Game room do's and don'ts ?
- Lowrent
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Game room do's and don'ts ?
I'm renovating the basement this summer.
I've already planned to avoid installing lights in the ceiling to avoid spot reflections on my pinballs glasses.
Will use wall lights that flood the ceiling instead.
Do you have any other suggestions for me ?
I've already planned to avoid installing lights in the ceiling to avoid spot reflections on my pinballs glasses.
Will use wall lights that flood the ceiling instead.
Do you have any other suggestions for me ?
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Fait des circuits électriques séparé
Pense a mettre du clouage derrière le gypse si tu pense accroché des choses au mur
Pense a mettre du clouage derrière le gypse si tu pense accroché des choses au mur
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Wall sconces take away valuable wall space from your pins
Diffusers for fluorescent fixtures might be another way to go.
Diffusers for fluorescent fixtures might be another way to go.
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Do your wall lights if you want but go ahead and put ceiling lights in also. Run two switches.Run speaker wire's behind the walls everywhere you might need them.
Don't skimp out. Do exactly what you want to do. Don't cut corners. You'll regret not having done exactly what you wanted later. Finally, don't call it a man cave. Man cave's are for people who don't have pinball machines. It's a Game room or arcade.
Don't skimp out. Do exactly what you want to do. Don't cut corners. You'll regret not having done exactly what you wanted later. Finally, don't call it a man cave. Man cave's are for people who don't have pinball machines. It's a Game room or arcade.
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- Mrhide
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
- fluorescents fade pins in no time. avoid. in fact, avoid lights! pins are made to be played in the dark.
LF: GrooveCoaster Machine, shmups or any PCB, specifically Namco System 1 (Pacmania), let me know what you have!
Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Mrhide wrote:- in fact, avoid lights! pins are made to be played in the dark.
yeah....but there hard to fix in the dark!
- cdnpinballer
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Some suggestions? Sure......
If you share space with other individuals set clear boundaries for how the space will be used.
Draw a layout and play around with configuration options until you come up with the most ideal situation for your collection or eventual future collection.
Be prepared to go over budget.
If you can't personally complete the project in a month hire a contractor who knows what they're doing and just get it done. (Special emphasis on the point above if this route is taken)
Install extra electrical outlets for servicing your pins, beer fridge, juke, vids, wall mount tv, neon signs etc...
Consider flooring options carefully and keep in mind how long you may be in a standing position and the impact it may have on your comfort level – especially as you age. Personally, I went with low pile carpet with a thick rubber under pad for comfort.
Before closing up the walls run central vac tubing, speaker wire, cable wires, gas line, plumbing etc...
Install a whole house surge protector (subject to debate).
Run 4 games per circuit (subject to debate).
Bars, pool tables, couches, storage shelving, etc... all waste valuable space. Consider adding these on a limited and highly selective basis. However, if available, consider space for a bathroom, parts storage, tool storage, project game storage and a work shop area.
Invest in a pinball cart to make moving games around much easier.
About lighting – for my games room I went with pots positioned a foot or so back from the front of the pins and wall sconces at a height just below the top of the heads. In my case the profile of the sconce I installed fit perfectly behind all games. The wall scones and pots are on separate dimmer switches and I installed two sets of switches at opposite ends of the games room for convenience. Being able to dim your games room is awesome - highly recommended for light effects in various situations.
For my workshop lighting I went with Fluorescent, not concerned with fade at all, I think that’s somewhat of a myth. I mean sure, if you bake a playfield in a tanning bed it will change over time but that’s not the normal situation using a couple overhead fluro’s.
Good luck!!
If you share space with other individuals set clear boundaries for how the space will be used.
Draw a layout and play around with configuration options until you come up with the most ideal situation for your collection or eventual future collection.
Be prepared to go over budget.
If you can't personally complete the project in a month hire a contractor who knows what they're doing and just get it done. (Special emphasis on the point above if this route is taken)
Install extra electrical outlets for servicing your pins, beer fridge, juke, vids, wall mount tv, neon signs etc...
