Mame Vs The Real Deal...

EQDruid

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I know I might get alittle abuse on this, who am I kidding, Im going to get alot. But I was reading through some post's, and it seem's alot of people are just die hard Collectors.

That being said, I started out collecting console games since the first pong. Over the years systems would break, get stolen, ect. Only got back into collecting when I heard of mame, and how easy it would be to get back some of my youth.

My first cab was a mame. I helped build it with Scott at mameroom.com I love that thing. But I had some problems with certain games, and I wanted the real thing.

This wasn't possible a few years back, lack of Cash, Space, ect all played a roll in my collection, and me choosing mame First.

Now that I have the cash, and the space, I am picking up games that just feel a whole lot better with a dedicated cab. And had I not made my first mame system, I might not have come to where I am now.

Let's be alittle honest here. How many people here have played with a mame set up? I search craiglist and ebay for games I might want to buy, and if I forget what the game was about, I just load it up on the Mamecab just to remember.

With mame, I was introduced to games I never had the chance to play, from lack of ever seeing one, or not being able to afford to play. Hell, I just re-found one of my favorites with Gyruss, through mame.

I'm not sudjesting that mame is better then the real thing. But it sure is a good source for game info, play style. Not everyone lived near an arcade, or has the chance to play every game out there.

I for one will keep my mamecab, Till I can afford to buy out a Dave and Buster's, and open shop here in Las Vegas....

EQDruid
 
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I've got MAME running on my computer so I can check out old games I've never played or ones I've long since forgotten. Eventually (once all my project cabs are done) I intend to make a MAME cab for all the games that I would like to play in a cabinet, but don't have space for...

Where ever possible, I'll opt for the real thing, but I'll have a MAME cab rather than not be able to play a game at all.
 
There have been several comments/threads on your setup (awhile back) I think it's the nicest I've seen and you didn't hack up a cab to do it either. I doubt you'll get any flack.
 
I own 3 MAME cabs (25" horizontal, 19" vertical & a cocktail)... I love them. I also own 17 other vids, 3 pins, and a Super Six dart cab.

MAMEerz and classic collectors can co-exist... but don't start talking about destroying classic cabs to MAME them. That's worthy of the death penalty around these parts.

Oh...and ignore the few who have a stick up their asses and eschew all things MAME... most of them have never seen or used a MAME cab in their life.
 
I know I might get alittle abuse on this, who am I kidding, Im going to get alot. But I was reading through some post's, and it seem's alot of people are just die hard Collectors.

That being said, I started out collecting console games since the first pong. Over the years systems would break, get stolen, ect. Only got back into collecting when I heard of mame, and how easy it would be to get back some of my youth.

My first cab was a mame. I helped build it with Scott at mameroom.com I love that thing. But I had some problems with certain games, and I wanted the real thing.

This wasn't possible a few years back, lack of Cash, Space, ect all played a roll in my collection, and me choosing mame First.

Now that I have the cash, and the space, I am picking up games that just feel a whole lot better with a dedicated cab. And had I not made my first mame system, I might not have come to where I am now.

Let's be alittle honest here. How many people here have played with a mame set up? I search craiglist and ebay for games I might want to buy, and if I forget what the game was about, I just load it up on the Mamecab just to remember.

With mame, I was introduced to games I never had the chance to play, from lack of ever seeing one, or not being able to afford to play. Hell, I just re-found one of my favorites with Gyruss, through mame.

I'm not sudjesting that mame is better then the real thing. But it sure is a good source for game info, play style. Not everyone lived near an arcade, or has the chance to play ever game out there.

I for one will keep my mamecab, Till I can afford to buy out a Dave and Buster's, and open shop here in Las Vegas....

EQDruid

mame is not the real thing. Many times its better than the real thing. The fact that it allows so many games to be played with no fear of breakdowns makes it the much better than the real thing.

I have about 70 games in my collection and my mame cabinet would be one of the last to go. I am lucky in that since I have an electronics education, I am able to fix many of my games for the price of parts alone. I can't imagine how expensive it would be if I had to send off every last thing that has had an issue in the past 10 years. I do truly enjoy the old classics running on original hardware, but for the best bang for the buck you can't beat a well built mame system.
 
My first cab was a mame cab that I built also. Ultimately I knew that it never felt right so I started collecting real cabs. I did a good job with the cab but sold it for $500 late last year.
I would really rather have it play the original arcade version.

One thing I noticed is that I played like I didn't care when it was in MAME maybe it's the lack of seiousness with the credits and all... Maybe it's also the controls where often you have a 8 way and trying to get it working with a 4 way stick.... Special correct controls are the way to go.
 
I know I might get alittle abuse on this, who am I kidding, Im going to get alot. But I was reading through some post's, and it seem's alot of people are just die hard Collectors.

That being said, I started out collecting console games since the first pong. Over the years systems would break, get stolen, ect. Only got back into collecting when I heard of mame, and how easy it would be to get back some of my youth.

