Megatouch Aurora or JVL Echo

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Hi-

I am shopping for a touchscreen for my home bar. I am considering either the Megatouch Aurora running 2014 software or a new JVL Echo/Encore. Any advice or experience with either? Pro's & Con's? Which one should I get?

Thanks,

Arcade Newbie
 
Megatouch is out of business with no technical support or parts available except what you find on ebay. JVL is still in business and producing the Echo. Some parts are still available for the JVL Vortex and Retro, but not motherboards. If it's just a home unit, I'd find something used on ebay. Check out "davemanut" on ebay, or google "the megatouch store". It's run my Dave. He is an honest seller and does not sell junk, knows how to ship these, and offers warranties and tech support. He is your best bet unless your the tech type and want to try to fix a cheap unit up.
 
I own a Megatouch Force Radion (2011 software) and a Megatouch ION Evo (2014 software) and love both of them. I'll always stick with Megatouch, even though Merit/Ami is out of business, because that's what I have nostalgia for playing in the bars. JVL, to me, is just a knock off imitation of Megatouch -- but that's my own opinion. If you don't have any strong nostalgia or preference, I'd go with whatever you can find a better deal on.

The Megatouch Aurora runs on ION hardware which is used in not only the Aurora, but the Evo and RX model as well. I went with an EVO model because the price point on those is really good and non-working models pop up quite frequently for cheap. It usually doesn't take much work to fix these. If you're familiar with PC computers, the repair & maintenance is actually fairly simple. Motherboards (the last Intel model) are out there for cheap and are quite reliable. It doesn't take much to bulletproof these things either.

That's just my .02. Have fun! These things are a blast!
 
Thanks Claysred! I have been reading Dave's website. It sounds like he is the man when it comes to Megatouch. He also recommends Ryan Miller at Jester Amusements who actually has an Aurora on Ebay for sale right now.

Megatouch is out of business with no technical support or parts available except what you find on ebay. JVL is still in business and producing the Echo. Some parts are still available for the JVL Vortex and Retro, but not motherboards. If it's just a home unit, I'd find something used on ebay. Check out "davemanut" on ebay, or google "the megatouch store". It's run my Dave. He is an honest seller and does not sell junk, knows how to ship these, and offers warranties and tech support. He is your best bet unless your the tech type and want to try to fix a cheap unit up.
 
Thanks Jimbodeanny!

I have been leaning more towards Megatouch for the same reasons..I played them in bars in the day. What are you favorite 2014 games? What gets the most play?

Thanks!




I own a Megatouch Force Radion (2011 software) and a Megatouch ION Evo (2014 software) and love both of them. I'll always stick with Megatouch, even though Merit/Ami is out of business, because that's what I have nostalgia for playing in the bars. JVL, to me, is just a knock off imitation of Megatouch -- but that's my own opinion. If you don't have any strong nostalgia or preference, I'd go with whatever you can find a better deal on.

The Megatouch Aurora runs on ION hardware which is used in not only the Aurora, but the Evo and RX model as well. I went with an EVO model because the price point on those is really good and non-working models pop up quite frequently for cheap. It usually doesn't take much work to fix these. If you're familiar with PC computers, the repair & maintenance is actually fairly simple. Motherboards (the last Intel model) are out there for cheap and are quite reliable. It doesn't take much to bulletproof these things either.

That's just my .02. Have fun! These things are a blast!
 
Thanks Jimbodeanny!

I have been leaning more towards Megatouch for the same reasons..I played them in bars in the day. What are you favorite 2014 games? What gets the most play?

Thanks!

I'm still learning/discovering the new 2014 games. For me, there's a fairly vast jump going from 2011 to 2014 software --- lots of new titles/sequels. Overall, though, the same general games still get the most play. For groups/parties where several people are playing, I'd say Photo Hunt, Trivia (all types), Little Shop of Treasures, etc. With the newer games, Photo Hunt Expedition, Beer Pong, Skeeball, and a few others.

As for games that I (and others) enjoy playing solo, that list is quite long. I have a thread I started where I've been posting videos of my favorite games. Here's the thread: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=383031

Keep in mind that these videos I've been posting were recorded a couple months ago on my Force Radion 2011, right before I got my Evo and updated it to 2014. But after playing the 2014 software, I can say that most of the games I play the most are still the same, with some new additions. I'll be recording new videos of those newer games once I finish posting all of these videos.

Since my Evo is relatively new, everyone (including myself) is still discovering games, so it'll take me some time before I have some definite favorites. Some of the joystick games (Triple Crown Boxing, Beer Pong, Space Crusader, Luxor 2, etc) are a lot of fun and I really like the new Photo Hunt Expedition games, which are similar to Little Shop of Treasures. The newer, classic Photo Hunt is cool too, and is a bit faster, which I like. But yeah...SO many games to try out and get familiar with!
 
Maybe it is just my area of the country, but it seems like there are a ton of used Megatouch Auroras coming out of bars that can be had for a great deal now that owners are worried about getting support from Merit.

I picked up a 2013 model one not long ago for $100, just needed a clean up and a replacement halo since the original was cracked (common problem on Auroras) but almost any other part you might need is still carried by Suzo-Happ. For bullet proofing, I recommend replacing the old IDE hard drives with a newer SSD as well as replacing the ECS motherboards that came on most of the older units with a Intel D945GCLF2 as they are smaller, run cooler and are better build quality not to mention for me it was a direct drop in.
 
