My New Project - Cocktail

[FrizzleFried]

Take a gander at what I picked up this weekend:



It was originally a Dig Dug,  manufactured in 1982 by Atari.   It has gone through a couple of changes since new however.



As you can see,  someone has changed the monitor's orientation from vertical to horizontal...also,  the Player 1 stick has been changed to what looks like a happ competition stick (which clicks loudly and appears to be pretty much garbage). 

Also,  one player 1 leaf button has been replaced with a microswitch style.   The player 2 CP remains stick with a leaf 4-way stick (Wico?) and leaf buttons.

There is a large PCB with HUGE caps and a large heatsink at one side of the cabinet (sound amp?) and the other side is empty except for the bracket at the bottom for the PCB.

This cabinet was converted to a Rally X at some point...

The bottom contains what appears to be two transformers? 

This cabinet was sold to me with the understanding that the monitor (an Electrohome G07 13" monitor) was dead...he said one day it just stopped working.  Take a look at what I found when I got home and pulled the monitor out...



Yup...that sure looks like a loose groundwire to me.   It was stuck only 1/2 way in the molex connector... I am guessing that is the problem...but we shall see.

The wood appears to be in pretty decent condition.  The plexiglass top will need to be replaced.  The artwork (what is left) is shot.  The CPS are in good shape with the CPO's in OK shape.

Here is another shot...



Not a bad deal for $50.00??  Even if the monitor DOESN'T work...

Now...what to do with it.  I have a 15" PC monitor that would fit in that space...but I would have to run it horizontal if I did that but it would save me some dough as I wouldn't have to purchase a JPAC/ArcadeVGA card...but instead would just have to get an IPAC...

...but most cocktail games are vertical...and vertical games on a 15" monitor horizontally would suck something fierce....

...then there is the question of if I should even MAME it.  It would be very simple to just drop a dig dug board in,  get some artwork,  paint it up,  and have a restored Dig Dug cocktail... but that is actually the most expensive route.

Hmmm..

[CheffoJeffo]

It looks like it is in nice shape ... if it were me, it would be a restoration to DigDug. Or maybe rewire it as JAMMA and use a converter to provide options down the line. G07s are eminently repairable.

I think you are right - can't do verts on a 15" horz.

Cheers

EDITS for typos

[danny_galaga]

some people may know that im a fan of the 'jap' style cocktails (",) . in australia, people try and charge ridiculous amounts. a cocktail in exactly the same shape as yours might be offered for a bit more- add a zero to your price!

interesting to see the way the lid hinges. has it been modified or did some tables hinge in that direction?

[FrizzleFried]

The lid looks to be stock.

I am tore... I can use the Electrohome monitor,  but that would require the usual $160 JPAC/ArcadeVGA combo,  or I can use a PC monitor and then i am looking at $39 for an ipac.   I de-cased a 17" PC monitor and it is about 12" too damn wide to fit horizontally and way to big vertically.

I can route out the sides and get the 17" PC to fit...but it's work,  and then I still have to mount the chassis somehow and ...damn...it's just a pain in the ass.

The other option I was thinking of is finding a replacement PC monitor that would fit in the Electrohome frame (would that be a 15" or 14" PC monitor to fit in a 13" arcade monitor chassis?)...then I could still mount it vertically...

I bet I could get a 15 or 14" monitor off craigslist for like $20.00...

Opinions?

I already have both and vertical and horizontal cabinets with arcade monitors in each,  so arcade authenticity isn't necessarily my goal here.  I am thinking this cabinet will go with a more broad entertainment theme (jukebox, MAME, PC games, etc)...

[spacies]

Looks like a good score,

Don't forget a 14" TV with a RCA or S-video input.

The best thing about TVs compared to PC monitors is that there is usually more cabling inside that lets you mount the moniotr PCB away from the tube.

.

 in australia, people try and charge ridiculous amounts. a cocktail in exactly the same shape as yours might be offered for a bit more- add a zero to your price!

Its the same here Danny, although I did the score of a lifetime just before Xmas and picked up 6 cocktails for $200!

[shardian]

It may be hard to find a 13" tv with S-video input. You may be stuck with composite input, but since you said this was just an all-around cabinet, that should work fine. I would recommend restoring the cabinet to look like dig-dug and have it fire directly to mame dig dug. Then have a hidden button to switch between a handful of games.

[CheffoJeffo]

I know tha I have said it once already, but you have since asked for comments again ...

You have already put two MAME cabs together ... why not give the real thing a try ? This cabinet WANTS to be a DigDug. It would be a shame to pass up a good opportunity like this.

IMO, the small CP is not particularly well-suited to a generic PC cocktail. For best results there, I would recommend Build-Your-Own or find something like this:



But, it is your cabinet ... enjoy ...

Cheers

[shardian]

I know tha I have said it once already, but you have since asked for comments again ...

You have already put two MAME cabs together ... why not give the real thing a try ? This cabinet WANTS to be a DigDug. It would be a shame to pass up a good opportunity like this.

IMO, the small CP is not particularly well-suited to a generic PC cocktail. For best results there, I would recommend Build-Your-Own or find something like this:



But, it is your cabinet ... enjoy ...

Cheers

He could play a good assortment of classic vertical games with a 4-way and 1 button. Every MAME machine doesn't have to have eleventy brazillion games on it.

[CheffoJeffo]

He could play a good assortment of classic vertical games with a 4-way and 1 button. Every MAME machine doesn't have to have eleventy brazillion games on it.

Really ? I must have missed the day that was posted ...  or maybe it was in saint's book ...

FWIW, that 3-sided cocktail (my first cab) has more buttons than ANY of my other cabinets, including MAME cabinets.

There are a few considerations that went into my recommendation:

-- he is thinking of a broad entertainment cabinet, including a juke and PC games
-- the little CP is not particularly conducive to the above
-- he already has a vertical MAME cabinet and a horizontal MAME cabinet

I don't particularly think that using MAME to drive a simulated DigDug is a bad idea, but I find it more rewarding to restore a classic. He probably has the basic skill set required, the cabinet looks good and I encourage him to take the next step.

Cheers

[FrizzleFried]

Cheffo:  I do appreciate your opinion and I was almost there myself...but a few things deter me from doing such a thing.  (a) It seems all the insides have been swapped out for Rally X...the transformers have a tag that says RALLY X MECH... (b) The power supply (the huge ass card on the right side of  the cabinet) appears to have some damage... (c) I haven't a friggin' clue about pre-JAMMA stuff...there was 3 or 4 mini-pcbs screwed to the inside of the cabinet which I have no idea what is for...

I am going to add 2 more buttons (3 total) and go with a vertical setup.  I mean I love Dig Dug...and had the pcb / internals come with the cabinet this conversation wouldn't be taking place.