Ultracade meaning the video game systems which use a computer hard drive and monitor and you can play video games on.
Retail is 2999 or so for a decent box, but you can buy the pieces and do it yourself, I was curious if anyone HAS done this and if so what recommendations you might have.
To remove first post, remove entire topic.
Ultracade meaning the video game systems which use a computer hard drive and monitor and you can play video games on.
Retail is 2999 or so for a decent box, but you can buy the pieces and do it yourself, I was curious if anyone HAS done this and if so what recommendations you might have.
But it's much more easy to just get one off ebay. I got a JAMMA cabinet that was very nice. Bought the boards off ebay also and did it. Sold it of course, after a bit. Someone made me a kind of stupid offer for it. But you can get one of the 60 in ones or 80 in ones for about $1500.
Oh you know I have Wall........
But it's much more easy to just get one off ebay. I got a JAMMA cabinet that was very nice. Bought the boards off ebay also and did it. Sold it of course, after a bit. Someone made me a kind of stupid offer for it. But you can get one of the 60 in ones or 80 in ones for about $1500.
I had ZERO idea..i wondered because you are so handy, but are you serious about Ebay?
I havent seen the cheap knock off ones for 1700 but the controls look low end and the kind of games are cheap too.
What would be the best is to get a good cabinet and great controls, get the computer separate since it really seems most of these are cheap old Dell boxes with a 19 inch monitor, then get the games programs separate..
The 60/80 game ones are 75% garbage and a handful of good games. I played a TON of games growing up, so I guess I am a game snob...
haha
Lippsman,
I had ZERO idea..i wondered because you are so handy, but are you serious about Ebay?
I havent seen the cheap knock off ones for 1700 but the controls look low end and the kind of games are cheap too.
What would be the best is to get a good cabinet and great controls, get the computer separate since it really seems most of these are cheap old Dell boxes with a 19 inch monitor, then get the games programs separate..
The 60/80 game ones are 75% garbage and a handful of good games. I played a TON of games growing up, so I guess I am a game snob...
I have searched of course and it seems to be right in line what you would pay for on a site like that BMI gaming or whatever..plus if you buy through a site like that you get warranty, which you dont if it is a small time opp from ebay.
Like THIS
versus BMI who has THIS
It seems like Arcade Legends is cheaper than Ultracade..
Lippsman,
I have searched of course and it seems to be right in line what you would pay for on a site like that BMI gaming or whatever..plus if you buy through a site like that you get warranty, which you dont if it is a small time opp from ebay.
Like THIS
versus BMI who has THIS
It seems like Arcade Legends is cheaper than Ultracade..
Do you think since these things are using a computer for processing that they are more likely to crash or run slower versus say a refurb'd unit not ran through a CPU?
Here is another Q..
Do you think since these things are using a computer for processing that they are more likely to crash or run slower versus say a refurb'd unit not ran through a CPU?
Do you think since these things are using a computer for processing that they are more likely to crash or run slower versus say a refurb'd unit not ran through a CPU?
Well with a CPU you always have that chance of a hard drive crash. I always prefer getting one that has the games hard coded on Roms instead of a CPU.
Quote Originally Posted by wallstreetcappers:
Here is another Q..
Do you think since these things are using a computer for processing that they are more likely to crash or run slower versus say a refurb'd unit not ran through a CPU?
Well with a CPU you always have that chance of a hard drive crash. I always prefer getting one that has the games hard coded on Roms instead of a CPU.
So is there any margin in making those machines? I imagine the market for them isnt very large.
Is there a way to determine when one IS and ISNT a CPU?
That's the thing, way small market. Add to that Ebay and the prices stay pretty much down. There is a bit of a margin to be made, but it's more a labor of love than anything else. But don't forget, no matter what they say a good deal of this is illeagal. Unless it's an actual liscensed Multicade game. Also you have to be careful about those JAMMA boards. If you buy one make sure it isn't one of those cheap Chinese knock offs. For example I know that 1006 in 1 JAMMA board is illegal. But if the games work fine I don't care. And I doubt anyone from that Amusement Assoc is going to knock down your door.
