Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with arcade

DIY Joystick Links?

jabberjaw — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:55:16 -0800

I'm building my own arcade joystick, and I could use some internet resources. I'd like to build my own arcade joystick - primarily for use on a PC MAME system. Unfortunately, I'm having problems finding decent resources on the internets. I know of suppliers - Happ & Lizard Lick for parts - but am otherwise shady on do-it-yourself instructions. Lots of links I've found on old MAME forums are old and broken.

Details on wiring, setup, design, parts - all of that would be super helpful. Although I am not mechanically or electronically inclined, but I'm good at following diagrams. Note that I am considering mapping the joysticks a USB board, but the keyboard PCB seems to be the standard.

If you have any knowledge on the topic, or can show me where to find it - deepest gratitude. Thanks for your links and help!

Name of the 80s soccer arcade machine?

n3rt — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:59:44 -0800

Does anyone remember the name of the 80s soccer coin-op arcade machine? It was of a similar size to a Gauntlet box, was up to four player and was a world cup type tournament. Sort of cartoon-y / manga-lite type of players; and my overriding memory of it is the scissor / bicycle kick. If it then exists in a PC/PS2/ROM collection so much the better! Thanks all.

Should I buy an Xbox 360 Arcade?

teem — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:46:47 -0800

Should I buy the Xbox 360 Arcade, or would a different model Xbox 360 be a better option for me? I want to play games. Based on the games I want to play and what other features I want from a console I've narrowed it down to the Xbox 360. However I've been out of the console loop for a long time and don't know which Xbox 360 model to buy. The Arcade is cheap (plus I can get a couple of free games with it -- regular games, not the bundled arcade games), but there must be downsides.

What I want to do with my console is, not surprisingly, play games. GTA IV, racing, FPS, and action/adventure games are my cup of tea. I'm not likely to use it for online gaming, and I'm not interested in my console being a media centre. That is, I won't be downloading movies or music onto it. I just want to buy games, play them, saving every now and then. Multimedia I can live without, but I'd hate to find that the cheaper model can't play certain games now or in the future.

As an aside, I used to be a big PC gamer and feel much more comfortable with the keyboard/mouse combo for games such as GTA or FPSs, so the possibility of buying and using those peripherals would be great. That said, I'll survive if it can't be done.

Any advice would be great, keeping in mind that I really have no idea about how things work on the Xbox 360.

Don't make me lie to a kid fer cryin out loud

shothotbot — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:04:14 -0800

Are there any arcades in NYC? My daughter loves the video games in the lobbies of movie theaters and I promised to take her to an arcade. Um, are there any in NYC? I heard about Barcade but she is only five. One that had Pacman and one of those awful use-the-claw-to-grab-the-doll games would be perfect.

The Cost to Play Pong?

nikkorizz — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:19:29 -0800

Arcade filter: How much did it cost to play the original Pong? How much did it cost to play the original Pong arcade machine back in the early 70s, United States?

Did you get a certain amount of "lives" per coins inserted?

Recommend a MAME Classic!

l33tpolicywonk — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:29:38 -0800

Recommend an awesome vintage arcade game for me to play on MAME! I'm looking to get back into MAME and do some great 80s and 90s gaming, but I have no idea what's good beyond some of the more obvious classics. I've read this thread but I'm looking for less of the modern stuff, more of the 2D simple arcade classics. I'm a big platformer and racing fan, but I also enjoy top-down flying games like 1941/2/3. Quirky, little-known arcade games welcome and appreciated.

If it matters, I'm running a 2 yr old Linux machine that ought be able to handle most graphical challenges.

Thanks MeFi!

Shooting Gallery

Oriole Adams — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:58:42 -0800

OldArcadeGameFilter: I'm trying to find a video/arcade game that my mom used to love back in the mid-1980s. About twice I year I used to take my 60-something mom to the Niagara Falls, Canada, area to visit friends/relatives and to just relax for a few days and get her away from household chores. One of her favorite things to do was to go the the video arcade at Maple Leaf Village. She particularly enjoyed a game which was technically a video game (I guess) since it employed a large screen (sort of like a big screen TV). It was a shooting gallery-type game, though, and instead of a joystick or similar control, the player held a toy rifle and aimed and shot at the animated characters on the screen. The graphics were not quite as crude as "Boot Hill," but not as sophisticated as, say, "Paper Boy." The game consisted of various types of animated creatures (some of which were bird-like) wandering across the screen. You shot at them. If you missed, a graphic saying either "Missed, turkey!" or "Missed again, stupid!" would momentarily pop up. The character worth the most points was a road runner, which dashed across the screen quickly (much like the submarine in "Sea Wolf"). At the end of the game, a MIDI file of "The Party's Over' played, unless you'd achieved a high score, in which case it would play "A-Hunting We Will Go."

Does this game ring any sort of bells with the hive mind?

A change for the better...

