Thinking about an Arcade Cocktail

[Delgrieve]

I'm considering purchasing a Arcade Coctail table. This type of cocktail is nice and small and very much like the ones I used to play in the Pizza parlors and I like the games it has:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ms-multicade-coc...QQcmdZViewItem

I've seen this version sell for around $1500 shipped. Considering they sell for over $3500 locally this sounds pretty good but wanted to see if I could do better. I know there are other cabinets with more games (Williams games specifically). Anyone know of where I might look?

[Sid]

1500 sounds a bit steep for only 48 games..

im sure you could pick up a premade mame cabinet with more games for less or an equal amount.

[birdbrain]

search craigslist.org i used 'arcade' there seems to be alot down in dallas. all under $750.00

[rubberratt]

The term "Arcade" game may be used loosely in this case. It doesn't have a manufacturer's name on it (williams, Atari, Midway), so it could easily be an emulator (PC housed in cab, w/buttons and ROM images) which you can have for free (M.A.M.E. &c.)

If you are looking for a genuine Arcade Cocktail. Check ebay. Here is an example of one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Galaga-Cocktail-...QQcmdZViewItem

and here is a M.A.M.E. ready "cab"

http://cgi.ebay.com/JAMMA-MAME-PC-Mu...QQcmdZViewItem

I also searched on multicade and found this:

http://www.cidamusements.com/

AND READ THIS REVIEW B4 YOU BUY !!!

http://www.amazon.com/Multicade-Cock.../dp/B000IGGBRC

[Youngjedi]

Ouch, that's High for that few games. I just finished build one for my friend. It's identicle (I basically coppied one that I had)and it has over 400 games. The cost for parts (not including an old PC...She already had that) is about 700 bucks. If your into making fun projects...this one is fun and easy...total building time is about two weekends, but most of that is staining and sealing the wood..the rest is just assembly.

Check out www.arcadedepot.com for kits they sell. That's where I got mine.

[Delgrieve]

Thanks for all the input guys!

RR - Yeah, "Arcade" may be a loose term... Rather than an original unit, I am looking for a multi-game system that has the arcade "look" and not one that looks like a MAME unit.

YJ - Those kits are tempting. Unfortunately I'm not sure how much technical knowhow is needed and I've never tried anything even close to this. Although there is something to be said about making your own...

[luckydog]

I have about a dozen MAME games on my computer,

and it was hit and miss getting them on and working

with my limited knowledge I would never attempt to built a system from scratch.

[Meathead]

I have about a dozen MAME games on my computer,

and it was hit and miss getting them on and working

with my limited knowledge I would never attempt to built a system from scratch.

That's why it's always good to have a propeller-head for a friend. Whenever my computer is on the fritz, I just call him. We just discussed Mame, and we've decided I will build the arcade tables, and he will handle the computers and software.

I'm going to outfit them to take tokens! I found this on ebay and purchased a couple...

http://www.imonex.com/z32series.asp

It will take .984 tokens. They'll be great for the gameroom!

[birdbrain]

this one works great and you can use any sized token you want up to30pai with no problem
http://cgi.ebay.com/ELECTRIC-COIN-ME...QQcmdZViewItem

[Youngjedi]

:scared1:Meathead...your avatar scared the crap out of me.

[Sid]

:scared1:Meathead...your avatar scared the crap out of me.

so i guess there is nothing left?





sorry couldnt resist...

[Sid]

http://www.dreamarcades.com/3-scade.shtml

here is a cab around the same price range as the original one listed..
it has more games and the ability to add more on your own...

in case you are still thinkin gof going the premade route.

[Delgrieve]

DING! Very nice Sid - This is very close to what I am interested in. A very wide selection of games including classic Tracball games and 4 player games. I will definitely have to keep this in mind.

BB - I forgot to mention thanks for the tip on Craigslist. I've never tried anything like this before but worth checking to see if there is anything in the area of interest.

