Best arcade machine for a laundromat?

Website · Post by **Life of Brian** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:39 pm

My dad owns a laundromat, and he's planning on buying an arcade machine for it next month. I figured I'd turn to some of the web's experts on what rocks or not as far as video games go, so what do you guys think? He's planning on getting an "ultracade" arcade machine, seen here (we'll probably get the cocktail model at the bottom of the page because of where we'd be putting it): http://www.bmigaming.com/ultracade.htm

You guys know of anything that would be better for a laundromat or where we can get something similar for a better price?

(Wow - I just realized that this is my first Forum 42 thread! Odd that I've never started one before...)

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:46 pm

The way I look at it, you can't go wrong with a used Ms. Pac Man cabinet, or something similar. You are in luck, because it seems like Oklahoma is a goldmine for finding used arcade cabinets (they have auctions and stuff all the time, from what I've seen on AtariAge)

I'd stay away from Ultracade, from a hobbyist's point of view. This is the company that copyrighted MAME, even though it hasn't helped much (if at all) on the project. Plus, I think I tried one of them a while back, and it was a pain to use. I'd just look around for a used cabinet and use that (plus, you can probably get one for about $500, rather than the multi thousands)

If you go to AtariAge (http://www.atariage.com) they have an arcade forum, they can help you out

gamer2 · Post by **gamer2** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:03 pm

Get a NEO-Geo cabenet, or cetipede

Website · Post by **Life of Brian** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:14 pm

While Cenitpede and Ms. PacMan are great games, I think we're looking for something that plays more than one game. We're talking about repeat customers (well, actually, their kids) playing on the same machine week after week, so something with more than one game would probably be more appropriate and versatile.

BTW, thanks for the quick response! And thank you for the atariage link, spongey.

psychotic_mechanic · Post by **psychotic_mechanic** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:23 pm

I'm with the Neo-Geo idea, you can always swap out games.

NiN^_^NiN · Post by **NiN^_^NiN** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:25 pm

I don't reccomend ultracrap at all seriously they aren't worth it and the guy who runs it has no ethics at all.

I'd go for a 4 slot neo geo machine it lets u have more than one game and u can also swap carts for more games.

Plus from a survey that was done metal slug is a game that attracts all age groups its a game that when you walk past will stop you and make you wanna play.

I don't reccomend ultracade cause of his shoddy business practices and the fact he tried to trademark MAME and started to asked people who were selling mame banners for money for using his trademark even tho he hasn't gotten the trademark he tried to screw the mame community.

And the fact that he has changed businesses names so many times isn't a good sign but thats a personal thing i have against him and his business practices he is scum in my mind.

Plus his upgrade packages are a rippoff and midway told him not to sell the midway arcade games (im not exactly sure if it was midway or atari can't remember).

psychotic_mechanic · Post by **psychotic_mechanic** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:33 pm

Ebay fanboy chiming in:

It's even near you

dj-spuddy · Post by **dj-spuddy** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 3:20 am

Why not get a standard jamma machine? They have so many 1,000's of games and are so easy to swap round. Then also if you ever get bored you can buy a neo-geo mother board (I reccomend a four slot) then plug the 56pin jamma loom straight into the neo-geo motherboard. Also many people forget that neo-geo games require four buttons but it's very simple to wire another button to the jamma loom as there is actually two spare spaces on a standard jamma loom.

If that bores you get street fighter 2! I definatly reccomend it but then it's better to have an upright cab. Oh and 6 buttons and the smaller extra kick loom.

Oh yeah and upright cabs are a lot stronger because as much as I hate to think about it there will be people who will try to break into it E.G. kicking and hitting. This is where upright cabs speacilze. They are made of pretty strong wood and metal and have the added bonus that they can actually fall on the attacker killing them quickly....

Heh.

Turbo Tax 1.0 · Post by **Turbo Tax 1.0** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:34 am

grab a Neo Geo they can play tons of carts and have some of the best games around like metal slug series, samurai showdown series, neo turf masters is pretty good and there is a crap load more

kidw/32+systems · Post by **kidw/32+systems** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:02 am

Yes I would also say get a MVS, and at least a 2-slot. You could also get Playchoice 10 for some great Nintendo games, or a Pac-man combo cab. The best is get what ever is cheap, like the Double Dragon cab I got for $30 and I can MAME it or convert it to a MVS

.

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 2:46 pm

NEO-GEO is definitely the best choice for an arcade. who knows some good neogeo games besides metal slug?

Super Cameraman · Post by **Super Cameraman** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:24 pm

Why not a M.A.M.E.? You could make a coin-op one even! I have one and it has A LOT of games. Like 5000. Search on eBay!

Is this illegal?

-Super Cameraman

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:26 pm

JAMMA all the way. Swappable game boards!

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:29 pm

Super Cameraman wrote:Why not a M.A.M.E.? You could make a coin-op one even! I have one and it has A LOT of games. Like 5000. Search on eBay!

Is this illegal?

isn't mame an emulator for illegal roms? he would probably get in trouble for that

NiN^_^NiN · Post by **NiN^_^NiN** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:39 pm

daguuy wrote:NEO-GEO is definitely the best choice for an arcade. who knows some good neogeo games besides metal slug?

As mentioned the Samurai showdown is a better version of the street fighter game (wellt hats what i think)

Also Neo Turf is a fun golf game as mentioned before

Metal slug series is a great game and everyone loves it

NAM-1975 is a great sidescroller

Also have Neo Geo Bowling which is a fun game and the KOF series (king of fighters) they are probably one of the best fighting games ever

You also have Sonic Wings 2 which is a top down plane game

and Super Sidekicks 2 for soccer and Baseball Stars 2 for baseball

And a great puzzle game called Puzzle Bobble (bubble bobble guys

)

And shock troopers is a top down vert scroller kinda like metal slug quite a nice game