To Mame or not to Mame a Paperboy?

[tomsurfnj]

I just bought a Paperboy arcade machine that I want to use as my cabin it for my Mame machine. I'm almost done with my control panel that I will attach. I suck at woodworking so I found a cab instead of doing it all from scratch. The Paperboy cab I bought is in rough shape. Heavy as hell. It is missing only the monitor. I'd hate to kill a nice classic.

Now do I remove the parts and sell them off? Trade someone for a cab? Or should I try to get it working since it only missing the monitor, then sell it and buy a cab shell. Suggestions?

[Jeff AMN]

Man, if I had a Paperboy in any shape, I'd do all I could to save it. If you decide to tear it down, however, please make sure that the parts go to somebody that will put them to good use.

[ahofle]

That's a pretty unique controller on there too.  I'd try to restore it personally and MAME something else.

[ElfShotTheFood]

somebody build him whatever cab he wants in exchange for the paperboy. 


surf nj,   I gotta ask     what exit?     i'm at 90

[ChadTower]

Do not MAME.  Find a Dynamo to MAME.

[Malenko]

I wouldnt MAME it, paperboy is like PacMan to me, one of the first arcade games I ever played... that and 720

[Kaytrim]

The unique cabs are worth saving and this is one of them. I don't know where you are but if you are in a larger city there might be one of the BYOAC members nearby that might help you out in restoring it or trade a mameable cab to you for the paperboy.

[ChadTower]

If he is in NJ it would take about 10 minutes of phone calls to find an empty Dynamo shell.  They're more common than needles on a beach.

[tomsurfnj]

My buddy picked it up for me at 120$. It is a classic ,but I'm tired of playing Mame on a keyboard. I'm 20 minutes north of Atlantic City, NJ. I'd gladly do a fair trade with someone.  Exit 48 GSP.. I'm about 450$ into this thing. It has been a bunch of fun doing research and telling people about it. I started doing the control panel at the beach where I lifeguard at and everyone asked what I was building. Control panel? For what?

[ArtMAME]

Did I not read somewhere that there was an auction in NJ this weekend???  Go to that if you are close and you may find something.

The last auction I went to (Atlanta, GA) had about 100 MAMEable cabs!!! Most of them went for $1, $5, $10, etc. 

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=63020.msg630911#msg630911

Click on the pic for photoalbum:
http://home.earthlink.net/~asumner/artsarcadelab/id31.html


I got a $10 SF2 cab that I restored into a Track and Field:

http://home.earthlink.net/~asumner/artsarcadelab/id25.html

And I got another $10 Williams cab that I am MAMEing right now.

[SavannahLion]

Personally, I don't think the cab is all that sexy. But the controls are rather unique and interesting and I am a big Atari fan.

There's a strong erm... opinion that maming unique arcade cabs is a sin. Salvage and restoration is usually the preferred option. Failing that, trades seems to be on order. In fact, look into trading the cab for another generic cab in better condition. My opinion would be to trade/sell it for a better fitting cab since your woodworking skills aren't up to snuff.

But try to be realistic. One topic that's almost never discussed is finding replacement monitors for a reasonable price. That's probably why your Paperboy is missing its monitor, it was taken to replace the monitor on a different game. That's the same reason why the monitor in my Hang-On cab was literally cut out. Some cabinets (not yours) require monitors that are damn near impossible to replace. So finding certain sightless cabs (regulars will know exactly which cab I'm talking about here) leaves you no other real option but to sell the parts (I see those near useless PCB's on eBay all the time) and MAME the cabinet.

<grabs fire extinguisher>

So ask yourself these questions.

How badly do you want a MAME cabinet as opposed to a Paperboy cabinet? Do you actually like Paperboy enough to tide you over until you find that "perfect" cabinet?

How easy and/or costly is it to replace the monitor? Keep in mind whether you choose to use a true Arcade monitor, TV, or PC monitor and your sources for each.

