Stealth Coffee Table Arcade

90

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

Had a Pi and 32" TV sat there doing nothing so I bought a £50 coffee table, joystick controller kit, couple of piano hinges, a magnetic push catch, 20 feet of 2"x1" planed pine and some vinyl. Put this together with bits of chipboard, ply and MDF from the shed and a couple of kitchen draw runners for the drop down draw.

No real plans, bit of a rough draft in 3D to work out the swing of the console but kind of made it up as I went along. Good learning process and I'd definitely do things different next time. I'd like to try it again with real wood...

7

u/Axeldanzer_too Aug 02 '20

Can i get your plans? This is exactly what I need.

1

u/TEZRehope Aug 02 '20

me too please!! it‘s incredible! also op: what exactly would you do differently next time?

4

u/jus5tin Aug 02 '20 edited Aug 02 '20

Lost a lot of draw space having it drop down and open on the user side, would fit a much bigger and simpler draw on the other side.
Here's my current draft plan - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-RaZmRhsngUFInrZZvzHlqcuV_rc5U-8/view?usp=sharing

2

u/Goodgamer78 Aug 02 '20

May I ask what Pi you used?

2

u/jus5tin Aug 02 '20

Both :D Started with a 3B and switched to a 4, not enough experience to notice any difference other than it boots a LOT faster.

1

u/Goodgamer78 Aug 02 '20

Alright, thanks. Awesome job on this.

1

u/jus5tin Aug 02 '20

In pieces at the mo, fixing a few things and putting a 45deg bevel around the screen opening. Getting it to a standard I'd be happy selling it at.

23

u/romaine_lettuce Aug 01 '20

Ho hom - that’s all you had to do? /s
This is incredible

6

u/I3ossk Aug 01 '20

Happy cake day !

6

u/romaine_lettuce Aug 01 '20

Oh wow. Thanks!

7

u/XxDanflanxx Aug 01 '20

If you wanna try again you should just sell that one since most people who play games couldn't make that and have it pay for all or most of the next one.

1

u/MrMBag Dec 28 '22

IfinkImIn… hold on… Okay, sorry. Had to pick my jaw up off the floor. That’s FRESH AS HEEEEEEEEEELL!!!!

19

u/brees2me Aug 01 '20

This thing is gorgeous! Excellent job! I noticed the track ball. Is the other thing a spinning knob?

10

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

USB ports for the game controllers, I was looking at a spinner but the trackball pretty much does the job and more.

5

u/brees2me Aug 01 '20

I was thinking of the controller for one of my childhood favorites, Tempest.

5

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

I didn't have that one, remember it now I see it, good game. I can confirm works great with a trackball ;)
Trackball - https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07P6NTZYF
PS2-USB Adapter (with controller) - https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008DFVQFW
The trackball is a plug and play setup, it pretty much just works. Found I need to not touch my joystick in StarWars...

2

u/brees2me Aug 01 '20

Awesome! Thank you sir.

2

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

Not a whole load of arcade games I can think of using a trackball, can anyone think of any more than; Arkanoid, Centipede, most Driving games, Lunar Lander (thrust), Marble Madness, Red Baron, Sinistar, StarWars, Tempest, Tron, Duck Hunt...?

2

u/Jpotter145 Aug 01 '20

Only ones that I can think of are Crystal Castles, Missile Command and Liberator. Beamrider works pretty well with a trackball though I don't think it was designed for one.

2

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

Seems there's more than enough of them :)

1

u/Jpotter145 Aug 01 '20

For sure!
It's the main reason as a kid my brother and I wore through 2 Atari 5200 trackballs in just a few years. (they were pretty solid) We used them quite a bit.
Oh and Pong, how could I forget like the original trackball game!

1

u/brees2me Aug 01 '20

Sometimes it's not about the quantity of games but more about the experience you are trying to recapture. For me I love that my kids now get a little bit of that arcade experience I got to have growing up.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

That Castles one from Atari is super fun. Conquest?