Consider flooring options carefully and keep in mind how long you may be in a standing position and the impact it may have on your comfort level – especially as you age. Personally, I went with low pile carpet with a thick rubber under pad for comfort.
Before closing up the walls run central vac tubing, speaker wire, cable wires, gas line, plumbing etc...
Install a whole house surge protector (subject to debate).
Run 4 games per circuit (subject to debate).
Bars, pool tables, couches, storage shelving, etc... all waste valuable space. Consider adding these on a limited and highly selective basis. However, if available, consider space for a bathroom, parts storage, tool storage, project game storage and a work shop area.
Invest in a pinball cart to make moving games around much easier.
About lighting – for my games room I went with pots positioned a foot or so back from the front of the pins and wall sconces at a height just below the top of the heads. In my case the profile of the sconce I installed fit perfectly behind all games. The wall scones and pots are on separate dimmer switches and I installed two sets of switches at opposite ends of the games room for convenience. Being able to dim your games room is awesome - highly recommended for light effects in various situations.
For my workshop lighting I went with Fluorescent, not concerned with fade at all, I think that’s somewhat of a myth. I mean sure, if you bake a playfield in a tanning bed it will change over time but that’s not the normal situation using a couple overhead fluro’s.
Good luck!!
- Lowrent
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Future gameroom being worked on, while I have my ass on the beach, drinking wine, 6000km away.
- pinhead
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
cdnpinballer wrote:
For my workshop lighting I went with Fluorescent, not concerned with fade at all, I think that’s somewhat of a myth. I mean sure, if you bake a playfield in a tanning bed it will change over time but that’s not the normal situation using a couple overhead fluro’s.
Good luck!!
Lee, I have had my Getaway for years and never put it anywhere near the sunlight and I put it in an arena with no windows and it faded in a few months. They had fluorescent lights, not sure what kind though.
Ottawa pinball operator and game technician.
For sale video games, manuals, boards, ask what you need and I might be able to get it for you.
Ottawa pinball repair service is limited.
http://www.pinhead.ca/
For sale video games, manuals, boards, ask what you need and I might be able to get it for you.
Ottawa pinball repair service is limited.
http://www.pinhead.ca/
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Lowrent wrote:Future gameroom being worked on, while I have my ass on the beach, drinking wine, 6000km away.
CAVE OPEN CE SOIR CHEZ LOWRENT!!
LF: GrooveCoaster Machine, shmups or any PCB, specifically Namco System 1 (Pacmania), let me know what you have!
Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Lowrent wrote:Future gameroom being worked on, while I have my ass on the beach, drinking wine, 6000km away.
Is this those toy you put loonies and play for 5 min at tearing a basement. sound fun lol.
Serge
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
I was passing in St-Lambert and I saw a sign in front of a home saying "play destroy a house for $5 for 5 minutes. Guess what the owner is 6000km away, he won't know.
Serge
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Pinbot,Old Chicago, Wild Life and Falstaff.
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- Lowrent
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Considering the future final bill, I wish people would pay!rocket30 wrote:... "play destroy a house for $5 for 5 minutes.
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Ok. Being 6000kms from home is why you missed the Pow Wow on Monday night at the North Star, now I remember why we didn't see you there. You were playing with a tractor on a rocky beach under a boardwalk, best reason I ever heard.Lowrent wrote:Future gameroom being worked on, while I have my ass on the beach, drinking wine, 6000km away.
Bonne Vacances Lowrent.
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Personally prefer the exceptional qualities lurking beneath any normal state of affairs. Alas, our day to day is being promoted as extraordinary via a world wide web largely fueled by the new dumb & followed closely by the latest breed of unscrupulous scoundrels & judas goats. So, god bless the fool hearted, the crazed, and the railroaded all in good measure for they will likely inherit what is left of the earth after the screwheads are done with it. God damn darwinian primates, why do they refuse to evolve, even after all we should have learned from being dumb savages for so long.
