Is Missle Command a good cab for a newbie?

[j123vt_99]

I have an opportunity to pickup a old missle command. The cab seems to be in decent shape and the game still works... However, I really have no interest in the game itself. I do want to convert it to MAME. AS you know I am a newbie. Should I pick it up and use to experiment with? Pick it up and try and trade it? or just leave it for someone else

[Witchboard]

Depends on how much they are asking.

[j123vt_99]

Depends on how much they are asking.

[quarterback]

Are you sure that's a Missile Command?  The 4th picture looks like it but the first three are a lot wider and shorter than I remember.

[Fat_Trucker]

That looks in relatively good fettle for its age. MAMEing it and cannibalising parts would be the equivalent of painting a classic car with yellow emulsion.

If you can keep it as is, or sell/swap it, then go for it, but it would be criminal to cannibalise it.

Still, its up to you at the end of the day.

[j123vt_99]

thanks guys...

[paigeoliver]

Missile Command is normally a $400 - $600 game. But my first offer on any game is $100.

Maming that would just be throwing money out the window. Free and sub $50 cabinets are so easy to find it is crazy.

[j123vt_99]

ok.. i won't mame it...now will it fit through my apartment door

[paigeoliver]

Yes, of course it will, that cabinet is 24.5" wide, your apartment door is probably 36". It will be 30" at a minimum, but the front door is probably 36".

[Arcadiac]

Before buying, measure all doorways the cab needs to fit through and consider if your are going up or downstairs as turning corners could be a problem requiring the cab to be moved while held upright.

[paigeoliver]

I can save you trouble on some measurements though. All color Atari uprights before Gauntlet will fit through all doors. Unless you have some really idiot door. Most classic cabs are 24.5" or less wide, and even the narrowest doors are wider than that.

The really troublesome games are not the classic color cabinets, they are the pre-classic black and white games (tended to be larger) and the post classic deluxe cabinets. Most will STILL fit throught a 30" doorway (which seems to be the smallest common size), if you take the door off the hinges.

[j123vt_99]

thanks everyone.. for now it will be going straight into my apartment (1st floor, no turns).. i'm in austin texas. i figure i will get it and see how much of it i can handle...

[RayB]

Don't MAME. Here are the reasons:

1. It is a bonafide CLASSIC.
2. It still WORKS.

[j123vt_99]

seller told me Exact dimensions: Height: 64.75". Width: 32.00". Depth: 25.25". Weight:
270 lbs

[mahuti]

If you have stairs, you can navigate them easily by strapping it to an appliance dolly.

[Lilwolf]

I wouldn't mame a cabinet for more then 100 bucks at this point... But of course I did... but I spend 200 bucks shipping to get one to the top of a mountain in New Mexico... (ie, nothing local).

but after ripping everything out and replacing the CRT it really was a box...

There is one exception to this... I WOULD pay a bit more for really really cool artwork...

But no matter what you do... try and keep the original cp in tact if possible.  So you can turn it back into a missile command whenever you want... 

So I would do this..

Its not a jamma cabinet I don't believe... (but find out)

buy an arcadeVGA... monitor is still being used and not modified.
buy a hacked mouse controller from Oscar or a Opti-pac... Now you can use the trackball without change.

Then make it so you can swap the control panel with a standard (and hopefully wood) for all others... So you can swap back/forth with a little effort.

last (duck... swings coming my way)... you might be able (depending on the quality) part out everything you dont' want and make a ton back

trackball... its a 4"  if in great shape you should get 50-75 for it pretty easy.
raised lit up buttons - 20 bucks each (and you get 3 of them... (and for player 1 / 2)
known working board... not sure... check ebay... probably 50+ for it... depends


it might make it worth it..

[j123vt_99]

since it is not a jamma, can i use a jpac? and i would only need the opti-pac if i wanted to play trackball games?

[Sephroth57]

everyone talks about missle command like its this amazing game. you shoot missles at stuff with some atari graphics... its not like its tempest or something..

mame the thing if you want who cares, it has a pretty open area for a CP so that should be easy to fit some controls in with decent space


you could use a Jpac if you wired it to a jamma harness, you might be better off pulling out that monitor and selling it and buying a PC monitor, much easier for a newbie that way. but whatever you wanna do

[RayB]

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! 

[Stingray]

everyone talks about missle command like its this amazing game. you shoot missles at stuff with some atari graphics... its not like its tempest or something..

mame the thing if you want who cares

There will be a special jacuzzi suite in hell reserved for you for that post. 

