I don't know about you, but when I started collecting arcade games, I would buy [i]anything[/i] -- especially for $100. I ended up with a really nice (or at least large) collection of games that I didn't much care for. I got a cheap Bucky O'Hare and a cheap Road Riot and cheap Heavy Barrel and yeah, I ended up with a bunch of cheap games that I was never a fan of.

No matter how much space you have, eventually, you'll fill it -- and that's when the decisions begin. For me it was pretty simple: I sold off a lot of my projects (read: non-working games) and anything I hadn't played more than a couple of times. You laugh, but I ended up with games that I hadn't even tried. (Yes, I'm sick.)

After riding the initial wave of collection-excitement, I set myself some ground rules. I decided from that point on I would only buy (A) games that didn't play well in MAME, (B) games with unique controllers, (C) games I liked as a kid and still like, or (D) collectables (if I found them at a reasonable price).

A and B are kind of related. For example, TRON is on my "own someday" list and it kind of meets all three of those. TRON is a pain in the ass to play in MAME. Sure it can be done using a mouse and a keyboard but it sure doesn't feel anything like playing a real TRON machine. If you run down the list of the last dozen or so games I've purchased, most of them have unique controls (Centipede, Karate Champ, Road Blasters, Super Off Road, etc).

I've picked up a few games recently from the (C) category as well. I got Buster Brothers for $50 from the last SuperAuctions I attended (needed a new power cord) and I paid $250 for a cherry Commando. That's one that does play fine in MAME but ... man, I love me some Commando. It's all good.

To be honest I doubt I'll buy any more games that are included on the 48-in-1 board unless I run across an unbelievable deal (I got my Ms. Pac-Man for $80 a couple of weeks ago -- that's an unbelievable deal). I just don't have the space and can't justify the space (and money) for owning the dedicated version of a game I already own.

[quote="Flack"]With no follow up post, I take it you did not get the RoadBlasters. Too bad, really -- I love that game. Actually, I love that whole era of Atari games. And you know what? It's the sound. I love everything from the palate to the bassy sound of the cabinet. I don't know what it is to be honest, but whatever it is, it doesn't come through in MAME.
[/quote]

Yeah, I ended up not getting it. I just - it's just the space issue, I think. I knew that if I really. [i]really[/i] squeezed them in, I could get two more cabs before needing to sell more. One was Q*bert and it looks like some Multi-Williams thing is gonna be the last one. (I did end up buying jrok's Multi-Williams board, although I had to send him a private message on the KLOV forum - he does not have an order page setup.)

But yeah, Road Blasters is just another in a long line of games that you'd think could be emulated OK in MAME, but the real thing just blows it away (and that's not a shot against MAME). They really did great things with the System 1 games.

[quote]To be honest that's a long-winded way of justifying the purchase of [url=http://www.robohara.com/arcade_collection/index.php?file=roadblasters]my own RoadBlasters cabinet[/url].[/quote]

Free delivery!!! You're the frigging man for pulling that off. Nice work, heh.


[quote]RoadBlasters is one of those games like Moon Patrol and Q*Bert, games I thought I was good at until I ran into people who are really, really good at them.[/quote]

Yeah, there really is almost no relationship between owning these monstrosities and being any good at them. I think I have about sixty years left to break Pinback's score on Gyruss and I might just need every last minute. (The great grand-kids are waving the will around, asking for me to sign an "X" with a sharpie, but I am telling them to wait until I at least make it to Mars, which makes them think that I am even more senile and ready to croak.)

With no follow up post, I take it you did not get the RoadBlasters. Too bad, really -- I love that game. Actually, I love that whole era of Atari games. And you know what? It's the sound. I love everything from the palate to the bassy sound of the cabinet. I don't know what it is to be honest, but whatever it is, it doesn't come through in MAME. To be honest that's a long-winded way of justifying the purchase of [url=http://www.robohara.com/arcade_collection/index.php?file=roadblasters]my own RoadBlasters cabinet[/url].

RoadBlasters is one of those games like Moon Patrol and Q*Bert, games I thought I was good at until I ran into people who are really, really good at them.

You guys make excellent points. It's like custom tailored to what I wanted to hear! I will see if the guy can deliver for a fee or something.

Rooooooooooooad Blasters!!

[quote="Worm"]*sigh*[/quote]

I hate to agree with Worm, but there it is.

Bruce

*sigh*

Anyway let me play the devil's advocate.

1. That is a flatbed truck right behind the cabinet, maybe this guy could transport it for a nominal fee?

2. One of the games you have has to be a living room game. Not this behemoth obviously, but like Crystal Castles, one of those motherfucking games you love. It's not like keeping your tons of arcade games in the basement makes you look like less of a cunt than a guy who keeps his cabinets in the living room.

2.i Also if someone sees one cabinet when they enter the house it's going to be less shocking to see 8 if they ever go into your game room.

3. You can't justify 200 bucks? I currently have no income and justify a lot more. If your fucking 401k is 200 bucks lighter I don't think it's going to mean you're going to spend your golden years sitting in your own shit.

http://denver.craigslist.org/tag/829291946.html

Arrrrrrrrrgh, local Road Blasters for $200, and I don't have the space, can't justify the funds and have no way to move it. LET'S LAMENT TOGETHER!


aahhhhhhhhhhh
arrrrrrrrgh
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nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke