Arcade Glossary
All the terms you need to know for your arcade cabinet project
Cabinet Parts
Marquee
Illuminated panel located at the top of an arcade cabinet, typically displaying the game's name and logo. Also called 'header' or 'sign'. Marquees are backlit with neon or LEDs for an attractive visual effect.
Side Art
Decorative graphics applied to the sides of an arcade cabinet. Side art often features game characters or thematic illustrations. It can cover the entire side panel or just a portion.
Control Panel
Horizontal or slightly angled surface where joysticks, buttons, and other game controls are installed. The control panel overlay is the graphic applied to this surface, indicating the control layout.
Bezel
Decorative frame surrounding an arcade cabinet's screen. The bezel hides the screen edges and adds graphic elements that enhance the game's visual experience.
Kickplate
Panel located at the bottom of the arcade cabinet, at the player's feet level. Often decorated with graphics matching the cabinet's theme. Also called 'base panel'.
Lightbox
Box containing the marquee lighting. The lightbox evenly diffuses light behind the translucent panel to create the characteristic illuminated effect of arcade cabinets.
Cabinet Types
Arcade1Up
American brand offering 3/4 scale arcade cabinets (approximately 4 feet tall). These official replicas of classic cabinets are designed for home use and can be customized with custom graphics.
Bartop
Compact arcade cabinet designed to sit on a table or counter. The bartop has no legs and typically measures between 20 and 28 inches tall. Popular format for DIY projects.
Full Size Cabinet
Arcade cabinet at original arcade room dimensions (approximately 67-71 inches tall). These cabinets offer the most authentic experience but require more space.
Micro Center
Intermediate arcade cabinet format, smaller than full size but larger than bartop. Often with a more modern and compact design, ideal for limited spaces.
Multicade
Arcade cabinet containing multiple games (multi-game). Multicade graphics have a generic or retro design that suits a varied game collection rather than a specific title.
Graphics
CPO (Control Panel Overlay)
Abbreviation for 'Control Panel Overlay'. Sticker or print applied to the control panel to indicate button functions and beautify the playing surface.
Accessories
T-Molding
T-shaped plastic trim used to protect and decorate the edges of an arcade cabinet. Available in different colors to match the cabinet's theme.
Joystick
Directional control stick used in arcade cabinets. Joysticks can be 4 or 8-way and are typically accompanied by action buttons.
Riser
Base on which an Arcade1Up cabinet rests to raise it to a comfortable playing height for adults. Risers can also be customized with graphics.
Materials
Adhesive Vinyl
Print material used for arcade graphics. Adhesive vinyl offers excellent durability, scratch resistance, and allows easy application on flat surfaces.
Technical Terms
DPI (Dots Per Inch)
Unit of measurement for print resolution. The higher the DPI, the sharper the image. For arcade graphics, 300 DPI is the standard for professional print quality.
PDF (Portable Document Format)
Universal file format for printable documents. PDF files preserve exact layout and colors, making it the ideal format for professional printing of arcade graphics.
PSD (Photoshop Document)
Native Adobe Photoshop file format. PSD files preserve all layers, allowing individual modification of each graphic element (colors, text, images).
MAME
Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator - Software that emulates classic arcade games on a computer. Often used in custom cabinets to play hundreds of retro games.