Contemplating Smash TV

[Hammerhead]

This is not a wanted ad (yet ) but throwing the idea around about getting a dedicated 25" Smash TV, working or project. I'm on the fence for a few reasons:

- already have Robotron
- game is great, but having it set to free play and just continuing over and over takes away some of the challenge (similar to Gauntlet and others)
- Total Carnage would be another option

I figured I'd start with a feeler post to see what's out there and what I'd be in to cost wise. I've seen ads for projects a few months back but let them pass. Obviously with the caveats listed, a high price would kill my interest pretty quick.

[RayB]

Fun "party" game. Great with coop since you fight each other at some point (am I remembering this right?)

Continues dampens the enjoyment, but there are dipswitch settings you could change to make it limited continues.

Then there's the rooms and secrets. It will take several play-throughs to get to play all the rooms.

[theyangman]

This is my exact reasoning for not having any beat em ups in my arcade. These types of games offer little to no replay value. (In my mind)

You beat it, and then there isn't much left to do other than beat it again, and again and again. Maybe on less continues the next time? Meh, not a good enough reason to buy one / restore one IMHO.

There are dozens of beat em up's I loved back in the day, Turtles, Simpsons, X-Men, Golden Axe, Gauntlet, etc... but alas, I doubt they will ever find their way into my basement.

I simply prefer multiplayer competition games, like racing games, sports games, etc...

As for price? I can't see it being anything crazy to restore one. Four 8-way wicos, a few buttons, monitor and pcb? The most expensive part will be all the repro artwork.... Those two games did have some wild side art....

[jasonec]

I've never been a fan of Smash TV myself - doesn't seem to have lasting gamplay value (the gimmicks are nice though).

[OTTOgd]

My NBA Jam (w/ Maximum Hangtime) is a great cab but I'm aching for the other beat 'em ups. I do have X-men but my kids beat that in 15 minutes and a gazillion free-play continues and never asked to see it again. I do intend to RetroPi the cab in the near future so I can play all the 3-way/4-ways! ... eventually.

... and SmashTV wouldn't be properly set-up.

[trueno92]

This is my exact reasoning for not having any beat em ups in my arcade. These types of games offer little to no replay value. (In my mind)

You beat it, and then there isn't much left to do other than beat it again, and again and again. Maybe on less continues the next time? Meh, not a good enough reason to buy one / restore one IMHO.

There are dozens of beat em up's I loved back in the day, Turtles, Simpsons, X-Men, Golden Axe, Gauntlet, etc... but alas, I doubt they will ever find their way into my basement.

I simply prefer multiplayer competition games, like racing games, sports games, etc...

+1 I feel the same way about shmups..

But people say this about fighters, and don't get me started about racing games... I mean going in the same circle against CPU controlled opponents??? Improving laptimes???

So yeah, fighters, racers, and shooters... and puzzle games..

But its hard to have an arcade without any space ship/fighter jet based games....

[theyangman]

My NBA Jam (w/ Maximum Hangtime) is a great cab but I'm aching for the other beat 'em ups. I do have X-men but my kids beat that in 15 minutes and a gazillion free-play continues and never asked to see it again. I do intend to RetroPi the cab in the near future so I can play all the 3-way/4-ways! ... eventually.

... and SmashTV wouldn't be properly set-up.

I recall seeing a video of someone with a simpsons cab that had done a retroPi with all the Konami 4 player beat'em ups. THAT might be a more viable option for space savings.....

Turtles
Turtles in Time
Simpsons
GI-Joe
Bucky O'Hare
Xmen
Sunset Riders
Cowboys of MooMesa

What others were there?

[theyangman]

This is my exact reasoning for not having any beat em ups in my arcade. These types of games offer little to no replay value. (In my mind)

You beat it, and then there isn't much left to do other than beat it again, and again and again. Maybe on less continues the next time? Meh, not a good enough reason to buy one / restore one IMHO.

There are dozens of beat em up's I loved back in the day, Turtles, Simpsons, X-Men, Golden Axe, Gauntlet, etc... but alas, I doubt they will ever find their way into my basement.

I simply prefer multiplayer competition games, like racing games, sports games, etc...

