Finalized MetaCab Art (Finally!)

So I was still futzing with the CP art and Marquee art and just now feel it's finally ready for ordering from Mame Marquees. I've been over-analyzing since I couldn't make up my mind about control layout until now and also don't want to order anything twice from mame marquees since it's sorta pricey.

I am now locked in on a 19" LCD monitor, 2x spinners (both with silver skirted SlikStik Tornado knobs), 1x 3" Red Happ Trackball, 2x 4/8-way switchable Ultimarc MagStik Plus, 2x 6-buttons, and a variety of pinball/utility buttons.

Here's the latest cabinet mockup with marquee and CP overlay updated.


Here's closeup of the new Marquee look (just changed font to Intellivised & added some red.)


And here's a closeup of the new CP Overlay.


Once I've triple checked my measurements, I'm going to finally place the order from Mame Marquees which should break the deadlock I've been in progress-wise. I'm going to wait until I have CP Overlay to start drilling any holes as this way I can guarantee everything will line up with CP and Plexi.

I've got almost everything else I need (other than plexi, T-Molding, and a few other odds & ends from Radioshack). As can be seen by the typical cluttered workbench photosbelow.

The Official MAMEY page

The Official MAMEY page

Awards Site for Mame cabinet developers. Some really sweet creations here...

New CP Overlay Design

I've decided to knock the sides off and do a T-Shaped control panel after all. It's a bit big (not more than 5" extension on sides and 6" in front so not too bad) but very versatile so I'm thinking it's the best all-around design I can come up with that doesn't require switching CP's. It seems far more tasteful to me than the stupid rectangle idea I started with.

I'll be putting the P1/P2/pause/quit buttons below the monitor and find a way to trim down that glass so that they can simply slide in the glass track.

I also decided to clean up and simplify the design in a way that I think better ties in with the Taito side art. Here's a quick mockup of this CP in place.



Note that I've also come up with a first draft of marquee art. I may take another look at it when it's not 3:30 AM :P Also note that I think I'll do some Red T-molding for the control panel - I think that will really pop (though White or Black would also work).

I also think I may go all out and design a bezel that ties it all together as well. I think seeing the white lines against a jet black bezel around the monitor will look really sweet.

Concept CP mockup applied to photo

To help me visualize how it will look to have the notched CP design installed I skewed that first CP design to make it look like it's installed in the cabinet.



I'm no longer sold as it looks really clumsy just having a giant plank wedged into the cabinet. I'm thinking an upside-down T-design like Ubercade (with nothing aside the side panels -- having it instead jut out left/right after it extends beyond the kick plate) will look at least slightly more elegant.

Doing this, however, means I now need to find a new spot for my coin buttons, P1/P2 buttons and Exit/Pause utility buttons. I've seen some folks put them under the monitor bezel but this means I'd have to either replace the nice tempered glass that came with the cabinet or find a way to cut it (which I've never done). Alternatively I may put the coin buttons on the front vertical side of the cp box like I did on Metacab Jr. and put P1/P2/Pause/Quit up by the Trackball.... back to the drawing board, at least partially, I guess.

PacMan + Piet Mondrian == PacMondrian

What happens when De Stijl Art meets early 80's video gaming? This modern art cum video game is a great concept in both playable art and themed cabinet design.

Rather than stop at the custom pacman cabinet art, he even wrote his own game in Java which lets you effectively eat the colors of Mondrian's Broadway Boogie Woogie.

CP Overlay - v3 finally ready for commentary

After much dickering around thinking of overboard 2-spinner/2-trackball cp's, I think I've at last simplified it with 1-spinner/1-trackball. 2x 8/4-way joysticks w/ 6 buttons. Utility buttons in very nonstandard columns to either side of the side wall of the cabinet, thus a rectangle notched for the sidewalls. It seemed this would be a good out-of the-way spot for them so overthrow on trackball/etc doesn't accidentally hit quit or anything.

Below is a pic (the grey rectangles are the 8" notches for walls thus what's between them is standard CP size for a Taito cab. This means there will be some jut into the room but trying to envision two players crammed in the 23" between side panels feels too shoulder-to-shoulder. This gives a little breathing room which should be fine given the 170º viewing angles on the new LCD monitor I've ordered.

What is this CRAP?

A hilarious review of the many horrors that are created by misguided mame cabinet builders....