Arcade1Up Machines - Who Are They For?

Today I'm talking about the arcade cabinets recently offered by Arcade1Up. I've reserved judgment until actually seeing these machines, and now that I have, feel comfortable enough sharing my thoughts and opinions. I also have a few questions.
Pricing Update
At the time I began assembling notes on this product the MSRP was $399. Most preorders dropped that to $299, and Target oddly split the difference at $349. This summer a well established KZbinr told me to never mention prices, because when they change, people will fixate on that and little else. Lesson learned the hard way. Regardless, I thank all of you for commenting and calling attention to this and providing your own opinions, as it has really helped to make the video successful.
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[@ToddsNerdCave]

Totally agree. Ikea grade arcade cabinet with what appears to be $5 ebay joysticks and buttons and questionable emulation. I haven't seen one in person, but I keep seeing these videos by these smaller channels who appear to have got free cabs from the Arcade1UP people and they just gush on about them. So of course you can't exactly trust them to be unbiased. Maybe I'll pick one up and check it out.

[@ScarletSprites]

Hey Todd, love your channel! A few of the videos I saw even mentioned the screen shimmering, and for individuals who I'd consider connoisseurs of video gaming quality, I was surprised how things like that were seemingly glossed over. Maybe it's me and I'm overly negative. Regardless, I won't be waiting at the door for a free delivery any time soon.

[@ToddsNerdCave]

Scarlet Sprites it ain’t just you brother. I’ve seen this trend too. There are quite a few gaming channels on YT who will freely overlook and straight up ignore negative aspects to products so long as the free stuff keeps rolling in. My favorite is reviews of the clone consoles with hdmi output who only display in 16x9 with no 4x3 picture option. And it’s upscaled composite video at that. So long as they generate views they don’t care.

[@ScarletSprites]

I'm trying to go to bed here Todd, you can't tell me things like that. That's what true nightmares look like.

[@ToddsNerdCave]

Scarlet Sprites oh man, I’m a chatty Cathy. Let me tell you another thing that grinds my gears: creators who don’t disclose paid/sponsored content or even make it clear that an item was sent to them for free for review. Saying “Big Bob’s Retro Game Shack” hooked you up isn’t exactly a disclosure. Pricks!

[@ScarletSprites]

Hah, that’s another thing I’ve picked up on as well. I can honestly say I’ve never received a dime or a product in exchange for a review or shoutout. Even the RetroTink 2X (which I genuinely do love btw) I returned and then purchased my own unit.

[@chestrendy]

In the first golden age of video games, every kid who blew their allowance at the arcade dreamed of owning their own machine. That's who they're really for.

[@Getoffmylawn_Gaming]

Ultimately in my view, the reason for 48" up right height is for the ability to sell these at brick and mortar retailers. Speaking as a 30+ yr retail mgr 48" are generally the largest dimension any retailer will allow for placement in a gondola. Those sections are 4' wide and retailers maximize sq footage and wouldn't use up 2/3 of one section for one item. Selling these in 2 PC units to get a 60" height would require 2 PC uprights the end user would have to put together, which makes them more structurally unstable, and then you'd either pass on the responsibility for side art placement on the end user, or worse having it split where the joints are. I think it's a smart business decision. Width could be addressed easily however with just a little bit more MDF but they'd have to be careful of weight. To offer site to home shipping most carriers have 70lb limits on boxed stock and at 63lbs on a 4' cab it's close already. They may not be for an arcade purist, but there are plenty of old ass gamers...like me that welcome this addition to the genre. Who's to say that if this succeeds they dont expand the line to cocktails or anything else. Bottom line is people arent buying these for the games, its strictly a nostalgia experience and I applaud them.

[@ScarletSprites]

Superb insight, thanks for taking the time to share that and the details. This is great info and insight into retail that a lot people (myself included) wouldn’t generally be aware of. This is the stuff I love to hear and learn, great comment.

[@Getoffmylawn_Gaming]

@@ScarletSprites you bet. And if every "detractor" and purist took your approach on talking points, there would be a lot less vitriol. I dont feel the company is trying to compete with those in the hardcore space. I'll be making a review on the Centipede cab pending delivery so I'll be able to answer the gameplay angle with the trackball hopefully next week

[@ScarletSprites]

Nice, that’s the one I’d be most interested in. Being able to add a “cheap” dedicated trackball setup to my lineup is a tempting proposition.

[@Getoffmylawn_Gaming]

@@ScarletSprites well I'm a very new, very organic (meaning stripped down) YTer but I don't think proper ettiquite allows for one yter posting links to his own channel on another's vids but when it's ready I'll find a way to let you know

[@ScarletSprites]

I have links blocked by default in comments. Feel free to message me or reply again when posted though and your channel is just one tap or click away.

[@SolBuster]

For me, who finds it actually impossible to own an authentic one. They are small but it's so that you have the ability to play sitting down. You can raise them. Authentic ones require too much work and maintenance. They are basically the GameBoy Micro of Arcade machines which is perfect for my Town House. The whole selling point is "Arcade for homes". And can own even more of them because of space efficiency. They might be small, but if you own like 3 of them side by the side it'll look freaking cool.

[@random_an0n]

brokie cope i own 2 real cabs with crts got em both for 300 pounds,transport cost pretty much the same for them both also,600 all together,that is like 2 1up cabs and i modded mine so they got EVERY game imaginable all running though huge CRTs and i live on the 3rd floor,stop making excuses

[@SolBuster]

@@random_an0n Cool. No one gives a shit. Bitch. *brokie*. Don't tell me. Andrew Taint fan?

[@kingdavid7516]

"My prediction is: you will see these start popping up on Craigslist, in about a year or so, for half the price" A year or so later, me just watching this video, checking my local Craigslist: *yup...* they hated him for he spoke the truth.

[@ScarletSprites]

Lol, they’re everywhere. It’s hard to do a search now for real arcade hardware without having these things spill into the search results. That’s the real crime.

[@GRORGvideot]

That might be true for the US but in Europe they are much harder to get. Here in Finland for example you can only find few different and even the basic Pac Man cab costs like 550€. No one is going to buy them and/or give them up for sale

[@white_meat_chicken]

@@ScarletSprites TOTALLY. I'm finally in the financial position to start building my own MAME cabinet, so I've been searching around for components I want to use and now I can't get Arcade 1Up videos to stop popping up in my feed when all I really want is some info on where to find a 27" CRT with S-video and power passthrough :D

[@GullySyde28]

Who are these for??someone like me...

[@Balaban78]

Me too. Got the street fighter 2 arcade cabinet

[@insanesockmonkey911]

Me too. I've got 2 so far and I'm planning on purchasing all of them.

