You can go back, and here’s howRemember the days--and quarters--you spent pursuing aliens, fleeing ghosts, and gobbling dots in that beloved arcade? They’re hiding in these pages, along with diagrams, directions, plans, and materials lists that will enable you to build your very own arcade game. Construct joysticks, buttons, and trackballs; build the console and cabinet; install and configure the software; crank up the speakers; and wham! Step across the time-space continuum and enjoy all those classic games, plus dozens of new ones, whenever you like.

Start Here

1. Plan for your space and budget
2. Design and build the cabinet
3. Construct the controllers
4. Build the console
5. Pick an old game’s brain
6. Install the emulator
7. Convince a PC it’s a game
8. Connect a monitor and speakers
9. Add a marquee
10. GO PLAY!

Includes diagrams, detailed instructions, essential software, and more

CD-ROM Includes
* Complete cabinet plans and diagrams
* MAME32 software
* Paint Shop Pro? evaluation version
* Links to hundreds of arcade cabinet projects

You can go back, and here’s howRemember the days?and quarters?you spent pursuing aliens, fleeing ghosts, and gobbling dots in that beloved arcade? They?re hiding in these pages, along with diagrams, directions, plans, and materials lists that will enable you to build your very own arcade game. Construct joysticks, buttons, and trackballs; build the console and cabinet; install and configure the software; crank up the speakers; and wham! Step across the time-space continuum and enjoy all those classic games, plus dozens of new ones, whenever you like.

Start Here

1. Plan for your space and budget
2. Design and build the cabinet
3. Construct the controllers
4. Build the console
5. Pick an old game?s brain
6. Install the emulator
7. Convince a PC it?s a game
8. Connect a monitor and speakers
9. Add a marquee
10. GO PLAY!

Includes diagrams, detailed instructions, essential software, and more

CD-ROM Includes

• Complete cabinet plans and diagrams
• MAME32 software
• Paint Shop Pro® evaluation version
• Links to hundreds of arcade cabinet projects

You can go back, and here’s howRemember the days-;and quarters-;you spent pursuing aliens, fleeing ghosts, and gobbling dots in that beloved arcade? They’re hiding in these pages, along with diagrams, directions, plans, and materials lists that will enable you to build your very own arcade game. Construct joysticks, buttons, and trackballs; build the console and cabinet; install and configure the software; crank up the speakers; and wham! Step across the time-space continuum and enjoy all those classic games, plus dozens of new ones, whenever you like. Start Here 1. Plan for your space and budget 2. Design and build the cabinet 3. Construct the controllers 4. Build the console 5. Pick an old game’s brain 6. Install the emulator 7. Convince a PC it’s a game 8. Connect a monitor and speakers 9. Add a marquee 10. GO PLAY! Includes diagrams, detailed instructions, essential software, and more CD-ROM Includes Complete cabinet plans and diagrams MAME32 software Paint Shop Pro ; evaluation version Links to hundreds of arcade cabinet projects

You can go back, and here’s howRemember the days—and quarters—you spent pursuing aliens, fleeing ghosts, and gobbling dots in that beloved arcade? They’re hiding in these pages, along with diagrams, directions, plans, and materials lists that will enable you to build your very own arcade game. Construct joysticks, buttons, and trackballs; build the console and cabinet; install and configure the software; crank up the speakers; and wham! Step across the time-space continuum and enjoy all those classic games, plus dozens of new ones, whenever you like.

Start Here

1. Plan for your space and budget
2. Design and build the cabinet
3. Construct the controllers
4. Build the console
5. Pick an old game’s brain
6. Install the emulator
7. Convince a PC it’s a game
8. Connect a monitor and speakers
9. Add a marquee
10. GO PLAY!

Includes diagrams, detailed instructions, essential software, and more

CD-ROM Includes

• Complete cabinet plans and diagrams
• MAME32 software
• Paint Shop Pro® evaluation version
• Links to hundreds of arcade cabinet projects

Unfortunately, a somewhat dated book

Following the Arcade scene for a few years, I’ve been promising myself this book once I’m ready to sit down and start building my own MAME Arcade cabinet.

After getting the book and skimming through the pages, I was disappointed to find it’s either information I’ve already discovered on my own by surfing the Internet, or the links to additional content or files are severely outdated and a number of external links no longer work. The copy of MAME they provide you is ver 0.7x (Latest incarnation of MAME is over .100)

Don’t get me wrong, this book is great for those who haven’t already done the research and want an all-in-one book on how to do it. For me however, I gained nothing from the book.

Good Resource, Don’t forget that step type of book...

This is a good book.
My only thing is most of this is on the internet and may even be more updated if you find the right websites.

But it is helpful as for the beginner will help you plan things out in advance. Would be nice to have a few more illustrations like some sample wire diagrams of the controls etc.

