Over the next few weeks my excitement grew as my research on a frame design progressed. I found that 90% of the information out there on the net mainly covered the old pac-man style designs. Also interestingly, most of the chatter/excitement/blogs commence around 2002 and it goes quiet around 2006. There’s still an active community out there, but not as strong as that era.

I started drawing some sketches to better visualise my possible design (check out my awesome CAD skills).

I started to quickly realise that I wasn’t 100% certain that I wanted to do a full retro type of design, I needed something that had more sex appeal (like me), easy on the eyes (like me) and unique (like me).

Much like most nerds, I’ve been thinking about doing my own arcade machine for the longest time, having both the software and electrical engineering traits covered I thought, why the bloody hell not! I mean, how freakin hard could putting a few pieces of wood together be? It will be so cool! I could re-live my childhood all over again and force it down my sons throat.

Initially I wanted to create a stand up arcade machine, but I quickly realized that my other half wouldn’t allow such a monstrous nerd gadget in the house. So I did a bit more research and even though every cocktail machine I saw was as ugly as the face of a pug dog, I decided that I will go down the COCKtail arcade machine route instead (but my own custom way). It will also be advantageous that my son wouldn’t have to wait to be 16 until he can reach the controls. Win Win I say!

Off to conduct more research on these cocktail arcade machines I went!

I decided (with the influence of a friend) to create this blaaarrrrggghhh to document a project that I’m working on, building my own arcade machine!

I’ll be uploading pics and making posts as I go. I’ve never done one before and have absolutely no carpentry skills, I think the last time that I picked up a hammer was when I needed to circumcise my neighbors dog… JOKIN… jeez, tough crowd.

Stay tuned kids!