Retrogame Tips

In my never ending attempt find some tips for gameplay on the old classics I founds this nice tip site at retrogames.com.   http://tips.retrogames.com.    Check it out.

AG

Jukeboxes

Another nice addition to the home game room is a nice Jukebox. I have found the one from Game Cabinets to be one heck of machine. You can see the specs at http://www.execarcade.com/jukeboxes.asp. The machine includes a great touch screen panel and a large number of features and unlike a lot of the other alternatives in the market it is easy to upgrade since it PC based and it even has support to use your Iphone as a remote control. How cool is that!

AG

Build or Buy

One of the decisions that someone will make when looking to setup a MAME machine is should I build one or buy one. While building can seem like you save some money I have found that there are some very nice alternative that when you price them out make good sense.

A couple of options can be found at http://www.execarcade.com/arcade.asp. The Arcade Hits machine from game cabinets and the Arcade Station from Quasimoto can make a nice addition to a game room. The nice modern LCD displays and solid cabinets are better then the kits that I used and the controls are top notch. The Arcade Station's controls are made for game consoles but the Arcade Hits is made for PC with keyboard to control panel mapping already done. For this reason there can be use for both in your home game room.

AG

Classics vs Multi

Once you get the video game collector bug it sooner or later you will face the question of do I purchase and restore a classic game using orginal but old parts or do I use one of the Multi-Game boards that use new modern componets and provide many games in a single cabinet. So far I have gone down both roads. I have an orginal restored Q-Bert, a Tron Cocktail and an Asteroids cocktail. I also have two multi machines (a vertical and a horizontal). So far I find myself playing the multi mores then the classics and the classics have random issues due to the age of a lot of the componets. So I have found room for both in my arcade and I have a different sense of enjoyment from both. I enjoy the selection and reliabilty of the new multicades and I also enjoy the restoration process and satifaction from keeping some of the past alive. One thing they have in common - Classics!

AG

Classic Tip - Donkey Kong

After some motivation from the "King of Kong" movie I have spent many hours working to improve my Donkey Kong score.    So far I have managed to get to 176k.  Not great but a big improvement over my highest score prior which was 86k.    I just wanted to share a couple of tips that gave me the biggest improvement.    

1.  Control the barrels.   - On the barrel levels you can cause the barrels to go down the closet ladder by doing a quick move to the left with the joystick.  

2.  Learn when to make you move on the Elevator stage.   When you are at the top on the 4th Elevator stage you will see that there is only one point when to make your move up the ladder.   Wait for the highest bouncing spring and then make your move.   Practice this over and over.  (I used MAME and the "save" feature to help get a lot of practice.)

Hope this helps 

AG

Pinball - What needs to happen to keep it going

I find pinball to be a very fun time and something completely different from video games for a change of pace. Unfortunately the cost make these mechanical marvels and the high level of maintenance has put pinball very close to death. The talent of the designers from years past is very impressive and the I believe that everyone likes pinball so what is solution to the problem? How do you make pinball more affordable and reliable?

In my opinion the next phase of pinball need so be a upgraded version of what visual pinball has given us. A large LCD based playfield and LCD backglass that will provide a standard layout for endless games. With the cost of LCD dropping the impressive graphics cards availible today I would like to see Stern or Gene at Illinois pinball give this a real run.

I know many of you are thinking ya that was Ultrapin....well that is the idea but I think a pinball company with real pinball designers needs to take that idea and improve it and run with it.

AG

Does this joystick impress you? Then you are a old schooler

Legancy Engineering group has released a great rebuild of an old classic with some modern improvements. Nolan should be proud. Check out this great USB version of the Atari 2600 joystick. http://www.legacyengineer.com/

Hyperspin Review

After some surfing on Retroblast and it's review of a new Pinball Frontend call Hyperpin I found a very impressive frontend call Hyperspin. After downloaded and giving a look it is a very colorful and professional looking frontend. It uses XML files for it's database listings and it allows for a number of different display listing and can be very customized. The user community is growing and it many of the functions that require some knowledge of XML and INI files are being put into a graphical editors. Keep an eye on this one!




AG

Welcome Classic Gamers

After many hours and years of collecting this blog will share what I have learned and found in this wonderful hobby of classic arcade and console game collecting. I hope to share the many resources that I have found to save many of you a lot of time. Enjoy!

AG