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    Bubble Bobble themed Bartop Arcade Build

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Projects and Themes
    bartop arcadebuild notesretropiearcade cabinetsound
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    • O
      ortsac
      last edited by

      I would very much like to buy this as a kit...not from those guys that sell Retropie for profit but people like us that does it as a hobby. I do not have power tools for woodworking nor the knowhow to use them. But I can tighten screws. glue things up and solder electronic parts. Please have it available for us.

      AndersHPA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
      • TMNTturtlguyT
        TMNTturtlguy @AndersHP
        last edited by

        @AndersHP do you have a template for the cabinet that you would be willing to share? This is really cool work. I have a few full size standups but i would like to do 3 or 4 of these that can be lined up all with their own themes! Cool and thanks for sharing.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • N
          numotiv
          last edited by

          Looks incredible! I was very gun-ho to build a bartop but ended up doing a retro console instead. Maybe the next project. Keep up the good work.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • caver01C
            caver01 @AndersHP
            last edited by

            @AndersHP looks like a great, solid build by any standard. I appreciate thoughtful details like bottom panel access to the controls. That will come in handy. Well done. Keep up the good work!

            My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • spruce_m00seS
              spruce_m00se
              last edited by

              That looks brilliant, I am planning a build for over the summer, where I live its impossible to go outside for two months since its so hot,

              i love the bubble bobble artwork.
              Im trying to work out what artwork to use on mine, I think I will go full retro and use painters tape to mask areas off and then make it look stenciled.

              I like your idea for the speakers, last night I took apart an altec lanseng 2.1 system to see how it would work.

              I was wondering how to get the speakers to project correctly, Im a bit of an audiophile, im considering building a dropdown hinged door above the screen that opens up to behind the marquee, and putting a retro 70's car radio up there to run the speakers, then while im at it hide the controls for the lights etc up there, im planning to have lit switches and program an arduino to make them all flashy and stuff, lol

              i will watch this thread closely, good work!

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • AndersHPA
                AndersHP @ortsac
                last edited by

                @ortsac said in Bubble Bobble themed Bartop Arcade Build:

                I would very much like to buy this as a kit...not from those guys that sell Retropie for profit but people like us that does it as a hobby.

                @TMNTturtlguy said in Bubble Bobble themed Bartop Arcade Build:

                @AndersHP do you have a template for the cabinet that you would be willing to share? This is really cool work. I have a few full size standups but i would like to do 3 or 4 of these that can be lined up all with their own themes! Cool and thanks for sharing.

                Thanks for the interest, for both of you! I have partially rented some of the powertools, so the manufacturing wouldn't be something I could offer. But it's based on the templates from this site: Instructables

                I just rounded the corners and prolonged the control panel a bit, whilst adding an angle to the front of the CP. I could perhaps draw some DWG files of the design if you like, but the PDF's in the link is actually possible to print out on A4 paper and then stitch together - that was pretty accessible I think!

                @numotiv said in Bubble Bobble themed Bartop Arcade Build:

                Looks incredible! I was very gun-ho to build a bartop but ended up doing a retro console instead. Maybe the next project. Keep up the good work.

                Thanks man! I can recommend a bartop, but actually I would like a retro console also :-P

                @caver01 said in Bubble Bobble themed Bartop Arcade Build:

                @AndersHP looks like a great, solid build by any standard. I appreciate thoughtful details like bottom panel access to the controls.

                Thanks! Solid it will be, it's starting to weigh a bit to say the least!

                @spruce_m00se said in Bubble Bobble themed Bartop Arcade Build:

                I was wondering how to get the speakers to project correctly, Im a bit of an audiophile, im considering building a dropdown hinged door above the screen that opens up to behind the marquee, and putting a retro 70's car radio up there to run the speakers, then while im at it hide the controls for the lights etc up there, im planning to have lit switches and program an arduino to make them all flashy and stuff, lol

                i will watch this thread closely, good work!

                Sounds pretty cool! Please share, I wanted to do some arduino lighting, but I thought that maybe the project could get out of hand. Maybe in the next build ;-)

                My "Bubble Bobble" Themed Bartop Arcade
                My Gameboy

                spruce_m00seS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • spruce_m00seS
                  spruce_m00se @AndersHP
                  last edited by

                  @AndersHP arduino lighting would be pretty darned easy, if you have illuminated switches, just buy a few sub mini relays that can handle 1A for example, they would be tiny relays, then connect em up to the pins on the arduino.

                  My cabinet build is getting closer, i got paid, the mrs leaves in a month and I have no woman to moan at sawdust in the house for 5 weeks, GAME ON

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • spruce_m00seS
                    spruce_m00se
                    last edited by

                    https://www.iliketomakestuff.com/arcade-cabinet/

                    this is THE cabinet to make, i want one, but it looks a bit beyond me to start with,

                    AndersHPA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • AndersHPA
                      AndersHP @spruce_m00se
                      last edited by

                      @spruce_m00se But what about the software on the arduino? Have you got experience with this?
                      Only my coin buttons and marquee will be illuminated, but some dimming effect could be cool.

                      Yeah, Bob's arcade project was what got me into this in the first place. Really cool videos!

