Recommendations for MAME arcade

[UDT89]

So i won $1800 in a poker tournament last weekend.

I paid off my bills and i have about $700 to play with. I could add some extra cash to it, but would want to keep it under $1000.

I'm really interested in getting a MAME arcade, but dont know where to start. I thought about building one, but i really dont want the headaches, plus time is an issue for me....i just wont have enough of it to build it.

So where do i start? I know $700 isnt much, but i was hoping i could get a used one. Also do these mame cabinets play more recent games? I know MAME is a lot of older video games, but will i have access to newer arcade games? I just dont know if i should just get a fun dedicated game or go with the mame.

Any tips and pointers would be greatly appreciated.

 

[hevnsnt]

Use your yellow pages to look up an arcade repair shop.. Call them and ask if they have any empty cabinets.. I was able to get a dig-dug in VERY good contition for $75.. I sold off the internals for more than $200 so I profited!

 

[UDT89]

i was hoping to buy one already made

 

[hevnsnt]

oh boo.. you miss out on all the fun that way!

 

Originally posted by: hevnsnt
oh boo.. you miss out on all the fun that way!

 

[UDT89]

i just feel if i put it together it will never work the way i want it to. it will always have bugs and i wont be happy.

i could be wrong

 

[mitchafi]

I've been wanting to make one but the only arcade-type place in my yellow pages doesn't have any empty cabinets (bmigaming.com). So, that's the only thing holding me back since I don't have the skills to build my own cabinet.

 

[gotensan01]

You can contact MAME. He/she is an anandtech user. He/she makes custom built mame machines for people like you. Here is one of his random threads. Look in his sig, there is info there.

 

[Lash444]

http://lash.wojo.com/arcade

Its a lot more fun to build the thing yourself. People look at you kinda funny when they see it. I love mine, because we can play mario kart 64, and micro machines, but it takes a pretty strong computer to run a n64 emulator. Im adding a trackball next, its in the mail. Ill upload those pics when im done.

I built mine because i didnt htink that 4' long was going to be big enough for 4 players to sit side by side without feeling cramped. Although this is 5' long, and hard to move about..i think it was definitely worth it to add the extra foot. We never hit elbows or anything.

 

[jcovercash]

If your willing to pickup (Or pay devliery) im willing to build I dont currently have any pictures of machines I have built, but you can contact GCS from the forums, I built one for him.... He was really happy with it, either PM him or email him at gshanes AT comcast DOT net

Let me know if you want one, or have any questions.

Josh

 

[jcovercash]

Actually here are pictures of a mini-cab I built from stratch

MiniCab.jpg
MiniCab2.jpg

I dont have pictures of the larger cabinets, but I do have a cabinet sitting in the building right now gutted ready to build into a mame machine.

Josh

 

[hevnsnt]

I should sue AMDman12GHz, because it was his first mame project that got me into it.. Now I am a lot poorer!

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: hevnsnt
I should sue AMDman12GHz, because it was his first mame project that got me into it.. Now I am a lot poorer!

Yea but it was you that got me into xbox modding, and now im slightly richer

LOL.

I was thinking about building the cabinet in the building for me, but I have ABSOLUTLY no room to put it right now . Plus im saving up to buy the new Imac 20", Ill have enough If I can sell my PC.


Josh