Arcade Section?

[Zack Burner]

Let's just keep the arcade reviews in the Reader Reviews, I agree with the Critic 100%. Let someone who actually played the game give a review of it.

[Retro STrife]

I'm all for arcade talk, but I wouldn't create a new forum section for it. Mainly because there wouldn't be enough posting within it. I think the General or Classic sections suffice for the rare times that an arcade topic pops up.

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I'm definitely in favour of this idea. Only a week or two ago I was searching the forums for any advice regarding DIY arcade cabinets. Unfortunately I came up empty-handed. Regardless, I am well into the construction of my home arcade using a PC with MAME. I was looking for some ideas and also for any input regarding the many frontends that exist for MAME.

I have two arcade machines (Pac-Man and Neo Geo) and one pinball and yet I know barely anything about arcade hardware or repair. When the rare occasion arises that I need input on those specialized areas, I admit that I look to other forums that focus specifically on arcade machines. You'll find lots of great discussion and knowledge here about the games and hardware, but arcade setup and repair is such a niche subject. (That said, if we have a resident arcade specialist here that I didn't know of, please free to let us know. Always helpful to have that around.)

[ActRaiser]

I'm definitely in favour of this idea. Only a week or two ago I was searching the forums for any advice regarding DIY arcade cabinets. Unfortunately I came up empty-handed. Regardless, I am well into the construction of my home arcade using a PC with MAME. I was looking for some ideas and also for any input regarding the many frontends that exist for MAME.

Have you considered Hyperkin or Launchbox as your front ends? You can order harddrives with either front end installed these days.

It seems like guys will start off with Hyperkin and then move to Launchbox eventually.

[Tron]

Ha, ha, the Critic is nervous about messing with the boards. Sounds like me when switching games on my finicky PS2 or NES.

[Lucifixion]

Have you considered Hyperkin or Launchbox as your front ends? You can order harddrives with either front end installed these days.

It seems like guys will start off with Hyperkin and then move to Launchbox eventually.

I've got HyperSpin running with RocketLaunch right now, but I haven't spent much time other than using a text tutorial I found somewhere. I'm still finishing off construction of the cabinet at present, so the whole software end of things has taken a backseat.

I'm finding myself a little lost when it comes to the operation of these programs in tandem. I suppose, ultimately, I was hoping someone here might have been in a similar situation where they felt they bit off slightly more than they could chew but eventually triumphed. End goal is to make this setup feel like a real arcade game machine, without having spent money where money could be saved.

[ActRaiser]

Have you considered Hyperkin or Launchbox as your front ends? You can order harddrives with either front end installed these days.

It seems like guys will start off with Hyperkin and then move to Launchbox eventually.

I've got HyperSpin running with RocketLaunch right now, but I haven't spent much time other than using a text tutorial I found somewhere. I'm still finishing off construction of the cabinet at present, so the whole software end of things has taken a backseat.

I'm finding myself a little lost when it comes to the operation of these programs in tandem. I suppose, ultimately, I was hoping someone here might have been in a similar situation where they felt they bit off slightly more than they could chew but eventually triumphed. End goal is to make this setup feel like a real arcade game machine, without having spent money where money could be saved.

Yeah, I think your best bet for that type of thing is going to be on reddit. We don't really post lots of Do It Yourself arcade like posts on here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/cade/

That's probably your best bet for that type of stuff. It's not to say folks don't have arcades or even MAME systems on here but I don't think they are coming here to share what worked and what didn't. You will probably get quicker answers for any software related issues elsewhere.

[Retro STrife]

Just to add another source, my go-to stop for arcade/pinball repair questions is the forum over at the International Arcade Museum / KLOV. Might be the biggest forum out there about the arcade side of gaming, especially the technical aspects. Super knowledgeable people there, very happy to help, and you usually get a good number of replies. https://forums.arcade-museum.com/

[Lucifixion]

Thank you, ActRaiser and Retro STrife. Bookmarked and ready when I am!

[Herschie]

What do you think guys? Would you participate in a board like this?

Personally, no, I never really did get into arcade games. However, I could see how we could have many people who do have fond memories of them, and I'm sure it would be nice to discuss their favorite games.

[FusekiGames]

Those Defender flyers are pretty neat. I own one of those machines. I think I still need to review it on my arcade page.

Does it work? The RAM on those machines dies constantly. Luckily, they're socketed and easy to replace.

I'm definitely in favour of this idea. Only a week or two ago I was searching the forums for any advice regarding DIY arcade cabinets. Unfortunately I came up empty-handed. Regardless, I am well into the construction of my home arcade using a PC with MAME. I was looking for some ideas and also for any input regarding the many frontends that exist for MAME.

I have two arcade machines (Pac-Man and Neo Geo) and one pinball and yet I know barely anything about arcade hardware or repair. When the rare occasion arises that I need input on those specialized areas, I admit that I look to other forums that focus specifically on arcade machines. You'll find lots of great discussion and knowledge here about the games and hardware, but arcade setup and repair is such a niche subject. (That said, if we have a resident arcade specialist here that I didn't know of, please free to let us know. Always helpful to have that around.)

I use Attract Mode in my three PC/MAME cabs. It's not flashy (although you could set it up that way if you wanted to. I choose not to) but it works well. I've got two Arcade1up Asteroids machines that have both been converted to run PCs and MAME. I have an Asteroids cabaret cabinet, that I built from scratch with 1/2" MDF, with a PC, that I'm using for a game that I'm currently programming. Finally, I have an old Pong clone cocktail that I had a PCB fabricated for, that runs one of the old console Pong AY-3-8500-1 ICs with four games. It was beyond restoring, so I just converted it.

As far as being a "resident arcade specialist", I spent many years as a route operator and arcade owner, but that was 20 years ago. I've sporadically worked on classic arcade games since then, but I've reached the point where it's more about the games now, instead of "that old junk". No disrespect to those who still collect the games, but the cost to buy one, as well as their maintenance, is now wayyyyy beyond what I'd pay these days.