Q*Bert 1/6 scale replicade from New Wave Toys

[KenToad]

This thing is up for preorder now and looks super cool. It even includes a mini solenoid knocker. I watched an interview (2nd link below) with the programmer of the game and the owner of New Wave Toys and it seemed like they were indicating that the mini joystick would be properly rotated and restricted, but in any case New Wave Toys have a reputation for making quality, playable controls on their replicades.

What do you folks think?

[negative1]

i would avoid it, unless this is all you can afford, or have room for.

i have had a terrible time with centipede.

the trackball gave out after several weeks. also it's nearly
impossible to play properly given its size. got to 600,000 before it died on me.

also, tempest is nearly impossible to play with, the buttons are not responsive enough.
the small spinner and big spinner are adequate, but not for most people that spin it
more. i only do small movements and can get 200k or so on it.

i'm very worried about qbert, and feel it won't be very good either.

they had problems with asteroids also, and the graphics.

everything they put out, has adequate hardware, but the emulation and ergonomics are terrible.

i will test out qbert, and see if i can get to a 1,000,000 on it. but i have severe doubts it will
be any good.

these things are expensive desk toys, and not meant for any type of playing unless you only
last 1-5 minutes with your games.

quarter arcades are much better, and since they only do joystick games, are way better, and playable:
(i have dig dug, but there is galaxian, galaga, pac-man, ms pac-man etc).

later
-1

[KenToad]

Thanks for your feedback, negative1! I really appreciate that.

I also saw a YouTube review of New Wave Toys SFII cab that said the plastic joysticks were prone to just snapping off during normal play. It looks like Q*Bert will use a similar plastic joystick, although they used a metal shafted joystick for their Dragon's Lair replicade.

I already preordered. The mini-solenoid sold me.

If the joystick is plastic, I doubt I'll break it in my 5 minute plays, but I'll be sure to keep it out of the hands of children and hopefully it won't break.

[nexusmtz]

i would avoid it, unless this is all you can afford, or have room for.
...
these things are expensive desk toys, and not meant for any type of playing unless you only
last 1-5 minutes with your games.

quarter arcades are much better, and since they only do joystick games, are way better, and playable:
(i have dig dug, but there is galaxian, galaga, pac-man, ms pac-man etc).

I'm getting one to go with the rest (excluding SFII - that one didn't look right to me.) [I think I wrote that same response when Asteroids was announced]

Since they're not meant to be played in a serious way, people shouldn't buy them thinking that they'll finally have a Q*Bert/Centipede... I hope nobody is that delusional. Arcade1ups might fool some people, but these don't.

As you say, they're desk toys, or maybe collectibles. Looks are the hook. Being 'playable' is a cool bonus.

I use mine (and the basicfun(?) ones) for short sessions of silliness. Otherwise they sit on the shelves looking sort of like a collection.

I haven't gone down the Quarter Arcades path (yet.) A collection of those would take up more space than I have available in the room where I spend most of my time. I can see the benefit of being a bit closer to 'seriously playable', though, so I won't say 'never'.

[Vocalitus]

i would avoid it, unless this is all you can afford, or have room for.

i have had a terrible time with centipede.

the trackball gave out after several weeks. also it's nearly
impossible to play properly given its size. got to 600,000 before it died on me.

also, tempest is nearly impossible to play with, the buttons are not responsive enough.
the small spinner and big spinner are adequate, but not for most people that spin it
more. i only do small movements and can get 200k or so on it.

i'm very worried about qbert, and feel it won't be very good either.

they had problems with asteroids also, and the graphics.

everything they put out, has adequate hardware, but the emulation and ergonomics are terrible.

i will test out qbert, and see if i can get to a 1,000,000 on it. but i have severe doubts it will
be any good.

these things are expensive desk toys, and not meant for any type of playing unless you only
last 1-5 minutes with your games.

quarter arcades are much better, and since they only do joystick games, are way better, and playable:
(i have dig dug, but there is galaxian, galaga, pac-man, ms pac-man etc).

later
-1

You do realize that these little replicas are made to view and not actual play?

You own them for a year and then sell them for a bunch of cash later.

[KenToad]

That's true about selling them for more later. Due to the limited nature of the production runs, the secondary market on these is pretty crazy. So potentially you should be able to at least get your money back, if not make a small profit, if you want to sell it after several months.

[negative1]

You do realize that these little replicas are made to view and not actual play?

You own them for a year and then sell them for a bunch of cash later.

and yet quarter arcades are playable: a person has gotten to the killscreen on pac-man,

and i can easily get to the slow boards on dig dug:



endgame,





i'm sure i could crush galaga, pac-man, and ms pac man also when i get them.

small, doesn't mean not playable.

replicades are just inferior products and should be treated as such.

later
-1

[negative1]

That's true about selling them for more later. Due to the limited nature of the production runs, the secondary market on these is pretty crazy. So potentially you should be able to at least get your money back, if not make a small profit, if you want to sell it after several months.

Possibly, but i never sell anything.

I buy things so I can use them.

Games are for playing. If i want a cheap replica, there are $20 ones from myarcade, and basic fun, that make
small scale versions.

