How many are interested in playing ANY video or arcade game since 1980 all in one machine?

So I know there are a lot of people who are nostalgic about old video games from consoles like ColecoVision, atari, commodore, nintendo (all of them), sega systems (genesis, saturn, etc), play station, xbox, neo-geo all computer games and then ever game that was only in arcades (the big consoles you put quarters in). I'm sure I missed some systems, but you get my point, I'm talking about every video game that has come out, ever.

Now imagine if you had the option of buying an old arcade game console, the ones you stand in front of, or maybe the ones that are like tables you sit around (cocktail games I think they are called) - but they are COMPLETELY restored, look band new, custom paint, graphics, lights (and even HD/UHD screen - GASP - for those who aren't purists and want good video). No need for quarters any more, it just starts up.

Now inside this machine is a computer that has a program similar to those XBMC or Kodi or other multi-media management program (allows you to search your movie library, watch stuff online or cable, etc) but this program does this for games. you scroll through either the titles, genre, the game console type, etc - there are many ways to find a game you want to play. Then it just loads it and you play whatever it is right there on the "arcade" game with arcade controls, etc.

Now you can also have many different control setups for different types of games, so they switch out like changing keyboards (USB connector). You can even have many controllers hooked up at once for 1-8 players and even Playstation, Nintendo, Xbox or Wii controllers. There are no limits, especially if you want a custom control panel made! You can also make this a juke box that plays while gaming or when not, or both. It can also be a movie server like Kodi/XBMC or others, all in one package.

Now if you get tired of standing in front of the machine and you want to play the games on your nice new 85" LCD (yeah, a little overboard ATM), you can just change the output from the arcade monitor to your big screen, unplug the controls and either plug them in at the couch (USB extender) or use the Wifi or Bluetooth connection (battery powered - rechargeable though). Or you can move everything to your home office play at your desk or bedroom and play while you go to sleep.

With about 30,000 games to choose from, it may be awhile until you get tired of them all, but one thing for sure, is that they will have never looked or sounded better than they do now (with the built in sound system in the arcade console).

Oh, did I mention that all of this integrates into a home theater system (7,2 surround or better is available) so if playing on the big screen you can play through the home theater if you like.

I was planning on building one of these. I have everything to do it except for the arcade controllers and I'd build them custom anyway, but I'm wondering where to stop. When I first looked at it I only found about 7,000 games, now it is SO many more, not a problem with todays hard drive space though. I can either buy an old arcade chassis or build a new one (template online), IDK if an old one would have more charm or not.

So, I'm wondering how many of you would find something like this fun, useful, exciting, worthwhile, etc. Pricing is actually very reasonable depending upon options (more bling more $$), but I see people pay more for a phone these days and a pro built one of these cost less than my PC when I went to college in 98 (it was a very high end PC though).

I would thinkn this would be awesome for a man-cave and especially for people with kids, especially on the weekends if you need to keep an eye on kids (when they have friends over). Having something like this would be a small price to pay, if it would keep them occupied and out of trouble and maybe they could try and like some of the old games and have a bonding experience with the adults. Think about it, head to head Contra or Life Force, or 2 player Double Dragon.

Now some people don't want a new LCD monitor in their arcade cabinets, they want an old tube TV (50hz at that, not the 60 in consumer TV's in the US) so the graphics and feel look original. I'm wondering if it is possible to do both, install the tube but also have a fold down LCD for when newer games are to be played - then there is always the video out to any video device you have (LCD, Plasma, projector, etc).

So how many of you think something like this is interesting, especially since it can combine ALL games, ALL your movies (and any you can find online, ALL music (with awesome jukebox software) and much more with a starting price (for a low end custom build) of an expensive Iphone? BTW, it would most likely also be able to stream movies and music to other rooms while being used as a gaming system, so it's not locked into doing only one thing at a time.

I think this thing sounds awesome and I would have almost killed to have this as a kid and know some adults who might kill for it now. What do you guys think, is this something you would be interested in or enjoy? What do you like about it or what it could do, or what do you dislike? What would you like to see different, changed or added?

Oh, btw, it's also a standard computer and does everything a computer does (browsing, email, FB, etc) - I thought that was obvious, but maybe not to some people - and it's really fast!.

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

Is this a pitch?

