X-Arcade Showcase Cab, BYO Monitor.

[TPB]

X-Arcade Showcase Cab, BYO Monitor :

http://www.xgaming.com/store/arcade-machines/product/arcade2tv-pedestal-arcade-game-mame?mc_cid=4806002443&mc_eid=22e117e817

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Looks pretty neat, albeit pricey at $2,600.

I paid them only 1/26 of that price ($99.99 + shipping) for the exact same (++) control panel, they called it the X-Arcade XXL.  In fact, I even bought two XXL's at that price (it was a clearance price, I gather they were originally more expensive when first released).  They therefore don't sell the XXL any more.

(++)  Where I say the exact same, I mean in terms of the size, weight, and dimensions of the control panel, plus the on-board controls.  Admittedly the artwork on this Showcase Cab is more fancy ... the XXL has their standard black-style artwork, ala the Tankstick.  Naturally the XXL doesn't have with the pedestal stand.

Thoughts ?

[BobA]

Really pricey but you get the lifetime warranty and a company that has been around for a long time.  This is BYOAC so what more can I say.

[paigeoliver]

Pretty sure you can do a lot better than that for your money. That is the same sort of cash you would drop to buy a brand new Arcade Legends 3 or similar turnkey machine. If you were going to customize the computer anyway then I am sure there are 20 guys on here who will build you a pedestal for a heck of a lot less. I don't build cabs much anymore (I feel I have gotten good enough at that so now I am concentrating on mastering monitor repair).

[TPB]

you get the lifetime warranty and a company that has been around for a long time.

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Yes, I certainly support the company, and am glad to see them keep releasing new products.

I'm really happy with my 2 * X-Arcade XXL's, the build quality is phenomenal.

If I had a spare $2,600, why not buy this ?  It looks like a top-notch unit, and I love the idea of a Showcase Cab  (although I suspect my wife wouldn't love it "quite" as much).

I bought a new 5-in-1 console adapter off them recently.  It even has a "dual stick" single player mode (using a two player panel) for Robotron and Crazy Climber.  There's Crazy Climber on the NES which actually uses two * NES pad's, you can play this on a modded console using emulators, and an X-Arcade panel with this console adapter :

http://www.xgaming.com/store/x-arcade-adapters/product/x-arcade-adapter-5-game-systems/

http://www.xgaming.com/downloads/5in1.pdf

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Not to go off topic on the adapters though … we’ll keep the discussion focussed on their new Showcase Cab.

[yotsuya]

It doesn't come with a monitor for that price? Keep walking.

[TPB]

It doesn't come with a monitor for that price? Keep walking.

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To be fair, I guess it also comes with a pre-configured PC, hidden inside the pedestal stand.

It comes with everything you need for a Mame Showcase Cab "except" the monitor.

[ark_ader]

Nice of Xgaming putting this out, but it is going against the theme of what a X Arcade is.  Portable Multi-platform gaming.  Unless you store the consoles in the base, I cannot see why it is so big.  It is not something you can hide in the closet or morph into a ottoman, when not in use.

That is a niche product.  I would like them to bring out something you can convince the wife to buy and not to dominate the living room.

For that price and size one could easily convince the missus to get a Steel Talons, or a motorized Galaxy Force 2.  If you get my drift.

I like the sales line: "No Quarters Needed" - so why is there a coin door?

[TPB]

I would like them to bring out something you can convince the wife to buy ...

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They've put some thought into helping you with that :

Tips for Talking Your Wife Into An X-Arcade™

http://www.xgaming.com/pages/persuading-the-mrs-you-need-an-arcade-machine/

[DGP]

I have been thinking of building one for use with my 133" front projection set-up but I would have a hard time justifying $2600. 

Wish them the best of luck with it however, it does look like a nice product.


Jason

[JDFan]

Really pricey but you get the lifetime warranty and a company that has been around for a long time.  This is BYOAC so what more can I say.

Lifetime Warranty On Joysticks, Buttons, Trackball. 1 Year Computer/Game System

Only 1 year warranty on the computer and game system --- The lifetime is only on the joystick,buttons, and trackball !!

[pbj]

I like this style cabinet and have flirted with the idea of building one on wheels that could be pushed under the TV mounted on the wall when not in use.

Problem is, once you mount a TV on the wall and stand eight feet away from it, you're not too far away from just putting the TV on a stand and sparing the sheetrock.

Once you've done that, it's not too hard to stand there and think, gosh, I should would be more comfortable on the couch.

After you've taken that step you think "that Xbox controller is actually pretty decent."

Then you end up laying on the couch playing Battlefield 4 instead of Pac-Man.

EVERY.  SINGLE.  TIME.

[severdhed]

I think it is a cool idea..after all, I just built a similar unit for my house. I think the price is a little steep, but these things aren't targeted to the build your own crowd that understand the costs involved. These are for the people that want an awesome arcade and don't have the skill/knowledge/tools/desire to attempt to make their own.

