Arcade Machines

[Yowza]

1) If you were to make a game room of some sort, what 3 arcade machines would you dream of getting?

2) Also, what kind of makeshift cabinet have you seen that impresses you the most? This would be some sort of cabinet built (either emulator based or piece of hardware) that could play many games on it. Whether commercially available or not doesn't matter.

 

[Yowza]

I was hoping someone would have some good suggestions.

Basement Arcades seem to keep popping up on youtube and some of them look quite interesting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9d4JPVMZOM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdaiXKVR5pE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gvIK-mBYjE



Or if you can't afford your own arcade (I can't), here's an interesting option:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh0vhR041As


Some of the small aesthetic touches (a pay phone, glow in the dark arcade carpet) are great. The atmosphere is where it's at.

Anyone find this interesting at all?

 

[Yowza]

I decided to bring this thread back as there's something aesthetically pleasing about being in a game room or having one's own niche area lost in time.



Not everyone has the room though for a full-on game room; still how many wouldn't like a touchscreen bar game/music machine downstairs situated atop a sturdily built breakfast bar off to the side attached to a living room/entertainment lounge?

These things are usually touchscreen and games range from trivia, basic puzzles, touchscreen games, to selecting music tracks, to even in some cases playing slots or printing out a lottery ticket (although I wouldn't sync that last feature up in one's own home of course).

Various models come and go over the years and nothing is ever heard about these because they're not usually marketed directly towards consumers but places of business...

BMI Gaming, Primetime Amusements, Monkeyarcades, and AGS have catalogue listings of companies selling some of the more current models for sale to anyone:
1) Touchscreen Video Games and Countertop Bar Video Arcade Games | Factory Direct Prices ! | Global Merit Megatouch, JVL & Nexus Countertop Video Arcade Bar Games Delivery From BMI Gaming
2) Touch Screen Arcade Games For Sale & For Rent | PrimeTime Amusements
3) Monkeys Arcades | Merit Megatouch Touchscreens
4) Merit Megatouch Touchscreen Games, Evo, Force, AGS of Maryland, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Virginia, Pennsylvania.

As can be seen in the separate listings above, the JVL Echo or Merit or Nexus are some of the companies that make these various models. They're always more of a side attraction in a busy bar if anything and are increasingly becoming out of vogue with cell phones and everything in culture being so different now.

Still, if you want to see the most current upgrades it's probably best to go to one of the manufacturers themselves though. For instance:
JVL ECHO

These typically come with all games included for the most part.

 

[Sithborg]

The Arcade 1Up cabinets are very, very attractive.

 

[CJ]

I remember playing a Hydro Thunder arcade cabinet at my local Wal Mart a lot when I was younger. Would love to own one of those.

The Simpsons arcade game was a lot of fun too.

And of course Ninja Turtles!

 

[Sithborg]

I remember playing a Hydro Thunder arcade cabinet at my local Wal Mart a lot when I was younger. Would love to own one of those.

The Simpsons arcade game was a lot of fun too.

And of course Ninja Turtles!

Behold the temptation...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™ Arcade Cabinet

 

[CJ]

If I ever win the lottery, I'll definitely be buying one of those.

 

[Yowza]

Old School Cabinets:
There's something about the old pieces of technology I want to buy first and foremost for some of these older arcades (I'd want at least 3 for my gameroom if I had the space). Area 51, GoldenTee (this arcade has been upgraded so many times I'd probably just pick the newest one as opposed to original), and the 4 player X-Men Arcade are 3 others I can think of at the moment that are a lot of fun too.

Customized Cabinets:
As far as newly reworked cabinets go, I think I saw some of those Arcade1Up cabinets over at Target before Christmas this past year and agree they look really good and no worries about CRT screen failiure or constantly having to fix it. My only concern is if gameplay would feel the same or if it would feel more like an emulator version of the game. Turtles 2 I have fond memories of playing at the local Pizza place growing up. It was my favorite I'd be playing on NES as well but nothing beat the Arcade experience while being out and about.

Dream Details:
If money grew on trees, there's some really neat too expensive pieces of furniture below I just saw on Youtube that I think would be great for a gameroom:



*The Klemens Toggler Door at the 12:26 mark of the youtube video I think would be the perfect door to open up to a gameroom with glow in the dark 80's Arcade carpet like seen I believe on one of those earlier Basement Arcade video's. A vintage touch with old school posters and products and a bar in the midst of everything with a less is more approach (not arcades side by side everywhere) I think would be my personal approach if the gameroom is in a personal basement area which is why I like the thought of a gaming/coffee table in an open lounge area off to the side away from the bar to integrate a part of the arcade in areas not otherwise expecting it yet not in the way at the same time everywhere. A little game machine (like the JVL Echo) off to the side of the bar with some pay phones nearby would be a nice touch too.

