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Author Topic: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?  (Read 18404 times)

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sealslayer

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Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« on: September 17, 2006, 03:02:19 am »
Does anyone on here actually do this as a full time job?
I'm having so much fun making my cab I was wondering if it is possible to sell cabs if they are built to a really high standard, seems like the perfect job to me  ;D

NiteWalker

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2006, 03:29:28 am »
It's definitely possible. I make and sell desktop arcade controls as a for the most part living. It is fun working out of home.



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quarterback

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2006, 04:23:20 am »
Does anyone on here actually do this as a full time job?
I'm having so much fun making my cab I was wondering if it is possible to sell cabs if they are built to a really high standard, seems like the perfect job to me  ;D

Well, I guess I should defer to Night Walker's answer since he does this and I don't.... but I'd still say the answer is "no".

Search around, you're certainly not the first person to wonder and not the first to ask.   My response is that there already are already people who have established businesses doing what you're asking about but I'm not sure any of them are rolling in the dough.   It's a niche market.   The advice in the past has been something to the effect of:

 "Give it a shot.  Try selling some to your friends, neighbors, co-workers but you'll probably find that the market is small"
"You'll find that people don't want to pay what it costs to make one-off cabs (and for your labor)."
"You'll find That shipping cabs is expensive, and that legally selling arcade cabinets without MAME and ROMS installed, means that the end-user needs some MAME knowledge, in which case, it's likely they'll build their own cab"
"You'll find that you become a computer tech who has to troubleshoot their machines for them when something doesn't work" etc

Again, there just aren't that many people buying these things and most of those who might buy them are going to want them to be a turn-key gaming solution. 

If it's fun for you, then go for it.  Give it a run and see what happens.  But you should think about how many hours you've spent on your cab?  What hourly-wage would you need to do this for a living?  Then add that up with all the supplies and come up with a total.   Now shop that price around and see what you can do.  If you've got some rich friends, you could be in business, but one reason that this community exists is because we're not willing to spend $3,000+ to play 20-games on an Ultracade machine.    And, outside of people in this BYOAC community, I know exactly ZERO with arcade games in their homes.

My 2-cents
« Last Edit: September 17, 2006, 04:27:06 am by quarterback »
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unclet

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2006, 09:37:18 am »
Has annyone heard from 1up lately ..... ?

horseboy

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2006, 10:23:26 am »
Has annyone heard from 1up lately ..... ?

He sold his prototype spincade a couple weeks ago in BST. He said that it is just because he was moving and that he still plans on selling them, but who knows.


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saint is all powerful.

Apparently he is.

unclet

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2006, 10:29:02 am »
What is BST?

Lutus

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2006, 11:04:17 am »
Buy/Sell/Trade = BST
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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2006, 08:54:56 pm »
It would be easy.  Design a cheap to build arcade machine and get it sold in Walmart stores and you will become a millionaire.

I believe you'd just need something like those $19.99 things that connect to the TV and slap it in an arcade standup made like ikea furniture, add a cheap TV, and there you have it.

spacies

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2006, 10:22:18 pm »
I do it for a living here in New Zealand and we only have 4 million people.
I guess one bonus about living in a small country is that I can freight a machine from my central location to anywhere for around $100NZD.

Started out building 1 cabinet and selling then progressed from there.
I have just signed a deal to build 41 cocktail machines over the next 15 months for an up and coming food chain here.

I started out building MAME only machines but after 2 PCs gave up and I had to replace them, I stopped building PC machines. The above poster is right, you end up becoming a PC tech and support help line for inexperienced PC users who have purchased a machine. It has supported me for the past 18 months and I only build JAMMA machines now.

I can see how you guys feel ripped off buying $3k machine because the most expensive machine I build is $2495 NZD. NZD = .066c USD$

If you think you are skilled enough and have some money saved or some customers lined up then go for it. The standard of machines has to be VERY VERY high for you to succeed or else the word will get around about the quality.

Good luck in what ever you do but it may pay to keep your job and do this as a hobby income until it is established properly.

 ;D

« Last Edit: September 17, 2006, 10:26:28 pm by spacies »

leapinlew

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2006, 11:36:12 pm »
I do it for a living here in New Zealand and we only have 4 million people.
I guess one bonus about living in a small country is that I can freight a machine from my central location to anywhere for around $100NZD.

