Update on Rusty Quarters Retro Arcade & Museum, Minneapolis MN

Thanks for the suggestion, but I need the cashier station upfront, especially for our early bird Specials. That way I can take in our $5 Free Play cover charge (Mon-Thur, 12-3pm $5 for unlimited Play) when customers walk in the door and slap on a wristband.

philt80 said:
Congrats on getting closer to opening...

Just a suggestion, but I think I'd move that big fancy reception desk to the back and bring the games up to the front. It seems out of place there and your storefront might be better served by passers-by seeing games rather than the reception counter.

Just my .02

Congrats again....you've got some great looking cabs there :)
Click to expand...
 
Maybe it will look a bit better once you get some retro novelties on there closer to opening :)
 
all of the paperwork is submitted. We're hoping to get our license and permit stickers in 10 working days. Now I have to get to work on some machines before we open.
 
IMHO those pictures/flyers are way too small to be posted up there on the walls. I wish you the best of luck and hope you can make a profit at this.
 
UPDATE:

I recieved an email from the zoning board that everything went smoothy with our paperwork, but we're still waiting very patiently for our licenses and stickers to come in the mail.

Still really pissed off about recieving a shippment 10 macines; 8 out of 10 machines with "Problems". I've done all I can with fixing the minor problems. I've sent some emails about repairing 4 machines and recaping 3 before we open... but so far no responses. I NEED A REPAIRS FIXED ASAP. If anyone lives in the MN area and wants to repair some machines, let me know. I'm willing to pay cash. I do have one more guy to try but I have a feeling that it might be too much of a job for one person.

Even with receiving all of the permits and licenses this week, we won't be able to open untill I get this machines fixed.

Other than that drama, We talked and decieded to deal with used cartraidge games. Got some consoles coming in the mail, so we can test out the used games before buying and that customers can test them before well sell them. Aslo planning to sell Retron 3 Muliti-Consoles that play NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis games... Retails around $45-55.

I want to open... Kinda sick of waiting around or fixing problems.

In the meantime, check us out on Facebook or take a look at www.RQARCADE.com
 
morbidboy said:
Other than that drama, We talked and decieded to deal with used cartraidge games. Got some consoles coming in the mail, so we can test out the used games before buying and that customers can test them before well sell them. Aslo planning to sell Retron 3 Muliti-Consoles that play NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis games... Retails around $45-55.
Click to expand...

Make sure you read cwales "dumb customers" thread so you know what you'll be dealing with...hopefully customers in MN are smarter than in the southern tier of NY, but I somehow doubt they will be :D
 
Get ahold of Andre, aka Rhombus here on KLOV or email him.. He responds faster that way [email protected]. His website is www.arcadesolution.com

He does house calls-- good guy too.




morbidboy said:
UPDATE:

I recieved an email from the zoning board that everything went smoothy with our paperwork, but we're still waiting very patiently for our licenses and stickers to come in the mail.

Still really pissed off about recieving a shippment 10 macines; 8 out of 10 machines with "Problems". I've done all I can with fixing the minor problems. I've sent some emails about repairing 4 machines and recaping 3 before we open... but so far no responses. I NEED A REPAIRS FIXED ASAP. If anyone lives in the MN area and wants to repair some machines, let me know. I'm willing to pay cash. I do have one more guy to try but I have a feeling that it might be too much of a job for one person.

Even with receiving all of the permits and licenses this week, we won't be able to open untill I get this machines fixed.

Other than that drama, We talked and decieded to deal with used cartraidge games. Got some consoles coming in the mail, so we can test out the used games before buying and that customers can test them before well sell them. Aslo planning to sell Retron 3 Muliti-Consoles that play NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis games... Retails around $45-55.

I want to open... Kinda sick of waiting around or fixing problems.

In the meantime, check us out on Facebook or take a look at www.RQARCADE.com
Click to expand...
 
You should do a KLOV nite as well and get some of us at a central point to play some games and meet-up?
 
morbidboy said:
I NEED A REPAIRS FIXED ASAP. If anyone lives in the MN area and wants to repair some machines, let me know. I'm willing to pay cash. I do have one more guy to try but I have a feeling that it might be too much of a job for one person.
Click to expand...

