Need info on Ms. Pac-Man cocktail arcade...

[dbiersdorf]

I've always loved Ms. Pac-Man, and it's the one arcade machine I've always wanted to own. Due to living conditions and whatnot I know that I will never desire to own a stand up, full cabinet arcade machine. But the cocktail machine has always been something I would love to have. I've been regularly checking Craigslist the past couple of months on units and have a couple of questions,

1.) What's with all the cabinets that have 60 games in 1? I'm assuming this is some ROM collection, and does not have the best version of Ms. Pac-Man on it? The other games are interesting, but not if they bring down the feel of an original Ms. Pac-Man.

2.) Do any of the cocktail tables come without the wood paneling? I feel like I've seen some with black siding but due to pictures I can never tell if it's black all the way around the unit. I'll admit the wood siding makes it look very retro, but it also looks extremely ugly. Does anyone know if there were units that contained all black siding?

3.) Does every version contain the "speed up" hack? I personally cannot stand playing Ms. Pac-Man if it does not have the fast mode, and would like to know which models to avoid if this is not an option.

4.) Bottom line what should I be looking to pay for one of these? I'm not good with restoration and mostly want a clean top with solid joysticks.

Thanks in advance!

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

The current "iCade" 60 in 1 boards that people typically outfit their cocktail and stand up JAMMA cabinets with are very authentic versions of the games included on them. They emulate the original arcade hardware/software down to dip-switch settings.

An "expert" might be able to determine some type of nuanced differences between the way the version of Ms. Pac-Man runs on a multicade board and the way that an authentic stock Ms. Pac-Man board runs, but the average user likely would not.

I have an iCade board and I personally find it hard to tell the difference at all between the real thing and the multicade board (at least where the Pac family of games are concerned, some other games on the board have minor sound differences). The model I have has two slots for Ms. Pac-Man, you can turn on the speed hack on either of them, so if you prefer to play it with the speed up hack on one, both or neither slots (with perhaps different additional options like harder difficulty set to one) it allows for it.

An original Ms. Pac-Man cocktail cabinet, refurbished or otherwise is going to cost you a lot more than it would to get a clean, functional JAMMA cocktail cabinet (with 2-3 buttons on the control panel for the other games on the board, and for Pac-Man accuracy perhaps get yourself some joysticks that can switch from 8 to 4 way on the fly) and one of the multicade boards. I recommend the "iCade" 60 in 1.

[dbiersdorf]

Thanks a lot for your help. So the 60 in 1 doesn't seem all that bad. Even for my use however I really want the professional original look, not a generic cocktail table. Are there a lot of different variations I can go with? I'd love for one with all black siding, with the original artwork on the top and near the joysticks.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Thanks a lot for your help. So the 60 in 1 doesn't seem all that bad. Even for my use however I really want the professional original look, not a generic cocktail table. Are there a lot of different variations I can go with? I'd love for one with all black siding, with the original artwork on the top and near the joysticks.

I'm not great with pricing and availability of these types of things, but I believe that Ms. Pac-Man had a fairly standard looking Cocktail design unlike some other more distinct/dedicated tables.

Here are the specs from KLOV:

http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8782

If you can't get the real deal I bet you can find a Jamma table that looks similar and then just buy repro bezel and control panel art. (There are a few places out there that do those at a reasonable rate.)

There are even a few companies out there making very nice looking MDF cocktail table kits that ship flat-packed like IKEA furniture. If you feel capable of buying all the arcade guts and wiring it all up you can get a very minty fresh looking table for your home that way.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cocktail-Arcade-game-cabinet-kit-Jamma-and-MAME-Ready-/230620946349

[dbiersdorf]

I appreciate all your help. Thanks for the replies. Because I'm not a huge arcade player, I have always wanted a true (or as close to true) Ms. Pac-Man arcade for years. I just found this on eBay which is only about two hours from where I live:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MS-PACMAN-GALAGA-PAC-MAN-ARCADE-COCKTAIL-GAME-NEW-/120786068870?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1f692586#ht_1011wt_882

Is this a reasonable price? Or could I wait and find something much better?

