UCA 2016 ?

[yamatetsu]

To open up a can o' worms : Will there be UCAs for cabs completed in 2016 ?

[yotsuya]

No,  everyone who made a cab this year gets a gold star.

[yamatetsu]

I'd like to nominate Laythe's Mimic for two gold stars.

[yotsuya]

I'd like to nominate Laythe's Mimic for two gold stars.

I think it deserves at least 5.

[Nephasth]

.

[yotsuya]

On a serious note, if there is, I think LeChuck should take it over again. It was definitely a certain level of professionalism and care  in how the process was run when he was in charge of it.

[thomas_surles]

Pin up
Gingerballs
Legend of Zelda
All gold stars.

[harveybirdman]

MKX and Moonshot also gold stars

[yotsuya]

Quit singling out specific cabinets, mother scratchers Everybody, I mean everybody, gets a gold star.

[UCA]

 

[yotsuya]

Hi, Jim!!!

[Malenko]

Who ever did em last year should be banned from ever doing them again. ---smurfing--- travishamockery.

[yamatetsu]

No,  everyone who made a cab this year gets a gold star.

[yotsuya]

No,  everyone who made a cab this year gets a gold star.

Make sure you make enough for everyone, bro!!!

[jan25th]

Do I actually have to complete my cabinet to receive a gold star? I am "almost" done.

[yotsuya]

Do I actually have to complete my cabinet to receive a gold star? I am "almost" done.

No, you would get a participation ribbon.

[Malenko]

Do I actually have to complete my cabinet to receive a gold star? I am "almost" done.

No, you would get a participation ribbon.

a gold participation ribbon

[pbj]

Anyone that has actually cut a board this year gets a Golden Sawdust for sure.

You guys all know how much I hate jumping to strong opinions without deep contemplation but MAME sure as hell seems dead if the Houston show was any indication.  2 years ago it was filled with people hustling Weecades.  Saw all of one this year.  Classic consoles took up a big chunk of space and were being heavily played.  Not much else there besides pinball and pre-1985 arcade games.

[yotsuya]

Anyone that has actually cut a board this year gets a Golden Sawdust for sure.

You guys all know how much I hate jumping to strong opinions without deep contemplation but MAME sure as hell seems dead if the Houston show was any indication.  2 years ago it was filled with people hustling Weecades.  Saw all of one this year.  Classic consoles took up a big chunk of space and were being heavily played.  Not much else there besides pinball and pre-1985 arcade games.

I agree with you, but I come to those conclusions by looking at the type of upright cabinets we've been seeing built in the last few years.

[Scassidy24]

I want my gold star!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pbj]

I'm happy to hand the UCA password information over to someone else if you guys can sucker them into doing it.

[yamatetsu]

I want my gold star!

[yotsuya]

I will make physical stickers of your design, Yam. PM me a link to a high resolution copy.

[vwalbridge]

Can we get be-dazzeld bronze ribbons handed out for builds that were announce but never started?

[melvinbates]

I will make physical stickers of your design, Yam. PM me a link to a high resolution copy.

That sticker alone would make it worth going to Zapcon 2017... 

[yamatetsu]

I will make physical stickers of your design, Yam. PM me a link to a high resolution copy.

I doubt that this will look good in print. Those pics are very low-res. I made it in CorelDraw, which is probably useless to you. I hope you can use a .psd file, see the attachment.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Maybe it should be done every two years?  So moving forward the award would be for the prior 2 year builds?

[Malenko]

Maybe it should be done every two years?  So moving forward the award would be for the prior 2 year builds?

No it should probably be retired. It started off as the community recognizing the best of the best builds and regressed into a ---meecrob----bag doing questionable ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- to win an award he didn't deserve and he now pushes a youtube channel hoping someone jerks his circle. (not you dEl, you're a ---meecrob----bag but you aren't the ---meecrob----bag I'm talking about )

Chuckie needs to run it again and pick his crew if its going to keep existing. If not, RIP UCAs.

[DeLuSioNal29]

(not you dEl, you're a ---meecrob----bag but you aren't the ---meecrob----bag I'm talking about )

I'd only be a ---meecrob----bag if I swapped out your Tournament Arkanoid board with my normal Arkanoid board and then sold it to you.  Yes, you lucky bastard, it turns out you have an Tourney version in that sucker.   

DeL

[Malenko]

When are you delivering? I'll be back in the US on 12/8

[8BitMonk]

The only value I see in this is aggregating a bunch of cool projects from the year into one thread, other than that... meh. Ranking them is unnecessary and highly subjective anyway.

[DeLuSioNal29]

When are you delivering? I'll be back in the US on 12/8

Prob after then. Will text you.

[Laythe]

I'd like to nominate Laythe's Mimic for two gold stars.

I think it deserves at least 5.

Heh, thanks.

Did somebody say

[Locke141]

I was thinking what I liked about the UCA's and what was always a little annoying, even before last year.

