Buying an Arcade Machine (first timer)

DanMc

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Hey Guys,

I'm looking into buying an arcade machine and would like to ask you a few questions.

1) If I buy an arcade machine that has two similar releases, is it simple to buy the newer pcb board and upgrade? (Mortal Kombat 3 upgraded to Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, or Street Fighter 2 upgraded to Street Fighter 2 Turbo)

2) What do you look at to make sure an arcade machine is legit? For example, Does it matter if an arcade machine is home made if it is made properly? How do you tell if its using a pcb board or a mame system?

Thanks,

Dan
 
First! I'll answer the question later if someone else doesn't. But I'm sure they will I'm running out the front door right now. All I'll say is don't unless you want to start an addiction worse than crack.

Sure it starts out as one game you've always wanted, then before you know it you're buying anything cause it's a good deal lol.
 
Welcome. Add your location to your profile, as it will help later if you need to contact local members.

1) On your example, the game board is the same. What's different is the program installed on the chips (some may have extra chips). You could buy two different boards - each with a different version - and just swap them out (as they are both JAMMA standard wiring pinouts), or buy an extra chipset and swap the chips (a little more difficult and a lot more time consuming). I'd pick whichever you like the most and get that first, then decide if you want the other later.

If you are not using a JAMMA game (for example Galaga), then it is a lot harder to swap out other games. Adapters can be made for a lot of them, though.

2) Almost all MAME games are PC-based, so if it has a computer in it and a whole bunch of different games, it's probably mame. Some newer games also have computers, but usually only have one game. And there are multi-games that are based off the MAME software out there as well. If you are in doubt, ask here before buying.

As for the cab, a dedicated cab is best, but if the cab looks nice and YOU like it, then that's what is important. Most of us don't like it when people buy a Pac-Man and convert it to Mortal Kombat, though. If you can find a cab that already has MK in it, even if it was a Pac first, we'll be ok because YOU didn't do it (although we'll still bitch about it). But it's pretty easy to find a generic JAMMA cabinet these days.

Do yourself a favor though, and try to get something that works 100% already, unless you have good repair skills. A non-working monitor - while a minor issue for some of us - can be a major headache or expense for some....
 
That is a Dynamo cut corner cab. They were pretty common in the early 1990's and had many different games installed over the years. The sound problem may be minor. such as a broken wire, or it may be fairly major requiring board repair. The coin slot problem is usualy pretty simple.
 
Offer $250 then $300 and see if they bite. This would be a good starter cab for what you want.

That's a cut-corner Dynamo (generic) cab, and is running a JAMMA-compatibile game, so it is perfect for swapping out other games. it only has 3 buttons for each joystick, so you'd have to add more buttons (and wire them up) if you wanted to play something like MK3 in it.

Speakers are easy to replace (as long as it's the speaker and not the sound portion of the game pcb) and not that expensive, either. Coin switches are only relevant if you want to put quarters in. most newer-type games have a free-play option so you can play without putting in quarters (unless you like doing that).

The monitor obviously works, but it's hard to see from that angle whether the colors are all working. Still, the fact that it works means it's easier to fix minor issues than if it was completely dead....
 
You are among some of the most helpful people here. We will make a tech out of you :)

It doesnt look to be in terrible shape. Id say thats a nice start. Go for it!
 
Cool everyone said what I was going to. :)

They are tons of fun. Not terribly hard to fix them it just depends on whats wrong. If it's a board or monitor problem it can be very easy or very hard...

Everything else is cake to fix.
 
here are pics of what im considering, for a little under $400


http://i44.tinypic.com/2lsbfkp.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/rsfrte.jpg

Possible issues, maybe a broken speaker, coin op doesn't function properly... however, my friend works fixing slot machines and seems to be able to fix almost anything... he said he might be able to help...

That's a Dynamo HS-5. That's a very common cabinet, and a good cabinet for fighting games (it was used as the dedicated cabinet for Street Fighter II: Champion Edition). It has a slide-out drawer in front which makes swapping gameboards particularly easy to do.

However, it looks like someone has peeled the black vinyl off the sides, leaving the bare particle board showing (and applied sideart directly to the bare particle board). It is hard to tell though from those low quality pictures; it could be some type of laminate.

In any event, if that's the case, it is somewhat common with Dynamos. They used a black plastic or vinyl type substance to cover the sides and front, but it doesn't have any conventional adhesive on it (I think it was applied with heat or something at the factory). When it starts to peel on location, people tend to start ripping sections off it. Then the op says "screw it" and tears the rest of it off (usually with the intention of painting or otherwise refinishing it).
 
If you like it, get it. Don't be afraid to barter...

I agree. It does look like a nice cabinet. For me, the price is a little on the upper end of what I would pay, so if you can bring it down, that'd be great.

One thing to consider. It is a generic cabinet. I've found I'm always more satisfied with my purchases when I get a dedicated cabinet for a game that I like a lot. OR even a multigame system like a Neo Geo MVS.

Swapping for a different game would be easy. But, if you buy that with that being the goal, it's probably cheaper to just get a cab with a monitor and a dead PCB already wired for Jamma.
 
I'd like to add....if you are going to spend money for a game, the first one should be a game that you want. In other words, don't buy something you don't want just because you hope to make it something you want. Unless it's a simple conversion.

You don't want to be stuck with some boring game and have possibly weeks or months worth of work modifying control panels, learning to wire up new buttons, etc. It's good to learn all that. But the first one, it seems to me, should be one that gives you fun right away!
 
So far so good guys, lots of great tips... You guys are very welcoming to a new comer like me...

I do enjoy the game (Virtua Fighter 4), I would just be interested in maybe upgrading it to Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution...

As far as the black vinyl being removed from the side, it would be possible to add new black vinyl? and remove that sticker they added?
 
here are pics of what im considering, for a little under $400


http://i44.tinypic.com/2lsbfkp.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/rsfrte.jpg

Possible issues, maybe a broken speaker, coin op doesn't function properly... however, my friend works fixing slot machines and seems to be able to fix almost anything... he said he might be able to help...

Get it, looks like a good first game for you. It needs a little fixing up, so you'll learn, but not enough that it won't work. Plus it's a decent game, plus it's Jamma so you can play some other stuff in it, etc.

Go for it!
 
I've got it down to $300, and could possibly get it lower than that... its up in the air and I believe im the only one interested
 
However, it looks like someone has peeled the black vinyl off the sides, leaving the bare particle board showing (and applied sideart directly to the bare particle board). It is hard to tell though from those low quality pictures; it could be some type of laminate.

I thought it looked like regular gray formica laminate...
 
I thought it looked like regular gray formica laminate...

It could be. In the first picture it looks grayish on the front, but in the second picture it looks like the raw color of particle board on the sides and front.

As far as the black vinyl being removed from the side, it would be possible to add new black vinyl? and remove that sticker they added?

You can get black vinyl from various sources; e.g., from This Old Game. Alternatively, you could use black laminate (such as from Formica or Wilsonart) or paint.
 
That cab looks pretty good, it looks like the grey laminate/vinyl is still in good shape. I just fixed and sold one of these a few weeks ago. Solid cabs for sure. I like the pull out shelf, kinda cool.
 
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