Started out building 1 cabinet and selling then progressed from there.
I have just signed a deal to build 41 cocktail machines over the next 15 months for an up and coming food chain here.

I started out building MAME only machines but after 2 PCs gave up and I had to replace them, I stopped building PC machines. The above poster is right, you end up becoming a PC tech and support help line for inexperienced PC users who have purchased a machine. It has supported me for the past 18 months and I only build JAMMA machines now.

I can see how you guys feel ripped off buying $3k machine because the most expensive machine I build is $2495 NZD. NZD = .066c USD$

If you think you are skilled enough and have some money saved or some customers lined up then go for it. The standard of machines has to be VERY VERY high for you to succeed or else the word will get around about the quality.

Good luck in what ever you do but it may pay to keep your job and do this as a hobby income until it is established properly.

 ;D



Is this legal? I mean, selling the machines is one thing - but selling a machine with Roms?

NiteWalker

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #10 on: September 17, 2006, 11:48:57 pm »
I don't think he mentioned anything regarding roms...



It's 9am. I'm calling it a nite.

spacies

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #11 on: September 18, 2006, 12:43:36 am »

Selling a machine with roms is no more or less legal than you having them yourself. Do you think you above the law by having them privately and think nobody will find out? Dude, you are on here saying you have a MAME machine, with roms, and your ISP address is accessible. Doh!

However, I didn't sell my machines with roms anyway. I am not stupid. I am in businees and you need to protect yourself every way you can.  I just 'gave' them away on DVD instead! LOL

The whole rom issue is completly overated IMO. If the owners of the 'protected' rom images were that concerned then they would shut down sites which contain roms for FREE download and also prosecute rom burners who have paypal accounts which contain their details.  Have you ever heard of anyone that has been charged with a rom 'offence'? I haven't.

Anyway, I don't build MAME machines anymore. Too much hassles.
How legal are the multi boards that are around these days that use a cut down version of MAME? Not very right? What about Clay and his multi boards or Arcadeshop? Or the 100, 200, 400, 800 in 1 boards from China which clearly show a hard drive sitting on top! If you ghost that hard drive you will even see ArcadeOS running on it!

Who cares, they should be happy we still play these games and think of how many businesses wouldn't be operating or would take a serious decline in income if we didn't have access to roms. Sh*tloads!

Website owners
Artwork suppliers
Cabinet builders
Electronics suppliers
Joystick/button suppliers
Ultimarc
Keywhiz
T-molding
Me!!!

Dont get to tied up in the legality of roms mate. Lets just be thankful to the MAME team and all the rom dumpers and 100s of others who have contributed to keeping these old games we love alive.

 I  :notworthy: to them all and so should every member on this forum and 1000s of others who are re-living their mis-spent youth.  :cheers:




Paladin

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #12 on: September 18, 2006, 01:38:30 am »
The cab I'm currently working on has cost me less than $30 so far, and I'm going to try and sell it for $175.  Sounds like a good profit until you realize that I problably have 100 hours into it.  It's amazing how much time little things can take to sort out.

spacies

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #13 on: September 18, 2006, 01:51:24 am »
You are correct.
You can spend a LOT of time on a cabinet and not realize it.
MAME is a killer for this. Installing games, configuring games, configuring front ends, MAME itself, configuring video cards, sound cards then the PC freezes up and you have to install new HDD or RAM or mobo and still have the problem. Arrgghhhhh!!!!

I have job sheets for each machine which details time spent and money spent.

I have done  lots now and can give fairly accurate estimates to customers.

$175 sounds cheap?! You won't get anywhere working for a buck and hour mate. Might wanna hurry things up a little or put your prices up! LOL.

Anyway, I can't comment on the market in the USA because I dont' live there. But here things are just getting better and better and I am the only one in this country who builds machines from scratch that I am aware of. There are a few who buy old cabs and put in new bits and sell them but they only advertise 1 every 2 months or so.

To the original poster, get the word out about what you can do. There are 1000s of people that don't know you can play every game ever made on 1 machine and when you tell them or show them they are blown away. Take your machine to markets, fairs, galas or whatever you call them over there and be seen.  Even home shows or stand in the middle of malls handing out flyers. Anything!

