Soul Calibur 4 Arcade Cabinet [Idea in works]

Soupy

Soupy

[09] Warrior
Ok, I have been reading and hearing how people want SC4 in the arcade, however since Namco probably won't release it in arcades I thought "Why not make one at home?" So I was thinking it over and I just came to a decision that this could be a project for me and my uncle to make a couple sets of Cabinets for it.
The only real trouble we have are 2 things mainly:

1) The type of TV's to use, we want them like wide screen, good quality, no TV lag, but not overly expensive. So pretty much any ideas on the best TV's to go for?


On other notes I'm looking for a bit of input as, WE WILL BE TRYING TO BRING THESE TO MAJORS. I mean for show purposes and such. Somtimes however it is better to play on a cabinet than on a tv with controllers, it kind of makes it more enjoyable.

So what I'm asking is:

1) What type of cabinet design would be most prefered? (Images please)
-I personally like the current SF4 Cabinet
http://www.hosthit.net/game/image/2008/11/20081115_2.jpg
I have looked at someothers but this is what i favor the most as it isn't that hard to build and I think it looks cool. Lol

2) Control setups, er this is what is causing the most problems as people have control setups in game. As much as I don't want people to have access to the changing the controls it's actually needed.
Question is, Would a general setup be preferred or Should it retain the option to change your controls to what you prefer?

3) Sticks, What's the fan favorite for sticks & buttons? I know what I prefer but some input would be nice.

4) Last of All, ART. What art would you like to see around them as well as general color schemes?
I do have plans for maybe 2 Cabinets (2 players on each of course) so what would like to be seen on both?
Right now Oof(Oofmatic) proposed Star Wars Themed on both, and I personally am kind of fond of how they could look, But all the other things of Soul calibur can make a cool looking cabinet as well.
 
Thats not why people want SC4 in arcade. People want SC4 in arcade because that is where BALANCE TESTING IS DONE. The fact that both SC3 and SC4 came out to console without the arcade testing is a major boon on balance. Its why shit like Hilde's Doom combo exists.
 
Jaxel said:
Thats not why people want SC4 in arcade. People want SC4 in arcade because that is where BALANCE TESTING IS DONE. The fact that both SC3 and SC4 came out to console without the arcade testing is a major boon on balance. Its why shit like Hilde's Doom combo exists.
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It's kinda too late for any kind of testing, that's kind of why I wish they had did it that way but it's kind of too late now. But now it's really because the feel of a cabinet is better than a stick/pad infront of a tv screen on the floor, for me atleast. And plus it would be kind of fun building it IMO
 
Jaxel said:
Thats not why people want SC4 in arcade. People want SC4 in arcade because that is where BALANCE TESTING IS DONE. The fact that both SC3 and SC4 came out to console without the arcade testing is a major boon on balance. Its why shit like Hilde's Doom combo exists.
Click to expand...

That's just a loke test... and even with full arcade capacity playing the shit out of the game it'll still take a long time to patch and balance, plus its Namco.

The REAL reason why people want SC4 Arcade is because of its unbeatable accessibility and it gives the game more exposure to newcomers who... you know.. actually WANT to know how to play?
The ability to have your game in a place where everyone in like a 100 meter square radius around you is interested in playing NEW GAMES for a regular basis and let people see your game in action, want to try it, and be able to come back ANY time for it.

No amount of cost savings or comfort can take that away from the arcade, unless of course you tell me your place is really really accessible and the front door is open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for the entire year.

Its also easier on the newcomers, its not easy for a newcomer to be told to meet at a complete stranger's house, only for him to sit by and get blown away by the standard that he sees... If he plays against someone he deems strong he'll feel like the whole room has eyes on him and when he loses, it'll be embarrassing to him. Trash Talking and Banter amongst the vets will also be intimidating to some level. Most of us don't realize this, because when we started out we were in Arcades, and when someone really good was playing, we'd play, lose, and laugh about it with the 2 or 3 people that came with us. Only when we were confident would we break in and talk to the entire group. OR, we were cocky and had our asses handed to us.. Either way, it was a lot easier for us.

There's also a huge difference between hanging out at the arcade then going out for supper and a drink as compared to going to someone's house, ordering Pizza (or getting his wife/mom to cook) and then drinking shots at home etc.etc.. Especially when you do it every weekend.
 