Maybe it is just my area of the country, but it seems like there are a ton of used Megatouch Auroras coming out of bars that can be had for a great deal now that owners are worried about getting support from Merit.

I picked up a 2013 model one not long ago for $100, just needed a clean up and a replacement halo since the original was cracked (common problem on Auroras) but almost any other part you might need is still carried by Suzo-Happ. For bullet proofing, I recommend replacing the old IDE hard drives with a newer SSD as well as replacing the ECS motherboards that came on most of the older units with a Intel D945GCLF2 as they are smaller, run cooler and are better build quality not to mention for me it was a direct drop in.

thats my exact problem, i'm looking for a $100 working unit too! and every seller is listing them for $500-2000 price. $100 all day any day. gimme dat megatouch!
 
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Maybe it is just my area of the country, but it seems like there are a ton of used Megatouch Auroras coming out of bars that can be had for a great deal now that owners are worried about getting support from Merit.

I picked up a 2013 model one not long ago for $100, just needed a clean up and a replacement halo since the original was cracked (common problem on Auroras) but almost any other part you might need is still carried by Suzo-Happ. For bullet proofing, I recommend replacing the old IDE hard drives with a newer SSD as well as replacing the ECS motherboards that came on most of the older units with a Intel D945GCLF2 as they are smaller, run cooler and are better build quality not to mention for me it was a direct drop in.

Must be just your area. I'd consider yourself very lucky to come across a working Aurora for $100. That's simply a rare deal and something that doesn't happen around these parts. Here, non-working IONs (all models) go for anywhere between $200-$350 most of the time.

I agree about replacing the SATA/PATA drives with SSDs and swapping motherboards. I threw the same Intel board into my Evo. That's the board I was talking about. Those boards are also cheaper and easier to come by as well. I would also recommend checking and replacing all of the fans to prevent overheating. I even added a slim 120mm to mine to cool the chipset a bit more and circulate the airflow.

I picked up my non-working ION Evo for $200. After cleaning it, replacing the joystick assembly, both bezels, replacing the fans, replacing the locks, switching to an SSD and upgrading to 2014, I'll bet I put another $350 into it or so. Not bad at all in my book for a unit that looks and plays brand new. 2014 keys are not cheap.
 
thats my exact problem, i'm looking for a $100 working unit too! and every seller is listing them for $500-2000 price. $100 all day any day. gimme dat megatouch!
That's pretty typical, Gleek. I wouldn't count on finding a working ION for less than $350-400. If you have local auction sites, you can sometimes find bar closings and sometimes find a deal. Around here, we use a site called k-bid.com which has lots of bar closing auctions. That's how I originally found the deal in my Megatouch Force. Otherwise I'd just be patient and keep your eyes out for non-working units. Many times it's an easy computer/PC fix (i.e. bad RAM, motherboard, heat, hard drive, etc.)
 
thats my exact problem, i'm looking for a $100 working unit too! and every seller is listing them for $500-2000 price. $100 all day any day. gimme dat megatouch!

Even $500 for a Aurora is a good deal IMO especially if it comes with a later year key considering there weren't a ton of game changes from 2012 onward.

Must be just your area. I'd consider yourself very lucky to come across a working Aurora for $100. That's simply a rare deal and something that doesn't happen around these parts. Here, non-working IONs (all models) go for anywhere between $200-$350 most of the time.

Might be as I have seen only a few pop up on craigslist probably like everyone else, but locally it really is mostly Vegas bars (especially the video poker ones) that seem to have multiple Megatouches in various condition that owners are getting tired of dealing with.

I agree about replacing the SATA/PATA drives with SSDs and swapping motherboards. I threw the same Intel board into my Evo. That's the board I was talking about. Those boards are also cheaper and easier to come by as well. I would also recommend checking and replacing all of the fans to prevent overheating. I even added a slim 120mm to mine to cool the chipset a bit more and circulate the airflow.

Yep, fan replacement is usually a must especially if used in a commercial location and the great thing about the Intel board is it doesn't require as much airflow therefore the entire machine can run quieter. The one downfall of that board is though it has less video memory and FPS is affected in some of the more graphically intense games (the pirate beer pong is one that comes to mind).
 
Thanks Jimbodeanny!

Your post got me real pumped for getting a Megatouch now..I think that is the way I am headed based on everyones advice.


I'm still learning/discovering the new 2014 games. For me, there's a fairly vast jump going from 2011 to 2014 software --- lots of new titles/sequels. Overall, though, the same general games still get the most play. For groups/parties where several people are playing, I'd say Photo Hunt, Trivia (all types), Little Shop of Treasures, etc. With the newer games, Photo Hunt Expedition, Beer Pong, Skeeball, and a few others.

As for games that I (and others) enjoy playing solo, that list is quite long. I have a thread I started where I've been posting videos of my favorite games. Here's the thread: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=383031

Keep in mind that these videos I've been posting were recorded a couple months ago on my Force Radion 2011, right before I got my Evo and updated it to 2014. But after playing the 2014 software, I can say that most of the games I play the most are still the same, with some new additions. I'll be recording new videos of those newer games once I finish posting all of these videos.

Since my Evo is relatively new, everyone (including myself) is still discovering games, so it'll take me some time before I have some definite favorites. Some of the joystick games (Triple Crown Boxing, Beer Pong, Space Crusader, Luxor 2, etc) are a lot of fun and I really like the new Photo Hunt Expedition games, which are similar to Little Shop of Treasures. The newer, classic Photo Hunt is cool too, and is a bit faster, which I like. But yeah...SO many games to try out and get familiar with!
 
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