Arcade machine names

[SavannahLion]

I'm not trying to knock anybodies arcade machines here. I think there are a lot of machines here that are really well made, etc and all that brown nosing. But I have to ask.

What's with the constant infatuation with using the word, "MAME," or the many variations on, "ARCADE," in naming the machines? One of the very first things my buddy says when he sees my WIP is to throw away the existing marquee and replace it with a MAME graphic. (I told him to get the ---fudgesicle--- out.)

What's the attraction there?

[ahofle]

Probably because it's hard to come up with a marquee for a machine that plays almost every arcade game in existence.  What's yours called?

[javeryh]

I'm not a big fan of anything with "MAME" in it but "Arcade" seems quite fitting.  My current cab is "Bella's Arcade" - pretty basic stuff...

[Organic Jerk]

What's with the constant infatuation with using the word, "MAME," or the many variations on, "ARCADE," in naming the machines? One of the very first things my buddy says when he sees my WIP is to throw away the existing marquee and replace it with a MAME graphic. (I told him to get the ---fudgesicle--- out.)

Yeah this actually irked me quite a bit as well, as I wanted the machine to have as much visual and perceptual "umph" as any other commercial game at first glance.. 

I ended up creating a name and theme for "my own game", trying to abstractly incorporate the idea of a "group" or "formation" into the name... (Pixel Assault)

[Chris G]

Savannah - you must harness your anger!

I'm not planning to use either word for mine, however, I agree with javeryh.  Arcade is cool, but MAME not so much, especially when running multiple emulators.

Chris

[GAtekwriter]

I wanted a name that "sounded" like something I might have played in the 80s.  I'm like you - I didn't want MAME or arcade in the name but I can kinda understand a lot of people giving credit to the MAME programmers for making it a possibility.

Jim

[leapinlew]

If you think about all the different skills needed to build a cabinet:

Carpentry
Computer knowledge (which encompasses quite a bit)
Artistic ability
Electronics
Budgeting (some of us don't have this skill so much)

It's easy to see that someone may not be that artistic, but can manage the other aspects. It's easy to order a mame marquee and graphics and instantly have it mean something.

[DrumAnBass]

You just gave me an idea for my next cab - the MameCicle!

[miles2912]

The only reason I didn't use MAME in the name is that anyone playing the thing would have no clue what MAME meant.  I just named the beast knowing that it would do more than just play classic games.   Name it whatever you want.  It is your baby.


Don

[AMDman13]

I chose Mame because I suck at art and I could get a pretty sweet design thanks to both Knievel and Scott and mamemarquees.com

[bfauska]

Well I thought I was going to be original and name mine the "MAMECADE"   but apparantly that would be bad  so I guess it's back to the drawing board. 

ummmmmmmmmmm 

ArcMAME?

Mameasourus? 

Arcadeasourus?

Arcadeology? ............Actually I think that one is clever, with some sort of archeology theme, maybe unearthing some old cabinets from a dig. Hmmmm.  Yeah I don't think that one sucks. 

[vidmouse]

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.

[javeryh]

My cocktail table was/is called "Knights of the Arcade Table" and it had a Jedi Knight theme (Obi-Wan, Vader, Yoda, Aayla and Darth Maul with lightsabers out) for the table overlay but the artist I hired totally flaked on me after I paid him some money for producing some prototype artwork - I email him every month and he promises he will get it to me but it never comes - what can you do?

[Jake]

Crack him in the kneecaps with a baseball bat? 

Won't mamemarquees do custom work?  I'm pretty sure they'll do design work for you.

[Extreme8]

...What's with the constant infatuation with using the word, "MAME," or the many variations on, "ARCADE," in naming the machines?...

I think it just seems like overload to those in this community.

Whatever your machine is called it's going to be unique to >99.9% of the general public that has never even imagined such a thing existed.
Your buddies aren't going to look at it and say "Geez, not another black and blue cab with a generic MAME marquee".

Methinks we're a bit jaded.

[Chris G]

My cocktail table was/is called "Knights of the Arcade Table" and it had a Jedi Knight theme (Obi-Wan, Vader, Yoda, Aayla and Darth Maul with lightsabers out) for the table overlay but the artist I hired totally flaked on me after I paid him some money for producing some prototype artwork - I email him every month and he promises he will get it to me but it never comes - what can you do?

That's pretty cool, actually.  Too bad about the artist... maybe time to cut your losses and hire someone else?

[lordtodd75]

I too wanted something original, I went with "Aemulari". Which is latin for "to emulate" or "emulator". Know matter how much I hear it or see the word on my marquee, it doesn't get old.

[nexus6]

i've named mine "retro·arcade". it's basic, but i can live with it

[moriartyds]

I named mine "WOPR" paying homage to the classic Wargames flick

[GAtekwriter]

I'm a freelance writer, so if you're okay with taking some advice from a freelancer regarding freelancers, here some tips:

1.  Most "reputable" freelancers who have worked a while (including writers and graphic artists) are okay with accepting 1/3 payment when project starts, 1/3 payment on delivery of first draft and final 1/3 on final delivery of proof.  This is how I work and it protects me and YOU.