-S

[j123vt_99]

made this a poll since a lot of people seem to be divided

[walls83]

Man I love missle command.  But I wouldnt buy it if you want a mame cab.  Just find a different non working cab and do that. 

[j123vt_99]

Man I love missle command.

[Witchboard]

If you have no interest in the game itself, don't bother trying to restore it.  Even if you do, you won't get the warm fuzzy feeling inside.  If you do buy it for a good price, your best bet would be to trade it to somebody for a generic cab plus cash.

[j123vt_99]

also .. recommendations on getting this beast into my truck.. borrowing my friend's truck... can i use a ramp and dolly? any suggestions? do places rent these?

[Sephroth57]

just put the cabs back up to the truck bed, lift/tip it into the truck so it lays on the back. its ok to leave it on its back

[j123vt_99]

anything else i should bring along besides a tarp and bungee cords?

[tmasman]

anything else i should bring along besides a tarp and bungee cords?

Straps...
To keep it from sliding around the back of the truck...

Blankets/padding...
To keep iot padded against the bottom & whatever you strap it against.

You can leave it on it's back, or once you've got it up there, you can stand it up & strap it to the front.

Either way, make sure all loose parts are secured. (Plexi, control panel, etc...)

Look inside the cabinet & make sure nothing is loose in there... a couple of rough starts & stops can throw loose objects around & destroy the game boards & or monitor chasis...

Have fun!

- Thomas

[RayB]

He just said it, but to emphasize: Look for bolts, nuts and quarters at the bottom and remove them.

Next, when you get it home, open it up and re-check again for anything that has come loose BEFORE you power up.

~

[j123vt_99]

forunately it is a short ride (can;t be more than 10 miles)...still need to figure out how to load it... not 100% sure i can get a buddy to come along

[Gunstar Hero]

I'd say, preservation aside, a Missile Command would be a poor choice for a MAME(tm) cab....

The standard CPO is pretty limited, and it will be a pain to have a blank one fashioned or fit a new one in.

The monitor is it isn't really suitable for anything besides old Atari games.

The wiring in it predates JAMMA by like 1000 years.

No place for a custom marquee.

And don't listen to Sephiroth. He's a cool guy, but too damn young to respect what a frigging cool game Missile Command was back in the day. 

[j123vt_99]

I'd say, preservation aside, a Missile Command would be a poor choice for a MAME(tm) cab....

The standard CPO is pretty limited, and it will be a pain to have a blank one fashioned or fit a new one in.

The monitor is it isn't really suitable for anything besides old Atari games.

The wiring in it predates JAMMA by like 1000 years.

No place for a custom marquee.

And don't listen to Sephiroth. He's a cool guy, but too damn young to respect what a frigging cool game Missile Command was back in the day. 

Everyone here has convienced me not to make it a MAME cab

[dabone]

Post it for sale on the rgvac news group.

It looks like all it needs is some tlc and cleaning to make it a nice collectors piece.




It will find some love there.

(I've had to pay 20 bucks a piece for the cone buttons on the control panel alone.)

And you'll get enough to start you on your mame cab.
(Ipac, avga, etc.)


Later,
dabone

[paigeoliver]

seller told me Exact dimensions: Height: 64.75". Width: 32.00". Depth: 25.25". Weight:
270 lbs

He has his width and depth mixed up, but otherwise those are correct.

[j123vt_99]

seller told me Exact dimensions: Height: 64.75". Width: 32.00". Depth: 25.25". Weight:
270 lbs

He has his width and depth mixed up, but otherwise those are correct.

i was hoping that was true

[Wade]

That's a decent game, get it for a good price and sell it for more.  I'd take a MC if I could find one locally.

Then take the money you made and build a Mame cabinet.  There are lots of great Mame candidates (broken games, gutted cabs, etc.) for very little money.  It's a shame to do it to a working classic like that.

Wade

[j123vt_99]

picked her up and she is a beauty.. works great.... even had the original instructions taped in the inside

the trackball is huge at 3 in... could use a little bit of lube/wd40 ...

still has the state inspection stickers for 82-84.. artwork is pretty solid... i actually think it looks good with a little wear.. if it was too perfect, might look like a reproduction

[dmsuchy]

How much did she cost ya?

[j123vt_99]

 .. i think well.... and it  isn't about the money, is it?

[dmsuchy]

No, it is all about da money and the beeeatches, if current rap videos are correct.