Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Arcade Collecting => Miscellaneous Arcade Talk => Topic started by: mike boss on June 11, 2013, 09:44:59 am

Title: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: mike boss on June 11, 2013, 09:44:59 am
Last summer I got my hands on a Stargate cabinet that was converted to a Final Fight.
Game was fully working, but needs some cosmetic touch ups.
The plan is to get around to this project this year, just need to wrap up another project that sits @ %90 done (to date).

So as project 1 nears completion it's time to decide on a course of action for FF.
I should add, child number 1 for my wife and I is on the way, expected for July 23rd.
So I'm not getting "out" of  the hobby, but I dout I'd be getting anymore projects/cabinets, etc.

So here is the situation I find myself in. I've obtained a decent stock pile of parts. I'd like to use up what I can, sell whats left and be on my way. With Final Fight I'm trying to decide on a few options, one that perhaps works best for resale.

So do I -- clean it up and sell it as is, a fully working Final Fight jamma game. OR...........
do I MAME it using an extra PC & iPac I have, toss in an LCD monitor (then keeping the existing CRT monitor as a back up for my Popeye) ... .this plan would allow me to sell the board alongside an extra FF marquee I have.

I paid $50 for the working cabinet, $100 for the PC w/ iPac.
I suspect the cosmetics of the cabinet, paint, new t-molding, etc will only run me about $50.

So if I clean it up and sell it I'd say total investment would be $100. Not bad for a working Final Fight. If I MAME it total investment would be $200, also good IMHO. MAME option would allow me to sell the board alongside marquee (and even wiring and extra parts)...no idea what they'd be worth.

Any thoughts ?


Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: yotsuya on June 11, 2013, 10:37:07 am
No option to turn it back into a Stargate?
Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: mike boss on June 11, 2013, 10:51:02 am
Stargate, nope !
I've got no connection to that game. So sourcing the parts, etc etc, simply isn't worth it.
As mentioned part of my issue is a desire to use up all the parts I've got lying around.

Part of me is also thinking resale (which I dont think I mentioned above). What would fetch the higer price to the "mass market?" Final Fight as is in a converted cabinet, or Final Fight with MAME, Hypserspin and tons of console emulation. Not to mention LCD monitors which are easily and widley avilable.

MAME option would allow me to keep the monitor as a back up for an existing cabinet and sell the Final Fight board w/ extra marquee I have. Not sure what the board is worth.
Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: keilmillerjr on June 12, 2013, 11:47:51 am
I believe the jpac will be a plug in play solution for your jamma harness, utilizing your existing wiring and arcade monitor. Thats what I get from the description on the website. It will probably save you from buting an lcd and having to rewire everything. That itself is a project.

http://www.ultimarc.com/jpac.html (http://www.ultimarc.com/jpac.html)

Turn it into a mame cabinet while keeping as mush original as possible to save on costs. Then you will have something to have to bond with your kid when he/she gets a little older. Memories like that last forever.
Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: Malenko on June 15, 2013, 10:57:25 pm
Id give you $20 plus shipping for the Final Fight board
Title: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: Well Fed Games on June 16, 2013, 10:43:48 pm
My 2 cents is to MAME it, the Stargate cab doesn't look like a beat em up cab for me.
Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: mike boss on June 18, 2013, 12:43:42 pm
I'll need to get some pics posted.
It really is an ugly cabinet........at this point.
Regardless of the option selected I'd still need to complete the cosmetic refurb.
New paint, new molding, paint all the metal, polish all the plastics, etc.

I'm still torn between ideas. Locally I've started to sell off my parts and as I mentioned I'd like to make a BIG dent in the inventory.

Locally I'll be listing the board + marquee on Kijiji for $100.
If the board sells MAME it is, if not, back to Final Fight we go!

One issue is part of me doesnt want to hack up the panel to install 6 buttons per side, but as I said I have lots of cosmetics to do before I need to worry about that.

I've set a goal hoping to complete the cabinet for late July (my wifes due date).
I dont think the cosmetic work will take long.

