Arcade machine names

[leapinlew]

 

[Crowquill]

I see naming it as a very important step of the project. I think that's why seeing the generic MAME marquees bug me. I always liked how the classic games had the entire cabinet on a theme. I wanted to do that with mine and looked at it as doing art for a ficticious game (much the way Aurich is doing with his deep 6 project). Coincidentally, I also used the "Vortex" name since I also thought it was a good analogy for all the games that would be played on it. The word "MAME" means very little to most people. At least using the word "arcade" in a name draws people in.

The MAME name isn't useless, but definitely deserves second billing. That's why I snuck it in as an experiment on a marquee I was designing for somebody in the artwork forum. I was pretty happy with the results.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=64761.0

My arcade cabinet is named "Incredolous Revenge: Alpha Death 2"

On the marquee, the left side is an erupting volcano, and a dude is snowboarding down the lava while shooting an UZI. On the right side, two penquins are locked in mortal combat. It's awesome.

I SO want to see this.

[SavannahLion]

What's yours called?

My current WIP is going to remain faithful to the original. It's a Hang-on cab.

I have other designs in a portfolio. One theme I'm trying to create is a pink Bubble Bobble version to try and entice my GF to allow a small cab in the living room. I'm not really very artistic, but I can tap into some artistic talents in some of my groups if I needed to.

I'm keeping names to myself until I can actually start the projects. No sense in giving other people ideas when I want to use them first

It took me awhile to come up with mine too (Arcadia 2007) -- but there's some family history behind it--see my "Inspiration" page on my cab's site:  http://www.freewebs.com/vidmouse/inspiration.htm

I think tying in a little of who you are helps.

You remind me a little bit of what's happening in my family. Except I lived in a technologically dry well. I doubt there was anyone who understood circuit theory within 30 miles of where I lived.

A single cabinet is called an "ARCADE MACHINE".  Being that MAME emulates many arcade machines,  it is fitting to call a MAME cabinet an "ARCADE" as it contains many different "Arcade Machines" all in one package.

So there!

Out in the wild, I don't think I've ever heard anyone refer to a particular cabinet as an, "arcade machine." Although I have heard people refer to them as, "arcade games." The word, "arcade," tends to carry the connotation of a room comprised of many gaming machines. Interestingly, if you look up the definition of, "arcade," the primary definition is not related to gaming machines at all, rather the structure of the room itself. That would explain why places like Fresh Choice refer to seperate areas of the restaurant as, "arcades." Go figure.

In any case, I would avoid naming a single cabinet with arcade unless it was specifically part of the name.

That's just me, I'm not out to offend anybody. It just stuns me when people put so much work and effort into their cabinet only to ahem... name it something chintzy like MAME or Arcade whatever. People can name their machines whatever the hell they feel like really. It's the games inside that count.

[Chris G]

Fresh Choice is still around?  Man, those all closed around here years ago.  I remember kinda liking that place...

[SavannahLion]

Fresh Choice is still around?  Man, those all closed around here years ago.  I remember kinda liking that place...

They're springing up around here. I think there's five or six that I know of now.

[Chris]

When I first built my cabinet, I did use MAME as the name and marquee.  Whether there are other emulators are on it or not, the name is exactly accurate: the machine is a Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator.  And yes, it's the dreaded black and blue.

I'm revamping the machine now, and this time I am trying to come up with a better name.  But the last thing I want it to look like is one of those generic conversion cabinets that just said "ARCADE" or "New Game" on them, but once you start theming it it just doesn't fit to play certain games on it.  And I'll never do the "montage of video game characters" theme; I'll take a generic cabinet over that!

This is the fourth time I've revamped the machine, and I've vowed to myself that it will be the last: I'm going to tweak it until it's as easy to use as possible, throw out any games that don't run perfect with the available controls no matter how much I love them, and lock the thing down.  So I've been referring to the revamp project as "The Final Chapter", and if I can't think of a better name or theme then that's exactly what I'll put on the marquee.  I'm also toying with a Twilight Zone theme; if I do that, I'll go all the way and theme the whole game room that way.

[ChadTower]

This whole discussion is making me consider alternatives to a marquee in the first place.  That space can certainly be used for cooler things.  Since people are building cabs that can play at least hundreds of games, a single name that doesn't scream "THIS IS A CAB THAT PLAYS MANY GAMES HENCE I CALL IT A MULTI-ARCADE CABINET" in fact screams "RANDOM WORDS".

There has to be better ways, with more functionality, to use the area above the monitor.

[Chris]

What we need is to find someone who makes 23"x7" LCD panels...

[KenToad]

SavannahLion,

I think manufacturers started using the term arcade in their games in order to differentiate between the home version and the one that sat in the arcade.  Thanks for the link to all the games that use the term in their names.

