One Room, Eight games

Phetishboy

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If you only had one small arcade room that could fit 8 games, which 8 would you put in there? Would you group them by theme, size, mfr, vintage, or something else? Just put in your favorite 8, random 8, what? I have a collection of 30 games, but am trying to populate my soon to be completed 'East Wing'. I have thought about: all Space-themed games, a Nintendo room, an Atari room, a random arcade room, a short cabinet room, a Jungle Room, an adventure room and a cocktail room. Now the room itself is being decorated with a space theme, but I only have 3 space-themed games, and 2 of those still need restoration. I only have 4 restored Nintys, so that would leave 3-4 open spots. I also have a lot of random, stand-alone one-off games like Outrun, Qbert, Tutankham, Primal Rage, Jungle King and Double Dragon. I also still have my main arcade room, but I am trying to open that up a bit more, and cut down on the wall to wall game look. I still have to fit my Pin, a Pole Position cockpit, a Golden Tee, 2 dartboards and a Red Tent in the main room, in addition to the 8-10 uprights that will still be out there. I thought this would be easy, but really, it is not.
 
Vectors are all you need:

Asteroids Deluxe
Battlezone
Gravitar
Major Havoc
Space Duel
Star Castle
Star Trek
Tempest
 
A good problem to have, but a very difficult question if you are sticking strictly to a theme, mfg, or aesthetics.

I have no idea what I would do.
 
If you only had one small arcade room that could fit 8 games, which 8 would you put in there? Would you group them by theme, size, mfr, vintage, or something else? Just put in your favorite 8, random 8, what? I have a collection of 30 games, but am trying to populate my soon to be completed 'East Wing'. I have thought about: all Space-themed games, a Nintendo room, an Atari room, a random arcade room, a short cabinet room, a Jungle Room, an adventure room and a cocktail room. Now the room itself is being decorated with a space theme, but I only have 3 space-themed games, and 2 of those still need restoration. I only have 4 restored Nintys, so that would leave 3-4 open spots. I also have a lot of random, stand-alone one-off games like Outrun, Qbert, Tutankham, Primal Rage, Jungle King and Double Dragon. I also still have my main arcade room, but I am trying to open that up a bit more, and cut down on the wall to wall game look. I still have to fit my Pin, a Pole Position cockpit, a Golden Tee, 2 dartboards and a Red Tent in the main room, in addition to the 8-10 uprights that will still be out there. I thought this would be easy, but really, it is not.

Sounds like a nice problem to have ...

If I had room for eight more games, they would be "random" favorites. The look of a Nintendo row is "just OK" for me ... I don't care about having a row of games if I will never turn some of them on (see Donkey Kong 3).

Steve
MM
 
Vectors are all you need:

Asteroids Deluxe
Battlezone
Gravitar
Major Havoc
Space Duel
Star Castle
Star Trek
Tempest

I LOVE this idea ... that would be a kick ass room!

... if you replace Star Trek with just about any other vector game. ;-)

Steve
MM
 
Eight?

Robotron
Galaga
Ms. Pac (maybe with a good multi-pac that has independent hi-score saves)
Battle Zone
Ghosts 'n Goblins (JAMMA so I could swap out my Rush n Attack with the adapter)
Tron
Satan's Hollow
EDOT
(Solar Assault if the EDOT's just too big)
 
If you could only have 8, I would say its probably best to put some of your favorites, and some that will please others.

I would put:

--NBA Jam (perfect party game, and is JAMMA)
--Ms Pac (for popularity reasons and w/ a 60 in 1)
--Donkey Kong (everyone recognizes it and you need to play it w/ the original stick)
--A driving game (Probably OutRun for my age group). Pole Position cockpit would be sweet.
--Quantum (every game room needs a cool vector game)
--The Simpsons Pinball Party (every game room needs a new Stern pin)
--Warlords cocktail (another awesome party game and it gives the room a cocktail game)
--Paperboy (freaking sweet, and it gives a cool game with unique controls)
 
Room

I would go with a common theme. Either all the same manufacture or all drivers or as you said all space themed. Possibly if you have some non classics or non ded games that is where they should be. Altered beast would fit in the non classic room.
 