They are not that hard to build, the key is getting a good JAMMA cabinet to begin with. Makes things much smoother. What you have to do is get the control panel up to specs. Most of the JAMMA boards are going to be two player. But I like to make the ones that have a trac ball also. I built one with a spinner before.
But never a trac and spinner together. The trac ball games are a small lot. But that lot includes Missle Command and Centipede. Add to that Crystal Castles and Millipede and you have 4 classic games right there that should be in everyones collection. So that's why I lean more to trac balls.
Not any of the real Multicades are CPU. Where the CPU's come into play is when someone is selling a MAME machine. But the best way is just to ask ahead of time.
Quote Originally Posted by wallstreetcappers:
So is there any margin in making those machines? I imagine the market for them isnt very large.
Is there a way to determine when one IS and ISNT a CPU?
That's the thing, way small market. Add to that Ebay and the prices stay pretty much down. There is a bit of a margin to be made, but it's more a labor of love than anything else. But don't forget, no matter what they say a good deal of this is illeagal. Unless it's an actual liscensed Multicade game. Also you have to be careful about those JAMMA boards. If you buy one make sure it isn't one of those cheap Chinese knock offs. For example I know that 1006 in 1 JAMMA board is illegal. But if the games work fine I don't care. And I doubt anyone from that Amusement Assoc is going to knock down your door.
They are not that hard to build, the key is getting a good JAMMA cabinet to begin with. Makes things much smoother. What you have to do is get the control panel up to specs. Most of the JAMMA boards are going to be two player. But I like to make the ones that have a trac ball also. I built one with a spinner before.
But never a trac and spinner together. The trac ball games are a small lot. But that lot includes Missle Command and Centipede. Add to that Crystal Castles and Millipede and you have 4 classic games right there that should be in everyones collection. So that's why I lean more to trac balls.
Not any of the real Multicades are CPU. Where the CPU's come into play is when someone is selling a MAME machine. But the best way is just to ask ahead of time.
That is hard coded, anytime you see PCB you know a hard drive isn't used. Although they are using a flash based system. Which means they are using a motherboard. So it is computer bases, but doesn't have a hard drive. This is one of those kind of many shades of grey board. It's a PCB, but not a true, true PCB
That is hard coded, anytime you see PCB you know a hard drive isn't used. Although they are using a flash based system. Which means they are using a motherboard. So it is computer bases, but doesn't have a hard drive. This is one of those kind of many shades of grey board. It's a PCB, but not a true, true PCB
Now take a look at this from the same company. It's a 48 in one board, tt's pure PCB. Now I should note that when you start getting a great deal of games. Say over 60 you will see more of the sort of computer boards instead of a single PCB. But the thing about it is, anything over 60, hell anything over 40 has a great deal of pure crap games in it.
Now take a look at this from the same company. It's a 48 in one board, tt's pure PCB. Now I should note that when you start getting a great deal of games. Say over 60 you will see more of the sort of computer boards instead of a single PCB. But the thing about it is, anything over 60, hell anything over 40 has a great deal of pure crap games in it.
Yeah I noticed that in the one I linked..a TON of games I had no idea what they were, never heard of them.
So when you say JAMMA cabinet, are you meaning the controller? When I hear cabinet I imagine the outside wood cabinet, but I am sure that isnt the case.
Yeah I noticed that in the one I linked..a TON of games I had no idea what they were, never heard of them.
So when you say JAMMA cabinet, are you meaning the controller? When I hear cabinet I imagine the outside wood cabinet, but I am sure that isnt the case.
After closer look, that is a very good board. The high score save feature is nice. Maybe a tad overpriced though. This one has a spinner game and a trac ball game on it...........
