Restoring (Upgrading) to Mario Bros

RidicRick25

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Taking my Nintendo Vs Standup Cab and putting a new graphics kit on it, Mario Bros PCB and a custom computer with nintendo roms all switchable with DB25 switchbox. I am hoping to use the current origional monitor but it needs a recap kit badly so hopefully someone in the Iowa area near me can do it. I have done cap kits on PCB's but these dam monitors scare me. LOL

I guess this isnt really a restore, its more of a upgrade I guess. My typical style of graphics and design. Hyperspin will be the frontend for the roms, but of course I have to have the Mario Bros PCB in there working as well for when I want to feel more old school. Nothing like knowing its the origional PCB when playing, because we all know emulation is cool but just doesn't play the same.

Here is what the cabinet looks like now. It has Mario Vs in it and working great. (shows excitebike but I put Mario in it)

NintendoVS.jpg



Here is my goal. Some of the graphics are already printed and I am printing the rest this weekend. I got the PC all setup and ready, now I just need to remove the Vs Mario PCB and find a Mario Bros PCB and the wiring.

MarioBrosProject.jpg
 
Here is my control panel design. Made it like old school NES controllers. Some added buttons for Hyperspin. The added buttons will not work when switched to the mario bros PCB.

mariobroscp.jpg
 
Looks neat. Good job of the artwork, little busy for my taste, but at least it's the arcade game and not SMB mixed with N64 Mario art. Be sure to post the pics when complete as I'd like to see the final product. And be prepared for people bringing your project down :p. just do what makes you happy and get some advice along the way.
 
Thanks sk8ersublime, yeah I know for sure people will bring it down because its not origional or whatever. It doesn't bother me nor will it change my mind. I have my own taste in what I want my cabinets to look like in my own personal arcade "man cave" room and that's whats important. I like to hear peoples input bad or good. When I am done I display them locally for a few months at my tattoo shop for people to play and get input. And a few times a week I get some pretty good offers, many times way more then they are worth. Example yesterday was my first day with the red tent finished in my shop, was offered 1200 for it right on the spot. A month ago I was offered $1800 for my Neo Geo MVS. Of course I didn't take either offer because those cabs mean more to me than that. I see them as my work of art.
 
I love the speaker hole-pipes design on the front, though I do think it looks a little too busy and overuse of big Nintendo logos that I think should be Mario Bros. logos. I think the sideart would be less irritating without the blue lines above the pipe.

Can't you move the joysticks and buttons so they're centered with the d-pads? It looks quite strange IMO like that, but I LOVE the CPO design.
 
I think the whole art package is great with the exception of the control panel. I think a modified original overlay style or something that ties in to your full art package would look a lot better than Nes controllers.
 
Moving the joysticks centered with the buttons and then centered in the D-pad is something I thought about at first, but I want to use the origional control panel and just add the few new holes to it instead of building a new CP. But I get what your saying to make it more like the actual controllers. I wanted the Nintendo logo visible from each side which is the reason for it at the top, large, and in the front and both sides. I choose the nintendo logo on there instead of mario bros because I will have more than mario bros in it and didnt want it to be 100% about mario bros, almost leaving you to question what else may be in this cab. Although with the crazy graphics all over for most people they will think its just mario bros anyway.

About the blue lines. This is a tough one. I also designed it with just black for the background, also with black and red. I havent printed the sides or marquee yet and am still trying to figure that out. I liked the blue because it is close to the original color of the cab.

I appreciate your honest input.
 
Also by leaving the buttons and joysticks how they are kind of also leaves a part of the old school nintendo cab feel instead of totally making it NES pad feeling.
 
tbbk, I see what your saying. I think it boils down to this. I am 34 and I have always had each game system from atari on up as a kid. But the NES was my most important childhood system. I was even in Nintendo power for an issue being one of the top gamers to beat so many games. It meant alot to me and getting this cab I wanted all my old school Nintendo games in it. But.. of course I also grew up in arcades and my favorite game was always Mario Bros. So this cab is pretty much dedicated to both NES and Mario Bros and kind of combining both of them together as well as I can. I want it to feel like a mario bros arcade.. but yet when im at the controls I want to remind myself that Nintendo NES is the reason I am where I am at today with video games. Yeah kinda lame story but I guess this combined with me being a pretty aggressive graphic artist this is the creation I come up with. Everyone has their own way of thinking and I love all the input and I like how everyone has a different approach about this cab.
 
