Thinking about building a Ms Pac-Man arcade machine

[frodo2968]

OK, I've never built anything of this sort before, but I want to start some project. And I love Ms Pac-man. So I was thinking about building a machine from scratch. I can get parts on eBay and all.

Anyway, I'm sure that some of you build machines, so I was just wondering if it's really...hard. I mean, I don't know anything about this sort of thing, and is it hard to learn?

Thanks for any thoughts .

[Cauterize]

http://digitalarcade.proboards38.com/index.cgi

all your answers should be here!

[frodo2968]

http://digitalarcade.proboards38.com/index.cgi

all your answers should be here!

Thanks, I saved the link and I'll take a look at it

[Captain Wrong]

When you say build a machine, what do you mean? Are you talking about starting from nothing, cutting wood, wiring parts, etc.? Or are you looking to modify an existing cabinet to play Ms. Pac Man?

Personally, I'd go the restoration route. Try finding a cab that just needs some work rather than starting from square one.

[Time]

http://www.therealbobroberts.com/

Check out this sight. Great source for parts and info. Bob helped me build my Pac Man. Great guy and was very helpful. Use his wire harness kit, you will be happy you did!!! Ever wire is labled and the harness comes with instructions. I turned an empty Pac Man cab back to it's former glory. Bob is an asset to the arcade community and very helpful with newbie questions!!

[frodo2968]

When you say build a machine, what do you mean? Are you talking about starting from nothing, cutting wood, wiring parts, etc.? Or are you looking to modify an existing cabinet to play Ms. Pac Man?

Personally, I'd go the restoration route. Try finding a cab that just needs some work rather than starting from square one.

I hadn't really thought about it. I'm at stage one in thinking this through, really. And since I'm 16, and haven't run the idea by the folks or anything, I'm not sure I'm going to do it at all. I just thought it'd be something fun and challenging to do.

So I'm not sure yet...

Maybe I'll buy an old beat up cabinet and fix it up. Except I don't have my license, so I couldn't drive somewhere and pick one up...meh...

OK, I do have a question though. Would I be using JAMMA parts? I think so, from what I've read on this so far.

Anyways, I can get most, if not all, of the parts on eBay. So that's cool .

[Arcade Antics]

OK, I do have a question though. Would I be using JAMMA parts? I think so, from what I've read on this so far.

There aren't JAMMA "parts" really - JAMMA is a wiring harness convention. You could build a JAMMA cab and then use a Ms Pac to JAMMA converter to plug the MS Pac board into the JAMMA setup, but if you're trying to make an authentic looking Ms Pac cab, you wouldn't have enough buttons on it to bother.

Also gonna move this one to the Arcade Alley forum...

>>>MOVE<<<

[chadtower]

There are tons of different Ms Pac Man jamma boards out there... they're easier to get than a real Ms Pac Man board and a hell of a lot more reliable.

[frodo2968]

So I guess just buying the "original Ms Pac Man" parts off eBay would work fine, and be easiest.

[chadtower]

Yeah, if you have a grand to drop. That would be twice the cost of buying a working Ms Pac cab.

What I've seen people do lately to get a cheap one, is build a bartop type cab and integrate one of those $20 all in one TV systems into it.

[frodo2968]

Actually I don't think that it's all that expensive to get the parts on eBay. And the actual machines cost...say...$600-800...(Midway).

The PCB is the most expensive part (I think), and that runs for around $150.

Plus, it would be fun to actually make it myself

OK, I'm toying with the possibility of making the cabinet myself...I'm just CONSIDERING that option...what type of wood is used for the cabinet? I'm thinking about something like this:



Don't feel like you have to answer my questions - I don't want anyone to think that they're walking me through the whole process or anything. I'm just seeing if I want to do this or not . (Although I would appreciate any help given)

[chadtower]

Sure... you're looking at $150-200 for a working board... $100-200 for a good monitor... $150 in wood... $50 for a populated control panel, or $25 for the controls alone... $40 for a Midway coin door/mech... you're getting up there already, but what will REALLY cost you is artwork. If you do up a proper Ms Pacman, it's going to cost you $300-500 for repro artwork and even more for NOS artwork.

Arcade cabinets are usually made out of MDF, but sometimes plywood.

[Arcade Antics]

Chad speaks the truth.

Even if you wanted to skimp on the artwork end of things, you're still gonna pretty much spend what you would on an original machine in fair-decent shape, but you're using up a lot of TIME on the building side of the fence.

And even if you have a TON of free time, it's ultimately not worth it. You could learn just as much buying the first junker cab you run across and restoring/converting that instead.

[frodo2968]

Well this is the only way I'm getting a machine, so I'm doing it.

And I'll skip the artwork for now.

And I'll do it all for a good deal less than I'd pay for a built machine. Just wait and see ...

[chadtower]

Good luck with that, let us know how it goes.

[ClubNinja]

Good luck with that, let us know how it goes.

Ditto. And I think you're in for a rude awakening, unfortunately.

[chadtower]

It all depends on how he plans to get the parts. If he has some connection with dirty old parts lying around, it could be done. If he is planning on using a 486 board and old version of MAME, it could be done.

Of course, that would not be authentic, but we may have a different standard of authentic than he does given how new he is to the hobby.

[Stingray]

Y
What I've seen people do lately to get a cheap one, is build a bartop type cab and integrate one of those $20 all in one TV systems into it.

Given how new he is to the hobby, this would probably be a great first project for him.

-S

[frodo2968]

Thanks for being so positive about it guys x_x

This is something to get me started out with...

[chadtower]

You wanted honest and accurate answers, yes? We ARE helping you. Affirming an unrealistic project isn't helpful.