Which was better the USA cabinet or Japanese

Tighe

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I have noticed that for a lot of games that originated in Japan that the artwork for the cabinets was very different. In some cases it was better on the Japanese and in others better on the USA cabinet.

For example, Galaxian I prefer the Japanese artwork to the USA cabinet, notice the lighted player one and two buttons. Also the bezel is fantastic. The side art is properly positioned on the cabinet, and I prefer the mechanical look better.

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Galaga not so much, what were they thinking pink coin door, tiny side art and no kick plate art. Although I like the marquee and bezel more.

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Really loving that Galaxian! It gives the aliens more of a mech/H.G. Wells vibe. Kind of like how Space Invaders was partly inspired by H.G. Wells.

The same seems to apply to most things that are imported from Japan. For instance, console or portable games with special editions might get a bit more in Japan. There are exceptions though, like XSeed! Love what they do with their imports. I'm a huge Ys and Lunar fan myself!

Check out that King & Balloon Cocktail! I love that game on the PSP Namco Battle Collection! I like it even more than Galaxian. It has a lot of personality. The voice is funny too.
 
I have the old PS1 namco museum games that have 3D models of most of the Japanese cabinets... I'll see if I can grab some screencaps. The Dig Dug cabinet is hideous.

Also...
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What's up in the lower right corner? It's like an upright cocktail with a tiny marquee. Never seen a pic of one before, it would be awesome to see.
 
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I have the old PS1 namco museum games that have 3D models of most of the Japanese cabinets... I'll see if I can grab some screencaps. The Dig Dug cabinet is hideous.

Also...
What's up in the lower right corner? It's like an upright cocktail with a tiny marquee. Never seen a pic of one before, it would be awesome to see.

I'd have to find that photo... I swear I saw it a couple weeks ago. Maybe that mashed up cabinet is something like the genesis of the sit down games we see in Japanese arcades today. I believe one of the dedicated Dig Dug's was in this unique cab.

It's definitely stylish!
 
The US DDR X cabinet is a joke compared to the Japanese version. Rumor has it the US version was stripped down by Betson to the absolute bare minimum required to still allow proper gameplay. In any case, the US cabinet is missing pretty much all of the fancy lights that makes the Japanese X cabinet so iconic.

When Andamiro wanted to bring Pump it UP to the US, they had to redesign the cabinet because their SD cabinets too closely matched a certain infamous Konami patent. This new design was dubbed SX, and it had lighter pads that have a habit of migrating, and a much weaker sound system. (The deluxe "DX" model was the same version available everywhere though.) They later dumped both the SD and SX in favor of a new, upgraded design, the GX, which became the standard cabinet both in Korea and internationally.
 
I would kill for an original Japanese Puck-Man. That cab is the shit!

Agreed, I love that cabinet, in particular the bezel.

Seconded. And I kinda like the pink coin door on that Galaga.

I don't hate it, but it seems out of place with the orange t molding.


That is the Italian cabinet, which looks great, but has a different coin door, and the artwork has less colors.

Galaga not so much, what were they thinking pink coin door, tiny side art and no kick plate art. Although I like the marquee and bezel more.

The 80's that is why it is that pink color.

G12

LOL that is so true.

What's up in the lower right corner? It's like an upright cocktail with a tiny marquee. Never seen a pic of one before, it would be awesome to see.

That looks like the early precursor to the candy cabinet. I would love to see some of those transition cabinets around 1985-1987.
 
My friend here picked up a Japanese Space Invader's cabinet... it's awesome. But... I hate the joystick. ... and the purple UFO... but other than that I really like the Japanese cabinet over the US cabinet.

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I like that style of cocktail. I would definitely look for one and tweak the legs to sit extra low so it could double as a coffee table.
 
That Galaga is a scale cardboard model, which is why it looks so weird. Note it has no bolts/locks on the coindoor or speaker grill. The model was on display at the Pac-Man 30th anniversary event in Japan. Mine has a beige coin door.

That model of Dig Dug cabinet shown on the flyer was up for auction in Japan a few times recently.
 
That Galaga is a scale cardboard model, which is why it looks so weird. Note it has no bolts/locks on the coindoor or speaker grill. The model was on display at the Pac-Man 30th anniversary event in Japan. Mine has a beige coin door.

That model of Dig Dug cabinet shown on the flyer was up for auction in Japan a few times recently.

What Galaga is a scale model?
 
What Galaga is a scale model?

The one on the flyer with the pink coin door.

Attached a Dig Dug pic. These cabinets were built by Tehkan.
 

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