It's a secret to everybody.

Another exclusive insider look at the making of Arcade816! This is our highly specialized method of measuring screen size for bezel art layouts. Don't tell anyone.

Greetings gamers, quick update.

All 816 Console Cabinet design and artwork is complete! We've designed 8 total cabinets in two styles that we hope to have completed and ready for play at Midwest Gaming Classic. Jeremy Fox at Prince Arcades is building our "K" style cabinets now, Team816 Olaf is putting the final touches on our "N" style prototype, and Team816 Jason is knee deep in code, designing our autofire circuit! Today we're hard at work doing console mods: RGB output and external reset dongles. We're all very excited to blow minds next year. Stay frosty, see you very soon!

SNES control panel (alternate)

Here's an alternative drop-in control panel for the SNES cabinet, good for fighting games!

3D mockup of the SNES control panel in a "N" Console Cab

Team816's Olaf did a 3D mockup of the SNES control panel in a "N" Console Cab. More to come!

Super Nintendo control panel under development today!

Bye for now Pixel Blast Arcade, thank you for everything!

Sega Genesis proto cab beta test ending soon!

NEW CABINET REVEAL: Sega Master System

This poor console never got a fair shake in the USA, so it's my hope to give this one a second chance at life in 816. (The control panel is not in yet, but just to give you an idea.) We plan to have variants on display, including Master System II and Power Base converter. FM audio mods will be implemented, so the music in compatible games will be in it's full glory.

Even the reset buttons will look authentic at Arcade816!

The "N" lives!

And just like that, it's a brand new arcade cabinet! Thanks as always to Team 816's Olaf for his stellar work!

Pixel Blast Arcade 2nd Anniversary

It's been a joy to watch my friends grow and flourish these past two years. Pixel Blast Arcade was a major inspiration for Arcade816, plus they pushed me to bring the prototype cabinet to Midwest Gaming Classic and changed my future. Please join us in celebrating their continued success at Pixel Blast Arcade's 2-Year Anniversary Bash!

PRESS: Sega-16 interview

Thank you Sega-16.com for spreading the word! Dr. Ken Horowitz is the founder, and he's the real deal! I met him at MGC and besides being a really nice guy, turns out he's the author of "Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games", and the upcoming "The Sega Arcade Revolution: A History in 62 Games". check out his fantastic website and books! Read the interview here!

The "N" is born!

From the 3D world and into the real!

REVEAL: Console Cabinet "N"!

The current Console Cab "K" design is what we'll be using for most of the systems available for play in 816. However, for Nintendo consoles we wanted to do something special, so today I am proud to unveil the 816 Console Cabinet "N".

Marquee graphics

Working on something different each day to avoid burnout! Today, marquee graphics. From the popular to the obscure, 816 will have it all!

Cabinet maintenance!

Jason Hedlund and I noticed the monitor on-screen menu popping up intermittently when we put pressure on the control panel or lower right bezel. Figured the MDF had expanded due to spring humidity and now the monitor buttons were being pushed on by the bezel. Sure enough! I came to Pixel Blast with a jig saw and cut out a notch for the buttons, the problem is gone! Thanks to Trickman Terry for the assist! That's why this is a prototype cabinet, and why we're beta testing!

Weird day.

Weird day. Went to the video game swap meet at Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield IL, ended up meeting video game royalty. The dudes from YouTube channels My Life in Gaming (Coury Carlson, Marc Duddleson) and Game Sack (Joe Redifer)! Also Ste Kulov, owner of HD Retrovision who makes component cables for SNES, Genesis and others, and Frank Cifaldi, Director of The Video Game History Foundation. Trickman Terry, Jason Hedlund and I convinced them to swing over to Pixel Blast Arcade in Lisle for a night of arcade geek out and Genesis games on the 816 Cabinet! No big deal, whatever.

Open Source Scan Converter

What a difference an upscaler makes! When deciding to make a modern style arcade, we had to overcome some problems. Like how to make old 240p video games look good on a modern 1080p LCD monitors. Enter the Open Source Scan Converter. The OSSC incrementally line doubles (or triples, up to 5x) the 240p image so the quality remains crystal clear. It can even simulate the scanlines present on a CRT monitor, making the gameplay experience complete and authentic. You can snag one at VideogamePerfection.com

Pixel Blast!

Proud to be joining the ranks of arcade operators like my dear pal Paul Ojeda. The modern arcade community is loaded with honest, decent people who have bent over backwards to help me get started. Many thanks!

Home!

Glamour shots

Safe and sound.

Made it home safely from Midwest Gaming Classic, but more importantly so did the 816 Console Cab! It's new home is with my pals at Pixel Blast Arcadein Lisle, Illinois, who are taking great care of it, and were very understanding about my "new cab anxiety". If you missed the chance to see it at MGC, it will be available for play from this Tuesday, and we'll soon establish some kind of routine for swapping in Sega Genesis cartridges that YOU want to play. Stay tuned!

Gotta Go Fat...!

Sonic 2 XL was the sleeper hit of the show! Everyone was having a great laugh playing this ROM hack of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where Sonic gets fatter as he collects more (onion) rings. We're on the way out, so thank you Midwest Gaming Classic for your kind words of encouragement. In return I will bring you the best experience I can next year!

Mario playing Mario...

Welcome players, to family day at Midwest Gaming Classic! Here's Mario playing Mario... On Genesis??

816 Console Cabinets for sale?

A lot of folks are asking if the 816 Console Cabinets will be for sale. Our main focus at the moment is getting enough cabinets built to get the arcade open. There will be 10 or so of the Genesis cabs you saw at Midwest Gaming Classic, but also cabinets dedicated to other game consoles. Once we have 50-60 total, the arcade will be open for your enjoyment. Once we are established and on track, we would have no problem offering limited numbers for sale. Pricing would be determined at that time as well. Thanks everyone for your interest!

Thank you Midwest Gaming Classic!

Thank you Midwest Gaming Classic for your kind words about our prototype cabinet! You made it a great Saturday! We'll be back tomorrow!

Fun at Midwest Gaming Classic!

Midwest Gaming Classic is great fun so far! A lot of folks are enjoying the prototype Console Cab! Come visit at the Pixel Blast Arcade booth.

First beta test

The first one night only public beta test at Pixel Blast Arcade. We set it on top of Puck Bowling (before the Console Base existed), and let folks have a go on the unfinished cabinet (pre-art and t-molding). People seemed to have a good time and kept peeking at what was underneath. Mission accomplished!