Zombie Arcades launches first machine in the UK. Opinions welcome.

[zombie_arcades]

I recently launched my "zombie arcade machine" and would welcome feedback from this great forum. It has been 12 months in the making but I believe it's been worth it.

It comes complete with 24" LCD TV, Sanwa joysticks, LED buttons, speaker system, top-spec PC, 139 licensed games, plus fully mame compatible.

I look forward to your feedback.

[zombie_arcades]

Couple more images attached.

[zombie_arcades]

And a couple more images.

[zombie_arcades]

One more 

[Doctor Ugs]

awesome job dude.
Love the chrome t-molding. Really looks sharp and clean.
well done... 

[boogieman]

   AWESOME!  Really really clean and shiny looking!   

[gonzo90017]

It looks really good. The theme looks nice although it would look nicer if the screenshots were framed and somehow integrated in the theme. Hope that made sense. 

[arcadefever]

Simply gorgeous the panel 

[Blanka]

Nice product shots. Use a bit of "burn highlights" in photoshop to remove the wrinkles of the background sheet
Is there a TV inside, or the Samsung 245T LCD computer monitor? I have the later panel in an Eizo case, and it is awesome! Guess it is a PC screen. Samsung does not sell 24 inch TV's over here. Only 23 or 26 inch.

[DolansCadillac]

That control panel is just perfection. I would play the hell out of that thing.

[zombie_arcades]

Nice product shots. Use a bit of "burn highlights" in photoshop to remove the wrinkles of the background sheet
Is there a TV inside, or the Samsung 245T LCD computer monitor? I have the later panel in an Eizo case, and it is awesome! Guess it is a PC screen. Samsung does not sell 24 inch TV's over here. Only 23 or 26 inch.

It's an Acer. I've used their products for years with zero issues. It's a fantastic LCD.

[Donkey_Kong]

What do you mean by launch? Launching a business to sell these...or is this a one off? It's for sale?

That thing is nice, you wouldn't have a problem selling that! 

Edit: I googled your website and I think I pretty much answered all of my dumb questions!
Good luck wit da buz!
http://www.zombiearcades.co.uk/

[zombie_arcades]

What do you mean by launch? Launching a business to sell these...or is this a one off? It's for sale?

That thing is nice, you wouldn't have a problem selling that! 

Edit: I googled your website and I think I pretty much answered all of my dumb questions!
Good luck wit da buz!
http://www.zombiearcades.co.uk/

Thank you 

[leapinlew]

How does the licensing work?

[zombie_arcades]

How does the licensing work?

Only retail games / game packs are installed in the machine. For example, Midway, Taito, Namco and Capcom.

[leapinlew]

Cool. Whats the machine in the picture cost if I lived in the UK?

[zombie_arcades]

Cool. Whats the machine in the picture cost if I lived in the UK?

A snip at £2850 inc. VAT and delivery (UK mainland only).

[Donkey_Kong]

$2,850 Euros = $4,491.6 U.S. dollars


Damn US dollar is WEAK! 

[Turnarcades]

Actually that's 2850 pounds sterling = $5700 so sorry US buyers, it's just our economy!

Kev, you forgot your ebay link and maybe should have mentioned it's available through Arcade Depot UK;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ZOMBIE-ARCADE-MACHINE-24-LCD-SANWA-JOYSTICKS-NEW_W0QQitemZ270239202593QQihZ017QQcategoryZ3945QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Donkey_Kong]

Actually that's 2850 pounds sterling = $5700 so sorry US buyers, it's just our economy!

Kev, you forgot your ebay link and maybe should have mentioned it's available through Arcade Depot UK;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ZOMBIE-ARCADE-MACHINE-24-LCD-SANWA-JOYSTICKS-NEW_W0QQitemZ270239202593QQihZ017QQcategoryZ3945QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Well at least our gas isn't no 12 bucks a gallon! YET!

oh and....ah, ah...my dad can beat up your dad!

[Turnarcades]

LOL. You don't know the half of it. Petrol's up to £1.20 a litre round here and £1.35 for Diesel, so probably works out more than 12 bucks a gallon by now. Good job our country's small!

[zombie_arcades]

Actually that's 2850 pounds sterling = $5700 so sorry US buyers, it's just our economy!

Kev, you forgot your ebay link and maybe should have mentioned it's available through Arcade Depot UK;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ZOMBIE-ARCADE-MACHINE-24-LCD-SANWA-JOYSTICKS-NEW_W0QQitemZ270239202593QQihZ017QQcategoryZ3945QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks Craig 

[psychotech]

Great 

..err, no Bomb Jack? Worthless

I'd bought one if it had BJ. Honestly..

So, anyway. What kind of custom graphics options are available and @ what additional cost?

[zombie_arcades]

Great 

..err, no Bomb Jack? Worthless

I'd bought one if it had BJ. Honestly..

So, anyway. What kind of custom graphics options are available and @ what additional cost?