I am a little hesitant to just volunteer to fix games without knowing a bit more about what games are having issues and what those issues might be. Was that listed in another thread?

I am willing to help predicated on what is wrong.
 
if you wer ein il and not mn i could help you out for free gameplay even man but youre just too far of a drive from me.
 
Dr. Kong, at your service

I'll happily help with any Nintendo game or (Nintendo) monitor issues. I keep Sanyo capkits on hand and roll deep with a Hakko 936 and an Aoyue 474A+ desoldering station ;)

I also have probably the most extensive B&K rejuvenator setup and adapter collection in the free world, so tube problems are cake.

I keep driving by wondering when the doors will fly open at RQ...
 
I made a list of what needs to be fixed but I'm kinda hesitent to post. I just didn't want to hear any trash talk about an arcade with broken machines. If you guys seriously want to help (which I really need right now and I will pay for this help), Let me know and I'll post the list of what needs to be fixed. as for myself, I've tried my best. some I'm sure are quick fixes, and a couple of recap jobs. I know in theoy how recaping works just kinda scared to take apart an monitor and putting it back... theres a couple that I just can't fix without professional help.


alejandromad said:
I am a little hesitant to just volunteer to fix games without knowing a bit more about what games are having issues and what those issues might be. Was that listed in another thread?

I am willing to help predicated on what is wrong.
Click to expand...
 
List of Repairs:

Space Invaders:
Works when it wants to. Either the game fully lights up or we get a lit up background with no gameplay, gameplay with no lit up background, or gameplay with no lights or monitor. Right now we have a lit up background and it plays, but no monitor image... I think maybe it just needs time to warm up to work (which most of the time, thats the case) but I would feel comfertible if it was look at it.

Frogger:
No Working Marquee. I don't know how to change the bulb on this one (I think from the inside)… just notice a slowly rolling picture, to the right (seems that it stopped).

Tempest:
Worked great for an hour. The Marquee flickered off and on. The screen turned off but the game was still playable. Then the screen would come on and off with image flickering or doubling of lines/graphics. Now only the marquee and coin mech lights turn on. Loose wires?

Burgertime:
Worked for a day, then the screen turned yellow with no gameplay.

Centipede:
On the First day, it played well. On the Second, the Roller ball would only go to right. On the Third day, the color blue was almost black. And on the Forth day, the screen was just full of pixals (but game does play)

Q*Bert:
Some days it would work, if not moved. It's not working right now. I'm assuming it's a loose wire or with the white plug killswitches/thingies. I need to replace the marquee light.

Galaga:
The bottom part of the monitor was unplugged. I fixed it, but the screen is a little blurry. Don't know if it can be fixed.

Ms. Pac-Man:
Would turn off/on with the slightest touch. Seems to be working now but would like for someone to give it a look over to make sure it's in 100% working order.

Mario Bros.:
No Red on Monitor? BLACK CRABS! Recap?

Crystal Castles:
A little blurry screen.

Joust:
Worked for 3-4 days then would come back to the shop with a weird pixel screen, problems with vertical hold, or a message that read, "Chip Error Ram 15". There's a little red LED on the CPU board that would read 1-1-5 when that happened. The message would come and go and then it just went away. Now the Flap Buttons stopped working today. I think the whole machine needs to be looked at.

Dig-Dug:
The screen image waves alittle and the control stick is alittle stiff.

Donkey Kong Red Cabinet:
Some of the pixels are black on the Donkey kong character. Marios feet placement is low. Just weird? New cap kit?

Donkey Kong Blue:
Dark Screen. New Cap Kit?


Thats all the things that need to be looked over. I can't do anything on Friday but ANY DAY OR TIME after that would be fine. The more people to help out with the repairs, the better. I am willing to pay for your time with repairs + Pizza (I want to learn to fix these machines better) but I'm not a millionare... just a guy and gal (my wife) that wants to open up a small local arcade for local game lovers. If interested, send me a privite message.

Thanks everyone for any repair help... for reals!
 
You need to get someone in there to at least teach you how to do a cap kit, you'll need to do them sooner or later on all of them. It's not as hard as it seems, it's just replacing one at a time. Take it from someone who has a bunch of these on for 10 hours a day every day, things are going to break and you're going to have to learn.. it helps to know a local with more experience (hi Jeff) who can point you in the right direction. I've only been at this a little over a year and knowing people who have been doing it for years and years is gold. Trust me, things are going to go bad all the time, it's just how it is.
 
