MAME arcade game machine builds

Arcade game cabinets have that classic shape, topped off with the arcade joysticks able to withstand serious punishment, which were always perfect for games like Street Fighter 2, or Ghosts and Goblins.  Well old arcade cabinets that are no longer is use do have other uses, you can rip the innards out and replace it with a MAME PC arcade game box, which gives the the power to have multiple games all in one box, rather than just be limited to your one JAMMA PCB board.

Its a really interesting idea to fix up an old Arcade cabinet, some of the community will frown if you replace a working classic game cabinet with a MAME PC and to some degree i agree.  However a generic arcade cabinet that’s no longer in use is perfect for a MAME conversion.  Lots of people also build their own MAME cabinets which is pretty impressive considering they can seem like quite large projects with a few different skills required.  If you have the space and the motivation to tackle a project like this, you won’t be the first to try, and this means you have the benefit of being able to see other people have tackled it and what the common pitfalls are.

There’s been plenty of notes created online with regard to restoring old arcade machine with a working MAME PC or creating a MAME cabinet from new, so rather than reinvent the wheel i though I’d link you all to some choice sites, and some of the projects people have attempted before.

Jeff’ss’ Ultimate MAME cabinet project - Lots of interesting step by step processes here as we get to see the creation of a ratherawesomeme MAME cabinet.

Patrick Chase Arcade Cabinet Project - Another interesting MAME cabinet project with lots of photos and little pieces of info on the construction of a working MAME cabinet.

Denus’s MAME cabinet transformation – A great and very informative step by step blog on the transformation of an old arcade cabinet into a working and very stylish looking MAME cabinet.

24 Hour MAME cabinet build – Fast build with some great step by step photos.

Two MAME Projects – This very cool page has two projects the author has built, a full size MAME cabinet and a small mini cabinet both look excellent it’s well worth a view.