What would you do?

[mcdegga]

Hey everyone, thanks for taking the time to read this. I posted this at Mameworld, and thought you kind folks might have some valuable insight as well...I have not built a MAME yet, it is coming soon, but I'm looking for some quality advice. I have currently (all working and original artwork etc.); Asteroids, Burgertime and Ameridart machines. I don't play them all that often (The kids play a little more than I do, but not all the time). What would you do? Should I sell one or all? Should I convert one to a MAME or just buy a new cabinet? Cost is a concern, so I figured I'd ask people in the know.

Anyone want to weigh in?

What would you do?

[Kevin Mullins]

MAME the Ameridart.   

MAMEing an Asteroids or Burgertime is just blasphemous in my opinion.

Pick up another cheap gutted generic cab to mame.

[mcdegga]

My kids feel the same way...
Do you think the Ameridarts is big enough to MAME? I just had someone tell me that it isn't? I have no emotional attachment to the Ameridarts, and It would be cool to have a free trackball.

[Kevin Mullins]

Depends on what cabinet you have.... most of those I know of are conversions that were originally something else.
Just about any cabinet will make for a simple two player machine.

[mcdegga]

I just opened the back of the Ameridarts and lo and behold... It is a converted Ms. Pacman cabinet. It has the dip switch car from Ms. PacMan stapled to the inside of the cabinet... Does this change anything?

[Kevin Mullins]

Just depends on how badly they jacked up the cab during the conversion.
I'm guessing it would need 100% everything to convert it back including paint.

[mcdegga]

The sides are painted solid red with the Ameridarts Vinyl logo on each side (There are a scrape or two on the sides that show blue paint through) and the front was painted black as well. I would need to strip and most likely repaint the entire cabinet, replace the glass surround, the original control panel is there, but they hacked the hell out of it to put the trackball in...and the electronics as well. Maybe too far gone? What say ye?

[leapinlew]

Mame it. I mamed a cabinet similar to that style a while back. All told, it played 50ish games very well. I would make it a single player, vertical monitor arcade. I don't think 2 people can crowd around a Ms.Pac or Pac cabinet very comfortably.

[mcdegga]

Nice cabinet!  It sounds as if at this point, I should see if there are enough single player vertical games to keep my boys (and me of course!) happy and then go for it. Do you think that if I extended the control panel (Wider and deeper) that two people could play comfortably? I've never been big on the games that are 4 players (simultaneously), so two sets of controls would be fine. A bit of construction, and the front could be wider, no?

[leapinlew]

Do you think that if I extended the control panel (Wider and deeper) that two people could play comfortably? I've never been big on the games that are 4 players (simultaneously), so two sets of controls would be fine. A bit of construction, and the front could be wider, no?

Don't do this to that cabinet. Build or acquire another cabinet that is wide enough (over 24").

[mcdegga]

I don't have room for a 4th game in the game room currently. What would you suggest I do with the Ameridarts? Is there value in the cabinet? I can always add Ameridarts to a MAME, right?

[CheffoJeffo]

I have never once seen a CP "extension" work out well on a classic cab, particularly the laid-back Midways -- they just weren't designed for it.

You will definitely be better off getting rid of the Ms Pac and picking up or building a cab to better fit your needs.

It will also spare you from the inevitable abuse you will take for chopping a classic cab (and I have no love for MsPac).

[ChadTower]

Sell the working Ameridarts and get a crappy converted dynamo cab.  Mame that.

[mcdegga]

Okay, consider the Ameridarts/Ms Pac gone. Any ideas of an asking price? Game works perfectly, no burn in, modern power supply. Cab is serial number 58898.