Thanks again for all the ideas.

[nickbuol]

Take it from someone who has built 3 arcade cabinets for running MAME... Find out what type of PC they are running. The reason for 48 games in the one listing is that there is a games pack that many of the "professional" cabinet builders bundle in with their machines so that they can sell a fully working machine with LEGAL games. Most of these are just running Windows with a game pack application, and not MAME. We all know that the legality of having game ROMS is a very grey area.

So what does the comment about "don't want it to look like a MAME machine" mean? My cabinets have been built to exact cabinet measurements for Defender, but with different control panel layouts. Granted, I took some "artistic liberties" in my first cabinet.

With that said, my first machine from many years ago had a simple Pentium III -500MHz machine and 512MB of RAM. It ran just about everything but Mortal Kombat, NBA JAM, and S.T.U.N. Runner (which is simply polygons, but tkaes a massive machine to run). I had over 3000 WORKING games on there. Some were slight variations of other games, so I would say about 2000+ working, and unique, games.

Today I am still using the AMD Athlon 3GHz, 1GB RAM machine I bought back in August 2005. It runs a lot more games, and while I haven't tested them all, according to my ROM source, I should have over 3000+ working, and unique, games that actually run well (meaning I can play all versions of Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct, NBA Jam, and other, newer games that would have choked on my Pentium III - 500 MHz).

So find out the guts to see what you can actually "add" to the machine.

So the 3rd cabinet was one that I built for a guy I used to work with. We had everything cut on a CNC machine at a local cabinet company to AutoCAD specs within .001 of an inch.

If you want to see other designs, or even get plans, check out www.arcadecontrols.com They have an EXAMPLES page, which many link to actual build pages with instructions. They also have a very helpful forum.

Again, this is all in case you want to build it yourself, but again, if not, find out the computer specs before a purchase. You can build one heck of a machine for $1500.

[Delgrieve]

Thanks Nick - That is a VERY nice "how to" site. I will have to check it out in more detail.

My comment on "not looking like a MAME" refers to the MONSTER cabinets I've seen. I don't care for their looks and they seem to take up so much space. Hence the reason I am looking for a new cocktail - space and most look very much like a classic cocktail.

Thanks again for all the info.

[nickbuol]

The cool thing about a cocktail cabinet (besides the obvious "head to head" gaming, size, etc) is that it can be made to look very nice with quality woods and stains. Like a piece of furnature.

I went the more "game room" look with the full 4-player, upright machine. It is big, but it is how I wanted it. I think that in my youth I played Galaga on a cocktail once, but all other games where ones where you stood up at them (like I built) or were sit-down driving/flying games.

The cocktail cabinet reminds be of an old pizza parlor (and i LOVE pizza, so that is a compliment). Kind of a warm, friendly place to get some food, hang out, and have fun. My upright is more of the gritty video arcade feel. I often find myself playing it with the lights dimmed (we have dimmers on all of our basement lights) like in the old arcades. No smoking though.

EDIT: WOW. I just noticed that this is my 200th post. I joined September 7th, sold my Crazy Combat Pachinko, got my Lumina frame and 3 cells from Arby (in person), bought 3000 more balls, got 400 blue colored balls from Arby, started a cabinet build, and manage to post a little more than 6 posts a day (on average) here. Whew... What a busy last month. AND I keep up on my home theater forum, my R/C plane and helicopter forum, and my paintball team's forum. Maybe I need a vacation from the internet for a while... Nah...

[Delgrieve]

My thoughts exactly on the Cocktail. I've seen various stains that look nice and I also like the ability to have the head to head and/or side by side controls.

Congrats on your 200th!

[Sid]

Congrats on your 200th post



Keep em coming!!

[Sid]

Delgrieve

here is a DIY for you

http://www.instructables.com/id/Furn...rcade-cabinet/

[Sid]

this is also one of my favorites

http://www.surface-tension.net/

definately overpriced but heck you only live once...