Dilemma...

[mybrainhurtz]

...actually I just want to complain

So, I am just about done with my first arcade machine project.  As you can see from my sig, my current project is in a old Space Duel cab. Well, I just stumbled upon a local guy selling a Killer Instinct 1 cab that is complete sans the board and hdd for $125. The only damage is some standard nicks and scrapes and the monitor has some red color bleed. 

Killer Instinct is the game that I spent the most $$ at when I was a kid, and is really what I was looking for a year ago when I started this project. When I couldn't find a newer fighter-style cab, I jumped on the Space Duel due to its retro sideart and the price ($60).

It figures that this cab would turn up when I am putting the finishing touches on my first project

So, I guess what I am asking is for you guys to call my wife and tell her that it is ok for me to buy this cab and KEEP my old one... she told me that I was welcome to buy this, but I have to sell the one that I am currently working on. With all of the work that I have put into the cabinet, software and the custom graphics, it would take a pretty penny to make me let go of it.

...so if anyone would like an awesome Space Duel Themed mame machine under the christmas tree this year...

-Chad

[HaRuMaN]

she told me that I was welcome to buy this, but I have to sell the one that I am currently working on....

See... that was your first mistake.  It is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission! 

[Malenko]

she told me that I was welcome to buy this, but I have to sell the one that I am currently working on....

See... that was your first mistake.  It is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission! 

QFT

[mybrainhurtz]

"It is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission! "

haha I almost put that in my first post... That may be true, but I am afraid that my back would be bothering me pretty bad after a few months of sleeping on the couch haha

also, there's no telling what might happen to the cabs while I'm not home... they would be in the basement, and I believe that there is a sledge hammer down there as well

I talked to one of my co-workers and told him that if this had the board in it, it could sell for $600 or so... he told me it sounded like a good investment. maybe I can say that I plan on purchasing it to fix it and sell it, but just never get around to selling it... I am guessing that the arcade cabinet market isn't doing too well right now with our economy the way it is

[Nemss316]

I would just tell her that you will get rid of one for sure, but you want to get this cabinet, get it running, get some hands-on time with both, and figure out which one you want the most.

Side Note: Thats what I told my girlfriend. When she gave some lip back, I said that "hands on" time makes a world of difference when making a decision. She's a perfect example.

[javeryh]

I would just tell her that you will get rid of one for sure, but you want to get this cabinet, get it running, get some hands-on time with both, and figure out which one you want the most.

Side Note: Thats what I told my girlfriend. When she gave some lip back, I said that "hands on" time makes a world of difference when making a decision. She's a perfect example.

yeah but then you run the risk of hearing "when are you going to get rid of one of those things like you promised" over and over and over and over again until you just want to rent a truck, put both beloved cabs in the back, drive across country, change your name and never look back.

[urbecrisch]

What's the bid deal spending $125.  It's not like you're breaking the bank here.  Also, what hobbies is your wife into?  My wife likes to spend her money at the Gap and on tattoos; I like to spend mine on coin ops.  You just have to find something that she likes and compromise.  Unless she has no hobbies and is a penny-pincher, then you're screwed!   Good luck!

[shardian]

What's the bid deal spending $125.  It's not like you're breaking the bank here.  Also, what hobbies is your wife into?  My wife likes to spend her money at the Gap and on tattoos; I like to spend mine on coin ops.  You just have to find something that she likes and compromise.  Unless she has no hobbies and is a penny-pincher, then you're screwed!   Good luck!

With a Killer Instinct Cab, space is usually more of an issue than money. I'm lucky because my wife refuses to allow cars into our attached garage. That means I get the whole garage as my man space.


Sweet talk her for a while, take her out to dinner, etc. She'll come around if you make it worth her while. THAT method works much better than the statement of "better to ask forgiveness than permission".

[vidmouse]

I'm running up against a similar dilemma but it's not the wife's fault,
it's just pure lack of space...  I have room enough in my basement
for a good game room but it's limited bc I already have a pool table
down there.  I have two extra cabs I'd like to finish and get down
there but my wife says we'd probalby have to get rid of the pool
table to do it.  She's convinced me that I don't really play it that much
anyway so I probably will but it's one of those things that'll be
hard to part with, have had it quite awhile...   

