Hobby or Addiction
Welcome to the arcade page. I use the term arcade game to refer to the video games very popular from 1974-1994. I am not talking about PlayStation, X-box, GameCube or Even NES. I mean 6 foot tall, wooden cabinet, dedicated machines. Quarter Eaters!
I used to love arcade games. I suck at all of them, but I still loved trying and improving. As arcade games devolved into Mortal Kombat and other mindless fighting games I lost interest. Now I collect, restore and maintain several of the games I loved.
Now they are called classics. Which is a nice way to say old junk that will cost you $300 - $2000 plus parts and shipping.
Game Room
I maintain my own small arcade. A few of the games I restore stay with me. Usually they are very popular at parties. Some games are popular, but someone offers to buy them and away they go!
Photos: Cedar Rock
Photos: Sharon Drive
Restoration Logs
I journal my restoration efforts and share tips or tricks I have learned. The Restoration Logs are now featured on their own page. I aggregated the games that only passed through the game room or shop without earning a restoration log.
Link: Restoration Logs
Photos: Other Games and Parts
Terms
There are some acronyms, terms and straight out lingo involved with the hobbyist art of arcade restoration. I have a list of terms I hear and use plus some version of those terms. Some of these you will find in newsgroup posting, eBay auctions and vendor sites. Others are terms only I use.
Link: Terms
Link: Good Guys
Guide
melchman's guide always has useful things. The guide page is here.
Link