[@fronanthebumbarian7506]

Same here

[@daddymulk]

Just buy a real jamma cab and fit a pc or rasberypi with 1000's of original arcade games, no need for more than 2 jamma cabs, one vertical one horizontal

[@KingAlexIII]

And me. I have 3 so far and want at least two more

[@InstruMentalCase]

I recently bought my first. I’m 30 so I grew up in the 90s when there was an arcade in every mall, but I have been a console gamer almost exclusively for a decade or so. To me, this MK machine offers something different than what I get out of my Xbox One / PS4. It’s nostalgic, it’s fun, it’s eye candy, and it’s something to play for a bit when guests come over. It’s also getting me into gaming again because I can turn it on and play for just a few minutes at a time, which I can’t say for the types of games I tend to play on consoles. With the riser, it’s a perfectly acceptable height for me, as I’m 5’10. I like the idea of owning an original arcade machine, but I doubt I’ll ever have enough interest to drop thousands of dollars and have to deal with the maintenance headache. If this thing fails, it sounds like there are relatively simple solutions, as the parts are cheap and easy to find. The modding community for 1ups looks pretty substantial, so that’s something I might look into doing eventually as well. And if I run out of space or get sick of playing it, I’m sure it’ll be pretty easy to sell and get roughly half of my money back, so then it’s like paying $150 or so to have fun with it for however long. To me, that’s a lot more enjoyable than buying a couple of new console games and then never finding the time or energy to play em.

[@Digimortal1622]

They are nostalgia items for people who used to play, and dreamt of owning one as a kid. I don't want the size, cost and maintenance factor of a full-size cabinet. The " do it yourself " mame kits dont have the artwork, so I think they have a hit on their hands. Surprised this didn't come to market years ago.

[@stunthumb]

Ohh this has everything to do with nostalgia :). People don't pay $300 on something they think they might like, they spend that on something they need, and nostalgia is one thing that bridges that gap between want and need. It will introduce kids to these games, but its the 30-50 age bracket that remembers these games who will be the target market. Nostalgia is a serious force. Hell, I haven't played a single PC game in a week... but I completed Parodius finally on MiniSNES, and played through Bubble Bobble with my mom last weekend. Nostalgia > Fortnite :D

[@AdamYJ]

The Centipede cabinet has a trackball! A TRACKBALL!

[@demonpride1975]

@@stunthumb i bought pacman and centipede, and the minute i set them up, i had a line up of my nieces nephews and their friends wanting to play, it warms my heart that the simple games i played as a kid, still are loved and i can share that with this generation.

[@whitezombified]

I bought one. Always wanted to get into buying cabinets but I'm not gonna throw down a grand for one. They are 299, at my Walmart anyway. I bought it so I can upgrade it with a raspberry pi and play limitless arcade games in the the convenience of a halfpint machine. Fits perfectly in my room and doesn't take up much space . And switching out the buttons and sticks is like butter if you want to upgrade them. All around it seems to be a good deal to me, for people wanting to get into the arcade game but don't have thousands to blow on a real one

[@r_a_w_g_e_r]

It's an entry level arcade cabinet. I've wanted a traditional cabinet but I've never had the space (or money) for one. These are perfect for their size, and especially the licensed artwork for the cabinets makes them great retro game decorations. The Mortal Kombat machine they just announced looks gorgeous

[@theceruleandolphin2829]

Having had a few arcade machines in the past, the constant and tricky maintenance of such old hardware became a real burden over the course of a few years. Honestly, in the end, it just wasn't worth the hassle. Arcade1Up's offerings by contrast, offer a nice middle ground between arcade feel and modern reliability.

[@random_an0n]

x to doubt real cabs aint hard to maintain especially if you mod em 1ups are trash and break down more than real ones lol the typical post of the 1up groups is "my X has stopped working on my cab" lmao open a ticket on their site and get free part xDDD doesnt matter you bought it 3rd hand on craigslist lmao!!! buy junk you get junk,even the chinese buttons are better than the ones in the 1up cabs lmao

[@vectony]

I got one and I'm super satisfied with it. One of the reasons I got it is because I wanted that arcade decoration feel to a room. I'm glad it's smaller then the original arcades because I actually have room to put it without it taken up too much space.

[@ScarletSprites]

Which one did you get?

[@vectony]

@@ScarletSprites The street Fighter cabinet.

[@alexxbaudwhyn7572]

Exactly. For actual home use, commercial cabs are just too big and heavy. These scale replicas hit a lot of the right notes for both nostalgia and vintage gamers, assuming they run the actual arcade rom code. Controls can always be upgraded as desired

[@KenMasters.]

These machines don’t feel the same without coin-cabinets. It’s like owning a large vault that can’t store anything at all.

[@dman1848]

I agree. Reason why I bought a proper lowboy arcade cabinet with working coin slot.

[@robertpierson6672]

Another benefit is less Power consumption. And anybody who wants to have an arcade game, and don't have a lot of room in their man cave, they are the perfect addition, without taking up.much space.

[@TheToyRoom]

Even though I don't really agree with everything you said, I really appreciate you expressing your opinion without completely bashing them for no apparent reason like I've seen most people do. You made some solid points, and just speaking for myself personally, I'm a collector. I have countless consoles and games and also nearly every version of Street Fighter II imaginable, and still plan to pick up the SF Arcade1Up cabinet. I think the cabinets are a really cool piece to add to any collection/man cave and extremely convenient for the price/size/weight/etc. when compared to legit cabinets. But I respect your opinion. Great video btw!

[@ScarletSprites]

Thanks for the comment. As you mentioned my opinion is really just that, an opinion. As a collector, adding another piece of something you enjoy is always exciting and if this does that for you, all the better. Enjoy my friend.

[@TheToyRoom]

@@realtalk2624 Lmao are you stalking me now

[@kingcreole310]

@The Toy Room i agree with you im a collector thats why im picking up the Galaga one so its just a show piece in my mancave that doesnt take up space

[@jamescantrell5639]

@@dragongamer2670 I don't know if I would call him a joke. Sometimes he's right, sometimes he's wrong. I just like his videos cause you can tell he has a true love for the things he does collect and not just in it for a quick buck. I've found cabinets online (as you have said) for cheap. Unfortunately, the shipping costs would make it way to expensive for my budget and anything around me that is cheap. Is broke, hallowed out or just a game I totally do not want.

[@nicknasty14]

@@dragongamer2670 Hmm, not sure about that. I also have primal rage and picked it up from Craigslist for around $450 I think. That was around 8 years ago. They should be going up.

