How to Build an Arcade Machine – DIY System Guide & Instructions
DIY Home-made Arcade Machines & Plans
So you have decided to take undertake the adventure of building your own Arcade Machine! Awesome! If you have been following my blog you will already know how obsessed I am with the idea myself.
In my previous two posts I have covered many different designs and ideas for building your own arcade machine. In my first design post I shared the considerations I made when designing my system along with the plans I will be working off of when I build the machine.
Build Your Own Arcade Machine - Plans, Designs & Guide
In my following article I looked at some of the best visual examples of home built Arcade System and compiled a list of some great websites with pictures that outlined the planning and construction of a home built Arcade Machine.
Home Built Arcade Plans & Designs from the Internet
In this post I would like to share some of the sites I have come across that offer good written explanations of the planning, design, and construction of a DIY Arcade Machine. These are sites that I have across that may not have had the best pictures outlining the project, but had a look of good written content that gives you insight into what is involved with a home built Arcade Machine.
Below are some of the links to each site, feel free to add any other sites you feel should be on this list, You can leave a comment with a link for the site and I will get it added onto the list.
DIY Arcade Machine Links to Home Built Systems
Build a MAME Arcade Cabinet in 24 Hours
http://chris.polymathic.net/cabinet/part1.shtml
NY Build Your Own Arcade Cabinet
http://members.tripod.com/nylatenite/nylgpbuild.htm
Build Your Own Arcade Controls
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Main_Page
Build Your Own Arcade Game Player and Relive the 80’s
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/9732
Tombstones Build Your Own Arcade Machine
http://www.tombstones.org.uk/~lob/
TMSoft How to Build Your Own Arcade System
http://www.tmsoft.com/article-arcade.htm
IGN Build Your Own MAME Machine
http://au.retro.ign.com/articles/867/867066p1.html
Kevin’s Arcade Machine Guide
http://sites.google.com/site/kumbach/arcade-machine
Popular Science – Make Your Own Arcade
http://www.popsci.com/gear-gadgets/article/2004-06/make-your-own-arcade
MAME Cabinet - Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator
http://hackedgadgets.com/2008/04/04/mame-cabinet-multiple-arcade-machine-emulator/
My MAME Cab Arcade Machine
http://www.diyarcade.co.uk/MAMECAB.htm
TechTV - D.I.Y. Arcade Cocktail Cabinet
http://www.arcadedepot.com/HTML/TechTV/techtv_writeup.html
Arcade Controls Insanely Huge List of DIY Arcade Information
http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_examples.php#uprights
(Some of the resources from “Arcade Controls” are pretty dated but still offer some good ideas for building your own arcade machine.”
Home Built DIY Arcade Machines Summary
These are just some of the great resources I have come across on a daily basis while researching how to build my own Arcade Machine. While these sites do not offer the best images, they have great explanations about time lines for their projects, and the different steps that were taken while creating their own home built arcade system.
I will be adding to the list as I come across more useful resources and as always feel free to share any resources you think should be on the list also.
A DIY Arcade Machine is a lot of fun, but it also takes a fair amount of planning and preparation to make something you will truly be happy with. While I am somewhat of a perfectionist by nature, I also want to ensure that if I spend time and energy on something I will be happy with the end result.
I think a lot of people feel the same way which is why most of pour over a lot of the information that is out there. As always thanks for checking out my site, and if you enjoy the articles and information share it with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
I will hopefully be starting the construction of my system soon so keep checking back for more updates on my progress! ^_^
Home Built Arcade Plans & Designs from the Internet
Examples of Other Great Arcade Machine Designs
Hey all! Since I haven’t had time to start building the Arcade System yet based on the plans I recently posted, I wanted to share some more great pictures and designs I have come across on other people’s sites.
It’s really cool to see how different a lot of the designs are, and also to see how many people are doing a “Build Your Own Arcade Machine” project.
Some of the sites I am linking to are older sites and they do not look like they are maintained anymore, but they have some good examples of Arcade Machine plans, including images of the systems being built.
If you know of any other good sites please make some recommendations down in the comments! I would like this post to act as a good reference that helps people find other examples of designs, to help get ideas for their home built arcade machines.
DIY Arcade Machine Construction & Design Images
DIY Arcade Cabinet: Version 2.0
Hardcore Playstation 3 DIY Cabinet
Jeff's Arcade - Supercade Classic Arcade System
Frostillicus Arcade - Home Built Arcade System
Doc's MAME Cabinet - How to Build a Arcade System
Robotron Seven Sided Dual Rotating MAME Arcade Cabinet
System 7 Home Built Arcade Machine
Neon MAME Arcade Machine by Knievel Kustoms
Tardis MAME Arcade Machine - Home Built System
Age of Steam - Steam Punk DIY Arcade System
Build a Home Arcade - System Guide
RetroBlast! - Metroid Mother Brain Super Console
DIY Furniture Grade Cocktail Arcade Machine
Lachlan's Arcade Cabinet - Home Built Arcade System
Stuarts's Home Brew Arcade System
Home Built Arcade Machine Resources & Feedback
There are so many talented & creative people out there that it is hard to check out every DIY Arcade site on the web. If you know of a good one I have missed please let me know and I will add it to the post.
A lot of the best resources I have found have been from the recommendations of other people, and I love seeing all the sites they stumble across on the web.
Thanks for checking out my site, if you have any questions or comments please share them with me below.