I like to build stuff. I'd say it's one of my things. A while back I built a makeshift arcade machine. I chose an Aqua Teen Hunger Force theme and called it the Quad Laser. I had a blast building it. I love playing it as well but I just can't seem to shake the desire to build another one. One with a dedicated vertically oriented monitor. Something that I can play cIassics and vert shmups on. Enter the NEXUS 6.
I'm going to build a full on stand up arcade cabinet, dedicated vertical in the styIe of the old Bally/Midway machines that housed cIassics such as Ms. Pacman and Galaga. With that body styIe in mind, I'm going to project it 600 years into the future. Total cyberpunk. The name NEXUS 6 hit me like a truck at full speed. It's so Blade Runner (cornerstone cyberpunk film).
This cabinet is going to be for cIassics and vert shmups. Donkey Kong, Galaga, Pacman, Ms. Pacman, Dig Dug, Gyruss etc etc as well as DonPachi, DoDonPachi, ESPra.de., Guwange, Battle Garegga, Battle Bakraid, Armed Police Batrider, Raiden, etc etc. I'm going to be using one of these for the monitor:
That's 24 inches of goodness.
I'm going to be using these arcade sticks:
That's the MAG Stik Plus, made by Ultimarc. It has a couple of really awesome defining features such as a no hassle 4 way to 8 way switch. All you do to switch it is pull it up, turn it clockwise and push it back down. That way you can go from cIassic joystick to modern joystick without needing to fiddle around underneath the control panel. It also uses as magnet to return the stick to its deadzone instead of a spring. This makes the stick very fast. Perfect for those shmups.
I'm using Happ Competition buttons:
They're convex in design just like on a Japanese candy cab.
Since I'm only going to be putting vertical shooters and cIassics on it, I won't need a whole lot of buttons for each player. 3 action buttons plus start and credit buttons. Due to the fact that I actually need very few buttons, I'm going to solder my control panel this time instead of using female disconnects. Yes, disconnects are easier to deal with but soldering with allow me to have a VERY clean wiring job, not to mention there's much less of a chance that I'll have an issue with the wiring. This is what I'm going for with my wiring job (this guy solders as well):
When the machine starts up, it will play the orchestral version of the Deus Ex theme which I think fits right along with the cab styIe Speaking of the styIe my goal is to design it so that when people see it, they'll say "That thing IS cyberpunk" not "that thing is BASED on cyberpunk". As such, I'm going to make it look like something that actually came out of one of those movies. I'm going to put PVC pipes, hoses, loom, conduits, LEDs, circuitry, anything I can find that's mechanical and somehow, make it feel biomechanical at the same time. The plexiglass that I'm putting on top of the control panel will be engraved by me to look like circuitry and will be lit with green LEDs. I'm going all out. This is going to be everything that the Quad Laser was not due to lack of skill/funds/practicality.
I'll leave you with this. The 3rd mock up of my potential marquee. This still may change but right now, I'm feeling really good about this design:
Stay tuned for entry #2.
Comments always welcome,
Dave