Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: lithium9mm on June 03, 2008, 04:52:27 pm

Title: A good deal?
Post by: lithium9mm on June 03, 2008, 04:52:27 pm
hello, everyone. First off I just want to say that I'm horribly new to all of this and due to years of console and pc gaming, I figured that I would invest into an arcade machine, learn the odds and ends and how to maintain it ect ect. Sounds fun...

anyways, recently after browsing around the web for a new cab I came across one that a guy is selling locally. Its a "Neo Geo 4 game Jamma Arcade Machine" thats in mint condition. Everything works beautifully and looks like it came straight from the manufacture or something. Due to it being able to play 4 carts and including Metal Slug 4 it has me highly interested. I guess my main question is for a machine like this, would $700 seem reasonable? cause thats how much he's asking for it. I appreciate any input.

(http://kijiji.ebayimg.com/i14/01/k/000/79/a3/ce50_20.JPG?set_id=1C4000)
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: miles2912 on June 03, 2008, 04:56:17 pm
Most of us here build our own.  For an extra 700 you can have a cab that plays 6000+ games.  If you love the games on this cab then by all means go for it.  To play your favorite childhood game I would have no problem spending the money.  Do a little more reading a MAME machine and see if it work better keeping in mind that most of the people here have little to no prior building experience.

Miles
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: Ginsu Victim on June 03, 2008, 05:02:09 pm
Looks nice, though I disagree with your use of the the word MINT
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: lithium9mm on June 03, 2008, 05:04:32 pm
intersting point. I think what also got me interested was the fact that its fully working when I buy it so I'd be able to play around while learning the basics. Then as I get more funding ect, I was thinking of converting it to maybe a Dreamcast cab for rail shooters like House of the Dead 2. So I guess what I'm really trying to ask is, for that price would it be a good investment if I was thinking about converting it down the road? and will it even work with a dreamcast (space issues or whatnot)?

Sorry, I guess I should've mentioned that as well in my prior post. :P
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: lithium9mm on June 03, 2008, 05:06:11 pm
Looks nice, though I disagree with your use of the the word MINT

yeah I guess "good" condition is more accurate :)
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: Ginsu Victim on June 03, 2008, 05:08:04 pm
$700 is WAY too much.

Also, if it's a working 4-slot, keep it that way. You can find some great deals on Neo Geo carts for it. eBay's full of them! You could build quite a library.
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: lithium9mm on June 03, 2008, 05:11:29 pm
what would you pay for it? I was thinking about offering him $500 but I don't really know the value of these things
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: Ginsu Victim on June 03, 2008, 05:14:01 pm
I would offer $350 and go no higher than $450 in the bargaining process.

That's just my opinion. I'm sure someone else will be along with a contrary viewpoint soon...
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: severdhed on June 03, 2008, 05:21:59 pm
i agree, that seems a little high.  also, if you are planning on converting it to a dreamcast cabinet, you might want to keep looking. around here, you can pick up an empty cabinet in decent shape for $20. 
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: Ginsu Victim on June 03, 2008, 05:27:01 pm
Yep. I only paid $50 for mine. Had a coin door, monitor, complete cp, marquee lighting, power supply, jamma harness, speakers.
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: lithium9mm on June 03, 2008, 05:32:53 pm
wow. Good to know. I always thought that they were priced anywhere between $500 - $2000 for a fully working good condition cab... thanks, this puts things into perspective for me.

Thats a good suggestion Ginsu to start at $350 and go no higher than $450.
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: Ginsu Victim on June 03, 2008, 05:36:12 pm
Everyone (well, non-BYOACers) will try to steal your money.

Don't let them.

Do some snooping around here and you'll see what people "in the know" pay for their cabinets.
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: Kajoq on June 03, 2008, 06:40:24 pm
Just for some comparison of what you can find out there heres a pic of the cab I snagged for $300.  Fully working 25" monitor and CPS3 cart of SF3 included

(http://images27.fotki.com/v984/photos/7/77755/5275298/stick029-vi.jpg)

I would agree with the 450 on the high end figure.
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: Cameronj on June 03, 2008, 07:43:10 pm
700 seems way high for that machine. It ain't mint either. How is the monitor? Is there any burn-in? I would say 200-400 is what I would pay for it if I wanted it. If that insults the seller so be it. Keep your eyes open and something else will pop up. Now if it were a Galaga....
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: CheffoJeffo on June 03, 2008, 07:59:38 pm
I would agree that 700 is pretty high for this machine -- I think half of that is approaching a reasonable level and is still more than I paid for my 2-slot (which I bought at my first auction, when I was naive and flush with cash).

Also, the MVS-4-25 is not JAMMA -- it is close, but it is not JAMMA.

http://www.hardmvs.com/html/PCBcompare.htm

If you are looking for a cabinet to convert, I wouldn't pick a NeoGeo (unless it is a 1-slot conversion).

If you are looking for a cab to keep, I would always include a NeoGeo in the mix. My MVS-2-25 sees far more play than any of the MAME machines (in fact, more than any of the other machines). I recall others reporting the same thing.
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: Ginsu Victim on June 03, 2008, 10:08:06 pm
Hell yeah. I love my MAME cabinet, but I'd love a Neo Geo machine.
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: ark_ader on June 03, 2008, 10:23:45 pm
$50 - $100 is about right.

Nice cab, but the real world economics dictate a much lower price than say 2005, where you would get your $450 for it.

Where are you based?
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: Cameronj on June 05, 2008, 12:36:25 am
Around here you could easily sell it for more than $50 to $150 even with current economics. If all of it works it is worth more than that.
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: Ninja-chicken on June 05, 2008, 04:58:45 am
I think that isn't a bad price. I'd haggle it down to $500 though.

I bought my tatty old KI machine for $300 and then $140 on delivery :P
(but im in the UK so these things are harder to come by I guess)
Title: Re: A good deal?
Post by: Ummon on June 05, 2008, 09:34:34 pm
I think that isn't a bad price. I'd haggle it down to $500 though.

I bought my tatty old KI machine for $300 and then $140 on delivery :P
(but im in the UK so these things are harder to come by I guess)

Maybe. Look around, first. Don't make excuses for giving more of your cash away than necessary. If it's something you just gotta have and don't care, well.....otherwise, take your time.