Unique Arcade Toys!
Cabinet Basics
There are a lot of books and web resources available for anyone hoping to build their own arcade cabinet, but it can be very confusing given the sheer number of options available. This section is meant to provide an introduction to the different options, and to give an insight into some of the basic terminology
Cabinet Types
There are three basic shapes of cabinet (see below). The first is the regular upright cabinet, which most people will recognise as the classic shape. The second is the cocktail cabinet, which has a table-top display, and which you sit down to play. The third is the sit "in" or "on" style cabinet, which include some kind of built in seat.
The most common type is the upright, and the basis of most home projects.
Vector vs. Raster Graphics
There are two different types of game graphics, with a very distinct look. Many early games were built around the Vector graphics standard, which appeared as a basic single colour (and later multi-colour) line drawing. Asteroids is a classic example of vector graphics. The other graphical type is Raster, which is the more "solid" multi-coloured graphics type used by many early and all later arcade games. The classic Space Invaders was an early example of raster graphics.
As vector monitors can only play vector games, they are not normally the choice of first time cabinet builders. Regular Ratser monitors can replicate theh look of vector games, and therefore are a good compromise.
Basic Control Types
Controls can vary a lot in type and usage, but the most common controls are joysticks and buttons. Joysticks can be 4-way (replicating Up/Down/Left/Right) or 8-way (allowing also diagonal movement). Buttons are simply analogue on/off switches related to various game functions. The vast majority of games can be played with this combination of controls.
Behind each of these controls is a common component called a microswitch, which when "closed" by pushing a button or moving in a partciluar direction, sends a signal to the game software to enable control of the action on the screen.
Other Control Types
Over and above the basic types of control, there are a whole host of spinners, trackballs, flight yokes, pedals and guns which are used in specific games. These controls are more limeted in their usages, and sometimes more difficult and expensive to buy, and therefore are considered optional unless you need them for a specific game.
PCB/Jamma based Machines
Original arcade machines tend to have a Printed Circuit Board or PCB which was dedicated to playing a specific game. The PCB is wired directly into the controls and the monitor, and mounted in the cabinet. Later games use a PCB called a JAMMA, which enabled game PCB's to be more easily swapped between compatible canbinets. Jabba cabinets are often used by DIY cabinet builders, or as a basis for a renovation. They will however only play one game at a time.
Emulator based Machines
Software which replicates original arcade games is called an emulator. Emulators are available for most aracde and also console games, and running on a PC, will provide a very close approximation to the original games. The most popular of the arcade emulators is MAME (Multy Arcade Machine Emulator), which uses software extracted from the ROM (Read Only Memory) chips on the original arcade game PCB. Another popular emulator is DAPHNE, which plays classic laserdisc based games like Space Ace and Dragon's Lair.
Cabinet Terminology
Here are a few terms which may come in handy as you research your own cabinet project:
Bezel |
The monitor surround, sometimes containing graphics and instructions |
Control Panel Overlay |
The graphics and instructions on the control panel, often under perspex |
Flight Yoke |
Control used for flying games (e.g. Starwars, Afterburner) |
Marquee |
The backlit sign above the screen usually displaying the game name |
Side Art |
The graphic applied to the side of the machine |
Spinner |
Alternative to a joystick, with 360 rotating control (as used in Tron) |
T-Molding |
The protective plastic strip around the exposed edges of the cabinet |
Trackball |
Ball set into the control panel, working like an upturned PC mouse. Used in games such as Centipede and Golden Tee Golf |
