I'm done with repro control panel overlays.

[darinjacobs]

I hear you, that is why my Galaga still has it's cracked CPO, it looks more authentic. There isn't one repo out there that even comes close to the original.
QUOTE]

This horse still kicking? There are probably 6-8 revisions of the cpo. I suppose it all depends on which version you have. Ive gotten unsolicited feedback from collectors that mine is spot on. I personally wont go that far, but comparing the NOS I borrowed from Al Gross back in the day we came pretty darn close to perfect. Al had a ton of NOS art I borrowed over the years and he has was an operator for over 40 years before his passing and there werent even repros back then. So I know its genuine.

 

[Tighe]

I hear you, that is why my Galaga still has it's cracked CPO, it looks more authentic. There isn't one repo out there that even comes close to the original.
QUOTE]

This horse still kicking? There are probably 6-8 revisions of the cpo. I suppose it all depends on which version you have. Ive gotten unsolicited feedback from collectors that mine is spot on. I personally wont go that far, but comparing the NOS I borrowed from Al Gross back in the day we came pretty darn close to perfect. Al had a ton of NOS art I borrowed over the years and he has was an operator for over 40 years before his passing and there werent even repros back then. So I know its genuine.

I don't know if I have seen yours. I will check it out tonight!

 

[TheBasement]

To be clear, I used Baby Pac as an example of a cpo I was completely happy with and I thought you did a great job on it, I have no issue at all with it.

I'll give a +1 to the good guys. I also ordered a Baby Pac CPO from Phoenix Arcade and was very happy with it.

 

[retroACTIVE]

I hear you, that is why my Galaga still has it's cracked CPO, it looks more authentic. There isn't one repo out there that even comes close to the original.

This horse still kicking? There are probably 6-8 revisions of the cpo. I suppose it all depends on which version you have. Ive gotten unsolicited feedback from collectors that mine is spot on. I personally wont go that far, but comparing the NOS I borrowed from Al Gross back in the day we came pretty darn close to perfect. Al had a ton of NOS art I borrowed over the years and he has was an operator for over 40 years before his passing and there werent even repros back then. So I know its genuine.

The Galaga CPO I purchased from Darin is 100% spot on to the original one I had on my Galaga.

 

[Tighe]

I hear you, that is why my Galaga still has it's cracked CPO, it looks more authentic. There isn't one repo out there that even comes close to the original.
QUOTE]

This horse still kicking? There are probably 6-8 revisions of the cpo. I suppose it all depends on which version you have. Ive gotten unsolicited feedback from collectors that mine is spot on. I personally wont go that far, but comparing the NOS I borrowed from Al Gross back in the day we came pretty darn close to perfect. Al had a ton of NOS art I borrowed over the years and he has was an operator for over 40 years before his passing and there werent even repros back then. So I know its genuine.

OK I checked your CPO out and it is really good, although I am really picky and the font on the instructions is different. Yours is a Sans-Serif, and on the original I have it is a slight blade-like serif. You wouldn't notice these things normally, but it is something I can't unsee. I wish I knew what this font was, I am going to see if I can ID it. It is the same font as the large "fire" and "move" labels.

Yours:

Mine:

 

[joeycuda]

I can chime in. Avoid the Circus Charlie CPO from Mame Marquee's. Im sure he is using what he has. But the quality is horrible and blurry, so much that I haven't even put it on my Circus Charlie. Not worth the near $40 for it. I know there is a few others that have ordered that particular CPO as well and was disappointed.

Now a lot of his other stuff, like Marquees and such are pretty decent and top notch. So it must just be this scan of CPO.

;

Isn't it a given that - if the art isn't printed using the original method (usually screen printing), it's not going to be that great? I understand that there's a place for inkjet stuff, and that's fine, but I wouldn't expect it to be exactly like the original. I also think that since there are multiple revisions, if it's VERY close, colors are correct, and it's screen printed, then it's a suitable replacement.

 

[p1899m]

Isn't it a given that - if the art isn't printed using the original method (usually screen printing), it's not going to be that great? I understand that there's a place for inkjet stuff, and that's fine, but I wouldn't expect it to be exactly like the original. I also think that since there are multiple revisions, if it's VERY close, colors are correct, and it's screen printed, then it's a suitable replacement.

Although I'm sure silk screening is pretty much always better than ink jet in every way I would imagine that an ink jet print from a good original file (probably vector) would yield an image that looks excellent but does not hold up as well over time. I would even guess it could be colored matched very well as well but ultimately the original source of the art has to be quality. I think many of the files out there may be from scans and definitely not vector files. Probably not the best scans in some cases. I used to always say of MAME marquees, look at the pic on their web site. If it looks blurry or off then the product you will get will look the same.

 

[Technopope]

I wish I knew what this font was, I am going to see if I can ID it. It is the same font as the large "fire" and "move" labels.

ITC Newtext Demi

A knockoff version is downloadable here.

(be careful what you click on.)

 

[robotron911]

I'm picky as all hell when it comes to art...to the point where I have spent unreasonable amounts for some NOS pieces because repros were just bad or not available. I have bought alot of art from PhoenixArcade and Darin's stuff is as close to NOS as I've seen - including getting textures right. ThisOldGame does a real nice job as well - I have their APB seat art and sideart and it's really close match to the original. proK has done some real nice work too. Outside of that, I can't really say I've been overly impressed with the other art I've bought. The worst was probably the DKJr. instruction cards from Mike's Arcade - the colors aren't even close and the resolution is not the best. That being said, I would rather have that available than no choice at all.

