1. Inspiration & Origins

After nailing the portrait playfield on my LEGOcade Pro, I craved a full‑size 4:3 cabinet that felt true to the Neo·Geo era. I’d spotted the Pantasy Metal Slug Neo·Geo kit and imagined it married to a modern iPad. My first attempt cannibalized an old 8″ retro TV project, but a mishap with the LCD forced a rethink. Fortunately, I had an old 9.7″ iPad Pro on hand—and the seed for LEGO‑Slug Pro was planted.

2. Hardware Breakdown

• iPad Pro Install
  • Model: 9.7″ iPad Pro (white bezel)
  • Mount: A custom black LEGO plate “frame” hugs the screen, hiding the white border and angling the iPad for comfortable play.
  • Power Button: Drilled a 6 mm hole through stacked LEGO plates and fitted a tactile push‑button wired to the iPad’s Home function.
  • Power Supply: A 180° Lightning‑to‑USB‑A cable routes through a side bump‑out—concealed under LEGO tiles—and exits cleanly from the back.
• Fight‑Stick Integration
  • Controller: arVin arcade fight‑stick, disassembled and screwed to LEGO 2×4 bricks inside the case.
  • Programmable Buttons: Two extra LEGO‑mounted micro‑buttons on the right flank map to the stick’s side‑panel macros.
  • Marquee: Removable printed Metal Slug 3 marquee slides into LEGO tracks—stays on display, pops off for gameplay.
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3. Software Configuration

• Emulator: MAME4iOS and Delta Emulator
• Library: Curated list with an emphasis on Metal Slug titles (1–3, X, 4, and spin‑offs) for theme focus.
• Screensaver Mode: Original arcade attract‑mode demos kick in when idle, for authentic marquee loops.

All non‑essential apps, icons, and notifications were stripped away for a clean gaming experience. 

4. Custom Controls & Marquee

• Button Placement: LEGO Technic pin carrier holds the Home‑button hack—tactile yet discreet.
• Fight‑Stick Feel: Anchored to internal LEGO bricks, the fight‑stick never budges under intense play.
• Marquee Swap: Printed acrylic marquee snaps into LEGO studs—frames the screen for display, then tucks away.

5. Back‑Panel Easter Eggs

• Acrylic Panels: Laser‑printed sprites of Marco, Fio, and Slug Troopers behind clear acrylic.
• Hidden Nod: “Powered by iPad Pro” micro‑engraving in the corner—my signature touch.

6. Challenges & Takeaways

• LCD Mishap: First retro‑TV teardown ended with a cracked panel. Always have a backup!
• Drilling LEGO: Stepped bit and patience required to avoid cracking plates when making the Home‑button hole.
• iPad Cooling: Enclosure raises under load so keep back of the enclosure open for venting.

7. Wrap‑Up & What’s Next

LEGO‑Slug Pro delivers a genuine 4:3 Neo·Geo arcade feel, blending Pantasy’s kit, MAME on iPad, and LEGO engineering. Next up: RGB edge‑lighting on the marquee and other Easter eggs.