“Dragon Age: Origins” is a mesmerizing RPG from the master developers at BioWare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GNccdX3H_8

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23yhcpHCh50

For the most part, RPG fans are going to love what they find. While the story bears more than just a passing similarity to the “Lord of the Rings” saga, it’s not a bad thing, especially considering the replay value. The story changes whether you choose to play as a human, elf or dwarf, and the gameplay changes depending on whether you play as a solider, mage or rogue.

Expect to sink anywhere from 40 to 70 hours into the title based on how dedicated you are to completing every quest and finding every item available.

This Pac-man cocktail cabinet has been built from scratch. It is based on dimensions fron the original Pacman console, but includes a number of modifications to allow end-to end as well as side-by-side play of arcade games.

The console cabinet is made from 18mm MDF (medium density fibro), and a router is essential to get the correct finish.

I avoided using the T-molding on the edges, opting instead for a clean routered finish.  This has come up really well with the use of oil based primer and top coats.

The console uses an i-pac controller from Ultimarc. I did look into keyboard hacking but there are issues with keyboards, and the maximum number of keys which can be pressed at once.  The i-pac allows you to plug a keyboard in as well, which is what I did, for maintenance.

The top of the cabinet is made with toughened glass. I used some custom made L shaped clips to lock it down.

Other modifications allow quick access to the keyboard, through a top fold-out just under the side-by-side controls. There is another of these in the bottom half, which gives me access to the PC.

My goal was to keep the PC in a PC case.

If you have a close look, you will see that the monitor is actually put in upside down.  I wanted the room at the front for the keyboard, so I strapped the monitor to the back of the case. The monitor was modified using a technique called
Yoke Flipping.

As for the software, I run the whole thing under DOS – it boots quickly and it is difficult for kids to destroy.  I actually used a hack to Windows ME which allows it to dual boot like Windows 98. I can use Windows for configuration if necessary.

The emulator I chose is AdvanceMAME. It is the best DOS emulator as it provides all the fancy graphics smoothing modes under DOS.

The system boots to AdvanceMENU. I designed the PAC-MAME frame, however AdvanceMENU does the rest. The PC I used is a 1.2GHz AMD, with a 10GB drive.  This drive has about 1000 games on it, emulated exactly to the original. The green button on the side of the cabinet provides coin credits (no, I chose not to put is a coin mechanism. It is too bulky, and would not get used anyway).

AdvanceMAME has all the smarts to allow games to be played side-to-side or head-to-head. As with the originals, games played on the “short edge” are rotated to face player 1 or plater 2. AdvanceMAME lets you configure how each game is played.

This Yoke Flipping technique was first published by Bob Robert. It allows you to turn the image of a computer CRT monitor around, or even mirror it completely. CRT monitors use a deflection yoke at the base of the tube to control the way the cathode ray draws the image. There is an X (horizontal) part and a Y(vertical) control.

Each monitor is slightly different, but all will have in common two wires controlling X deflection movement, and two controlling Y deflection movement.  These wires are generally soldered to the yoke, however the other end is generally terminated with a socket.

Flipping the Yoke

To perform this task, all you need to do is identify the X and Y pairs on the back of the yoke, and trace them back to the socket. You will probably find that they are paired nicely, so all you need to do is split the socket, and swap the orientation of each pair. In the 4 pin socket image above, a cut is made as shown, and the cut end up on the outside, so the plug would be re-inserted with colors Blue-Red,Green-Yellow).

If you are into schematics, the diagram below gives you an idea of the Deflection Yoke Coil Circuit.

WARNING: CRT monitors contain very high voltages which can kill. Do not attempt this unless you are qualified, or know what you are doing!!