But again..it has lots of reference websites listed in the book that can also assist.

My suggestion is -> don’t build a Mame Cabinet if you don’t have the internet...because you will need it.

Seems to have covered all the basis and the added cd is a nice touch.

Arcade

This book is a lot more "Techie" than I expected. It involves taking apart and reconfiguring quite a few things to get what you need. Sure it shows where to buy the components if you wish, but then why not just buy the arcade game already made. It does show you how to build the case. I thought it would show how to take your X-Box or Playstation and build an arcade enclosure to get the arcade feel. That is not what this book is about. You take a computer and several components, plus a moniter to make an arcade game. It is very informative but not quite what I expected. It is not a 1 or 2 weekend project. Do a search for mame to see what I mean. Mame is very important to this project.

Excellent help and source of ideas

This book covered so much more than what I was expecting. If you have never built an arcade cabinet before then I would recommend this book if only to see how many different ways it can be done.

good but old

I like the book. but i wish to warn buyers about outdated parts. in the book and on the cd it lists many links. but many of the website have gone down and are dead. in the description for the book it says it gives details on making controls, but some cases it just gives links. some of are dead. but it does give good info on emulator, encoders and many other things that are hard to find on the web. but i think the man should have cut some parts short and added controle construction.

Great Book

This is the book to buy if you are serious about building your own arcade. Some points to note though:

(1) I cannot stress enough how much a helper can help with this project (the author says this from the start). 95% of my project was done without help (see my customer picture). This project took me over 5 weekends because i did not have help. With help you can finish off this project in about two weekends if your committed.

(2) This book does not have to be followed like a blue print. I used different material (e.g. a TV instead of a monitor)and left out certain features (e.g. coin door). Use this book to guide you, but you do not have to follow this book word for word especially if you have different ideas.

(3) This is a great book but it is not 100% thorough. After i finished building my cabinet, and proceeded to install a fluorescent light in my cabinet for the marque, i realized the book did not explain how to wire it. To some people that may be simple, but for me, who has never done electrical work, i had to do further reading in order to install this light. I would have given this book 5 stars except for that little foresight.

All in all, this is a great book and highly recommended . One should note thought, this project is very time consuming and should not be attempted if you are not very committed to it.

A invaluable reference for your Arcade Project

I was tossing around the idea of building a Home stand-up Arcade unit but never found the right reference material to get me started. When I saw the review of this book I thought to myself, "Why not give it a try, it can’t hurt!" Oh man was this was the best choice to make!
Project Arcade: Build Your Own Arcade Machine by John St. Clair is a great book!
I love this book!
It was full of detailed information on everything about arcades! Controllers, arcade construction, monitors or TV or CRT that are just for Arcades, Arcade applications and software, such as MAME and jukebox.
It had web addresses to search for arcade parts and manufacturers.
The section on hooking things up was probably the most valuable part of the book. Without this information I would have been lost and trying to connect all the buttons, controllers, spinner, and trackball would have been near impossible! It took the fear and uncertainty out of the entire process!
You don’t even have to follow the book to the letter; you can make modifications or take bits and pieces and use what you need!
Ii provided all the necessary up-front information I needed to get started with my Arcade Project. I know that I wanted to make a MAME Arcade console and I wanted it to be a stand-up! This was perfect because the book walks you through the building of a stand-up arcade unit!
I have to admit that I did make some structural enhancements to my arcade unit but that was it. I used the book to get ideas on the controls... such as joysticks, trackballs, buttons, and interfaces for all the controls.
This book truly is incredible! I want to personally thank the author for writing this book because without it I would not have finished the beautiful Stand-up Home Arcade Unit I have in my house right now.
Thank you so much!
If you want to build your own Arcade Unit then buy this book! Go right now and pick it up! Stop reading and go already....
NOW!

A very, very thorough product

It covers everything you need to do, from start to finish. I especially like the in-depth reviews of the different controllers and how to tweak or hack them. Very informative. I think the highest praise I can give this book is that I was very motivated to build a machine until I read this book. This book very clearly and explicitly laid out what I would be doing, and it convinced me that I did not really want to undertake this project. It sounds like backwards compliments, but seriously, what could be more valuable than convincing the reader that they are out of their depth PRIOR to spending the money on the materials, the computers, the controllers etc.

Great

Very informative. A must read for anyone interested in building their own arcade machine or controls.

The most detailed "how-to" I’ve ever purchased

Many people will tell you that all the info in this book is readily available online...and it is. However, it is no where near as in-depth as the content in this book is. It tell you EVERYTHING you could possibly need to know about how to build your own arcade. I’ve taken the plans from the book, and made a few modifications myself, but do you really want to be running back and forth to your computer to look up some info in the middle of building? No! Instead buy this book. You’ll have it handy, and it provides so many more tips than any online guide does. Plus, the high-res detailed plans that come on the CD were great. I printed them out, and the 1" grids made it super-easy for me to make the cuts and draw in my own modifications. My cabinets almost done, and I would recommend this book to anyone interested in making their own.