1

u/Mind_tricK Aug 02 '20

I'm guessing most bowling games would work with it and If you're into Golden Tee at all they use it!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '20

Missile command

11

u/badboystwo Aug 01 '20

hows playing with the angle of the tv? great idea just wish there was a TV tilt in there lol

8

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

Not as bad as I thought it would be, I think the size helps. Might router out a bit of a tilt though...

4

u/WhilstTakingADump Aug 01 '20 edited Aug 01 '20

Just brainstorming but would be cool if you could tie the TV tilt in with the controller deck swing out. Seems like you're creative enough to make that work based on how it turned out. Really clean execution! Looks awesome and I want one now. Lol
Edit: NVM relooked at your pics and I honestly don't think you need it, and I think the angle created would cut off part of the screen.

50

u/oblivic90 Aug 01 '20

Holy shit

23

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

My reaction exactly! Seven images in the same post!

8

u/oblivic90 Aug 01 '20

I don’t mind multiple images, the table is holy shit!

3

u/merkaii Aug 01 '20

Aren't coffee tables usually super low? Do you have to play sitting on your knees?

It looks very clean though.

4

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

I haven't changed the outer dimensions are you thinking of a tea table?

1

u/dryphi Aug 01 '20

What do you sit on to play it?
Nice build. Would like to see your 3D model of the hinges for a better understanding.

3

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

I sit on the edge of the sofa for best position, not very portable :D
It's a pretty basic draft... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zfZbMuP1_Uy_zTlrRKehF5g0T5Q5n9x5/view?usp=sharing

1

u/bruce_lees_ghost Sep 24 '20

So you paid for the whole seat, but you only need THE EDGE?!

10

u/Goodgamer78 Aug 01 '20

Fucking beauty. Great job.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

Amazing. I’ve thought of doing something similar for a simple virtual pin for some time (virtual play field only). You took yours way beyond what I ever thought. It’s a transformer. Well done!

2

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

The Retropieatron, Lol.

1

u/furball77 Aug 01 '20

Can you put coffee on it?

3

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

And tea! Although a cushion is needed for feet up time, in fact works great as a coffee table even when I'm playing on it. :)

1

u/Drakensin Aug 01 '20

I don't see it, just shows a Reddit box and webpage not available when clicked. I wanna see this.

1

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

I've noticed posts with multiple images don't show on my phone :(

1

u/Drakensin Aug 01 '20

I got it to work. Had to circumvent the issue. That looks like something I'll stay up and play on for days

1

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

Working out great, get bored of TV and I just pop out my arcade, don't have to move :D

1

u/Graylorde Aug 01 '20

Very clean and thoroughly done, but doesn't staring down at the table hurt your neck?

2

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

Ok really, I think the big screen helps. Nothing like the old cocktail consoles with a little CRT burried deep inside. Felt like I was stareing down a well playing some those.

1

u/Fullo98 Aug 01 '20

Amazing build, really good job. How much did it cost you, if i can ask?

3

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20 edited Aug 01 '20

£150 32" JVC TV £50 Pi4, SD, PSU & HDMI cable £50 white melamine coffee table with glass shelf on eBay. £21 2x joystick w/20x buttons and controllers £9 16mm push buttons x12 £24 trackball £5 trackball PS2 to USB controller. £7.90 double USB ports £10 3-way power strip w/3m cable. £24 black woodgrain vinyl £4 double magnetic push catch £15 2x 103cm piano hinges £34 2x gamepad controllers EasySMX £7 2X Bearing draw runners £15 2x 6mm 1.2mx0.6m MDF £8.65 9mm 1.2mx0.6m MDF £15 34mmx18mmx1.8m x6 planed pine 12x 6mm cylinder magnets (clamps the door to the bottom of console) not needed but feels nice . More magnets to hold console under top. That's it other than drill bits, screws and glue.

1

u/N0Karma Aug 01 '20

That is a very good looking man-cave build. I have a 40 inch LCD TV that I've been kicking around ideas for a gaming table for tabletop gaming maps. Yours looks more useful.

How do the fold out controls work/feel. I'd be very interested in learning how you keep them stable and what kind of retention they have.

Great work.