[@skillmatey7144]

I actually like that they are smaller because they fit in my house. The gameplay is very close to my old arcade days. And lastly, it costs a lot of money to collect originals. This is the next best thing.

[@Losttouchjs]

Their $300 not $400! I pre-ordered the rampage cabinet. If the build quality is to my liking I’m going to build a mini arcade at the cost of what one original arcade machine would cost.

[@finjibuns]

In the UK they are £500 (600+ dollars) not great value for money for a product that is emulation in a cabinet you have to build yourself. For the same price you can buy and build a pre fab cabinet yourself and apply your own decals. On top of that you can connect a retro pie and have thousands of games. Pass

[@SpeccyHorace]

@@finjibuns They're £399.99 in the UK, and in fact at Costco two of the models are £339.99

[@tblank216]

How do you pre order these

[@erichatthebeehive1970]

I saw em for 225

[@scottboehmer1975]

A big part of the appeal of these machines are they are officially licensed and insured very attractive cabinets and feature controls which are mostly identical to the originals. Are they going to be the highest quality builds possible or exact replicas of the original? Of course not. But for a licensed, consumer friendly priced arcade machine, that looks pretty fantastic.

[@ScarletSprites]

The officially licensed part is huge, I agree with that. Overall I don’t think it’s a terrible product, just wish it was a little larger.

[@eskiasmcdaniels5648]

I got the nba jam arcade1up version and honestly with the riser it’s fine (I’m 6’3). I put it together in about 90ish mins. I don’t want a gigantic old school clunker arcade in my man cave. I appreciate what he’s saying but im one of those “not a gamer, but like the nostalgia” people he said are rarely around....

[@ebayroadshow6108]

This video needs more thumbs up. lots of great information shared here.

[@kiodiekin]

Ebay Roadshow yup lots of haters out there and I’m sure the company has media trolls downplaying real honest reviews

[@michaelrhinehart2194]

Just ran across your video when it popped up on the right side of my screen under recommended videos. I must say that you gave a very fair review of this "Machine". I built my own MAME cabinet with an actual 26" crt television and Happ controls. I had the itch to play the old arcade games from my childhood in as real of a setting as I could. The cheap controls and LCD on these things really don't give you that. Appreciate the time you took to make this video.

[@ScarletSprites]

Thanks Michael, much appreciated. That sounds like a solid machine you put together, and is impressive that you sourced a CRT for the screen. The Suzo Happ controls are a nice touch as well. Happy gaming, and thanks for the comment!

[@deuswulf6193]

Agree on the authenticity or lack there of... this is the first thing I noticed as well. I'd consider myself as part of the target audience, not a lot of room for a full arcade cabinet these days but old enough to have grown up in Arcades during the 80s and 90s. All I have left is nostalgia and an understanding that, aside from technical advancements, everything has pretty much gotten worse. Nostalgia can act as a coping mechanism for a lot people who look to the past to for their entertainment (older games, movies, tv shows..ect). The perk of these kinds of cabinets is they are low cost, but in terms of actual product and with electricity. They offer high accessibility. Its not perfect though, not enough to buy one now though the interest and willingness is there. They need to design the cabinets a bit better, and the selection of games is not good enough. If at some point users can add their own content (via emulation) then the value would go up considerably. Arcade1up missed out on some good design choices as well. Coin slots, even if it means using them as a start or select. Screen magnifiers which give the illusion of it being a non flat CRT monitor. LED lighting, and speakers on the top rather than next to the buttons. Actual hight without stupid looking booster sets is kind of a must. They can hit the right audience, but just didn't go far enough in the design. I know most of us probably want to see how these can be "modified", and want to see some basic, not necessarily expensive, improvements.

[@andycraig7734]

The market for this is loved-ones who say “this would be a great gift for Bobby!” when they see it at retail, not knowing of the downsides.

[@hangtimechills3461]

Since the time this video was made most of the problems have been fixed.

[@Tinfoilnation]

You're not even wrong. Saw one in an ad, thought to myself "Oh, cool!". Saw one to scale and thought to myself "WTF were they thinking?"

[@ArticulatorSK]

Very interesting perspective....I'd like to see a side by side comparison of the stand up original machines to all the remake smaller consoles in terms of graphics, game play, size, controls, etc...

[@danpenner79]

as a 37 year old that used to play street fighter 2 in the arcade im interested on getting one. that being said if i get one i will be building a bigger base to get it at the right height because their base still dont cut it. y because i would never spend the kind of money it takes to get a real arcade cab and i really would not want to go through the pain and work it takes to move said og arcade cab. and as for scan lines ... I'm glad i don't have to see them anymore.

[@ScarletSprites]

That’s a fair assessment, I can appreciate that. I love scanlines on old school arcade games, but I do have a new found appreciation for seeing modded consoles or even emulation render perfect pixels on a modern display. Glad to hear you’re raising this up a bit to suit your needs. Best of luck with that project, and I hope you enjoy your unit.

[@Superdimensional]

Dan Penner I don’t understand the infatuation with scanlines, I didn’t like them then nor so now.

[@kevinfishburne]

In my mind it's not the scanlines, necessarily, but the organic "filter" of the red, green, and blue phosphors and their chemical properties when illuminated by an electron gun (along with non-1:1 pixel AR's) which take an otherwise shitty-looking low-resolution game image and soften its edges. Retro gaming on a non-CRT display is like taking an icon and scaling it to full screen. The icon looks shitty, because it wasn't meant to be displayed that way. Also when brighter colors are used the unscanned lines get bled into. There are many seemingly organic and difficult-to-reproduce effects that a CRT televisions offers which, artistically and aesthetically, make more a far more interesting image than a LCD or LED (digital) display can offer without expensive/heavy shaders attempting the very same thing.

[@Superdimensional]

kevinfishburne neither of us are wrong, I just know what I like and I know even as a youth I would’ve preferred the look of LCD as I am a perfectionist and I always had issue with CRT for reasons of things like “pincushioning” off center, “bowing” etc. some CRT’s can look really good tho for why they are no doubt. I remember as a kid seeing the SNES demo kiosks in stores and being mesmerized at how good they looked and those were VGA computer monitors essentially

[@kevinfishburne]

Agreed. I like the shittiness/quirkiness, even over PC CRTs or PVM/BVMs. In the end, it is personal preference, as there are virtues on either side.

[@phillykid512]

If they have games that are not on gaming systems, then I think it's worth it. I would buy one if they had WWF Wrestlefest

[@brendanroberts7949]

My best tag team is the million dollar man and the ultimate warrior don't know why it works, just does.

