Question: What options do I have? :)

[ArcadeDunce]

So,

My local arcades are destroyed during sandy.  One wound up in the bottom of the Ocean.....20 years of classic games gone.
The other, with more modern stuff ugh, got flooded out.

So, that leaves me with only one option.  Rebuild my own.
Rather than build from scratch, I was thinking of getting one of these suckers.  http://www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?sku=CABMIDWAYUR
I was thinking of doing a Pheonix Arcade build, but trying to find all the games I want on MAME sites that are a pain in the butt to navigate isn't a very fun prospect.

So, what other options are there?    The games I want in are :
Popeye
TMNT
TMNT 2
Simpsons
Pac-Man
Mrs.Pac-Man
Frogger
Mortal Kombat
NBA Jam
Star Wars (Assuming I can find a way to rebuild the classic yoke step by step)
Return of the Jedi
QBert
PaperBoy
and one or two others I'm forgetting at the moment.

Are there any multi game jamma boards that have these pre installed?    or is my best bet the Pheonix Arcade option?
I'd also love to get as many hardware boards in there as possible, but that might be even tougher...

trying to figure out my options.  with R2D2 done and C3P0 being worked on, this is my last project for this year   I can't afford a pinball machine after R2

[PL1]

Star Wars (Assuming I can find a way to rebuild the classic yoke step by step)

The wiki has a Yoke Rebuild page with step-by-step directions and some parts links.


Scott

[paigeoliver]

You couldn't possibly get the controls to play all the games you listed onto the control panel of the repro Pac-Man cabinet that you linked to.

I would save yourself $500+ by refurbing a converted cabinet, and putting some of that towards buying a Star Wars game and leaving that off your project.

[yotsuya]

Same with Paperboy. Unless you're using the handlebar controller, it's never going to feel right.

[mgb]

As far as your game list goes, I would say you're better off with a mame PC setup. Your must have games have many different controls so you'd either need multiple control panels or one serious frankenpanel. Some of the games you listed are horizontal while others are vertical.

I agree, using an old arcade cabinet will be a big savings, especially considering you may be best off having multiple machines.

[ArcadeDunce]

As far as your game list goes, I would say you're better off with a mame PC setup. Your must have games have many different controls so you'd either need multiple control panels or one serious frankenpanel. Some of the games you listed are horizontal while others are vertical.

I agree, using an old arcade cabinet will be a big savings, especially considering you may be best off having multiple machines.

I have no problem with a franken panel, so long as I can get it to fit....but if I have to, I could always find a way to do two machines.   Space is an issue, however.  I might barely  be able to fit one machine.

OK, so, with Paperboy and the Star Wars games off the list, button wise I should be OK.  you only need 6 bittons for MK and three for NBA Jam if memory serves..

[BobA]

Have to agree with mgb.   A MAME setup on a cheap computer would be the easiest setup.  ROMs are confusing but you can always get all the roms to match a MAME version all at once (cannot say where).  By cheap I mean less than $100 or probably $0 if you are a scrounger.

You will not find a single board setup to meet all your needs and what you do find will probably have lots of shortfalls.  They build them cheap and you get what is on it without the ease of customization that MAME offers.

[mgb]

Newegg currently has refurbed small form factor HPs with Windows 7 and Core Duos for $89

[DeLuSioNal29]

Have you considered getting a cocktail unit?  Then you can have the best of both worlds:  Vertical and Horizontal games with MAME.  Also a cocktail unit may be a better choice if space is an issue.

Mameroom has a nice cocktail kit which would fit the bill, for around the same price as the upright that you listed:  http://www.mameroom.com/Products_Cocktail3_Kit.asp


Good Luck!

DeLuSioNaL29

[mgb]

And with the cocktail and some creativity, you can create some swappable control panels if you really want various controls.

[ArcadeDunce]

Have you considered getting a cocktail unit?  Then you can have the best of both worlds:  Vertical and Horizontal games with MAME.  Also a cocktail unit may be a better choice if space is an issue.

Mameroom has a nice cocktail kit which would fit the bill, for around the same price as the upright that you listed:  http://www.mameroom.com/Products_Cocktail3_Kit.asp


Good Luck!

DeLuSioNaL29

is it just me, or are those joystick holes cut on the wrong side?

[knave]

Fixt! 

[ArcadeDunce]

it's an interesting idea..if I can get a star wars yoke that could attach to the pheonix arcade somehow