THe Definitive List of required games on your MAME cab

[Donkbaca]

This will settle it.  TOP 25 games for my mame cab.

Rules: below is 75 games.  If you want to participate, you either:
1) delete one game; or
2) delete 2 games and add one.

MAME games only.   Once we get to 25 , we'll have a fairly consensus top 25 games for your mame Cab.  My initial list is for games that use joys/spinners/trackball, so no driving games or light gun games for simplicity sake. 

In no particular order:
1 - pacman
2 - galaga
3 - defender
4 - asteroids
5 - ms pac man
6 - donkey kong
7 - double dragon
8 - rampage
9 - centipede
10 - frogger
11 - space invaders
12 - stargate
13 - tron
14 - missile command
15 - tempest
16 - gyruss
17 - marble madness
19 - crystal castles
20 - robotron
21 - 1943
22 - r-type
23 - black tiger
24 - raiden
25 - joust
26 - ninja gaiden
27 - Battle toads
28 - Street Fighter II
29 - Street Fighter II CE
30 - Mortal Kombat
31 - Mortal Kombat II
32 - Ultimate Mortal Kombat III
33 - Tekken 3
34 - Samurai Showdown
35 - Samurai Showdown II
36 - Samurai Showdown III
37 - Samurai Showdown IV
38 - Samurai Showdown V
39 - Street Fighter Alpha
40 - Street Fighter Alpha II
41 - Street Fighter Alpha III
42 - Super Street Fighter II: New Challengers
43 - Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
44 - Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
45 - Puzzle Bobble
46 - Bust a move
47 - Metal Slug
48 - Metal Slug 2
49 - Metal Slug 3
50 - Metal Slug 4
51 - Metal Slug 5
52 - Metal Slug X
53 - Xmen
54 - x-men children of the atom
55 -  marvel super heroes
56 - marvel super heroes v street fighter
57 - marvel v capcom
58 - golden tee 2k
59  - silver strike bowling
60 - sunset riders
61 - captain commando
62 - knights of the round
63 - gauntlet
64 - punch out
65 - aliens v predator
66 - Kung FU Master
67 - Shinobi
68 - Splatterhouse
69 - Final Fight
70 - super baseball 2020
71 - pigskin 621 AD
72 - Arch Rivals
73 - NBA Jam TE
74 - 2 on 2 open ice challenge
75 - Ghosts and Goblins

Some notes:  Yeah I missed out a lot but admittedly I lost steam at about 20 and went half assed from there, but hey that's what you are here to do, fill out and trim my list. 

Now when someone says "such and such is NOT a classic"  I can pull out this list and call ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow---.

Thanks

[saint]

This will settle it.  

I admire your optimism. 

[Donkbaca]

It will settle it for me.  Honest, that is just how I roll.

Now Mr. Saint. are you gonna contribute?

[TopJimmyCooks]

Delete two fighters of your choice (do you really need 20 odd fighters?) and add back DoDonPatchi (or a sequel)

Delete two more fighters and add back star wars.

[Bootay]

I cannot contribute because I consider all of them classics. However I could say that you should combine all Street Fighter II variants as just plain Street Fighter II because they are all the same game with added characters and/or adjusted speed.

[saint]

It will settle it for me.  Honest, that is just how I roll.

Now Mr. Saint. are you gonna contribute?

Working on my list now.

[CheffoJeffo]

This will settle it.  

I admire your optimism.  

Agreed ... I don't see how this can result in a single list that can be called definitive as I would expect some repeat swapping as the Golden Agers and JAMMA Generation alternate posting.

I am interested, however, to see what happens, particularly since a number of games really can't be played well without proper controls (Tron, Star Wars, Asteroids, Defender and Stargate come to mind -- if I didn't have a suitable CP layout, I wouldn't want them on my MAME cab).

EDIT: I should mention that I do believe that the best list of the 50 Greatest Arcade Games can be found in Gozer's Bits, Sticks and Buttons (which is now available in hardcover!) -- it is, to my mind, a fair representation across all arcade history (through to 2005!).