[@phillykid512]

I liked Mr. Perfect and The Million dollar man

[@brendanroberts7949]

@@phillykid512. Good team work

[@rybelknap]

You can mod the street fighter 2 for it.

[@VERMISIMILITUDE]

Great video! I’m now a loyal fan of your channel! Thank you for staying perfectly how I felt!!!!

[@charleschase7945]

The audience is people who are hardcore and avid gamers who miss and long for the arcade experience. I want one because I want an arcade machine and this is new, maneuverable, and easy to get

[@MikeCroson9927]

Scralet...These cabinets are designed for people like me who grew up in the 80's and have not seen any proper replication to play these old school games. Everyone can commit on how these are "IKEA" construction but unless they have never experienced a true arcade setting there is no need for a comment.

[@liquidt3ch]

I wouldn't consider these proper replication based on the size and shoddy controls. your money though

[@jimmiejones8576]

I grew up in the 1980s and was in the arcades all the time. These look like fisherprice toys compared to the original.

[@jc1979af]

There are several do-it- yourself videos out there of folks building thier own cabinets to amuch higher standard

[@craigchuraman1340]

You know street fighter right? You know these are NOT the right joystick right? Even 1up said they ran out of time and had to use the ball top instead of paddle like it's SUPPOSED to have. So if you grew up in the 80's like myself, you should know better and not be a fan of at least the street fighter.

[@demonpride1975]

@@liquidt3ch you get a proper replication, and you might as well just buy an authentic arcade cabinet. while not the same, they are close enough for that feel of owning an arcade full of machines. i turn all mine on, set then to the main game, and the demo for all of them loop. i get a tear in my eye remembering all the fun as a child in the 80s i had, and it's such a good feeling.

[@jmogler]

I pre ordered two and I own three original cabinets, thousands of retro games and consoles several gaming pcs and all major modern consoles and handhelds. So kinda shows what you know. I dunno about the space you have, time to maintain and ability to move these behemoths around but mine are limited. The real hook for me are the centipede/tempest/quantum/major havoc controls utilizing trackball and dials. Goodluck getting that experience on a console. If you dont wanna fork over 2 grand on a centipede or tempest this is the next best solution. I think you're dead wrong on them flooding craigslist. In fact based on them being nearly sold out for pre order everywhere I have a feeling getting these this holiday season will be difficult at best. These will be great additions to the brighten up the game room at a fraction of the space, cost, maintenance with legit controls unique to certain games.

[@ScarletSprites]

Having a cheap dedicated trackball setup is an appealing option, the Centipede machine was the one I was interested in as well until I saw it’s size. After that, I just couldn’t bring myself to put it in a room with my other genuine machines. We’ll see what happens with the hype, this was a great time for them to launch and skim the early adopters and initial wave, see how sales go, and prep for holiday inventory. I’m really curious to see if there is lasting appeal. Also, there is an all original Centipede that’s been posted locally for $1200...very tempting.

[@northerntransplant6891]

30 days after their release they will be on Craigslist. The nostalgia only lasts so long.

[@Cloud4700]

I got a Final Fight A1U for $200. Mainly because I don’t have much room in my apartment and I love Final Fight. It arrived and I quickly modded the heck out of it. RetroPi, light up marquee, new controls, coin door. Sure I could have fit something like an Alphacade but it wouldn’t have the graphics I wanted on the cab and it would still be slightly larger. Works great for me. :)

[@bland9876]

Whenever i would see a fancy car my perants would always say "those cars are hard to drive in the winter time" and im like then why not make them just as easy to drive as the other cars?

[@Guernicaman]

I agree. The mistake they made was not including a USB port of some kind. That way, they could've gotten the emulation crowd to purchase these so they could add their own ROMs to it.

[@j0hncon5tantine]

They will find a way to do it anyway............

[@AdamYJ]

Because that's not promoting illegal game pirating at all . . .

[@davidalder2677]

If they could sell these in the 80s it would have been a much bigger hit.

[@joeivo911]

I didn’t realize how small they were till this vid. I will wait for s sale

[@ScarletSprites]

Agreed, these still definitely have their place. I’m skeptical of the lasting appeal though. I still say these will have a presence on Craigslist in six months to a year.

[@RedHorseAdventures]

Great review...you did it before everyone else learned about the monitors failing, the controls breaking and the spinner (lol) that clicks and doesn't spin, the paint wearing off, the roms freezing at certain levels, the roms running laggy, and the various scuffing discovered after unboxing...and yes, retailers like WALMART have already started deep discounting as low as $75 in some areas.

[@ScarletSprites]

My assumption has always been that there would be a wave of hype, which we certainly saw, and then a falling off afterwards. I’m not sure anyone could have predicted it would have happened this quickly. I expected the fallout to come post holidays once that initial wave of faithful had their machines, as I can’t imagine many people would continue to spend $300 for additional machines. The next thing you will start to see is the failure of this product blamed on people who called out the shortcomings, rather than simply acknowledging that it was a niche product that didn’t have a huge market, that then shot itself in the foot with quality control issues.

[@pipesfranco]

I agree....if its so small Kelsey has to kneel down...im out.

[@ScarletSprites]

That’s a pretty telling photograph, I agree.

[@Balaban78]

Or sit in a chair....or get the riser....

[@josephhale8924]

I think they are going to sell a billion of these ( by billion I mean very many). I think the purists are a small minority. I agree with your arguments but I just think most people don't care how authentic these are. They satisfy the nostalgia bug enough that they will sell. I played the real ones as a kid and after seeing these, I already know I'm going two buy two or three for my kids playroom so I can play these with my kids. I like that they are small and light. I like that they are legal and the original developers will benefit. I love the cabinet art.

[@234dilligaf]

If they would have built these machines full size, then they wouldn't have sold. These are perfect size for homeowners.

[@Plutonic_Blue]

The thing about MAME machines is the fact that many people get bored of them quickly. I used to have a MAME setup and would spend 5-10 minutes trying to find a game, would finally choose one and play for 10 minutes and get bored of it. The arcade1ups though come with true classic arcade artwork, super sleek finish, very nice joysticks IMO, and the LCD screen looks great. Seriously, for those saying "It doesnt have CRT and scanlines" please chill out. The LCD screen it comes with is very clear, HD, crisp, and colorful. Another thing, it's not "Cardboard with a screen" like people claim. It's actual Glossy wood with true buttons. I use the spinner for Tempest and it is perfectly playable for me. And also they just look great in homes. I have one in my apartment and it just looks so nice that I just stare at it sometimes. Simply put, the machine is for anyone that wants an arcade machine in their house, and it does the job. I built mine with the riser so I can stand and play, and to me it feels like I'm truly playing an Arcade machine. I'm 5'11" and I can stand and play the machine without it feeling small, so the whole size thing can be fixed by simply getting the riser that they sell and include with the 12 in 1 Atari. Unless you're over 6'4", you should be able to stand and use this cabinet comfortably with the riser. And unlike MAME, I feel like I can just appreciate the games so much more. I'm not shilling, just giving my two cents on the whole thing. They're good units and worth the money. I paid 375 for mine and I do not regret it.