Still, it will be good to have 4 workings cabs going plus some room for
maybe another 1-2 more, maybe....

there's always SOME tradeoff...

[mybrainhurtz]

yeah, it is the limited space that we have in our house that is the factor right now. We plan on putting a proper game room in our basement but in order to do that, we need to accumulate some remodeling funds first   The $125 is more a selling point than a problem, since all its missing is the board and hdd.

@vidmouse yeah we have a air hockey/pool table that takes up a lot of room and is something that I have to work around. The air hockey gets a lot more use than the pool, but it is still a big hit, so its not going anywhere.

Also, since I am running mame on the cab that I am currently working on, she doesnt see why I would need another one since I already have "every game known to man" running on it

anyway... thanks for the friendly conversation guys, that's basically all I wanted to accomplish with this thread haha

[delta88]

No cars in the attached garage? WTF all over that batman..... Are the fumes to much or something or is it fear that one might catch fire?

[SithMaster]

Also, since I am running mame on the cab that I am currently working on, she doesnt see why I would need another one since I already have "every game known to man" running on it

Never give women the details.  Is it possible to tell her that Killer Instinct cannot be emulated on current computer hardware?

[wbassett]

What's the bid deal spending $125.  It's not like you're breaking the bank here.  Also, what hobbies is your wife into?  My wife likes to spend her money at the Gap and on tattoos; I like to spend mine on coin ops.  You just have to find something that she likes and compromise.  Unless she has no hobbies and is a penny-pincher, then you're screwed!   Good luck!

I think that's what he was getting at... that he wouldn't be, not for a very long time at least!

also, there's no telling what might happen to the cabs while I'm not home... they would be in the basement, and I believe that there is a sledge hammer down there as well

Hey look at it this way... if she did do that, well after the divorce you'd have lots of room for cabs!


Seriously though, if you have room for both, try to get her interested in gaming and make sure her favorite game is playable on each one.  That way no matter which cab you're playing she can always play her favorite game.

Maybe it's sneaky, but I found that if I make my wife feel included and get her to start liking something then she is much more agreeable to things.  The more you make her feel involved the more interested she'll be and even start to like them! 

[TOK]

Buy it and bring it in dude. Breaking her in is the only way.
If you weather the storm early, it won't be so bad when you want yet another game (4 working and 3 projects here and it all started with a MAME cab).

[Havok]

Get the KI cab, Mame it and put the Space Duel back to what it should be - a Space Duel.

[isucamper]

Also, since I am running mame on the cab that I am currently working on, she doesnt see why I would need another one since I already have "every game known to man" running on it

Never give women the details.  Is it possible to tell her that Killer Instinct cannot be emulated on current computer hardware?

When people ask me why I want dedicated cabinets that play games that my MAME cab will play just fine, I just stare at them wide eyed and in disbelief and say "... For world record runs" as if it's totally obvious. 

It usually gets a chuckle. 

[shardian]

No cars in the attached garage? WTF all over that batman..... Are the fumes to much or something or is it fear that one might catch fire?

Yep, she saw a special or something on the 'unseen killer' that is carbon monoxide. We have CO detector smoke alarms, but better safe than sorry for her I guess. Last I checked, most houses have attached garages and people aren't dropping like flies. Meh, at least I get a man cave out of the deal.

[HaRuMaN]

No cars in the attached garage? WTF all over that batman..... Are the fumes to much or something or is it fear that one might catch fire?

Yep, she saw a special or something on the 'unseen killer' that is carbon monoxide. We have CO detector smoke alarms, but better safe than sorry for her I guess. Last I checked, most houses have attached garages and people aren't dropping like flies. Meh, at least I get a man cave out of the deal.

Wow... paranoid much?  Lol...

[shardian]

You mean you've met a housewife who DOESN'T latch on to 'investigative reports'?