The "next" generation of arcade cabs...?

[IG-88]

Check this out. It looks pretty cool.

http://www.jt-voyagercrusade.com/

[javeryh]

Looks cool.  Hopefully someone will come up with the next great thing.

For a recent example, I've always thought Geometry Wars for the 360 would be a perfect arcade game.  It's a little expensive to make a dedicated cab for it though...

[leapinlew]

Ahh... I appreciate the idea.

I can't help but think this will produce a bunch of crap (like whats currently at the arcade). I believe the current trend in crappy games at the arcade is due to the availability of affordable console and computer games. The only thing the arcade can do to compete is offer games with a reward (i.e. tickets) or a gimmick (such as a dance pad or light guns). And lets not forget the ever decreasing attention spans of the kids today.

Golden era style games are currently available on my cell phone, online in java or flash format, or as a small download on consoles (both wii and xbox360 currently).

Either good or bad, I'll be interested to see the results of this.

[SavannahLion]

I can't help but notice his site reads like one of those get rich quick commercials. It's even got the prerequisite personal photos of himself.

Speaking of arcades, according to his linked imdb entry, he's the owner of the largest Star Wars arcade collection and he has a picture of that elusive Star Wars sitdown cab on there. Anyone thought to ask him for the dimensions of that cab?

[rovingmind]

his entire personal business is renting them out.

[GoPodular.com]

I can't help but notice his site reads like one of those get rich quick commercials.

That's probably because their cabinets aren't exactly legal.

Voyager Arcade Cabinet Info
Game List:
Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Junior, Scramble, Space Invaders, Dig Dug, Lady Bug, 4DWarriors ,1942, Galaga, Galaxian, Frogger, Pacman, Phoenix, BombJack, Lunar Rescue, Moon Cresta, MrDo, PacmanPlus, StarForce, UniWars, Wonder Boy, Xevious, Gorf, Moon Patrol, Terra Cresta, Eyes, Son of Phoenix, Star Force, Video Hustler, Vastar, Wiz, MX 5000, MegaTack, Jail Break, Gyrodine, Pleiads

"No charge is made for the games, they are installed free of charge." <- The red flag. 

Nintendo and Namco don't give away their games.  Nor are the titles in the appropriate "groupings" that are available for licensing.  I can pretty much guarantee that they don't have a license to put those in a commercial setting like they are.  If they do, they'd have to have something pretty special on their hands to be treated differently than every other cabinet manufacturers.  Which leads me to the next point...

They're using a 17" monitor in an upright and a 14" in a cocktail?!?!?  For £1600 (~$3000.00) you should be getting something with a decent size screen.  PacMan on a horizontally mounted 17" monitor isn't a $3000.00 experience.

I *do* admire the push for some old school game development though.  I'd like to see something like a Visual Pinball community for arcade development.  There are some pretty good original ideas out there, they just need a common engine to run on.  If there was a MAME equivilent for original titles, I think it could work well.

[rovingmind]

Why wouldn't mame work for original titles if you are developing for one of the existing supported boardsets?

It would be like the guys who used to re-rom atari cartridges after writing their own games (or editing the existing game code) 

Somebody has to have documented the emulator for one of the cartridge based, arcade machines

[GoPodular.com]

I don't know if it's possible or not, in theory it should be, but I've never jumped that deep into the ROM info before.  Someone (more creative then I am) should try it.

[blueznl]

Dunno. Looks like a *very* unprofessional website to me.

[rovingmind]

The desire is there but the knowledge is not, in my case.

I always wanted to make my own version of Frogger.

Froggers revenge.  something involving an overpass and a rocket launcher, blow up the cars so the other frogs can hop to safety

 maybe a shopping mall parking lot and a monster truck.

I don't know if it's possible or not, in theory it should be, but I've never jumped that deep into the ROM info before.  Someone (more creative then I am) should try it.

[southportreporter]

I was scanning the interent and spotted this thread.   We are a newspaper on Merseyside and we are covering this comp.    Always good to get feedback to help us with our reports.     I can say that it is above bourd....  take a look at these 2 links:-

http://player.narrowstep.tv/skins/0018/nsp.aspx?player=channelm&void=58613

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/leisure/games/display.var.1216891.0.retro_games_competition_launches.php

Also in Retro Gamer Mag...  It has also been run in the Mirror and in countless other papers...

Rovingmind....  Yep, I loved that game...   Loved a game called Spy Hunter more though.   when I was a kid.    You have the right idea as to what is required from this comp.    We need fun simple games again like Fregger in my view.     

Why don't we have more Joystic games being made is what puzzels me?

[rovingmind]

I
Rovingmind....  Yep, I loved that game...   Loved a game called Spy Hunter more though.   when I was a kid.    You have the right idea as to what is required from this comp.    We need fun simple games again like Fregger in my view.     

Why don't we have more Joystic games being made is what puzzels me?

erm for what i have in mind froggers revenge wouldn't be simple at all

[leapinlew]

Why don't we have more Joystic games being made is what puzzels me?

Nearly every game made for consoles nowadays is a joystick game. Which is why arcades are full of prop games. The last time I used a joystick that wasn't on my arcade was playing a skill crane.

[rovingmind]

Why don't we have more Joystic games being made is what puzzels me?

Nearly every game made for consoles nowadays is a joystick game. Which is why arcades are full of prop games. The last time I used a joystick that wasn't on my arcade was playing a skill crane.

sadly its all deer hunter and trackball golf around here
the pool hall closed