[@Getoffmylawn_Gaming]

I and people like me are the target demo for this product. I made a vid on this very topic yesterday going over the main reasons. There plenty of room in the home arcade space for both these and full size 120000 in 1 mame cabs

[@MrPortwinestain]

Every time I have a Nostalgia itch it only lasts for about an hour.

[@patrickfitzpatrick7245]

These are for beer evenings with buddies and a few hours of fun with the kids. I like it and have pre-order for the European Street fighter cab. Solid points, but totally disagree that these machines dont have an audience. Good vid as always. Thanks.

[@ScarletSprites]

Fair enough Tomas, enjoy your SF cab!

[@alexmcdowell8868]

Two Bluetooth controllers Mame and every ROM ever made with an external hard drive don't cost a hundred bucks

[@demonpride1975]

@@alexmcdowell8868 and you don't get that feeling, these are nostalgia machines. they are not meant to be a 100% reproduction. my brother came over saw i had a pacman machine, realized it wasn't the actual cabinet, but he stood there for like 3 hours playing pacman, and said man that takes me back. that right there is a good feeling.

[@Inkflictionstudios]

demonpride1975 I agree, if I just wanted the emulators, I can do it on my computer/snes classic/ even my own phone. Having one of these arcade1up Cabs has been the best for Friday nights with the guys having a beer, blasting music and playing some classic arcade games. I used to think the same way about these cabs coming out but after a couple of years being out, they have been such a hot sell.

[@rocketsurgery8337]

I was thrilled when I had a Magnavox Odyssey (pong) when I was a kid and every kid in the neighborhood wanted to play it. Skip 45+ years later, these are perfect for kids and at a $299 price at Walmart it's hard to beat. FYI, $249 black Friday price for Galaga and Pac Man.

[@davidtodd3435]

Yes, I agree with what you said. I do have a couple of full size cabinets myself, and I was hesitant in buying one of these arcades. However, I bought one for myself for two reasons which was the rollerball for Missle Command, and the knob for Tempest. So, I decided to buy the exclusive BestBuy arcade that comes with 12-n--1 games and the riser. I'm looking forward in receiving and I will see in couple of weeks.

[@ScarletSprites]

The Missile Command/Centipede is the one I was interested in as well. I’d like to have a dedicated trackball cabinet.

[@mrbungle1990]

I respect your opinion and that was your disclaimer. Much of what you say is grounded in sound reasoning. One thing that is hard to argue against though is that they are selling like hot cakes. All of the online retailers have posted that they are sold out multiple times, meaning that they sell out, Arcade1up allots them more, and they sell out again. So these machines are appealing to some audience out there, and that audience is vast in number.

[@ScarletSprites]

That is fascinating to me really, but I’ll be more curious to see if there is a lasting appeal or if sales will die out once the hype does. I don’t think many people actually have these or have seen them in person yet. At one point many years ago, I asked how many people would seriously sit and watch a show where contestants sing and get judged. I couldn’t have been more wrong on that one.

[@mrbungle1990]

Haha yeah you are right about that. I'm interested in seeing the lasting appeal as well. I pre-purchased the Centipede and Asteroids cabinet. With me personally, my major concern is the sensitivity of the trackball and spinner. If these don't "feel" like I remember, I will be disappointed and I am honestly afraid on this one. Fingers crossed.

[@ScarletSprites]

Best of luck with that. I hope it works well!

[@bkmessiah1068]

They are selling just like Trump became POTUS! Watch shit change after it hits homes. Twilight and Hunger games were box office hits too, People in general are just FOOLS!!

[@Nightstroller34]

I played the Galaga cabinet today, at Walmart. The machine may be somewhat smaller, but it absolutely had the nostalgic feel to it. If I had a place to put one, I'd buy it.

[@boogiedownnyc]

These are for people like me. I did not spend alot of time in the arcades. However I did have fun occasionally playing these machines.

[@pasttimes3068]

You have a point, I have systems from when I was kid. I don’t have much left but you hit on the head! I remember playing these as a kid at CiCis pizza, my space is limited in my movie room, these are the reasons why I will buy the Rampage model.

[@Secular_Homesteader]

If they make one with WWF Wrestlefest I'm on it

[@plowking813]

respect, 100% agree, with so many options mame, pb, retro pie, actual arcade cabs why bother with 1up

[@quantumfx2677]

Just bought a full size primal rage arcade for 150. Very good condition. The guy through in cisco heat which the monitor doesn't come on. But for 150 for both Im happy with the price.

[@ScarletSprites]

Nice. The deals are still out there, you just have to watch and be patient.

[@wmx99]

I bought the Street Fighter 2 and PacMan with risers for cosmetic and nostalgic touch to my gaming room. I don't have the space or "gains" to move around full-size arcade equipment myself so I have the best of both where it satisfies my limited space and peace of mind I can move it myself wherever I want without much effort.

[@DIRTYYETTI]

I’m pretty much agree with your entire argument here but I am still getting one due to nostalgia and low cost. The height isn’t an issue that a cheap and simple quick trip to Home Depot can’t fix. The materials used on these cabs aren’t the best but aren’t the worst. Beside @ $300 you’re not paying for the best. What You’re paying for is aesthetics in your basement/man cave and accessibility to something that brings you back to the good ‘ol days that won’t break the wallet or your back @ 63LBS. Believe me I’m all about the oldschool classic cabs if you can find em in good shape but then there’s maintenance on old ass tech that nobody wants to hunt for parts for. I have a retropie and a hyperspin setup so I may end up turning my rampage arcade 1 up into a real bitchin machine for a low cost.

[@kiwisoup]

Who are they for? People that want to get a nostalgic fix without investing a lot of time and/or money. Of course there are better options but the people buying these just want something simple that works without much effort. I don't get why people act so dumbfounded why someone would want one. These at least look nice and I've seen a LOT of ugly homemade cabs.