[CheffoJeffo]

Now when someone says "such and such is NOT a classic"  I can pull out this list and call ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow---.

Weren't you the person who was calling games out as NOT being a classic ? 

[elkameleon]

I would pull out a few of them Street Fighter variants and replace them with Golden Axe.

[Firebat138]

I keep wanting to buy that book, but then I forget what it was called....  LOL...  Ordering my copy this week.

This will settle it.  

I admire your optimism.  

Agreed ... I don't see how this can result in a single list that can be called definitive as I would expect some repeat swapping as the Golden Agers and JAMMA Generation alternate posting.

I am interested, however, to see what happens, particularly since a number of games really can't be played well without proper controls (Tron, Star Wars, Asteroids, Defender and Stargate come to mind -- if I didn't have a suitable CP layout, I wouldn't want them on my MAME cab).

EDIT: I should mention that I do believe that the best list of the 50 Greatest Arcade Games can be found in Gozer's Bits, Sticks and Buttons (which is now available in hardcover!) -- it is, to my mind, a fair representation across all arcade history (through to 2005!).

[Dartful Dodger]

Mario Bros.
Crazy Climber
Dig Dug

[saint]

OK - I tried to follow your rules about nuke 2 to add 1, and mostly did but somewhere in the middle it got fuzzy so here's my list. I have more favorites I'd have on there as well, but trying to follow the posted constraints it comes down to :

1 -    Altered Beast
2 -    Bagman
3 -    Berzerk
4 -    Bubble Bobble
5 -    BurgerTime
6 -    Centipede
7 -    Chiller
8 -    Crystal Castles
9 -    DigDug
10 -    Discs Of Tron
11 -    Donkey Kong
12 -    Donkey Kong Jr.
13 -    Dragon's Lair
14 -    Empire Strikes Back
15 -    frogger
16 -    galaga
17 -    gauntlet
18 -    Gauntlet Legends
19 -    Ghosts and Goblins
20 -    Gorf
21 -    gyruss
22 -    Indiana Jones
23 -    joust
24 -    JumpBug
25 -    Jungle Hunt
26 -    Kangaroo
27 -    Mappy
28 -    Marble Madness
29 -    Moon Patrol
30 -    Ms. PacMan
31 -    pacman
32 -    Pitfall II
33 -    Popeye
34 -    Qbert
35 -    Qix
36 -    Quartet
37 -    Rampage
38 -    Robotron
39 -    Simpsons
40 -    Sinistar
41 -    Space Ace
42 -    Space Harrier
43 -    space invaders
44 -    Spy Hunter
45 -    StarWars
46 -    Tapper
47 -    tempest
48 -    TMNT
49 -    Tron
50 -    Tutankham
51 -    Wizard Of Wor
52 -    Xevious

[elkameleon]

Still no Golden Axe...

[Donkbaca]

Okay some clarification:

Take my list, copy it, delete 2 add 1, or just delete one.  So list looks like this:
1 - pacman
2 - galaga
3 - defender
4 - asteroids
5 - ms pac man
6 - donkey kong
7 - double dragon
8 - rampage
9 - centipede
10 - frogger
11 - space invaders
12 - stargate
13 - tron
14 - missile command
15 - tempest
16 - gyruss
17 - marble madness
19 - crystal castles
20 - robotron
21 - 1943
22 - r-type
23 - black tiger
24 - raiden
25 - joust
26 - ninja gaiden
27 - Battle toads
28 - Street Fighter II
29 - Street Fighter II CE
30 - Mortal Kombat
31 - Mortal Kombat II
32 - Ultimate Mortal Kombat III
33 - Tekken 3
34 - Samurai Showdown
35 - Samurai Showdown II
36 - Samurai Showdown III
37 - Samurai Showdown IV
38 - Samurai Showdown V
39 - Street Fighter Alpha
40 - Street Fighter Alpha II
41 - Street Fighter Alpha III
42 - Super Street Fighter II: New Challengers
43 - Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
44 - Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
45 - Puzzle Bobble
46 - Bust a move
47 - Metal Slug
48 - Metal Slug 2
49 - Metal Slug 3
50 - Metal Slug 4
51 - Metal Slug 5
52 - Metal Slug X
53 - Xmen
54 - x-men children of the atom
55 -  marvel super heroes
56 - marvel super heroes v street fighter
57 - marvel v capcom
58 - golden tee 2k
59  - silver strike bowling
60 - sunset riders
61 - captain commando
62 - knights of the round
63 - gauntlet
64 - punch out
65 - aliens v predator
66 - Kung FU Master
67 - Shinobi
68 - Splatterhouse
69 - Final Fight
70 - super baseball 2020
71 - pigskin 621 AD
72 - Arch Rivals
73 - NBA Jam TE
74 - 2 on 2 open ice challenge
75 - Ghosts and Goblins
  
