| In a recent conversation with my friend and | | | | |
| expert arcade machine builder, Emily, I | | | | Tip #2- Start with a clean system. One of the |
| discovered some secrets that had previously | | | | first things Emily does when programming the |
| kept me from building an arcade machine and | | | | arcade machine is to reformat the hard drive |
| also from thinking that I could afford to do | | | | and install a fresh copy of Windows as the |
| so. Emily shared with me some key tips for | | | | operating system. After this you'll want to |
| people just getting started in the process | | | | learn how to optimize Windows for maximum |
| and busted some common myths associated with | | | | game play as these will be the only programs |
| arcade machines these days. | | | | running on Windows in the arcade machine. |
| | | | Doing so will allow for a smoother operation |
| First of all, going into the conversation, I | | | | for all game play. Partitioning the hard |
| was totally unfamiliar with what was included | | | | drive during the reformat process can also be |
| in the construction of a machine and, more | | | | beneficial. |
| importantly, what the machines can actually | | | | |
| do these days. So as Emily and I were talking | | | | Tip #3- Don't fret over the controllers. One |
| I took out my notebook and jotted down some | | | | of the main reasons I never got started |
| notes that I'd like to share as they may | | | | before was because I really didn't understand |
| prove to be valuable to you. | | | | the anatomy of the arcade machine. I assumed |
| | | | there would be so many wires that I wouldn't |
| Tip #1- When constructing the arcade machine, | | | | know where in the world to start. Actually, |
| the first step comes in properly | | | | it's quite simple to just order a |
| understanding what games you're intending to | | | | pre-constructed dual-joystick control for |
| play. First off, I wasn't even aware that | | | | around $100. If actually creating the |
| today's arcade machines are capable of | | | | controls is your thing, then great. However, |
| playing hundreds of games on the same | | | | most people want to get the thing playing and |
| machine. I was only concerned with Street | | | | looking decent. It's just a lot easier to |
| Fighter 2: Turbo and, as Emily pointed out, I | | | | order the controls and then just install them |
| could play that and several other games on | | | | with everything else. |
| the same arcade machine. However, what powers | | | | |
| today's arcade machines that people are | | | | Tip #4- Building the cabinet is easier than |
| building are primarily Windows based PC's. | | | | you may think. This is kind of a natural lead |
| Games from Playstation and before can usually | | | | in from the previous tip. With the proper |
| be run on an old Pentium 2 with 64 Megs of | | | | dimensions and pieces outlined, you can often |
| RAM. Just about any game can be transferred | | | | have these cuts done for you at the lumber |
| to the PC but if you're going to run recent | | | | store leaving only the framing to be put |
| games you'll have to consider using higher | | | | together which doesn't require you to be an |
| level hardware components in the machine | | | | expert carpenter. |
| itself. | | | | |