Do you think that kit-only games cheapen a gameroom?

RetroInjection

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Do you think that kit-only games cheapen a gameroom?

I am purchasing an Arkanoid cocktail, but I'm not sure it's a great move for my small gameroom, which I have tried to keep to dedicated cabinets. I love Arkanoid, but I really want my stuff to be "original." I know that Arkanoid was kit-only, and I think that the cocktail version is the least obnoxious way to go, but "least obnoxious" still doesn't sound that appealing. But again, I really like the game, hence the conundrum. Do you think that a kit-only game would cheapen a gameroom? I'm buying it one way or the other; I just don't know what I'm going to do with it.
 
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I am purchasing an Arkanoid cocktail, but I'm not sure it's a great move for my small gameroom, which I have tried to keep to dedicated cabinets. I love Arkanoid, but I really want my stuff to be "original." I know that Arkanoid was kit-only, and I think that the cocktail version is the least obnoxious way to go, but "least obnoxious" still doesn't sound that appealing. But again, I really like the game, hence the conundrum. Do you think that a kit-only game would cheapen a gameroom? I'm buying it one way or the other; I just don't know what I'm going to do with it.

I dont mind conversion as long as they are clean. I like a conversion that has a marquee, side art art and cpo and also bezel. Although I like conversions I dont like them in cabs like tron, star wars ect ect
 
Some of the best games were kit only, so I wouldn't let that deter me from getting a game I love. Put it in a nice cab with nice artwork - where's the harm in that?
 
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I wouldn't let it stop me. 99.99% of the people that visit your game room will have no CLUE that a game was"kit only". So as long as the kit was applied to the cab as it should have been by the op, its as "authentic" as any other "original" machine you have. IMO
 
I wouldn't let it stop me. 99.99% of the people that visit your game room will have no CLUE that a game was"kit only". So as long as the kit was applied to the cab as it should have been by the op, its as "authentic" as any other "original" machine you have. IMO

This is the reality of it. Nobody other than you will even notice the cabinet. Before I joined up here, I didn't remember what most of the old cabinets looked like.

I am in the process of putting together an Arkanoid for my gameroom. I love the game. I am putting it in an Atari cabaret cabinet that I am scratch building. It will sit right next to an Atari Centipede cabaret (with the Millipede multi-kit) and another 'custom' Atari cabaret or two of my choice. (still undecided on which one...)

The cabinets will look killer side-by-side and will all have brand new cabinets. Nobody will notice this but me of course. :) I just happened to track down an Atari cabaret CP that was already converted to an Arkanoid, so it will be a perfect fit. I personally don't think it matters. The Arkanoid at Funspot was in an Atari upright and looked great.
 
I know that Arkanoid was kit-only

Dedicated countertop.

The argument has been made that the Merit Supertop cabinet was designed to be fitted with multiple games, but so were the Sega Covert-A-Cabs - and people claim to have dedicated Zaxxons and Congo Bongos. My Arkanoid countertop had a PCB matching the serial number on the cabinet.

I think it's just a matter of the perception of "no dedicated Arkanoids" having been around for so long that people don't want to accept it. ;)
 
Arkanoid done right is a great game. Hey my Dragon's Lair cab runs Daphne which I do not think makes it cheap at all just reliable! As space ran out in my games room a couple of Multigames were needed! Currently I am going to change an Atari cabaret into a Team Play powered 3 in 1 centipede but I may even consider using an Arcadeshop Board instead of the Team Play board just so I can play Arkanoid. It will be 100% Centipede art but I would consider Arkanoids if I did not have the art already!

Michael
 
Did a "Kit" game stop you from playing it when it was in an arcade bitd? I don't think it makes any differece at all if it's a kit or not. If it looks good with the art work then go for it.
 
I really love my Raiden, even though it happens to reside in a former Ms. Pac-man. Not proud of that fact but I need to have a Raiden.
 
Some of the best games were kit only, so I wouldn't let that deter me from getting a game I love. But it in a nice cab with nice artwork - where's the harm in that?

+1

For real. What's all this "cheapen" stuff about?

To be blunt: are you picking up games because you love playing them or are you doing it for some sort of status? Status being the only motivation I could see for asking this sort of question. If that is the case, I need to tell you: you're missing out on so much good shit worrying about what others think.
 
Status being the only motivation I could see for asking this sort of question.

Yeah but sounds like he is going for a certain "theme" in his arcade, maybe he just wants to pick the Klov collective mind to see if a "kit game" falls in line?
 
Most Visitors wont care much for the original cabs, all they want is play the games; and lets be honest; most visitors will only try most classics once or twice and then they will move on to more modern titles
 
Only MAME cabs can cheapen a gameroom.

Your gameroom, your decision. Even in the 80's/90's, I didn't know about kits or JAMMA. It was obvious that Rush N' Attack in a Galaxian cabinet wasn't original, but didn't give it any other thought than that it was a new game to try.

I quoted this post because my vertical MAME cab is by far the most played game in my gameroom... Pac Man? Yes. Ms. Pac Man? Sure! Galaga? Yes? Donkey Kong? Yes. It goes on-and-on. All the games I don't love enough to own, but everyone wants to try.

People that don't know are always way more impressed with that ability than my really nice Asteroids or Defender. Go figure.
 
When I set out to buy my first game, I wanted a Mr. Do conversion in a Frogger-style cabinet. The reason: my local in-the-wild Mr. Do was in a Frogger cab back in the day, so that particular game/cab combination -- even with the wood grain sides -- had sentimental value to me. (I never liked the dedicated Universal cab anyway.) So to me, I'd personally rather have a conversion in that case.
 
I think it does look trashy to have games that weren't kits in other cabinets, like a Ms. Pac in a Star Wars or a Pole Position cockpit turned into a Frogger. But kit games were meant to go in other cabinets, that's the circle of life. No need to frown on it, that IS the 'original' way to play em, just say a prayer for the departed original game and enjoy it :)
 
I buy my games because I like them and not because I'm worried what others think about them. Hell my friends think I'm crazy enough for just buying them in the first place let alone as many as I have. None of them would notice the difference between a dedicated or conversion. It's your gameroom so it's your rules.
 
Most ops did conversions to put newer games in cabs that weren't making them money any more. If they did it right, they put on everything they were supposed to, including all the art. IMO, there's nothing wrong with conversion cabs unless they were done wrong or some sort of ridiculous conversion. They don't cheapen a game room, and as was said before, only you and hardcore collectors would know any different.

I've owned two Arkanoid: Revenge of DOH machines: a cocktail (sold to a friend), and a standup (currently in my possession). They both started out as Atari cabs (most likely Centipede machines) but the conversions have had all their kit art installed and have been pretty nice overall.
 
Depends on the game and how well it was done.

Mr do in a gorf cab? Yeah i miss that game but i dont miss that ugly pos...

I find that as i continue to collect my taste has changed. These days im all about the dedicated machines, and i do seem to be more concerned with condition. However i wont take a decent working game that looks alright but not pristine, and go spend $500 on artwork and paint anymore. Ive learned my lesson there.
 
I think if the game was ONLY available as a kit, and the conversion is done NICELY, then thats fine. The problem is many of the conversion jobs are hacked up messes. I also don't like to see rare, or low production machines be converted.
 
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