Such creatures used to be me job.

I believe the nostalgia would wear off really quickly. I've been to retro arcades and I get bored quickly. But that's my personal take. I'm just bored with games period. I've noticed the older style games are popular on Steam. Maybe the younger generation would enjoy this.

A job like this dis serves an original machine.
Dig up an old Pac-Man cocktail table, or maybe even an old Golden Axe.
The graphics on the sides of the machine are the first thing I notice and get that kick in the balls of nostalgia, from.
Do it up, post pics, make a sexy thread out of it.
Hell, even video document it and post it to YouTube.

Robotron 2084.
See you at the kill-screen.

Think there would be a small niche market maybe for home entertainment. Cause heres the thing I was kind of big time 80's gamer. Still occasionally play new stuff when time allows, but yea Ive downloaded the emulators and messed with some of my old favorites and it doesn't really hold your attention as much, obviously some are better than others, but generally I lose interest pretty quick. Its really a time issue,cause at some of the stuff I liked were really immersive and time consuming. LOL trying to get my kids interested in most of my old games was hit or miss and they mostly just scoffed at it. Its like playing the first few years of Madden with my nephew, it was fun for awhile but then its like alright get out the new stuff.

But is it legal? seems to me there would be licensing issues galore .

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

Shut up and take my money!

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

I have a similar setup on a Raspberry Pi 3 using RetroPie as a front end on a 32 inch tv.
I have roughly 10,000 games on a 64GB micro SD card.
Not as fancy as a cabinet setup like you are talking about, but it works like a charm.

I use emulators when I want to get nostalgic, I even got NES and SNES controller that goes into usb.

I think games are done and done these days. They're not so much games any more but a "Choose your own adventure" CGI movie. You don't play it, you just press this or press that to alter what the next outcome is. Games of old were much more intriguing. But still, you can't romanticise the memories. You were younger and everything was shiny. I remember being taken to Timezone on a weekend as a kid, a huge arcade place here, and wasting at least $2 on games in an afternoon.

When I got my first computer (sharp mz-700) even though the graphics were abysmal, the thought of playing games on a computer and not having it as a luxury that cost pocket money, and only once a week, was like christmas every day. So when I think of those old games, I'm remembering the memory of the excitement and wonder of it all, but to try to relive it, falls flat because it's no longer new, innovative or a source of wonder.

For me, the future is VR. But again, not so much gaming, but more social, virtual tours of places beyond our reach. Seeing a place advertise a virtual tour of somewhere, in real time, and others from all over the world attend, can communicate, mingle. Not the same as social media where people sitting next to each other will tap away, rather than engage in conversation, but something more.

Or an innovative way to watch new releases online, a virtual theatre. Obviously you'd need to personally mute others, lol. But think, NO KIDS !!!

The day they tweak google streetview so that it is fluid and not jerky, and dedicate a section of it to true VR (when VR does not rely being tethered to a PC more expensive than a ticket to said place of wonder that you wish to observe, it will be a good day.

And hey, stick some VR guns in there, and pew pew, turn Melbourne into a zoo and get that Prize Westy.

I can dream, can't I ?

Either all of that, or Master of the Lamps. No one else I knew ever played this.. Philistines.

originally posted by: Jdubious
I use emulators when I want to get nostalgic, I even got NES and SNES controller that goes into usb.

I saw an 8-Bit guy video the other day, a dude took a busted C64, took the guts out, added a raspberry pi with a connector for the C64 keyboard, added a fitted part to connect power and joystick ports, and installed some emulator software that ran the C64 rom.

Now that's nerding out lol

I don't like emulators much. Without the hardware, it's not really the same.

I've had emulators for over 15 years that could play everything from N64 and before but having them in an arcade cabinet is an all together new thing for me (well within the last few years I mean).

The reason I ask is because if a "kid" (kid being from 1st grade to mid 30's, lol) had this back in 2000-2005 (with it being as advanced as I described) they would be one of the most popular people around I would think. Sure people have game consoles, but there is something different about an arcade console. Now imagine this in a college apt/house after the bars close. I can see fights breaking out over who's got "next"...

Now I know kids now have "steam" and all that, but it is different, it just is IMO.

