Would you like to see a forum for "Real Games"

[paigeoliver]

There was some previous discussions about a restoration forum. But many people mentioned that there is little actual restoration work going on here.

So, would you like to see a forum dedicated to real games. As in games that do not have computers or video game consoles inside them.

Posting wouldn't just be limited to restoration of course, anything from repair, wiring, conversion, and just anecdotes about real arcade, pinball, and electromechanical games would be acceptable.

I know a lot of members here do own real games. I have 3 original vids, one pin, and a couple of EM pachinko machines myself.

If you vote on this, please chime in with a reason why you voted, and why not list your games (MAME and otherwise), so we can get a real picture of what the people around here own.

My game list

• Do! Run Run- Upright, appears dedicated
• Kangaroo - Upright, dedicated, working great
• Time Pilot - cocktail, dedicated, serial number 000007, also has Time Pilot '84 PCB
• Victory - Pinball, working all the way
• Galaga- Mame, in ATW mini cabinet
• Amazing Mame - Mame, dedicated 1976 Midway Amazing Maze upright
• Battlezone - Project, will be Mame, but will only play Battlezone as nothing else will work right with those controls, and the mirror projection stuff anyway).
• Solitaire (trackball Mame)
• Space Firebird (vertical 8-way Mame)
• Gorf (cocktail mame)
• Out Run
• Popeye
• A couple of Defenders that don't work
• Turbo that doesn't work
• Sprint 2 that doesn't work
• Magical Spot cocktail (doesn't work)

[tmasman]

I'm voting YES!!!

I recently bought a broken down cab at the last Mesquite auction & I found out that inside was a working (when powered up I heard the beautiful game sounds ) 2 Slot Neo Geo board with Aero Fighters 2 in it.

I'm transplanting this board into a new (read converted) cabinet & would love to have a decent resource when I go to plug it all back in.

So that's me at this point, but I hope to own a couple of more Original Games (even if they are converts) after the next Mesquite auction.

My Game list:
Neo Geo 2 Slot (currently in conversion proccess)
More to come!

[jerryjanis]

I think it would be interesting to read even if I don't plan on doing any of it.  It's also probably good stuff for all of us to learn about for when miscellaneous cabs make unexpected appearances in our homes.

[jakejake28]

yes...

the simpsons bowling,  marvel super heroes, and a galaga cocktail

[Frostillicus]

I would guess you could get more questions ansered at RGVAC than here.  I vote no.

[RandyT]

I would guess you could get more questions ansered at RGVAC than here.  I vote no.

Ditto....

IMHO, it's outside the scope of this site.  While there might be some crossover, from what I have seen it's pretty small.  In fact, PO is the first guy I have seen around here that is actually heavy into performing restorations.  And restoring a cabinet to it's original form in every detail, requires very different information than what is needed or desireable in building your own.  Remember, restoring the past also means intentionally duplicating it's mistakes along with the good things.  There are a lot of options out there for rolling your own that didn't exist in 1981 and the mix is liable to be confusing.

What I fear we will see are posts regarding restoration spilling into the other forums, especially the main one, but the artwork and monitor/video as well.  And while it might be useful to a couple people to know the exact Pantone shade for the lettering on a RYGAR marquee, it's probably not going to be too interesting to folks that come here to learn how to "Build Their Own Arcade controls".

I also don't think it's a good idea to do anything that will attract "restoration extremists" to this site.  You know, the kind that think 4 rotting pieces of plywood with 17 different coats of finish (18 if you count the mold) constitutes a "diamond in the rough" and you should sell your car to get enough money to restore it properly (even though the individuals making all the noise lack the skill, motivation and means to undertake such things themselves.)  If you think you have seen some battles here up to now..........

Anyway, that's my "buck-three-eighty" on the subject.  

RandyT

[jerryjanis]

IMHO, it's outside the scope of this site.

Hmm...  I didn't look at it that way...  Good points - if I really want to learn about arcade machine restoration, I can go elsewhere.

What I fear we will see are posts regarding restoration spilling into the other forums

I don't want that.  If there was a need for a separate forum, we would probably see a decent amount of arcade restoration posts in the other forums.  There isn't much of that happening here.

I also don't think it's a good idea to do anything that will attract "restoration extremists"

That could be very dangerous.  I think the idea of adding an arcade restoration forum would be to give us a place to talk about that stuff, but there's nothing stopping us from talking about it in the main forum right now, there just doesn't seem to be much interest.

I would change my vote to no, I think, and say that we should wait until it becomes clear that people are looking for something like that (with actions - not just voting).  When I voted "yes" I was voting for a place where I could read stuff and learn - but I probably wouldn't become an active participant.

[SirPeale]

I think you all missed the point; he's NOT talking about restoration.  He's talking about actual games.  Conversions would certainly apply here, in all forms (actual games, not MAME conversions).

[RandyT]

I think you all missed the point; he's NOT talking about restoration.  He's talking about actual games.  Conversions would certainly apply here, in all forms (actual games, not MAME conversions).

