any apartment dwellers with a full cabinet?

[Chainclaw]

I've been running a supergun setup for almost six months now, but there have been some awesome Craigslist deals for full cabs, some broken, some working, over the past few months and I might just bite on one of them. Especially a red NEO.

So anyone actually have a cabinet in an apartment? Did you regret it? Did it take up too much space? Any thoughts on the subject?

[otaku]

I've never had a cab period but just got an apartment and depending on how many people live in it with you or come over it coudl work based on my 2 bedroom anyway

[jcalder8]

I've never had a cab in one of my apartments but there would have been enough room in there if I had wanted one. I would have had to get rid of a piece of furniture to do it but I still could have done it.

[InsaneDavid]

I have a studio apartment with a Galaxian cocktail. Granted, it has a nice floorplan as studio's go. It's in front of a bookcase of NES and PS1 games but about two feet away from it. So the bookcase doesn't interfere with the cabinet and the cabinet doesn't make it hard to take things off the bookcase.

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/DP-GalaxianCocktail006.jpg

My Pole Position upright is with my parents since that thing is a beast and I didn't want to have to lug it upstairs. All the same, I have room in the back corner of my dining room area for a Klax cabaret - still need to buy one though. :)

[Deadpixels]

I've got five cabs in a third story apartment. In my opinion, if there's a way to get it to work you'll find it. The luxory of having arcades at home will make you go tetris style on your living space to find maximum space and comfort. Until I rearranged my cabs the other day my setup looked like this.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/bridgeonceburned/cabtasticgroup.jpg?t=1231780777

A bit cluttered, but it definitely had the arcade feel. I changed it up a bit last night and feel things are actually quite roomy.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/bridgeonceburned/100_1690.jpg?t=1231781665

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/bridgeonceburned/100_1691.jpg?t=1231781687

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/bridgeonceburned/100_1690.jpg?t=1231781708


My best advice to you- buy some Neos. I use three Neo cabs in my setup so that we can keep the most games available at all times. Our current setup uses two two-slot cabs and a four slot, and trust me, not having to pop open your CP constantly to switch carts is great.



Losing space sucks, but my wife and I decided we'd rather have a kick ass game room rather than a dining room, we're an eat at the TV style family anyway. Just weigh the pros and cons of buying a cab, and hopefully you'll find that owning a machine will be more of a joy than a burden on your living space.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I'm an apartment dweller and I have a full cab, a cabaret style cab and a cocktail.

Of course - my apartment is pretty big.

3 bedrooms, full kitchen, full bath, 2 floors, and an attic space.

[Kevin H]

I used to have a Narc cabinet and Hard Drivin Sit down in my trailer while at college. Close enough I would think.

[Videogamerdaryll]

Yep,Apartment Renter....Wife,Two Kids,..

Currently
4 Arcade Machines.NEO GEO MVS/KLAX(Candy Cab in Kitchen
1 Cocktail Table,Ms Pac Man
1Touchmater 7000 Counter Top machine(in bathroom).
1 Americana Pool Counter Top machine
2 Slot Machines,
3 Old Pachinko's
1 Pinball Machine

Bunch of Pocket Bikes..

Had 6 Arcade machines in my Apt but my Landlords complained so I got rid of two...((Keeping three and Klax is for sale.

My Apartment isn't big,but big enough for what I want to have in it

[RadiantSvgun]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/Shin-Richard/100_0367.jpg

Mine takes up almost no space at all. The hard part was getting it up the stairs.

[skaar]

I've never had an issue - or a landlord that cared what I had as long as it didn't make too much noise.

Why would they care?

[Nick]

I've got a X-Men vs. Street Fighter cab in my place. Totally love it and would not get rid of it for anything.

[smork]

Got two cabs in my apartment. Egret II in the living room, Atomiswave SD in the computer room.

[Chainclaw]

Glad to hear all of the good news. What sort of surprise purchases should I expect? Should I buy a handtruck for shuffling it around the apartment?

edit: the specific unit I'm looking at is a broken big red MVS on Craigslist.

[Nikademus1969]

I've never had an issue - or a landlord that cared what I had as long as it didn't make too much noise.

Why would they care?

The only issues I can see a landlord having would be noise and maybe damage to the building when you're trying to move it up the stairs or something.

[Deadpixels]

Glad to hear all of the good news. What sort of surprise purchases should I expect? Should I buy a handtruck for shuffling it around the apartment?

edit: the specific unit I'm looking at is a broken big red MVS on Craigslist.