« Last Edit: September 18, 2006, 01:55:02 am by spacies »

leapinlew

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #14 on: September 18, 2006, 09:27:43 am »
I have just signed a deal to build 41 cocktail machines over the next 15 months for an up and coming food chain here.

Anyway, I don't build MAME machines anymore. Too much hassles.

I guess a lot can happen in 24 hours.  ::) 

Excuuuse me for assuming that selling machines to a food chain meant that you sold machines that actually worked. I would also assume that the food chain would be using these machines to be used to generate revenue. Thats what I get for assuming I guess.... silly me.

I thought that perhaps the laws were different in New Zealand or that US Laws didn't apply or something...

It's not the "legalities" of it all that I'm concerned with... I'm more concerned with the Mame Developers and thier wishes. They are nice enough to provide a great piece of software. On the Mame Devs website they have a FAQ and one of the things they state is:

"Can I put a computer running MAME in a cabinet and charge people to use it?"
Absolutely not. According to the license you may not use MAME for commercial activity.

I was curious about your 41 cocktails that you say you signed a deal to build right before you said you don't build machines  ;)


 

Izrun

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #15 on: September 18, 2006, 10:02:30 am »
He doesn't build MAME machines anymore.  Cocktail cabinet does not necessarily imply MAME machine.  He said in an earlier message that he build JAMMA machines, so my guess would be he buys up JAMMA boards and just uses them to make dedicated cabs.
--Izrun

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leapinlew

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #16 on: September 18, 2006, 11:50:10 am »
He doesn't build MAME machines anymore.  Cocktail cabinet does not necessarily imply MAME machine.  He said in an earlier message that he build JAMMA machines, so my guess would be he buys up JAMMA boards and just uses them to make dedicated cabs.

Got it!

Chalk it up to me reading through it too quickly. :)

spacies

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #17 on: September 18, 2006, 04:09:49 pm »
Sheesh,

MAME in a commercial application?! Might as well go hand myself into the law  :banghead:
Can you imagine a kid banging all the buttons and bringing up menus or shutting the machine down.  ;D

My machines are all JAMMA. Dedicated PCBs as Izrun pointed out.
I doubt there is anyone stoopid enough to install MAME and try to gather revenue from it. Well, there probably is.

Anyway, the MAME team should buy a 100,200,400 or 800-1 board from China and remove the HDD, connect it to a PC and take a look. At first glance you just see a bunch of folders that don't mean much but then you see ArcadeOS. Then you think about it a bit and then a lightbulb goes on above your head and come to the conclusion it needs MAME to work.
After a bit more poking around you will see a 'roms' folder! Take a look inside and you see some good ole roms. Then there is the snap folder and a hi score folder but no MAME emulator.
Scratch you head for a bit and then another lightbulb flashes and you pull off some more tricks and there it is! A hidden partition! And MAME! Well, AdvMAME. Just like fraggals boot disk.

These boards are built for a commercial application. You install them in you JAMMA machine and it makes you money.



Gee, I wonder whats under that fan? You remove it and find an intel CPU.
Crikey, whats that? RAM!
An ATX power supply socket!
A HDD sit clearly on top.

Is this a computer? YES!!!!!!
Does it have MAME? YES!!!!!!
ROMS? YES!!!!!!
Illegal? ...... You do the math.

Whats worse than all those? Windows 98 is installed too. Microsoft would sh*t themselves if they saw that.

How would MAME , a non-revenue gathering 'business' fight the might of the Chinese? Dunno.
Microsoft on the other hand would chew them up and spit out mangled capacitors and resistors.

You cant install a PC with MAME, MAMEWAH, some roms, a coin mech and go stick on site and expect to come back in a week to get you money. It won't work. So the Chinese build a PC, install Windows and DOS, use software similar to Fraggals boot disk, put a JAMMA connector on the side and sell them. Why, 'cos they can. Who cares? Not me! Funny thing is they don't even try to design a new skin for ArcadeOS. Its identical to the version on the net  :dizzy:

Back to the original topic of this thread.
Sealslayer:
Build yourself some JAMMA machines. If you put one of these in a machines in the right bar, nightclub, cafe or whatever and you can generate a fairly good side income. A couple of days ago I got a phone call from a site were I have a Defender tabletop.


 
It has Defender, Robotron, New Rally X and Ghost'n'Goblins on it. He said people had been playing it quite a bit but were complaining because it was too hard, losers, LOL. So I drove to where it was and replaced it with another tabletop with 4 games installed, Ms Pacman, Galaga, Frogger and Space Invaders. I emptied the coins from the machine, $2 = 2 games (we have $1 and $2 coins here) and I drove away with $278 dollars which was my split of the 50/50. The machine had only been there 2 weeks and the bar hadn't even been that busy. So $140 per week from 1 machine is pretty good. If you have 4-5 of those and sell machines on the side you can easily make yourself a good income. The only problem I see though is you guys don't have dollar coins. Just quarters right? Bummer, since our $1 and $2 have become coins it kinda becomes 'worthless' and you don't think twice about sticking it into a pool table or video game for a bit of fun.

Try that to start with and see how you go. Design some business cards or a flyer attach to the machine stating you can also build these to sell and how cool it would be for a customer to have it in there house.

Whatever you do is up to you. I gave it a shot and now do it full time. I have seen a few guys advertise on this forum in the For Sale section advertising that they want to build full time and then you can't get hold of them. Bad business sence. Good luck my friend!  :cheers:


« Last Edit: September 18, 2006, 04:20:12 pm by spacies »

Gambit

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #18 on: September 18, 2006, 04:44:36 pm »
The cab I'm currently working on has cost me less than $30 so far, and I'm going to try and sell it for $175.  Sounds like a good profit until you realize that I problably have 100 hours into it.  It's amazing how much time little things can take to sort out.

Wow.  My cab cost me something in the $1000+ range.

Around $450 for the computer, $250 for the monitor, then the artwork, joystick/buttons,  wood, etc.

Flip_Willie

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #19 on: September 18, 2006, 04:58:26 pm »
     Just out of curiousity; don't you have to have an arcade licensed or something before you can legally use it for profit?  I mean, you can't just build a Jamma cabinet and drop it off somewhere and expect it to make money, can you?

spacies

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #20 on: September 18, 2006, 05:24:20 pm »
     Just out of curiousity; don't you have to have an arcade licensed or something before you can legally use it for profit?  I mean, you can't just build a Jamma cabinet and drop it off somewhere and expect it to make money, can you?

Not here.
We had an Arcade in the 80s and machines were supplied by a guy who owned them all, we just provided the site.

There are loads of companies who will supply a machine, for free, into your cafe or whatever and split takings 50/50. Not sure what the rules are in the states but here you can do what you like. As long as you pay tax the Government dont care.

There is an arcade just opened in the city I live in and all the machines, pool tables, air hockey etc are owned by 1 company. The shop is leased and all they do is run it. The owners of the machines do all the servicing etc.

Money for Jam.

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #21 on: September 18, 2006, 05:45:34 pm »
     Just out of curiousity; don't you have to have an arcade licensed or something before you can legally use it for profit?  I mean, you can't just build a Jamma cabinet and drop it off somewhere and expect it to make money, can you?
Not here.
      Guess I need to move to New Zealand.   ;

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #22 on: September 18, 2006, 05:53:44 pm »

Don't move here! You might steal my market  :angry: LOL

Most of the time I use multi-game PCBs available from China. 4, 9 or 48 in 1 Vertical or 4, 9 in 1 Horizontal. Those have Defender, Robotron, Joust, Splat, Bubbles, Rally X etc etc.
Don't know if you have ever seen one but they have a plastic cover box on the PCB. I melted the little pins to remove the cover to see what was underneath and there is some hynix RAM, a Flash card and an Intel CPU. Crazy, but clever, Chinese! No guessing what that is running huh?

They also make new dedicated copies of some oldies, Bubble Bobble, Galaga, Ms Pacman, 1942, etc and I have built a few dedicated cabs using those. They sell for about $70 per PCB and support cocktail too. Nice.

 :cheers:

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #23 on: September 18, 2006, 06:33:14 pm »
They also make new dedicated copies of some oldies, Bubble Bobble, Galaga, Ms Pacman, 1942, etc and I have built a few dedicated cabs using those. They sell for about $70 per PCB and support cocktail too. Nice.