Maybe we should do a UCA this year but not for best in class builds. Instead it may be nice for just 2016 at least to have all the categories around community contributions.

Here are some ideas:

• Most helpful member
• Best tutorial (this could be posable broken down into multiple awards)
• Most helpful, best documented built thread
• Product of the Year (commercial)
• Best member created and freely shared art work
• Best member created and freely shared detaled build planes
• Best Member created and freely shared Software of the year

What do you all think?

 

[yotsuya]

I personally think you should tell people they did a good job when they build their cabs and not worry about any awards.

[CheffoJeffo]

Quit singling out specific cabinets, mother scratchers Everybody, I mean everybody, gets a gold star.

Meh ... purple stars are where it's at!

[Locke141]

Good point.

I was just thinking it would be nice to put the people who share and help build the cumnity instead of there own toys some collective recognitions.

[yotsuya]

Quit singling out specific cabinets, mother scratchers Everybody, I mean everybody, gets a gold star.

Meh ... purple stars are where it's at!

Inorite!!!!!

[harveybirdman]

Just make sure I get a UCA when I finish my cab 6 years from now.

[yotsuya]

Just make sure I get a UCA when I finish my cab 6 years from now.

I'll just give you your gold star for trying right now!

[Titchgamer]

 Sorry no idea what a UCA is but ime assuming its some kind of annual forum award?

Just to put a little input in though (and i may be way off base here)
But the forum I help moderate does annual forum awards each year.
Ive run it the last 6 years or so, admittedly its a royal PITA to run but its very popular and its quite fun.

It has categories similar to Lockes suggestions as well as fun ones like biggest grump, gear tart etc and the member base vote who they feel is deserving and pm me the results.
I then collate the results and announce winners.

[yotsuya]

I nominate you Biggest Gear Tart.

[Titchgamer]

I nominate you Biggest Gear Tart.

I only have one 1 machine and one being built so I think theres others better suited to that award

[Le Chuck]

I nominate you Biggest Gear Tart.

You were supposed to PM him, kantchya read!

[acvieluf]

As someone who hasn't been around for years, i would offer this: It's nice to be recognized for work, especially for first timers.  Not being nominated would be a clear message of, "Your project didn't really look all that great with 80 different kinds of controls, and your hand cut ink-jet graphics." So i can see the value from a perspective of some who aren't on their 2nd/3rd/whatever project. 

However... My project will be done this year, and although i really look forward to tagging the project post *finished*, and listen to feedback, good or bad...in reality, i'm not really thinking, "oooh, i hope i win a UCA! oh boyohboyohboyohboy!"

That being said, if the UCA's don't move forward in the same way they have in years past, thats understandable, since as others have said, this hobby has slowed down.  If that's the case, might i suggest a simple end of year thread with a picture of each completed project?  That way, there is some documentation of the end of year, as well as some comments posted casually about some being good or boring, etc?

Just my 2c, take it as you will.

[dgame]

  2012-2016 

[Locke141]

Just make sure I get a UCA when I finish my cab 6 years from now.

You have something very cool there. You should get back on it. 

[leapinlew]

UCA = Fried Chicken?

 

Yeah, that's been in my pocket for 5 years. http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,118109

[Le Chuck]

If we create a user generated system then it shouldn't matter if any of the original posters are interested in doing it next year, somebody in this community would hopefully copy and paste the thread and change the dates to keep things rolling.  It's not necessarily THE way it's just A way.

And that's the way I built the thing, with the help of a great crew of others who were willing at the time.  There are threads that already go into why I/we lost interest, but that doesn't change a thing.  If somebody wants to run the UCA they can copy and paste from old threads (I recommend 2013) that's cool.  Or change everything.  Or whatever.  If you're standing on the sidelines awaiting permission to do something it isn't coming, or it just did.  Better to ask forgiveness than permission.  If no one wants to open the nominations/announcement thread then it's dead.  If no one nominates in that thread then it's dead.  If it's dead I'm good with that.  It had a good run, and nothing last forever.  Hell, even the Mona Lisa is falling apart.  If it lives again, that's good.  It has always belonged to the community. 

UCA = Fried Chicken.

FTFY

[Generic Eric]

Howzabouta lurker award?

[Malenko]

When everything is special, nothing is.

[Nephasth]

Howzabouta lurker award?

You just blew your chances.

[DrakeTungsten]

Is it that time already? For our semi-regular reminder of who on this board is truly special? Show the noobs how it's done!

[yotsuya]

Howzabouta lurker award?

You just blew your chances.

As long as that's all he blew....

[Nephasth]

Not to fret. There is a super-special kind of specialness which can only be earned, and will always be recognized by the right kind of people. For the wrong kind of people, concerns that mere claims of specialness are perceived as equal to your genuine specialness among the pro-snowflake crowd are easily addressed in one of two ways. Either institute a hall of fame to recognize the truly special, or add a footnote to the annual award stating that the competition was especially weak this year. Either way, nobody will lose sight of who is truly special.