It's "primed" for over 4000 games, including Bomb Jack

You are the first person to ask me about custom graphics. Everyone that has seen the machine wants it "as is".

What do you have in mind?

I could do a custom control panel overlay. But this would be expensive as a one off because it's the set-up costs that kill you. Same with the marquee. Other than that, I would not recommend changing anything else.

[ark_ader]

Nice looking cab.  Really great workmanship.

I'd figure on dropping the price to say £700 all in. 

You should get more orders.

Good luck!

[Bender]

Can you explain what that cp is made from?

[Havok]

Any plans on selling the game packs separately? There are very few legal options for purchasing licensed roms anywhere...

And, nice clean cabinet - not a big fan of the Zombie theme, but I love everything else!

[Lutus]

Looks great except that one red button where the coin box should be.  I do not really like those little red buttons.

That CP looks great (even with the little red buttons on the top)

Good luck with the business.

[RayB]

"Sanway" joysticks huh? What are those, Chinese knock-offs of Sanwa ?

[danny_galaga]

that looks great! as we say here- just like a bought one. which is important, since ive seen some cabs from 'businesses' that look a little homemade. this looks the part and im sure if you market well, you will get some sales.

[zombie_arcades]

Nice looking cab.  Really great workmanship.

I'd figure on dropping the price to say £700 all in. 

You should get more orders.

Good luck!

Impossible. It costs more than that to build one.

[zombie_arcades]

"Sanway" joysticks huh? What are those, Chinese knock-offs of Sanwa ?

Fixed. Thanks for the heads up.

[zombie_arcades]

Looks great except that one red button where the coin box should be.  I do not really like those little red buttons.

That CP looks great (even with the little red buttons on the top)

Good luck with the business.

I'm considering replacing it with a coin box.

[Blanka]

Those gamepacks are stand-alone apps with a custom menu I guess? Or did you manage to incorporate them into mame or your own front-end?

[zombie_arcades]

Those gamepacks are stand-alone apps with a custom menu I guess? Or did you manage to incorporate them into mame or your own front-end?

Correct, and I use a custom front end. No keyboard or mouse needed. Completely controlled from joystick and buttons.

[surface tension]

These look great, good work. I've seen them on ebay during my regular crawls for a Taito upright.

Get used to the comments about 'if it was £700 I'd have one'! That's fine if you're making a one-off for yourself and pulling parts out of skips...

[Level42]

The overall cab looks really tight. Looks like really professionaly constructed and I like the overall theme of not using any busy art but instead going with a stylish look. Will make it acceptable for a lot of homes !
The piano-like finish of the CP is nice, but will mean a lot of cleaning finger prints I guess.

Things I don't like: the tiny red buttons, especially the one on the kick-plate.

The wide-screen LCD. I don't like LCD's for classic games, but I can understand why you chose it. But why a wide-screen ?

O, and where are the spinner and the trackball ?

[zombie_arcades]

The overall cab looks really tight. Looks like really professionaly constructed and I like the overall theme of not using any busy art but instead going with a stylish look. Will make it acceptable for a lot of homes !
The piano-like finish of the CP is nice, but will mean a lot of cleaning finger prints I guess.

Things I don't like: the tiny red buttons, especially the one on the kick-plate.

The wide-screen LCD. I don't like LCD's for classic games, but I can understand why you chose it. But why a wide-screen ?

O, and where are the spinner and the trackball ?

I'll consider adding a Trackball and Spinner in the future. I may include it as an upgradeable option. I just didn't want a "busy" looking CP panel.

We have a difference of opinion with regards to the red buttons, particularly on the CP panel, because I think they look great. I guess it's horses for courses but I do value and respect your opinion.

[leapinlew]

The overall cab looks really tight. Looks like really professionaly constructed and I like the overall theme of not using any busy art but instead going with a stylish look. Will make it acceptable for a lot of homes !
The piano-like finish of the CP is nice, but will mean a lot of cleaning finger prints I guess.

Things I don't like: the tiny red buttons, especially the one on the kick-plate.

The wide-screen LCD. I don't like LCD's for classic games, but I can understand why you chose it. But why a wide-screen ?

O, and where are the spinner and the trackball ?

I'll consider adding a Trackball and Spinner in the future. I may include it as an upgradeable option. I just didn't want a "busy" looking CP panel.

We have a difference of opinion with regards to the red buttons, particularly on the CP panel, because I think they look great. I guess it's horses for courses but I do value and respect your opinion.

I don't care for the red buttons either. I build my machines with clean control panels and coin doors. I started off having admin buttons, but quickly learned that a properly setup machine doesn't need them. I include an instruction sticker on the machine and so far thats been enough for end users.

[Franco B]

VERY nice zombie_arcades!

My favourite colour scheme too! 

If you like you could LED light those bubble tops to match the buttons. I did a guide to lighting them if it helps:

http://www.retroblast.com/Articles/DIY-LED-Joysticks.php