first poster should do this:

- Primal Rage
3 - defender
4 - asteroids
5 - ms pac man
6 - donkey kong
7 - double dragon
8 - rampage
9 - centipede
10 - frogger
11 - space invaders
12 - stargate
13 - tron
14 - missile command
15 - tempest
16 - gyruss
17 - marble madness
19 - crystal castles
20 - robotron
21 - 1943
22 - r-type
23 - black tiger
24 - raiden
25 - joust
26 - ninja gaiden
27 - Battle toads
28 - Street Fighter II
29 - Street Fighter II CE
30 - Mortal Kombat
31 - Mortal Kombat II
32 - Ultimate Mortal Kombat III
33 - Tekken 3
34 - Samurai Showdown
35 - Samurai Showdown II
36 - Samurai Showdown III
37 - Samurai Showdown IV
38 - Samurai Showdown V
39 - Street Fighter Alpha
40 - Street Fighter Alpha II
41 - Street Fighter Alpha III
42 - Super Street Fighter II: New Challengers
43 - Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
44 - Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
45 - Puzzle Bobble
46 - Bust a move
47 - Metal Slug
48 - Metal Slug 2
49 - Metal Slug 3
50 - Metal Slug 4
51 - Metal Slug 5
52 - Metal Slug X
53 - Xmen
54 - x-men children of the atom
55 -  marvel super heroes
56 - marvel super heroes v street fighter
57 - marvel v capcom
58 - golden tee 2k
59  - silver strike bowling
60 - sunset riders
61 - captain commando
62 - knights of the round
63 - gauntlet
64 - punch out
65 - aliens v predator
66 - Kung FU Master
67 - Shinobi
68 - Splatterhouse
69 - Final Fight
70 - super baseball 2020
71 - pigskin 621 AD
72 - Arch Rivals
73 - NBA Jam TE
74 - 2 on 2 open ice challenge
75 - Ghosts and Goblins

Note: Deleted pacman and galaga, added primal rage.  

So now we are down to 74 games.  After 50 posts, we should be down to 25.  
Next Person, copy the list, deltes primal rage, and NBa Jam, adds back galaga.  Now we are down to 73.
Make sense?

Once we are down to 25, there will have been a lot of adding and deleting and we should have a pretty solid 25.

[DNA Dan]

If you do it this way, you're going to end up with a bunch of substitutions where people deleted 2, added 1, then someone else doesn't agree with what they added. Doesn't mean it's a "agreed upon" list. I much prefer the list that Saint posted over what was started with.

Also out of all the members on the forums, and the various viewpoints of "classic", the demographic of viewpoints will change by the minute of who's logged on.

I think the best way to settle this is a questionaire of ALL MAME games, everyone submitts then you tally a BYOAC top 25 list for 2011 or something annually.

[Vigo]

Not to make things difficult, but what is stopping me from deleting Pacman and Donkey Kong and adding Snacks 'n Jackson? 

[Bootay]

LOL

[DNA Dan]

Damn you Vigo. . . . .stop sending the Snacks 'n Jackson subliminal messenges! Now I need to go home and play this game! Is it in MAME?