[@montanaroots]

Kiwisoup, I think you hit the nail on the head there. I’m a purist big time. I’ve been working with Hyperspin for the last couple of years and now that Retroarch has added “Runahead” I’ve been dabbling in that as well. CRT-Emudriver allows me to run a multicade on an actual CRT (and better yet a Wells Gardner k7000 that I found on CRAIGSLIST) :-) The look on a CRT instead of of an lcd is amazing. It’s about as close as you can get to the actual arcade feel and have ungodly amounts of games in a single cab .... that being said here is the catch .... TIME. Time is invaluable to me now that I’m a dad. My son is 2 years old and the free time I used to have to tinker with Frontends and perfect resolution and frequencies for every emulator and game have gone out the window. Don’t get me wrong I still tinker with it in the garage every time I get a free chance but my 1 hour a night when my son goes to bed just doesn’t cut it when it comes to this kind of thing. My MAME cabinet is still in the works but the project has literally been in the works for 3 years now. I’d like to play some of this nostalgic part of my past with my son and that’s why I won’t quit my hobby. I think the ability to buy one of these units with no tinkering involved, just assemble, plug and play with my son sounds like the perfect thing to get him involved with my past. That and the fact that they are so small is perfect when he wants to have his little buddies play with him. When he’s older then he can saddle up to the big MAME machine :-)

[@montanaroots]

Lassi Kinnunen, Hi Lassi, I think if time is more valuable to you it’s a personal sacrifice 😆

[@kiwisoup]

@LegitProsOnly You clearly didn't read what I said at all.

[@kiwisoup]

@LegitProsOnly You don't get that it's not about the games themselves. It's the arcade experience. But good for you.

[@kiwisoup]

@LegitProsOnly Funny, I didn't see phones with emulators at the arcade either. Like i said, some people don't want to take the time, don't care about the price, or don't have the knowledge and skills to build one. Maybe work on your reading and comprehension skills. Every name cab kit costs more this this without all of the components. It's really not that expensive for something that comes with everything you need out of the box. Time is valuable to some people and they don't wanna spend weeks on some big project where effort and expenses and frustrations add up more than you think...only to end up with something that looks like they made it. The vast majority of homemade cabs look like absolute garbage.

[@Mlogan11]

Why would you get a sub sized arcade cabinet that's dedicated to just a couple of games when there's the option of getting a full sized cabinet where you can have 100's of games installed and at your disposal?

[@starmover]

I'm getting the Asteroids/Centipede Best Buy machine. I was 17 in '79, going to the arcade at the mall with my friends, and I've always wanted an Asteroids cabinet. I like that the trackball and spinner knob are built in. I like that it's small and doesn't take up too much room, and I like that I can just pick it up and carry it to my car and take it wherever.

[@Larry]

For the amount of space they take up, it's disappointing you can't add further games to them.

[@chriskingsborough4879]

ETA prime has this figured out

[@Scypher0th]

you can just convert it with a retro pi simple

[@voltz15]

You know I personally think they want to stick with whatever ridged mentality of licensed control they've always had over 3 decades ago. Problem is everyone has gone past that and they don't pay for licensing fees. Example of when time doesn't catch up.

[@comixof2morrow]

Raspberry pi

[@Jay84476]

@@Scypher0th you can also play the original games too if you need to aswell

[@maxinsano7376]

I can count 7 CRT's within 20 feet of my kitchen. I love "carrying them around", lol, and up 3 flights of stairs, Oh Yea!

[@ScarletSprites]

It’s a fantastic workout. Who says nerds are out of shape and don’t exercise!?

[@maxinsano7376]

I will say, you can actually get "conditioned" to carrying them. Lemme at it! My friends tell me I'm sick --- So, what, I choose to collect the heaviest damn thing one could want to collect. It's all for the Glory :) No, but to be real though...it is an unreal time where everyone is all about 1080P or 4K and people are literally throwing away excellent Sony Trinitron's and other CRT's. Certainly I wont let one go to the dumpster - not on my watch! I have a lot of home consoles and "need" them ("Precious").

[@ScarletSprites]

The added benefit? Having all of those and then the muscles they produce...really impresses the ladies.

[@laumpolumpio]

You said once that you sent one of your monitor chassis to "sharpimage" for repair, is their service trustworthy?

[@ScarletSprites]

I’ve never used them, but maybe called them out as a place I know others go to? When I’ve been stuck in the past I’ve sent my chassis to ArcadeCup.com, he has fixed two monitors for me. The wait times can be lengthy but there’s a reason for that; it’s quality work.

[@jessehoeper]

I have a wife and two kids and a smaller 3 bedroom house and I am a big fan of rampage I could easily buy all these machines and still comfortably fit them all in my office. I would love original but for me these are a great compromise for fun\size ratio.

[@Derrico13]

Nice shirt, dude!!!!!

[@aderek79]

In a way this is like a person with a garage full of supercars asking why someone would buy a $50,000 "sports car" . Real arcade machines are very large so they take up space many people don't have, they're very heavy, they're potentially very expensive to fix, and the buy-in per machine is a lot more than these kits. I think some of the people interested in this product might prefer a Raspberry Pi based emulator cabinet but they don't have the knowledge or skill to make one. They may not even know such things exist. My guess is that for some people with the dream of owning an arcade machine from their youth this is the best compromise available currently.

[@ScarletSprites]

You raise some valid points. I just know from my days of when I used to live in a one bedroom apartment, that something like this was never going to satisfy what I was really after. It’s definitely more of a compromise/hybrid solution, and for some, I recognize that that’s ok. I’m really just approaching this from the standpoint of asking potential buyers, “what is it you’re truly wanting?”

[@knm7889]

I personally like these options. I'm for nostalgia and what I loved as far as arcade gaming. These are perfect for people who can't afford the full size cabs or the original game play. You can adapt to these and make it fun, to bring back those memories of the 80s. You can always adjust the height, maybe not the width but worth the price. The feel of playing on an arcade again despite the size is awesome.

[@Trevdawg48]

Maybe I'm weird because I have an arcade collection worth over $100k and I still bought three of these.

[@salvation7362]

If they had sold these as kits with/without raspberry pi boards and blank marquees you could print out after... they'd sell millions. If they were priced accordingly of course.

[@escapatementalslavery8345]

I’m in total agreement with your views.Also I’m under the impression that there is no scan line filter and no dip switch setting (WTF)which would make them pointless and coupled with all the other concerns a hard sale

[@ScarletSprites]

No scanline options from any of the reviews I've seen, and yes, the lack of settings (particularly on SF) is a bit surprising.

[@digiprez77]

Honestly I think they are a decent value. I have built my own arcade cabinets and it isn't that easy or cheap, especially if you have to buy the tools and everything. The size factor is a bonus for anyone who can't dedicate their entire living space to video games, although I will admit it is too short. I would have to check out the quality of the controls and play some games to really make an informed judgement, but I certainly don't think it is a terrible idea, especially since I am sure it would be easy to stick a retropie in there. This is an easy solution for somebody who wants a cabinet but doesn't want the hassles. Pretty good game selection too.

