racerx

Or, How to Walk the Line Between Game Room and Divorce. So last February, after wanting an arcade game since oh, 1980 or so, I finally talked the wife into letting me pick one up for our family room. Come March, I found a good working Zaxxon for next to nothing. Sure, it'll fit. April. Radikal Bikers. The kids loved this game in a local pizza place. Had to have it. Meant moving the second game center upstairs to my son's room. May. Tron! My personal fave from my arcade rat days, and the one personal grail I had to have. Drove from north of Chicago to Louisville and back with #1 son as copilot. Plastic video game drums moved to spare basement room.

Finally got around to installing my Braze kit. Works like a champ, and the high score save and free play options are nice touches.

Oh my god...I laughed so hard it hurt. I love the Jag more than is probably healthy but that was funny as hell.

Definitely an homage to Walter.

They get a bad rap. These are mine, and I've never once had any problems with them. This was at MGC, also no problems.

Centipede cabinets seem to hold up really well. I recently picked up a non-working one as well, and it didn't take much to get her up and running again.

Don't forget Star Worlds in Dekalb.

I'd have to add the upright Warlords. The sideart is sweet, but damn...the blacklit 3D play field is to die for.

I know it's not a classic or anything, but I loved me some Paris-Dakar back in the day.

Damn, I should never have bought that. I've started something terrible.

Listed one of my extra units on eBay...trying to fund my new found arcade cab addiction. The generic RF adapter's nothing spectacular, but it does work...we used it at the Midwest Gaming Classic last month. eBay Auction -- Item Number: 230777143369

You know...it's a pity. I really wanted to like this game, but it's just completely broken. Hard to see how a PC version could've been any worse.

Not that it matters against these times, but I did get a 29.56 later that day...

Just throwing a few pics up before the wife makes me start putting everything away...

The guy's a machine! He played completely through my minty-fresh-from-Forhan Total Carnage twice. I'll be staring at his high scores on that game until next year, lol.

That was the blue box. I've got 16/50 of the "special" white box release...the last one of those I thought went for around $500, which makes no sense. It definitely makes one consider throwing it and BS:G on the 'bay while the loonies are out.

Blasphemer! Next you'll be speaking ill of Tempest 2000, lol.

Hey Carl, did you end up with a spot with the vendors or are you hanging with us at the Jagfest tables?

Yeah, no FMV.

No love for Jag CD?

Ah, Lakehurst. God, how I miss that mall. There's a super Walmart on that hallowed ground these days. I spent many, many quality hours in that Aladdin's Castle while my folks shopped. Hot Sam's was right next door and in the really early years Orange Julius was just across the way. Everything a nine-year-old needed in life.

We actually picked it up about noon yesterday...the guy took $240 for it. It works beautifully; I'd guess the monitor was replaced at some point and the motherboard looks pretty clean, too. Everything works like a champ except the coin mechs. Only the right side one works. The cabinet looks pretty good for a 30+ year old piece. The right side has a zig zig vandal-esque scratch but the rest is pretty clean. Not real interested in making it a MAME cabinet, I got it to have a vintage piece. I'll end up getting a purpose-built machine if I ever go the 60-in-1 route.

So, I've never owned an arcade cabinet before, but after 16 years of nagging, I've got the wife coming with me to check out a Deluxe Space Invaders machine this weekend. The guy's asking $275 and from pictures it would appear to be in decent shape. Any helpful hints or "gotchas" that we should be on the lookout for? I know it's probably a mistake and I'll likely get bored with it after a couple years, but I figure it's like a boat. Everyone has to do it at least once.

I'm not the original owner of this one, but my parents bought for me used in 1979 and I've had her ever since. NTSC/PAL/Sears/Special: NTSC Serial # (Ex: #54035V or #007649): 93660F MFG Location (Sunnyvale, Taiwan): Sunnyvale (Owner/AA Member), (Location= City, State, Country): Zion, Illinois, USA A/B Channel Slot (Yes/No): No A/B Channel Switch (Yes/No): No Functional (Yes/No): Yes Notes (Previous owner, display only, white sticker, parts fixed, green connector, Switchboard/Motherboard Revision #): White sticker, original Refurbished (Silver Label) (Yes/No): No