Just looked at the KLOV, is Jaxson a precursor to inspector gadget? I'm horrified now

[Mikezilla]

No Golden Axe, or Marvel vs Capcom 2?!?! Cmon. I think all the Metal Slugs should be wrapped into one, same with Samurai Showdown. Like Bootay mentioned with the SF2 games, they are virtually the same. And why does everyone have a hard on for Star Wars? There has never been a version of star wars that I found fun in the arcades.

And no T-Mek?! What is this blasphemy?! 

[Vigo]

Damn you Vigo. . . . .stop sending the Snacks 'n Jackson subliminal messenges! Now I need to go home and play this game! Is it in MAME?

Just looked at the KLOV, is Jaxson a precursor to inspector gadget? I'm horrified now

I consider Snacks 'n Jackson to be the most bizarre arcade game concept ever. Here is how the developers described the game in the game flyer:

SNACKS'N JACKSON is a unique game built around a clown who tries to eat his way through life without letting his nose break any windows.

 

Also, I think its time for an avatar change! 

[emphatic]

1 - pacman
2 - galaga
3 - defender
4 - asteroids
Battle Garegga
7 - double dragon
rampage world tour
Three Wonders
Bubble Bobble
Super Qix
16 - gyruss
Ketsui
20 - robotron
Silk Worm
23 - black tiger
24 - raiden
Rolling Thunder
Ninja Kid II
25 - joust
Psychic 5
Gemini Wing
Solomon's Key
Shock Troopers
P-47 Aces
Blazing Star
Progear
Twin Hawk
44 - Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
Puzzle De Pon
47 - Metal Slug
49 - Metal Slug 3
Gun Force 2
52 - Metal Slug X
Time Pilot
Cabal
DoDonpachi
ESP Ra.De.
sunset riders
King Of Dragons
Batsugun (Special Version)
Argus No Senshi (Rygar - Japan)
Shinobi
Flying Shark
Twin Cobra
Quiz & Dragons
Ghouls & Ghosts

 

[Vigo]

Damn you Vigo. . . . .stop sending the Snacks 'n Jackson subliminal messenges! Now I need to go home and play this game! Is it in MAME?

Just looked at the KLOV, is Jaxson a precursor to inspector gadget? I'm horrified now

I consider Snacks 'n Jackson to be the most bizarre arcade game concept ever. Here is how the developers described the game in the game flyer:

SNACKS'N JACKSON is a unique game built around a clown who tries to eat his way through life without letting his nose break any windows.

 

Also, I think its time for an avatar change! 

Oh, I forgot to answer your question...yeah, it's in MAME.

I made a double dragon mame cab for my brother's birthday, and when we unveiled it, I had snacks 'n jackson playing on it. I didn't tell him it was a mame cab, but rather that I got a hold of an arcade cabinet for him, but it was converted into a snacks n' jackson. He was trying so hard to be polite about it when playing snacks n' jackson because he thought I was serious. 

[Bootay]

No Golden Axe, or Marvel vs Capcom 2?!?! Cmon. I think all the Metal Slugs should be wrapped into one, same with Samurai Showdown. Like Bootay mentioned with the SF2 games, they are virtually the same. And why does everyone have a hard on for Star Wars? There has never been a version of star wars that I found fun in the arcades.

And no T-Mek?! What is this blasphemy?! 

Star Wars was revolutionary for it's time. Blasphemer!  

[BadMouth]

There's gotta be a better way to do this.......

The polling option on this forum lets you allow a certain number of votes per person.
Does it only allow you to vote for each option once or could you use all 25 votes on one game?

If it only allows one vote per option, people could be given 25 votes and vote for the 25 games they think belong in the top 25.
The top vote getters are your top 25.
You'd also need to be able to edit it to add more games as they're requested.

[Donkbaca]

look, I am just looking for some help.. Jeez, this is like herding cats....

[CheffoJeffo]

look, I am just looking for some help.. Jeez, this is like herding cats....

And, what you are looking for is unobtainable -- somehow you think that you are going to come up with a list of 25 CLASSICS (translated in full Xiaou2) that it definitive.

It is foolish to even try -- first, there aren't just 25 classics. Gozer had trouble coming up with a list of 50 and he and his crew have far more knowledge than most here.

