Homemade Arcade Machine

BUilding an arcade machine requires some woodworking and wiring.

Gamers who grew up playing in coin-op video arcades have fond memories of stand-up arcade machines. These units are big, costly and mostly outdated--home consoles are much more advanced technologically. Still, modern technology enables people to make MAME (or multiple arcade machine emulation) units, which are homemade stand-up arcade cabinets that contain hundreds or even thousands of classic arcade games. Making one requires a bit of wiring and hammering know-how, but can be very rewarding for nostalgic gamers.

Things You'll Need

• Cabinet kit
• Computer
• Monitor with speakers
• Controller

Instructions

1. Order a cabinet kit of the type you prefer online. MAME machines can be made in sit-down, stand-up or even bartop units. These are fairly cost-effective and will save you time and money, normally costing around $300 to $600. Good sources for these kits include Dreamarcade and Arcadeshopper.

2. Buy a controller. Install your controller into the cabinet's dashboard. Companies such as X-Arcade and SlikStik make good controllers expressly for homemade arcade machines, with a number of different button and user options.

3. Place a PC in the base of the cabinet and a monitor in the top, and hook the controller in as the PC's input.

4. Download MAME software and install it onto the computer. There are a number of options for these emulators, but one good, free and legal place to find this software is Mamedev.org, which provides both the emulator and some legal ROMs for use on the emulator. At this point your arcade cabinet is technically ready to go, but a real homemade arcade machine still has one important final point.

5. Finish the cabinet cosmetically. Vintage arcade cabinets had large designs on either side; these can be painted on to fit the room. Lighted marquees can bought from the cabinet supply sites. Coin-grates can be added for a nostalgic touch. Finish these aesthetic touches and your homemade arcade machine will be complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to plug your homemade arcade machine into a good surge protector, to prevent frying the PC.

• The PC doesn't need to be super-powered, as MAME software is fairly low-stress, but good speakers add to the experience.

• You can build your controller yourself, and it will give you much more customization options. It will still cost you about $200. Order joysticks, trackballs and buttons depending on your preferences and wire them together. The next step is to trick your computer into thinking this is an input, a complex process that can involve hacking a keyboard, mouse or even USB port. More information about this process can be found at Arcadecontrols.com.

References

• "Project Arcade: Build Your Own Arcade Machine"; St. Clair, John; 2004

Resources

• MAME: Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator
• Arcade Controls
• Dream Arcades
• ArcadeShopper
• X-Arcade