My mad descent into Vinny/Jeff's holes has begun

Note: When I say holes, I mean the rabbit holes/dark paths that were Vinny's short-lived Arduino fling and Jeff's on-again off-again arcade machine collecting hobby.

I recently ordered a "learn electronics" Arduino starter kit because I've always wanted to know people do that kind of witchcraft. I started going through the lessons in the provided book, and decided that I should come up with a project of some kind to work towards. Maybe something with buttons. Then I saw a forum thread by @aquacadet where he showed off his Divekick controller/shoe.

From that point, my "maybe I can make something with buttons" turned into "maybe I could connect this Sega Genesis controller to my computer" to "huh, arcade style buttons and joysticks aren't as expensive as I would have thought, maybe I can make my own fight stick" to "I wonder how much more money/time/effort it would take to build a MAME cabinet" to "oh Christ, I just spent almost the entire weekend pricing out Pop'N Music buttons and trying to figure out if there is any feasible way to legally get my hands on a copy of Bucky O'Hare"

I may end up simply losing interest in all this and giving up on the whole endeavor, but if I don't, I have a dark and dangerous path ahead of me. A path for which I am holding @vinny, @jeff, and @aquacadet personally responsible. Also Dave Lang. Still, it could be worse. I could have gotten into something more treacherous, like Dota 2 or hummingbirds.

I'm terrified of this becoming an impromptu photoshop thread.

That...is an unfortunate title.

You fucked up, son.

Phrasing.

I really want to build a MAME cabinet when I have the time and resources.

Gross.

Now THAT is how you title a thread.

Let's be honest: we are all disappointed here. No shame in admitting it.

Took the words right out of my hole

Well that's one way to get me to read your thread.

I wonder if the OP posted it and then went..."FUUUUUUCK"

It's sorta like watching a surgery. You know you're watching something very wrong yet you can't look away.

Mmmmm, yeah girl.

Dig deeper into Vinny and Jeff's holes.

I'll just say that I'm glad my hobbies are all in the arts. You can spend a lot on art supplies, but I feel like it's harder to fall down that sort of rabbit hole.

Actually, that's not true. You totally could if you collected synthesizers, and I've gotten pretty close to falling into that before.

Fuck it. Shut it down. Shut everything down.

Also, I bought a shortwave radio after hearing Jeff talk about them.

And here I was thinking this was going to be about the Bombcast phobia about climbing into confined spaces under/over their homes.

I really don't wanna tell the OP that you can edit thread titles now, but oh god that's disgusting hahaha.

@scrawnto said:

I was about to make the "but music production" exception, but you did that yourself, haha. The amount of close calls I've had with spending way above my budget on some beautiful hardware synth (or a couple days back a Wurlitzer Electric that was in beautiful working order) scares the shit out of me. Better on my wallet to just pick up a few more drug habits and just poke dead-eyed at my Slim Phatty.

FUCKING DISAPPOINTMENT, SON! WHERE'S THE HOLE STUFFING?

I've found myself staring longingly at the page for the Minimoog Voyager a few times. It's a good thing I can't actually play keyboard, or I might have pulled the trigger on that. I know I'd never actually put it to good use--I'm no composer--but they sound so dang cool!

You derailed your own thread hard, so congrats. Also, eww.

I regret nothing.

@bbalpert said:

You shouldn't, that's a great thread title. Hell, made me click on it fully knowing it was nto what it seemed.

You don't want to go down this path. It ends in tears. And pools of Vaseline. Mixed with tears.

I know RIGHT? Even if I'm not making music just the sexy sexy sounds a good ol' moog can make can entertain me for hours...god damn it now I'm staring at Voyager sales. Thank the lord I'm poor.

BAIT AND SWITCH.

Of course I clicked on this thread. Of course I did.

*giggle

Good luck! Hope you've got your spelunking gear. I hear Jeff's hole is a doozy.

I can't get over this thread's title. I'm sorry, but all validity has been lost.

Lost....that is...into Jeff's holes.

That made me actually laugh out loud. Almost spit Coke out my hole.

Come on, people. Do you really think that thread title was unintentional?

And, yes, OP, it's just a matter of time before you have hummingbirds sucking sugar water from your face.

I had some coke come out my hole before. Not pleasant.

@thesoutherndandy said:

Goddamn you fuckers. Can't stop laughing.

"Spread 'UM"

~ Big Jeffry

I have a rasberry pi just waiting to be used for that. Someday when I have time and/or I'm unemployed I'll get around to it

I certainly wouldn't go as far as calling myself a master of baiting and switching, but I'm rather proud of the thread title.

But back on topic (if that's even possible), does anyone have any opinions on arcade buttons? Specifically things like sanwa vs seimitsu, concave vs convex, good suppliers (for someone in the US)? When I started doing research I was kind of hoping that the arcade machine/control building community would be as meticulous about documentation as, say, the mechanical keyboard guys, and that I'd be able to find a guide like this one on cherry switches. So far, I've found some information, but not a lot all in one place.

That's gross.

I want to build a MAME-cabinet with a Metal Slug 1 paintjob. Buying a MS1 arcademachine on E-bay is out of the question, since it would cost me a million dollars.

Unfortunate topic title is unfortunate

@humanity: Tobias?

Big Jeffrey always says "drop 'em"

Dig Deeper into Jeff Gerstmann/Vinny Caravella

The title of this forum lead me to be believe this would be the best forum ever, l will leave disappointed.

Maybe you can use this for your thread dood

@humanity: I like that image, wheres it form?

@razielcuts: I made it

@humanity: For anything or..? Whats his torch pointing to? Can't quite making it out..

@razielcuts: I made it for this thread. It's a joke..cause it's someone diving deep into a hole? He is pointing the flashlight at a Portillos hat.

Tobias? Is that you?

@bisonhero: I don't see what you find so funny about what may or may not come out my hole.