Home >> Internet Games >> Classic Console Games

How to Build Your Own Arcade Race Machine

Building an arcade racing game can be as much as playing it. It is a time consuming hobby, but rewarding once the project is finished. Building an arcade game is somewhat a costly expenditure. Friends and family will enjoy playing old games on the arcade racing games either against you or with you. You'll need many different parts to get the hobby started. Prepare yourself to spend a fair amount of time on the weekend or other down time doing this.

Things You'll Need

arcade cabinet
controls
racing wheel
27" TV
computer
lighted marquee
monitor bezel
sound
surge protector
coin door
game emulator
front loader
utility knife
screws

Instructions

Making the Arcade Racing Game
- 1
  Purchase arcade cabinet. Assemble it or if it's already been assembled, find a space large enough with a power outlet behind it to put it in.
- 2
  Purchase control unit, and racing wheel, preferably with USB cables on the end. This way, you can plug the control unit and steering wheel right into the computer stored in the arcade.
- 3
  Install TV into the arcade system. Make sure to find one with power return, in case of a power surge or outage.
- 4
  Put computer installed with a newer operating system, such as Windows XP or later, into the arcade unit on the bottom of the cabinet. Make sure the CPU has a higher quality graphics card, such as one from ATI.
- 5
  Attach the lighted marquee to the top of the arcade unit. You may want to attach Plexiglas to it to give the unit an arcade feel.
- 6
  Order monitor bezel and install on front of arcade unit. Cut to size using utility knife. It should fit perfectly. If it doesn't, try using some fabric fastener or tape to hold it in place.
- 7
  Install speakers, preferably subwoofers into pre-cut speaker holes. Place screws approximately halfway into the cabinet and slide the speakers onto the screws.
- 8
  Plug in surge protector to outlet and make sure all electronics, like TV, computer are plugged into the strip.
- 9
  Order coin door and install it into the front of the arcade cabinet.

Classic Console Games