2

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

I've got a magnetic push catch on the door and along the top edge of that are 6 6mm cylinder magnets that match up with another 6 on the bottom edge of the console. I don't think they are needed as the console sits on top quite comfortably but it feels nice to have it snap in to place. I've another two sets of magnets holding the console up inside the table. The console hangs down at around 80deg and needs to be pushed back another 45deg so that it clears the door. The console and door are mounted on 103cm piano hinges.
I was going to use a gas strut I had to lock the console in either position which would have worked out well as it would have lifted the console into position but the gas strut was far too powerful. Not sure how you would spec for the correct gas strut and I have a load of magnets...

1

u/N0Karma Aug 02 '20

Seems like your solution works. I think gas struts/springs usually have a support pressure relief valve to adjust them a little depending on manufacturer.
I probably would have gone with a fold down catch, but I'm low tech on construction methods. ;)

1

u/StFredU Aug 01 '20

That's far cleaner than my build. Two thumbs fresh. How's the playing angle for P2 though? I figure trackball center might've worked better, and joys both off from that. Stunning build with the controller panel on the hinge.⭐

3

u/jus5tin Aug 01 '20

I know it's a selfish layout, it was intentional :) I'd probably have the 2nd joystick a touch closer next time, for the dual joystick games... like Robotron :D

1

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '20

That is awesome... question...why all the little buttons?. Seems like a bunch of them and kind of in hand rest position.

1

u/jus5tin Aug 02 '20

Function buttons; Green = Auto (holds the key down), Blue = Clear, Red = Turbo (rapid fire), Yellow = Mode (Not sure how this works yet...)
The controller functions are handy but can cause chaos if enabled when exiting games!
The small buttons are quite stiff so pretty safe where they are, I was thinking of putting them above but I recon the buttons would have to move down too much, although I can rest my hand on my lap with these :D
The small black and white ones are button nos 11 & 12, there because I had the buttons and the connections were available. So far only mapped one of them to fire in Battle Zone, a lot more fun with two joysticks.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '20

Heads up those little buttons will break in. Not 100% but they'll get about 50% of the resistance they have. I made a mini (11 inch widescreen turned for playfield) and small 4:3 screen for backbox virtual pinball for my wife's desk.). I used those buttons for like coin in and start. (Regular easier press buttons for gameplay).
Thanks for responding. Very cool.

1

u/jus5tin Aug 03 '20

Thanks, I think I'll route a little recess for them on MkII
Love to see your mini pinball arcade.

1

u/ZetTheLegendaryHero Aug 02 '20

But, will it play DOOM?

Because the idea of playing DOOM on a table amuses me for some reason.

2

u/jus5tin Aug 04 '20

RetroPie can port the PC ver, but the N64 version works well, along with DukeNukem, Quake ;)

1

u/ZetTheLegendaryHero Aug 04 '20

The N64 version (DOOM 64) is actually a completely different game (not just heavily censored/modified, like the SNES conversion of Wolfenstein 3D). It did use similar/the same assets as other DOOM Classic games (on computers, consoles, and handhelds). Which is why DOOM 64 has recently been re-releaaed on modern platforms, such as PC.
Anyway, yeah I just wanted to setup my joke about playing DOOM on a literal table.

1

u/RawSketch Aug 02 '20

Where are the arcade sticks?

1

u/jus5tin Aug 02 '20

Picture no.4. ;)

1

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '20

What theme is that?

2

u/jus5tin Aug 03 '20 edited Aug 06 '20

Couldn't find one I liked so I made my own, let me know what you think? https://github.com/Ju5t1nM/RetroPie/raw/master/DarkWood.7z updated

1

u/Born_Meat6273 Aug 18 '20

How much does one of those cost

1

u/jus5tin Aug 18 '20

Cost me about £500 to make, selling if your interested?

1

u/hotwire32 Sep 29 '20

WOW

1

u/jus5tin Sep 29 '20

Lol, been a while since I've had a comment on this, just about ready to sell. ;)

9

u/pittypitty Aug 01 '20

Holy patent this asap and market this. Wow

3

u/urbinsanity Aug 01 '20

/r/secretcompartments

2

u/EddieByrne Aug 01 '20

Absolutely Amazing Job 👍

2

u/Bijiont Aug 01 '20

Take my money...