Maybe I did.  I was having trouble with the distinction (in fact, maybe I still am.)

I guess I am still a bit concerned about activists turning it into a war zone.  Is it still not sacrilege to do anything to an original that wasn't part of it to begin with?  I.e. put an 8-way into a Pac machine or heaven forbid, 2 8's and a Robotron board !

I've seen regulars take a lot of heat about this even in the context of the board.  I can't imagine that adding more of that dynamic will be good thing.

Now......If I might make a suggestion.  It might be a good thing to have a special area for people wanting to convert a cab for their own uses, while still maintaining the ability to return it to it's original state in the future.  In other words, a forum for preservationists that want to use very "low-impact" methods for conversion.

Or, maybe not

RandyT

[Edgedamage]

Man you people worry too much.

[JackTucky]

I would like to see that forum.  I don't have any original videos (I sold my mint Asteroids Deluxe 8 years ago   ).

I have a Star Trek Next Generation Pin, a Gottlieb Torch Pin,  and a Williams Shuffle Alley.

The members here are polite and knowedgeable.  It would be nice to see what people here have to say without having to deal with newsgroups which can be a pain to read sometimes.

Art

[RandyT]

Man you people worry too much.

Evidently you haven't been in the IRC channel to witness the chaos caused by this.  If you have, and you give two licks about this forum, then you would be worried too.  

RandyT

[Edgedamage]

Well if people get too violent ban them.

[crsdawg]

i'll also chip in my suport for a classic arcade forum.

here's my thinking, sure there are other places to go for this info, but there's other places to talk about building mame cabs as well. this is a subject that many on this board have an interest in and i've seen several threads lately that would fall under it's heading. so why not give the community it's own place to talk about them, brag about good buys, make meet up plans for auctions or ask general questions. most of the long term posters here have a pretty good knowledge of the real games, and not everyone here checks rgvac or klov(i know i try not too, checking them can be an expensive habit, heh). if there's problems with flaming, well, that's why we have mods, they do a great job. but really how many hard core restorers frequent this site anyway, and, for the most part, the guys who do hang around here are pretty well mannered.

[Frostillicus]

Let's face it - this is THE site for talking about MAME cabs and DIY arcade machines.  I don't visit any others because it'd be a waste of my time, and if something is really cool that is posted somewhere else it is almost always re-posted here by someone.  

Too many different, broad forums could cause the board to lose focus and veer off somewhere else - and that is why there is a link to OTHER SITE'S FORUMS for the best resources pertaining to other areas (like RGVAC).  Yeah newsgroups suck, both in format and user-language, but they know their stuff.

[eightbit]

Theres to many forums already. Look at the consoles forum. Almost no traffic there. If you asked me what forum I would have wanted added I would have said consoles. Their doesn't appear to be enough traffic to warrant it.

I do like the artwork forum and would say that generates enough traffic to justify it.

[Spaced Invader]

Hmmm...
I saw this thread and thought--hell yeah; but that thought, as snap decisions often are, was wrong.

After reading through the other posts, I have to agree that the negatives outweigh the positives.

This is the most helpfull, well behaved Forum that I have ever been involved with. And to draw the radical fringe would be a mistake. We don't need troublemakers.

And there is the question as to whether the forum would generate enough traffic to justify its exestince...I honestly don't know.

Also, to split the focus of this site will probably result in a "watering down" of the content--at least in regaurds to BYO stuff. A broadening of range decreases focus...at least that's what I have found.

Finally, anthing relating to real cabs that's really cool already has a home in "Everything Else"--or more likely the Main Forum.

So, I voted no. But since this is the only board I currently visit, and I would love to learn more about "real" cabs...if you build it, I will come (or something). Just my (rambeling) thoughts...  

[Nailz]

I'd have to vote "no" as well.  There are already other great resources for Arcade cabs, let's keep this site the best resource for Mame cabs.

[dirt]

i voted yes. i would like to be able to get or give info. at almost real time unlike the newsgroups that takes 3 to 9 hours before you see your post. i also think that alot of people here have "real" games.i've had about 30 go through my house just this year. if your worried about people getting out of line i have an easy solution if someone does get out of line BAN THEM. most of the people here are not here to cause problems but to learn about games be it mame or other. just my 2cents


dirt

games i have now:
 blood brothers
 carnival
 golden tee 3d
 video trivia  cocktail
 mamed capcom mini (all metal imported from japan)
 tiger roads
 empty defender cab

[Buddabing]

I agree with what Dirt said. This forum doesn't have to just be about game emulation. It'd be nice to have information about "build your own complete arcade cabinets" as well as "build your own arcade controls".

Additionally, my ISP's newsgroup retention is just terrible, so it's hard to get useful information from RGVAC.

I own a Galaga. In the future I hope to acquire other dedicated cabinets, such as Multi-Williams, Tron, Time Pilot, Ripoff and other games I played circa 1982, preferably with the exact controls (spacing, leaf joysticks, etc.) used in that era, and controls that are hard to emulate, (Sinistar).