There is a "hall of fame" thread already... And everyone is in it.

[yotsuya]

Not to fret. There is a super-special kind of specialness which can only be earned, and will always be recognized by the right kind of people. For the wrong kind of people, concerns that mere claims of specialness are perceived as equal to your genuine specialness among the pro-snowflake crowd are easily addressed in one of two ways. Either institute a hall of fame to recognize the truly special, or add a footnote to the annual award stating that the competition was especially weak this year. Either way, nobody will lose sight of who is truly special.

There is a "hall of fame" thread already... And everyone is in it.

That was a pretty long-winded way to avoid using the term "circle jerk".

[DrakeTungsten]

Not to fret. There is a super-special kind of specialness which can only be earned, and will always be recognized by the right kind of people. For the wrong kind of people, concerns that mere claims of specialness are perceived as equal to your genuine specialness among the pro-snowflake crowd are easily addressed in one of two ways. Either institute a hall of fame to recognize the truly special, or add a footnote to the annual award stating that the competition was especially weak this year. Either way, nobody will lose sight of who is truly special.

There is a "hall of fame" thread already... And everyone is in it.

That is problematic. I suppose a second, "for real this time" hall of fame would fall prey to the same forces. Or, just maybe, the constant stern mockery of "everybody gets a gold star" has borne fruit, and the snowflakes have learned the error of their ways and will respect only true greatness.

[DrakeTungsten]

Not to fret. There is a super-special kind of specialness which can only be earned, and will always be recognized by the right kind of people. For the wrong kind of people, concerns that mere claims of specialness are perceived as equal to your genuine specialness among the pro-snowflake crowd are easily addressed in one of two ways. Either institute a hall of fame to recognize the truly special, or add a footnote to the annual award stating that the competition was especially weak this year. Either way, nobody will lose sight of who is truly special.

There is a "hall of fame" thread already... And everyone is in it.

That was a pretty long-winded way to avoid using the term "circle jerk".

Whereas the brevity with which you indicate you've missed the point is impressive.

You greatly over-estimate your importance to me if you think I choose my words based on your emotional triggers.

[yotsuya]

I have no triggers, bro. I just recall all the ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow--- posts you've made from time to time.

[pbj]

[DrakeTungsten]

I have no triggers, bro.

For your own good, I ask that you re-examine this conclusion. I talked about circle-jerks in one thread nearly a year ago, and here you are still smarting from it as evidenced by your bizarre insistence that "circle jerk" is a summary of a post for which it certainly is not. If I want to comment on circle-jerk behavior, rest assured I will not hesitate to use that phrase*, and then you can enjoy another months-long tizzy over it. This was a nice thread about recognizing the specialness which is not recognized often enough, and you needed to drag a year-old beef into it. Let it go. Finally, let it go. The last word is yours...

*Unless you provide a doctor's note advising that such phrase should not be uttered where you might be exposed to it. Look out for your health, bro.

[yotsuya]

I'm just being a smart ass. What's  your  deal?

The other circle jerkers and I find you amusing, Poindexter. Don't ever change.

[Nephasth]

I think someone got a Thesaurus for Xmas...

[Le Chuck]

Remember when Joey used a thesaurus on every word?

[thomas_surles]

[pbj]

Outside of gay porn, do circle jerks ever actually go down?  Asking for a friend.

[yotsuya]

Outside of gay porn, do circle jerks ever actually go down?  Asking for a friend.

I heard they did them at them fancy boarding schools back East, like the kind Holden Caulfield got kicked out of in Catcher In The Rye.

[thomas_surles]

Outside of gay porn, do circle jerks ever actually go down?  Asking for a friend.

Well you can't just do it alone like some weirdo.

[yotsuya]

Outside of gay porn, do circle jerks ever actually go down?  Asking for a friend.

Conversely, come to ZapCon V and hang out in DeL's room after hours, big boy...

[Nephasth]

And bring your friend!

[Malenko]

It's more of a circle dutch rudder, cause that's not gay.

[opt2not]

I'm all for the UCA's. it's a legitimate chance to rip into the nominated projects since it's truely about judging them. I'm looking forward to laying into this year's crapfest.

[markc74]

I'm easy either way. Was kind of fun to see all the completed cabs in one place and read the (very animated ) arguments about what categories should be used.

We could always have a poll? Yay or nay.

[Nephasth]

Nay. UCAs are a lame horse. Put a bullet in it and move on.

[Malenko]

Commodore of the fleet and killer of the UCAs, what a glorious legacy he left behind.

[wp34]

I'm all for the UCA's. it's a legitimate chance to rip into the nominated projects since it's truely about judging them. I'm looking forward to laying into this year's crapfest.

This is actually a great point.  If you love to give feedback the UCA's are a the perfect place to do it.  I've never understood how the "Gold Star" controversy relates to the UCA's. 

