Arcade Drain

Well, my heart sinks. I knew it wouldn't be cheap, but I'm a little saddened by the estimated cost of building an arcade cabinet. I was hoping I could spread the cost out some by approaching it in a modular, piece-by-piece fashion. So far, just for the controller electronics, the estimated cost is in the $200 range. The cost for 4 8-way joysticks and buttons is also near $200; add a trackball and it’s up to $300. That’s $500 for the controller! Ouch! I was expecting the cabinet itself to be the most expensive part, but reality sets in.

Regardless, I’m going to go forward with planning the controls. I’ll sell blood, sweat, or maybe some 3D to raise the money to make this thing.