Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Arcade Collecting => Miscellaneous Arcade Talk => Topic started by: CheffoJeffo on December 22, 2005, 07:36:10 pm

Title: NAMCO Rockin' Bowl-O-Rama
Post by: CheffoJeffo on December 22, 2005, 07:36:10 pm
Just received my latest issue of GameRoom Magazine and found this beauty on the cover. I find myself oddly mesmerized by it.

Wonder if it is too late to put in a call to Santa ?

Cheers.
Title: Re: NAMCO Rockin' Bowl-O-Rama
Post by: SirPeale on December 22, 2005, 08:17:51 pm
I had the opportunity to check one of these out at a trade show  in October.  My opinion was this: although it is *visually* appealing, it's an operators disaster waiting to happen.

1) the whole thing is a table.  Table = a place to set your drink.  That equals spilled drinks.  Yeah...no.

2) It's shape means that it'll have to be moved a certain way.  I asked the Namco guy about moving it around, and he said that 'a couple of guys can move it no problem.' Immediate turn-off.  Should be movable by ONE guy no problem.  It's not heavy as much as it is awkward.

There were some other things that turned me off to it, but I can't recall them right now.

Probably be fine for home use, though.
Title: Re: NAMCO Rockin' Bowl-O-Rama
Post by: RayB on December 22, 2005, 08:25:26 pm
That thing is COOL!

1) the whole thing is a table.
Title: Re: NAMCO Rockin' Bowl-O-Rama
Post by: SirPeale on December 22, 2005, 08:33:48 pm
Maybe that's why there's a large angled disc around the trackball. Keeps drinks and liquid away.

You know darn well a sticky drink is still going to get where it's not supposed to.
Title: Re: NAMCO Rockin' Bowl-O-Rama
Post by: Havok on December 23, 2005, 10:20:05 am
Funky styling. Definitely looks like something that would be better in a home setting, where someone actually takes care of it, though.
Title: Re: NAMCO Rockin' Bowl-O-Rama
Post by: Jabba on December 23, 2005, 11:56:36 am
Very Retro! Almost Jetson like if that makes any sense! Cool find Cheffo. I really think you should buy it.  :)
Title: Re: NAMCO Rockin' Bowl-O-Rama
Post by: CheffoJeffo on December 23, 2005, 01:47:40 pm
Very Retro! Almost Jetson like if that makes any sense! Cool find Cheffo. I really think you should buy it.  :)

I've blown my budget into the spring already (although I think that was true a couple of cabinet ago as well) ... but it would make for an interesting trackball and spinner MAME project.

The sit-down nature of it is appealing -- my uncle had a couple of strokes this past summer and I was toying with the idea of building him a chair-friendly Golden Tee machine.

Cheers
Title: Re: NAMCO Rockin' Bowl-O-Rama
Post by: SirPoonga on December 23, 2005, 04:54:48 pm
2) It's shape means that it'll have to be moved a certain way.  I asked the Namco guy about moving it around, and he said that 'a couple of guys can move it no problem.' Immediate turn-off.  Should be movable by ONE guy no problem.  It's not heavy as much as it is awkward.
Is the monitor detachable?  Otheriwse it looks like it is the size of a cocktail table judging by the coin door.

Anyway, after playing one of these in the arcade I don;t think you will look at another bowling game.
http://www.hyperbowl.com/products/attraction-specification.html



Hehe, read this review
http://www.barcade.com/game_detail.php?type=game&id=548
"It is a retro look that brings you back to the 50
Title: Re: NAMCO Rockin' Bowl-O-Rama
Post by: RayB on December 24, 2005, 12:17:39 am
Soooooo... what's it retail for?
Title: Re: NAMCO Rockin' Bowl-O-Rama
Post by: CheffoJeffo on July 24, 2006, 06:51:01 pm
Resurrecting this thread because there is one on eBay right now:

$5800 BIN!!! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ROCKIN-BOWL-O-RAMA-ARCADE-by-Namco-buySAFE_W0QQitemZ130009991206QQihZ003QQcategoryZ13716QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

AND

I had the opportunity to play one yesterday when taking my son to see Monster House.

I was horribly, horribly underwhelmed,

The cabinet is cool, but the gameplay is soft.

I think every other bowling game I have played is better (and is silly not to have an optional shuffeboard game in there).

Cheers.