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Bally 1936 "Bumper" - North Star 1949 "Sea Breeze" - North Star 1950 "Richelieu" - Universal 1950 "Feature Bell" - Gottlieb 1952 "Queen of Hearts" - Williams 1960 "Ten Spot" - Gottlieb 1971 "Challenger" - Williams 1973 "OXO" - Bally 1976 "Bonanza"
Maxed out at 10 machines, no more. Un max de 10 machines, pas plus.
Une règle suivi guéri de tout. A rule respected can cure anything.
A philosophy of doing shall rule until the days when I can no longer "do" arrive. Because when I am too old to adjust an AX relay or relieve a woman friend from sighing, there will only be memories to fill my time. So, the task at hand is to build that RRSP of memories in order to joyfully cushion the later stages of life.
Personally prefer the exceptional qualities lurking beneath any normal state of affairs. Alas, our day to day is being promoted as extraordinary via a world wide web largely fueled by the new dumb & followed closely by the latest breed of unscrupulous scoundrels & judas goats. So, god bless the fool hearted, the crazed, and the railroaded all in good measure for they will likely inherit what is left of the earth after the screwheads are done with it. God damn darwinian primates, why do they refuse to evolve, even after all we should have learned from being dumb savages for so long.
"I try my best to be just like I am, but everybody wants you, to be just like them. " - Zimmy
- Lowrent
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
I asked to have wall sockets controllable from switchs hidden behind the head of a game.
That way, we can turn on all machines quickly without fiddling with each power switch under the machines.
Much easier for the kids.
Yay or Nay?
That way, we can turn on all machines quickly without fiddling with each power switch under the machines.
Much easier for the kids.
Yay or Nay?
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Have one switch designated for the games on the wall when you come down the stairs.
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Gone: Space Station, Top Score, Flash Gordon, Solar Fire, Haunted House, Fire (x2), Vector, Bally Playboy, Tropic Isle, Beat the Clock, Blue-Chip, Disco, Punk!, Lightning, Time Fantasy, 8 Ball Deluxe LE, Double Dragon, Stellar Wars, Alien Poker, Panthera, Elektra, Blackout, Black Hole, Black Knight, Silverball Mania
WTB: Medieval Madness, Rush
Its better to have played and lost than never to have played at all.
Gone: Space Station, Top Score, Flash Gordon, Solar Fire, Haunted House, Fire (x2), Vector, Bally Playboy, Tropic Isle, Beat the Clock, Blue-Chip, Disco, Punk!, Lightning, Time Fantasy, 8 Ball Deluxe LE, Double Dragon, Stellar Wars, Alien Poker, Panthera, Elektra, Blackout, Black Hole, Black Knight, Silverball Mania
WTB: Medieval Madness, Rush
Its better to have played and lost than never to have played at all.
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Much too risky! I don't want to risk someone leaning on the wall and shut down everything while I'm busting a high score.Chris Silver wrote:Have one switch designated for the games on the wall when you come down the stairs.
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
You could put a little box around the switch, or inset the switch into the wall behind a little door, or make a "switch guard" like this guy on thingiverse [ http://www.thingiverse.com/make:64429 ] .:James:.Lowrent wrote:Much too risky! I don't want to risk someone leaning on the wall and shut down everything while I'm busting a high score.Chris Silver wrote:Have one switch designated for the games on the wall when you come down the stairs.
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Biggest problem with it , is that a switch cannot control more than one circuit 15 amps . so lets say you want to control multiple circuits in the gameroom (many games) , you need either a big contactor installed before the circuit breakers of these circuits or you need a panel of contactors for each circuit that will be control by 1 switch . I thought about it when i did my gameroom , but this involve, as usual, more money !!!Chris Silver wrote:Have one switch designated for the games on the wall when you come down the stairs.