If you choose to restore, How much work and money would be required to do so? Can you recover those costs if you sell the cab in the future? Same if you choose to MAME the cab.

Is it possible to offload the cab in its current condition in exchange for a cab better suited to your needs? That translates to possibly less work modifying the cab and lower costs for parts.

Take me for instance. I prefer real hardware over emulated any day. As much as I would like to restore my Hang-On cab, realistically, sourcing correctly sized Arcade monitors locally has proven difficult. That would force me to have a monitor shipped in from outside the area driving my costs up. Since I already have several +19" monitors sitting around, the path I've chosen is a reversable MAME cabinet. Though I know deep down in my heart, once MAMEd, no cab ever goes back. IF I can find an arcade monitor suitable for the cab before I construct the CP, then I'll re-evaluate my decision accordingly.

[vintagegamer]

Do not MAME.  Find a Dynamo to MAME.

+10

[ahofle]

If he is in NJ it would take about 10 minutes of phone calls to find an empty Dynamo shell.  They're more common than needles on a beach.

 

[RayB]

Paperboy is one of those games I wouldn't mind having if I had a LARGE space for my home arcade. It's unique, uses a unique control method. You just can't replicate that in MAME. There's not enough gameplay to make it one of my "must haves".

But it's not cheap to restore. Uses a med-res monitor, and... well special controller as already stated.

What a coincidence though, this week you could have bought a NOS marquee, and NOS handle grips. The parts are out there if you're patient and have $$ to burn.

[shardian]

Paperboy is one of those games I wouldn't mind having if I had a LARGE space for my home arcade. It's unique, uses a unique control method. You just can't replicate that in MAME. There's not enough gameplay to make it one of my "must haves".

But it's not cheap to restore. Uses a med-res monitor, and... well special controller as already stated.

What a coincidence though, this week you could have bought a NOS marquee, and NOS handle grips. The parts are out there if you're patient and have $$ to burn.

From what I understand, those med-res monitors are a dime a dozen...as in you better have a dozen on hand at the rate they break.

[shorthair]

I dunno. There are many inexpensive sources for new 19" arcade monitors, though. And here's something: is this cabinet an upright, or the sit-down version it seems everyone is thinking it is?

[shardian]

I dunno. There are many inexpensive sources for new 19" arcade monitors, though. And here's something: is this cabinet an upright, or the sit-down version it seems everyone is thinking it is?

Sit down version?? Never heard of it.

[ahofle]

I dunno. There are many inexpensive sources for new 19" arcade monitors, though. And here's something: is this cabinet an upright, or the sit-down version it seems everyone is thinking it is?

Inexpensive 19" medium res monitor??  Never heard of it.

[cw]

I dunno. There are many inexpensive sources for new 19" arcade monitors, though. And here's something: is this cabinet an upright, or the sit-down version it seems everyone is thinking it is?

Inexpensive 19" medium res monitor??  Never heard of it.

sure they grow on the tree right next to the one that grows wg6100s

[shardian]

So this elusive and very rare sit down version, do you have to pedal to control your speed?
To tell the truth, that would be pretty sweet!

[tomsurfnj]

The machine is an upright. It has all it's parts as far as I can tell. It is pretty beatup but seems fixable. the boards are mounted on the swingout back door.

What is a dynamo?

[Jeff AMN]

A Dynamo is a type of cabinet. They are a generic cabinet that was used to house conversions or to replace cabinets that were breaking down. You've probably played hundreds of games in a Dynamo without realizing it.

[RayB]

A sit down Paperboy? That's a new one.

http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=775

[ahofle]

Maybe he confused it with the 3D live action version:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N0PXuVc9Vgk

[shorthair]

I swear there was a version much like A.P.B. but it had a central seating thing vs a seat. Maybe I got the two mixed up. KLOV doesn't have it, but I'll do some more lookin.

19" med-res monitors: maybe the ones I've see are only CGA. By inexpensive I mean they're under $200.

[shardian]

Maybe he confused it with the 3D live action version:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N0PXuVc9Vgk

HAHAHAHAHAHA! That is by far the best live action gaming skit I have seen.

