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so what got you into owning your own arcade game?

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Jeff AMN:
Well, I'm a bit younger than a lot of guys here, but not so young that I don't remember the arcade glory days. I really got into the arcade scene with stuff like Street Fighter II, the Konami 4-player games, After Burner, etc. I loved heading out to local arcades and dropping all the money I had saved up since my last trip on getting through TMNT one more time or trying to knock off the local Street Fighter champ. Ever since the early '90s, I've wanted a cabinet of my own. Once my parents bought us a Simpsons pinball machine, I knew I'd have them in my own home one day.

It wasn't until my wife and I finally got out of renting and into a home that I realized I could get my own arcade cabinet. This was about two years ago. I picked up a free cabinet from a local distributor that was in great condition, but was lacking a monitor and game board. Instead of using it as a generic JAMMA cab, I decided to gut it and MAME it. During the build process I came to fall in love with the old classics again, and I began searching out cabs.

Since that time I have picked up a Street Fighter II cabinet, a Bubble Bobble cabinet, and a Donkey Kong. I'm trying my hardest to track down a Ms. Pac-Man, but it's been tough.

My wife is fully supportive of this new addiction and is helpful when we're cab hunting. We're looking for a new home, and part of the search includes finding a home with a suitable game room for at least 8 or 9 cabs and a couple of pins.

vintagegamer:
When I was a kid, we had a shuffleboard table, ping pong, bumper pool, and air hockey all in the basement.  We were very lucky, but sadly during bday parties and related events, noone ever seemed to go down and play the games.

I had my Asteroids machine running for my daughter's bday last year, and there was actually a LINE of people waiting for their turn to play!  It was AWESOME!  Then again, my stuff is out in the garage too, so it's a little easier access for everyone from house and outside.  This year I have Ms Pac ready to go and also the SORCERER pin, so I'm really looking forward to the response.

I don't know what the deal was at our house when I was a kid, that other relatives really didn't play the games my dad had.  I actually felt bad for him.  Is it b/c those games require some thought?  Or is it b/c they don't have blinking lights and sounds? 

knave:
Ah, I love telling this story.  Grandma got my oldest daughter a Gameboy for her birthday.  One of the games she packed with it was the namco collection...I loved it.  After her bedtime I played Ms. Pac, Galaga and digdug for hours.

I had known about mame for years but had never been interested. (because I never tried it)  So Interest rekindled, I Dl'd mame v111 plugged in som roms and then spent hours playing Ms. Pac, Galaga and Digdug...and then moved on to contra, frogger, and many more.  

Right around that time I stumbled on this site by looking at some desktop CP projects. Then I kept reading until I learned about Jamma, and KLOV and pretty soon I was checking craigslist.  I also thought cabs were just really expensive, but learned they don't have to be. I bought my first cab for $125 as an early birthday present from my mom. (thanks mom!) Now I have 4, Carrier Airwing, Galaxian, Neo Geo 4 slot(With about 7 carts) and a Ms. Pac project cab. (crap that reminds me I still need to take picts.)

Owning arcades is really fun.  I will have to start getting some to sell or I will run out of room real fast.

SavannahLion:

--- Quote from: vintagegamer on June 11, 2007, 12:24:17 pm ---...sadly during bday parties and related events, noone ever seemed to go down and play the games.

--- End quote ---


--- Quote ---Then again, my stuff is out in the garage too, so it's a little easier access for everyone from house and outside.

--- End quote ---


--- Quote ---Is it b/c those games require some thought?  Or is it b/c they don't have blinking lights and sounds? 

--- End quote ---

You answered your own question right there. In any gathering, the basement is the place to get away from a party. By sticking your cabs in the garage, it gives visitors an opportunity to play the games and still be in the middle of the party.

My cabs are going to get relegated to the garage, simply because I have no room elsewhere... as soon as I get room in the garage.  I just discovered a treadmill that's going on Cragislist as soon as I figure out how to get it out of the garage  :P

vintagegamer:
You know SL,

I think you're totally right-  our basement was always dark and gloomy as much as I hate to admit it, so even when it was all cleaned up noone ever seemed to venture down there- but the garage is right by the driveway where everyone is walking in and out to the event, it's linked right to the main house, and it's viewable by almost everyone.  What moron decided to keep CARS in a garage?  :D

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