What cabaret to get?

[tb lilley]

As far as I can tell the joystick (joy-spike?!) was designed without a ball. There is no thread on the top that would allow a ball to be screwed on, and the top of the joystick is slightly rounded off.

The diagnostics switches are mounted inside the coin door. There are three of these - momentary switches on the left and the right, and an on/off switch in the middle – I understand that this the same as on the full Williams Defender.

No, unfortunately, the marquee doesn't light up – and there are no fittings to suggest that it ever did. The (single) speaker is mounted inside the coin door.

Here are a few more pics of the inside of the cab. Nothing that hasn't been seen before, as far as I can tell it's all standard Williams gear – but posted here just for completeness.

Linear Power Supply (needs a recap!)

Sound Board:

ROM Board:

Book Keeping:

 

[pookdolie]

Why the heck didn't they build a Burgertime cabaret? Would've been the perfect size and theme for a restaurant or food business...

...or did they?

 

[Scott C]

Is there a Sanyo monitor is that Defender mini? The white cable looks typical of early Nintendo stuff.

As for the Burger Time mini, no, they did not. There were rumors some dedicated cabinets or conversions kits were made, but nobody has been able to prove that to date. The only BT mini picture I have ever seen looks to be a conversion and a single at that. I agree, that would have been a great game in a mini and would be in my collection today!

Scott C.

 

[pookdolie]

Is there a Sanyo monitor is that Defender mini? The white cable looks typical of early Nintendo stuff.

As for the Burger Time mini, no, they did not. There were rumors some dedicated cabinets or conversions kits were made, but nobody has been able to prove that to date. The only BT mini picture I have ever seen is a conversion and a single at that. I agree, that would have been a great game in a mini and would be in my collection today!

Scott C.

That's a cool picture! Did we ever confirm that this one was a conversion?

 

[davin72]

Ok what kind of trickery do we have going on here. Here is the exact same cab but as a Ms. Pac.

 

[pookdolie]

Nice find. Looks like that mystery is solved!

 

[Scott C]

Like I said, nobody has been able to prove it and this was clearly photoshoped. I haven't seen the original picture, so thanks for posting it. I just wish someone had made these. I recall seeing the Joust mini mock-up someone did years ago based on a real Robotron mini. It looks good too.

There are other games that should have been made in a mini/cabaret cabinet, but alas... As a side note, finding a 13" color vector is nearly impossible due to their limited usage.

Dragon's Lair, Space Ace, Burger Time, Star Wars, Astron Belt, Galaxy Ranger, Mario Bros., and too many others to count.

Scott C.

 

[davin72]

The BT photo may be fake but if you look close you can see that it is running BT. I know that doesnt prove anything but at least they went to the trouble of either putting a board in it or using a 60-1.

 

[davin72]

Its not like some of those you listed couldnt be made. DPtwiz is making repro cabs and I would almost think he could use his software to scale down a cab from what the upright would be. It would be costly im sure but it could be done.

 

[EVB]

Omega Race is pretty cool in the mini cab.

 

[ballytablewiz]

Actually, the BT image is only present on the BT "fake" pic, the "original" Ms. Pac picture has Ms. Pac on the screen. Just a very complete Photoshopper at work.

The BT photo may be fake but if you look close you can see that it is running BT. I know that doesnt prove anything but at least they went to the trouble of either putting a board in it or using a 60-1.

On a side note, I have been considering this empty Blue Print mini I am privy to, with BurgerTime in mind. Having cpo, marquee, and especially bezel, made in appropriate sizing, are the main cost factors holding me back.

 

[pookdolie]

Omega Race is pretty cool in the mini cab.

I agree. I didn't care for the game enough to keep mine, but it was a nice design.

 

[KazooBR]

Ok, so I'm not done considering my options but Robotron sure seems like the most interesting to me right now. I've never played it before but did on MAME and it seems great. Does the gameplay hold up over time? Seems like it's a favorite around.

For those who haven't seen this thread, here is someone that got a new in box one a year back for $2500.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=92183.0

That is one cool looking cabaret!

What's the going price and how hard are they to come by?

 

[savit4l8r]

Ok, so I'm not done considering my options but Robotron sure seems like the most interesting to me right now. I've never played it before but did on MAME and it seems great. Does the gameplay hold up over time? Seems like it's a favorite around.

For those who haven't seen this thread, here is someone that got a new in box one a year back for $2500.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=92183.0

That is one cool looking cabaret!

What's the going price and how hard are they to come by?

Plan on dropping about a grand if you can find one. I think that place up in Canada still has them NIB for an arm and a leg...

 

[KazooBR]

Plan on dropping about a grand if you can find one. I think that place up in Canada still has them NIB for an arm and a leg...

$2,000US + 13% tax ... or $2400 shipped to US. Considering that you'll spend hundreds on a restore that price seems not too crazy.

Jeez, I can't believe I'm trying to justify 2K for a video game. That'll never fly with the accountant of the household.

 

[pookdolie]

What's the going price and how hard are they to come by?

Mine put me back around $1300.

It didn't take me that long once I started being proactive in looking. I think it's one of those games people get rid of when they need some quick cash (and quite a bit of it).

 

[KazooBR]

I said I'd update once I made the decision ...

Well, I managed to get a deal worked up for a robotron cabaret. Problem is, it was in New York and I'm not. I had my brother pick it up as it was a couple hour drive from his house in Philly but he isn't gonna have any space to bring it back during his holiday visit. So, I guess I have a robotron mini but I won't get my hands on it any time soon

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I'll post pics when it arrives. It'll be in the restore group too as i've got some paintwork at a minimum to do.