I vote yes.

[eightbit]

A problem I see is that the arcade restoration crowd is a different mind set than the emulation people. Your going to have a lot more bickering about restoration vs. conversion of cabs. Your going to have people complaining every time a rotating control panel uses a tron stick or a star wars yoke or other hard to acquire parts because that part was potentionally taken away from a restoration project.

There are other forums for arcade restoration. They may not be as friendly, helpfull or active as this one but I forsee nothing but trouble if you try to include this group and you dilute the focus of this site. Its hard enough for the admins to keep the faq up to date within its current scope.

Perhaps there is someone willing to take this on and start a new site dedicated to restoration.

[dirt]

A problem I see is that the arcade restoration crowd is a different mind set than the emulation people. Your going to have a lot more bickering about restoration vs. conversion of cabs. Your going to have people complaining every time a rotating control panel uses a tron stick or a star wars yoke or other hard to acquire parts because that part was potentionally taken away from a restoration project.

There are other forums for arcade restoration. They may not be as friendly, helpfull or active as this one but I forsee nothing but trouble if you try to include this group and you dilute the focus of this site. Its hard enough for the admins to keep the faq up to date within its current scope.

Perhaps there is someone willing to take this on and start a new site dedicated to restoration.

 i understand what you are talking about when you refer to the "restoration crowd" and yes i know how they can be. but what i think paige is talking about is not a restoration forum but a place for us the "emulation crowd" to go and discuss are other machines. also to get and give info from other mamers who also have dedicated machines.at least that is the way i was seeing it.paige if i am wrong about your intent let me know.

dirt

[APFelon]

I voted yes, but I'd have misgivings if we had a sudden influx of riffraff. I agree with what others have said about this forum- it is very mature, and a pleasure to be a part of. I'd hate to see that go away.

I don't think it will, though. I think that it would provide a forum for those of us who have real arcaders, and probably not attract new users just for that forum. They already have Usenet.

APf

[Pipercub]

The restoration militants are already here. People have been calling people mutilators for the crime of saving a classic cab from the dumpster and turning it into a well done MAME machine. The interest and population for arcade hardware discussions is also already here and these discussions are all over the board.

Recognizing this and creating  a forum to host it could lead to this site becoming as big for original  machines as it is for MAME. Sure the site may have started as a small site based on building control pannels for a PC using arcade controls but it could become THE site on the web for home owned arcade machines.

[saint]

saint lurks and watches the results come in . . .

[paigeoliver]

As far as the "Riff Raff" goes, there are really only two kinds of collectors, those that like Mame and those who hate it. The ones who hate it are not going to come here, otherwise they would already be here.

And the ones who hate Mame do have some very valid reasons.

They just hate this scenario.

Excited newbie looks for a cabinet, doesn't know much and buys the first cabinet they can find. Working games are actually easier to find for newbies than dead games, so excited newbie ends up with a working dedicated game.

Excited newbie paints over or rips off the sideart.
Excited newbie first drills the control panel for extra buttons (ruining it).
Unhappy with that excited newbie pulls out the jigsaw and lops off the front of the cabinet and affixes a 4 foot wide control panel onto a standard 19" cabinet (which was a dedicated working game a few weeks ago).
6 months later excited newbie tosses cabinet in the dumpster and starts over again.

Classic collector gets all pissed off because excited newbie just completely thrashed a perfectly good game, when classic collector has 9 empty cabinets in his basement that he wants to get rid of.

Also, whoever owns that 3 Stooges Mame cabinet, that cabinet has single handedly done more damage to the reputation of the Mame community than every chopped up Centipede, Pac-Man, and Space Duel combined. I have heard that thing mentioned over and over again, and not just on the internet, even when talking to other collectors in person.

[Jabba]

My vote is Yes. I just bought two new arcade machines and do not have a "clue" how this stuff works. (but I'm gonna find out...)

That being said, three months ago I didn't have a "clue" either on how to build an arcade machine either, and now I know and have one running my basement and my seven year old is having a blast with DD.. How did this come about you ask? By all my posts, lurks and reading on the byoac forum...

We have an Artwork Forum...Does this have anything to do with building an Arcade Control Panel? I don't think so... (Don't get me wrong now folks, I love the Artwork Forum and hope to start participating in in soon...).

Now that I have a couple of "real" arcade machines, I can study it, figure out how it works and maybe even make it better. Do I plan on Adding some big new control panel to it? No. Do I plan on making it better/nicer? Yes. Do I need help on understanding how it works? Absolutely. Today, I don't know Jamma from a hole in the wall, but in three months...

I like the people on this board. I can post any quesiton I want and I always get a prompt, polite, courteuous well through out answer(s). This place has a real good "community". I do not see this on many other boards.

Anyways, FWIW, thats my opinion.

I own:

Arkanoid
Double Dragon
Aztec Pinball Machine.