How much have you spent on your arcade machine?

[cowguy]

Just curious what other people have been spending on their machines.  I went way past my estimate.  Currently at $685.16    That was pretty much my savings for about 4-5 years of extra money I had. 

[Spaz Monkey]

$350 for the cab, appx $900 for Tekken3, Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, Marvel vs Capcom, Marvel Super Heroes vs Street fighter, KI, MvC2, Tokio.  That's what I've spent so far that I can think of...

[Joystick Jerk]

My first cab was a fairly budget affair, and cost about $800 total. My latest cab is going to be an all out franken-cab, and will probably run me about $2000. Keep in mind a big chunk of that cost is used getting a new monitor up here to Canada.

[Kaytrim]

My current project, a bartop model, is running around $220.

Items on hand when started
Old Computer and 17" CRT Monitor $75
T-Stick Joystick $25
Buttons $8

Purchases
1 sheet of MDF $25
referbished trackball $30
NovaGemCDR $9
T-Molding $8
other hardware ~ $40

Yet to get (maybe)
Artwork from MAMEMarquees

[More Cowbell]

My first all in one cabinet ran around $1,200 total. That's including trackball, spinner, Tron stick, 4-way, and 2 8-ways. Of course I went for ease of use over reduced cost and it's all of the little things that add up over time (key encoder, artwork, marquee, etc.) I have built several toned down versions out of existing trashed cabs for around $300 total (no trackball or spinner). If I had my first cab to do over again, I could probably do it for under $900 and get the same result.

[Jeff AMN]

It's going to be painful to do this...but I'll bite my lip and try.

Cab: Free (local distributor) ~$100 value
Monitor: Free (paid for by my company in trade for building them a cab) $250 value
Computer: Free (same reason as above) $500 value
Controls: (2 Perfect 360s, 4-way stick, buttons, spinner, trackball) ~$250
LEDs, Wire, Solder, tools, paint, etc.: ~$200
Control Panel box: $100
Speakers: $50 (I kinda went overboard)
Marquee light and marquee: $50
T-molding, panel art: $25
Misc. other costs: ~$75

My approximate cost: $750
My approximate value: $1600

The cost is pretty high since it was my first time and you make a lot of mistakes...some that drive up the price. I threw in a pretty nice computer and TV set (27" via component connection).

All in all, it's been WAY MORE than worth it. The first time my wife absolutely lit up when she beat me at Puzzle Bobble made it seem like a bargain.

[squirrellydw]

My guess is $2500 for everything, way over my budget but it looks great

[divemaster127]

About $2500.00 on my upright I went all out
$1,000.00 on my racing setup
dm

[nostrebor]

I've never spent more than $500 on a mame cabinet. That one has all nos wico sticks and a pretty solid computer. I built a unit recently for about $250 in parts. It is a conversion, not a scratch-built, but it's top-notch. I gave that one to my church youth department.

Not counting my pinball machines, I have 8 vids that are ready (or almost ready) to go into the gameroom, and all of them together were less than $800, including my mame cabinet.

Of course I am *really* a tightwad when it comes to hobby stuff.

[psik0tik]

I spent around 600.00 the monitor was the big chunk at 350.00

[kjoel0123]

 $350 for a like new dedicated Ultimate MK3 w bad monitor.
 $300 for a  used dedicated playchoice bartop w games
 $600 for a like new dedicated mint Gauntlet dark legacy
 $700 for a like new dedicated neo geo cabaret 2 slot
 $800 for a like new 48-1 ms pacman cab

[vintagegamer]

I have a Ms Pac cab, an Asteroids cab, and now a Sorcerer pin- and am proud to say I have a total of $950 invested in all 3 combined.  Money well spent!


VINTAGEGAMER

[knave]

Carrier Airwing $125
Misc parts $147
Galaxian cab $30
Neo Geo 4 slot $500
3 MVS carts $100
Ms Pacman (empty) cab $50

total:  $952

I second the value of a happy wife who is victorious at Puzzle Bobble.

[Joystick Jerk]

I have a Ms Pac cab, an Asteroids cab, and now a Sorcerer pin- and am proud to say I have a total of $950 invested in all 3 combined.  Money well spent!


VINTAGEGAMER

Damn, very well done! Especially when you consider you've got a pin in there for that price. I've always wanted a pin for myself, but I've been unable to luck into a decent deal yet. It's a shame we have so few arcade auctions up here in Canada.