      Where do you buy the dedicated games from?  ( I know you can get old ones on ebay, but generally they aren't around when I want them).

      Also, where can you buy the Chinese multi-game PCBs?
     
Thanks.

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #24 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.


spacies

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #25 on: September 18, 2006, 06:50:52 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.



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

Flip_Willie

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #26 on: September 18, 2006, 06:53:43 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.

     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.

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #27 on: September 18, 2006, 07:00:27 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.

     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.

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.





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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #28 on: September 18, 2006, 08:00:12 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.

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

I think you're missing the point here, spaciesHaze 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.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2006, 08:08:08 pm by quarterback »
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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #29 on: September 18, 2006, 08:35:46 pm »

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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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #30 on: September 18, 2006, 08:54:49 pm »
Making a living from doing something that's illegal, or by using something illegaly made that you know is illegaly made, is still a morally bankrupt idea and very well may introduce you to some legal liability yourself.

...

OK, now I'm going to spend 1/2 hour reading this thread in its entirety.
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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #31 on: September 18, 2006, 08:57:42 pm »

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:

If you think that Haze's only point was to tell you that mame is inside these boards (something you already clearly knew) then I think you are missing the point.  But, again, I'll leave that to Haze.


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

Quote
I am not the only person in the world doing this so dont be hard on me please.

Quote
Just look the multitude of game websites in the USA selling Multi-game PCB and MAME machines.

If you think that this is what my post was saying then, again, you are missing the point.   I'm not picking a fight with you and  I have no interest in debating the similarites or differences between an end user with illegal roms and a guy who sells a machine and then 'gives away' the roms with it.   My point was only to let you know (my understanding of) where these message boards stand.  Or, at least, that there are some strong feelings here against people making money off of selling MAME.

I only posted because nobody else beisdes leapinlew seemed interested.
Peace
qb

Edited now that saint has made a post
« Last Edit: September 18, 2006, 08:59:37 pm by quarterback »
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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #32 on: September 18, 2006, 09:17:42 pm »
Making a living from doing something that's illegal, or by using something illegaly made that you know is illegaly made, is still a morally bankrupt idea and very well may introduce you to some legal liability yourself.

Especially when you brag about it on public forums, 'lol.'   ::)

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #33 on: September 18, 2006, 09:30:34 pm »
Does anyone on here actually do this as a full time job?
I'm having so much fun making my cab I was wondering if it is possible to sell cabs if they are built to a really high standard, seems like the perfect job to me  ;D

Well, I guess I should defer to Night Walker's answer since he does this and I don't.... but I'd still say the answer is "no".

Search around, you're certainly not the first person to wonder and not the first to ask.   My response is that there already are already people who have established businesses doing what you're asking about but I'm not sure any of them are rolling in the dough.   It's a niche market.   The advice in the past has been something to the effect of:

 "Give it a shot.  Try selling some to your friends, neighbors, co-workers but you'll probably find that the market is small"
"You'll find that people don't want to pay what it costs to make one-off cabs (and for your labor)."
"You'll find That shipping cabs is expensive, and that legally selling arcade cabinets without MAME and ROMS installed, means that the end-user needs some MAME knowledge, in which case, it's likely they'll build their own cab"
"You'll find that you become a computer tech who has to troubleshoot their machines for them when something doesn't work" etc

Again, there just aren't that many people buying these things and most of those who might buy them are going to want them to be a turn-key gaming solution. 

If it's fun for you, then go for it.  Give it a run and see what happens.  But you should think about how many hours you've spent on your cab?  What hourly-wage would you need to do this for a living?  Then add that up with all the supplies and come up with a total.   Now shop that price around and see what you can do.  If you've got some rich friends, you could be in business, but one reason that this community exists is because we're not willing to spend $3,000+ to play 20-games on an Ultracade machine.    And, outside of people in this BYOAC community, I know exactly ZERO with arcade games in their homes.

My 2-cents

Geez, you change your tune quick mate.

Look, lets get this straight.
These things are out there and you can't deny it.
If you want to buy one, then buy one.
If you don't, then don't.
Your choice.

