Creating your own Arcade cabinet with MakeCode Arcade!
Have you ever wanted to create your very own arcade cabinet, with your very own arcade game creations? Now you can!
Build a Cabinet
There are several ways to build your own arcade cabinet — some are super quick and simple, while others require extra skills and materials.
Some great instructions for arcade cabinets can be found on our hardware page at https://arcade.makecode.com/hardware.
You can also find other versions across the internet, including versions that use Surface Tablets, Raspberry Pis, and even Chromebooks. As long as your computer can run the internet, you can use it to power your MakeCode Arcade Kiosk Cabinets!
Building the Games
MakeCode Arcade allows you to build arcade games both for online multiplayer use and head-to-head competition.
To create a game that can be played on a two-player cabinet, start by following a tutorial (like these for Arrow Battle and Horse Race) — or make up any other game that comes to your mind using the Carnival and Multiplayer extensions.
To install those extensions, you’ll need to select “Extensions” from your project toolbox and search for “carnival” and then “riknoll/arcade-mp”.
When you’re done with your game, head to the share dialogue and copy the share URL for your game (or pull up the QR Code). You’re going to need it in a minute.
Running the Kiosk
We only recently added the ability to host games in a kiosk-like environment. To make this happen, visit:
And choose “Add your game” (using the arrow keys and spacebar to navigate.)
If you have a phone close by, scan the QR code on the kiosk screen, then follow the instructions to scan the QR code for your game. The phone and kiosk should both let you know when the update was successful.
If you don’t have a phone on you, type in the kiosk URL that’s shown below the QR code and add the share URL for your game when prompted.
That’s it! That’s all you need to do to add your own custom Arcade games to your own custom Arcade cabinet!