[@joelendurance]

2 years later, I think it's safe to say that there's a strong market for these cabs. They aren't for the masses, but they keep making more and improving the quality of the product. I was born in 1980, and dreamed of having my own arcade cabinets since I was 5. I now own 4 Arcade1ups and love them. I bought 1 used, 1 on sale, and the other 2 I paid full price. I can't reasonably fit 4 full size arcade cabinets in my house, and I sure don't want to maintain them so these are the next best thing! I can finally play pac-man and ms. pac-man the way it was designed to be played and with the risers they are tall enough to give you that 'feeling' of a real arcade cabinet. I'm not a purist or a hardcore collector. I'm your average casual collector/gamer. These cabinets were made for people like me.

[@lustechsource5197]

Nice insight you have on the Arcade1up. Do you have any idea if it can be modded or hacked? For instance, can I put extra games on it? Can I install a Raspberry Pi or PC?

[@georgef551]

I believe the purpose of it's height is utilitarian in nature. If the height was 3/4 scale like the rest of it (per-se), the height of the controls would still be too low to stand up to, and too high to sit. They kept the height to 2/3 scale so one could sit down and have a comfortable reach of the controls, and a near dead-on look at the screen. With the riser, us shorter people may find it okay, but the screen angle may be a bit much. If I could change things, I'd make the riser another 3" tall, to get the controls at the same height of an actual machine, and angle the monitor back for a more dead-on appearance.

[@ScarletSprites]

There was some good info earlier about this. It sounds like there were retail restrictions around the sizes, and they were forced to reduce scale and offer the riser.

[@georgef551]

@@ScarletSprites That makes sense. It must be a coincidence it happens that the height is perfect for sit-down play. Then again, they want these things to fit in even a small car.

[@FishcatGames]

They are for people like Me.. who have always wanted an arcade cabinet in their home. if you build a riser they are regular height. My dream is to have an MKII cabinet. but I don't know how to repair or refurbish an authentic broken one. I am building my own bartop at the moment, but I'd buy an officially licensed MK, MKII, and UMK3 cabinet if they ever offered one.

[@mikeyfrye7]

Mk is the dream!!!

[@GullySyde28]

i would be down for MK...

[@j0hncon5tantine]

MK2!!!!

[@th33b33]

Yes, I'm hoping as well. Hopefully its a mk2 cabinet with 3 games.

[@CLOWEN2010]

That would be my dream cabinet as well

[@ncnsgaming1470]

Only if they come out with a ninja turtles one.

[@ScarletSprites]

Konami cabs would be tempting, agreed!

[@ScarletSprites]

james kirk Just because I have an opinion on these doesn’t mean that I’m totally blind to other perspectives. At one time I was very interested in the idea of a “cheap” trackball unit. Ultimately the size kills it for me, and I just can’t get past that. I certainly respect other people’s opinions though, even if I don’t necessarily agree with them.

[@taz4470]

I think Arcade1up is working on a TMNT cabinet that will have TMNT, TMNT2, and Simpsons

[@ShrimpZoo]

I think the size is key. If they were any bigger like 6’ tall shipping cost would be too high. They need to be small to be shipped on a commercial scale.

[@michelleerbaugh418]

I forgot to mention the fun I will have modifying, improving, and playing these cabinets, my favorite game was tempest, one of the rarer games out there in original form due to the monitor type that was in he machines, the 1 up 12 in one has it! But from what I understand game play is horrible due to the spinner provided.... I'm already working on the mod prior to even picking up the game!.... it will be fun making it the game I remember and STILL not putting out a fortune to make it happen!

[@ScarletSprites]

I've heard that people have worked on a spinner replacement for these, because like you mentioned, it clicks rather than actually spinning. I can see that there would be fun in modding as well, that's something that I'm always up for. It's the game within the game if you will. Enjoy!

[@TIDbitRETRO]

For me the height of the machine is a complete dealbreaker. I can overlook the other issues you raised, but the size of these machines is unacceptable for the price. Also, I 100% agree that the “3/4 size” claim is indeed bullshit. How the hell is an arcade cabinet that barely comes up to my waist 3/4 the size of a real cabinet. I hope someone steals their idea and makes a lot of money with it by doing it right. The concept is a good one, a slightly smaller, lighter, and cheaper arcade cabinet, it’s a great novelty idea. However that tiny thing they rolled out is worth $100 at most if you wanted to put it in some kid’s bedroom as a toy. It’s not fit for an adult’s game or family room.

[@fernandogodinez661]

I actually think they're dope... I'll buy the galaga one or the street fighter one.

[@futuramayeah]

it's not Street Fighter, it's Final Fight, something different

[@fernandogodinez661]

@@futuramayeah what are you talking about...its street fighter 2.

[@gabrielhamilton4595]

I love mine! I have the street fighter one. It plays great in my opinion, it is one of my all time favorite games and I feel its better than any other version I own. The arcade style controller just brings me back to when I was a kid and I smile every time I look at mine. I play mine comfortably from my computer chair with the machine sitting right next to my computer and my CRT with my classic game consoles which includes street fighter 2 for super Nintendo. I have always dreamed of owning a street fighter 2 machine and I was able to get mine for 300$! A dream come true!

[@gabrielhamilton4595]

Update: I was so hype about playing it that I did not even realize my cabinet and the corner of the screen was damaged also the paint rubs off very easily. I contacted Arcade1up and have not gotten a reply yet. so things to consider when buying. 1. check for any damage 2. the paint rubbed off after only a few days of playing

[@garrettchandler1948]

I can speak from experience that I got one just because it looked cool in Walmart. But now that ive had it and soldered in new leaf switch buttons I've become kinda obsessed with tinkering with it. The small size is a plus if you live in an apartment. The dream would be to own a gauntlet legends cabinet but that would run me like 3500 and I'd have to uhaul it across the country. So I'll stick to these smaller machines. I am looking into building a counter top cabinet at some point. I think arcade 1up has really brought this to the main stream. Building a cabinet is a lot of fun.

[@RomeGoLARGE]

I just bought one and it looks amazing in my ManCave

[@demonpride1975]

i have like 7 of these machines now, i bought 2 at first, and i have that feeling of an arcade. i turn on a light switch and all my machines come on. and the sounds of a bustling arcade take me back.

[@RomeGoLARGE]

@@demonpride1975 oh wow!!!! Nice! I'd love to see your setup!!

