Wednesday, May 17, 2006
The New Project
I've started planning a new project that utilizes the handyman and nerd sides of me, and I thought I'd let you all know. In the coming months I plan to begin construction on a full-size upright arcade cabinet, which will house an old PC chock full of MAME Roms, just over 5000 of them last time I checked. Controls will include a 4-player layout and a trackball. I built a scale model (approx 1/10) tonight to get an idea of how it would look, and I am more than satisfied. I'm thinking this project can be done in a minimum of 3 months and a max of 6, depending on how easily I can find some of the parts I need on the cheap. Here are some pics of the model.
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13 comments:
What's your budget for this project?
Dude, and they call us "nerds" as an insult! Take that jocks! That is so f'n badass Eric! Can't wait to see the finished product!
Computer = $0
Monitor = $0
3 - 4'x8' MDF = $30
All controls = ~$150-200
Keyboard Encoder = $100
Wiring & Disconnects = $70
Plexiglass = $20
T-Molding = $20
Paint = $20
Total = $410-460
And that is assuming that I buy everything from retail stores.
That could be one of the nerdest things ever...but at least its badass...good luck
What is the keyboard encoder and why does it cost $100? Seems like something you could make for a few bucks w/ a CPLD board in VHDL? Let me know what it does and maybe I could code it up for you.
Jae,
Here's a link of what I would probably get: http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html.
I would buy the IPAC4 board, it's actually $65 on the site. It translates control input to keyboard input, and just plugs into the USB or PS/2 inputs on the computer.
that doesn't seem particularly difficult and i'm sure it could be done on $10 worth of parts. from the picture it looks like it is just a couple of microprocessors using interrupt pins. probably not worth your time though since there is a ready-made solution and your overall budget is fine. it is a little more "nerdy" if you make this part from scratch though ;).
Eric: "nerd nerd nerd nerd nerd nerd"
Jae: "but I can build the nerd with the nerd and the nerd"
Eric: "nerd"
HAHA...i love you guys...
it's a nerdocracy!
Let me know if you need an assist, I am offering my services as an assistant/alcohol consumption specialist.
Does this thing have teeth? If not, my nerd skills are useless... I guess I could chip in as a supplemental alcohol consumption specialist/guy that does Nick's sister.
In all seriousness though, I wish I had the means to do something like that. You should sell them for bargain basement prices to your good friends who live up north. =)
I don't know if it would be useful, but I still have my digital design CPLD, since I dropped Digital design I have no desire to learn how to use it. If you want it I would be willing to donate it to your cause.
One of my friends at Caltech said he knows a guy selling these for a couple grand a piece. He preloads them w/ all the ROMs from companies no longer in business, and then provides a CD to make it easy to get the "other" ROMs.
If this goes well you should consider doing something like that! Cha-ching.
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