Way back in 2000 at my very first job I was introduced to M.A.M.E., a software emulator for old arcade machines. This software allows you to bascially play every game I can ever remember dumping quarters into at the local arcade growing up. The studio had a giant 4 player arcade machine, and I had written it off as being an expensive toy I could not afford.

A bit of internet research later revealed that this software was free, and people on this forum were helping people like myself build their own personal arcade machines! The idea of owning my own classic arcade machine is like a dream come true, and probably a way to hold onto some of those favorite childhood memories from back in the day. After years of reading the online forums, and tired of playing my games with a joypad and a television, I finally made the leap. I went to a local arcade auction in Mesquite, TX to see if I could find a project machine of my very own.

Before this event, I had mocked up my ideal cabinet and knew it must be in the Galaxian cabinet style. I can't tell you why this style does it for me, but something about that artwork and the classic shape screams 80's to me. To my surprise, they had a Galaxian at this event! It did not turn on, and was in medium disrepair - the perfect candidate for my project. After hours of standing around hearing screaming adults spending hundreds of dollars on these cabinets, it was time to bid on the Galaxian. I ended up winning the machine with a bid of $150, outbidding one other bidder... who was likely the owner of the machine jacking up the price.

The cabinet now sits in the workshop where it is slowly being transformed into a M.A.M.E. machine. The goal of the project is for the machine to run as many gaming consoles currently emulated as the computer can smoothly handle. The major defining detail of this project is that the machine will feature a motorized rotating LCD screen, which will flip orientation automatically via software upon game selection. This allows classic vertical arcade games to be played full screen in all their glory without having to be cropped by black sidebars, and will add that special little touch that iterates the fact that I can never leave good enough be.

Project Goals:

• Maintain original Galaxian exterior look
• Play as many games as possible
• Motorized rotating monitor which automatically orients with game selection
• Accept quarters as actual game credits
• Intuitive GUI which allows any player to jump on the machine and play without instruction