Honestly, I'd only worry about using a handtruck to get it up to your apartment. As for moving it around your gaming area, just you and another person should be more than enough to simply shuffle the cab from one spot to another.

[otaku]

and here I thought you had a huge house daryll!

[InsaneDavid]

Why would they care?

If you rent a furished apartment or have landlords that are up in your personal space all the time, they usually don't want you to change anything about the living space. Some landlords think that you're running an arcade (or a bar or a similar hangout / business) out of your apartment and don't like that. Usually it's the thought that "arcade games = crowd, noise, etc." which, all things considered, is amazing. That people still associate arcade games with arcades and what used to go on in them, rather than seeing them as problematic antiques.

Also I did forget about the vintage pachinko machine I have just outside of my kitchen, thanks for the indirect reminder Videogamerdaryll. If anything would piss a landlord and other tennats off, thousands of metal balls shooting down an assembly of pins with a bell ringing would do it more than an arcade game. LOL

[DogP]

LOL! A few years ago someone wanted to see what my "gameroom" looked like: http://home.comcast.net/~dogp/random/random.htm ... I had been to a bunch of auctions, and bought a bunch of stuff from Coin-Op Warehouse... the top half is my friend's 1 bedroom apt which he was nice enough to let me fill up. The futon on its side says it all ;) . He's since bought a house, and it's not as bad anymore. My basement looks much worse than it did in those pics... but I'm getting ready to move, and in my new house I hope to actually make a "real" arcade.

But yeah... you can fit stuff in an apartment... luckily that one was on the first floor though.

DogP

[tholly]

I have room for a couple of mine in my apartment, but it just isn't worth it. I am in my 3rd apartment in 3 years and plan to move from PA to CA at the end of this lease, so it wasn't worth bringing them from my parent's house. When I get a truck and move to CA I'll probably bring a few (or all of them).

[skaar]

Okay, DogP is why they'd care. WTF man.

You win the thread.

[darkslime]

I want DogP's arcade setup

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

http://dogp.home.comcast.net/random/DSCF0079.JPG

Gauntlet machine: needs control panel badly!

[DKTheArcadeRat]

Its not an apartment but I have a Neo-Geo MVS Gold 2-Slot in my room. My room is filled with games and there is only a little floorspace, more when I actually move stuff around though.

[jcalder8]

Okay, DogP is why they'd care. WTF man.

You win the thread.
Quoted for truth.

[Videogamerdaryll]

and here I thought you had a huge house daryll!


Someday,hopefully someday..


...Small apt but Huge Rooms...:king:



////////////////////////
My Sis just bought a house near me...
... If I owned that house,it does not work out for me in it's layout...via me having it the way I want it for my stuff....I'm better off here.

[Videogamerdaryll]

If you rent a furished apartment or have landlords that are up in your personal space all the time, they usually don't want you to change anything about the living space. Some landlords think that you're running an arcade (or a bar or a similar hangout / business) out of your apartment and don't like that. Usually it's the thought that "arcade games = crowd, noise, etc." which, all things considered, is amazing. That people still associate arcade games with arcades and what used to go on in them, rather than seeing them as problematic antiques.

Also I did forget about the vintage pachinko machine I have just outside of my kitchen, thanks for the indirect reminder Videogamerdaryll. If anything would piss a landlord and other tennats off, thousands of metal balls shooting down an assembly of pins with a bell ringing would do it more than an arcade game. LOL


Yea I was banging those Balls around the other day...I've been wanting to move the machines to another spot..

[Videogamerdaryll]

One thing I will note about me having Arcade items in my Apt..
The place just works out well for Arcade machines due to it's design/layout....The size of the doorways are big enough for me to get machines through them ..
You have to make sure you can actually get a machine in your place befoe buying one.
.................................................. .


Took these today//
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v21/Chris1/MISC%20PICTURES%202/RON012.jpg
RON
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v21/Chris1/MISC%20PICTURES%202/RON007.jpg

[XYXZYZ]

In an apartment, space is very valuable. I love arcade games enough to justify dedicating some space to it, but it has to be optimized; make sure those precious few machines you can have are the perfect machines. Not just functionally, but aesthetically. So for me, the maximum space I can dedicate to arcade games is four machines. That's IT, four is the limit. So to make what to me, is the best, most versitile arcade experience I can squeeze into four machines, I have to set some rather strict requirements each machine must meet in terms of aesthetics, fuction and avoiding redundancy, etc. And since I have to be so picky, I have to pay a premium for them. (shipping from ebay, etc.) And since no one game can justify all that valuable space, they're all multigame. (A Neo Geo and three MAME machines)

So keep optimizing the experience in mind when selecting a machine for an apartment.