[Malenko]

This is actually a great point.  If you love to give feedback the UCA's are a the perfect place to do it.  I've never understood how the "Gold Star" controversy relates to the UCA's.

Painting with broad strokes here but, it wasn't ran very well last year. A prime example a machine won for a category it didn't even qualify for, Ultimate Donkey Kong winning dedicated when it was a purpose built Multi (arcade SD).

The gold star comment is probably because of the people trying to nominate themselves. My favorite post in recent memory is still the guy who posted his build in the Hall of Fame thread and it was ---smurfing--- terrible.

[yotsuya]

I'm all for the UCA's. it's a legitimate chance to rip into the nominated projects since it's truely about judging them. I'm looking forward to laying into this year's crapfest.

This is actually a great point.  If you love to give feedback the UCA's are a the perfect place to do it.  I've never understood how the "Gold Star" controversy relates to the UCA's.

When I got involved with the UCAs (I was asked), it was with the intent to recognize outstanding craftmanship, innovation and design. I made sure, as a board member, that rules were followed to make sure that the competition stayed fair and true to the spirit of which I felt an award like that should mean.

I decided I didn't want to be involved anymore when it was clear that others felt that more cabs should be recognized because it was the "nice thing" to do, to be more inclusive of all builds, even those which were good (but not great) so people could feel better about themselves. Now, I don't have a problem with that per se, but if the goal is to recognize outstanding quality, why lower the standard?

There are plenty of good movies that don't get an Oscar nomination. That should have no bearing or effect on how those films are enjoyed. Likewise, there are lots of good cabs and builds that aren't exemplary - why pretend that they are?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - if you really love what someone has done, tell them in their build thread. No need to wait.

[thomas_surles]

What about a simple top 3 best of the best. No catagories.

[Vigo]

... outstanding craftmanship, innovation and design.

At the end of the day, that should be all that matters.

What about a simple top 3 best of the best. No catagories.

Beat me to it. Was thinking the same thing.    If it is truly an award of excellence, why even have categories? Quality speaks for itself no matter the type of build.

[Locke141]

Painting with broad strokes here but, it wasn't ran very well last year. A prime example a machine won for a category it didn't even qualify for, Ultimate Donkey Kong winning dedicated when it was a purpose built Multi (arcade SD).

There was also at least one build nominee that was not finished until after the end of 2015.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,144259.0.html

I would like to see the community do something around acknowledging community contributions. It would have been nice it there was a UCA for say best freely shared art work assets, best original freely shared software, or freely shared original cabinet plans. And before any one points out that none of the ones I listed were made in 2016, I know and you get the idea.

Who knows, celebrating contributions to the community may be more fun 

But I also like the top 3 idea as well.

What about a simple top 3 best of the best. No catagories.

Beat me to it. Was thinking the same thing.    If it is truly an award of excellence, why even have categories? Quality speaks for itself no matter the type of build.

[yotsuya]

Painting with broad strokes here but, it wasn't ran very well last year. A prime example a machine won for a category it didn't even qualify for, Ultimate Donkey Kong winning dedicated when it was a purpose built Multi (arcade SD).

There was also at least one build nominee that was not finished until after the end of 2015.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,144259.0.html

When I was on the board, I was a sticker for deadlines in the name of fairness. That wouldn't have been eligible for 2015 in years past.

[Malenko]

That's just circling back to the fact they were ran poorly last time. Do we even have enough good builds to have a top 3 this year?

[markc74]

I think a top 3 would be cool. It would highlight a load of stuff people have missed and get some good debate going i reckon. Like a best of 2016 summary. Add some text, an Intro from Ernest Cline and maybe we've got a book in the making.

Ok that last bit was too far.

For the record i have no vested interest in this but being part of a previous one was fun and seemed to get a lot of positive conversation going. Can't be a bad thing can it?

[wp34]

Ok.  I must have missed that drama.  I thought the "Gold Star" comments were more relating to the discussion about feedback within specific build threads.

It is unfortunate because I think the UCA's were a lot of fun and added to the community. Oh well.  Like Le Chuck said not everything lasts.

I'm all for the UCA's. it's a legitimate chance to rip into the nominated projects since it's truely about judging them. I'm looking forward to laying into this year's crapfest.

This is actually a great point.  If you love to give feedback the UCA's are a the perfect place to do it.  I've never understood how the "Gold Star" controversy relates to the UCA's.

When I got involved with the UCAs (I was asked), it was with the intent to recognize outstanding craftmanship, innovation and design. I made sure, as a board member, that rules were followed to make sure that the competition stayed fair and true to the spirit of which I felt an award like that should mean.

I decided I didn't want to be involved anymore when it was clear that others felt that more cabs should be recognized because it was the "nice thing" to do, to be more inclusive of all builds, even those which were good (but not great) so people could feel better about themselves. Now, I don't have a problem with that per se, but if the goal is to recognize outstanding quality, why lower the standard?

