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Party tips
Cynicaster:
When you're right into this hobby, you really see how clueless most people are about it, even if they are casual gamers. I don't know how much more clearly I can tell people that "this machine plays arcade games only, that's what I built it for, no console games". Then I say, "so, what do you want to play?" I've already lost count of the number of times this question has been answered with "do you have Mario Kart?" or something similar.
Other than that, I think it helps to have a game list ready that has all the fluff removed (the 4 million Mah Jongg games, the crappy trivia games, etc.). Also, keep a running short list of games that tend to have pick up and play appeal but might not be widely known. For example, everybody knows Pac-Man, Galaga, and Frogger but not everybody knows Mappy, Pengo, and Amidar.
Another thing I find keeps interest is get people using the different types of controls. Trackball games on my cabinet are a hit because so many of my friends never had the chance to play them back in the day, and these days everything is d-pads and analog sticks. People really seem to like Major Havoc and of course Centipede. Then there is the obvious thing, playing games like Golden Tee, Shuffleshot, and Shuuz, and getting the smack talk going strong.
gabe:
Make sure you have lots of beer. Most people don't really give a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- about your arcade cabinet. They are just there to drink beer and socialize.
eds1275:
--- Quote from: brad808 on July 15, 2011, 06:31:47 am ---Yes tournament style games are also a huge hit, UMK3 gets played a lot because of that feature. I haven't really found to many other games with a tournament mode though. Am I missing some?
--- End quote ---
Hmmm I dunno - that's the only tournament feature I know of built into a game, however I have a white board I got at the dollar store that I use for my tournaments. Many times I don't compete and just drink and keep score - after all, I play these games a lot. It's easy to make up a tournament.
And then there's always trading off. We do that alot as well, everyone plays a stage [or credit!] and then trades off and has a drink while they await their next turn. Beat-em-ups are good for this; we play a lot of Sengoku 3 that way. Gi Joe is a good one as well. I really wish there was a Thundercats, Transformers, and Ghostbusters [the one with Jake, Eddie, Futura, and that monkey Tracy!] game.
Donkbaca:
Pick a theme, like say 80's games, or fighting games. Limit people's choices or they will get overwhelmed and disinterested.
Ten tokens for a buck, high score/last player standing wins the pot - easy way to add interest
Have lots of beer, as, indeed, most people do not give a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- about the arcade machine you spent hours to create, they just want to have a few beers and have a good time. Keep the process simple.
shateredsoul1979:
--- Quote from: Donkbaca on July 15, 2011, 11:33:22 am ---Pick a theme, like say 80's games, or fighting games. Limit people's choices or they will get overwhelmed and disinterested.
Ten tokens for a buck, high score/last player standing wins the pot - easy way to add interest
Have lots of beer, as, indeed, most people do not give a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- about the arcade machine you spent hours to create, they just want to have a few beers and have a good time. Keep the process simple.
--- End quote ---
People were actually pretty interested in the arcade cabinet at my party before the booze, but definitely even more excited after the booze. Maybe it's because my friend range from about 25 to 30?
In smaller get together's I noticed that people who played video games would go to play a game on systems they were familiar with. I.e. a friend of mine loves games, but when he wanted to play NBA Jam he went to the sega genesis games instead of just choosing the mame verison (which looks and plays way better).
BTW, a random thing just happened, I sat near some paramedics (at a coffee shop) and they were talking about how cops tell them "He fell down the stairs" when they abuse people who were arrested. He said he could clearly see baton marks. :<