If i had the chance to build the cabinet i would draw to the dark/light theme. One side hosts a beasty nightmare with black backing, sieg on white the other. Colere meet in middle, find a decent way to split. Perhaps have the swords 50/50 merged near top and a glow (almost laser beam esque with energy) continue down.

You can use the front to add in a few other characters, but really whos the 2 mascots? Sieg and NM. Algol as the header above screen?

Colors scheme in full: Black/White, Red/blue, orange/silver blue.

I'm preferable to my SF4 TE sticks. They kick ass, rip off the plate, get a design, one dark one light. Red/orange buttons on dark, blue and silver blue on other.

If you dont do the split, the color schemes are still very soul calibur.
 
ShenOu said:
snip
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I dunno, Ou, I guess arcades are totally different in Singapore. With the exception of really big coast cities like AI out in Cali, arcades are uber dead and don't actually pull in new players in anything. I think we had SC3 for, like, a day here in MI before it was taken away.

Jaxal pretty much summed up the reason why a lot of people /here/ wanted SC3, and likewise, SC4 in arcade.
 
crow_winters said:
I dunno, Ou, I guess arcades are totally different in Singapore. With the exception of really big coast cities like AI out in Cali, arcades are uber dead and don't actually pull in new players in anything. I think we had SC3 for, like, a day here in MI before it was taken away.

Jaxal pretty much summed up the reason why a lot of people /here/ wanted SC3, and likewise, SC4 in arcade.
Click to expand...

^ this ^

What really brought new players in was the online play, because it gave scrubs an incentive to get better. Once they get decent, they go to a tournament, get raped, and then go and practice more. Before online play, the typical scrub sat at home, fought a few CPUs, and never touched the game again.
 
MAILBOXARSON99 said:
^ this ^

What really brought new players in was the online play, because it gave SCRUBS an incentive to get better. Once they get decent, they go to a tournament, get raped, and then go and practice more. Before online play, the typical SCRUB sat at home, fought a few CPUs, and never touched the game again.
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Why do you keep calling people scrubs when your not much good yourself?
Atleast refer to them as people.
 
MAILBOXARSON99 said:
I apologize for hurting your feelings.
Click to expand...

Er, Your very annoying.
Ever since you attended what maybe 1 or 2 tournaments you think your just the shit, and those vids of you playing don't help at all because they were absolutely dreadful.
But yea whatever you want, I mean I can certainly dickride you and say "oh my god he's so much better than me." But since that isn't really true so I don't want to like and give you false hopes.
 
Speaking as someone who owns every Soul Calibur arcade game, I'll tell you a couple deal breakers before I'd consider buying any fan-modded arcade treatment of SCIV:

#1: Must be compatible with coin-operation.

#2: Must have the standard layout of no more than four buttons, in the standard pattern established by Soul Edge and faintly tweaked with Soul Calibur 1.

#3: Access to settings must be restricted under lock and key, pause must be disabled, and play must be restricted to modes that end promptly and predictably like Arcade. There's more on this point, but it basically boils down to the fact that the home version is too free and open in its programming to accommodate public duty. Aggressive, clever, off-puttingly difficult hacks would be necessary.

And then there's Jaxel, who has NO IDEA what the word "boon" means, but makes another good point about what arcade versions in this series are supposed to represent:
Jaxel said:
People want SC4 in arcade because that is where BALANCE TESTING IS DONE. The fact that both SC3 and SC4 came out to console without the arcade testing is a major boon on balance. Its why shit like Hilde's Doom combo exists.
Click to expand...
Arcade installments once represented the commercial beta test phase of these titles, and many of us who won't shut up about an arcade SCIV are really just hung-up and butthurt because we didn't get one prior to the console release, because in the era of "release it now, patch the problems later, and make money on the rebalance if possible," there's no balance-related reason that arcades are necessary.

Huh. I just realized how full of shit Jaxel is right there. Between that and his cranky-assed assessment of the good that might come out of Broken Destiny, he's looking a bit dumb this week.
 
PhilBond said:
Huh. I just realized how full of shit Jaxel is right there. Between that and his cranky-assed assessment of the good that might come out of Broken Destiny, he's looking a bit dumb this week.
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Don't hurt Jaxel too much, he's stuck in SC2 as we all know, he's just referring to how things used to be.
 