If I could have any 8 Games

1 - 720
2 - BurgerTime
3 - Frogger
4 - Moon Patrol (for my wife)
5 - Theatre of Magic Pinball
6 - Cactus Canyon Pinball (for my wife)
7 - Hot Rod (4 Player)
8 - Robotron 2084

I only own 2 of those currently.
 
Asteroids Deluxe
Crazy Climber
Mr. Do!
Zoo Keeper
Astro Blaster
Ms. Pac-Man
SNK Machine (6 cart)
Frontline
 
Random Mix in both rooms, no doubt about it. I don't like the "Here are all my Nintendo cabs, and here is the Atari section, and all my vectors are lined up next to one another" look. I never saw it in the arcades, except when they had multiples of one game.

What I would/did do, is decide what the Crown Jewel games were and make them the focal point. The game you first see when you enter, the one that gets the good spot without a window behind it, etc. Then arrange what's left so 2 simultaneous player games like Joust or Space Duel are separated by a single player game like DK, so you don't have to be shoulder to shoulder if all games are getting played at once. Last, deal with any other issues like size, hard to get to power switches, etc.
 
--NBA Jam (perfect party game, and is JAMMA)
--Ms Pac (for popularity reasons and w/ a 60 in 1)
--Donkey Kong (everyone recognizes it and you need to play it w/ the original stick)
--A driving game (Probably OutRun for my age group). Pole Position cockpit would be sweet.
--Quantum (every game room needs a cool vector game)
--The Simpsons Pinball Party (every game room needs a new Stern pin)
--Warlords cocktail (another awesome party game and it gives the room a cocktail game)
--Paperboy (freaking sweet, and it gives a cool game with unique controls)



I only have 2 off of your list, and my Ms. Pac is already built in to the wall in the other room.

So Outrun it is.

List so far:

Asteroids Deluxe
Outrun
 
A small room that can only fit about 8 games is a good description of my classics room (and at some point it might be my "only" gameroom).

If I could have only 8 games and a small room, without a doubt, I'd have only my top 8 games. Going with all of one type/style or manufacturer doesn't really make sense and would mean a very narrow minded/boring gameroom.

Pick your top 8 games of all time and run with it. Maybe leave 1 slot as a rotating spot for your newest game or non-keeper game you just want to enjoy for a while. If a person isn't mostly satisfied having their top 8 games... I'd say they probably won't ever be satisfied, and they'll go down the path of having a HUGE collection of games, many of which won't work, will be in poor condition, or just won't get played often.

Wade
 
Damn.. I can't even fit 8 games in my room, let alone a 2nd room. This sounds like a nice problem to have.

I'd focus on the most used games, or showcase games..
 
I know you don't have these games, but since you have the new space you might consider a racer sit-down room with some fun sit down racing games like..

Off Road Challenge and Hydro Thunder. Add a shooter game like Area 51 and then throw in a Pin or two.




..
 
I have been trying to get down to a CORE GAME and stop there. I though 5 would be sufficent but I'm stuck at 7

Robotron (multi kit)
Cruisn USA
Whirlwind pinball
Gorgar Pinball
T2
Atari Star Wars (multi)
MAME

I am continplating selling the pins and building a Mini-Pin with Hyperpin to conserve more space.
 
I would put them in based on my personal preferences followed by the amount of play they get at parties.

Scatter them randomly by type. I don't recall any arcades that had them lined up in any particular order. So why do it at home?

As far as selection criteria:
a) If you have any rare/exotic games, those should be given priority.
b) personal favorites (you are going to be the one playing them most of the time anyway)
c) special restores, showcase cabinets. Any that were particularly hard to restore or cabinets that look cool.
d) party favorites. Multis, Centipede/Millipede and/or Ms Pac for the ladies. Popeye/Mario Bros or other cute games for kids. Warlords/Track/Joust & field for head to head party gaming.

Applying those criteria should get you at least 8.

It is a happy problem to have.

ken

PS: Where are you going to store the "losers".

ken
 
phet you should arrange them the way john cusack does his record collection in 'high fidelity': autobiographically.
 
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