Let's talk PINBALL!!!

So the wife thought it would be a cool idea if I looked into getting a pinball machine this year, since the tax return was so good (I know, she really is AWESOME!!).  After weeks of research and looking around for the 'right' machine, I ended up getting a Gottlieb Surf Champ pinball machine, straight out of 1976!

Save for a couple of minor items, the pin looks and play great!  I'm just happy of the fact that the arcade is actually starting to look like an 'arcade', instead of a basement with one lonely cabinet.  Livin' the retro-gaming dream for sure!!  Next up, getting the basic build of the cocktail cab started!!

And the next arcade cab is . . . .

So, I'm about done with the second RetroMameArcade podcast, and my podcast partner in crime, Rick, is going to build a side-by-side player cocktail cab for his first project.  I figured it was fitting that I start working on my next cab as well, since the Horizons cab is done (WooHoo!).  My plan is to do a traditional, pac-man style cocktail, with actual pac-man joysticks, etc.

I'll be showing progress of the build in the cabs section of the blog, as well as the RetroMameArcade website.  Hopefully I'll be purchasing supplies (pushbuttons, MDF Panels, etc.) within the next couple of weeks.  I'm pretty stoked!!

New and improved blog . . . well, it will be soon.

   I ditched my arcade web site, as I wasn't utilizing the web space enough to make it worth the expense.  But since Blogger allows us the option to add pages, etc., I'm basically going to move the web site over to the blog.

   So soon I will have a few 'pages' set up for you the check out.  There'll be a page dedicated to my arcade cabinets, showing the build progress, stats and costs for each one, etc. I'll also have a Tech Tips & Tricks page, as well as a page dedicated to all things MAME.  I'll probably add another page for the game room itself, showing how it's being decorated, lights & wiring, nick-nacks, etc.

   Overall, it will create a more complete arcade blog experience.  I'm going to post a bunch of pics for the Horizon cabinet build soon, as it's basically a finished project.  Keep checking in!

Finally - a real update!!!!

So yeah . . . it's been a slow year for the arcade.  But it IS still moving.  Progress on the space mural, as well as the Horizons cab.  I've got the control panel front cover and the back access door installed.  All that's left to finish on the cab is the filler panel between the control panel front and the keyboard drawer, a filler between the screen bezel and the control panel top, a little painting and the first cab will be at 100% completion!!

Well . . . I still have to finish up the batch file front-end for Horizons as well, but that's not a big deal, really.  Once this cab is finished, I'll most likely start work on either the cocktail cab or the Hyper 3D pinball cab.  Stay tuned!!