WHY ON EARTH is Craigslist a HAVEN for "Hellcades"?

LeeB99

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WHY ON EARTH is Craigslist a HAVEN for "Hellcades"?

I swear, if you look on Craigslist for "Arcade", particularly in the Atlanta, GA area, it is a never ending SMORGASBOARD of -in-1 monstrosities. What a bunch of crap. Surely this is a sign that the people who make these boards are cranking these things out as fast as they can make them. How sad...
 
It's to be expected, the original boards are aging and some of the new multi-boards are fine.... the craftsmanship isn't in many cases... got some example pics of what your seeing? Many sellers are out there to make a quick buck and don't bother making nice cabinets.

BTW: Nice collection you have!! Post some pics sometime, would love to see your setup.
 
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I hear you. I just ran through your local Atlanta CL and saw quite a few of em. Worst of the bunch was that Centipede which looks great, but then has a horrible joystick mounted randomly on the CP. eww.

It sucks. Especially when you see really, really nasty looking cabs converted for $100 and they try to sell it as a $1000 piece of art. That Mr.Do/multi? That's case in point.

What you're seeing I think is what every other large city has as well. Up in the Portland, Oregon CL, we usually have a 20% spread of multi-games mixed in with standard arcade games at any given time.
 
I personally think the "uptick" from the 48-in-1 and 60-in-1 boards/machines is about over. New multi machines aren't leaving the stockroom floor at amusement equipment vendors here in CA (at least, not the ones I've seen). And they're now under a grand.

I saw a combo multi-arcade game / kegerator this weekend (get your beer and play your Centipede at the same time)! When you have combos like that, it tells me the novelty of one of the two ideas has worn off.
 
There's a few guys in the "Collectors" circle around here, that 48-in-1 everything they can get their hands on...thankfully they, for the most part, won't do it to any dedicated cab unless it's in "Too much to restore" shape and they don't try to turn thousand dollar profits on "I wiped the dust off and threw a board in" either.

I rarely see Hellcade junk around here, but when I do...boy is it ever!
 
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003853&id=1595661826

That is a direct link to photos of some of my collection. There have been a few changes since these photos were taken, but you will get to see a good bit of them in there.

Since space has become more of a premium, I am consolidating and have a lot of games that play multiple boardsets. The custom built PS3 based pedestal system using a 42" Plasma is a good example of this...

:ee
 
Craigslist is flooded with multicades around here. If they are not selling them, they are advertising that they will convert your cabinet for you. It seems most are not selling as they are relisting them month after month.
 
I think it's just people trying to turn a quick buck with minimal effort when they see the prices retailers are asking. They can't really compete in ebay sales but if they manage to snag the eye of someone who'd been looking to craigslist after getting sticker shock talking to a retailer at a couple hundred under what the retailers are asking, maybe they can snag a sale. There's still some multicaded stuff in DC craigslist but thankfully it's a lot less of those than it used to be. Even the prices of some of the dedicated stuff has been popping up reasonable from time to time.
 
I hope its over soon , I think they're really bad for the hobby . All those 60 n 1 machines used to be dedicated games . Instead of restoring games everyone just slaps a multiboard in and asks for $1000 . Lame...............
 
I hope its over soon , I think they're really bad for the hobby . All those 60 n 1 machines used to be dedicated games . Instead of restoring games everyone just slaps a multiboard in and asks for $1000 . Lame...............

Sure, if it's a restoreable classic. If it's a Dynamo, some other generic cab or a classic that needs more work than it's worth, I could care less.

Most peoples problem is, these guys are making money...and you're not.
 
My problem with the whole thing is that this is denying people from enjoying these games the way that they were meant to be played. A lot can be said for playing a game with the original controls and in the original cabinet. It really adds to the whole experience. People who have only played many of the more rare titles in MAME have NO IDEA what they are missing until they get a chance to play a game in the original cabinet. For me, it is a trip down memory lane, and it envokes feelings and sensations that remind me of a simpler time when our world wasn't so damn screwed up.

I feel like these -in-1 boards are akin to someone owning a fake Rolex. It costs next to nothing, is WORTH NOTHING, and leaves you feeling cheap and dirty for having it. You can sure fool someone who isn't savvy enough to know how it is SUPPOSED to be (just like with these chinese boards) but deep down inside, you know it just isn't the same...

Lee
 
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003853&id=1595661826

That is a direct link to photos of some of my collection. There have been a few changes since these photos were taken, but you will get to see a good bit of them in there.

Since space has become more of a premium, I am consolidating and have a lot of games that play multiple boardsets. The custom built PS3 based pedestal system using a 42" Plasma is a good example of this...

:ee


That gameroom is insane! One day my setup will look like that! One day.....
 
My problem with the whole thing is that this is denying people from enjoying these games the way that they were meant to be played. A lot can be said for playing a game with the original controls and in the original cabinet. It really adds to the whole experience. People who have only played many of the more rare titles in MAME have NO IDEA what they are missing until they get a chance to play a game in the original cabinet. For me, it is a trip down memory lane, and it envokes feelings and sensations that remind me of a simpler time when our world wasn't so damn screwed up.