2.  If you are not familiar with the freelancer, feel free to ask to make 2/3 payment upon delivery of first draft and final 1/3 on delivery of final proof.  I do this often for new clients.

3.  I work with a handful of graphic artists and they are very professional.  I'm sorry to hear about your experience - it's NOT the rule.

4.  Offer some high-resolution color photographs after your cabinet is done to the artist - they like to use stuff like this in their portfolios and I promise very few of them have arcade cabinets to show off. 

5.  And finally, if you have a graphic artist friend - put him/her onto this site - they might like the opportunity to make some additional revenue by offering their services to a completely unique niche.

[RayB]

Mine is "Amusement 360" an arcade from my youth.

[javeryh]

I'm a freelance writer, so if you're okay with taking some advice from a freelancer regarding freelancers, here some tips:

1.  Most "reputable" freelancers who have worked a while (including writers and graphic artists) are okay with accepting 1/3 payment when project starts, 1/3 payment on delivery of first draft and final 1/3 on final delivery of proof.  This is how I work and it protects me and YOU.

2.  If you are not familiar with the freelancer, feel free to ask to make 2/3 payment upon delivery of first draft and final 1/3 on delivery of final proof.  I do this often for new clients.

3.  I work with a handful of graphic artists and they are very professional.  I'm sorry to hear about your experience - it's NOT the rule.

4.  Offer some high-resolution color photographs after your cabinet is done to the artist - they like to use stuff like this in their portfolios and I promise very few of them have arcade cabinets to show off. 

5.  And finally, if you have a graphic artist friend - put him/her onto this site - they might like the opportunity to make some additional revenue by offering their services to a completely unique niche.

Thanks for the advice.  I'm never making that mistake again - I made the payment to him on September 26, 2005 and have been getting about an email a month since then saying it was coming.  The last contact I had with him was just before New Year's - he sent me an email (without me sending him a reminder or anything) saying to expect something early this year.  I just forwarded his email to him asking what the deal is - I really hope this works out because I love his art style and think it would make a great cocktail table top overlay.

[GAtekwriter]

Well, when you've had enough... here's my suggestion:

1.  You have the draft (or what appears to be a draft) of what you want.
2.  Post it on craigslist.com (up and coming freelancers LOVE that site).
3.  Explain your situation and what happened and, if you're willing to pay to get it finished, make an offer that you think is fair to finish it.  Ask with specifics - tell them what size you need the image, resolution, color or b/w, etc...
4.  Wait and see if anybody bites.

Many times, new graphic artists are just looking to build their portfolios, so be sure and offer some full-color photos for the portfolio when the project is finished. 

Your other option is to just do an online search for area graphic artists and make some calls.  Be sure to do business with someone local who has a local address and phone number and has been in business for more than a year or 2... but established artists are going to cost more

Good luck.

Jim

[meany]

Mine name is self explanatory.  If Batman had a videogame this is what he would call it

[KenToad]

Isn't part of this discussion that the term arcade is what we say for the place with all the boxes, not for each box, no matter that it can play several thousand games? 

So since when does arcade refer to a game cabinet?

I'm sure Batman would have named his personal arcade, which he kept in a secret room in the Bat Cave, the Bat-Cade.  If it was just one box, maybe the Bat-Box, or Bat-Cabinet, or possibly Robin's Achilles Heel, if he was really feeling creative.   

[deadkenndys1105]

Ill post my custom marquee when I get home from school but I called it Omega-X.  It kinda fits my cabinet because it was going to be a black and blue cabinet but I never painted it and im not going to because now that I know what I do im going to redo it some time soon.  Lets just say my cabinet was sub par and I fixed it up some what as much as I could but now i going to full out redo it.

[Herk]

Hey fellow cabies,

Mine is called ARCADE EXTREME.  No pictures yet, sorry.  As for the literal definition of arcade, KenToad, it is "A commercial establishment featuring rows of coin-operated games", which you already knew but really who cares.  Not you, the definition.

Herk

[KenToad]

Herk,

I think Arcade Extreeeeeeeeme! would be a pretty sweet name for your box.

Anyway, I'm not jeering the brain fart and general conformist behavior of naming a box, Mame or Arcade (mostly kidding, since I've seen some great projects using these names).  I'm simply cheering those who see outside the box or have a firmer grasp upon the meaning of arcade.

[Encryptor]

In my case I would love to have custom artwork made for my machine. Unfortunately things like mortgage and car payments get in the way of hiring a professional graphic artist to do the custom work for me since I'm not particularly artistic myself.

Hence I will probably have to settle with what I can buy that's commercially available. Most of which has MAME or ARCADE or something similar in the name. Just the facts of life. Either that or wait 2 or 3 years to save enough money to hire someone. But we all know how that goes.

As soon as you have most of the money for that special thing you want the transmission falls out of your car as your flying down the interstate. There goes what you've saved. Again just the facts of life. So my cab will no doubt end up with MAME or ARCADE in the name and graphics.