My first cab was a mame. I helped build it with Scott at mameroom.com I love that thing. But I had some problems with certain games, and I wanted the real thing.

This wasn't possible a few years back, lack of Cash, Space, ect all played a roll in my collection, and me choosing mame First.

Now that I have the cash, and the space, I am picking up games that just feel a whole lot better with a dedicated cab. And had I not made my first mame system, I might not have come to where I am now.

Let's be alittle honest here. How many people here have played with a mame set up? I search craiglist and ebay for games I might want to buy, and if I forget what the game was about, I just load it up on the Mamecab just to remember.

With mame, I was introduced to games I never had the chance to play, from lack of ever seeing one, or not being able to afford to play. Hell, I just re-found one of my favorites with Gyruss, through mame.

I'm not sudjesting that mame is better then the real thing. But it sure is a good source for game info, play style. Not everyone lived near an arcade, or has the chance to play ever game out there.

I for one will keep my mamecab, Till I can afford to buy out a Dave and Buster's, and open shop here in Las Vegas....

EQDruid


I dont see a problem with mame cabs as long as they dont look like shit. I have a mame and its in a dynamo cut corner 19 cabinet. I have kept it with only the buttons for the street fighter layout, so it looks as original a possible to a actual arcade game, all my other admin buttons are inside the coin door along with volume controls. i dont think they are bad, great for fighters, but i dont like the big ones people make with 80 buttons and trackballs and all, mine isnt so great for vertical shooters, centipede, and are 51 games an such but it gets my fix for fighters and such untill i can start getting dedicated games
 
I have to rely on MAME for anymore video game I want because my house has no more space for more video games. So I have to settle for MAME controllers. I'm in the process of building 2 MAME controllers so I can play Tempest, Stargate, and Tron. My Logitech Gamepad didn't work well for Front Line...
 
I would love a MAME cab, my only problem is I would want specific things for each game. Like mortal kombats unique button layout, trackball, 4 way, 8 way, 8 way fighting stick type. Then it becomes way to much to have on one panel. But people try it, and thats why theres a hate for MAME. the big airplane wing control panels
 
Well you can do what I did - design a swappable panel system. Works well, nice and clean, and simple. Granted, the dual joystick panel is on there 95% of the time but it sure is nice to be able to swap in a trackball/spinner panel, steering wheel panel, etc. on those rare occasions where I'm in the mood for playing something I don't own that uses other controls.
 
(raises hand) I haven't !! j/k j/k

hehe :) Yeah, you'll do fine as long as you don't can the classic cabs. MAME can be a good way to 'try' before buy. But I personally like dedicated cabs if you know what I mean.


Oh...and ignore the few who have a stick up their asses and eschew all things MAME... most of them have never seen or used a MAME cab in their life.
 
My first game in 2002 and the game I've owned the longest is my deluxe style MAME cabinet. I don't play it as much as some of my other games now, but it definitely shot me into this hobby. It was a conscious decision on my part to build a multi game system first, rather than pick up individual games at about half the cost, but with only ONE game inside.

Wade
 
I still play games on my MAME cab almost daily. It is right next to my desk, so it is nice to take a quick homework break. I went with a modular control panel so I can have the correct controls for any game I want to play. Most of the time it has a 4-way wico stick and 1 or 2 buttons, but it is nice to have all of the others when I feel the need.

This hobby started with MAME for me, and now I have 9 games out in the garage. I don't think I would have any if I hadn't started with MAME.
 
I built a mame cab back when they only had like 100 games in Mame. It began before I started collecting. It probably kickstarted my collecting, when I realized I COULD buy one of these awesome games. I still have my Mame cab, it will probably never go anywhere. Its been through many computer upgrades over the years. However, I will say nothing beats an original game cab.
 
You guys have seen his shit right? I won't post the link, I'll let him do it. His mame setup is nuts!!

He damn sure isn't new to this.
 
I really don't think that anyone on this forum, hates MAME for what it is, or hates the people that use/build them. When MAME gets alot of flack, is when A) It's done extremely poorly, with no real thought put into design or conception, and B) when it comes at the price of a classic game. Regardless of what the website is called, this forum is for the restoration and preservation of classic(and some not so classic) arcade games.

Many people here would rather see the games restored to thier former glory, then see it MAME'd because MAME cabs have a bad reputation for being shit, and custom cabs have a reputation for being just as bad. When someone shows up with a MAME that was competently designed, I don't think anyone here is going to hate on them JUST because it's MAME.
 
I've got MAME running on my computer so I can check out old games I've never played or ones I've long since forgotten. Eventually (once all my project cabs are done) I intend to make a MAME cab for all the games that I would like to play in a cabinet, but don't have space for...

Where ever possible, I'll opt for the real thing, but I'll have a MAME cab rather than not be able to play a game at all.

I play lots of familiar and unfamiliar games on MAME,it's great! But for some of my very favorite games,I just want to own the original because nothing beats owning the real deal!

Btw Cliffo...love love LOVE the new avatar! Yes sir!
 
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