How to build your own Arcade Machine from an old computer

If you have any computer or computer part in your house, which is taking up the space and you want to get rid of them, then make your own arcade machine and start enjoying those great arcade moments at the comfort of your home.

Arcade Machine

I am sure that you spend most part of your childhood in front of the local arcade machine or playing the Pac-man at your local market. As the time changed, the games became more complicated and interesting but those old games carry the same charm, needs the same level of skill, and challenges the same way that they used to do. Even now, you can create an arcade in your living room using an old pc. After completing the project, you will be able to enjoy the classics video games and those console favorites.

Apart from the old PC, you will need an emulator called MAME (Multiple arcade machine emulators). Emulators are software that imitates a particular arrangement of software and hardware. MAME will perform the same function; it will emulate the old hardware so that it can run more then 2, 700 arcade games. The only purpose of MAME is to preserve the old arcade games.

You can buy an arcade system by paying $3000 and play 100 games, but you can build the same by utilizing less than half of the amount and play thousands of games. The choice is yours. I have an economical plan that will not take much of your time and the result can be a well-polished professional arcade system.

Difficulty Level:

Moderate

Time required:

20 to 30 hours

Estimated cost:

$50 to $800

Resources required:

1. Used game cabinet

2. Your old CRT monitor

3. CPU

4. MAME emulator software

5. Game controllers like joystick, buttons, and trackball or a keyboard.

6. Game ROM

Instructions:

1. Buy a used game cabinet from eBay, junkyards, or arcade suppliers. You can also buy a new cabinet from Mameroom Designs.

2. Mount the old monitor of yours behind the faceplate of the cabinet.

3. Put your old CPU in the centre of the cabinet and install MAME on it.

4. If you want, you can use your keyboard to control the games or you can buy a new arcade game control with a keyboard cable that hooks with your CPU. If you want to use the keyboard then you have to use a keyboard emulator, which has the wire inputs for the controls at one end and keyboard cable on the other.

5. Load the ROM images for your favorite games. Most of them are available online and you can search them through Google. You can buy the ROM or can get with the game hardware free.

6. Start playing the game and destroy your high scores.

7. You can use other accessories like power strip-allows you switch on all the devices at the same time or coin door-just to make your arcade attractive.

Arcade Machine

Frequently asked questions

1. How many models of arcade cabinets are available in the market?

There are three types, the upright cabinet-stand up cabinet, cocktail cabinet-with controls on all the sides, and bar top style cabinet.

2. Can I construct the cabinet myself?

You can order the different parts of the cabinet according to the cabinet type chosen, and then you can build it at your own.

3. Apart from my old monitor, do I have any other choice?

You can use the original arcade monitor or a television. However, you have to configure the controls according to that.

Quick tips

1. You can build your own customized game controller by ordering individual buttons, trackballs, spinners, and wires.

2. You can connect speakers to the CPU, if you want to hear the sound.

Things to watch out for

The old CPU should carry a processor of at least 300MHz P2.