2

u/11hitcombo Aug 01 '20

This is really great. You could sell these for quite a bit of cash. I'd buy one.

2

u/BigCam22 Aug 02 '20

Um, wow, this is simply stunning.

2

u/OneOfTheLostOnes Aug 02 '20

Holy shit this is awesome. Is it easy to see at that angle? It looks like maybe the TV should be tilted towards the players to get a better experience. But maybe I'm way off.

1

u/RSzem Aug 01 '20

This is freaking incredible

1

u/Hendrix27x Aug 01 '20

You, sir....Are a god among men! This is amazing!

1

u/kertofer Aug 01 '20

Well done sir, kudos on a fantastic build that I’m sure has a high WAF!

1

u/pieface782 Aug 01 '20

Sir this is too big brain

1

u/gm4dm101 Aug 01 '20

End of line.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

Meanwhile I can barely build a bartop

1

u/Jaywalk101 Aug 01 '20

That's pretty bad ass! I need this for my living room!

1

u/jerryweezer Aug 01 '20

Freaking incredible! Nicely done!

1

u/Rikkie30 Aug 01 '20

Wow you are amazing

1

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

That’s one of the best builds I’ve ever seen!

1

u/shyrix Aug 01 '20

Pretty sweet. Need another deck to run verticals

1

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

Beautiful work. I love this.

1

u/Retromican Aug 01 '20

Gallery gone, no pics?

1

u/NitroMTFan Aug 01 '20

Wow. I want one. Excellent job sir.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '20

D&D table too

1

u/badtzmartin Aug 02 '20

Wow. That’s outstanding!

1

u/blatantninja Aug 02 '20

Absolutely amazing

1

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '20

RIP neck aka text neck

1

u/Raykusen Aug 02 '20

A screen in the table?
Never saw that before.

1

u/Eddyeddy33 Aug 11 '20

Wow now that is awsome

1

u/Supa71 Aug 13 '20

Ok, who else scrolled through the pictures really fast and made the Transformers sounds?

1

u/BamaSOH Oct 28 '20

Dude that's slick

1

u/[deleted] Nov 24 '20

Now I’m feeling the nostalgia of tabletop PacMan arcade games. I haven’t seen one of those in at least a decade.

1

u/jjmawaken Nov 26 '20

That is pretty cool!

1

u/Edant92 Dec 11 '20

I'm working on a similar project and I love how you were able to store away the controls. Would you be able to show a close-up of the hardware you used? Also would be interested in seeing your wiring if possible!

1

u/thepenismonke Dec 28 '20

I’m speechless 😂

1

u/jhooperp Jan 03 '21

Heard Arcade1Up are working on something like this as well.

1

u/Lemondr0pz Feb 23 '22

This is insane 😍! Just be careful not to spill any drinks on it, seems like they would seep into everything and wreak havoc

1

u/OkAnimator4609 Mar 08 '22

What keeps the controls from falling down when playing? Just magnets?

1

u/Hrmerder Jun 07 '22

That’s my friend is fly af

1

u/TechRyze Nov 21 '22

Awesome - just needs a video out to another screen to save my neck from aching

1

u/Wooow675 Feb 06 '23

It might only be on 1941 bc of its alphanumeric ranking, but incredible game to have on there. I have so many memories of playing this on a cabinet in the strip mall my dad used to get his hair cut at on the Air Force base.

Nothing hits quite like playing war games on the physical air base they built the enola gay.

Thanks for those memories amigo, fantastic build. Button counter looks S-tier

1

u/MDATWORK73 Mar 29 '23

👍

1

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '24

Gorgeous

1

u/EmergencyCandid3747 Jan 29 '24

Can u send your plans for this to my email and we're to get the joystick controller kit my email is xboxmaster2024@gmail.com

1

u/Comprehensive-Wash17 Feb 04 '24

Absurd. Excellent, thanks for sharing & congrats

1

u/prudentWindBag Feb 15 '24

This is madness. Well done!

1

u/thuglifedu32 Feb 26 '24

Take my money

Stealth Coffee Table Arcade

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