Which mini cab to build?

[paigeoliver]

I am considering building a half scale cabinet, similar to Dompac, once I finish my other projects.



But what game to make?

Some options would entail real boards and monitors, other options would not.

Feel free to write in votes as well. But please vote no matter what.

I am personally leaning towards either Mame Zoo Keeper, or City Connection (with real boards).

[Craig]

Moon Patrol :-)

[Lilwolf]

I think that a kid size micheal jackson anything is just down right wrong!

Will it be a dedicated or a mame machine?  Mainly because of the games you mentioned, most of them annoy kids because their too hard.

But I say Tempest would be cool.  

Or how about a rotary control panel like 1up with a vector monitor?  Asteroids + Tempest / Star trek + Starwars / Empire??  Smaller scale might make it easier.

Ok I'm dreaming... I would love that.

[paigeoliver]

I planned on making it look and act like a dedicated game. You found the joke game quick. I expected it to be a while before someone noticed that.

I doubt I will be building a half scale vector rotary anytime soon. If I wanted a vectormame monster then I could certainly do something with my star wars cockpit.

[Soulcon]

I say Jungle hunt it simple and you could do some nifty art work on the side. However, Tempest is one of the most appealling mini cabs around. But then you are in the fator of its been done before. I say Jungle hunt or Moonpatrol and you would be in happy shrinkedness mode.

-Soul

[menace]

definitely moon patrol--what kid wouldn't love bouncing along the surface of another planet shooting flying saucers  

It has a nice theme and its fun game thats not too hard.  Hmm maybe I'll build one--I seemed to have talked myself into something again...

[cobracon]

I'd build a mini Berzerk. Evil otto is just cool. But I've never seen a stencil of the side art so it might be tuff to create.

[Hoagie_one]

loved Tempest.....mini tempest would be premium

[lokki]

Hi,

Just a couple of games that kids like and i think would be great for a dedicated kids

Congo Bongo
Donkey Kong
Kangaroo

There are also the leprechaun and pirate treasure that were originally mini cabs. This games where mode for kids and are extremely easy


Not really related to your post but....
I've been thinking about a mini MAME cab.  But not dedicated to a single game.

I'd be interested in a cab that would

1) 1 Joystick ( 8 -way 4-way switchable?)
2) 2-3 buttons (not including Player 1 start)  
3) Generic Classic Arcade Art

I think any more buttons is too much clutter for a cab this size and and also no second joystick.

[paigeoliver]

All three of those games are cute, but man are they brutally hard. On my average game of Congo Bongo I fail to complete the first level. I am really good at Kangaroo until it hits that Robotron difficulty level (but without the Robotron firepower), and I DO have a Kangaroo board, so that is an option.

The Congo Bongo talk did make me think of Q*Bert though.

I hate Donkey Kong, well I don't hate it, but I certainly wouldn't want one.

The Moppet games are cute, but they are SOOOO BAD.

[pointdablame]

I voted Moon Patrol, but I have to say Tempest is right up there too.  Tempest would look really good as a mini-cab too I would think.

[Hoagie_one]

there are like 4 tempest games on ebay right now....yummy vector goodness

[Iori]

Tempest out of those... but I would go with Robotron if that were on the list  

[paigeoliver]

Tempest out of those... but I would go with Robotron if that were on the list  

I already have a multi-williams, so Robotron is out of the picture. Heck, that Multi-Williams is the reason I (stupidly) passed up minty Bubbles and Moon Patrol cocktails for $200 each recently.

[pocketbikez]

i vote for a Computer Space themed minimame cab:


or a Maneater themed minimame cab:

[paigeoliver]

i vote for a Computer Space themed minimame cab:


or a Maneater themed minimame cab:

I did have an ultra-rare Shark Jaws boardset, wiring harness and bezel/marquee for a while, but I sold them to a dude in the UK.

[TOK]

I voted Moon Patrol. It has very cool art, and if this is going to be MAME rather than dedicated, Moon Patrols stick and two button layout would be good for many other Golden Age games. Asteroids and Tempest are cool, but their layouts really limit them as MAME projects.

[NoOne=NBA=]

If it's going to be a kid's cab, my first vote would be for Frogger.


-----Honorable Mentions-----

Tempest is good, if you want a spinner-based cab.
The younger kids love to spin the spinner really fast, and shoot like crazy.

In the "ain't been done before/probably won't be done again" arena, I'd vote for Rampage.
That's the most requested game when my sister's kids come over.

For a trackball-based cab, I'd vote Crystal Castles.

And finally, in the "coolest mini ever" category, I'd go with Dragon's Lair.

[OSCAR]

I was really pleased with how mini-Gottlieb MAME cab turned out.  I have always liked the overall shape and clean lines of the Q*Bert and Mad Planets cabs, that's why I went with that design.  It is 4ft tall overall and I gave it a Q*Bert style paint job.  And I *finally* have the sideart being printed out, so after I get that applied it will be done.

http://www.oscarcontrols.com/miniplanets/cab13.jpg
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/miniplanets/cab16.jpg
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/miniplanets/cab17.jpg

Sideart:
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/miniplanets/fullside-small.jpg

[MameJunkie]

Dig Dug...fun...fun...fun  

[Iori]

Tempest out of those... but I would go with Robotron if that were on the list  

I already have a multi-williams, so Robotron is out of the picture. Heck, that Multi-Williams is the reason I (stupidly) passed up minty Bubbles and Moon Patrol cocktails for $200 each recently.

My bad... should have known!    I think that I remember seeing the project now that you mention it though.

[captainpotato]

I'd have suggested Donkey Kong if you hadn't objected to it already. Galaxian? From your list, I'd say Berzerk or Zoo Keeper.

Alternatively, a mini Gauntlet would be cool

[Hoagie_one]

on second though, a miniature sized 4 player mini gauntlet would be fat....and i may have a buyer for it for you, lol

friend of mine is a guantlet fiend

[Lilwolf]

mini gauntlet would be hard unless you turned it into an 2player.  It can already be hard to get around it with 4 players (remember, its controlpanel doesn't stick out on the sides (really... just a board does).

I'm sticking with tempest if you have a vector monitor.

otherwise moonpatrol or digdug would be great.  

Anything with specific control panels might be hard to mini.... Like defender... If you plan on non-standard controller your out.

2player games might be impossible...  stand next to someone that close without getting too close...

Something that a kid can play more then 1/2 a level is important... because EVERY kid will want to play it.

btw, will it play more then one game?  

In the end... If not... I would probably go with a vertical shooter.  

[neuromancer]

mini gauntlet would be hard unless you turned it into an 2player.  It can already be hard to get around it with 4 players (remember, its controlpanel doesn't stick out on the sides (really... just a board does).

Ooooh. Mini Guantlet 2 player. I never saw a 2 player Guantlet, but I know they existed. That would be nice.

There's a pic of the flyer on 1up's site:
http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3133882

Bob

[captainpotato]

mini gauntlet would be hard unless you turned it into an 2player.  It can already be hard to get around it with 4 players (remember, its controlpanel doesn't stick out on the sides (really... just a board does).

I didn't say that it would be easy, just cool

Hmm, I need to finish my bartop and then get a larger house, so that I can build a new cabinet... I think I'd be struggling to get a minicab in the current one