Blazecock Pileon — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:18:55 -0800

Where can I trade spare change for bills in Seattle, without fees? There are Coinstar machines in some groceries nearby, but they charge nearly 10% for their exchange, which is an utter scam. Back in Philadelphia, Commerce Bank has "Penny Arcade" machines that will collect change and exchange for bills without charging a fee. Are there any such similar services in Seattle?

Soon we'll be Living the Dream, but first: How to move an arcade game cabinet up the stairs?

fiercecupcake — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:03:48 -0800

What is the best way to transport a an arcade game cabinet (Ms. Pac-Man, if you must know) across town and then up the stairs? My partner likesuchasand and I are going to look at a Ms. Pac-Man arcade game tonight, and we are pretty sure we want it. One of the things I'm most worried about, though, is how we will get it across town (rent a U-Haul? Then how do you strap it securely?) and up the stairs to our second-floor apartment. Without breaking it.

The stairs are your typical apartment complex stairs: poured concrete in a metal sort of frame, with metal edges. Is this even possible? Am I trying to build the pyramids? Does my solution involve blankets, plywood, rope, what?

Assume several strong people, who will be rewarded with much beer. Thank you!

Do you remember this two-joystick arcade game?

allkindsoftime — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 08:12:20 -0800

Help me remember that arcade-game-name filter... Not sure if this one ever made it to any kind of home console, but I do remember pumping endless quarters into it at the local laundromat as a kid. For the life of me, I can't remember the name...

Details:

- This particular game had 2 (count em) joysticks, instead of a joystick and buttons. One joystick determined the direction your dude ran, the other determined the direction he fired his weapon in.

- The premise of the game was that you were a contestant in some futuristic game show where you ran around different rooms facing different obstacles (enemies) in a fight to stay alive and win cash (and prizes?).

- The aspect was that you were looking directly down at (i.e. from overhead) the given room your little dude was in at the time.

That's about all I got. Oh, except for that this had to be sometime in the 1985-1992 range, I'm guessing.

Super bonus points if you can find somewhere online that I can play it...

Where can this user find a Tron game?

lee — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:11:29 -0800

Does anyone know where I can find a Tron arcade game to play in the Chicago area? I know about MAME, but it's not the same without the stick, dial, etc. I watched the movie the other night and I must play the game.

Which C64/Amiga joystick should I get for retro gaming bliss?

lifeless — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:47:01 -0800

I'm on a retro gaming binge, actively hoarding games from simpler times, mainly through emulation (C64, Amiga, MAME mostly). I'm looking for a couple of good old-style digital joysticks for the perfect experience. Suggestions? I've already got the fantastic two-player X-Arcade joystick, but given its arcade-centricity, it's not the best fit for all types of games.

To try and remedy that, I previously bought the new Competition Pro replica USB stick, but I'm not happy with the way it feels and plays. Since then, I've been eyeballing the Stelladaptor Atari 2600 to USB adapter, given that C64/Amiga joysticks use an identical 9-pin connector and should "just work".

Trouble is, I don't know which joystick to buy, and where. I've only ever used Quickshots at my friends' houses nearly 20 years ago, having never owned a C64 or Amiga. They did the job, but apparently they weren't the most reliable joysticks you could buy. Tastes in joysticks vary, but any recommendations are welcome (Quickshots included).

Once I've got a list of joystick models to look for, I'll obviously scour eBay, but can you recommend any good retro gaming shops that would have the types of joysticks I'm looking for in stock? My Google-fu failed me, partially due to my lack of expertise on the types of joysticks available.

Of course, modern USB sticks are acceptable as well, provided they're digital, close to the original C64/Amiga feel, and not the Competition Pro.

Arcade game about a monkey

convex — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:57:20 -0800

Identify this old arcade game. When I was a kid I remember an arcade game called "JoJo", the story is in a jungle, about a man who was turned into a chimp, and he walks around shooting balls of fire from his mouth. I just can't find anything about this game, when I search for JoJo something totally different comes up. Help me find this game, or any info about it, it is driving me crazy!

Looking for "barcades"

gottabefunky — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 23:48:20 -0800

Looking for "barcades" (classic arcade games + bar/music) around the country. Basically places for those of us of a certain age to relive our childhood Saturday afternoons at the arcade, with the addition of alcohol. I've found ones in Portland, Brooklyn and L.A. Any more?

Name of an old arcade game?

colecovizion — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:52:54 -0800

Obscure Video Game Question: Arcade + Roller Skates + Final Fight I remember this old beat 'em up video game where it featured characters on roller skates/blades. The gameplay directly mimicked Final Fight. It was probably from that same era as well (early 90's). Does anyone know the name?