[Doom bucket]

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.

[FrizzleFried]

Isn't part of this discussion that the term arcade is what we say for the place with all the boxes, not for each box, no matter that it can play several thousand games? 

So since when does arcade refer to a game cabinet?

I'm sure Batman would have named his personal arcade, which he kept in a secret room in the Bat Cave, the Bat-Cade.  If it was just one box, maybe the Bat-Box, or Bat-Cabinet, or possibly Robin's Achilles Heel, if he was really feeling creative.   

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!

[deadkenndys1105]

I told you I was going to post my marquee and here it is.  Honestly spend some time in photoshop or something and just do a bit of editing and you can come out with something thats orginal and looks good.  Im not to happy with this but I have done better things for other projects.

[psychotech]

Yeah,

I named mine Tomatocade & Bombjack ..go figure 

I'm not a graphic artist, nowhere near, but as deadkenndys1105 said, "spend some time in photoshop or something and just do a bit of editing..." ...!

Psychotech.

[Donkey_Kong]

I think it is safe to say that around here MAME is the most popular emulator. Mix in the fact that maybe a lot of people are good (natured?) and want to show appreciation for MAME developers hard work, so they implement the name into there machine. I say good on 'em for it too! However, to each there own.

[Extreme8]

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.

Mine too!!
Great minds think alike and all that...

[bfauska]

Isn't part of this discussion that the term arcade is what we say for the place with all the boxes, not for each box, no matter that it can play several thousand games? 

So since when does arcade refer to a game cabinet?

I'm sure Batman would have named his personal arcade, which he kept in a secret room in the Bat Cave, the Bat-Cade.  If it was just one box, maybe the Bat-Box, or Bat-Cabinet, or possibly Robin's Achilles Heel, if he was really feeling creative.   

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!

Gotta say, I'm with Frizzle on this one.  Multi Arcade Machine Emulator.  Implying that the games (or game cabinets) are "Arcade Machines."  Also if I were at dinner somewhere with a few cabinets and I wanted to go play a few games while I waited I would say to my cohorts that I was going to go play a few arcade games while we wait.  This makes at least 2 examples of "common usage" which as we all know (as has been pointed out in the past) is what dictates correct word usage, not dictionary definitions.   No offense meant, to anybody who would take it. 

[Kilroy01]

Just to throw in my $.02... 

I agree that MAME and Arcade seem overused, but I don't mind as long as it is a unique name and not already used by a dozen other people.

I bought a tempest style cab a while back that was half-built.  It already had a StarWars marquee and a StarWars yoke, so I decided to keep the StarWars theme with all of my menu graphics and screensavers. 

I think that when I change out the marquee,
I will have one made that says "Death Starcade".   

Where else would Darth Vader go to play?   

P.S.  Hope to have pics up soon.

[KenToad]

Yeah, I wasn't trying to bum anybody out, but it's true that a thread like this pops up every so often because, like a child who has only seen a few movies and thinks the latest Hollywood hack job is so fantastic versus an adult who has seen it a million times before done better (usually with just a few simple changes), this issue is one that is probably the most easily altered for the betterment of most projects.  Making a uniquely themed cabinet is a lot like learning to use a jigsaw.  Basically, someone tells you how to do it and you do it, once you know it needs to be done.  It's not like you really need to have something unique as a theme, but MAME is lame (and has to be explained to most people who will have a look at your baby) and who wants to name their box after the only commercial arcade product that has ever utilized the -cade suffix .... yes the dreaded ULTRACADE. 

Ahem, actually, I don't care and I do see Frizzle's point, of course.  "There are so many games in this box that it's like an arcade in there!  So, it's the Frizzle-Cade."  And all those Multi-Slot Neo Geo cabinets should have been called Neo-Geo-Cades.

Ok, nevermind, I don't know why I'm giving this so much thought, since this is at least the third thread like this I've read through.

Sorry if I offended anyone's project/ego, truly. 

[Naru]

My cocktail table was/is called "Knights of the Arcade Table" and it had a Jedi Knight theme (Obi-Wan, Vader, Yoda, Aayla and Darth Maul with lightsabers out) for the table overlay but the artist I hired totally flaked on me after I paid him some money for producing some prototype artwork - I email him every month and he promises he will get it to me but it never comes - what can you do?

With this picture here I may be
able to draw this for you.
I don't know if I can replicate his
style exactly.
If you give me the dimensions
of the project (this is a marquee no?)
I'll work on it.
I'll do it for free,
so if it sucks you lost nothing.

[bfauska]

I know I wasn't offended, I just wanted to point out that it may be more acceptable than some would think.  My favorite of the potential titles for my cabinet doesn't have either word in it and I think I have some art ideas too.  I can't share any of it or I'd have to kill you.  Well that's not it really, I just bet that if it is a cool as I think it is somebody else will DEFINITELY have the funds before me to use it and while I trust most of you, it's the lurkers that keep me up at night. <paranoid glances left and right>