*The Pong Table shown in the video at the 6:27 mark is about 3599.00 but the aesthetic is top notch and also will have to read more up on how that 3D effect is pulled off. I found a listing for it here that explains the technology and features for it: Atari Pong Coffee Table | Game Room Guys

*Another coffee table called the "Nucleus Arcade" made by surface tension seen in the video at the 11:09 mark seems like the company makes it by the order so is probably quite expensive too. If money weren't an obstacle then this would also be another interesting addition to a living room providing music and games in something one wouldn't know is there unless the device is turned on of course. Surface Tension

 

[Teelie]

Behold the temptation...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™ Arcade Cabinet

That and the Mortal Kombat one are really, really tempting. I would have or rather will buy both once I have a place (and an extra $300 apiece) to put them.

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

The build quality on the arcade 1Ups is really shoddy but I hear they are getting better.

 

[Teelie]

I have heard that too with their newer machines.

 

[Yowza]

The Arcade 1-Ups are about 3/4 of the scale of the actual arcade I see but look like a great option to get a basement arcade going at a decent budget if looking for something that doesn't require re-work or massive amounts of money.



At the moment though, I'm realistically thinking of picking up the Picade. It's a small desk top arcade that comes in a kit that you can put together yourself. After the initial set-up, it's also highly customizable with different controls, programmable menus, and LED's to really provide a good learning experience as far as some of the other frills behind owning an arcade cabinet besides just playing the games.

The Picade comes with an 8" display and a 10" display. The 10" costs about $250.00 while the console (this doesn't really involve putting together a whole a lot and is just something to hook up to the TV) costs about $120.00. I'm thinking about buying the 10 in. as well as the console (maybe even a small CRT TV for the console but probably just hook to a monitor). For the cabinet a Rasberry Pi, a USB-C power supply, and micro SD card will need to be purchased separately as well though.

The official website can be found here along with a video of someone showing themselves putting it together: Picade – Pimoroni Store

Trailers for both the cabinet and console can be seen below:






The instruction booklet I've heard is a bit tricky to understand but Pimeroni's adjusting it and it seems this reviewer liked it:

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

For sure I’d get the Mortal Kombat 2, Street Fighter 3, and TMNT cabinets.

 

[Sithborg]

They are also apparently a lot lighter and easier to move than actual arcade cabinets.

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

My cabinet is built from an old Real Bout:Fatal Fury 2 machine. With an X Arcade stick. Runs off a Raspberry Pi 3b for unofficial releases and Steam link and PS4 Pro for official releases.

 

[Yowza]

I really think part of the appeal of owning an arcade cabinet or machine is customizing it and fiddling about with electrical components.

While looking through some basement arcades though, I really like how some essentially feel like a trip back in time with machines still looking relatively new. This is a great example from 1 youtube channel I've seen recently that really goes above and beyond with the design and layout as opposed to just stacking a bunch of old arcades next to one another there's variety:



Only thing lacking is a glow in the dark carpeting reminiscent of arcades of years past.

 

[Yowza]

Most arcades including commercial ones rely on a large spatial area. Some of the basement arcades while awesome essentially are old cabinets crammed next to one another; burnt out screens no problem it's all a blast.

That being said, the above video really is a dream project that distinguishes itself head and shoulders above other basement arcades in that it's a comfortable living area that gets the following right:

*A bar area to hang out in the center with maximum maneuverability to go where ever would like without walking around a bunch of stuff.
*A lounge area with room for a television and maybe even room for a console game system or movie watching in the future if wish to. For now, extra space with a nice comfy electric fireplace I suppose provides extra room to spread out and maybe even allow a board gaming or card playing area...
*A gameroom (from pool table, ski ball area, slot machines, a bar game unit like I linked to in earlier post above)
*Some arcades of course that don't overly dominate with pinball machines intermixed for good measure
*Excellent design aesthetic from the old phones to the 1915 fire alarm and vintage candy dispensers that bring back a sense of nostalgia.
*The space is maximized just right with great room for mobility and the room layouts couldn't be better to allow good ventilation and
*Love the fact there's a backroom unseen on the video that can be used for maitenance purposes so everything that needs to be hidden (water heaters, ect.) is hidden.

.This is a perfect use of space and provides a trip down memory lane and perfect ambience for a lively social gathering. Perfection.

 

[Iceman]

I used to love arcades. SF II would be my absolute no.1 if I can get one, and otherwise I'd add TMNT. Wouldn't mind Mortal Kombat/Killer Instinct too although I didn't play those at arcades as much.

 

[Teelie]

I would love to have some of the old school machines. UMK3, TMNT, AVP especially. I have seen the UMK3 and TMNT recreations at Wal-Mart for $300 apiece which is kind of pricy but certainly cheaper than the originals.

The other issue is finding space for them in my house. Not a lot of places I can recreate a mini-arcade that wouldn't interfere with something else.

edit: and apparently I already mentioned that over a year ago and forgot. Getting old.

 

[Yowza]

A guy loses his fiancee over a 20k remodel of an NYC bedroom into a nostalgic throwback in time. This was in 2014 so I wonder in the years since he has been able to move forward?



Video below:

Man turns NYC bedroom into 80's arcade and loses fiancee
Man turns NYC bedroom into 80's arcade and loses fiancee
Chris Kooluris has the bedroom of his dream...his childhood dreams. He transformed the space into a 1980s arcade. Video provided by Buzz60

Edit: Actually it was 32k. What the heck does this guy do for a living?
Arcadia, A Love Story

He works for a PR firm...