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John St.Clair
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Project Arcade: Build Your Own Arcade Machine. Paperback – February 1, 2011

by John St. Clair (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars (99)
The bestseller returns—completely updated to include thenewest hardware, software, and techniques for building your ownarcade

Interest in classical arcade games remains on the rise, and witha little money, older computer hardware, and a little effort, youcan relive your arcade experiences by building your own arcademachine. The hands-on guide begins with a description of thevarious types of projects that you can undertake. It thenprogresses to a review of the audio and video options that areavailable and looks at the selection of game software and cabinetartwork. Ultimately, you’ll learn essential troubleshootingtips and discover how to build arcade controllers and machines thatyou can enjoy at home with your PC.

  • Serves as a soup-to-nuts guide for building your own arcademachine, from the sheets of wood to the finished product
  • Addresses the variety of arcade controls, including joysticks,buttons, spinners, trackballs, flight yokes, and guns
  • Explains how to interface arcade controls to a computer
  • Shares troubleshooting tips as well as online resources forhelp and inspiration

Project Arcade, Second Edition helps you recapture theenjoyment of your youth that was spent playing arcade games bywalking you through the exciting endeavor of building your own fullarcade machine.

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Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    552 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Wiley
  4. Publication date
    February 1, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    7.1 x 1.2 x 3.4 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    047089153X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0470891537
Next slide of product details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Remember wishing you could live at the arcade?

Was it Pac-Man at the corner convenience store? Street Fighter at the arcade in the mall? Recapture the fun, if not the quarters, by building your very own arcade machine! Make it complete with joysticks, buttons, trackballs, spinners, guns, sound effects, eye candy, and all your favorite games. Have your name flashing on the marquee. Customize your cabinet to have your very own dream arcade machine!

Do we have your attention now?

Follow these steps for building the cabinet, designing the control panel, finding the software, installing speakers and a monitor, and putting it all together. The arcade's back, this time at your place!

Déjà vu how-to

  • Choose a cabinet plan
  • Calculate your budget
  • Design the control panel
  • Build a spinner
  • Explore flight yokes
  • Pick your guns
  • Connect the brain
  • Hack a mouse
  • Install the monitor
  • Load up on software
  • Add bells and whistles

CD-ROM includes

  • Classic cabinet designs and instructions from the first edition
  • Brand-new plans for cabinets and devices
  • Shareware games and software utilities
  • Arcade control panel templates
  • High resolution color photos, links, tutorials, and more!

See the CD appendix for details and complete system requirements.

About the Author

John St.Clair, like most children of the '80s, spent endless youthful hours feeding his allowance into arcade machines. He grew up to be a network engineer, but remains a game fanatic who created Build Your Own Arcade Controls (BYOAC) at www.arcadecontrols.com, a gamer's paradise where arcade game builders can swap plans, experiences, tips, and ideas. John wrote the first edition of this book in 2004.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wiley
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 1, 2011
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 552 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 047089153X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0470891537
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.82 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.1 x 1.2 x 3.4 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #1,150,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars (99)

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John St.Clair

John St.Clair

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
99 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book provides good basic information and awesome references, with one review noting its comprehensive coverage of controls. Moreover, the book is well-suited for arcade DIY enthusiasts, and customers consider it worth the cost. Additionally, they appreciate that it comes with a CD.

Select to learn more

Information contentBuilderValue for moneyCd-romContent quality
16 customers mention "Information content"13 positive3 negative

Customers find the book provides good basic information and useful references, with one customer noting it includes lots of illustrations and directions.

"Great book with lots of information! Already built my arcade cabinet from the instructions/plans and love it...." Read more

"...about building a cabinet of your own - this book is a great starting point that covers one way, start to finish, of how to make a cabinet...." Read more

"...There is lots of information in this book that helps you along with your project." Read more

"The book covers most of the topics that anyone would be interested in, when investigating build of a arcade machine...." Read more

5 customers mention "Builder"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for building arcade machines, with one mentioning it's perfect for MAME cabinets and another noting it serves as a great starting point for enthusiasts.

"Love this book so much, I bought it twice. Perfect for any arcade DIY enthusiasts." Read more

"...There is lots of information in this book that helps you along with your project." Read more

"Perfect for the potential MAME Arcade Cabinet Builder...." Read more

"A great start for any arcade enthusiast!..." Read more

4 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well worth the cost.

"...The plans alone are worth the price of the book. Highly recommended!" Read more

"...I think its well worth the cost. Nice addition to the library!" Read more

"...I am happy they were included on the CD, however. Well spent money and time reading!" Read more

"...The added price does mean some serious added value...." Read more

3 customers mention "Cd-rom"3 positive0 negative

Customers like that the book comes with a CD.

"The hard copy comes with a CD that has many great files. Full of layouts, vector cabinet art, and cabinet blueprints to scale...." Read more

"...I am happy they were included on the CD, however. Well spent money and time reading!" Read more

"This book comes with companion disc, do not buy the Kindle version if you want all of it. The paperback should include the disc." Read more

3 customers mention "Content quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the content of the book excellent.

"...version of the CD supplied with the print version, but the content is excellent." Read more

"liked its content, was delivered to my kindle super fast, recommended to others that like arcade style gaming and want a do it yourself project." Read more

"The hard copy comes with a CD that has many great files. Full of layouts, vector cabinet art, and cabinet blueprints to scale...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Jordan
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great start for any arcade enthusiast!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    If you are looking to have an arcade cabinet, but you just don't know where to begin and want all the information on hand, this book is the way to go! It tells you just about everything you need to know about building/buying a cabinet and the parts/hardware/software/etc. It provides some advice, tips, and options. Heck, the disc that is included even has plans to build your own Ultimate Arcade 2 cabinet. (The plans itself is right here: [...].asp and they cost about $30, so you're getting a heck of a deal by buying this book instead!) So even if you're lacking on handyman experience (although I still recommend having at least one guy who knows his/her way around power tools), you can collect some supplies and build your own! Or just buy an assembly kit, or a whole cabinet, or... even an existing cabinet! May it be just a shell, the actual arcade cabinet, or what is left of the cabinet!