I feel like these -in-1 boards are akin to someone owning a fake Rolex. It costs next to nothing, is WORTH NOTHING, and leaves you feeling cheap and dirty for having it. You can sure fool someone who isn't savvy enough to know how it is SUPPOSED to be (just like with these chinese boards) but deep down inside, you know it just isn't the same...

Lee

Dude, what a well-thought out and expressed view. I commend you on your statement. That being said, I've have done unspeakable acts of multi-ness to classics. I only will do it when arts are not damaged. If my cab is empty or the guts can be used by a KLOVer for restore than I go ahead. Shame on me. ;)
 
Sure, if it's a restoreable classic. If it's a Dynamo, some other generic cab or a classic that needs more work than it's worth, I could care less.

Most peoples problem is, these guys are making money...and you're not.

haha , I think anyone selling these multicades for $1000 is raping the buyer ,
 
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2003853&id=1595661826

That is a direct link to photos of some of my collection. There have been a few changes since these photos were taken, but you will get to see a good bit of them in there.

Since space has become more of a premium, I am consolidating and have a lot of games that play multiple boardsets. The custom built PS3 based pedestal system using a 42" Plasma is a good example of this...

:ee

That is just insane, I wouldn't even know where to begin playing. I'm guessing all of those took you a few years to round up, or you bring them back from the dead, or you have a really great paying job, lol.

Love the Division Bell - Pink Floyd poster on the wall, I saw that tour down in KC back in '94, good times.


Back on point, being new to the realm of arcade/pinball collecting, this was valuable information. I would've been one of those glazed over eyes type person going to buy my first game, if it wasn't for some of these threads I've read through to gather information. I can't thank the KLOV members enough for sharing their thoughts and experiences, didn't realize that a lot of the -in-1's were just slapped together bits. Good to know when I'm out hunting.
 
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I build some Multicades from time to time, but the first rule is....
The game is DEAD! If I get a game that needs more put into it than you could ever get for it, than a multi it becomes. Wait, dont boo yet. I keep all the useable parts for others I can save or pass them along cheap to help someone else save their grail. I do not think I have ever made more than $200 on any multicade I have ever sold. Also I have took a beating on some of the other games that I have saved. The main thing is that I have fun at it, witch I do!
 
those multicades machines ruined the already small market here. People used to sell cabs for a decent price, then a guy started selling them for 1500, 2000$ each. NOw, people are scrapping together craptastic cabs and reselling them for the same price. Shittastic empty cabs now sell for 300-400$, with notes like 'you can put a 80-in-1 board in it and gets tons of games for free!' when they used to be 50$ before.
 
haha , I think anyone selling these multicades for $1000 is raping the buyer ,

Cant say I agree with this statement. I've been building multis here in MN for about three years now and for the amount of time and money dropped into one done properly you may make about 300+ on a sale of a decent one that sells for 700-800. I know it's not all like that but I think at least I am putting out a decent game. I've only seen one get relisted on CL in that time.

And No i won't destroy a dedicated Classic only cabs that already have been gutted by Mr. Rhodes or someone else.
 
It is one thing to take a beat up "Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja" and turn it into a multi while making an effort to clean it up real good and give it a nice paint job, graphics, etc. It's not going to be worth much as an original Bad Dudes, but at the same time, taking an el-cheapo game that nobody wants and slapping an -in-1 board and trying to make a mint without making an effort to make the game look presentable is pretty lame in my book.

My original posting was not meant to be a commentary on people taking genuine classics (that should be restored/salvaged) and putting multis in them, but rather that I was SHOCKED at the sheer number of cheap to worthless cabinets that were being converted with -in-1 boards with no obvious attempt to make the machine look nice or presentable. It's especially bad when they take a jamma cabinet that has already been kitted from one dedicated machine to some OTHER jamma machine (with secondary artwork remnants) and THEN to a multi. Mismatched artwork, poor cabinet condition, etc. To ask more than $800 for a $50 cabinet with a $80 -in-1 board with no real effort to make the machine cosmetically appealing (hoping to trick someone who doesn't know the true value of such an item) is just wrong. I understand that people like to take advantage of an opportunity, by my opportunities don't come to me by taking advantage of other people.

As for my personal collection. I have a bit more than what is in the photos, but I haven't updated them in a while (except for the PS3 based pedestal with the plasma screen that I did over the holidays). I have been collecting games off and on since 1989, and over the years, I have only kept games that are in very nice shape or that I have a very personal attachment with. Some of them are home use only games and some of them I actually restored or modified myself. LOTS of them have multiple boards in them, while still being able to play the original game that the cabinet was designed for. Over the years, I have typically messed with collecting when business is slow or economic times are not the best. I suppose that it gives me something else to think about and work on. I have owned my own successful company for 18 years now, but as with EVERYONE (and people are LYING if they say otherwise) things have been pretty slow over the last 6-8 months. Which is probably one of the main reasons why I have been more active on here lately...

Lee
 
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