[telengard]

My recommendation would be to not Mame it.  Paperboy is such an awesome game.  If I had the room for it I'd own it.  I do however have a paperboy yoke I will be putting on my mame cab for that authentic experience.   

My mame machine was a thrice converted bally sente game.  I couldn't figure out what it was originally so I had no qualms about mame'ing it.  A Paperboy though seems sorta sacrelig.   Just my opinion...

~telengard

[shorthair]

What is a dynamo?

Check B/S/T.

[ChadTower]

What is a dynamo?

Generic cab that didn't originally come with a game.  JAMMA games were commonly put into them.  There is a billion of them and there is zero classic loss to MAMEing them. 

[RayB]

Maybe he confused it with the 3D live action version:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N0PXuVc9Vgk

Funny, but I wish they'd have used the original arcade music. (Atari had some great music in that era)

[ahofle]

Maybe he confused it with the 3D live action version:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N0PXuVc9Vgk

Funny, but I wish they'd have used the original arcade music. (Atari had some great music in that era)

Agreed.  I also would've liked to see the drunk guy with an overcoat stumbling around and some dude breakdancing.

[shardian]

some dude breakdancing.

That was the guy bicycling his legs in the air.

[ChadTower]

N64 Paperboy is a pretty faithful sequel to that game.  Plays much the same in spirit.  I never could get past the Frankenstein boss, dammit.

[ahofle]

some dude breakdancing.

That was the guy bicycling his legs in the air.

LOL, so that's what he was supposed to be.  Was there a ninja in the arcade version?  I guess I need to venture away from 'Easy Street' more often.

[Crowquill]

Finding a medium res monitor might be tricky, but a complete game would be far more valuable than any generic cabinet that would be good for MAME. Then again, you've said that it's pretty beat-up. Pictures would help, but if the cabinet's that beat up, some collectors might pass.

You can find another cabinet that would work much better for MAME anyway. Something with a larger control panel and maybe even a 25" monitor. Atari made some very cool looking cabinets. The system 1 cabs are not one of those.

For the part of the country you're in you shouldn't have any trouble finding an empty generic cabinet. Try calling some of the local operators in your area. Many times they'll have extra cabinets sitting around taking up room that they'll let go for little OR nothing. Arcade auctions are also awesome for this.

If you want to MAME it, make a new control panel and save yours so that it could be converted back easily to Paperboy later on.

[ChadTower]

You could easily get a converter, I'd assume, to bring it down to standard res and use one of those instead.

[Ninten-doh]

If he is in NJ it would take about 10 minutes of phone calls to find an empty Dynamo shell.  They're more common than needles on a beach.

Chad, give me some of those phone #'s in NJ!     I must have a bad case of cooties because I've posted a few times on KLOV and RGVAC looking for any empty 19" vertical Dynamo in northern NJ and come up empty.  I know, I know...I could definitely grab one if I head to the NJ auctions in Cherry Hill, but I never seem to have the time.

I did wind up with an empty Carnival cab in nice shape, but don't want to MAME it cause it's in nice shape.  Anyone want it in trade for a Dynamo?   

[RayB]

Post a want ad on Craigslist, Kijiji, your local free paper, etc......

[tomsurfnj]

SOLD

I sold the paperboy machine to a local guy who restores/rents/sells games. his website is
  [http://markades.com/index.html
I did not make or lose any money. Just did some heavy lifting. I did bust up my 5$ hand truck.  He said he will restore it and has some people asking if he had one. He said they are somewhat hard to come by.  I have to wait until my buddy gets me a golden tee golf game in the next few weeks. I think it would be a better machine for my control panel.

I'd like to thank every for their input on my situation.

[paigeoliver]

I would have mamed the pee out of it. A good 19" medium res monitor costs as much as the thing would be worth working in the first place, and you can always interface the original controls and swap the panels.

Also, mamed cabinets never get converted back. We all know this.