There are plenty of good movies that don't get an Oscar nomination. That should have no bearing or effect on how those films are enjoyed. Likewise, there are lots of good cabs and builds that aren't exemplary - why pretend that they are?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - if you really love what someone has done, tell them in their build thread. No need to wait.

[yotsuya]

Just spit balling here, but I would love to see something like a committee that looked at the previous year's builds, then selected a list of finalists that the community could choose from. I know it's not perfect and I'm sure there would be some grousing if some cabs were left off the finalist list, but I think it's a way to help recognize outstanding work and get it away from being a popularity contest. Oh well, it'd probably never work anyway.

[leapinlew]

For the Mameys, it was there to recognize builds in a few categories. One of the issues I struggled with were perfect builds that didn't break any new ground. I was a sucker for a well documented build that was super clean. Some of the judges liked the latest gee-whiz features. Many of the cabinets that were voted for a Mamey, would be mocked now. You can see the Mamey stuff here:

http://massive.mameworld.info/NEWMAMEY/awards.html

The UCA's are a good replacement. There will always be outlier categories where you want to do something for someone doing something unique. I think the first digital pinballs and dynamic marquees are good examples.

[yotsuya]

For the Mameys, it was there to recognize builds in a few categories. One of the issues I struggled with were perfect builds that didn't break any new ground. I was a sucker for a well documented build that was super clean. Some of the judges liked the latest gee-whiz features. Many of the cabinets that were voted for a Mamey, would be mocked now. You can see the Mamey stuff here:

http://massive.mameworld.info/NEWMAMEY/awards.html

The UCA's are a good replacement. There will always be outlier categories where you want to do something for someone doing something unique. I think the first digital pinballs and dynamic marquees are good examples.

Well said, Lew. That's where I'm kind of at with the UCAs, myself. I feel like everything last year was a clone of something else.

[yotsuya]

Oh, and thanks for the link. I really like the discussions you guys had there on why you voted yes or no for cabs. That's the kind of thing that I think the judges should be doing.

However, I have the feeling if that kind of discussion were to happen today, judges would be branded as haters. And who needs that?

[BadMouth]

I like how UncleT's "Mom's Arcade" both won a MAMEY and is on CrapMAME. 

It was his Mala guide that walked me through my first setup (and probably a ton of other people as well).

[markc74]

Wow the mameys take me back. And I remember Mission Control being the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Still is.

Some of the others (moms in particular) were at least interesting. Things seem a bit homogenised now. We need more batshitcrazy cabs.

[yotsuya]

Wow the mameys take me back. And I remember Mission Control being the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Still is.

Some of the others (moms in particular) were at least interesting. Things seem a bit homogenised now. We need more batshitcrazy cabs.

I personally would love to see more full size cabinets. No slim cabinets, no LCD cabinets, no 4 player aircraft carrier panels. I love some of the old designs because they truly look like they're evolved forms of an 80's arcade cabinet, and not simply a piece of furniture that plays video games. But that's just me.

[wp34]

Wow the mameys take me back. And I remember Mission Control being the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Still is.

Some of the others (moms in particular) were at least interesting. Things seem a bit homogenised now. We need more batshitcrazy cabs.

+1

I got to KLOV for the classics.  It is nice to see the envelope pushed a little over here.

[wp34]

Just spit balling here, but I would love to see something like a committee that looked at the previous year's builds, then selected a list of finalists that the community could choose from. I know it's not perfect and I'm sure there would be some grousing if some cabs were left off the finalist list, but I think it's a way to help recognize outstanding work and get it away from being a popularity contest. Oh well, it'd probably never work anyway.

I like this idea but for it to be successful it would take Saint coming down from Forum Heaven to lead it.

[Nephasth]

He's not in heaven... He's a little closer to hell...

[Locke141]

I think if we limited ever one to making only one nomination, and two seconded/ third's for builds it would result in a lot more focused contest. I don't think I would have made the voting cut in years past if that was the case but that's cool with me. I never thought my builds were the best ones in there cadigories.

Sample posable cardigories:
-Best original build.
-Best original idea.
-Best camunity contubution. (This would be like an all in one vertion of my earlier prposed cadigries)

[vwalbridge]

Some other categories could be:

Most angled joysticks
Best use of clip art
Most use of admin buttons
Best use of keyboard and mouse
Most likely to be featured in Dave & Buster's
Most likely to not fit through a doorway

[Nephasth]

 

[yotsuya]

Some other categories could be:

Most angled joysticks
Best use of clip art
Most use of admin buttons
Best use of keyboard and mouse
Most likely to be featured in Dave & Buster's
Most likely to not fit through a doorway

Chito won't be eligible until 2018 at the earliest.

[CheffoJeffo]

He's not in heaven... He's a little closer to hell...

I see what you did there. 

