I have so many questions... Where do I start?

[gamingjustin]

I am completely new to the world of arcade gaming (in every imaginable aspect), but would like to start getting some games like ESP Ra.De, Dodonpachi and Battle Bakraid.

Where do I start? How can I get a genuine arcade experience? What do I need to buy? Do I need multiple arcade machines for certain games? Will ESP Ra.De play on the same machine as Battle Bakraid?

I don't know where to look for info concerning these questions of mine. Maybe you could tell me your set-up. Do you have a custom-built arcade machine? Do you just use mame and an old TV? You know.. stuff like that.

I've always loved shmups and really want to delve into the aracade gaming experience.

Thanks for any and all help!

[SPACE HARRIER]

Where do I start? How can I get a genuine arcade experience? What do I need to buy? Do I need multiple arcade machines for certain games?

Hey there,welcome to the forum..as for your question.

Go for a DC as a shmupmachine (if you don't have one) because most of the games use the same board as the arcade version of the DC..
You can find some great games to start your collection.
Gunbird and Gigawing are VERY cheap to get.
Trizeal is one of the latest releases.

Hope you have a good time here.

[gamingjustin]

Oh, ok. Yeah... I was looking at Dreamcast stuff on ebay. Seems rather cheap compared to other stuff. Bangai-O looks pretty good, too. Maybe I should start there before I tackle the big stuff...

('Course... I'd still like to know how all that arcade stuff works!)

[Neon]

Where do I start? How can I get a genuine arcade experience? What do I need to buy? Do I need multiple arcade machines for certain games? Will ESP Ra.De play on the same machine as Battle Bakraid?

PCB's (the circuit boards arcade games come on) will typically run on different boards, i.e., when you're buying the game, you're getting the hardware as well. But you need a supergun or cab of JAMMA spec to get the game hooked up to controls and playable on a monitor (RGB is preferable, read this)

system16.com is a good place to read about hardware. Certain boards like the CPS2 (capcom play system 2 or something like that) require the motherboard and a game board, so you could have the game and then use just one motherboard kinda like a home console...sorta. MAME can tell you which hardware games run on.

[Dewclaw]

I'll take a crack at this...first of all, you probably wouldn't need multiple machines to run different boards. Most games nowadays go by the JAMMA(Japanese Amusement Machine Manufacturers Association) standard, meaning that if a person says X game is a "JAMMA game", it'll run on a machine that uses a JAMMA harness(the plug thing that sticks into the board). ..meaning, you can play Batrider or Esprade or Mushihime on the same machine just by switching the game board out. Older games like 1941 and Donkey Kong are non-JAMMA, and have unique pinouts that you have to buy an adaptor for. Pain in the ass. Also, while a game may be JAMMA compatible it may also need a motherboard to run; for example, Neo Geo MVS games require a motherboard to plug the game carts into. Dig? Dodonpachi needs a certain mobo to run too if I remember correct.

As for what you'll need to play them, an arcade cabinet is preferred but not required. Some people use somethin called a Supergun, which basically has the arcade parts and a JAMMA harness but if configured to hook right up to your tv set. Saves alot of space. There are a few sites to buy these from directly and instructions for building your own floating around, other forum members could help you there.

[freddiebamboo]

Welcome to the forums!

Unforunately, I don't know a thing about arcades so I'm no help

But, if you look in the hardware area in the forum there should everything you need to know and how you can get your hands on it (and there is a gallery on the off topic area I think where some of the guy's on here show of their wallet busting cab set ups )

[ROBOTRON]

Where do I start? How can I get a genuine arcade experience? What do I need to buy? Do I need multiple arcade machines for certain games?

Hey there,welcome to the forum..as for your question.

Go for a DC as a shmupmachine (if you don't have one) because most of the games use the same board as the arcade version of the DC..
You can find some great games to start your collection.
Gunbird and Gigawing are VERY cheap to get.
Trizeal is one of the latest releases.

Hope you have a good time here.

Check out Chaos Field also released in the last 12 months.

[neorichieb1971]

All good cabinets come with at least 3 buttons.

Cabinets are better for vertical games.

You might find it easier to have at least 2 cabinets so you can have one set up vertically and one horizontally. Otherwise having a supergun and TV that you can rotate would be cheaper and easier.

Non Jamma games normally display upside down, but there are not many shooters this applies to anyway.

PCB's are very expensive compared to normal games.


Good luck.