26 replies to this topic

[ORIGINAL SteelWolf]

I've been toying with this idea since 1993 when i went to VWE in chicago. But i was in the military so i could not. 20 years later almost i have the space, spair $ and finally a game that seems worthy of the time to get this pack burner done. Wife would kill me if it was fully enclosed, so i was thinking... Do it anyway! But make it convertable. Easier to move/relocate and the wife/family wont feel so ignored. For years i was stuck on the multi monitor aspect like the VWE pods offered but with larger flat screens i'm thinking 32 inch screen and diggin out my old thrust master rudder and wepons control systems. Toss in a new joystick, Already have a PC built for Warcraft and diablo 3, Just need to update my vid card and i'll be good. Might have to integrate my
FT-897D into the setup. http://www.facebook....p?id=1539826353

[Adrienne Vorton]

i am always thinking about building one, but the money i´d need for that is not available right now... i´d use a racecar-seat(recaro or smth,) 3-screen panorama setup, flightsimulator stuff as much as there is available and build a mechcockpit-style box around that^^ just a dream though, my joystick has to do the job for now

Edited by Adrienne Vorton, 28 May 2012 - 12:50 AM.

[Dirk Le Daring]

Check this out, it is pretty good..http://mwomercs.com/...__fromsearch__1

Edited by Dirk Le Daring, 28 May 2012 - 01:31 AM.

[Waladil]

I'm not sure if you guys are aware, but these already exist. At a few entertainment centers, they have pods set up, simulating 'Mech cockpits.
(http://en.wikipedia....tleTech_Centers)

They have a computer in them, running MW4:Mercs and set up multiplayer matches. The game is displayed on a large screen, there's a throttle joystick, a weapons/turning joystick, and a couple pedals for torso movement. Various HUD screens have your health, weapons, and some comms to taunt the other players. Most of the stuff is disabled/broken a lot of the time, unfortunately. Find a way to buy one yourself and remake it for MW:O and you'd get all the interwebawards.

[Tazzie]

Oh yeah... Want this!!

Unfortunately, my house is simply too small to fit one in... The only real option is to build one outside. This though, means it will need to be weatherproof, air conditioned (summer), heated (winter) etc... Ie a LOT of work!

You've already guessed that such a set-up can only end in divorce however, as I would never leave my little paradise!!

I wouldn't mind so much, but she's smart enough that she wouldn't take the kids with her when she left...

[ORIGINAL SteelWolf]

Those do not run mw4 on them. VWE pods for a set of 4 and the control center your looking at $10-12k. I was at the chicago center in 93 and 96. I still have my final battle print out sheet and member card around here somewhere.

[Adrienne Vorton]

Waladil, on 28 May 2012 - 01:32 AM, said:

I'm not sure if you guys are aware, but these already exist. At a few entertainment centers, they have pods set up, simulating 'Mech cockpits.

i am completely aware of those commercial pods... but we are talking about building them our selves...

[Woodstock]

I will be lucky if I can get the money together to buy a new computer to play the game without all the silliness of building a cockpit.

[Satan n stuff]

You could always go the extra mile and build a whole mech in your backyard, nothing fancy, maybe an urbie or something. If someone actually manages to build a full scale mech I want pictures, especially if it's an assault.

[Adrienne Vorton]

Dirk Le Daring, on 28 May 2012 - 01:30 AM, said:

Check this out, it is pretty good..http://mwomercs.com/...__fromsearch__1

and this is...HOLY SH*** omG...wth??? thats it, yes

and yea, then build a mechstatue with that cockpit in it, and you can completely go insane and lose reality for ever xD

Edited by Adrienne Vorton, 28 May 2012 - 01:42 AM.

[ORIGINAL SteelWolf]

There was a madcat treehouse built a few years back. i'll look up the links and edit this post.

[edit]

http://techabsorbed....BattleMech.html

Edited by ORIGINAL SteelWolf, 30 June 2012 - 12:40 AM.

[ORIGINAL SteelWolf]

Was testing different image tags. HTML and RTF and in browser tools.

[Dantiger]

Dirk Le Daring, on 28 May 2012 - 01:30 AM, said:

Check this out, it is pretty good..http://mwomercs.com/...__fromsearch__1

god... this is... wait... did i see a hula girl ? HE ACTUALLY HAVE A HULA GIRL ! DAMN... i need one to play MMO

[Black Dragon EnDrakus]

i would, but i live in a small apartment, have no money, and have little practical experience with carpentry and such.

[SmackZ]

Hey guys as an avid builder, here is a tip...construction dumpsters are your friends and add the electronics as you can afford...Also check TheWayIPlay. The site is loaded with useful info and links on building cockpits and even building your own hardware for the pit. Hope this helps a few folks get into the pit building scene.

[ORIGINAL SteelWolf]

When i build mine i'm not modeling it after any specific mech or VWE pod version. I'm going to do what feels comfortable, quick and modular. I also need to see what functions and features need buttons or switches. Worse case senario the sides might be thick cloth and painted. and hung on rods. The top would be covered as well. Light weight. Dark interior. And if the family needs some dad time i can slide back a "wall". Personally i'd rather have and open bay cockpit/instrument panel only or go all the way!

[Professor Sakharov]

I built one once upon a time. Due to unfortunate circumstances I had to sell it.

I have been considering building a new one.,,,,

[ORIGINAL SteelWolf]

Adrienne Vorton, on 28 May 2012 - 01:40 AM, said:

and this is...HOLY SH*** omG...wth??? thats it, yes and yea, then build a mechstatue with that cockpit in it, and you can completely go insane and lose reality for ever xD

I'd have to add rumble motors tied into the game so when i got hit the mech /seat would shake. And wire them so it would not trip when firing. Would also have ambient engine noise piped from the belly of the reactor. So it sounds and feels like i'm in an active mech.

[juxstapo]

Heh, I've got 1. 17 years experience as a contractor, 2. A spare room to use as an office, annnnnd 3. A wife that actually bought me a flight control system and all the componets for a new rig.

What I don't have is the cash running out my ears. Thusfar my extremely modest simpit plans involve a bucket seat out of an '89 Camaro, a single monitor, and the gradual construction of what will basically be a convoluted armrest/joystick/keyboard mount to make the layout more "Instrument Panel...ly"

[Droz]

A Mech cockpit would be an awesome way to go, but other than feeling like your in a cockpit, there's not much else that it will do (Still awesome though). What would be ideal is if certain instruments and/or HUD elements could be extracted to a separate monitor so that you could create an actual functioning cockpit. now THAT would be awesome (It's actually something I'm doing with the DCS series of flight simulators right now, and it's no easy task).