[Le Chuck]

I went back a re-read the 2011 (inaugural) nomination thread.  The UCA username and panel was created after this went down.  There were two build categories and three for contributions to the community.  There was no panel and nothing was being done behind the scenes.  The aircraft was building itself in flight so to speak.  What sticks out to me is how much that thread is about the people.  Sure there were build nominations, but a lot of the discussion from everyone was about who had had a big impact on them personally.  The categories were still in flex well into the nomination window and things sorted themselves out.

From  my chair the UCA was the nomination thread.  The voting and winner announcement thread was a lot of typing by me but that wasn't where the magic happened.  Somewhere in there it got too focused on the product and lost sight of the people.  That's where I lost interest. 

For 2016 Yotsuya has had a big impact for me.  He's always there with a balanced viewpoint, he works his ass off hosting Zapcon for all us knuckleheads, he's become a long distance friend I can always hit up offline about anything (tho mostly its arcade related), and he's a dedicated DIYer.  Solid user.  I bestow my finest internet High Five upon Yotsuya. 

Howard Casto also has an impact.  His argumentative nature is a gigantic pain in the ass sometimes but it also keeps this place lively.  He's had a rough year physically and has toyed with walking away from the community again.  I'm glad he's stuck around.  I personally benefit from much of his programing and those are real contributions that increase the happiness quotient in my life.  Good ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.  Howard, upon you I bestow my finest internet Fist Bump.

Malenko is a machine.  You want awesome restores, good threads, fun reads, and builds that you want to go steal and stick in your own garage?  Then look no further than his Naomi wizardry.  Also a giant pain the ass.  Also keeps this place lively.  Malenko get's my finest internet Tummy Tickle.   

This is not the UCA.  This is Steve Von Jett's personal post of thanks to solid internet dweebs that make my life better because they post...or text for those of us tight like that.

[yotsuya]

I went back a re-read the 2011 (inaugural) nomination thread.  The UCA username and panel was created after this went down.  There were two build categories and three for contributions to the community.  There was no panel and nothing was being done behind the scenes.  The aircraft was building itself in flight so to speak.  What sticks out to me is how much that thread is about the people.  Sure there were build nominations, but a lot of the discussion from everyone was about who had had a big impact on them personally.  The categories were still in flex well into the nomination window and things sorted themselves out.

From  my chair the UCA was the nomination thread.  The voting and winner announcement thread was a lot of typing by me but that wasn't where the magic happened.  Somewhere in there it got too focused on the product and lost sight of the people.  That's where I lost interest. 

For 2016 Yotsuya has had a big impact for me.  He's always there with a balanced viewpoint, he works his ass off hosting Zapcon for all us knuckleheads, he's become a long distance friend I can always hit up offline about anything (tho mostly its arcade related), and he's a dedicated DIYer.  Solid user.  I bestow my finest internet High Five upon Yotsuya. 

Howard Casto also has an impact.  His argumentative nature is a gigantic pain in the ass sometimes but it also keeps this place lively.  He's had a rough year physically and has toyed with walking away from the community again.  I'm glad he's stuck around.  I personally benefit from much of his programing and those are real contributions that increase the happiness quotient in my life.  Good ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.  Howard, upon you I bestow my finest internet Fist Bump.

Malenko is a machine.  You want awesome restores, good threads, fun reads, and builds that you want to go steal and stick in your own garage?  Then look no further than his Naomi wizardry.  Also a giant pain the ass.  Also keeps this place lively.  Malenko get's my finest internet Tummy Tickle.   

This is not the UCA.  This is Steve Von Jett's personal post of thanks to solid internet dweebs that make my life better because they post...or text for those of us tight like that.

Thanks, LeChuck. Same here, my partner in crime. Your creativity helps balance my purist tendencies, and that's why I like to bounce ideas off you here and via text - I know you'll be a straight shooter. I proudly accept this High Five Award. Send me a tracing of your hand so I can get it cut out in wood.

Since we're doing this, I'd like to give a shoutout to Opt2Not, HaRuMaN, Harveybirdman, Malenko, Vigo, and BYOAC Soul Brother #1 Neph who helped me with the award-winning "ZapCon the Game" in 2016. The plaques are in the mail.

And he doesn't come around much, but if you want to talk Outstanding Acrade Hobbyiest Vendor, Arcadenut, who sells the AnyCoinMech, has done so much for the Phoenix arcade community. I don't consider him a local collector, I consider him a true friend. My favorite ZapCon '16 memory will always be unloading his games at his house at Midnight after the show with vwalbridge and HBM, knowing I had to get them back their hotel and get home, go to sleep and wake up for work in 6 hours, yet loving every minute of the camaraderie. THAT'S why I collect games.

Oh, and if I may, I'd like to nominate Laythe for the 2016 LouisTully Memorial Kewlest N00b Award. Made a great cab, has given a lot of good advice, and made the pilgrimage out to ZapCon within months of joining. Solid member and I hope he stick around.

[harveybirdman]

nice circle jerk ---uvulas---

[yotsuya]

nice circle jerk ---uvulas---

Hey, I gave you a tug in my post!

