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Tron Cabinet Conversion
jimmy_bored:
--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on August 28, 2006, 03:11:16 pm ---
For the most part, I think those who would prefer to see unique cabinets restored get upset when people hack them up (and, to be sure, not everybody hacks them up) when there are better options available to them (e.g. swap the cab for something more suitable to the project) -- there are far too many Dynamos and big 4-player Midways in the world to be cutting into classics.
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The real purists would know that a Tron cabinet is not that rare... Secondly any purist who puts any sort of econmic value on his collection understands that depleting availability increases value. So real Tron lovers should be rejoicing at my decision. Its not like there are only 4 left in the world... The cabinets can be easily reproduced, but original PCBs cannot.
This would be the first time I have ever done anything like this. Every cab I have ever done has been restored to its original shape. I just don't like Tron and the parts are way to expensive to bring it back.
jimmy_bored:
--- Quote from: Infinity_Yak on August 28, 2006, 02:57:15 pm ---*puts on flame retardant suit*
Those pics bring back good memories of my restoration project :)
November last year, I picked up a broken/free Two-Tigers converted TRON just like yours. Personally, I hate Two-Tigers, and TRON, so I turned it into a custom-themed MAME cabinet.
I did a pretty thorough rework, designing and building a custom control panel, artwork, custom lighting where the old under-controls neon went, etc... But the whole thing cost less than $150 to rework into a fully-functional MAME cabinet that I use to play games that *I Like
I'm pretty sure a lot of people here would punch me in the junk me for not restoring it to its original TRON, but hey, I didn't have the money, and more important, I never really liked the game.
This hobby is all about doing things that *you like*, and while the majority of people here probably would never do that if *they* were in the same position, that doesn't make wrong...
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Thanks for your input... Since I don't have a MAME machine yet this may be the opportunity to have one. I was also thinking of DC unit too.
MYX:
--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on August 28, 2006, 03:11:16 pm ---
--- Quote from: Infinity_Yak on August 28, 2006, 02:57:15 pm ---I'm pretty sure a lot of people here would punch me in the junk me for not restoring it to its original TRON, but hey, I didn't have the money, and more important, I never really liked the game.
This hobby is all about doing things that *you like*, and while the majority of people here probably would never do that if *they* were in the same position, that doesn't make wrong...
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I am kinda curious who appointed you the arbiter of what this hobby is "all about" (did DrewKaree make the pronouncement and I missed it?) ... I don't entirely disagree with you, but what this hobby is all about isn't up to you anymore than what you do with your cab is up to me. :dizzy:
For the most part, I think those who would prefer to see unique cabinets restored get upset when people hack them up (and, to be sure, not everybody hacks them up) when there are better options available to them (e.g. swap the cab for something more suitable to the project) -- there are far too many Dynamos and big 4-player Midways in the world to be cutting into classics.
Having said that, there are also more Tron, MsPac and Pole Position cabs than working hardware, so doing things other than restoration make some sense (although I heard on the weekend that someone is putting together a repro PP board).
And just because *you* did it doesn't make it right ... ;D
Cheers.
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Mmmm Hmmmm! I gotta agree with the Chef here. Drew did not make the pronouncement at all.
Please check this out...http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_manifesto.shtml (Link left visible for cut and paste ability)
This document is listed on the very FRONT page of this web site. More or less, this IS what the comunity of this site believes with or without the Royal pronunciation from the High and mighty and most honerable Mr. DrewKaree. ;)
I'll tell you what, I will trade you a really nice Virtua fighter cabinet or an even nicer neo geo cab for that Tron.
Your momma oughta slap you right upside yo head, den come back up de other side.
CheffoJeffo:
--- Quote from: jimmy_bored on August 28, 2006, 03:26:34 pm ---The real purists would know that a Tron cabinet is not that rare... Secondly any purist who puts any sort of econmic value on his collection understands that depleting availability increases value. So real Tron lovers should be rejoicing at my decision. Its not like there are only 4 left in the world... The cabinets can be easily reproduced, but original PCBs cannot.
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You know, I have been pretty open-minded and supportive in this conversation (I would prefer to see this restored, but have completely recognized your right to do with it as you will and have actually made suggestions as you requested), but this is about the most ridiculous set of statements I have ever seen.
OK, Tron is not a rare cabinet by any stretch ... you get no points for that statement of truth, however, because I have already said that there is a lesser supply of hardware/artwork than cabs twice in this thread.
Your suggestion that "real Tron lovers" should rejoice because the value of their collection increases is simply ridiculous as it is predicated on at least two conditions that you cannot possibly establish:
1) "real Tron lovers" already have a Tron cabinet in their collections
2) "real Tron lovers" are more interested in the monetary value of their collections than in preserving a piece of arcade history
While you haven't established either as even a reasonable assertion, I would further suggest that (1) and (2) aren't likely to coexist since if (2) were true, then collectors would be selling Tron cabinets (due to steady price drops), which would rule out (1).
All pieces of this cab can be reproduced, although I think that the shroud would be the toughest pieces to get repro'd. FWIW, I have come across more Tron PCB sets than Tron cabs/joys/spinners/etc. Neither of these is overly germane since you don't want a Tron cabinet, but since you brought the issue of parts up ...
I have no idea what you expected out of this thread ... I tend to think that my viewpoint here is more moderate than most ... hey, I supported Todd at TNT when he threw the MSPsc and BK off the roof in his infomercial!
An honest "Good Luck" with whatever you end up doing ... although I still think a vertical MAME with spinner and topfire joy would work out well in that cab (get all those good vertical shooters, some Arkanoid, Tron to keep the theme) ... or trade for a Galaga/MSPac ...
I'm out of this thread!
Cheers
EDIT: This post came off as harsher than I intended ... it should have been a more logical argument conceing the statements. I have removed a couple of lines as they really didn't serve much purpose other than to inflame.
Infinity_Yak:
--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on August 28, 2006, 03:11:16 pm ---
I am kinda curious who appointed you the arbiter of what this hobby is "all about" (did DrewKaree make the pronouncement and I missed it?) ... I don't entirely disagree with you, but what this hobby is all about isn't up to you anymore than what you do with your cab is up to me. :dizzy:
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Well I'm certainly not claiming to be the official spokesmodel for arcadecontrols.com, but I'm just claiming my opinion based on experience, not saying you have to agree with it... Nothing against having an opinion in the grand manifesto, and jimmy_bored doesn't seem to be acting as a "mutilator" here...
Sure, there are tons of dynamo cabs out there, and naturally, that's what I would have preferred to get, but finding one in a reasonable radius became the great equalizer in my case- you can't buy what there's no supply of.
Anyways, I can appreciate the dilemma- to restore or just get to something that plays what you like...
There's a lot of fun to be had in tearing a cab apart and bringing it back up to something fun and playable. On my Two-Tigers cab, removing the few bits of original Tron sideart was my biggest headache. Overall, a pretty easy cabinet to work with - all the wiring is pretty logically laid out in those cabs, and lots of access.
I'm a fan of doing custom themes - a multi-vertical mame cab with custom artwork, marquee and control panel would be sweet... You'd be able to get your Galaga and Galaxian and have a nice, clean conversion with an originality factor without any kind of permanent damage.
But once again, just my opinion, and I certainly don't think it's anything worthy of the degree of sarcasm/hostility that my original comment generated.