Arcade Collecting > Arcade1Up & Similar
Could the Arcade 1up thing have been succesful if handled differently?
Malenko:
The a1ups run on pretty much the same hardware as pandoras box 3 and 4. An A13 CPU
Zebra:
--- Quote from: Malenko on March 03, 2019, 09:08:10 pm ---The a1ups run on pretty much the same hardware as pandoras box 3 and 4. An A13 CPU
--- End quote ---
I guess that's the problem with trying to market them as such low budget items. Quality emulators require a fairly decent PC. Something that is easy to acquire used for a low price for individuals but not so easy to offer for companies marketing a new product.
Whoever suggested that they sell empty cabs to make it easy for users to add their own hardware was on to something. As cheap as the 1Ups are, they are far too much for cabs with 1 or 2 poorly emulated games.
JDFan:
--- Quote from: Zebra on March 05, 2019, 11:21:10 am ---
--- Quote from: Malenko on March 03, 2019, 09:08:10 pm ---The a1ups run on pretty much the same hardware as pandoras box 3 and 4. An A13 CPU
--- End quote ---
I guess that's the problem with trying to market them as such low budget items. Quality emulators require a fairly decent PC. Something that is easy to acquire used for a low price for individuals but not so easy to offer for companies marketing a new product.
Whoever suggested that they sell empty cabs to make it easy for users to add their own hardware was on to something. As cheap as the 1Ups are, they are far too much for cabs with 1 or 2 poorly emulated games.
--- End quote ---
Problem there is the cost would be the same as the full A1U cab with the 1 or 2 games -- and you'd still need to buy the rest of the parts (since they couldn't sell them loaded with roms and so would not include any of the game hardware in order to keep it open for all options ) - FIgure the PCB with the games is minimal cost and removing it would not really save A1U any $ ( selling an empty cab would cost as much to manufacture/distribute as the fully operational cabs) - Plus you then limit your audience to those willing/capable of building the rest thus limiting your target audience even more.
They are better off doing it the way they are since those that do not want to mod them can still buy them and those that want to mod them will still buy them and just use the shell etc. - and for A1U the profit margin is the same as it would be selling empty cabs.
JDFan:
--- Quote from: Zebra on March 05, 2019, 11:21:10 am ---Whoever suggested that they sell empty cabs to make it easy for users to add their own hardware was on to something. As cheap as the 1Ups are, they are far too much for cabs with 1 or 2 poorly emulated games.
--- End quote ---
Thing is the PCB for the games is minimal cost - so selling empty cabs would not make any extra profit for A1U ( as buyers would expect an empty cab to be much cheaper than the current cabs but production/distribution costs would be almost the same ! ) and that would also limit their market to those capable/willing to finish the builds - They are better off doing it the way they are and modders can just buy a cab and modify it like is already being done - that way they get the sales to those that never plan to mod it and also from those that will.
Zebra:
--- Quote from: JDFan on March 05, 2019, 11:41:13 am ---
--- Quote from: Zebra on March 05, 2019, 11:21:10 am ---Whoever suggested that they sell empty cabs to make it easy for users to add their own hardware was on to something. As cheap as the 1Ups are, they are far too much for cabs with 1 or 2 poorly emulated games.
--- End quote ---
Thing is the PCB for the games is minimal cost - so selling empty cabs would not make any extra profit for A1U ( as buyers would expect an empty cab to be much cheaper than the current cabs but production/distribution costs would be almost the same ! ) and that would also limit their market to those capable/willing to finish the builds - They are better off doing it the way they are and modders can just buy a cab and modify it like is already being done - that way they get the sales to those that never plan to mod it and also from those that will.
--- End quote ---
There is a lot of guess-work and assumptions in that statement and I think it is wrong. Removing the electronics and licensing fees is a meaningful saving. I'm sure Namco and Capcom took their pound of flesh.
IMO, anyone that would buy and assemble a 1Up would be capable of assembling a bartop kit and putting a cheap PC inside. I find it hard to believe that anyone who loves gaming enough to put a cab in their house would find downloading mame too hard and too much effort.
Telling those who want a multicade to do a diy conversion is what will limit the market. Only extreme fans can be bothered to hack embedded electronics, rewire control panels, solder connections and remove decals with a hair-dryer to get at screws.
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