My second favorite memory was picking up you and Vigo at the airport with Uptown Funk blasting, and the grins on your faces when you realized I did do it.

[Malenko]

Malenko is a machine.Also a giant pain the ass.

Im considered an ---uvula--- because I dont pull punches often and type out/say what other people think but are too scared to say. HC is a great coder and all , but I would prefer not to be lumped in with him in any capacity.
I dislike being called a pain in the ass, but feel free to call me an ---uvula--- 


Opt2Not is hands down the best best artist on these boards. He isn't vain or unapproachable and is there to answer questions, provide tutorials, help with art, and is really just an all around great guy. His work is truly inspiring. His rough drafts are superior to my final revisions, a true wizard on paper, in Illustrator, and Photoshop.

CheffoJeffo is just my all time favorite poster ever. We should all aspire to be more like him.

[leapinlew]

I think focusing on the builders/users instead of the builds is a great idea.

Yes! We totally need a popularity contest.  I'd suggest a swimsuit competition as well - mandatory thong.

I don't think anyone considers you too bad Malenko. I think when you are being rude, or as you say "tell it like it is", you should expect someone to reply in kind. Why would that be a surprise to you? The most likely issue is the written word isn't received as it was intended when written.

[leapinlew]

say nothing? 

If you have nothing nice to say, don't say it. Why even bother saying anything?

[leapinlew]

say nothing? 

If you have nothing nice to say, don't say it. Why even bother saying anything?

Maybe I need a refresh on what the problem is....

[Malenko]

Edit: congrats you pulled me in but I'm not posting any more in here. kk thnx bai!

[yamatetsu]

My suggestion would be a 'Your Favorite Build 2016' poll. Categories like 'upright', 'bartop', 'pinball' and 'everything else' (or 'unique builds'), 1 nomination per user/category, up to 3-5 builds make it to the final poll. No restrictions like innovations or craftmanship, just the builds that you liked best.

[leapinlew]

Edit: congrats you pulled me in but I'm not posting any more in here. kk thnx bai!

Pulling punches again I see. 

[yotsuya]

My suggestion is we don't worry about anything formal, just everybody use tomorrow to go and your favorite builds and tell people what a great job they did. Nice, tiny, light, the end.

[pbj]

Hah.  Told you clowns you'd come around on my "best neat projects" idea. 

[yotsuya]

Hah.  Told you clowns you'd come around on my "best neat projects" idea.

I'd like to nominate your bootleg Hooch or your home grown meat for best neat project.

[pbj]

You laugh but now I have a deep freeze full of hams and I'm trying to figure out what can be done with them.  I've pondered whether they could be further salted and hung in the garage.... or perhaps cut into strips and dried into jerky.  But, man, that first one gave me epic poops.

[saint]

Just spit balling here, but I would love to see something like a committee that looked at the previous year's builds, then selected a list of finalists that the community could choose from. I know it's not perfect and I'm sure there would be some grousing if some cabs were left off the finalist list, but I think it's a way to help recognize outstanding work and get it away from being a popularity contest. Oh well, it'd probably never work anyway.

I like this idea but for it to be successful it would take Saint coming down from Forum Heaven to lead it.

Oh no, don't drag me into this...

[yotsuya]

You laugh but now I have a deep freeze full of hams and I'm trying to figure out what can be done with them.  I've pondered whether they could be further salted and hung in the garage.... or perhaps cut into strips and dried into jerky.  But, man, that first one gave me epic poops.

Send me for ZapCon gift bag swag.

[leapinlew]

You laugh but now I have a deep freeze full of hams and I'm trying to figure out what can be done with them.  I've pondered whether they could be further salted and hung in the garage.... or perhaps cut into strips and dried into jerky.  But, man, that first one gave me epic poops.

Feed the ham to your pigs for double ham goodness.

Ham fried rice FTW!

[thomas_surles]

You laugh but now I have a deep freeze full of hams and I'm trying to figure out what can be done with them.  I've pondered whether they could be further salted and hung in the garage.... or perhaps cut into strips and dried into jerky.  But, man, that first one gave me epic poops.

Rum Ham

[Locke141]

Bomb Your Favorite Builds (BYFB) day 2016. Sound good to me, hopefully I'll take notice of builds I over looked.

[yotsuya]

Bomb Your Favorite Builds (BYFB) day 2016. Sound good to me, hopefully I'll take notice of builds I over looked.

That's the spirit.

[leapinlew]

My take on 2017

It's been a great year! We've seen an influx of people who have posted completed projects. Emulation has definitely hit the mainstream with easy to build kits, affordable electronics, accessible artwork, and simple software configurations. The trend over the last few years has been smaller and thinner and while golden era themes are still the most popular, there has been a trend to other nostalgic areas such as console games and comic books.

