Sit Down Arcade

 I have been looking for an arcade cabinet for years. Unfortunately, I lack the skill, knowledge, or the budget to build a custom cabinet. If you are like me, you’ve scoured through the internet looking at countless DIY forums and arcade related sites wishing and hoping to one day own one. During one random google session, I came across a particular post on ebay that advertised one of many Xtension Arcade cabinet units made by Rec Room Masters. I decided to go to their main website in hopes that this was the solution I was looking for to satisfy my arcade cabinet fix. Fortunately, I was right! Rec Room Masters has an incredible selection of arcade cabinets for everyone. From stand up arcade cabinets to the bartop variety, they have it all covered. They even have a variety of different colors to choose from. The one cabinet unit that particularly stood out the most was the Sit Down Xtension Arcade Cabinet for the X-Arcade Tankstick. Luckily, I already own a Tankstick so it was a perfect fit! Factoring in the amount of hours and cost of material it would take to build a custom cab, this was by far the easiest, most cost effective solution I can find. Of course, someone out there can refute all this but considering all the factors I mentioned earlier, this was truly the better route for me. 

 Purchasing from Rec Room Masters couldn’t be easier. Select the particular arcade cabinet you want, enter your credit card info, and a week or so later, it is at your doorstep. Of course, if you do have questions about the unit, you can always call them to inquire. Their customer service is exceptional!

When the unit arrived (4 boxes), I was pleasantly surprised of how secure the packaging was. Every piece was covered and protected in bubble wrap and styrofoam. Rec Room Masters mentioned that in some cases, damage can occur during delivery. But if any piece was dented, scratched, or broken in any way during its journey to your home or business, they would not hesitate to provide a replacement. 

Secure packaging

Bubble wrap everywhere

Plastic wrap for extra protection

 Assembly was a cinch. If you have ever assembled anything from IKEA, you will find no trouble putting this unit together. The directions are VERY clear as it contains step by step instructions (with pictures) from start to finish. One suggestion however, is to have a friend help out with the assembly. There will be a certain part during the building process that some lifting and moving is required. Regarding the contents, the 20 or so pieces of wood are packaged with an Allen wrench along with all the necessary bolts and screws. Rec Room Masters even considered including additional screws for different types of VESA mounts to minimize issues or incompatibility. NOTE: A screwdriver is required for a portion of the build.

      

Separate all pieces for better organization

All pieces are intact

Getting started

Instructions contain pictures for smooth assembly

     

VESA mount

Once the base is complete, the next step is to mount the HDTV. I purchased a 32" Samsung LED HDTV from Amazon. According to reviews, the HDTV has a decent refresh rate to keep up with games that have frantic activity (i.e. fighting games). Keep in mind that this particular unit does not have audio out if you intend to hook up additional external speakers. Fortunately, I will be connecting all devices to a receiver for added sound. According to the image above, I pre-cut two holes on the back of the VESA mounting board for easy cable entry in case you plan to connect devices that use component or RCA cables. This is entirely optional since the location of other HDTV inputs vary.      

So Sexy!

Here is the finished product in all its glory. As you can see, the X-Arcade Tankstick fits seamlessly inside the included platform. The unit also comes with an optional interchangeable platform that can be used for fight sticks.

Side angle

Custom Street Fighter layout (before)

Along with the cabinet, I received a Die Cut Vinyl Decal (sold separately) to place over the X-Arcade Tankstick. Personally, I am not a fan of the X-Arcade graphic layout design. Rec Room Masters allows its customers to choose from 7 existing templates, the ability to design a personalized layout or to request Rec Room Masters to design a custom layout (additional charge). I decided to send in an image I found online of my favorite game for a custom look. Keep in mind, if you choose to send your own layout, it must be a high resolution image (150 DPI) and set at full size (100%). For more info, please visit their website.

Custom Street Fighter layout (after)

Plenty of space to store your video game consoles or PC

 

One last gratuitous shot

All in all, I recommend this product to everyone that is looking for a cost effective gaming cabinet. It's build quality is rock solid and its look is one of a kind. To those interested in reliving their childhood or even those that were never exposed to arcade gaming, do yourself a favor and purchase one of these units. Rec Room Masters is a joy to work with and made this whole experience truly worthwhile. There is nothing like getting a fantastic product along with fantastic service. In the future, I plan on purchasing their bartop unit so I can take the arcade experience on the go. Nearly everyone I have shown this cabinet to has had the same impressed (dare I say, jealous) look on their faces. It's perfect for social gatherings, events, and even appropriate places of business (i.e. waiting areas of clinics).  I LOVE THIS PRODUCT! Thanks Rec Room Masters!