Arcade Machine Building Tips For Gamers

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