A big change over the last few years has been moving away from CRT to LCD/LED monitors. Debates still continue on accuracy vs cost vs accessibility but a thin cabinet with a flat panel no longer gets a second glance. Much like the power plants inside, Pi powered mame machines have definitely left their mark.

I've built around 30 machines and I prefer traditional (aka full size) builds utilizing early 80's cabinet design. I understand the want and need to go smaller and thinner, so I definitely appreciate these 2016 cabaret builds. In no specific order:

CUBE: A bit like an Asteroids cabaret (Complete)
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151654


The Q*Beret - Multi-Q*Bert Tully Caberet
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151827


I Love The Monster Hero: A Toxic Crusaders Cabaret
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151953


CNC'ed Reunion Cabaret
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,149805.0.html

(you're damn right I picked that picture)

Donkey Kong Cabaret Scratch Build
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,149688.msg1562673


Pinup!
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,150953.0.html




Good work guys!


 

[yotsuya]

Yay! I got a Lewey!!

[pbj]

Those all look uncomfortable to play and like nothing I ever saw in an actual arcade.

 

[yotsuya]

Those all look uncomfortable to play and like nothing I ever saw in an actual arcade.

 

If your fat ass comes to ZapCon, you can play the Q*Beret while gnawing on your ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- - inducing jerky.

[leapinlew]

Those all look uncomfortable to play and like nothing I ever saw in an actual arcade.

 

I don't think they look uncomfortable to play, but I do agree that some of them are more arcade-inspired than others. I thought the UCA's were to have categories such as upright, small form factor, etc. and then pick the best out of each category for a year period. It seems with that being the criteria, it shouldn't be difficult for a few guys to find all the possible entries for a year and then whittle down those to a winner. Compared to the Mameys, I like the structure that the UCA has.

I might be over simplifying, but it's simply a nod to the best build in the category their cabinet falls in for that year. It can't always be a bleeding edge design or technology and it doesn't always have to be a retro cabinet. It sounds like the UCA's is having a bit of an identity crisis.

In my post above, I think I found all the cabarets in 2016. There are 10 pages of projects that go back to 2016. I don't think it's an impossible task to review them and find the completed cabinets in the categories and give them a vote.

[thomas_surles]

Bartop (yes I count this as a bartop)
Gingerballs - Malenko
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,150902.0.html

We never did get those pics you promised in your last post.


MAME
Pinup - yamatetsu

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,150953.0.html



DEDICATED
The Q*beret - yotsuya

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151827.0.html



Other
Game Gear portable - grippie

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,147776.0.html

[yotsuya]

Yay,  a Lewey and a Thomas Choice Award!

[thomas_surles]

 

Yay,  a Lewey and a Thomas Choice Award!

Well it was a great build. I really enjoyed it.

[yotsuya]

Yot's Gold Stars for 2016

Laythe ' s Mimic -

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=149109.0

To be honest, this cab includes a lot of things about this hobby that I don't like, but Laythe integrated them so well that I tip my hat to him. Few people have done the dynamic marquee in a way that looks normal and natural, but he's done it. Also, he's got a great attitude and is solid, stand-up guy.

Markc74's Cube:

Mark is the epitome of the "less is more" mentality that I share. Rather than cater to the Dave and Busters set, Mark builds clean, efficient machines that look like they rolled off Atari ' s assembly line as a prototype, yet they still have modern interventions. I really hope people are greatly inspired by his builds in years to come... I know I am.

That's it for 2016!! Thanks everyone!

[yotsuya]

Yay,  a Lewey and a Thomas Choice Award!

Well it was a great build. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks! Hope you get to play it at ZapCon!

[vwalbridge]

Yot's Gold Stars for 2016

Laythe ' s Mimic -

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=149109.0

To be honest, this cab includes a lot of things about this hobby that I don't like, but Laythe integrated them so well that I tip my hat to him. Few people have done the dynamic marquee in a way that looks normal and natural, but he's done it. Also, he's got a great attitude and is solid, stand-up guy.

Markc74's Cube:

Mark is the epitome of the "less is more" mentality that I share. Rather than cater to the Dave and Busters set, Mark builds clean, efficient machines that look like they rolled off Atari ' s assembly line as a prototype, yet they still have modern interventions. I really hope people are greatly inspired by his builds in years to come... I know I am.

That's it for 2016!! Thanks everyone!

THIS ^  We can close the thread now.

[Le Chuck]

I'm happy to hand the UCA password information over to someone else if you guys can sucker them into doing it.

I'll take it back

[pbj]

Login and password have been sent.

[thomas_surles]

I'm happy to hand the UCA password information over to someone else if you guys can sucker them into doing it.

I'll take it back

Rep

[Nephasth]

I'm happy to hand the UCA password information over to someone else if you guys can sucker them into doing it.

I'll take it back

Rep

We have that here?

[thomas_surles]

I'm happy to hand the UCA password information over to someone else if you guys can sucker them into doing it.

I'll take it back

Rep

We have that here?

No