Opinion on potential cabinet theme

[More Cowbell]

My wife hates this idea but I wanted to run it by the people that are more in tune with the whole mame thing.
My idea for my cabinet theme (marquee, CPO, sideart, bezel) is "Poorly Translated Japanese". The thought is to make it seem like it was originally a Japanese game that has been translated to English using only a translation dictionary and no knowledge of actual English. So here's what I'm thinking...
Marquee - "New Super Fun Happy Joy"
The rest - Scattered sayings like "Go!", "Make!", "Try!", "Grab!", "Center!", "Form to the Update!", "Sweat Inducing!", "Children Make Wide Eyes!"
You get the idea. I think this is hilarious but my wife thinks it is the lamest thing ever. Can I get some input here from my peers?

[quarterback]

I love Engrish.  It make me happy laugh big time!

[quarterback]

Engrish.com Video Games

"You! Invaders! Get you the hot bullets of shotgun to die!"

[Franco]

Damn it quaterback you beat me to it!  Engrish cracks me up, especially when I get some goods from the east. I think its a brilliant theme. Check www.engrish.com, you may get some inspiration from there.

[Franco]

Damn, you beat me again with the linky! Touche sir, touche! 

[quarterback]

Damn, you beat me again with the linky! Touche sir, touche!

[Franco]

I pronounce you glorious master in victorly!



 

[More Cowbell]

Totally! Engrish.com really sums up what I'm looking for on the cabinet. It will be a great resource of ideas. Do you think people will understand it or will they just be confused? I guess it depends on how well the presentation is done.

[quarterback]

I've definitely seen sites that have more stuff than what is on the Engrish.com website.  Google around and you should find all kinds of entertaining stuff.

I look forward to your posts in Prject Announcements as this project takes shape.

Victoly is mine!

[Level42]

Nice idea...there was a brilliant one on the Samba Kings box too...gota dig it up.

(edit: Here it is: Don't touch it by hand mixed the mess. )

There's more on the pics here:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=32485.0

However, what if the native English people would make some Japanese/Chinese texts  this way, I'm dure they'd have some laughs as well.

But the most clear one and forgotten because it is now so well known:

Donkey Kong

[Skadar]

Totally! Engrish.com really sums up what I'm looking for on the cabinet. It will be a great resource of ideas. Do you think people will understand it or will they just be confused? I guess it depends on how well the presentation is done.

This is a fantastic idea for a theme!  However, you are correct in thinking that average people will most likely not "get it".  It will take some explaining if anyone asks, and when you're done explaining expect a forced smile.

Whenever I buy something from China that isn't from a major manufacturer I always read all of the instructions for Engrish.  It cracks me up like nothing else.

On the flip side, sometimes Engrish can be downright poetic.  I have to take the space to post this, the most poetic and beautiful Engrish review of an Aprilia scooter.  I saw this years ago and it has stayed with me ever since.  It is from the early days of Epinions.com:

I am riding the Aprilia and loving it very much. When I am riding, I am having the joy of cool wind in my face. But in colder weather, I must wear a hat and gloves. You would not know what joy it brings to have the wind blowing my scarf in it. It goes flap! Flap! Flap! And is very restful and warm.

When I am visiting friends, I am riding the Aprilia. Through traffic I am going happiest with zip, zip, zip between the people in their cars and eating or talking on their phones. It is very careful I must be sometimes for they are being very poor in their distractions. But I am careful! It would be to no happiness to be hit on the road.

The Aprilia I am riding is the Habana 125, and it is being very kawai! People stop and turn their heads and are being at me looking if they are listening to music or listening to the small horn. It is like the happiest curves of blue from the sky!

And I am never having to stop for gas! The gas station men stand outside in their red shirts and watch me pass. I like to wave at them for they are not giving any gas to me and are looking poor as they stand. Do not slouch! It is not bringing no one to their happiest to stand with hands in pockets and kicking the ground. It is most poor!

But with my Aprilia, I am riding all day and never getting tired. There are bumps in the road and they are nothing to me as I am being in control and can turn right around them! If I miss, the wheels accept the bump in the road and are not making my teeth hit together. It is the most fun to ride through a park or around a lake and not even be with cars on the road. I make the horn go and people jump and are being surprised! But when they see the Aprilia and my smiling face, they are most being joy and wave. Wave! Wave! I am saying to all my new epinions friends my Habana is bringing great joy to me and others and will to you bring joy too!

[Crazy Cooter]

I think it's a great idea.

Watch out though:
http://www.vpgd.net/underground/convo.php3
"davidrfoley the funniest part is that ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US belongs to me" 

[markrvp]

This one is so stereotypical Engrish I almost couldn't believe it was true 

[RayB]

Yum! I love penguin!

[mo1e]

oooooo wuv you wong time lol engrish makes me laugh alot i think it would be so funny

[Tiger-Heli]

Doesn't work for me.  I like Engrish, but wouldn't theme a cab around it.  FWIW.

[Skadar]

Yum! I love penguin!

Or dolphin, even.  Whatever the heck that thing is, it looks tasty.

[Clonedsheep]

Maybe for some side art.

[Abomination]

Work the "All your bases are belonging to us" into it somehow

[JustMichael]

While I think the theme is interesting, she doesn't and you still have to live with her.  If you have your heart set on doing this theme try showing her the artwork on the computer before you have it printed.  Set up your computer so it acts just like the arcade machine would act and see what she and you think of it.  She may end up liking it and then again maybe you won't like it after a while.  If either of you don't like the theme I would suggest trying to find a theme you both can live with.  One of the first things I disabled on my arcade cab was the sound while viewing the menu.  Now it only makes noise when you are launching a game that way you know the machine didn't freeze up.  The games have normal sound.

[brophog]

Just seems funny once, like a poor sitcom. The second time you see it, you wonder why you laughed in the first place!

To me, it just doesn't have any staying power. Seems like something you'll wish you hadn't done in a year or two.

[Mark70]

Consider, will have any asian friends, or business associates who may come by the house and be offended by it?

[More Cowbell]

The Simpsons Japan episode and the SNL skit where Chris Farley is on a Japanese game show are what spurred the idea. I think it holds up better than something I would just be bored with like "Supercade" or "Mameulator". Also, not too worried about offending anyone. I can make fun of myself and if my guests can't then they can just "flee for home of my home".
Kwa-kee-sur-pee-nee-koo!

[Franco]

I suppose how much of the theme you intend incorporating into your cab. If its just your marquee  and CP underlay (under your lexan) than it can be easily changed. Im toying with this idea whilst creating my new CP. Im thinking of creating a few CP underlays and marquees that can be easily changed depending on what mood im in and when I get bored of a particular theme. Buttons are only a couple of dollars so these can also easily be changed to suit the colour plan. Saying that Ive got a load of translucent buttons so when (and if) i get the Baddabing LED driver board I/you could just change the default button colour config to suit the theme. Just an idea.....