great, I loved the time lapse. Oh, and the stain made that look amazing. I'm looking to build one of these, possibly a bit bigger over the summer with my dad. It should be interesting, have you found not having a trackball along with your joysticks to be a pain at all? I really want to have one on mine but they seem to be pricey, even on x-arcade. Thanks for the amazing video!
Very nice cab, best thing you purpose built it for your needs and not hacked up a old cab. Hate seeing that, unless it's a old poker machine, couldn't care less for them. :D
Love the added storage area, adds to the whole furniture vibe and more of a home use feel.
Great video presentation, Awesome build!
I want to build an arcade machine too, and looking at your video, I'm under no illusion that mine will look any better than yours! I have no carpentry experience either. I look at other people's efforts, and I realise that mine will be more like yours. Who am I kidding? I'd never be able to do what other people have done!
Great job!
Might do something like this with a desk top arcade machine I picked up. Instead of using the regular tube I might just put a tiny CRT in it. Take out all the wires and motherboards then use the little cabinets built into it as console holders. They cabinets were used to protect or hold in the arcade parts.
This is amazing, you must have put so much effort into it
Seeing your kids play Street Fighter II brought back a flood of memories!
And built it with the CRT too. Came out very good.
Looks awesome dude, great job!!!
I built one back in 2003 that had a 27" Wells Gardner that weighed probably 500lbs and would shock the living hell out of you (even when unplugged). I love the classic look and all but if I'm gonna spend $500+ these days, I'll make a 50" flat screen model and it would still weigh tons less...looks nice!
That is so fucking DOPE! I am thinking of building one for myself and I'm in the process now of trying to find building plans for a cabinet and layouts for button mapping with hardware. Your cabinet is by far the best I've seen considering all of the user friendliness. Way to go man. I can only imagine how you felt once it was finished and you hit that start button for the first time. Play some Wayne Gretzky 3d hockey for me.
A dream come true :3
This is awesome. Have you considered punishing your blue prints? It's a gorgeous build, and I'd be overjoyed to use yours as some inspiration.
I think you ment to say publishing
It looks amazing finished!
Hard to belive that was your first, very awsome
I'm building in 2021.. thanks for this beautiful video.. ;) cheers..
LCD for me next time round. My CRT bartop cab is huge and heavy. Moving it is a real chore!
Idk if you're still active but you're build is awesome! I grew up on SNES and N64, I'm going to cheat and buy a bar top arcade wood shell but I'm going to buy a newer TV for the screen and get a button to USB kit, then adapters to wire it to a NES, SNES, Sega clone console and throw a old laptop with emulators and custom fighting games in with a HDMI switch, it will be named "Mugan Machine" because I have a lot of Mugan street fighter and Mortal Kombat project games on the laptop
This is one nice arcade! Awesome! I heard once that it was easier getting fogotten than getting permission (from wife of course) when building these!
"Not perfect no matter how hard i try" dont lie you knew it would be this awsome
good job!!! looks great, I guess you can still tweak it a little to get it closer to the arcade games of the 80's or 90's, but it's PRETTY close as it is!!!
Well done. Looks awesome I love those old school Mario games.
Thank you for making an informative video, without boring stops and ummms all in under 5 minutes, good music, good editing and awesome final product. I agree with the previous poster, do you have blueprints for this arcade that can be replicated by others?
I think you did a great job. I plan on building an upright soon. Love that people are sharing videos like this. It really helps add to the ideas that others may have. And screw the people hating on your wife. Every marriage is different and there's always compromises to make. If you're happy then that's all that matters.
Thats pretty cool how you made it look somewhat like furniture.
Wow that came out sweet!!!
Do you still have this??
Thx for the idea now I would like to do it. But could you please tell me how the joystick and buttons were set up?
I want one....great job....well done...
Do you still have it?
love it! could u make another video describing how u wired the buttons to the pc
Im not really into this style arcade cabinet but I must admit it does look quite nice
...and then his wife let him go outside and play afterwords.
🤣🤣🤣
I think you are wrong. She would never let him go outside on his own.
Great work man! Too bad about you being so whipped though, good luck with that.
If he was whipped, there would be no arcade in the house. I think it's a nice compromise, which is what you have to do when you're married.
Nope. I'm married and have an arcade. My wife had no say on it...same way I don't have a say on her purchases...unless we ask for each other's inputs... Which on womanly or manly things won't happen. We feel it's out of place.
David Robles My girlfriend and I had this very conversation considering we've talked about marriage and future living arrangements. I'm all for compromising, but that doesn't mean I have to live in a house full of flowery objects and certain color schemes just as much as she doesn't have to live in a house full of neon beer lights and half-naked ladies on the wall. I own two arcade machines and I'd be damned if one of them didn't make to the front room for all the guests and family members to enjoy!
this is COOL!!! I want to make the exact same thing! Looks like a piece of furniture!
I made a counter top one and love it. You should consider buillding a small one with a netbook/net top. Mame works fine with them for most games
that thing looks beautiful
Very nice work
Amazing man. Good video as well. Cheers!!!
five years later, is it still fun?
Awesome job!
beautiful machine, master. I have a 29" crt tv and I want to build a machine just like yours. I am worried about the tv because it is very heavy. I would like to know the thickness of the wood you used. Thank you.
You did The Right thing Brooo.. Congrat.!!
Your children are very lucky to have a dad like you
Cool !!! I definitely getting started with mine!!! Thanks for the idea 💡!!!
That's actually a very good first build. You could easily sell it for far more than you spent and build a Mark2 cabinet refining all the original designs using better materials. But then, it wouldn't really play games better, just look better(possibly, again, very nice first build) just a thought.
" You could easily sell it for far more than you spent". Definitely not no, you have to factor in the labour which is at least 95% of the cost.
that is so cool vince!!!!
Great with kids,like we did long ago.
I also show old movies like Goonies,Stand by me,Splash...and soon Tales from the crypt,Pet sematary and all.
Would be fantastis to have acces to the blue prints of this arcade cabinet. Is there a way we can fint it ? Thank you.
Duuuude! It looks sick!!! I had no idea that you would actually be able to make it look like a piece of furniture. Congrats! Have fun with your kids! Just one question, did you buy only buy one usb controller? Or two?
nice job love the stain, has anyone done this with a flatscreen or is tube recommend?
THIS CABINET IS SO COOL
Awsome im just going to start making mine nxt week...same as you every game guy needs one in his home
How big is the TV you bought in terms of inches? Cool project!
Impressive work sir!!
You can hook up a Dreamcast with SF3 and force that to play 240p. on RGB scart. That looks arcade!
I'm curious, because I am looking into building my own arcade cabinet as well.