I can easily stop selling machines with the PCBs inside and refer them to a guy I know who sells PCBs only. I have done it before. Problem solved, saves me money when I import them.

MAME is free. How does the manufacturer get away with selling PCBs with it installed? Maybe they are just 'giving' it away free and all they are selling is the PCB itself?

Who knows?

Like I said, I am not the bad guy.

'nuf said.

Making a living from doing something that's illegal, or by using something illegaly made that you know is illegaly made, is still a morally bankrupt idea and very well may introduce you to some legal liability yourself.

...

OK, now I'm going to spend 1/2 hour reading this thread in its entirety.


OK, how about this?

What about all the illegal MP3s you have on your PC? There is a REAL live artist/band out there losing money because of that. Maybe you should turn your attention to that? But you still DL new songs each day? Why? Because you can. And will always do it.

Who is losing money when some Chinese has installed an emulator on a PCB and selling it? Can you answer that? Who is it hurting? Where did you get your roms from? A rom burner? And you paid for them? Sheesh.
So many questions un-answered.

Who is going to admit they have illegal music and roms?

No takers?

Sounds like you guys are blaming me for the Chinese guy who designed these boards?

Heres a number to ring 1-800-who-gives-a-dam.


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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #34 on: September 18, 2006, 09:34:47 pm »


Also,

Thanks for the PMs and emails asking where to buy the multi-game PCBs from.
You guys really crack me up.

Why don't you ask on the boards?

 :cheers:

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #35 on: September 18, 2006, 09:42:02 pm »


Also,

Thanks for the PMs and emails asking where to buy the multi-game PCBs from.
You guys really crack me up.

Why don't you ask on the boards?

 :cheers:

LMFAO... My point exactly....

If you think this website is paid for by non-grey market companies(e.g. boiler rooms walking the legal line) you are living in a fantasy land.  Everything here is paid for by one of these companies.

Welcome to pirate land... Ahoyyy.... mates



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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #36 on: September 18, 2006, 09:55:00 pm »


Also,

Thanks for the PMs and emails asking where to buy the multi-game PCBs from.
You guys really crack me up.

Why don't you ask on the boards?

 :cheers:

LMFAO... My point exactly....

If you think this website is paid for by non-grey market companies(e.g. boiler rooms walking the legal line) you are living in a fantasy land.  Everything here is paid for by one of these companies.

Welcome to pirate land... Ahoyyy.... mates




VERY WELL SAID MY FRIEND.

Probably me only friend too by the looks? LOL.

This site wouldn't exist without roms and companies who supply goods related to MAME.
MAME is NOTHING without roms.

Ahoyyyy :cheers:

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #37 on: September 18, 2006, 09:56:31 pm »
LMFAO... My point exactly....
If you think this website is paid for by non-grey market companies(e.g. boiler rooms walking the legal line) you are living in a fantasy land.  Everything here is paid for by one of these companies.
Welcome to pirate land... Ahoyyy.... mates

As usual, you just whip it out to piss on things ... and your source for this latest revelation is ?

 :tool:

Cheers.

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #38 on: September 18, 2006, 10:03:01 pm »
LMFAO... My point exactly....
If you think this website is paid for by non-grey market companies(e.g. boiler rooms walking the legal line) you are living in a fantasy land.  Everything here is paid for by one of these companies.
Welcome to pirate land... Ahoyyy.... mates

As usual, you just whip it out to piss on things ... and your source for this latest revelation is ?

 :tool:

Cheers.



I'm not a PI, but given the ads on your site, and the topics that are allowed to be conversed I think I'm in the house.... Plus I run similar sites...  I have nothing against the site... I love it here... I have been a long time reader...

Its just time to step up to the plate and join the Swedish Pirate Party... http://www2.piratpartiet.se/the_pirate_party

 :laugh2:

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Re: Is there a living to be made from arcade cabs?
« Reply #39 on: September 18, 2006, 10:07:26 pm »


Also,

Thanks for the PMs and emails asking where to buy the multi-game PCBs from.
You guys really crack me up.

Why don't you ask on the boards?


 :cheers:
It was already asked in this thread and you did not respond
« Last Edit: September 18, 2006, 10:13:04 pm by johnm160 »