Hardware·Physical · 2017 · shipped

Mini arcade cabinet

A bartop arcade I built for my niece. She was young, impressionable, and starting to like video games. I saw my opening.

The finished bartop arcade lit up, custom marquee and RGB buttons, a game menu on screen
Role
Builder
Tech
Raspberry Pi · Laser-cut MDF · Arcade controls

I glued and squared the laser-cut MDF cabinet, painted it bright blue, then wired a Raspberry Pi to two speakers and a real arcade stick with RGB-lit buttons. Custom side art, and Ila’s Arcade across the marquee. It boots straight into a game menu.

The laser-cut flat-pack cabinet panels on a cutting mat before assembly
The laser-cut flat-pack cabinet panels on a cutting mat before assembly
The bare cabinet glued and squared up, still unpainted
The bare cabinet glued and squared up, still unpainted
Mixing the bright blue paint for the cabinet
Mixing the bright blue paint for the cabinet
The cabinet after its coat of bright blue
The cabinet after its coat of bright blue
The Raspberry Pi and amplifier wired to two speakers on a mounting board
The Raspberry Pi and amplifier wired to two speakers on a mounting board
The control panel with its arcade buttons and switches wired up
The control panel with its arcade buttons and switches wired up
Inside the finished cabinet, the Raspberry Pi, speakers, and RGB button wiring
Inside the finished cabinet, the Raspberry Pi, speakers, and RGB button wiring
The cabinet powered on in a dark room, buttons and marquee glowing
The cabinet powered on in a dark room, buttons and marquee glowing
Playing the finished arcade, hands on the lit buttons and stick
Playing the finished arcade, hands on the lit buttons and stick
The finished bartop on the counter with its custom marquee and side art
The finished bartop on the counter with its custom marquee and side art
A side view of the finished cabinet showing its arcade artwork
A side view of the finished cabinet showing its arcade artwork