Restoration, renovation?

[Generic Eric]

I have a cabinet now.  "Yippie!!!"  I want to restore it to the orginal game.  The artwork is not currently available according to the licsenced reproducers' website.  That leaves me in a pickle.  Wait on ebay, or on the sideart reproducer?

Some of you may have noticed my posts suggesting to modernize artwork.  For example:  Mario Brothers artwork using Mario from N64, or Donkey Kong artwork using the Donkey Kong from Donkey Kong country.

Am I out of line?  Am I defacing my cab' while trying to restore it?  Am I a sinner?

Currently, the cash flow has me considering these options.  All things considered, I could just wait until I had the cash and the side art was available, leaving well enough alone for right now.

I posted looking for your opinions, so don't hold back.

If you are interested, check out my "blog" @ generic_eric.blogspot.com

[spystyle]

Are you going to tell us what cabinet it is and post some pics ?

[etumor]

Are you going to tell us what cabinet it is and post some pics ?

It's a Dragon's Lair.  He posted pictures in this thread:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=20000

There seems to be a lot of these old cabs popping up right now.  PGifford just got the same kind of cab, and I picked up one myself about two weeks ago (and the guy I bought it from had two more).

Personally, I think there is only one thing you can do with a Dragon's Lair -- restore it back to its original state (converting it to a Space Ace or Thayer's Quest is also acceptable).  But this may be because Dragon's Lair is not just my favorite video game of all time, it is also my favorite cabinet of all time.  It's really a beauty, fully restored.

I believe that running MAME/Daphne on the cabinet is acceptable.  As for modifying the artwork, I can't really back you up on that.  Yes, the artwork you are talking about using is pretty cool, but I'm all about nastolgia, and any difference kills the feeling.  I already have a set of the side art from ArcadeReproductions.com, but I'm really hoping that he does another run at some point, because I'd like to see as many of these machines properly restored as possible (he has done multiple runs in the past).

Ultimately, you're going to have to make your own decisions, but if it were my cab, I'd restore it with all original artwork (which is what I actually am doing).

Generic Eric: I read your blog, and one small word of caution: You probably realize this already, but the flyer you posted on your website doesn't actually look like the production machines did.  That was based on early designs, and not what actually got produced.  The control panel is shaped wrong in that flyer.

You may already know this, but if you are looking for any resources at all for restoring this cab, visit the Dragons Lair Project, http://www.d-l-p.com

I've also sent you a private message, so be sure to check that.

-Jeff "etumor"

[Generic Eric]

Are you going to tell us what cabinet it is and post some pics ?

Right, it is orginally a cinematronics game in the general shape of dragon's lair.  the marquee region is hacked up due to a bad conversion to a game called Break through by Data East.  I can't say I am convinced that the monitor supports are mounted properly.  I'll have to snap off some more pics.

Other than that, its in good shape.

There seems to be a lot of these old cabs popping up right now.  PGifford just got the same kind of cab, and I picked up one myself about two weeks ago (and the guy I bought it from had two more).

 ya, its crazy

I believe that running MAME/Daphne on the cabinet is acceptable.

Generic Eric: I read your blog, and one small word of caution: You probably realize this already, but the flyer you posted on your website doesn't actually look like the production machines did.  That was based on early designs, and not what actually got produced.  The control panel is shaped wrong in that flyer.

ya, just thought it looked cool.  didn't spot that the cp was different.  i will have to check that out later.

Well, maybe I will still plan out my alternate artwork.  It would take awhile for it to look "just right" to me anyway.  

It occurred to me today to "re" investigate VAPS the video arcade preservation site (for the uniniated) and read up on that.  will see if they have a charter, or a manifesto.


Still curious to see what others have to say though.

[RayB]

Could this cab not have also been Cosmic Chasm or any other Cinematronics game?

Honestly, when a cab like that has so little remaining of its former glory, I'm tempted to say just mame it. You have no art, no coin door, no marque (which originally was a really odd shape, so good luck finding one!), etc...

I think it would cost you too much to make it worth restoring.