// Service 02
Screen and Cabinet,
Speaking the Same Language
When your on-screen layout and physical cabinet are designed together, the whole thing feels cohesive. This service plans that pairing — deliberately and at a measured pace.
// The Promise
A layout your builders can follow and your players can feel
The Cabinet Layout Package bridges the gap between what your game looks like on a screen and how it sits in a physical enclosure. Those two things need to agree — in proportion, in where inputs land, in how UI elements map to real controls.
The result is a reference set your team can build from without stopping to interpret or improvise at critical moments.
A screen layout guide showing how game UI relates to the physical control positions
Input mapping notes connecting each in-game action to its physical counterpart
A tidy assembly reference document your whole team can follow comfortably
// The Problem
Software and hardware often evolve separately — until they don't fit
ISSUE 01
Mismatched proportions
UI elements designed for a standard monitor often don't translate cleanly to a cabinet display. Aspect ratios, viewing distances, and ambient lighting all affect legibility in ways that only become obvious on the actual hardware.
ISSUE 02
Disconnected input references
When the team responsible for screen design and the team handling hardware work from separate documents, inconsistencies appear. A button labeled one thing in the UI ends up mapped differently on the panel — and nobody catches it until late.
ISSUE 03
No single assembly reference
Without a clear document covering both the digital and physical side, builders work from memory or ask questions that slow things down. An agreed-on reference keeps everyone oriented at every stage.
// The Solution
Designed together, from the start
APPROACH
We look at your game's visual design and your cabinet spec side by side from day one. Screen layout decisions get made with the physical hardware in mind — and the hardware layout is informed by what's happening on screen. Neither gets designed in a vacuum.
THE REFERENCE DOCUMENT
The final output is a single, organized document covering screen layout, input mapping, and assembly notes. Clean enough to hand to a new team member and have them understand the full picture without a lengthy explanation.
WHAT MAKES THIS WORK
The Cabinet Layout Package is built for teams who are bridging software and hardware — a situation where the gaps between disciplines tend to produce the most friction. We've worked through enough of those gaps to know where they usually appear and how to close them quietly, before they become problems.
The pace is measured deliberately. Rushing this kind of work produces documents that look complete but leave things open to interpretation. We take the time to get it precise.
// The Experience
How the project unfolds
STEP 01
Discovery
We review your game visuals, cabinet specs, and any existing layout notes. We ask questions upfront so we're not guessing later about constraints that matter.
STEP 02
Layout Draft
Screen layout and input mapping are drafted in parallel. You see both together early, so adjustments to one can account for the other before anything is finalized.
STEP 03
Review
Your team goes through the draft and flags anything that doesn't fit your build reality. We incorporate feedback and refine at a pace that keeps things accurate rather than quick.
STEP 04
Handoff
Final screen guide, input map, and assembly reference — organized and delivered in formats your team can open and use without any extra setup. We follow up to confirm it lands well.
// The Investment
Everything covered, one flat price
CABINET LAYOUT PACKAGE
$620
USD — Flat Rate
Discovery session and material review
Screen layout guide (annotated, final file)
Input mapping notes — digital to physical
Assembly reference document for builders
One round of revisions across all deliverables
Post-delivery follow-up check
WHY THIS IS WORTH IT
A cabinet built from disconnected references takes more time to assemble, produces more errors, and often requires rework that costs more than the design service would have. The $620 flat rate covers a complete, coherent reference set — the kind that makes the build go smoothly.
PAYMENT
For projects on a phased schedule, a split payment arrangement is something we're happy to discuss. Bring it up when you reach out and we'll find an approach that works for your build timeline.
// The Proof
A track record for this kind of work
12
Cabinet projects completed
3–4
Weeks typical turnaround
3 files
Deliverables per engagement
METHODOLOGY
We've observed where software-hardware gaps most often surface in arcade projects and built our process around closing them early. The screen layout and input mapping phases run in parallel deliberately — so decisions in one area don't accidentally create problems in the other.
TIMELINE
Cabinet Layout Package engagements typically run three to four weeks from the discovery session, depending on how complex the screen design is and how many input types the hardware supports. We set a clear schedule at the start so your build timeline can be planned around it.
// The Guarantee
You should feel settled before you commit
OUR COMMITMENT
Every engagement includes a revision round across all three deliverables. If the screen guide or assembly document doesn't match your build requirements after the first pass, we work through it together without adding to your bill.
The project isn't finished for us until you've confirmed the documents are actually useful to your team — not just technically delivered.
NO OBLIGATION TO START
The initial call is a straightforward conversation. We want to understand your project well enough to give you an honest picture of what this service involves and whether it's the right fit. There's no invoice for that conversation.
If the scope isn't a match, we'll say so directly and point you in a more useful direction.
// Next Steps
A clear path to getting started
01 — REACH OUT
Use the contact form or write to us at info@tropicalheatwavejourney.com. A brief description of your project and where you are in the build process is enough to get us started.
02 — DISCOVERY CALL
We'll schedule a 45–60 minute session to go through your game visuals, cabinet hardware, and team structure. After this, you'll have a clear scope and a realistic timeline.
03 — WE BUILD IT
Work begins once scope is confirmed. Regular check-ins keep you in the loop. You'll know what's happening and when without having to follow up.
GOOD TO KNOW
This service works well at mid-development, once your screen design has some definition but before hardware assembly has begun. Starting before physical parts are ordered gives the most flexibility — but we can work with teams at later stages too.
// Ready When You Are
Let's plan your cabinet layout together
Getting screen and hardware to speak the same language takes some deliberate work — and it saves a lot of friction down the build. We'd be glad to help you get there.
Send a Message — $620 USD// Other Services
Explore what else we offer
SERVICE 01
Control Scheme Design
Maps out comfortable, intuitive controls for arcade-style games — joystick and button setups considered from the ground up with real ergonomics in mind.
SERVICE 03
Operator Handoff Kit
Clear, friendly materials for whoever will run or maintain the cabinet — setup guides, troubleshooting notes, and labeled diagrams written in plain language.