Donkey Kong - Restore Or Mame?

[JeepMonkey]

I purchased a non working Popeye cab that was converted to Mania Challenge for $40.  I am toying with the idea of making it a Donkey Kong cab.  It has a monitor (not sure if it works, it does come on), a power supply (original?  it does have the 100VAC plug for the monitor), and I snagged a Popeye control panel cheap.  I also picked up three or four Nintendo control panels, so I have some joysticks and buttons, untested.  Other than that I need pretty much everything, boards, CPO, wiring harnesses, marque, bezel, art, etc.  Purchasing all of these peices will not be cheap.

I would like to have a MAME machine.  The Nintendo cabs are my favorite.  The monitor is currently vertical, but that could change. 

Would this be a better candidate to MAME and get a more complete DK later?

[Timstuff]

If you can't afford the "authentic" guts, then I'd say the solution would be to both restore and Mame. You can preserve the cabinet (control panel, wiring harness, etc.) and still hook up a PC to it, and get some Donkey Kong art printed up from Mamemarquees.com. You can have the best of both, so long as you make sure to treat the internals that the cab has with respect and try to keep the outside looking authentic.

[danny_galaga]

yeah, sounds like a good candidate to make it look like a new DK and fit a pc and mame since the cosmetic side of things will probably cost the same regardless...

[Level42]

Why not 48-in-1 it ?
A LOT cheaper then either fully restoring OR PC.

[ArtMAME]

Buckethead did a very nice DK MAME (also from an old Popeye)

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=79183.0

[JeepMonkey]

I have been thinking that if I do Mame, or 48 in 1 (good suggestion) I would probably dress it up as a DK with a DK bezel and marque at a minumum.  I would probably go ahead and get some DK side art as well.  If I did Mame or 48 in 1, I would definately keep it so that a minumal amount of effort would get it back (not really back I guess as it never was a DK) to a DK.

ArtMAME, I did see bucketheads post.  It is very similar to one path I am considering and hopefully would be a good help if I go down that road.

I guess the main two arguments I am making with myeslf is that I love the look and idea of having a dedicated DK, but I also know that I would play it much more often if it had multiple games.

[ArtMAME]

I guess the main two arguments I am making with myeslf is that I love the look and idea of having a dedicated DK, but I also know that I would play it much more often if it had multiple games.

I hear you there.  I have a nice all-purpose MAME, but I also have several dedicated cabinets because I love the look and feel of the dedicated cabinets.  Some of them are dedicated MAMEs, simply because I got them as empties or conversions.  But I will tell you that you will run out of room quickly if you start getting all the dedicated ones you see... unless you have tons of space.  When you get one, you will want another one, and even if you don't want another one, you will find always find another one you just cannot pass up... it is a vicious cycle...

I would say just do the MAME or 48-in-1 and make it look like a nice DK.  Then enjoy the heck out of it.   

[CrazyKongFan]

Unless they've improved those 48-in-1 boards, the sound sucks on some of them, DK being one. Gyruss is another one.

[Q*Bert_OP]

Unless they've improved those 48-in-1 boards, the sound sucks on some of them, DK being one. Gyruss is another one.

I'd say MAME it! 48-in-1 and 60-in-1 boards still have sound problems with many games, esp. the Pac-mans(all versions) and Galaga