[ChadTower]

What we need is to find someone who makes 23"x7" LCD panels...

Or just make the cabinets a different shape.

[SavannahLion]

What we need is to find someone who makes 23"x7" LCD panels...

Or just make the cabinets a different shape.

I did have the same idea when I was at the casino and saw, what I think are LCD, marquees on top of some of the machines. I went looking and found the website that manufactures them. IIRC, they start at $1,000 and go up. I'll see if I can find the manufacturer again.

[leapinlew]

I think a LCD panel that displayed the marquee of the current game your playing would be pretty cool, but not worth paying a ton of money for.

My cabinets are meant to remind me of my fun times at the arcade. Games had marquees so I build mine with marquees.

I paid homage to mame in my first design. I didn't use a full size MAME logo as my name, but I don't mind that people do. You can see I used it in the lower corner. I think it's pretty cool when anyone builds one of these things - I'm not going to get hung up on the name.

[ChadTower]

I think a LCD panel that displayed the marquee of the current game your playing would be pretty cool, but not worth paying a ton of money for.

I agree, it would have to have some type of functionality other than the occasionally changing image.  A touchscreen does come to mind.

[bfauska]

How about an arcade machine that doesn't even have a computer in it using a Mame marquee?

From Seattle Craigslist

Upright 39-in-1 Multicade Arcade Game; plays Ms. PacMan, Galaga, etc. - $1500
Reply to: sale-324721583@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-05-04, 10:41PM PDT


Game was just restored. Has new t-molding, joysticks, buttons, wiring, plexi glass, etc. Game comes with a bright and crisp 21 inch monitor.

Games included: Ms. Pac-man, Mappy, Pinball Action, Galaga, Centipede, Scramble, Frogger, Millipede, Super Pac-man, Donkey Kong Jr., Pac-man, Donkey Kong JR., Pengo, Donkey Kong 3, Phoenix, Galaxian, Time Pilot, Dig Dug, Super Cobra, Crush Roller, Hustler, Mr. Do, Space Panic, Space Invaders, Super Breakout, Pac-man, New Rally, X Galaga, 3 Arkanoid Gyruss, Qix Tank, Battalion, Juno Frist, 1942, Xevious, Ladybug, Mr. Do's Castle, Burger Time, Moon Cresta.

I live in Portland but I can deliver to Seattle.

[SavannahLion]

I think a LCD panel that displayed the marquee of the current game your playing would be pretty cool, but not worth paying a ton of money for.

I agree, it would have to have some type of functionality other than the occasionally changing image.  A touchscreen does come to mind.

A touchscreen marquee? That's an interesting idea.

[Chris G]

How about an arcade machine that doesn't even have a computer in it using a Mame marquee?

Wow, if I were going to ask that much, I would at least buy the Timewarp marquee to match the CPO.

[MaximRecoil]

Just slap a "NEW GAME" marquee on it and be done with it. That's what they did in the old days.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Just slap a "NEW GAME" marquee on it and be done with it. That's what they did in the old days.

Nope.

You need the wonderful Jaleco one that says "VIDEO GAME" in all-caps, with "We Present You Fantastic Time" below it.
That was the inspiration for my Jaleco "Fantastic Time" Pony cab.

I'll make you a deal though.
Come to Portland/Vancouver, and I'll buy you a few new ones, OK?

[GregorDV]

I thought the perfect name was "Playchoice 10,000".  Unfortunately, it made for a _really_ lame marquee.  :-)

One of these days I'm going to revisit it and try to make one that is "cool, but evocative of the Playchoice 10 design", as opposed to "a photochop hack job of a Playchoice 10 marquee that looks really dated and sad". 

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

In this case I think it has been a matter of ubiquitous branding.  In the States, adhesive bandages are commonly referred to as Band-Aids, cotton swabs are Q-tips, etc..  When folks in this community (especially those who lived in the era) think of video games ... the word "arcade" is strongly associated.  And when one thinks of the emulation "scene" - I think it's safe to say, generally, one thinks of MAME first.  Derivative neologisms are to be expected.

I have to admit, the MAME and "-cade" prefix/suffix convention seemed like a personal cop-out to me too when thinking about the design of my cab.  Building a cab is not really unique per se - but what makes it feel like it's "yours" is.  Everyone is entitled, allowed, and I think encouraged, to go as far with this as they want. 

"It came in a vision — a man appeared on a flaming pie and said unto them, 'From this day on you are Beatles with an A." 

That said, of course it is really important to remember the massive contribution that the MAME team and other emu programmers have made.  For me, explaining how all this works to my unenlightened friends seems to be enough... and that question always finds a way to be asked.

[fjl]

I was thinking of naming my arcade, Awsome Arcade. 


I kind of like that Arcade Extreme but I would change the wording around to Extreme Arcade.