/on topic

So you are going to buy a TV, an Xbox or PS3, and put them inside a home built cabinet with arcade sticks? It's a pretty sweet idea. But what would stop a player from going in to all the menu options and what-not? Cover up the start button?

As for bringing it to tournaments, isn't there some sort of "public display" copywrite laws or something? I don't think if you could actually figure out how to coin-op a PS3 or 360 (improbable without restarting system) that you could charge people to play. But if it's just for fun casual stuff, it's little more than a decked out tv stand, but would still be really cool to see.
 
i was also confused by the use of the word 'boon'. but anyway , lots of bitching here. kudos to the op if you go ahead with this, sounds like a fun project, hope it turns out well.
 
Psylocide said:
/on topic

So you are going to buy a TV, an Xbox or PS3, and put them inside a home built cabinet with arcade sticks? It's a pretty sweet idea. But what would stop a player from going in to all the menu options and what-not? Cover up the start button?

As for bringing it to tournaments, isn't there some sort of "public display" copywrite laws or something? I don't think if you could actually figure out how to coin-op a PS3 or 360 (improbable without restarting system) that you could charge people to play. But if it's just for fun casual stuff, it's little more than a decked out tv stand, but would still be really cool to see.
Click to expand...

I just really got to get a Frontloader made for it, which would require a programmer which I am still trying to find at the moment, I would ask some people I met through DOA but I lost contact with them a few weeks ago so the hunt is on

PhilBond said:
Speaking as someone who owns every Soul Calibur arcade game, I'll tell you a couple deal breakers before I'd consider buying any fan-modded arcade treatment of SCIV:

#1: Must be compatible with coin-operation.

#2: Must have the standard layout of no more than four buttons, in the standard pattern established by Soul Edge and faintly tweaked with Soul Calibur 1.

#3: Access to settings must be restricted under lock and key, pause must be disabled, and play must be restricted to modes that end promptly and predictably like Arcade. There's more on this point, but it basically boils down to the fact that the home version is too free and open in its programming to accommodate public duty. Aggressive, clever, off-puttingly difficult hacks would be necessary.

And then there's Jaxel, who has NO IDEA what the word "boon" means, but makes another good point about what arcade versions in this series are supposed to represent:

Arcade installments once represented the commercial beta test phase of these titles, and many of us who won't shut up about an arcade SCIV are really just hung-up and butthurt because we didn't get one prior to the console release, because in the era of "release it now, patch the problems later, and make money on the rebalance if possible," there's no balance-related reason that arcades are necessary.

Huh. I just realized how full of shit Jaxel is right there. Between that and his cranky-assed assessment of the good that might come out of Broken Destiny, he's looking a bit dumb this week.
Click to expand...

#1) Coin op can be done i've seen it i just need to find a programmer capable of tweaking the game

#2) I was already gonna go for that layout, I just needed input on what parts to use as people have different preferences

#3) Yea, I agree but would I still include the ability to change your buttons during character select?

Also I was never planning on selling any of these. I planned on only making a couple (2 players on each) or 4 of them (1 on each but all link) etc. and these were only gonna be for enjoyment purposes, also we are opening a arcade in our area soon and I think SC4 would be a great addition.
 
I would go with sticks and buttons from Suzo-Happ (www.suzohapp.com). I prefer the old American-style Happ "competition" joystick and buttons. On the other hand, Japanese-style Sanwa parts are more popular these days, as emulated by every Hori stick ever, and every dedicated Tekken 5 or Street Fighter IV cabinet. Here's a link to Sanwa-style buttons, but I can't seem to find the sticks. There's no standard for how to color-code the buttons, but making the guard button a different color than the attack buttons is a recurring idea.

As for letting people change the controls: I don't think so. G-A-B-K is tradition, with G to the southwest of A. Even in the way people lay out their personal joysticks, I've never heard of anybody doing it differently. When your controller has extra buttons in addition to those, there are plenty of opinions on how to lay those out, but nobody needs those macros, and I'm pretty sure the one most commonly used layout is to just turn those extras off, with the occaisonal exception of an "all four" macro somewhere for CFs, but screw that. Nobody needs that when you've already got a finger on every button.
 
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