Arcade Collecting: About 3 years In
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I found us in the rare occasion of not having those wreck-it-ralph out of order signs in play, so.. I snapped a few pictures while all of the machines were operational.
It was about 3 years ago that I endeavored on this project to build an arcadegame room. The house had this unfinished space beneath an addition that was sizable enough to accommodate some machines but typically damp enough (and with low ceilings) as to not justify a formal space.
A mini split solved the dampness issue, there will be no raising of the ceiling, so the machines wheelin' and dealin' began.
At first, I found this guy, in Florida: http://www.2waynesworld.com/
He delivered and helped me to get started. Since I ordered a couple machines, he discounted them pretty significantly and we started strong with:
Arcade Gameroom V1:
A mini split solved the dampness issue, there will be no raising of the ceiling, so the machines wheelin' and dealin' began.
At first, I found this guy, in Florida: http://www.2waynesworld.com/
He delivered and helped me to get started. Since I ordered a couple machines, he discounted them pretty significantly and we started strong with:
Arcade Gameroom V1:
Cocktail Table Multicade 60-n-1
Mortal Kombat 1
309-in-1 Horizontal Multicade
Dartboard
Air Hockey
Foosball
Projector (projecting onto a sheet) for TV and Console Games
Quickly, I learned to fix the machines, the Mortal Kombat 1 - specifically had plenty of problems, as old machines typically do and I learned the dude had plenty of mark up in his prices.
The Air Hockey took up too much room (and was kinda cheesily-made), the 309 n 1 didn't really resonate with the games I played as a kid and had a poor control panel layout and the foosball table didn't get played as much as I'd hoped.
Mortal Kombat 1, the 309, the Air hockey and Foosball all found new homes via Craigslist (for a hobby-supporting-profit even!) and I added some games, all via Craigslist and by way of repair.
Arcade Gameroom v2:
Cocktail Table Multicade 60-n-1
Mortal Kombat 4
Virtua Fighter 2
Offroad Thunder
Star Wars Trilogy Arcade
Mario Kart GP
Silent Scope
Soul Calibur
Dartboard
A 46" LED w/ Touch Overlay
.. I also housed a friend's Tron at this time.
During this iteration, I started to feel compelled to change up collecting philosophy, somewhat. Instead of looking for original machines, I started the embrace the idea of MultiCades a bit more. The sense that, having a few Multicades that can play virtually any game you can think of, would be a better use of the space and would better target the room for 'playability' over 'collectibility'. After all, the whole point here was to have a place the big and little kids would both enjoy that would possibly tap those memories of those poolside arcades you find on vacation.
As we enter into Year 3, I've added some pinball machines to the mix, which required us to sacrifice some games but I'm seeing has a broader appeal to adults and teens. (Although, the 9-year-old crowd can't seem to commit to playing 3 full rounds of pinball, they do seem to enjoy it.)
So, in V3 of the Gameroom, as it sits today:
Arcade Gameroom v3
Mortal Kombat 4
Virtua Fighter 2
Offroad Thunder
Star Wars Trilogy Arcade
Mario Kart GP
Silent Scope
Soul Calibur
Dartboard
A 46" LED w/ Touch Overlay
.. I also housed a friend's Tron at this time.
During this iteration, I started to feel compelled to change up collecting philosophy, somewhat. Instead of looking for original machines, I started the embrace the idea of MultiCades a bit more. The sense that, having a few Multicades that can play virtually any game you can think of, would be a better use of the space and would better target the room for 'playability' over 'collectibility'. After all, the whole point here was to have a place the big and little kids would both enjoy that would possibly tap those memories of those poolside arcades you find on vacation.
As we enter into Year 3, I've added some pinball machines to the mix, which required us to sacrifice some games but I'm seeing has a broader appeal to adults and teens. (Although, the 9-year-old crowd can't seem to commit to playing 3 full rounds of pinball, they do seem to enjoy it.)
So, in V3 of the Gameroom, as it sits today:
Arcade Gameroom v3
Cocktail Table MultiCade 60-n-1
Mortal Kombat 4
3149 in 1 MultiCade
A Nintendo/Sega Genesis Hyperspin MultiCade
Star Wars Trilogy Arcade
House of the Dead 1
Mario Kart GP
1992 Data East Star Wars Pinball
1992 Williams Star Trek The Next Generation Pinball
1997 Sega Star Wars Trilogy Pinball
2008 Stern Indiana Jones Pinball
A Claw Machine
Dartboard
A 46" LED w/ Touch Overlay
Which didn't leave me much room, so two addl' machines in storage (and for sale): Silent Scope EX Deluxe & Offroad Thunder
In our current iteration, I'm liking the balance between Video Game Arcades and Pinballs.
If I could leave some advice to someone else just starting to collect, my advice would be to get a Pinball early, the right pin can have a great replay-ability and are universally appreciated. Also, don't be afraid to buy some broken machines and fix them yourself. It is reasonably simple work, isn't all that dangerous (well, the monitor can zap you but that's about it) and you will save a small fortune.