Time to take a short Journey! Getting back into the hobby - sortof...

parabolic

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
2,171
Reaction score
32
Location
Greer, South Carolina
Hey guys! Long time no see!!

Its been FOREVER since I posted here as I totally got out of the dedicated Arcade game collecting about 8 or so years ago. At that point I had amassed about 40 games and a ton of room for spare parts - as most of you can relate. As time (and life) went on, I found myself needing the space and a smaller power bill - lol.

Since then I have been into emulation and virtual pinball. The one cabinet for all games was nice as it didn't take over my basement with multiple cabinets and I rarely had 50 people playing them all at once. Down side was a control panel with a TON of controls, not a proper "feel", and everyone asking how to navigate the machine to find what game they wanted to play.
Most of you all that are old timers here may remember me. One of the most passionate projects was to restore a Journey from a converted cabinet that I acquired during another pickup.
Jeff Rothe @rotheblog was kind enough to do a writeup on that adventure.
Years later I ended up selling that one with some of my collection, and wouldn't you know it - I found another cab and decided to go through the whole process again!
And finally I sold that one to the now defunct Museum for video games in PA. And apparently its currently residing at the Vintage Vault arcade in WI. (you can tell it was the one I built cause it has the 3dprinted stage lighting on it)

So enough back story.
I have recently decided to rebuild most of my collection - starting with Journey. But again - I dont want to take up alot of room, and dont want a multicade. So I arrived at this idea -
Wall mounted 95% scale reproductions.
Im calling them SlicRcades! The idea being as if you took the front 12 or so inches off the cabinet and 42" down from the top. I designed the standardized layout in can and through 3d printing and alot of time on the saw and router, came up with something that will still use correct controls (down to the leaf spring sticks and buttons for feel), yet consume less power, generate less heat, and only protrude from the wall about a foot.
YES, they are running MAME, but for me it plays so close - who cares. The thing that REALLY MATTERS for me is the "feel" of the cabinet when you are standing in front of it! Plus - each game is dedicated with the proper controls so everything looks and feels as it should! This is important going forward as Im planning on about 25 of the 40 games I had plus some "grails" I never could find or afford. As of this writing I have 5 playable and 3 TOTALLY completed. Ill post more on those later - right now its about the prototype for my idea I built first - JOURNEY!


Custom cabinet that matches the original profiling, 24" LCD monitor with correct orientation. 3D printed bezel, speaker grilles, marquee trim, and other mounts and brackets. Reproduction artwork reverse printed on plexi, LED backlighting, and illuminated "coin" button. Best part is it doesnt weigh very much, hangs on the wall like a picture by a french cleat, stores high scores, and is more reliable than 40 year old hardware. Thanks to MAME I can use the filters to simulate the CRT look and this game also has the "tape" function for the bonus round thats all digital - wihout the tape!

Heres some pics of the build and final product. Im really enjoying the build on these as it allows me to do woodworking/electronics/programming/cad design/3d printing - and then I get to relive the actual feeling without having to spend "grail" pricing for these machines!! Kind of a win all the way around.
BIG thanks to Rich @ThisOldGame for helping me with the artwork for these projects!!
More to come!! (if you guys are interested...)



 
Welcome back!

I'll admit, that is a way of rebuilding your collection that never occurred to me. If it makes you happy and you can enjoy the games, then win-win.

Scott C.
 
Welcome back!

I'll admit, that is a way of rebuilding your collection that never occurred to me. If it makes you happy and you can enjoy the games, then win-win.

Scott C.
Thanks Scott! Yeah, I'm not building my collection for the overall percieved cash value.. just the feels!
Plus the challenge of seeing how close to the essence of the original is a motivating factor as well.
I like being able to come downstairs and hear & see them again and still have room for activities! Only thing missing is the ozone smell!!
 
I like this concept a lot! I'm keeping an eye on this and if any friends or family want an arcade cabinet but don't want to take up the space I'll definitely show them this! Thanks for posting.
 
Thanks Scott! Yeah, I'm not building my collection for the overall percieved cash value.. just the feels!
Plus the challenge of seeing how close to the essence of the original is a motivating factor as well.
I like being able to come downstairs and hear & see them again and still have room for activities! Only thing missing is the ozone smell!!
These games were made to make money, but we play them because we enjoy them.

How much does the Journey weigh and how are you attaching or hanging it on the wall?

Scott C.
 
I like this concept a lot! I'm keeping an eye on this and if any friends or family want an arcade cabinet but don't want to take up the space I'll definitely show them this! Thanks for posting.



Thanks @Zete ! I figured id post this one and see what the response was before I post more of what im building... I know its not for "purists", but for me its all about the feel without the space constraints.
 
These games were made to make money, but we play them because we enjoy them.

How much does the Journey weigh and how are you attaching or hanging it on the wall?

Scott C.
Absolutely they were!! And we ALL spent our share of allowances on them - hence why we feel the need to own them now that we can! LOL!
I just weighed one - came in at 46.4 lbs. So lets call it 50.
I'm using a french cleat system with the center of the 20" cleat screwed to a stud with a 3" deck screw with 2 others screwed into drywall inserts - mostly to stabilize the cleat.
The real test is when I do a Track & Field - we'll see how all that button bashing holds up!!
 

Attachments

  • 20250607_075753.jpg
    20250607_075753.jpg
    145.2 KB · Views: 4
Last edited:
Well, I figured id close my posting out with a few more. Worked hard on these and wanted to share.
YES all the controls are correct (leaf switches - 49way, weighted spinner for correct feel), and again - alot of 3d printed components - including the cupholders.
I figured id show how im rebuilding my collection in a way thats unique and hopefully it will inspire others to think outside the box for what they want as well!
These 5 are all i got for now. Only 20 or more so to go!! :)
 

Attachments

  • 20250619_115359.jpg
    20250619_115359.jpg
    350.6 KB · Views: 32
  • 20250619_195437.jpg
    20250619_195437.jpg
    451.8 KB · Views: 34
  • 20250601_101337.jpg
    20250601_101337.jpg
    384.4 KB · Views: 33
  • 20250619_195610.jpg
    20250619_195610.jpg
    409.7 KB · Views: 32
  • 20250619_195637.jpg
    20250619_195637.jpg
    436.2 KB · Views: 30
  • 20250619_195625.jpg
    20250619_195625.jpg
    233 KB · Views: 32
Those look great. Are those LEDs above the Tempest bezel?

Scott C.
Yes Scott, there is a purple led strip behind the 3d printed grille. I always thought there should be something more there.
Got another one done since then...and 3 more in progress..
 

Attachments

  • 20250914_174354.jpg
    20250914_174354.jpg
    436.5 KB · Views: 8
  • 20250914_174211.jpg
    20250914_174211.jpg
    472.5 KB · Views: 8
  • 20250914_174231.jpg
    20250914_174231.jpg
    442 KB · Views: 9
  • 20250914_174335.jpg
    20250914_174335.jpg
    388.9 KB · Views: 10
  • 20250914_174211.jpg
    20250914_174211.jpg
    472.5 KB · Views: 10
  • 20250914_174231.jpg
    20250914_174231.jpg
    442 KB · Views: 9
  • 20250914_174335.jpg
    20250914_174335.jpg
    388.9 KB · Views: 8
Back
Top Bottom