 

[p1899m]

The one cpo I've always wondered about was millipede. Honestly I have no clue how accurate the art is but i know the texture of the repro cpo is completely different than the original. My original has a strange bubble in it but is otherwise pretty nice. I once bought a repro but sold it rather than applying it due to the difference in texture. I'm usually not super picky but to me this was a big difference. IIRC I think original marble madness cpos are the same material. Not sure about the repros as I've never seen one in person.

 

[Spyridon]

Dear Phoenix Arcade, This Old Game, Quarter Arcade, and others,
Please continue to make these high quality silk screened reproductions. We will continue to buy them.

Signed,
- a satisfied customer

 

[LyonsArcade]

I'm sure there are different opinions on this but i'm in the camp that I leave the original CPO or sideart on a game unless it's pretty heavily damaged, and then, I'm happy to get whatever the hell I can get. Even an 'off' color or missing text or whatever looks better than something that's got major pieces ripped out of it and is faded. When it comes to just minor nitpicky stuff like Darin saying some of his stuff is only 95% accurate, man, that's well, well, well into the area of 'good enough' for my taste. For instance a few months ago Darin was selling some seconds of items that he rejected for quality control reasons, I got the stuff in, and to be honest can't tell what the hell he's talking about. They look perfect to me. One had a minor little crease, about an eighth of an inch long that would flatten out once used. I guess that's what Darin calls a second but to me the thing looked perfect.

So to each his own!

 

[Ghostnuke]

giant f'ing pictures

Like Darin said, there have been a lot of revisions for Galaga art. I'm pretty sure the font on his matches up with one of them. It probably just doesn't match yours.

 

[modessitt]

I can chime in. Avoid the Circus Charlie CPO from Mame Marquee's. Im sure he is using what he has. But the quality is horrible and blurry, so much that I haven't even put it on my Circus Charlie. Not worth the near $40 for it. I know there is a few others that have ordered that particular CPO as well and was disappointed.

Now a lot of his other stuff, like Marquees and such are pretty decent and top notch. So it must just be this scan of CPO.

;

THIS! I also bought it and was unhappy with the product. I kept quiet, though, once I checked more closely what I bought and found I got what I bought. Apparently it was printed from a scan or from someone "over-contrasting" the file, causing the lack of detail in many areas. Someday, I'll vectorize one correctly for repro.



BTW - as for differences in art revisions, anyone who may wonder about that need only to visit the "Show us your Tempest CPOs" thread to see the many different versions. The repro you receive may not match the one you have currently. I know of others (Blue vs Purple Gyruss CPO's) that I'd be picky on, as I'd want the one I currently have (Purple)...

 

[mort]

Dear Phoenix Arcade, This Old Game, Quarter Arcade, and others,
Please continue to make these high quality silk screened reproductions. We will continue to buy them.

Signed,
- a satisfied customer

What he said, keep up the great artwork. I will always support you.

 

[OldTymeToys]

Dear Phoenix Arcade, This Old Game, Quarter Arcade, and others,
Please continue to make these high quality silk screened reproductions. We will continue to buy them.

Signed,
- a satisfied customer

Amen Brother.

 

[Kawydud]

Dear Phoenix Arcade, This Old Game, Quarter Arcade, and others,
Please continue to make these high quality silk screened reproductions. We will continue to buy them.

Signed,
- a satisfied customer

Couldn't agree more, thanks for all you do!

 

[Jeff F]

Another "agreed" here. I'm glad I didn't get caught up in the perfectionist side of the hobby. I think it helps that I remember playing games BITD so I have mental pictures of games that aren't perfect... some far from perfect.

I'll always replace overlays that are mostly missing or crackled to the point of hurting your hand(hint, hint Casey... your Centipede overlay can draw blood!). And once they are replaced... no matter how "bad" the reproduction is... I won't even notice them. I'll just play the game and be happy it's in my basement.

 

[darinjacobs]

OK I checked your CPO out and it is really good, although I am really picky and the font on the instructions is different. Yours is a Sans-Serif, and on the original I have it is a slight blade-like serif. You wouldn't notice these things normally, but it is something I can't unsee. I wish I knew what this font was, I am going to see if I can ID it. It is the same font as the large "fire" and "move" labels.

Thank you. Like I said, there have been many revisions of Galaga art. I made my first Galaga cpo back in 2002 from an NOS. Since that first run I did revise the corners that we messed up on. And we didnt punch holes for the joystick so you can use old or new sticks. That was a HUGE change for many people.

I honestly dont know if we slightly missed the font compared to yours. Or if we got it right compared to the NOS we used back then. But even you say its really good. Thank you for that.

If enough people email me with pics of their Galaga cpo and it has the same font as yours I would consider making an adjustment to part of the batch when we reprint. Because since this was first posted Ive gotten emails saying my font is right. Arrgh. I wish it was clear cut so I could just make one version and be done with it.

Thats why I get irked at some people who say "yours isnt original". Well original to your game maybe not, but to others it is. I cant make all the revisions out there unless its inkjet and Ill leave that to those guys since I screen.

 

[TonyH]

Dear Phoenix Arcade, This Old Game, Quarter Arcade, and others,
Please continue to make these high quality silk screened reproductions. We will continue to buy them.

Signed,
- a satisfied customer

I agree thanks alot guys
I will support these guys as much as possible. Any chance for a rootbeer tapped overlay
Not super picky I would be happy with Darins 85% perfect. Alot of the inkjets being sold suck in my opinion.