I like x-arcade and what they do. Their products are easy enough for anyone to use and I look at them as a gateway drug into this hobby. If I had not seen their add on ign years ago and purchased their 2 player stick, I don't think I would have ever built my own cabinet.

I bought the stick to use with consoles, then tucked it away for a while. Then one day I re discovered mame and realized that I didn't have to use a keyboard to play, I could use my x arcade...one thing led to another and now I have several mame cabinets.

I hope they sell a lot if these, they look nice

Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2

[Cynicaster]

Then you end up laying on the couch playing Battlefield 4 instead of Pac-Man.

EVERY.  SINGLE.  TIME.

Heh, speak for yourself. 

[ark_ader]

Then you end up laying on the couch playing Battlefield 4 instead of Pac-Man.

EVERY.  SINGLE.  TIME.

Heh, speak for yourself.

Actually it is pretty accurate.  Worse part about pedestal cabinets is the standing.  Most designs related to pedestal like HOTD are for short or limited gameplay.  If you build or buy a pedestal you are going to need bar stools, then you have to store the bar stools, then the portability factor is gone as it now a fixture. 

Then we look at angle of the screen.  Most TVs are mounted on the wall, so you are going to be either looking at it directly or at a higher angle.  Now you are starting to feel your shoulders hurt and then your neck.   Just like when you build a CP on a cab.  What looks nice on paper doesn't mean it will be comfortable to play on.

Let's look at reality for a moment.  How much time do you spend playing arcade classics?  A hour?  I would like to spend all day but classic gaming gets old pretty quick, so its what PBJ says: " couch and PS3/Xbox controller" playing GTA 5 or Skyrim.  Yes we can do THAT game all day.  We don't need a pedestal to play those games.

Like boats, RVs and other large impulse purchases, which end up being left rotting in the driveway.  Unique toys like that X arcade pedestal, (and pool tables) will slowly get moved to the spare bedroom, the garage and eventually craigslist.  Unless you get a chance to "try it out", purchasing this will be an accident waiting to happen and a waste of cash.

Probably why it is priced the way it is, and most likely farmed out to another company to manufacture.

[TPB]

Worse part about pedestal cabinets is the standing.

No way.

You must like those Asian arcades, where they all sit whilst playing the machines.  In the arcades where I grew up, you stood to play ALL the machines (the only exception being the cocktail cab's).

Standing "feels right" when you play these games, it really brings back the memories and gets the blood pumping.  Sitting just doesn't feel authentic.


An added benefit with standing, it has proven health benefits ...


Sitting less could extend your life :

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-07-09/sitting-less-could-extend-life/56117870/1


Prolonged sitting linked to breast cancer, colon cancer :

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/medical/health/medical/cancer/story/2011-11-03/Prolonged-sitting-linked-to-breast-cancer-colon-cancer/51051928/1

[ark_ader]

I doubt the CP on this Xarcade is similar to an Asteroids CP (that I spent many hours on) or star castle for that matter.  You are going to be hunched over the Xarcade pedestal, and you back will not like it one bit.

[TPB]

You are going to be hunched over the Xarcade pedestal, and you back will not like it one bit.

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I guess that depends on your height.

I'm at the shorter end of the scale, so it looks good to me.

[paigeoliver]

I doubt the CP on this Xarcade is similar to an Asteroids CP (that I spent many hours on) or star castle for that matter.  You are going to be hunched over the Xarcade pedestal, and you back will not like it one bit.

Honestly I could stand for the control panel on almost every game I own to be 3" higher.

[pbj]

I doubt the CP on this Xarcade is similar to an Asteroids CP (that I spent many hours on) or star castle for that matter.  You are going to be hunched over the Xarcade pedestal, and you back will not like it one bit.

Honestly I could stand for the control panel on almost every game I own to be 3" higher.

That's because those games were toys built for children, not grown men.

[paigeoliver]

I doubt the CP on this Xarcade is similar to an Asteroids CP (that I spent many hours on) or star castle for that matter.  You are going to be hunched over the Xarcade pedestal, and you back will not like it one bit.

Honestly I could stand for the control panel on almost every game I own to be 3" higher.

That's because those games were toys built for children, not grown men.

Yep, I would raise them all up 3" on wheels if it wasn't for the fact that I want the kids to be able to reach them.

[severdhed]

i build mine so that the cp is at a comfortable height for me, my kids have to stand on a stool, or sit on a bar stool to play....they'll grow into them

[matsadona]

Didn't anyone else think about the legal aspect of a preconfigured (MAME I assume) computer built in? But adding links to 60-in-1 boards stirs up a lot of flames
I haven't gone through all disclaimers and text on their website, so the licensing part might be sorted out - if so I stand corrected.

[pbj]

But adding links to 60-in-1 boards stirs up a lot of flames

Really?  That's funny as people selling them have their advertisements slapped all over this forum.