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So how good is the Mame cabinet market?

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Spyridon:

--- Quote from: FrizzleFried on July 17, 2009, 02:34:51 pm ---
--- Quote from: Hoagie_one on July 16, 2009, 11:13:07 pm ---Was thinking about buying old working cabs, converting them to mame cabs and reselling them.

Is there any kind of market for this thats profitable or is the market already filled with do it yourselfers?

--- End quote ---

It's NOT OK to buy WORKING dedicated arcade machines and MAME them.  That goes against everything that MAME stands for.  At least purchase NON-WORKING or GUTTED arcade cabinets to MAME.

--- End quote ---

I was about to make the same post.  A working dedicated cab should never be mamed (and neither should a non-working classic)

garnerb350:

--- Quote from: Todd H on July 17, 2009, 02:44:15 pm ---[You sir are a better man than I. I learned my lesson a few years ago when I built computers for friends and families. My phone was ringing constantly.

--- End quote ---

Yeah i know that one...I have people calling me asking me how to fix computers/software of stuff Ive never seen....how to make dovetail joints on wood...Had an aunt who saw my cab and she wants me to build a freaking clubhouse for her kids....and then she has the nerve to tell me that my joysticks are broken because she playing pac-man on an 8-way.... :banghead:

Jack Burton:

--- Quote from: Beretta on July 17, 2009, 03:25:05 am ---jack ever heard of the betamax trials? just because you're selling something with the potential for illegal activity does'nt make it so.

and it's perfectly legal to play them if you own the original boards (working or not) it's fair use, so long as you dont also have the original board in use at the same time.

so while 99% of the people out there will be playing games they dont own that does not mean there is no legitimate use.

now as for downloading and playing roms you dont own, illegal? yes, but i guarantee you selling them will put you on the laws radar a lot faster, dont kid your self law enforcement has limited resources this is why they go after drug dealers, and not the users (usually)

get a clue, personal use is to selling as jay walking is to armed robery.

--- End quote ---

The DMCA changed fair use.  It is in direct conflict with the results of the Betamax trials.  It's now illegal to posssess any technology whose main function is to circumvent copyright.  I think a MAME cab qualifies for this.  It's a ludicrous law though, as it also technically outlaws DVD burners and VCR's. 

The DMCA also changed fair use laws when it comes to having a personal copy.  You are allowed to have a copy as long as you made it yourself.  But you can't use it for entertainment purposes, only for back-up use.  So that puts playing any ROMs out.  And going back to the first idea, it's illegal to use any device that would even let you make that copy in the first place.  It's ridiculous.  Probably wouldn't stand up in the supreme court, but nobodies taken it that far.

But I digress.  I wasn't talking about legal issues.  I was talking about the morality of saying that it is wrong to sell a cab full of roms to a friend when you know that they are going to go and download said ROMs as soon as they get home.   

I agree, it would be stupid to try to set-up a business that is blatantly illegal.  It would be like me setting up a store selling nothing but burned dvd's or putting an ad in the newspaper advertising my cable box modding services.  People who try this stuff go to jail regularly.  My own brother in law served a year in prison for CD piracy.

Turnarcades:
Back on topic, I think I'm qualified enough to add a decent comment here.....

Building/selling cabinets can be a winner, but you will not break the bank with it. As I spent a lot of time doing my homework, it paid off for us - 4 years and 100+ custom projects later we're still going strong. However, I was warned a million times tha it cannot be made successful and trying to make a quick buck with effortless conversions would not be worth it; so that is exactly what I didn't do. I set out with a goal to create more personal machines at a price I would be willing to pay - so effectively selling to people like me.

If you intend to do it, you will need to build a rapport within the community, with your potential demographic and also with suppliers to ensure your expenditure is low, your reputation is good and you find your niche market. I've witnessed many small-time builders come and go in the same time we've been around and the main reason is they are outsiders with little arcade interest who are more interested in the money than the hobby. If you are a hobbyist you are more likely to build machines you would be pleased with and identify what is important for a gamer, rather than focusing on the financial rewards. If you can keep this mind-set and offer something that no other builder does you will enjoy what you do and make a nice earner in the process.

Speaking from experience I can say it was not easy for me and still isn't. I used to build on the side of a very brain-draining full-time job, so in the end I was doing it 7 days a week. After suffering a stroke I know I put too much in and as the status quo changed the hand I was dealt meant I was luckily able to pursue this full-time, but I have had to stay true to the fact it's a hobby before it's a business. Don't kid yourself that it's going to outweigh a well-paid full-time job and you will be happy with what you do. When the time comes I will be expanding my business but in a very different way, as I know the arcade side of it is only so profitable.

From the research I've done we're now the most prolific builder of these type of machines in the UK in terms of sales and due to my fundamental goal, possibly the cheapest 'new builders' in the country and certainly the cheapest custom builders in Europe.

Give it a go, kid - I think you can do it if you really want it!

 :cheers:

DaveMMR:

--- Quote from: Jack Burton on July 17, 2009, 03:53:44 pm ---It's a ludicrous law though, as it also technically outlaws DVD burners and VCR's. 

--- End quote ---

I'm not schooled on the law but I would think DVD Burners and VCR's are okay because, out of the box, most of them are designed to hinder the duplication of copyrighted materials (e.g. Macrovision, etc.).  It's the 3rd party software that disables the copy protection that would be illegal, but it's usually not bundled with off-the-shelve burners.   That's pure speculation and educated guessing, mind you.

Back on topic:  I too was offered money for my cabinet.... to the tune of $5000.  But the guy who offered is moronic when drunk and a bit stupid when sober so I think it wasn't all too legit.  I asked to see the money up front.  He never asked again.  ;)

But you know what, if someone asked me to build them one, I probably would.  I'd just ask for a deposit to cover the cost of materials and I would let them know (probably get it in writing) that in no uncertain terms is there any guarantee or warranty and that I am not tech support.   (Of course - if it were a friend, I'd still help them anyhow).  At the end of the day though, my stringent prerequisites would probably drive people away.  And they'd still call me for help constantly anyway...

As for the ROMs... I'd probably leave them off (unless I was doing the cab for a personal friend).  It is illegal, disrespectful to MAME Devs and brings unwanted negative attention to the project.  Plus who needs the problems of people who never used MAME calling you every five seconds because they can't remap the fire button in XYZ.

For the people who can do it (Turnarcades), I salute you.  But it's definitely not a business for everyone.

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