animesuperj
Well-known member
This is sorta a continuation from my last thread about closing on my house and getting games moved in (http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=177085). I finally got around to taking some pictures of the basement, and have been thinking on how I want to go about building an arcade.
As I said in the last thread, I have three main areas where I'm able to put games. Given that the house is 111 years old, the foundation is field stone; which means two of the areas I can't really do much with the walls. The third area I think I might be able to frame in, and have more of a "finished" gameroom. I'll try to cover each area, what games will go where, and questions I have that hopefully people can help out with.
Area 1
Current games:
- Pump it Up
- Tank II
Coming down the basement steps, and making an immediate 90 degree turn to the right, you'll enter Area 1. This is one of the two areas that can't really be finished off, due to the field stone foundation. I currently have my Pump it Up machine setup, along with Tank II next to it (just where it ended up for now). This area also has a door to the backyard, which means I need a pretty decent sized walkway through. There is also a storage shelf that's built in, which sorta is also built into the steps coming downstairs.
Area 2
Current games:
- Centipede
- Galaga
- Galaxian
- Gunbird
- Ms. Pac Man
- Playchoice 10
- Star Wars Trilogy
- Tournament Arkanoid
- Tri-Sports
Coming down the basement steps, making an immediate 90 turn to the left and then walking about 10 feet; you'll hit Area 2. This is the second area that can't really be finished off due to foundation. It also contains the main electrical panel and water shutoff. Currently, I just have the games around the perimeter of the room, and they actually fit in pretty decently. It's a bit tight, but given the size and spacing of the basement, not too bad.
Area 3
Current games:
- Dance Dance Revolution Solo
- Evil Night
- Magic Bomb (8-liner)
Coming down the basement steps, and heading straight and to the right a bit; you'll go through a door into Area 3. This is actually a newer addition to the house, which sits below the deck. About half of the walls are field stone and the other half cinder block. There's also a single garage door, but we can't park in this space because it's off the back of the house. There is no possible way to drive back there. There is also a 36inch door which leads outside, but only is roughly framed out and has a screen door on it. The real downside of this Area, is there is only 1 outlet; which is on the ceiling for the one light.
Another note about the house, is the electrical panel is only 100amps. I'm currently looking into replacing this to 200.
Given the three areas, what are people's opinions of where to fit games or build a room out? My current thinking is this:
- Area 3: remove garage door and build wall in it's place, frame/insulate the room, add more outlets (how many?, amps on each?), move all classics to this side.
- Area 1: Leave as is, with only Pump
- Area 2: Leave as is, have maybe one rhythm game there and wife's drums
Basically, I'd be remodeling Area 3 since it's the "nicest" currently (floor is actually level, which the rest of the basement isn't, plus I think I can frame these walls in). If I were to go about this, what else should I look into? I already know I need to have the electrical looked at, but I'm not sure on what would need to be done to finish Area 3 (drywall, carpet). Again, any help or ideas with this would be great. I've already been sketching out ideas and thinking about it for three weeks; so other perspectives might help.
As I said in the last thread, I have three main areas where I'm able to put games. Given that the house is 111 years old, the foundation is field stone; which means two of the areas I can't really do much with the walls. The third area I think I might be able to frame in, and have more of a "finished" gameroom. I'll try to cover each area, what games will go where, and questions I have that hopefully people can help out with.
Area 1
Current games:
- Pump it Up
- Tank II
Coming down the basement steps, and making an immediate 90 degree turn to the right, you'll enter Area 1. This is one of the two areas that can't really be finished off, due to the field stone foundation. I currently have my Pump it Up machine setup, along with Tank II next to it (just where it ended up for now). This area also has a door to the backyard, which means I need a pretty decent sized walkway through. There is also a storage shelf that's built in, which sorta is also built into the steps coming downstairs.
Area 2
Current games:
- Centipede
- Galaga
- Galaxian
- Gunbird
- Ms. Pac Man
- Playchoice 10
- Star Wars Trilogy
- Tournament Arkanoid
- Tri-Sports
Coming down the basement steps, making an immediate 90 turn to the left and then walking about 10 feet; you'll hit Area 2. This is the second area that can't really be finished off due to foundation. It also contains the main electrical panel and water shutoff. Currently, I just have the games around the perimeter of the room, and they actually fit in pretty decently. It's a bit tight, but given the size and spacing of the basement, not too bad.
Area 3
Current games:
- Dance Dance Revolution Solo
- Evil Night
- Magic Bomb (8-liner)
Coming down the basement steps, and heading straight and to the right a bit; you'll go through a door into Area 3. This is actually a newer addition to the house, which sits below the deck. About half of the walls are field stone and the other half cinder block. There's also a single garage door, but we can't park in this space because it's off the back of the house. There is no possible way to drive back there. There is also a 36inch door which leads outside, but only is roughly framed out and has a screen door on it. The real downside of this Area, is there is only 1 outlet; which is on the ceiling for the one light.
Another note about the house, is the electrical panel is only 100amps. I'm currently looking into replacing this to 200.
Given the three areas, what are people's opinions of where to fit games or build a room out? My current thinking is this:
- Area 3: remove garage door and build wall in it's place, frame/insulate the room, add more outlets (how many?, amps on each?), move all classics to this side.
- Area 1: Leave as is, with only Pump
- Area 2: Leave as is, have maybe one rhythm game there and wife's drums
Basically, I'd be remodeling Area 3 since it's the "nicest" currently (floor is actually level, which the rest of the basement isn't, plus I think I can frame these walls in). If I were to go about this, what else should I look into? I already know I need to have the electrical looked at, but I'm not sure on what would need to be done to finish Area 3 (drywall, carpet). Again, any help or ideas with this would be great. I've already been sketching out ideas and thinking about it for three weeks; so other perspectives might help.