what do you do with a new game that changes the lighting in your 'cade?

vintagegamer

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what do you do with a new game that changes the lighting in your 'cade?

As you may or may not have read, I got my Chase HQ up and running over the weekend. I had it in a place in the garcade that I thought was perfect, and then............

At nightfall, I noticed the following:

1. there is light escaping from the top of the game that makes a line of light all of the way across the ceiling of the garcade
2. the screen is so bright that it's reflecting off a game close to it
3. when the red and blue's go off and on, as cool as they are, they light up the whole stinkin' room!! LOL

I guess I'll be moving the game now to another spot (sigh), just need to figure out where. I never would have expected those red and blue's to be so bright!!
 
The tops of the cab are clear plastic where the lights are. You can use aluminum foil to block the light and reflect it back threw the red and blues filters.
 
The tops of the cab are clear plastic where the lights are. You can use aluminum foil to block the light and reflect it back threw the red and blues filters.

Yeah I saw that part but there's also a line-like opening that seems to run all the way across the top as well. I'll see if I can snag a pic.
 
This is where light is escaping from the center marquee bulb. I'm wondering if something is supposed to cover that area? I am sure I could fabricate something to block the light, so long as this opening isn't supposed to be for ventilation or anything.

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It would be weird that the marquee would need a vent. I mean, how much heat is coming from a florescent tube? But if it was a vent, maybe there was supposed to a shroud of some sort to block the light? Doubtful it was designed with the light escaping the marquee. Doesn't seem like something that would attract customers or look good in an arcade so I doubt it was meant to be like that.

It's hard to tell from the pic what's going on and you'd probably want to remove the marquee to get a better look. But if it were mine, I'd cut a strip of plywood to fill the gap for the time being, then figure out a permanent fix.
 
The light leak should be a pretty easy fix, and you have a lot of comments on that.
One option for the monitor brightness is 20% automotive tint on the bezel. I have used it on both plastic and glass, and it works fine on plastic for the arcade environment.

I actually think the games look a lot better through it as well.
 
You could get a roll of black wrap foil. It's used on film sets and stages to block light. It's more expensive, but would blend into the cab.
 
I'd block the vent... and if there's 3 incandescents in there, I'd switch to a small CFL for the marquee light, and the LED incandescent replacement bulbs for the red and blue bulbs. Last time I tried those LEDs, they were quite a bit dimmer than a standard light bulb (but would probably look cool for red/blue lights).

I've also put automotive tint over the inside of marquees to dim them. And turn down the brightness on the monitor, just like any other monitor that's too bright.

DogP
 
I would make a little topper piece out of wood or something that would go straight up for a little then curve back. It would block the light but allow air flow. Basically a shorter version of those vent covers that angle the air on house floor vents. Could just sit on top. Would not be changes to the cab or anything.
 
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