In a delightful demonstration of true gamer affection, a tech-savvy father built his daughter, named Bella, a customized arcade machine that’s intended to fit right in with the design of her bedroom. The machine is wrought in the style of a classic stand-up arcade console and is colored pink all around in order to match the daughter’s bedroom décor.
The father apparently had experience restoring old arcade machines, so his new project benefits greatly from his technical expertise. The machine itself stands at about 80% of the size of the original Ms. Pacman arcade machine; it’s approximately 50 inches tall. Adults would need to sit down in order to operate the machine comfortably, but tots of the right size should enjoy the console standing up; in some cases, such as in the daughter’s case, a step-stool might be required in order to grasp the controls and properly view the screen.
The custom machine runs Windows 98 and is loaded with a MAME custom-skinned “Bella’s Arcade Theme.” The console is coin operated, but can be activated simply by pressing the button on the coin slot. The machine currently has 250 games for Bella’s gaming pleasure. Says the father of his creation, “I had my dad’s help lifting it up the stairs and I think I destroyed my back but it was worth it. My daughter LOVES it and she is so excited to have an arcade machine of her own in her room - her reaction was thanks enough.”