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
A buddy of mine is an electrician and did this. He has two walls of pins each linked to a different switch. Depending on what you want, don't skimp out. You want ease and beauty that's the way to go. He also has two other switches on that wall. One being bright lights in the room and the other being a dimmer switch for pot lights.Mindstorm88 wrote:Biggest problem with it , is that a switch cannot control more than one circuit 15 amps . so lets say you want to control multiple circuits in the gameroom (many games) , you need either a big contactor installed before the circuit breakers of these circuits or you need a panel of contactors for each circuit that will be control by 1 switch . I thought about it when i did my gameroom , but this involve, as usual, more money !!!Chris Silver wrote:Have one switch designated for the games on the wall when you come down the stairs.
Pins: Spirit, Centaur II, Af-Tor, Avatar, Embryon, Timeline, Baby Pac Man, SkyJump, Night Moves, Split Second
Gone: Space Station, Top Score, Flash Gordon, Solar Fire, Haunted House, Fire (x2), Vector, Bally Playboy, Tropic Isle, Beat the Clock, Blue-Chip, Disco, Punk!, Lightning, Time Fantasy, 8 Ball Deluxe LE, Double Dragon, Stellar Wars, Alien Poker, Panthera, Elektra, Blackout, Black Hole, Black Knight, Silverball Mania
WTB: Medieval Madness, Rush
Its better to have played and lost than never to have played at all.
Gone: Space Station, Top Score, Flash Gordon, Solar Fire, Haunted House, Fire (x2), Vector, Bally Playboy, Tropic Isle, Beat the Clock, Blue-Chip, Disco, Punk!, Lightning, Time Fantasy, 8 Ball Deluxe LE, Double Dragon, Stellar Wars, Alien Poker, Panthera, Elektra, Blackout, Black Hole, Black Knight, Silverball Mania
WTB: Medieval Madness, Rush
Its better to have played and lost than never to have played at all.
Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Depending on how fancy want to go. You can go down the home automation route. I know for Z-Wave they sell remote controllable Switches and Sockets.
Another home automation idea is to have the light's strobe red whenever a tilt is detected.
Since the walls are open is probabbly a good idea to run some data cables(Ethernet, Phone, Cable,etc..) to outlets.
Another home automation idea is to have the light's strobe red whenever a tilt is detected.
Since the walls are open is probabbly a good idea to run some data cables(Ethernet, Phone, Cable,etc..) to outlets.
Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
As mindstorm pointed for the contactor, I think the reason he stated one switch per game is because several game on the same switch that become powered all at the same time can cause unwanted power surge on your electrical circuit and maybe even in the games pluged in. I would not put several game on a powerbar controled by one switch for that reason, but if you plan to use the switch as en emergency shut down for everything pluged in that would be good.
- Lowrent
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
I only have room for 3 games. One 20A circuit triggered by a switch.
When the kids grow up, I might free some space for more games but for now, that's gonna be it.
When the kids grow up, I might free some space for more games but for now, that's gonna be it.
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Re: Game room do's and don'ts ?
Mercury vapour lamps are often installed in arenas as high-level overhead lighting, and there are two kinds: filtered and unfiltered. Unfiltered are cheaper but they're absolutely not for use without a treated glass cage and they emit a tonne of the *wrong* kind of ultraviolet light. They'll fade or yellow plastics as readily as sunlight, and can even cause sunburns/tans or even skin cancer to people that work in those environments steadily.pinhead wrote:cdnpinballer wrote:
For my workshop lighting I went with Fluorescent, not concerned with fade at all, I think that’s somewhat of a myth. I mean sure, if you bake a playfield in a tanning bed it will change over time but that’s not the normal situation using a couple overhead fluro’s.
Good luck!!
Lee, I have had my Getaway for years and never put it anywhere near the sunlight and I put it in an arena with no windows and it faded in a few months. They had fluorescent lights, not sure what kind though.
Arenas, schools, and big box stores are very bad for it, and if they have a building maintenance person that is ignorant they can do real harm.
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