Need some advice with Marquee pics...

[Isometric Bacon]

Hey guys, Just threw together a couple of quick marquee's using various artwork from deviantart, Oscars site and another site with grid artwork which name escapes me at the current moment, I will ask for permission if I decide to use these, but just for now I'm only in concept stage.

I just wanted your advice on what I should do with it, how it will print, and whether it's an attractive design or not. I'm mostly leaning towards artwork number 1, but the others are still interesting... I was thinking of going against the whole "MAME" logo thing, and I might substitute another one in the future in it's place, but I don't know exactly how to go about it... (or what to call it even...)







So what do you guys think?

[DAmnb]

The one with the grid is the only one where the Mame text goes with the rest, you need to change the color on the text for the other two, also all of them are abit generic.

[Isometric Bacon]

The one with the grid is the only one where the Mame text goes with the rest, you need to change the color on the text for the other two, also all of them are abit generic.

How so? Which text? the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator text? or the actual logo itself? I think it works rather well in the first one, contrasting against the darker blues. Don't forget the white will be very visible compared to the darker blues with the marquee light behind it.

They all are very generic, I know. I plan to change the MAME logo, as every man and his dog seems to have one on his cabinet. I'm thinking of making something that says "Arcade" or something along those lines, but I'm still looking for a decent font. Anyone got any ideas?

[paigeoliver]

Yeah, the problem with so many Mame marquees is that they say "MAME" on them. That is totally nondescriptive. Most normal people have no idea what MAME is except for some back of the head association to a character called "Auntie Mame" in some old movie or musical or something.

Ultracade, Supercade, Arcade, and Retrocade are all much better choices for marquee titles.

Hmmm, has anyone checked with the Ultracade people to see if you can order their marquees?

[RetroBorg]

I like number 3, but I am not sure what it would like with a light behind it. It might be too bright, perhaps it might look better with a blacklight behind it, but I have read somewhere here that UV lights fade the ink.

I agree with paigeoliver about the marquee name bit though, having said that, as long as you like it, that's all that matters. Thinking of an original mame cabinet name isn't that easy either. I really like the names like Pacmamia and Mametrix because you can give your cabinet a great looking theme.

[Isometric Bacon]

One of my other concept ideas is ARCADE redone in a classic Pacman like style, with the C acting as Pacman and the A as a ghost. It looks okay, but may look a little wierd against the blue sides of my cab, as it's a real retro styled design (only drawn by hand so far, no actual photoshop graphic).

The problem with the BYOAC community is that everyone has already stolen the great names! Of all the cool names that occured to me, (Mamestation, Retrocade, Emulation Station) etc. have all been taken! This is also what has been holding me off making a custom name, as there really isn't anything nice left to leave it with. I guess I could steal someone elses name, but then what sort of guy would I be.

[TalkingOctopus]

Yeah, the problem with so many Mame marquees is that they say "MAME" on them. That is totally nondescriptive. Most normal people have no idea what MAME is except for some back of the head association to a character called "Auntie Mame" in some old movie or musical or something.

How true that is.  Most people who see my marquee do not see an M-A-M-E out of the official mame logo and they refuse to read the "Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator" part.  So they ask:

"What's MINE?  What's MIME?"

Sadly, I could not think of an acceptable alternative and I actually kind of like the mame logo.

[cheezeflap]

 I really like that grid background.   Ive seen it used in other designs as well.  Is there a way I can get a hi-res version of that?   I think it would work well with my plans for my CP.

[Jakobud]

A little advice is not to get too much into the details.  When these things are printed out, even on nice printers you loose a lot of detail.

[Isometric Bacon]

I really like that grid background.   Ive seen it used in other designs as well.  Is there a way I can get a hi-res version of that?   I think it would work well with my plans for my CP.

I'm not sure. I was certain I got it from Oscars site... but I just hada quick look and it wasn't there. Big credit goes to the original maker of it though, I'm sure he's somewhere on the board.

PS. If anyone is still interested, my Marquee is complete and i posted it on this thread.

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=13;action=display;threadid=12181