Well take a look........I'm outta here. Talk soon.
After closer look, that is a very good board. The high score save feature is nice. Maybe a tad overpriced though. This one has a spinner game and a trac ball game on it...........
Well take a look........I'm outta here. Talk soon.
So what if you want other games, how does that work? And how does that function? Do you just hook the card into a video card and then into the monitor?
funny I looked at that one too..
So what if you want other games, how does that work? And how does that function? Do you just hook the card into a video card and then into the monitor?
Yeah I noticed that in the one I linked..a TON of games I had no idea what they were, never heard of them.
So when you say JAMMA cabinet, are you meaning the controller? When I hear cabinet I imagine the outside wood cabinet, but I am sure that isnt the case.
No, JAMMA is a standard that was created in Japan to make the coversion of games easy. Before we had to completely gut a game to make it a new one. With JAMMA you can for the most part plug in a board like a cartridige for a video game system. Change out the header and put a few stickers on it and you have a new game. Most of the time you can convert these in a few hours at the most. And that includes changing out some hardware on the control panel is need be.
Oh yeah, I owned about 15 video games 2 pinball machines and 1 Ice Chexx from the mid 80's to early 90's. Now only 1 pinball 2 video games and the Ice Chexx are still with me. And they are all behind me right now.
I also worked on the games for an arcade in the early to late 80's. Hell, they are just computers that are very slow. In the mid 90's and up though, most of them were actual computers in the cabinets. The roms for the bigger racing and shooting games were actual on computer hard drives.
Quote Originally Posted by wallstreetcappers:
Yeah I noticed that in the one I linked..a TON of games I had no idea what they were, never heard of them.
So when you say JAMMA cabinet, are you meaning the controller? When I hear cabinet I imagine the outside wood cabinet, but I am sure that isnt the case.
No, JAMMA is a standard that was created in Japan to make the coversion of games easy. Before we had to completely gut a game to make it a new one. With JAMMA you can for the most part plug in a board like a cartridige for a video game system. Change out the header and put a few stickers on it and you have a new game. Most of the time you can convert these in a few hours at the most. And that includes changing out some hardware on the control panel is need be.
Oh yeah, I owned about 15 video games 2 pinball machines and 1 Ice Chexx from the mid 80's to early 90's. Now only 1 pinball 2 video games and the Ice Chexx are still with me. And they are all behind me right now.
I also worked on the games for an arcade in the early to late 80's. Hell, they are just computers that are very slow. In the mid 90's and up though, most of them were actual computers in the cabinets. The roms for the bigger racing and shooting games were actual on computer hard drives.
If you want more games on the PCB's you are out of luck unless you have a PCB burner and the roms to do it. You just have to sell your old one and get another one.
There is no hooking up to monitors in a JAMMA cabinet. You just plug the board into the harness. Everything is already ran to the monitor for you.
Now if you get into one of the MAME cabinet projects. Yeah, you will have an actual monitor in there if you want to. But most people just set up a computer monitor where the normal monitor would be. I've seen a few good MAME projects but not that many.
You should just get into MAME on your computer right now and see if you like it. That's what I do, but of course I have a real good arcade style control that makes all of the difference in the world. Here is what I use. The price is very good. For trackball games I use this.
If you want more games on the PCB's you are out of luck unless you have a PCB burner and the roms to do it. You just have to sell your old one and get another one.
There is no hooking up to monitors in a JAMMA cabinet. You just plug the board into the harness. Everything is already ran to the monitor for you.
Now if you get into one of the MAME cabinet projects. Yeah, you will have an actual monitor in there if you want to. But most people just set up a computer monitor where the normal monitor would be. I've seen a few good MAME projects but not that many.
You should just get into MAME on your computer right now and see if you like it. That's what I do, but of course I have a real good arcade style control that makes all of the difference in the world. Here is what I use. The price is very good. For trackball games I use this.
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