    I am getting ahead myself. My point is, everything you need to know about owning an arcade cabinet is covered in this book. Please check it out. You will be glad you did!
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Mayor West
    5.0 out of 5 stars Forget Kindle edition, buy the hard copy and get the AWESOME CD!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The hard copy comes with a CD that has many great files. Full of layouts, vector cabinet art, and cabinet blueprints to scale. Also many links to suppliers and artists to get a great looking game cabinet. The added price does mean some serious added value.

    Step by step, and like the author suggests read it all the way through before you start or jump into a project. Things really do make more sense by reading the book in its entirety first. This is a goldmine of information for any skill level.

    Software wise I am at 99% complete, now the woodworking begins!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • TychiBalls
    4.0 out of 5 stars All references in one place
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Havn't read the whole book yet but this book has awesome references. You could probably find this stuff online yourself but would take much longer. With this book everything is in one place. Good stuff!
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Dean
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Starting Point and Lots of Ideas
    Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2012
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Searching the internet you will find volumes of information about building a cabinet of your own - this book is a great starting point that covers one way, start to finish, of how to make a cabinet. It adds a lot of information about controls,materials and options. In the end YOU have to decide what you want to have as a finished project. Look through the book, follow up on the internet - Take what you like, leave the rest behind. You don't really "NEED" the book - but I'd say it's a great reference that can help you decide if you want to dive in and start a project of your own, and show you what you need to consider.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • S. McNear
    3.0 out of 5 stars good basic info
    Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I feel like it's a lot of filler info. I want a simple fact how to book. this is more of a novel.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kennis Russell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for the potential MAME Arcade Cabinet Builder.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I am really glad I purchased this book. I read it cover to cover to make sure I am building my MAME the right way. I'm confident that I am going to build my perfect arcade now. I recommend to anyone looking for most of the info you need to build an arcade in one place. You could probably search the internet and find all of the same info, but this book saved me hours of searching and I'm confident I didn't miss anything.
    Helpful
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  • Matthew S Gold
    5.0 out of 5 stars THE Sidekick for Arcade Builders...
    Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    There are TONS of resources for building an arcade machine on the Internet.Forums, Blogs, Videos - it's a bit overwhelming. However, Project Arcade does a great job of compiling and organizing in a focused manor. It lays out the most logical path from inception to execution with pleanty of tips along the way. You could probably get by without it, but Project Arcade will make any build much smoother.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jezebel33
    5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive guide
    Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is a great and thorough walk through of how to build your own arcade cabinet. It also contains complete plans for a custom built cabinet. The plans alone are worth the price of the book. Highly recommended!
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Lorenzo77
    2.0 out of 5 stars Mi aspettavo di più
    Reviewed in Italy on July 31, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Sinceramente mi sarei aspettato un libro più chiaro nelle spiegazioni.
    il mondo Arcade è abbastanza complesso. non ci sono molte dritte e consigli utili devo dire.
    alla fine rimane tutto un pò confusionale.
    Report
  • Claude GIROLET
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent et exhaustif (mais en anglais)
    Reviewed in France on January 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Ce livre pourrait être considéré comme un livre de référence pour tous ceux et celles qui souhaitent construire leur borne d'arcade plusieurs projets différents y sont détaillés (attention le livre est assez technique, il demande donc un bon niveau d'anglais), vous aurez également besoin de matériel pour vous lancer mais si vous êtes bricoleur (ou bricoleuse) c'est un livre très complet il regorge aussi de lien et de photos, un bon achat pour les passionné(e)s d'arcade.
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  • Dave Rigley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic resource!
    Reviewed in Canada on May 8, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Great book and an even better community at the forum linked to this book. If you've been bitten by the bug to build your own arcade cab like me then please give this book a read!
    Report
  • j_nt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Recomendable
    Reviewed in Mexico on February 8, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Buen libro para empezar con el mundo de las maquinas arcade, viene en pasta blanda. Recomendable.
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  • Smee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed guide on how to build a cab from the ground up.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 6, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I bought this book after I'd almost finished building my arcade cabinet - bizarrely! It was mentioned a couple of times as highly recommended reading so thought I'd give it a try.

    While most of the information in the book is available for free on the internet, it gathers it all together in a well structured format and it's easy to dip in and out of. The author obviously loves the retro arcade scene and this is evident in the writing.

    This book covers all the basics, but also goes into detail about how to skin the OS (mainly Windows all the way up to Windows 7) to hide boot up screens etc. Other OS's are available should you wish to try them! There is also some stuff that's a bit too hard core for me - (building a yoke for a Star Wars cab is beyond me!)

    There are recommendations for all kinds of items such as joysticks, buttons, controls, screens and various utilities to make things work better.

    Comes with a CD that has a copy of the book, diagrams used in full colour (the book is black and white), web links, shareware and other various bits.

    I'd done a lot of research prior to building my cabinet, so I already knew lot of stuff in the book - but I'd done it the hard way. I really wish I'd got this book first as it's a time saver and covers everything (and more!) that you'll ever need to build your own arcade machine.

    If you have more than a passing interest in either arcade games, retro or arcades from the 70's-90's then this is also a great coffee table book to dip in and out of.

    Highly recommended.
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