Arcade cabinets: When are they worth it?

[Erik_Twice]

It is undeniable that having an arcade game in your house is awesomely cool but it's also undeniable that arcade games are often too expensive so as to be worth it.

So I ask you fellow Racketboy users, specially those who do have arcade games in their homes, if you think that having a cab or two is worth it and why do you think so.


I think I could excuse it in a handful of cases. You can buy a Pump it Up machine for very little and they have an awful lot of replay value so if you are hardcore you won't get bored. It could work for other music games but they tend to be very, very expensive. I could also think it's worh paying a good chunk for games like Robotron 2084 and Wizard of Wor that can be played to death and beyond.

[girlracer]

I have a addiction to cocktail tables. I just love the look. I usually get cabs that have problems since my dad is an electronics tech. I think a mame is worth it is you have the room since it will play anything.

I have a Tekken 2 upright, it was my 1st and I got it for $20, it had problems my dad replaced a chip in it and now it run perfect, the owner didn't have the keys so me and a friend had to break those out and replace them. So I have $50 total in this one.

My next was a Donkey Kong cocktail, paid $300 for this one.

Then I got a non-working galaxian cocktail. The cab was perfect on this one, very clean for the edge. We replaced the power cord and a couple fuses and now it works. Paid $200.

My last was an empty cocktail cab, formally Rally-X. It was missing a game board and top glass. Got it for $50. Its now a MAME with a 22" LCD and its setup for 4 players. I have somewhere in between $600-$700 in this one.

[CRTGAMER]

For me its money and mainly where to put it. If I was to get one Arcade unit, it would have to be the Space harrier motion chair. I would do the sacrilegious gut out and integrate my consoles. Hell, even Mame it! Imagine Dreamcast Aero Dancing Flight Sim or PS2 Black FPS with a full motion chair! Of course Space Harrier will have to stay in the circuits too!

[Bikeage]

Seems to me that money and space are the main issues. If you can handle those, sure it's worth it. This year i've passed up a few for those two reasons, usually one or the other.
For instance, a local Craiglist seller was asking $300 for a working 6 player X-Men. The price was right, but I just don't have room for that HUGE cab. Another guy perpetually posts an ad for a MAME cocktail, ideal for my living space, but he's asking $1600!

[chuckbanzai]

I am on the cusp of a serious cab addiction. I snagged a cherry Galaga cocktail off criegslist for about $200 and I am in love with it. Not only does it look great in my game room and thus provide a great conversation piece, but it also gives me a great chance to practice my Galaga skills.

Not to mention I have had offers for around $800 for it so given the current market you could have an investment with arcade cabs. It also doubles as a sweet coffee table! Nothing like having a beer and playing some classics.

My next investment will probably be a Naomi machine, or a mameulator.

[Jrecee]

I think arcade cabinets have to have some sort of emotional or nostalgia value to be worth anything. Obviously you can play an arcade game on your computer or any number of compilations. So it ends up being more of a decoration/art piece/collectable than an actual game.

I would love to get a dynamite dux, segasonic, or simpsons arcade machine.

[Pringles]

I've got 4 cabinets and I love them. The least I've paid is $80 for my Neo Geo, and the most is $375 for my BurgerTime. You could find a good Robotron for $200-$400 on craig's list. You could check KLOV, too.

Klov: www.arcade-museum.com

[AmishSamurai]

What about those smaller Bartop cabinets? I'm sure you could include MAME in one of those. Given it would really only work for one-player games, unless you made a larger one or configured it with two screens and in the style of Battleship. Even then, you wouldn't be able to play light-gun or racing games that well on it.

[Bradtemple87]

What I wouldn't make a sacrifice for a Puzzle Fighter II cab!

[fastbilly1]

Damn it, the site ate a big post I wrote about this.

My personal belief is that most people can own one or two with little fanfare, but more than a couple and you can become addicted. I had 10 at one point and sold all but one (Nintendo Vs tentop). I am open to buy another, but only if the price is right. Now there are exceptions. If I find a cocktail table at a decent price I am going to buy it. Regardless if I have the space. I will stack them in my bedroom if I have to. Cocktails are the only cabs I know that I can find a good home for.