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Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
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spacies:

--- Quote from: Haze on September 18, 2006, 06:42:16 pm ---Every single one of those Multi-game boards we've looked at has either been a) MAME, or b) NES versions of the games.

Running them is just as illegal as running MAME in a cabinet, some of them claim to be licensed with the original manufacturers (doubtful) but NONE of them are using MAME legally.

We've dumped the flash drives / hard drives off a number of them, in most cases, as pointed out they're advmame with a front-end, usually using a hacked up hiscore.dat system to transfer credits.  Keep that in mind.



--- End quote ---

I know, I have dumped them too.
Very clever, not that I am complaining  >:D
Flip_Willie:

--- Quote from: Haze on September 18, 2006, 06:42:16 pm ---Running them is just as illegal as running MAME in a cabinet, some of them claim to be licensed with the original manufacturers (doubtful) but NONE of them are using MAME legally.

--- End quote ---

     Ok, New Zealand aside, how do you go about getting a cabinet legally authorized?

     If it is as you say, then multi-boards are out of the question.  So I suppose you would have to get the original pcbs for the game you wanted, right?

     Where is a good place to buy original PCBs?

Thanks.
spacies:

--- Quote from: Flip_Willie on September 18, 2006, 06:53:43 pm ---
--- Quote from: Haze on September 18, 2006, 06:42:16 pm ---Running them is just as illegal as running MAME in a cabinet, some of them claim to be licensed with the original manufacturers (doubtful) but NONE of them are using MAME legally.

--- End quote ---

     Ok, New Zealand aside, how do you go about getting a cabinet legally authorized?

     If it is as you say, then multi-boards are out of the question.  So I suppose you would have to get the original pcbs for the game you wanted, right?

     Where is a good place to buy original PCBs?

Thanks.

--- End quote ---

Not sure what you mean by 'authorized'?
The artwork is available from loads of stores in the USA or you just print your own. I doubt wether any of it is licensed.

I can drive up to a bar or cafe and go inside and either sell them a machine or put one in there and go 50/50 if they are interested. No problems.




quarterback:

--- Quote from: spacies on September 18, 2006, 06:50:52 pm ---
--- Quote from: Haze on September 18, 2006, 06:42:16 pm ---Every single one of those Multi-game boards we've looked at has either been a) MAME, or b) NES versions of the games.

Running them is just as illegal as running MAME in a cabinet, some of them claim to be licensed with the original manufacturers (doubtful) but NONE of them are using MAME legally.

We've dumped the flash drives / hard drives off a number of them, in most cases, as pointed out they're advmame with a front-end, usually using a hacked up hiscore.dat system to transfer credits.  Keep that in mind.
--- End quote ---

I know, I have dumped them too.
Very clever, not that I am complaining  >:D
--- End quote ---

I think you're missing the point here, spacies.  Haze is (was?) a mamedev.  His point is not "hey, look how clever these boards are", his point is "Running them is just as illegal as running MAME in a cabinet".    I won't put words into any of the mamedev's mouths, but I don't think they appreciate or approve of what you're doing or recommending others do for income.    haze should feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about his last post.

Just an overall FYI: In the past, the BYOAC forums have been very supportive of the mamedev's feelings about things like this and conversations suggesting ways to circumvent their usage aggreement or things of that nature are generally frowned upon.   That doesn't mean that the multi-boards are never discussed here but, for example, there was a pretty big debate just about whether or not a BYOAC user should release a bit of software that would allow credits from one game to be used in another.  This would be a nice addition for people using tokens in their homes and would allow people to add a bunch of credits and THEN choose what games to play.  But a number of people were dead-set against this software being available just because it *could* be used in a commercial environment and the software was pulled.

No mods seem to have any interest in commenting on the contents of this thread but, just for reference, the idea of making money off of the mamedev's work is not usually taken well.
spacies:

I am not missing the point.

I understand what is inside these boards.
We don't make them so how can we be the bad guys.   :angel:

We, as the purchasers, are the end users and it is I who gets the finger pointed at me.
The boards are sold with emulators and roms as a PCB. They have all the dip switch settings for lives, coinage etc which obviously is set up for commercial use.

I am not saying that everyone should do it, I am saying you 'can' do it.

I have already expressed my gratitude to MAMEdevs. There are legends IMO. All of them.
They already knows what goes on, its obvious. But there are 100s of PCB boards shipped to USA and all over the world everyday from China. Heck they even come with a 1 year warranty and a return to sender address.
Take a look at this shot and you get the idea, LOL



Do you own 5000+ original PCBs? No? Then you too shouldn't have roms.

I just say enjoy it while you can, if it gets taken away we will all moan about it and then were will we stand?  :cry:

I am not the only person in the world doing this so dont be hard on me please. Just look the multitude of game websites in the USA selling Multi-game PCB and MAME machines. Ring them and tell them they suck too. MAMEdevs could do it in person if they wanted too.
I enjoy what I do and will continue doing it as long as people want to buy them or I sell the business. But I DON'T build MAME machines anymore. Only JAMMA running PCBs and If I didn't ghost the HDD or flash card I wouldn't have known what was on them so IMO, ignorance is bliss.  :-X

This thread isn't about MAME and its legalitys. Its about making a living from doing something you love!

Arcade machines remind us of the fun times we had as kids. No Bills to worry about, just were to meet your mates and if there were any new machines inside the parlour. Thats why we love them, build them and sell them I reckon.

Yes you can make a living from these machines. But you have to be good at it.
Also, I saw a doco on TV about 2 guys who set up a business in USA building and restoring arcade machines. I even saw a machine running that had a screen shot of a 4-1 PCB. And a machine with Multi Williams artwork too  :o

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