Here's mine-
http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=51805&g2_serialNumber=1

[aaron7]

My friend in Boston has (or had, haven't been in a while) a mame cab in his 3br apt... found it on the side of the road I believe as an empty cab.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/aaron7/PICT2040.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/aaron7/PICT2058.jpg

[Deadpixels]

In an apartment, space is very valuable. I love arcade games enough to justify dedicating some space to it, but it has to be optimized; make sure those precious few machines you can have are the perfect machines. Not just functionally, but aesthetically. So for me, the maximum space I can dedicate to arcade games is four machines. That's IT, four is the limit. So to make what to me, is the best, most versitile arcade experience I can squeeze into four machines, I have to set some rather strict requirements each machine must meet in terms of aesthetics, fuction and avoiding redundancy, etc. And since I have to be so picky, I have to pay a premium for them. (shipping from ebay, etc.) And since no one game can justify all that valuable space, they're all multigame. (A Neo Geo and three MAME machines)

So keep optimizing the experience in mind when selecting a machine for an apartment.

Here's mine-
http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=51805&g2_serialNumber=1

Great advice that I agree with 100%. Also, I know I've said it before but that's a nice setup you've got there.

[Chainclaw]

Awesome setups people, and thanks for the information. You've all convinced me.

So... what do I need to be think about when I get my first cabinet?

I should be picking up this big red NEO Sunday. It's listed as broken, with a garbled screen. I'm hoping that is just the board itself, and I've already got a couple boards I could swap it out with. Otherwise I hear it might just need a new cap kit, and those sound cheap for parts, and I might be able to do the labor myself.

I'm going to buy a handcart, in case I want to move it around my apartment later, and for future moves.

[XYXZYZ]

Awesome setups people, and thanks for the information. You've all convinced me.

So... what do I need to be think about when I get my first cabinet?

I should be picking up this big red NEO Sunday. It's listed as broken, with a garbled screen. I'm hoping that is just the board itself, and I've already got a couple boards I could swap it out with. Otherwise I hear it might just need a new cap kit, and those sound cheap for parts, and I might be able to do the labor myself.

I'm going to buy a handcart, in case I want to move it around my apartment later, and for future moves.

If you have a working MVS board to swap it out with the garbled screen issue shouldn't be a problem. Once you get that working you can move onto monitor issues, hopefully there won't be any.As far as moving it around the apartment, the Neo Geos really aren't that heavy; a set of those furniture slider discs ought to work well enough.(I use them) In my apartment, I would worry about the space the handcart would take up!

Speaking of monitor issues, don't MVS machines come with WG K7000s?

[Deadpixels]

If you have a working MVS board to swap it out with the garbled screen issue shouldn't be a problem. Once you get that working you can move onto monitor issues, hopefully there won't be any.As far as moving it around the apartment, the Neo Geos really aren't that heavy; a set of those furniture slider discs ought to work well enough.(I use them) In my apartment, I would worry about the space the handcart would take up!

Speaking of monitor issues, don't MVS machines come with WG K7000s?

Yes sir.

[majors]

Wanted to chime it too, I'm a three cabs heavy at the moment but wanted to let the author know what he might be getting into (plus I wanted to play with panoramic feature on the new Photo Gallery)...

http://wedoca.dyndns.biz/phpBB2/images/downright_bright2_75.jpg

Attached is from the other side:

[Chainclaw]

Here is the results of you guys convincing me:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y204/Xieflow/CIMG0868.jpg

The machine was $80. It had a broken 2-slot board in it, I put in my own mostly functional 4-slot. Right now the monitor is a little blurry and offcenter (needs a cap kit?) but has no burn in. I'm getting no sound (I made a thread on the NEO-GEO tech board). The A button for the second player is finicky. There is no back on the machine. A bunch of relatively minor issues, but things I want to eventually address.

Right now I have King of Fighters '98, Wind Jammers, Metal Slug X, and World Heroes 2 Jet in the machine. My 4 slot board is a little weird, and will sometimes "skip" slots if it does not like the combination of games, and this set of four games works for now.

