Maker Don Brown writes “I have a hobby of creating arcade machines using computers and MAME. This is a budget arcade cabinet. Instead of a computer running the MAME software, the gaming is provided by a Namco TV Games 5-in-1 game controller, hacked for real arcade controls. So, instead of spending a few hundred on a computer, the controller is $20. Also, inside is a 14″ TV, saving money there too. The Penny Arcade plays Pacman, Galaxian, RallyX, DigDug, and Bosconian”. Link.
6 thoughts on “HOW TO make a Penny Arcade”
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Very nice arcade. I had though of using one of those controllers myself. I’ve seen several different controllers with different game bundles, usually around 5 games. For $20 it can’t be beat! I like your arcade cabinet, especially the marquee. Does the marquee light up? I have also made a bartop arcade cabinet. You can check it out here. It has around 3000 unique games and runs on a Dell computer that I managed to cram inside. The screen is a flat panel LCD (which saves a lot of weight). The controls are from Happ and Ultimarc. I like it becasue it runs almost all of the old games flawlessly (thanks to MAME software).
The Marquee doesn’t light up, it’s just a graphic printed on bumper sticker paper and stuck to the wood. This was the Penny Arcade, an attempt to see just how cheaply I could make an arcade cabinet.
I made another Penny Arcade with a VIA small singleboard computer. When I was making them, LCDs were expensive so I always used CRTs. If I was going to make one again, I’d definitely use an LCD.
Happ and Ultimarc make good stuff.
Heh…..looks rubbish to me. Cheap and tacky.