https://garyshobbies.com/blog Retro arcade restorations and virtual pinball build logs from Gary & Dave. en-us Mon, 12 Oct 2026 01:14:56 GMT https://garyshobbies.com/blog/launchbox-alternatives-for-arcade-cabinets https://garyshobbies.com/blog/launchbox-alternatives-for-arcade-cabinets Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Software Gary A follow-up to our RetroArch vs. LaunchBox comparison. If the Big Box license, the Windows-only requirement, or the hardware demands are a dealbreaker, here are the LaunchBox alternatives worth running on a real cabinet. https://garyshobbies.com/blog/building-my-first-virtual-pinball-cabinet https://garyshobbies.com/blog/building-my-first-virtual-pinball-cabinet Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Virtual Pinball Dave A deep dive into the build process, from choosing the TV to wiring up the solenoids for real haptic feedback. This was a 6-month project that turned into something truly special. https://garyshobbies.com/blog/restoring-a-1982-galaga-cabinet https://garyshobbies.com/blog/restoring-a-1982-galaga-cabinet Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Arcade Restore Gary Found this beauty at a garage sale for $50. Here's how I brought it back to life with a full CRT rebuild, new T-molding, and a fresh control panel overlay. https://garyshobbies.com/blog/top-10-pinball-tables-for-vpx https://garyshobbies.com/blog/top-10-pinball-tables-for-vpx Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Reviews Dave My favorite virtual pinball tables to play right now, from medieval fantasy to 80s rock themes. These community-made recreations are incredible. https://garyshobbies.com/blog/led-marquee-mod-adding-glow-to-your-cab https://garyshobbies.com/blog/led-marquee-mod-adding-glow-to-your-cab Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT Mods Gary How I installed an addressable LED strip behind my arcade marquee for a scrolling neon effect that reacts to the game being played. https://garyshobbies.com/blog/retroarch-vs-launchbox-which-frontend https://garyshobbies.com/blog/retroarch-vs-launchbox-which-frontend Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT Software Gary Comparing the two most popular frontends for multi-game arcade setups. Spoiler: I ended up using both for different things.