                      My "Bubble Bobble" Themed Bartop Arcade
                      My Gameboy

                      spruce_m00seS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • spruce_m00seS
                        spruce_m00se
                        last edited by

                        0_1496829274254_8a762a83-1512-40d7-8f3a-73d95d180caf-image.png

                        I have been using arduino for about 8 years now, I got my first one in order to make a drone flight computer with it, I can hold my own with it with use from the forums, I can easily program a program to do the lighting that bob has in that video, im not a great programmer but the arduino has a lot of space, so you dont need to be good at cutting code down when using simple code like this.

                        the pic I have attached is an idea running through my head that I just sketched out. you can see the plate above the screen move between the two images, this is the area i would hide my audio and lighting controls, but it occured to me whilst pooping that I can also use it to solve my issue of being able to have two screen angles, I want to use this as a feature in the bedroom or mancave, which means that the storage idea from bob is amazing, but i want to use KODI to watch videos and listen to music, hence the need for an audio system in it, and obviously the screen angle needs to change when watching video, so i would use dowels in the side panels to hinge the screen and top plate, then basically pull the screen forward and lock it onto the topplate to secure it.

                        i think it looks feasible and easy, what do you think ?

                        AndersHPA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • AndersHPA
                          AndersHP @spruce_m00se
                          last edited by

                          @spruce_m00se Ah, so the dovels are placed on the topplate's back edge, and you then need some kind of brackets that either snaps to the marquee or the top of the screen. What kind would this be?

                          Just thinking out loud here.. What about making your topplate fixed, and ensuring it is a tangent to the circle with the center in the bottom hinge on the screen. On the back of the screen, you could have a sliding latch in each side, and have holes for this in the two positions.

                          This way, you wouldn't need to attach/detach the topplate, and I think the gap over the monitor in the KODI position would be smaller, or at least not leave the cabinet open.

                          I dunno. But the idea for the screen tilting is pretty good.

                          My "Bubble Bobble" Themed Bartop Arcade
                          My Gameboy

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • pjftP
                            pjft @AndersHP
                            last edited by

                            @AndersHP This is wonderful - I've been very much planning to build a Bubble Bobble themed Arcade Bartop!

                            Where did you get the art done, if I may ask? I was in touch with the XCade folks but they didn't have any similar artwork, and most would be either generic or "aggressive" (i.e. SF2/Ghouls and Ghosts) which would make it not necessarily kid-friendly at home.

                            Well done!

                            TMNTturtlguyT AndersHPA 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • TMNTturtlguyT
                              TMNTturtlguy @pjft
                              last edited by

                              @pjft if you send me your bartop dimensions I can create custom art for you. You can pick out all styles/colors/design. I will provide you with the native photoshop file as well as PDF and jpeg. Getting them printed will be up to you!

                              pjftP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • pjftP
                                pjft @TMNTturtlguy
                                last edited by pjft

                                @TMNTturtlguy You're very kind for offering. :)

                                It'll likely be a October to December project for me, given that there's a chance we might be moving countries in a few months, so I'll hold off building one until that happens and things settle down again.

                                Still, when that does happen, and when I do have a definitive size and format, I may certainly reach out to you in case you'd still be up for that! And if not, it is - as always - perfectly fine. :) I am sure one such undertaking would take up a lot of time, so I acknowledge and respect that.

                                Thank you!

                                TMNTturtlguyT spruce_m00seS 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • TMNTturtlguyT
                                  TMNTturtlguy @pjft
                                  last edited by

                                  @pjft Moving countries! Adventure! No problems, just keep me posted.

                                  I love doing graphic art and design and something like this actually doesn't take that much time or effort. I could put together a similar bubble bobble graphic package in maybe 2 hours. The time consuming part is being picky and never happy! Finding the right high quality images is the trick and that can take time as well, but all in, it is fun and easy to do, so it will be no problem.

                                  pjftP A 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • pjftP
                                    pjft @TMNTturtlguy
                                    last edited by

                                    @TMNTturtlguy You're too kind, and are likely underestimating the time and effort, but I appreciate the positivity :)

                                    I'll keep this on the backlog, for sure. Thank you very much for the openness, regardless of the outcome!

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • spruce_m00seS
                                      spruce_m00se @pjft
                                      last edited by

                                      @pjft i too may be moving countries soon, i currently live 8000km from home maybe 6k cant remember.

                                      if i make one next week then its a practice run for the real thing when i get home

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • AndersHPA
                                        AndersHP @pjft
                                        last edited by

                                        @pjft Thanks! Yeah my daughter really likes the artwork - "look at the sweet dragons" was her initial reaction :-)

                                        I got it printed at http://rockstarprint.co.uk/

                                        My "Bubble Bobble" Themed Bartop Arcade
                                        My Gameboy

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • AndersHPA
                                          AndersHP
                                          last edited by

                                          @Rookervik What would it take to make you create some custom graphics for the coin buttons on my arcade, following my Bubble Bobble theme? :-)

                                          See photo above for dimension proportions and my first attempt. It's not that it's really horrible, but I'd just really love to see what you might do...?

                                          Only if you can spare the time, though :-)

                                          My "Bubble Bobble" Themed Bartop Arcade
                                          My Gameboy

                                          RookervikR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • RookervikR
                                            Rookervik Global Moderator @AndersHP
                                            last edited by

                                            @AndersHP I thought yours looked great. Not sure how I could top it.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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