[@demonpride1975]

@@RomeGoLARGE i am in the process of moving, so when i get everything squared away i will get a picture to you somehow.

[@RomeGoLARGE]

@@demonpride1975 sweet I'm on Twitter and reddit

[@MrSteveonbroadway]

@@demonpride1975 That is awesome, that is what I plan to do, and let friends kids come over and play , like we did back in the day...

[@ericyoung3480]

My opinion changed 180 from the beginning of the video to the end. You made some very good and honest points. I didn't realize just how stupidly small they were. Thanks for keeping it real.

[@ScarletSprites]

Thanks Eric! Just my thoughts and opinions. I always want and hope people do what’s right for them, and not because they are persuaded by something said online. That said, I’ll always be honest and transparent.

[@artheen4713]

They're short, not small. 17" isn't much smaller than the original games, at least not for the early 80s games. Put them on a pedestal (or make one, or use a small table), and they're not far from the originals in size. Also, many of the buyers who buy them because of fond memories will now be in their 50s or 60s, and may want to sit down while playing. Making them shorter makes this much easier.

[@MADDSONN]

Eric Young you Sir need a mind of your own 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@2332gregor]

I bought one for my man cave and it's going to look cool, don't have the space for a full size machine. Love the nostalgia of it.

[@BouncekDeLemos]

I guess it's for the parents who want their kids to experience a fun little arcade cab since arcades don't really exist much anymore. Eh, I would get one just to do a MAME mod. :P

[@manishlimbu1]

"Who Are They For?" really? you dont know?

[@mixedhairless]

For me, Duh! Happy to add them to my arcade room , with actual real arcade cabinets. A nice addition, I might say so myself.

[@drtysan666]

I want one because it brings me back to to 90s plus not to heavy and it’s easy to assemble. Will look great in my game room, perfect size 👍

[@denforcer8874]

I like this guys no nonsense take on the review

[@bkmessiah1068]

I Bet with-in a year, someone will remake these with a legit size and a lighted Marquee.

[@devoinc1]

Lit Marquee is probably the most important addition for that dark arcade room nostalgia

[@jacksonwallace6211]

I bought the Atari Deluxe 12n1. I have a decent setup with a 21" SVGA CRT for emulation and console gaming, but I don't have a trackball or a spinner. I looked into what it would cost to either build or buy a new control panel and integrate it into my current setup, and I couldn't do it for less than just buying this cabinet.

[@ScarletSprites]

Agree on the trackball. I was interested in it because I thought it would be a relatively cheap way to add a dedicated trackball cab to my lineup. After seeing the size though I just couldn’t do it. Part of that is just me being picky, and I can acknowledge that.

[@jacksonwallace6211]

I have a 6 year-old, so I think it being 'his size' might help him get more interested in these old games. :) I think it'll be fine for me to play seated with it on the riser.

[@CameronRule]

What about buying it for the cabinet and screen then just modding the play 1000s of games?

[@bb32712]

We bought some for our business to use as an add on service. Great for a rental. Easy to move.. flexible with the size. Low cost investment and probably easy to fix if we need to.

[@ScarletSprites]

From what I’ve read, the company has been good about responding and assisting with issues too. Thanks for the comment Stephanie, and best wishes!

[@kevanharriskh55]

I think the street fighter one would look bad ass in my man cave. It’s size would be perfect

[@Nightstroller34]

As soon as they come out with one of these in DONKEY KONG, I'm getting one!

[@MyKil724]

I'm an old school gamer, i recall being 12 years old and hang out at the arcade (nostalgic) it was fantastic, very fond memories. I'm still a huge gamer, own a Gaming PC (that I Built) with an Oculus Rift, Gaming Laptop, Xbox One X, 2 Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3, 3DS, & a Vita. Also have both Nintendo classics. I love gaming (to bad the industry is in a bad money hungry funk, a topic for a different day) so I bought one of this machines, the arcade 1up Deluxe Atari edition and I absolutely love it. It definitely not a true arcade machine but it servers its purpose the cabinet looks great, graphic art is awesome, its easy to upgrade the controls and mod (Raspberry Pi or PC emulation). Plus they are smaller so you can have more machines in a smaller area and with the riser they are a perfect height (I'm 6.1"), You can create your own mini arcade (I now own 4 cabinets) I agree its not for everyone but with that being said, everyone that comes to my house loves playing on the machines and ask where i got them. Numerous people have bought machine after seeing and playing on mine. I also believe that for a few people they will be a gateway into the real arcade machines and that is good for the gaming community.

[@BetweenTheLyons]

I just picked up Mortal Kombat and TMNT for 200 a piece, I'm in the process of turning Mortal Kombat into a Mame machine right now and for that price, it's fantastic! It's basically an empty Ikea bookshelf with a LCD screen and a couple of boards. The potential for upgrades is very high and very likely 😁

[@ScarletSprites]

That is nice and seems to be a common theme. If you can get it cheap and are willing to mod and fool with it, it’s worth it. The 4P option on Turtles is a nice layout for a variety of old school arcade games.

[@dknotts30]

In my opinion, the people interested in buying one of these are the same kind of people paying 80+ for a nes/snes classic, and that's who these machines are being marketed to. I'd rather not pay that much for emulation, as good as it can be, I want the real thing.

[@grassroots15]

It's about the feel without the maintenance, that's it

[@arfarfcore3320]

Once you get your own arcade going it doesn’t require much maintenance unless you’re destroying it. It’s more about the feel without the actual work

[@matttwitchtv1531]

They have to be less than 60 inches (the box) to sell in mass marketing stores in the USA (walmart,gamestop)

[@mrburns366]

I bought a Virtua Fighter Cab a week ago.. The Nanao monitor is dead (vertical collapse) and the power supply is faulty too.. But I got it for $150 and for me, restoring and maintaining arcade machines is part of collecting and part of the fun :)

[@ScarletSprites]

That definitely can be a rewarding experience, and even a hobby within the hobby.

[@SmashJT]

Damn dude the video’s blowing up! Nice work!

[@ScarletSprites]

It’s always the stuff I least expect to, and half forget about after posting. Always.

[@SmashJT]

Hahaha right!?!

[@mutatedgenome]

I agree 100%. These caught my eye and was ready to purchase one until I saw just how small they are. Luckily I didn't bite as I know I would have had some serious buyer's remorse.

[@ScarletSprites]

It really is the size for me. I could get past all the other stuff, I just don’t like the height, the half-assed riser, or the lack of elbow room (width). It just doesn’t feel like an arcade machine to me.

[@xCrossBite]

If they were "full sized" bar-top style arcades, I think they'd have more appeal. Then I could reasonably set it on a table or counter.