I'll try and get some pics up tonight as I said. I could use some opinions on cabinet color and t-molding color.


Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: Malenko on June 18, 2013, 01:12:36 pm
Locally I'll be listing the board + marquee on Kijiji for $100.
If the board sells MAME it is, if not, back to Final Fight we go!

So what youre saying is, its going back to Final Fight?  :angel:
Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: mike boss on June 18, 2013, 02:07:32 pm
I'm in Toronto, Canada and it seems stuff is not as readily available as perhaps the US.
I've seen the board sell for $60-80 on KLOV, and that is people in the know !
Marquee is easily $20. So $80-100 for the pair I'd say is fair.
And if it goes back to FF, so be it !
Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: Malenko on June 18, 2013, 02:45:32 pm
I agree Marquees for pretty much any game for for around $20 , but Ive seen Final Fight PCBs not sell on eBay with $50 buy it nows. SOrry about my lowball offer, but it still stands, and I dont want or need the marquee  :laugh:

I hope the stuff does sell, I think the cab is better suited as something else.
Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: mike boss on June 18, 2013, 10:35:41 pm
Here it is.
Hoping to get some work done on this Friday.
If I could be painting this by next weekend that would be amazing.
Sadly I seem to have lost the clip that goes from the Jamma harness to the monitor chassis.

(http://s9.postimg.org/9ec1ui2ff/photo_11.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/9ec1ui2ff/)

(http://s9.postimg.org/a54s0a4sr/photo_22.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/a54s0a4sr/)

(http://s9.postimg.org/z7bwqv0ln/photo_33.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/z7bwqv0ln/)

(http://s9.postimg.org/t7o5n7ft7/photo_44.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/t7o5n7ft7/)
Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: mike boss on June 21, 2013, 07:10:34 pm
(http://s3.postimg.org/viut13cnj/IMG_3761.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/viut13cnj/)

(http://s3.postimg.org/seoqi1l8v/IMG_3767.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/seoqi1l8v/)

(http://s3.postimg.org/uuqjvw3bj/IMG_3769.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/uuqjvw3bj/)

(http://s3.postimg.org/9c0rhdkun/IMG_3770.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/9c0rhdkun/)

(http://s3.postimg.org/4nkrm6vnz/IMG_3771.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/4nkrm6vnz/)

(http://s3.postimg.org/ez1pslcr3/IMG_3772.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/ez1pslcr3/)

(http://s3.postimg.org/vp8i46lsf/IMG_3773.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/vp8i46lsf/)

(http://s3.postimg.org/xibesi6z3/IMG_3774.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/xibesi6z3/)

(http://s3.postimg.org/9336rg827/IMG_3776.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/9336rg827/)

(http://s3.postimg.org/byg9ybc27/IMG_3777.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/byg9ybc27/)

(http://s3.postimg.org/712pd7a33/IMG_3778.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/712pd7a33/)
Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: Chris John Hunter on June 26, 2013, 05:37:03 pm
Personally id Capcom System 1 it.
Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: mike boss on June 26, 2013, 10:59:55 pm
I'm going to put it back as was to Final Fight.
However I'm going to use an LCD monitor in it.
Keep it for a bit, then sell.

I figure I spent $50 for the cabinet, I figure the monitor alone will fetch me $50.
I have a free LCD here, 19" 4x3 ratio I can use.
I figure $50 on cosmetics like paint, spray paint, t-molding
$50 in parts, joysticks, buttons, harness, power supply
$30 RGB adapter

Long n short of it I think I can get the cabinet looking good and working good for about $250/300,
perhaps selling it for $500/600.
Title: Re: Final Fight...to MAME or not to MAME? Opinion question
Post by: Malenko on June 27, 2013, 08:17:43 am
use the LCD in a vertical orientation and put a 60 in 1 in there with a 4 way stick. 60 in 1s can be had for a little more than the RGB converter. I could see me playing Time Pilot on a cab like that.