Most of us dreamed at some point of owning an arcade machine of our own. Having unlimited credits on our favorite titles seemed too good to be true, and in the modern age, this dream is now an easily achievable reality. With tools like emulation and the Raspberry Pi single-board computer, guides can get us started with the basics in just a few hours. There is a little more here than meets the eye, however, where extra knowledge can help you improve your experience.
The Flexibility Beyond the Arcade
Systems like the Raspberry Pi are fantastically powerful little units, and while they’re perfectly suited to older arcade systems, they’re also great fits for other types of gaming. This is owed to their Linux-based operating systems, which offer broad support beyond arcade emulation.
These systems can easily be operated as desktop computers, which means they can connect to the internet and access a range of online games that aren’t too processor-heavy. Some of the best examples are illustrated by mobile casino services and their titles. Designed to play on smartphones and tablets using real money or bonus rewards such as free spins, software like slots and live roulette are more than catered to with the Pi’s power, making them a great fit for interested players. This same suitability also applies to non-arcade video games, like video game consoles up to the PS2 generation.
Hardware Matters
In all the amazing arcade cabinets we’ve seen users build over the years, there are two common issues that we see repeated. The first issue is that builders become too focused on offering the traditional arcade input set with arcade sticks and up to eight buttons. While this is authentic, and a great way to play many games, it’s not a perfect fit for every title, or every person.
While offering this as a default, it’s also worth considering building a hidden panel with access to different controller types and a USB hub. This allows players to jump in with a gamepad in emulated console games, or if their hands have issues with traditional stick setups. These can be entirely discrete too, so they don’t affect the visual appeal of your setup.
The other challenge is one that might be impossible to overcome, which is how ill-suited LCD screens can be to the authentic arcade experience. Traditional arcade cabinets are built on CRT displays, which function fundamentally differently than modern displays. This is especially important in how games look, as even with filters, the best LCD and OLED screens in the world can’t match the natural blur of CRTs.
Unfortunately, this is a case where even the most authentically aiming users still might have to bite the bullet and adopt a modern display. CRTs are no longer built for mainstream audiences, leaving potential purchasers with no choice but to pay huge amounts for unreliable older TVs or prohibitively expensive newer models.
One of the best things about creating your own arcade setup is that nobody can tell you what to do. If you want to go crazy with modern ideas, you can, or if you want to keep your system classic and traditional, that’s a perfectly viable choice too. As long as you don’t get so good that you endlessly beat your friends to the point they no longer want to compete, the sky’s the limit.
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