Ask, and you shall receive...sort of.

[Aswald]

Remember some time back, in a post about the Galaga/Ms. Pac-Man arcade game, I asked why not a many-in-one arcade machine?

Well. something like it- for none-commercial use- now exists.


http://www.dazadi.com/product_initial/Arcade_Games-Video_Arcade_Games-All_Video_Arcade_Games/Arcade_Legends_2_Upright_Multi-Game_Video_Arcade_Game_Machine.html


Still, I wonder why not an arcade version? Those companies, or the current license owners, can't be making much money at this time in the arcades with these games, so why not? Maybe us fossils might drop some money in today's arcades.

[Oobgarm]

I've heard they're not all that great. I've seen them sold at Target and Value City.

They look kinda small.

[Aswald]

I can't say one way or the other, but it does show that it can be done. So- why not? There are now at least two full "eras" of gaming behind us, so you'd need two such machines!

[exit]

I remember playing one of them at JC Penny last Christmas, while waiting for my friend to finish shopping and the controls were quite horrible. I guess it would be a fun novelty gift if it cost $50 or so, but other than that it's trash.

[InsaneDavid]

Arcade Legends is NOT the cheapy $500 mini arcade cabinets that were at Target and Macy's in the last couple years. These are arcade cabinet quality machines. Many have probably seen the Arcade Legends cocktails (built like the old Atari Football cocktails) at Costco and can tell you that they are bulky, well built cabinets with large displays. These are basically pre assembled and pre loaded MAME cabinets with arcade quality controls - not some NoaC job.

Here's more information (http://www.arcadegamesuperstore.com/arcade-legends.htm), they're built by Ultracade.

http://www.homearcadecorp.com/arcleg.jpg (http://www.homearcadecorp.com/videos.htm)

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Remember some time back, in a post about the Galaga/Ms. Pac-Man arcade game, I asked why not a many-in-one arcade machine?

Well. something like it- for none-commercial use- now exists.


http://www.dazadi.com/product_initial/Arcade_Games-Video_Arcade_Games-All_Video_Arcade_Games/Arcade_Legends_2_Upright_Multi-Game_Video_Arcade_Game_Machine.html


Still, I wonder why not an arcade version? Those companies, or the current license owners, can't be making much money at this time in the arcades with these games, so why not? Maybe us fossils might drop some money in today's arcades.

Those Arcade Legends are pretty nice units cost considering.

As far as those other units (that were at Target and Macys) I own one - a Konami "Big Arcade".

Unlike the ultracade "Arcade Legends" units - which have pro quality particle board, mid-range controllers, and very nice monitors - and range from over $1,000 to close to the $3,000 mark - the "Big Arcade" machines have the absolute most "inexpensive" (you can call it cheap, but if you don't abuse it, it's actually rather sturdy and functional) hardware (cabinet and electronics) and go for only around $500.

The software runs off of what looks like a MAME on a chip with an intergrated iPac style motherboard and 2 player 3 button controllers (with three extra non-functional buttons each lol).

The games on the Konami model are actually pretty good

Frogger
Castlevania (play choice 10 NES version)
Contra
Hyper Sports (Euro Track and Field II)
Green Beret (Politically correct re-title of Rush'N Attack)
Shao-Lin's Road
Scramble
Blades of Steel
Super Basketball (If they wanted to include a Konami basketball - why didn't they include the superior Double Dribble?)
Gyruss
Time Pilot 84
and
Jungler (one of Konami's first arcade titles)

the emulation is pretty good considering the price of the units, and if you're not going to nit-pick over the fact that it's not a for real MAME cabinet, it's passable and cheap for somebody who can't build a MAME cab and wants to accent a room with an arcade machine.

[Arcade81]

You need a Supercade!
solid oak construction, authentic arcade controls, real 19" monitor (NO TVs) and up to 60 games!
http://abrightideaamusements.com/DSC01515.JPG
http://www.abrightideaamusements.com/DSC01680.JPG
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[Pantechnicon]

Here's a link to a distributor (http://www.mybiggames.com/midway.html) for the types of machines Frankie is describing. They seem to be themed among different arcade manufacturers. Note how the tall guy has to really lean over since the dang things stand only slightly over five feet tall :shameful:. I've seen a couple of these up close and...ugh. Even my 7-year-daughter sees a difference: "Yours looks cooler, Dad" (in reference to my personal MAME cab).

But...eh. While there's an obvious difference in quality as well as price between an Arcade Legends and these little boxes, I can't really begrudge somebody who would want to buy one of those little $500 jobs. I mean, they're going to get played and they'll still have a "Wow! You've got your own arcade machine!" factor for everybody who sees it but the hardcore who build their own cabs, which means almost everybody else in the world, so it's all good.

@Aswald, have you ever considered building a MAME cab of your own? Recalling your 5200 controller project (still waiting for pics), you demonstrated more than enough technical know-how to put one together. You should consider building a MAME of your own.