Achievement Unlocked!
It seems so long ago since @auraltensn and I started this unique venture into the retro gaming pantheon. However, it has actually only been a few weeks! A testament to how much work has been put into this project and how much we have already achieved. (I initially wrote this blog back in October.)
My approach to Thrillhouse Arcade has been design and engagement of the public eye. So, while @auraltensn has achieved amazing results with the development of the machine I have been working at developing our brand name.
Thrillhouse Arcade
When coming up with the branding of Thrillhouse I guess I was listening to a lot of Retro New Wave music (Com Truise, Mitch Murder, Perterbator etc). @auraltensn and I have a mutual appreciation of the 80’s Sci-Fi aesthetic and subsequently Thrillhouse was dressed in a purple/pink colour scheme.
After some playing around we managed to change the Emulation Station interface to match our colour palette. Backgrounds and font colours were replaced for something more uniform. The next step of this process is to create a start-up video and replace the navigation icons.
Cabinet Design
Design of the cabinet is modelled from the original arcade machines from the early 90’s, but needed some modern manipulation. We no longer needed this machine to have depth its predecessors had, as now we are using a flat screen monitor. We don’t want any visible screws or T-moulding either, opting for something with a more professional finish.
The button layout is taken from an 8 button set-up with the two end buttons removed. Six buttons should be enough for most games. Three buttons have been added for menu/navigation commands. Not pictured are 2 buttons on the sides of the machine for pinball. You can download button templates here. We used a ‘borrowed’ road works sign to create the original template. The Coroplast was really easy to cut and would advise anyone attempting to build their own machine to consider 'borrowing' some to make your initial template as well.
Kickstarter and beyond?
I would love to see people get behind this project and I think we are on the right track to building something really impressive. I have drawn a series of stickers which will be packaged in a desktop trash bin with some other goodies. The plan being, if people donate a certain amount of money they will receive one of these packs if the target is reached, or we just have a bunch of sticker packs to give-away on launch night. You can follow the progression of the artwork on my artist page SevenHz.
Expect another blog entry very soon as we have actually been working away at the machine quietly over the last few weeks.