[mrmark0673]

I live in a third floor, two bedroom condo (about 750 sq. ft) and have had as many as three cabs in it (Capcom Mini-Cute, Namco Cyberlead, Egret 29), but only the Egret 29 remains. I'm looking for a cabaret to run vert shooters on and a 4 slot neo candy in the near future though. I think your best bet is to go the candy route, they're just easier to move and will probably save you some space.

[lloose]

My condo is way too small for a full cab. I am only going to be here for about a year and im working on the small parts that I can take with us when we move into a house. Right now im getting parts together and going to get the joystick panel together for my mame cab.

[majors]

Right now the monitor is a little blurry and offcenter (needs a cap kit?) but has no burn in. I'm getting no sound (I made a thread on the NEO-GEO tech board).

You should have pots to adjust the centering found under the CP or in the back There is a focus on the flyback. It is found on the monitor mainboard...it's big and black with two dials. If that does not fix it, then you can look at replacing the capacitors.

[Chainclaw]

Anyone know what my cab is a conversion of? The guy I bought it off was not sure, and I'm not sure.

I have to say I'm digging it, though. I like the curved top.


You should have pots to adjust the centering found under the CP or in the back There is a focus on the flyback. It is found on the monitor mainboard...it's big and black with two dials. If that does not fix it, then you can look at replacing the capacitors.

Thanks for that tip! I've got my NEO looking sharper than ever. Is there any way I can easily adjust the horizontal and vertical scale? The outsides of the game are off-screen a bit, such as the character health bar portraits in King of Fighters '99.

[XYXZYZ]

Anyone know what my cab is a conversion of? The guy I bought it off was not sure, and I'm not sure.

I have to say I'm digging it, though. I like the curved top.


Looks like a late 80s Data East cabinet, like Bad Dudes or Robocop.
http://kotaku.com/assets/resources/2007/05/baddudes.jpg

[Chainclaw]

That looks exactly like it, thanks

[majors]

Is there any way I can easily adjust the horizontal and vertical scale?

If the monitor does not have an adjustment board running out to the control panel or somewhere with e-z access, then no. I assume you found the hori/virt control dials on the mainboard of the monitor? This will not be your last cab...it only take one to get the bug.

[Chainclaw]

If the monitor does not have an adjustment board running out to the control panel or somewhere with e-z access, then no. I assume you found the hori/virt control dials on the mainboard of the monitor? This will not be your last cab...it only take one to get the bug.

Thanks, I found them. I don't know how I missed them the first time. I've got my screen looking pretty awesome now. I doubt my colors are perfect, but they are shades I really like. I also got the positioning really good, although it's still slightly wider than I would like (I could find a vertical height, but no horizontal width knob).

Before I had the cab, I had a supergun setup, and I figured I would just keep modding my supergun for new boards, like CPS2, Atomiswave, and Naomi. Now that I have a cab, I kind of want a new cab for each board type whenever I get them.

I'm also dieing for my JAMMA -> MVS adapter to show up from the mail, I would much rather be using a 4-slot in this than the 1-slot I have in there now. I haven't switched games out since putting the 1-slot in (just KoF '99 for now, although Kabuki Klash should be here tomorrow...)

[majors]

I'm also dieing for my JAMMA -> MVS adapter to show up from the mail, I would much rather be using a 4-slot in this than the 1-slot I have in there now.

I've been through 2 and 4 slots over the years, ended up with just a FZ-1 single slot. It works better for me since I do not need to bother with adaptors and I can put it in any of my cabs. I miss the stereo, but I'll manage. You know your gonna pick up some more cabinets, so you should end up making your current Neo a dedicated 4-slot :)

[jb143]

(I could find a vertical height, but no horizontal width knob).


It's probally a coil. You adjust it with a plastic hex wrench, at least that's how my monitor is.

[Chainclaw]

I've been through 2 and 4 slots over the years, ended up with just a FZ-1 single slot. It works better for me since I do not need to bother with adaptors and I can put it in any of my cabs. I miss the stereo, but I'll manage. You know your gonna pick up some more cabinets, so you should end up making your current Neo a dedicated 4-slot :)

I was thinking about going the other way. Mine is actually just a straight JAMMA cab with a fourth button, with a bunch of NEO paraphernalia all over it, so I might just pick up a real NEO cab, and keep this for straight jamma boards, or add three buttons for a kick harness so I can put some CPS2 in it.