It'll shoot the lips of a cockroach.

absalom — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:55:29 -0800

Help me find an old (mid- to late- 80s), impossibly obscure, pistol-type stand up arcade game. [more] It must have been about 1986 or 88. I believe the graphics were straight up animated, and the gun is introduced as being able to "shoot the lips off a cockroach." (Or something to that effect) I remember one level where the player is riding in a cab shooting people while moving around a baseball diamond.

Radio Arcade?

joe_from_accounting — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 09:01:15 -0800

Audio Drama Filter: Radio Arcade? I'm looking for info and/or a recording of a four part audio drama dating from about 1989 entitled "Radio Arcade." I remember listening to it on local public radio in Minnesota when I was a teen and really enjoying it, but I can't find any info about the drama's production (other than it was produced by "E Radio Theater") or where one might find a copy of it on The Internet(s). Any ideas/info?

Please help me recall an old arcade game I played as a kid.

utsutsu — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:57:38 -0800

Please help me recall an old arcade game I played as a kid. The only things I can remember are:

- You played as a pirate and the game revolved around fencing.

- It was at least two player co-operative against many computer controlled enemies.

- Played like a typical side scrolling beat-em-up except that there was a button to change which direction you were facing. I assume this was to allow you to back away from an enemy while still pointing your sword at him.

- I played this at Chuck E. Cheese's around 1990-ish.

Thanks in advance for any help, this has been stumping me for quite a while now!

Video Arcades in Pittsburgh?

punkrockrat — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 10:11:15 -0800

Is there a good place to play coin-op video games in Pittsburgh, PA? I moved here a few months ago from Buffalo, NY. Whenever I got the itch to play video games I would usually hop up to Niagara Falls as they still had a few good, large arcades with great selection of games. (Bottom floor of the Skylon Tower)

Is there anywhere in the Pittsburgh area that may have a nice collection of video games that I can drop way too many quarters at?

Can you remember this arcade game?

Grums — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 02:53:14 -0800

I fondly remember an arcade game from my childhood at the local junk-food kiosk, but I can not remember the name. I have tried to search Google, but I have not found anything. The game, as I remember it, was a side-scrolling shoot ‘em up. You flew planes (1 player or 2 players) and on the ground beneath you dinosaurs where actively trying to kill you with their prehistoric might. So you had to wipe out all the dinosaurs once again, I guess. The game was colorful and cartoony and your weapon got upgraded with power ups. You saw the planes from the side, and not from the top, as e.g. 1942.

Can anyone else remember this game and its name?

Can I sell a custom-built MAME cabinet?

saraswati — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 15:25:17 -0800

Selling custom MAME cabinets legally? I understand that the MAME license doesn't allow commercial redistribution, but what if I built and sold a cabinet without installing MAME or any roms and the buyer is left to to do that themselves? Is that technically legal? If not is there any other way around it? I quite enjoy building the cabinets and I've had a few requests for custom ones. Is there any hope in making a little money on the side from my hobby?

Help us find a ROM!

jammer — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 20:12:54 -0800

Name that classic arcade game! You set fire to things. You're not supposed to burn yourself into a corner. That's... about all I remember. The end.

Please help?

1UP 4:3

Mr. Six — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 21:54:28 -0800

How did "classic" arcade displays evolve? After playing Ms Pac-Man on an emulator through an Xbox, the 4:3 CRT aspect ratio made me wonder if there was an evolution of arcade displays over the 70s, 80s and 90s for "classic" games — and specifically if there was any particular marketing or technological reasoning for the resolutions and aspect ratios chosen for games developed over the years. (For example, were "portait"-style displays chosen to minimize the arcade enclosure width and maximize the number of people that would spend money in an arcade?)

The Adventures of Captain Something in Space Whatever!

mzurer — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 12:16:57 -0800

Anyone remember the name of this classic arcade game? Each level started with a "Lunar Lander" type stage. The first stage was super easy, it just floated down onto the pad. Other levels you had to maneuver, and if you hit rocks, you lost a guy. After a successful landing, you would enter a maze which you had to navigate.

The graphics were line-based, not pixels (I guess this means it was a vector display).

The controller was a paddle, and there may not have even been any buttons. I think you lost a guy if you did not make it out of the maze in time, but you could pick up oxygen along the way to extend your time. On some stages you could pick up boots which reversed gravity, which made the maze simpler to navigate.

I used to play this in The Disc Shoppe in Mazza Gallery in the 1980's, if that helps.

My feeling is that is was "Captain Something" or "Space Whatever."

Please help me find the name of a side-scrolling arcade game

drgonzo — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 10:12:33 -0800

I'm looking for the name of/info on a mid-eighties side-scrolling arcade game... You played as a wizard (robes, white beard, pointed cap) who wielded a sword which you could swing in a 360 degree arc, controlled by a scroll wheel. You could also cast spells such as invisibility by collecting and using dragon eggs. (No it is not 'Dragon Egg'). I used to play this game all the time at the local arcade, probably between 1986 and 1987, but have never come across it again. Thanks!