Excellent Guide on Building an Arcade

I have used this book to build 4 arcades. It’s step by step process is great for someone (like me) who wasn’t strong on woodworking or electrical.

Project Arcade: Build Your Own Arcade Machine

All the information can be found on the web, however, having everything in a single book is very useful and a good starting point for anyone who want to start his project.

Fun book, but not necessary

This is a great book to have if you’re just getting into the hobby, but I have to admit that the BYOAC web guide and forum is such a great resource that it almost renders this book irrelevant. (And that’s only one site: there are several other wonderful web resources.)

So... if you want to save the twenty dollars, you can get most of the content free online. And the web content is more up-to-date on the latest hardware and tricks for cab building. But if you need info in book form, this is the only one to buy. The author explains things really well.

Arcade Amazement

I always wanted an arcade machine. Since living life as a space invader killer, I could imagine nothing more than sitting in the comfort of my home and throwing away piles of 20 cent pieces to protect the earth from harm.
This book showed me how to do this and enjoy the making of my own arcade machine. I should thank the author for this wonderful book. But I know the meer pleasurable murmurs from my lips about this will be automatically shot down by the tears of despair from my wife. This book is highly recommended by any one who wants to have a machine to get himself away from the normality of life.....and I say, lets have more of these

Inspired by John St.Clair

After reading this book, I was inspired to build my own arcade, which is already well under way.
Everything was explained in detail and was easy to understand.
Highly recommended.

Wonderful book for those wanting to own an arcade

If you have wanted your own full size arcade system, building your own is the most cost efficient way of owning a full size system. Buying your own arcade can cost from $600 to many thousands depending on the game and condition. Using the plans from this book, you can build your own system to your specifications exactly how you want. The author carefully describes the in’s and out’s of building your own arcade game, noting some of the pitfalls he encountered when building his own. The author describes the process of picking the correct wood to use all the way to determining computer system requirements. The only bad part is that after creating one, you will want to create another arcade game (as the author warns.)

Great book for the person starting out

If you have an interest in vintage video games, and what male child that grew up in the 80’s doesn’t, then you probably have an interest in acquiring your own arcade game. It was with this start that I discovered MAME and quickly decided that I wanted to build my own arcade machine.

John St. Clair’s book does a very thorough job of walking you through the planning stage, the building stage and how to wrap everything up. In between he does a terrific job of describing how to build (hack) your own controls or where you can buy pre-made controls at. By doing this he makes his book effective for a wide variety of people.

Included with the book is a CD that has a lot of reference material as well as various programs that will help you on your way to discovering arcade nirvana in your own home. The book is easy to follow and is well laid out.

Several audiences

Remember 1979? When Space Invaders conquered Japan and then stormed overseas to crush everything in its path? Then, in the space of 3 short years, it was rapidly obsoleted by Missile Command, Defender, PacMan and others. Yes, the world was young then, and so were you. Now you are grown up and respectable. But you want to go back?

It is no coincidence that St Clair and his publisher painted the cover in a hazy sepia glow of nostalgia. What is it, a photo from the Civil War? Shameless tugging at your fading youth.

St Clair shows us an amazing cottage industry that has sprung up in the shadows, to supply items like arcade spinners, trackballs and keyboard encoders. Unsurprisingly, the book is heavily hardware oriented. For the most part, it is about new versions of old hardware. Emulations or simulations on current PCs aren’t really the attraction here. Instead, it is the entire retro ambiance. Like the full arcade size versions of the games.

Now it is possible, if you plonk down enough cash, to buy these items, in toto. But he writes for several different audiences. One is the person who likes to build such games for herself. Another is the person who can’t afford to buy a finished game. A third is someone who wants to make and sell such games. Naturally, these audiences may overlap.

Excellent advice for newbies and experienced builders alike!

I’ve built four arcade machines in the past, and honestly wasn’t expecting to find anything I didn’t already know in this book. I was pleasantly surprised to find all kinds of info I wasn’t aware of; it’s a great source of inspiration- full of ideas I never would have thought of.
If you’re even toying with the idea of getting into this extremely rewarding hobby - you need to buy this book! If you’ve already built an arcade machine and have become addicted - you need to buy this book!
It’s that simple.

simply.....aweomse

Well, this book is an incredible read. It has so much useful information, I couldn’t put it down. Definitely one of the single best "how-to" books on the market, in ANY genre. I thought a book like this would have been very "text-booky". This was not the case. The way the book was written, the sentence structure, words, general flow of things, it just keeps you wanting more. A great book for anyone in this hobby, or just interested in this subject. I recommend it to anyone. Great job!