Hi! Ready to get lots more bang for your video game buck? Then, start thinking about the latest trend - multiple arcade video games in one cabinet, generically known as a Multicade.
That is right. Now, you can have several, not just one, classic games in your video game cabinet.
Instead of only, for example, Ms Pac-Man in your Ms Pac-Man game cabinet; now, you can have Ms Pac-Man, plus Galaga, and dozens more classics all in your one cabinet.
This is the Ms Pac-Man Galaga Reunion arcade game. You could buy it today at Costco for $2,699.99. Or, you could upgrade your game for way less than the cost of their new one. Plus, instead of just two classic games, you would be playing Ms Pac-Man, Galaga, Frogger, Donkey Kong, and dozens more (see the complete list below)!
There are lots of possibilities for multiple game play available in the marketplace. Here is a brief description of a few common ones:
1. Multicade. The original Multicade system consists of a computer and game discs. However, the manufacturer is no longer in business. But, the system is still around, and there may be a new company that has taken over the brand.
The name Multicade is now commonly used to describe almost all multigame setups.
2. Ultracade. Ultracade is another multi-game platform featuring multiple classic arcade games emulated on PC hardware running proprietary operating system and emulation code. The company is no longer in business. And, the name Ultracade is also sometimes used generically.
3. MAME. The MAME (multiple arcade machine emulator) is a computer system with the capability to emulate practically every arcade video game.
4. Williams Classics. Several of the classic Williams games (Joust, Defender, Stargate) are available in one dedicated cabinet.
5. Ms Pac-Man Galaga Reunion. This is a great dedicated game featuring two great classics. The game's PCB (printed circuit board) could be installed into any cabinet, including a Ms Pac-Man cabinet, or a Galaga.
6. Multiple JAMMA PCBs. It is possible to install multiple JAMMA game pcbs into one cabinet, and switch between them.
7. Modified Ms Pac-Man. It is possible to modify a Ms Pac-Man PCB to be able to also play Pac-Man, and in either the fast or slow version of both.
8. Galaga Ms Pac-Man Switcher. It is possible to add either game PCB to the other game cabinet, and be able to switch between the two.
These are some of the more common solutions for multiple game play, and there are many others. Even though I can provide numbers 5, 6, 7, and 8 for you, none of these are my favorite. So, read on.
But first, there is an important distinction to understand about arcade game cabinets.
An important distinction:
The classic games like Ms Pac-Man and Galaga are played using a vertically mounted monitor. While there are some classics like Joust, almost all the modern fighting games like Street Fighter use a horizontally mounted monitor.
The diagram depicts a typical horizontally mounted monitor cabinet. This is the style used for fighting games such as Street Fighter. For starters, cabinets for the two monitor types are built differently. The horizontal cabinet will be a few inches wider than the vertical cabinet.
The point is that the style (horizontal or vertical) of the cabinet matters.
My Favorite Multiple Game Solution
Today, the most bang for your video gaming buck can be had with a 60-in-1 JAMMA PCB cabinet conversion. I can take any vertical mount monitor cabinet (Ms Pac-Man, Galaga, etc.), and easily install the hardware that will allow the play of 60 great classic games in one cabinet.
And, since the game would be a JAMMA standard installation, the hardware is easily servicable and will be around for a long time. Furthermore, a JAMMA cabinet is versatile (depending on the control panel configuration) in that it can accept many of the other of 100's of JAMMA game PCBs.
Here are the 60-in-1 classic games:
- Ms Pac-Man
- Galaga
- Frogger
- Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong Junior
- Donkey Kong 3
- Galaxian
- Dig Dug
- Crush
- Mr. Do
- Space Invaders
- Pac-Man
- Galaga 3
- Gyruss
- Tank Battalion
- Ladybug
- Millipede **
- Burger Time
- JR Pacman
- Mappy
- Pengo
- 1942***
- Centipede **
- Phoenix***
- Time Pilot
- Super Cobra***
- Hustler
- Space Panic***
- Super Breakout **
- New Rally X
- Arkanoid **
- Qix
- Juno First
- Xevious***
- Mr. Do's Castle
- Moon Cresta
- Pinball Action
- Scramble***
- Super Pac-Man
- Bomb Jack
- Shao-Lin's Road***
- King & Balloon
- 1943***
- Van-Van Car
- Pac-Man Plus
- Dig Dug 2
- Amidar
- Zaxxon
- Pooyan
- Pleiads
- Gun Smoke***3-buttons
- The End
- 1943 Kai***
- Congo Bongo
- Jumping Jack
- Ms. Pac-Man (Fast Mode)
- Pac-Man (Fast Mode)
- Galaga (Fast Fire Mode)
- Jr. Pac-Man (Fast Mode)
- Pac-Man Plus (Fast Mode)
**Indicates a game that requires a trackball to play. Installation of a trackball would be determined by the size and configuration of the control panel.
So, the 4 games that require a trackball might not be feasible for some cabinet types with smaller control panels. The games can be played with the joystick, but the play is, of course, not the same as with a trackball.
***Indicates a game that requires 2 (or more) buttons to play - for example, both a fire and jump button. Most classic games only require 1 button - such as, a Galaga with only a fire button.
So, the approx. 10 games that require installation of additional buttons will affect the price of the upgrade, if the additional buttons are desired. Or, the installation of additional buttons might not be feasible depending on the size of the control panel.
All of which means that there could be as many as 14 of the above listed 60 games that might not be playable if you choose not to add the trackball or additional buttons to your control panel.
Email me now for more info, or to place an order: gameroomdude@yahoo.com
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I can build up a 60-in-1 game in your cabinet, or in one of mine. And, the cabinet can be finished out to your specifications. In fact, I can do a total cabinet restoration for you.
This is a photo of a vertical cabinet which I provided, and will be upgrading into a 60-in-1 classics game for a customer. Stay tuned for the after photo - you will be amazed.
Don't have your own cabinet? Check out my list of classic games for sale. A few of the ones that can be easily upgraded are indicated with **.
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Here is a perfect condition Ms. Pac-Man Galaga Reunion cocktail cabinet that I have converted into a 60-in-1 classic games multicade.
The cabinet and graphics are the original, but the cabinet will now play 46 instead of only 2 classic games.
This game is available for $1,250. That is one sweetheart of a deal!
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Feedback from a happy eBay arcade game customer:
Thanks Steve! Excellent communication-was informed every step of the way. A++++
Mark L.
Buffalo, NY
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