Thanks sk8ersublime, yeah I know for sure people will bring it down because its not origional or whatever. It doesn't bother me nor will it change my mind. I have my own taste in what I want my cabinets to look like in my own personal arcade "man cave" room and that's whats important. I like to hear peoples input bad or good. When I am done I display them locally for a few months at my tattoo shop for people to play and get input. And a few times a week I get some pretty good offers, many times way more then they are worth. Example yesterday was my first day with the red tent finished in my shop, was offered 1200 for it right on the spot. A month ago I was offered $1800 for my Neo Geo MVS. Of course I didn't take either offer because those cabs mean more to me than that. I see them as my work of art.

Im glad you feel that way! Keep up the good work!

Also I agree with not using the NES overlay...just my opinion
 
I like the blue and the CP design, personally. I see the point about the button position, but I also see the point about keeping it original, which makes more sense.

I'm really enjoying finding all your work today and will be keeping an eye out for more!
 
Put the graphics on today, still have the side pieces to print. Compliments all day today in my shop. Can't wait to finish this project to move to the next.

mg001.jpg


mg002.jpg


mg003.jpg


mg004.jpg


mg005.jpg


mg006.jpg


I didnt want to fix up the cabinet, just put the graphics over any cracks, chips or whatever. This cabinet is in my tattoo shop so it will get beat up pretty good by everyone playing it everyday. The inside of the bottom graphic somehow got cut to short so I will be fixing that in the template so next time I print it will be fine.
mg007.jpg
 
Printed a template for the control panel so I know exactly where to cut the buttons out so it matches perfect with my CP print. This will not be fun cutting holes in a METAL control panel! LOL (sorry for anyone not liking the fact I am cutting holes in this, but these control panels are everywhere and pretty cheap so its not like its a rare item. o/O

MarioCPoverlay3.jpg


MarioCPoverlay2.jpg


MarioCPoverlay1.jpg
 
Wow, you do great work. I think the only criticism here arises from classic arcade lovers here who are battling between the awesomeness of your artwork versus keeping something original. Your artwork is stunning. After staring at this Nintendo/Mario Bros cabinet for a while, I wish you have been involved with the original artwork. Great job! :)
 
I do a mix of both, I have cabs that will be completely original and then I have cabs that I like to have a little fun with creativity. As much of a classic donkey kong and mario bros are I think it doesn't hurt to have a little fun with the cabinet graphics or whatever. When it comes to classics like Defender, Asteroids, or Tron for example, those I would keep 100% original.
 
Got the new holes drilled and control panel sanded down. Then I rust coat primered and then painted it black.

cppainted.jpg


A few hours later I applied the control panel graphics. Going to be fun combining arcade nintendo and NES games all in one cabinet.

cpdone.jpg
 
Amazing! That cab just screams "CHECK ME OUT!" Very nice work!

I do agree thou, some things should stay 100% original, but its nice to see a change. Especially when most of the cab is just a plain color.

For that being in a tattoo shop, well that just goes to further show the creativity that you have. I would be in line for a few games while waiting on my tattoo. That's for sure.

I wish I had that kind of talent. I would then be spicing up a few of the conversion cabs I have.
 
For most of the graphics I use FDC calandered Vinyl. Then FDC calandered glossy laminate. I dont believe in that old school thick laminate used on control panels, my laminate stands up to people playing all the time and looks good as new still. For the marquee I use translucent viny and then glossy laminate. My printers is a Roland VP540 54" Print/Cut.
 
Just wanted to say that this is badass. I love custom stuff and this art is stunning! Inspiring for sure.
 
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