An arcade cabinet that is so versitile that it can have 30 different controll arrays (or more), guns, steering wheels, you name it, and to have the choice to play there or take it easy on the couch? If I was a kid and my parent's friends had this (for themselves or their kid) I would want to go over all the time. I would think it would be a great baby sitter when you have a house full of in-laws and such. maybe the drunk uncle can be shown some of his old favorites and he can pass the time trying to get the high score on Spy Hunter or something.

There are just so many different ways that this would be awesome, especially for those who have grown up playing these games and with arcades. Now for the new generation, IDK. IDK if they are too spoiled with UHD graphics and would turn their noses up at this, and not appreciate how fun simple games can be, let alone appreciate this is what older generations had to work with and how lucky they are to have what they have (or unlucky depending on how you view it).

I picture one of these as a classic piece of Americana and it would fit beautifully into any game room, heck, they may not be complete without an arcade game!

Adding in the fact that it can double as a movie library and jukebox is just icing on the cake, with the right setup you can stream music throughout the house (or anywhere), play games on the cabinet or big TV, watch movies anywhere on the network, all of that at once with one machine that is "beautiful" in a retro/technical kind of way - a piece of functional art. I'd much rather have something like this than a 1975 Magnavox 13" TV with a comodore and atari 2600 hooked up as my center piece of retro art (and it would cost about the same for those working consoles and a handful of working games)

I'm just curious as to what others find interesting and whether this only interests hard core gamers, or if something like this is desireable to a larger market because it really speaks to what people value in today's world (it encompases most all entertainment types - family oriented at least - from 1980's onward) or if they have fallen to wanting to only play the newest, latest, fastest, highest resolution and frame rate, etc. Some may not understand but this does speak volumes about society as to whether they value something like this or not (unless you totally dislike video games, then you are an alien )

The nice thing is that the vast majority of the games are in public domain if the web sites and youtube videos are accurate. Sure, some of the more modern ones may still be covered under copyright/patent, but at some point they won't be.

If I get an order for at least 5 of these, I'll put them together and they will be ready well before Christmas! I accept all precious metals (physical form, not paper "certificates") as form of payment at 10% below spot price, delivered upon start of work, NO REFUNDS!

originally posted by: SummerRain

originally posted by: Jdubious
I use emulators when I want to get nostalgic, I even got NES and SNES controller that goes into usb.

I saw an 8-Bit guy video the other day, a dude took a busted C64, took the guts out, added a raspberry pi with a connector for the C64 keyboard, added a fitted part to connect power and joystick ports, and installed some emulator software that ran the C64 rom.

Now that's nerding out lol

I don't like emulators much. Without the hardware, it's not really the same.

Before too long I suspect we will be able to duplicate all the hardware (controllers) of the original systems with USB connections. Do this with 3D printers for the most part, even internals can be some custom PCB's/chips. Now if they need metal parts, when sintered metal printing gets more wide spread, then those will be inexpensive as well.

For the most part I think people can make do with arcade style controllers as they worked fine back in the day. Only reason they had smaller controllers for old consoles was b/c it was cheaper and they had to fit in hand.

I've actually seen a number of old controllers w/ USB connection for rate systems like colecovision and rare atari conrollers. They are usually listed/sold in Japan or China, but they weren't expensive like I thought they would be.

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

raspberry pi 3 b+

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

Good luck in getting the rights to all those games. Some have gone the way of public domain as the copy rights expired, others have been aggressive and maintained their rights.

Lots have already made the transition to various platforms and phone apps have a lot of the others. Atari has done this with a lot of their games, not only from the old arcade games but repackaged their titles from the old console. You can buy Atari Flashback at many stores now. It has 120 games packed on it and I bet there are more choices

If you're gonna go PC be sure and use the best frontend: Hyperspin.

Gamer for the past 35-40 years since Pong here.

While I fully support your endeavor as a gamer and it would be nice to have such wonders at my beck and call under one system, there are some negatives.

Pros:

1. You know, you make it, it will sell. Seriously consider your time/effort involved and if it can be done, you'll make $$. People sell the most ridiculous things and are making money off of them. So on that aspect, why not?

2. It would be a system with that certain "exclusive" factor to it, making it an enviable thing for anyone who could afford it. Don't kid yourself that you can get around the copyright issues of today which would drive the cost sky high.
But, if you can swing that by working out deals, then you will bank off the wealthy.

