I've been seriously considering getting an arcade machine for the last few months. I've found a local company that sells/fixes/distributes arcade/vending goods, and the guy's prices aren't too bad. Definitely better than eBay or the local Craigslist stuff.
Anyway, I've been trying to track down a Neo Geo MVS. Specifically, a 4-slot. There's a few other cabs I'd like to own (CPS2, Playchoice-10), but the MVS seems like the best option.
Only problem is, there doesn't seem to be any of them within driving distance. And even then, the ones I've seen are incredibly expensive. The guy who owns the local arcade/vending business said that it would be hard to track down an MVS because of the little demand the machine has.
So, since I've pretty much got my heart set on getting a MVS, I've been thinking about getting a non-working cab for cheap (less than $100), taking out the old board/harness/what-have-you, and putting in a Neo Geo motherboard and the necessary controls in place of the old game's stuff.
So, would it be a cost-effective venture to get the Neo Geo parts needed, and get a non-working cab with a monitor and replace everything inside with Neo Geo stuff? Or am I better off buying a Supergun or waiting until an MVS shows up in my general area?
I assume that all I'll need besides the cabinet itself, and Neo Geo parts/harnesses/controls is a re-done control panel, a compatible power supply, and a compatible monitor. Am I correct?