top of page

Arcade Machine (MAME)

The physical building of the Arcade machine is quite simple but the software setup is more complicated.  

This is set up to work with lots of games and i will (TRY) to add the software and files. I will include instructions on how to do this within the file.

This will take me a month or so to provide as I need to redo all the software settings to work on any computer, but i will get it sorted.

I will put software here.

You will need an old computer to do this, most people thinking of building a arcade machine are likely to have some old computer bits laying around. It can also be done with a raspberry PI.

Install the software and follow the instructions i (will) have included. 

You should now have all the software running and you will be able to play the games with a keyboard just to test them.

​

First of all you need to get a monitor or TV and the size of the cabinet will be based around this, I used a 32 inch TV as this was given to me free.

I also added a Bluetooth soundbar to mine so i had to make it wider to accommodate this. When i'm not playing the machine I can play music through it.

There are no rules to follow when building an arcade machine cabinet to do what ever takes your fancy, go wild.

I Doodled a couple of rough sketches of how I wanted the machine to look when complete and as you can see they are very rough sketches.

I brought 2 sheets of 9mm MDF to make the whole thing.

I cut out the front square bit first as i knew the size of the TV and the soundbar, i also wanted a flashing marquee at the top so i cut out another bit for this.

I then drew on and cut out the side panels, and they look like this.

Nothing special but it needed to fit in a space I reserved for this so i knew what height and width i needed.

Next i cut out a rectangle board for my buttons and joystick to go on, i sit and stand at a funny angle when i play so i put my buttons more diagonal than straight.

I pencilled on different button and joystick positions until i found the most comfortable for me.

I then drilled the holes 32mm for the buttons and joystick.

We wired up the bottons and joysticks next.

My set was a cheap set from china, i will be buying better ones as they really feel cheap, if your being a tight arse then get ones like these, just be aware that they are just about the cheapest money can buy.

Wiring up is actually quite easy, just plug one end into the button or joystick and plug the other end into the little USB board you get with your set. Instructions are included when you buy them.

I didn't want a full back on my machine so i reinforced it with baton as per the photo, i put 2 bits of baton in vertical either side of the TV, then fitted the TV and then added another bit of baton horizontal across the back to hold it in place. At the bottom of the soundbar hole, the TV hole and the marquee hole i added a bit of baton to create a shelf.

I also added a bit of MDF to the back of the soundbar hole, don't really know why i bothered but i did anyway

I added baton anywhere i thought it needed strengthening or where i wanted to create a shelf, i then place the Button/jostick sheet on to check it all out. Looking good.

I added another bit of MDF below the button sheet to hide the wires. 

​

Next i cut out a  big square bit to fill the gap below, this conceals the computer and power cables.

Now it's starting to look like an arcade machine.

Next up we decided to paint it black, first i wanted it painted black and secondly i had a tin in the shed so i didn't have to buy anything.

Next we made the marquee, my wife drew and cut out the word "FUBAR" in pac-man font, we then stuck this to the back of the glass and spayed it all black. When we peeled off the paper it left "FUBAR"  clear glass and the rest black. We then fitted LED's behind this that flash red, green and blue.

The light coming from it was too bright even after we turned them down so we spay painted gold over the back of the glass.

Now the word "FUBAR" looks gold untill the lights flash and changes the colour.

Normally people buy the graphics or transfers for decor but when i saw the prices i came out in a rash and nearly fainted. 

So i said "'excuse me wife, need my machine decorated in pac-man  type stuff.

So she did, top notch.

My wife drew on lots of different pac-man related graphics in chalk (this washes off easy) and she kept altering, moving, removing or adding until we were happy with the design. 

See, lots of tries to get it looking right.

As a side note the garden pub (where the machine is)has been made with different colour LED's and no white lighting, as a result any colours in the bar become muted so she went for very bright colours to balance this out as i wanted it to look "FUN".

Final pictures.

I will add a video of this working too.

bottom of page