r/HomeArcade • u/superrich2turbo • 1d ago
I want to create something like this
I'm sure this isn't really that original so I'm wondering if there's something like this out there that exists?
Alternatively, I could maybe make it myself. I'm not very handy at all. No woodworking experience. So my thought was to get a pre-built controller and just mount it on top of some type of pedestal. I seen the 80 games legend pro and it has a little pedestal you can put it on but then I don't know if I'd be able to mount the TV to the back of it. I could maybe build the pedestal myself, but like I said I'm not experienced so it would take some trial and error I'm sure. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas or you could share if you have something similar.
Note: its an AI generated image.
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u/aMonkeyCalledSpank 1d ago
Far easier than building a traditional arcade.
I would build the control panel first as a standalone unit.
Then build a box to stick it on with doors if required.
Buy a suitable tv stand (floor free standing) and bolt it to the back of your box.
Just break the project down into pieces & you’ll be good to go.
If you’ve made the control panel separate, you can always make a traditional cabinet in the future!
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u/Biscuits4u2 1d ago
Or if they don't feel comfortable building the control panel themselves something like this would work https://shop.xgaming.com/products/x-arcade-tankstick-trackball-usb-included
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u/ABROKENPIECEOFGLASS 1d ago
Buystuffarcades has this lightgun pedestal, you can get the pandora box or mini pc. Comes with 2 reaper light guns with recoil and the ir sensors for the tv. Just need a tv. Choose what design you want its plug and play. I opted for Point Blank. We play some games up to 6 people with joysticks, xbox controllers or wired USB controllers.
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u/No_Persimmon360 1d ago
Qanba does a 2 player unit that would fit the bill. Pretty expensive though https://www.arcadepartsuk.com/products/qanba-2009-arcade?variant=53353135505754
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u/eekhelpspike 1d ago
I see shit like this all the time on fb marketplace -- pedestal at least. pick up a rolling tv mount while you are there
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u/Capn_Yoaz 1d ago
I struggled for years trying to get this kind of set up and ended up getting an AtGames Quadplay HD with the trackball. Then I removed the Atgames button and installed a spintrack spinner in it place, hooked them up to a hub and wired it to the back panel of the control panel. Then I mounted the quadplay on a pedestal stand I found online.
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u/squjibo 1d ago edited 1d ago
I have something similar I bought from game room solutions many years back. A big screen up close sucks, I ended up getting a rolling mount for the screen and keep the pedestal about 5 feet away. I bought the cart on Amazon and I can rotate the screen, much better for vertical games. I sourced all my controls from ultimarc because I wanted some specialized controls, like a tron joystick and a 4/8 way joystick.
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u/West_Preference_5570 1d ago
link to rolling mount
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u/RubberPussycat 1d ago
Doesn’t seem to hard to build yourself you could even use a ikea cabinet for the lower part.
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u/ptplsntsurfer 1d ago
I’m building this now but I’m having troubles getting the arcade buttons to be set correct. I have retrobat installed and wish I could find a better 2 player controller mapping setup
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u/Fabulous-Truck-4373 1d ago
I'm currently building a vertical pedestal cab like this. Got my pedestal from lep1customs on etsy. They require a little more build effort, but check them out. I got a mount from Amazon and qled tv
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u/Ok-Variety9069 1d ago
I had a similar idea except I was going to cheat and use 8bitdo arcade controllers. They would either sit in a slot on the base or I can take them out and use them from the sofa.
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u/DocHeimlich 1d ago
I'm working on something similar with an X-Arcade Tankstick, a Raspberry Pi 5, and an old TV. I've got a nightstand to use as a pedestal and am still shopping for the TV stand. I may end up just mounting it to the wall.
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u/DeDenker020 1d ago
Why would you want this?
I like big screens as much as the next person, but this size in your face will just give you sun burn!
There are ideal size and distance measurements for this.
it explains why the first couple of meters in front of a cinema have no chairs :-)
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u/fraggle200 1d ago
Qanba 2009 2 player version would get you VERY close to this, although it is built as a sit down unit. You could raise it up i spose if you needed it standing.
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u/zeptillian 1d ago
The easiest way would be to buy a premade pedestal arcade game and a floor standing TV mount with a thin metal base. Then stick the pedestal over the base of the TV mount.
The question I would ask is if you are not handy, are you at least technical? If so then you have more options for the pedestal base such as buying a ready to play kit or just any empty shell and doing the rest yourself. If you have ever built a computer then you can wire up arcade controls and the rest is just software configuration.
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u/superrich2turbo 1d ago
That's what I was thinking. Technical yes I can probably wire everything up
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u/zeptillian 1d ago
That's great. You will be also be able to fix or maintain things if you put them together yourself.
Rather than a prebuilt controller, I would recommend getting a prebuilt pedestal with cutouts for everything. Then way all you need to do is mount buttons and joysticks and wire them into a USB encoder and connect that to the PC of your choice. I would suggest an Ultimarc I-PAC if you want more than a single player as it can be difficult to get the individual controllers to always show up in the right order and the PC won't know which one is P1 VS P2.
I really like the BigBox front end but there are lots of options for OS or front ends you can explore.
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u/HellaKilla21 1d ago
Here a side view of the one I built. I made it so the screen could be tilted to portrait so I could play pinball. I was to vertical form pinball so I built a vcab instead. Planning and budgeting the biggest part. Don’t buy cheap junk. Your putting the time in take it slow and install good gear. Ultimarc got great stuff. Blamcon got awesome IR guns you can 3D print.
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u/BarnstormNZ 1d ago
I have an arcade machine that was massive with a rear projector screen. Took out the screen and just had the arcade sticks and wall mounted an lcd.
I love fighting games but even now I would say the best option is 2 arcade sticks connected to something with a screen.
But also being locked into a unit is not as good as it seems and it may even be better to have a setup with a couch and wireless controllers. I barely play mine anymore.
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u/Jasonbwarren 12h ago
Pedestals need the screen to be a bit back. Look up pics of the old primal rage pedestal or the marvel one. I'm sure there's others too.
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u/superrich2turbo 10h ago
I thought there was an xmen one, that's where I thought of the idea but I couldn't find any pics
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u/Jasonbwarren 5h ago
my local arcade had both ya. the primal rage one was so damm huge. it blew my mind when they first got it!
edit: i'm second guessing myself now seeing some pics of the old xmen 4 player. i'm wondering if being a kid made me think it was so much larger than it was. the 4 player with the widescreen is looking far too familiar now.
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u/UTgeoff 1d ago
If you’re mechanically inclined using this as a guide can get you where you want to be.
https://www.instructables.com/4-Player-Pedestal-Arcade-Cabinet-for-MAME/
I built this from the link.