[Pete Rittwage]

I appreciate all your help. Thanks for the replies. Because I'm not a huge arcade player, I have always wanted a true (or as close to true) Ms. Pac-Man arcade for years. I just found this on eBay which is only about two hours from where I live:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MS-PACMAN-GALAGA-PAC-MAN-ARCADE-COCKTAIL-GAME-NEW-/120786068870?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1f692586#ht_1011wt_882

Is this a reasonable price? Or could I wait and find something much better?

That is of course a newly built cocktail machine, with an LCD and some sort of multi-game board. If you're going for original retro, it's nothing like it. If you want a new one and you like the style, there's nothing wrong with it. Not sure the licensing is legit, though.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I think that's a pretty slick, clean looking cocktail in the shape of the original Ms. Pac-Man.

I agree with Pete that there's some mileage-may-vary stuff to consider. I have no idea what kind of board runs JUST Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga, so you may want to contact the seller and inquire what they have running.

If it's a VGA monitor in there, they probably have the appropriate Jamma adapter (JPAC or the like) converting for VGA output. Different type of display, not arcade authentic, but easier to service and/or replace for a novice user.

And since the seller states that it's wired Jamma, with the appropriate board adapter you can probably get a genuine classic Ms. Pac-Man Board with speed hack and throw it in there.

Now. $800? That's pricey for a cocktail IMO, but it's new parts and I'm sure the seller is considering the time and labor they put in, so no shame to the seller.

[Videogamerdaryll]

Here's another thread (similar)

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155967

My Son playing the machine
http://youtu.be/54Y46sdEsao

[Videogamerdaryll]

Another Similar thread.
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155967




My Son playing my Machine..

http://youtu.be/54Y46sdEsao
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SUCKS when after you type something all up you get=

There was a problem with the resource you requested. That happens sometimes.
Problem: The server encountered an unexpected condition which prevented it from fulfilling your request. This can happen if a database is too busy or if bad arguments were given in the request. Please verify if your wanted result took effect; if it did not, please try again later.
Gamer translation: Somebody set up us the bomb.
You might want to try visiting the Digital Press home page (http://www.digitpress.com/). Then again I'm not the boss of you. You can do as you please. Perhaps even fire up a classic console with your favorite game. Get a nice drink. Invite a few friends over. Plug in the extra controllers, get some multiplayer gaming happening. You know - the good times.

[dbiersdorf]

Well I guess what I mean is that I really would like an official Ms. Pac-Man unit that comes with all black siding (no wood paneling) and is in cocktail form. If it comes with Galaga, I'm okay with that, and in fact I'd probably prefer a newer version as it would be less likely to crap out/less expensive to fix. What's the best option for that? Have there been official releases in the past ten years or anything like that? I'm really not in the market for a custom built unit, regardless of how good it looks.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Well I guess what I mean is that I really would like an official Ms. Pac-Man unit that comes with all black siding (no wood paneling) and is in cocktail form. If it comes with Galaga, I'm okay with that, and in fact I'd probably prefer a newer version as it would be less likely to crap out/less expensive to fix. What's the best option for that? Have there been official releases in the past ten years or anything like that? I'm really not in the market for a custom built unit, regardless of how good it looks.

Maybe somebody here or over at KLOV can point you in the right direction of somebody who may have one for sale.

[Arcade Antics]

Well I guess what I mean is that I really would like an official Ms. Pac-Man unit that comes with all black siding (no wood paneling) and is in cocktail form.
An authentic Ms. Pac cocktail has woodgrain (laminate) sides.


If it comes with Galaga, I'm okay with that, and in fact I'd probably prefer a newer version as it would be less likely to crap out/less expensive to fix.
Not true. If anything, the older machines are more reliable, and easier and less expensive to repair.


What's the best option for that? Have there been official releases in the past ten years or anything like that?
Namco has re-released Ms. Pac/Galaga in various incarnations over the last few years. I'm not a fan, but if you want to play Ms. Pac on a 25" monitor, look for one of those official combo-anniversary machines.


I'm really not in the market for a custom built unit, regardless of how good it looks.
IMO those stink too, but the bottom line is you want what you want so that's the first thing you need to decide. Do you REALLY want an original Ms. Pac? If so, they're not hard to find and won't cost a fortune.

The 60-1 multi boards are lousy with crappy and incorrect sounds on many of the games. If that matters to you, stay away. If it doesn't, then go for it.