You can tell me that Centipede is not a classic, but you don't exactly have an abundance of credibility with which to back that statement. Particularly since virtually every assembled list of classics includes Centipede. I don't like Centipede and am really bad at it. Neither fact changes the fact that it is a classic for a number of reasons, not the least of which was that promo poster.

At the end of the day, people like the games that they like.

I happen to love early Atari games -- most of which I never actually had an opportunity to play in the arcade, which is in complete violation of your "it's just nostalgia" theory.

Let it go and play some StreetFighterEleventyPurpleTeletubbyEdition.

 

[Donkbaca]

nope, I am just interested in seeing what shakes out.  Just want people to copy, paste, add and delete.  All i am asking for is some group think to come up with a list.  Shouldn't be that hard to copy, paste, add delete....

[Nephasth]

CLASSICS (translated in full Xiaou2)

WIN!

[TOK]

MAME games only.   Once we get to 25 , we'll have a fairly consensus top 25 games for your mame Cab.  My initial list is for games that use joys/spinners/trackball, so no driving games or light gun games for simplicity sake. 

Now when someone says "such and such is NOT a classic"  I can pull out this list and call ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow---.

This should be good. Might as well add favorite foods and best brand of underpants mixed right in with the games in the list for all the good its going to do. 

[DaveMMR]

Why not do what VH1 did with their Top 100 [X] of All Time series?  Have everyone list top 25 in order, assign a score based a rank, tally and deliver the results.    Especially considering my definitive list includes gems like "I'm Sorry" and "Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters".

[yotsuya]

The problem is that person X, who loves shooters, will take off some games and add more shooters that THEY like. Then, person Y, who hates shooters, will take those games off and put on his favorites. Ultimately, the list will evolve, but it will only be as good as the last person who manipulates it. And if that person only likes fighting games, it's not going to measure anything.

The VH1-style list would be a better metric.

[Marcade]

Why not do what VH1 did with their Top 100 [X] of All Time series?  Have everyone list top 25 in order, assign a score based a rank, tally and deliver the results.    Especially considering my definitive list includes gems like "I'm Sorry" and "Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters".

THIS sounds like the solution, I'd be interested in seing a somewhat "definitive" list, it would actually help with MAME cabs too I think as it would be a good judge of what generally people like so they have something to play when visiting 

[Donkbaca]

sigh... plan b... retreat back into my impenetrable belief bubble...

[saint]

sigh... plan b... retreat back into my impenetrable belief bubble...

It's safer and warmer in there.

[Donkbaca]

Oh belief bubble, I will never leave you again!

[Malenko]

sigh... plan b... retreat back into my impenetrable belief bubble...

It's safer and warmer in there.

well its definitely warmer in there, I peed in it.

This thread was DooM'd (c wut I did thar?) from the start because of the title. Interesting concept though.

[DNA Dan]

Pehaps the mods could make some voting scenario up with all the mame games? It's only what 8500 choices?

I think Cheffo is correct. As much as many of us would like to see something of this nature, it's just too subjective and really unobtainable. Hell Vigo has been touting Snacks 'n Jaxson all day...

[TopJimmyCooks]

Whats the deal with that ratings system on Maws?  Weighted average??

[Donkbaca]

Damn Malenko, I thought we were friends again and you go pissing in my belief bubble.  Didn't mean for this to be some universal reference guide, more of a gauge of what others on the site thought so that maybe I go back and give some games that I ha written off another shot, or maybe discover some new gems.  Doesn't look like it's gonna happen so I'm just going to go back to thinking I am right all the time...

[emphatic]

Why not just let people post their top 10 games instead, then compile a list from that? Also I'd like to say that just because a game is old, it's not a classic by default. My first arcade game experience was on Knuckle Joe. Do I have to put that piece of SMURF BISCUIT on my list then? Ever heard the phrase "instant classic"? I have a couple of games made AFTER 2000 that falls into that category. I much prefer to play those than say Black Tiger or Contra (as I always clear those games on one credit) as they give me a challenge.