It will take a while but you should be able to get these to be mostly reliable. It will be a constant battle to keep them all running, though.
 
First things first...if these are problems your having in your retail space...I'd start by checking the circuits you have the games on...make sure you have 120v (using a meter) and that these circuits aren't being shared by air conditioning or something thats spiking them. Sounds like you may have unreliable juice since a handful of your symptoms all sound simliar.

On the SI...put a new starter on the backdrop light, check/clean the 2 fuses on the power brick (remember to unplug first!), and on the power supply board to the left, check the soldering on the (round) diodes near the black plug. Chances are they may need to be resoldered.

My personal bit of advice is to definitely learn some soldering and cap kits. If you depend on these machines to be reliable, capping the monitors/power supplies will go a LONG way to save you some headaches. Also get a decent Weller soldering iron, not the junk radio shack sells. If your concerned about breaking a machine, buy a junk monitor chassis or get a trashed TV and tear it apart to practice on.
 
SO I'll be at the arcade on Sat, Sun, Mon, and so on... doing my best to get the space ready. if ANYONE WANTS TO HELP repair some games, that would be awesome!. I can pay for repair time and for parts and pizza... I'm not a millionare but let me know what your pay base rate for repairs. Send me a privite message or email me at [email protected].

Should I start an new thread about asking for serious repair help asap?

morbidboy said:
List of Repairs:

Space Invaders:
Works when it wants to. Either the game fully lights up or we get a lit up background with no gameplay, gameplay with no lit up background, or gameplay with no lights or monitor. Right now we have a lit up background and it plays, but no monitor image... I think maybe it just needs time to warm up to work (which most of the time, thats the case) but I would feel comfertible if it was look at it.

Frogger:
No Working Marquee. I don't know how to change the bulb on this one (I think from the inside)… just notice a slowly rolling picture, to the right (seems that it stopped).

Tempest:
Worked great for an hour. The Marquee flickered off and on. The screen turned off but the game was still playable. Then the screen would come on and off with image flickering or doubling of lines/graphics. Now only the marquee and coin mech lights turn on. Loose wires?

Burgertime:
Worked for a day, then the screen turned yellow with no gameplay.

Centipede:
On the First day, it played well. On the Second, the Roller ball would only go to right. On the Third day, the color blue was almost black. And on the Forth day, the screen was just full of pixals (but game does play)

Q*Bert:
Some days it would work, if not moved. It's not working right now. I'm assuming it's a loose wire or with the white plug killswitches/thingies. I need to replace the marquee light.

Galaga:
The bottom part of the monitor was unplugged. I fixed it, but the screen is a little blurry. Don't know if it can be fixed.

Ms. Pac-Man:
Would turn off/on with the slightest touch. Seems to be working now but would like for someone to give it a look over to make sure it's in 100% working order.

Mario Bros.:
No Red on Monitor? BLACK CRABS! Recap?

Crystal Castles:
A little blurry screen.

Joust:
Worked for 3-4 days then would come back to the shop with a weird pixel screen, problems with vertical hold, or a message that read, "Chip Error Ram 15". There's a little red LED on the CPU board that would read 1-1-5 when that happened. The message would come and go and then it just went away. Now the Flap Buttons stopped working today. I think the whole machine needs to be looked at.

Dig-Dug:
The screen image waves alittle and the control stick is alittle stiff.

Donkey Kong Red Cabinet:
Some of the pixels are black on the Donkey kong character. Marios feet placement is low. Just weird? New cap kit?

Donkey Kong Blue:
Dark Screen. New Cap Kit?


Thats all the things that need to be looked over. I can't do anything on Friday but ANY DAY OR TIME after that would be fine. The more people to help out with the repairs, the better. I am willing to pay for your time with repairs + Pizza (I want to learn to fix these machines better) but I'm not a millionare... just a guy and gal (my wife) that wants to open up a small local arcade for local game lovers. If interested, send me a privite message.

Thanks everyone for any repair help... for reals!
Click to expand...
 
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