Although they are making some decent ones like space invaders, and street fighter 2 for $50-$60 now also.

later
-1

[KenToad]

Yeah, I don't sell things, either, but I do prefer things that retain their value over things that don't. Replicades from New Wave Toys are built to a high standard and have retained their value, unlike most of the big box store mini-cade type devices.

The only mini-cade I've ever played seriously was the old Coleco DK Jr. tabletop game. My Dad got it for me at some point in the 80's and I played it until I mastered it. Great game, but it got old quickly.

I'm sure I'll play basic Q*Bert enough to at least see Level 5. Warren Davis said that the game doesn't increase in difficulty after that. I'm not one to play these old repetitive games all day, although I do enjoy a little dose now and then. FHMC Q*Bert is a nice bonus, but I've never felt like it was an amazing upgrade from the basic game.

I'm curious if people prefer basic or FHMC Q*Bert?

[negative1]

Yeah, I don't sell things, either, but I do prefer things that retain their value over things that don't. Replicades from New Wave Toys are built to a high standard and have retained their value, unlike most of the big box store mini-cade type devices.

i don't care what other people value in things, or if things get more or less expensive. since i never sell anything.

they are worth what i pay for them. no more and no less.

The only mini-cade I've ever played seriously was the old Coleco DK Jr. tabletop game. My Dad got it for me at some point in the 80's and I played it until I mastered it. Great game, but it got old quickly.

I'm sure I'll play basic Q*Bert enough to at least see Level 5. Warren Davis said that the game doesn't increase in difficulty after that. I'm not one to play these old repetitive games all day, although I do enjoy a little dose now and then. FHMC Q*Bert is a nice bonus, but I've never felt like it was an amazing upgrade from the basic game.

I'm curious if people prefer basic or FHMC Q*Bert?

the vast majority of people have never heard of the prototype game,
so i'm sure everyone prefers the original.

the faster harder version is for experts.

later
-1

[KenToad]

Yeah, I don't sell things, either, but I do prefer things that retain their value over things that don't. Replicades from New Wave Toys are built to a high standard and have retained their value, unlike most of the big box store mini-cade type devices.

i don't care what other people value in things, or if things get more or less expensive. since i never sell anything.

they are worth what i pay for them. no more and no less.

The only mini-cade I've ever played seriously was the old Coleco DK Jr. tabletop game. My Dad got it for me at some point in the 80's and I played it until I mastered it. Great game, but it got old quickly.

I'm sure I'll play basic Q*Bert enough to at least see Level 5. Warren Davis said that the game doesn't increase in difficulty after that. I'm not one to play these old repetitive games all day, although I do enjoy a little dose now and then. FHMC Q*Bert is a nice bonus, but I've never felt like it was an amazing upgrade from the basic game.

I'm curious if people prefer basic or FHMC Q*Bert?

the vast majority of people have never heard of the prototype game,
so i'm sure everyone prefers the original.

the faster harder version is for experts.

later
-1

According to Warren Davis the programmer, Faster Harder More Challenging came about after he heard that people were playing the original game for hours on a single quarter. So, it wasn't a prototype, more like a re-balancing.

You can hear the story of FHMC Q*Bert and how it got released to MAME from Warren Davis at about the 20:24 minute mark in the second video linked in the first post.

[Vocalitus]

The only mini-cade I've ever played seriously was the old Coleco DK Jr. tabletop game. My Dad got it for me at some point in the 80's and I played it until I mastered it. Great game, but it got old quickly.

I still have the Galaxian somewhere in storage, I got it for my birthday back nearly 40 years ago  and I think it was $80 so about $200 in todays money.  The reason for memory lane, was when I went to E3 or CES and saw these on display at the 1up arcade stand. 

Will these come out anytime soon or was there a licensing issue?

[negative1]

The only mini-cade I've ever played seriously was the old Coleco DK Jr. tabletop game. My Dad got it for me at some point in the 80's and I played it until I mastered it. Great game, but it got old quickly.

I still have the Galaxian somewhere in storage, I got it for my birthday back nearly 40 years ago  and I think it was $80 so about $200 in todays money.  The reason for memory lane, was when I went to E3 or CES and saw these on display at the 1up arcade stand. 

Will these come out anytime soon or was there a licensing issue?

they may come out some day. but are not a high priority right now.

later
-1

[javeryh]

A little off-topic but how is the Ms. Pac-Man from Quarter Arcade?  I've been staring at it forever and for $150 it seems worth it to me since it is one of my favorite games.  But I worry that it is unplayable because it is so small and $150 for a cool looking paperweight is a bit much.

[negative1]

A little off-topic but how is the Ms. Pac-Man from Quarter Arcade?  I've been staring at it forever and for $150 it seems worth it to me since it is one of my favorite games.  But I worry that it is unplayable because it is so small and $150 for a cool looking paperweight is a bit much.

i'll bite, and say its worth it. even if you can't play it, if you love that game like i do, you'll get it.

i don't have it yet, because i have it on about 10 other machines. but i'll get it at some point.

from the reviews it seems like it's playable, because its large enough, and uses a  joystick, so there
won't be any control issues.

i don't think it has the speedup on it though.

later
-1

[negative1]

here is a review of the prototype qbert machine:



later
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