3. Heck, even if you just make a few on the sly, then you have something spectacular that will grab a lot of attention.

Cons:

1. Seriously, the copyright issues would be a nightmare. It's not simply the titles. You're talking about putting together systems which have been aggressively competing against each other for years. If this is something you're going to publicly sell, then it's something they can privately fine you for.

2. As an aging gamer, I have to say this is also an aging desire of people in general. Those of us who would enjoy these titles all under one hood are fading into obsolescence. Even people like us that find these games still entertaining, can often only maintain interest for short periods of time before the craving for the next Fallout takes over.
Also, many of these older games are very obtainable for those little cravings through emulators or updated clones on a PC.

3. I am so very far from understanding how any tech works, but this seems like it could have plenty of problems when mixing all these platforms together and every one of these systems had their own issues faulting out. If you're prepared to sell something as grandiose as what you describe, you have to strongly consider what will go into the warranty and repair of what you sell.

4. Don't even think that such an item could be a great babysitter. The kids I know do not stay focused on entertainment like they used to. It's all about social whatnot these days. We're in the world of cellphones now and even those aren't keeping the interest of kids in one spot for very long.


Also @SummerRain:

I think games are done and done these days. They're not so much games any more but a "Choose your own adventure" CGI movie. You don't play it, you just press this or press that to alter what the next outcome is.

*GASP*! How DARE you?! You, sir, have not been keeping up. While those games you speak of do exist with a growing popularity(and can be excellent), there are plenty of recent and upcoming titles that offer unique gaming experiences.

And to VR, I still say "blech". I've been waiting for the "magic of VR" to advance to an interesting level for 20+ years now. They're not there yet and I'm pretty sure they won't get there until long after I'm gone. Just too costly both $$ and effort-wise for any level of reasonable marketing. Multiplayer however, is rapidly on the rise.

originally posted by: gottaknow
Also @SummerRain:

I think games are done and done these days. They're not so much games any more but a "Choose your own adventure" CGI movie. You don't play it, you just press this or press that to alter what the next outcome is.

*GASP*! How DARE you?! You, sir, have not been keeping up. While those games you speak of do exist with a growing popularity(and can be excellent), there are plenty of recent and upcoming titles that offer unique gaming experiences.

And to VR, I still say "blech". I've been waiting for the "magic of VR" to advance to an interesting level for 20+ years now. They're not there yet and I'm pretty sure they won't get there until long after I'm gone. Just too costly both $$ and effort-wise for any level of reasonable marketing. Multiplayer however, is rapidly on the rise.

Well, it taught me a lot about some of the most raved about new games these past few years. PC games were all ported or written for consoles. No one has time for anything but hit X as soon as Y happens, or you don't progress. Shame really, I prefer the calculated approach to scenarios in a game, not hit X to jump now, or the scene restarts, progresses badly or otherwise. And this all started with Dirk.. bugger trying to sneak out of his dragons lair !

Oh with VR, that's the issue. It is still wet, floundering around in the boat, and not yet a feast. I've not progressed beyond my insipid google cardboard clone with head straps. But who wants to faff around feeding earbuds into it, power lead (if you plan on watching a movie for instance) and whatnot. And I cannot afford one of those swank headsets that you need a gpu the size of a PSU and the rig to run it. Seen a lot of videos about them though, and I cry a little thinking I am missing out on the fledgling embrace of something amazing to come.

And also, more than 20 years of waiting. I remember here there was a VR place in the city, ran on an Amiga. You were more minecraft than mindblown. But the idea that you could enter a world outside of this one, without chemical assistance was to me, thrilling.. and I waited and I waited.

Now we're dipping our toes.

Just remember, the first mobile phones were boxes heavier than 2 bags of spuds. with a curly cable to the hand set. And NO CAMERAS !!!!!

We're on the right track with it, be it ever so slow. My dream still persists. Though like you, I may not be here when it's as I want it to be. And I'm too old to go back to chemicals.

PS: I'd just be happy if samsung fixed the dreaded drift.. can't even watch a movie or tv show without it slowly panning one way or the other, due to samsung being samsung.

"I'm not moving, why an I now staring over my shoulder?"