+1 I feel the same way about shmups..

But people say this about fighters, and don't get me started about racing games... I mean going in the same circle against CPU controlled opponents??? Improving laptimes???

So yeah, fighters, racers, and shooters... and puzzle games..

But its hard to have an arcade without any space ship/fighter jet based games....

My 4 player Sega Super GT is only for racing against each other. I never play it alone. It is still probably my most popular game when friends are over. Friendly competition is always fun. Same goes for fighting games. I'm not really into fighting the CPU. I like to fight other ppl. I have no puzzle games.

[CanadianRyGuy]

My NBA Jam (w/ Maximum Hangtime) is a great cab but I'm aching for the other beat 'em ups. I do have X-men but my kids beat that in 15 minutes and a gazillion free-play continues and never asked to see it again. I do intend to RetroPi the cab in the near future so I can play all the 3-way/4-ways! ... eventually.

... and SmashTV wouldn't be properly set-up.

I recall seeing a video of someone with a simpsons cab that had done a retroPi with all the Konami 4 player beat'em ups. THAT might be a more viable option for space savings.....

Turtles
Turtles in Time
Simpsons
GI-Joe
Bucky O'Hare
X-men
Sunset Riders
Cowboys of Moo Mesa

What others were there?

Crime Fighters
Vendetta (Crime Fighters 2)

I totally understand everyones opinions on the beat em' ups, but these game were my childhood and the ones I remember playing the most in arcades in the late 80's/early 90's and I love playing them all again on my TMNT cab.

[jasonec]

Ah yes - I miss Crime Fighters - punks, skinheads, dominatrixes, and you had to shoot the mafia guy at the end instead of taking his surrender plea (otherwise he'd kill you)

[OTTOgd]

00:16 - 4 Player Games (40 Games)
05:43 - 3 Player Games (20 Games)
08:29 - 2 Player Games (40 Games)

4 PLAYERS :

arabian fight
arabian magic
Battle circuit
bomberman world
Bucky O'hare
Captain america ATA
Captain commando
crime fighter
DyD Shadow
dyD Tower of doom
Desert assault
Gi Joe Gauntlet
Golden axe TRoda
Growl
Hook
Karate Blazers
Knights of Valour 2
Light Bringer
Metamorphic Force
Mystic warriors
Ninja baseball bat man
Oriental legend
Saturday night slam masters
Silent dragon
Snow bros 2 WNE
Spiderman TVG
Sunset riders
Tank Forces
The ninja kids
The simpsons
TMNT
TMNT Turtles in Time
Trog
Vendetta
Wild West COW BOMM
WWF Wrestlefest
Xmen


3 PLAYERS :

Alien Storm
Alien vs predator
Armored Warriors
Battletoads
Cadillas and Dinosaurs
Hot Rod
Knights of the round
Mercs
MJ's Moonwalker
Night Slashers
Nitro Ball
Rampage
Rampage WT
Super Sprint
The combatribes
The king of dragons
Turbo force
Undercover cops
Violent storm
Warriors of fate

[jasonec]

I simply prefer multiplayer competition games, like racing games, sports games, etc...

Bah. That means you have to play with other people.

[ArcadeStew74]

I'm not a fan of Smash TV but everyone has there quirky likes. I grew up loving the Pacmans and Galaga but I gravitate to the drivers, fighters, and sports. Saying that I love Kung fu Master which some would say doesn't have much replay value once you dominate the game.

[mortron]

The reality is that you have two approaches, an arcade for you, and an arcade for everyone else. They don't need to be mutually exclusive tho.

The case for beat em ups is simple... Memories and not needing to practice in order to enjoy the game. Some arcade games are difficult to just pick up, and require some practice and dedication. Simpsons is two buttons, and pretty straight forward.

When you have a group of folks over, anything communal like a 4 player game (especially one with nostalgic value) is going to be a crowd pleaser. It's akin to watching sports as a group. Some may not totally enjoy hockey, but perhaps when 10 people are watching together, there is something more to it for them.

The 4 player Pi setup is a no brainier. I have a Pi with only console games and always get asked if I have one of those 4 player games. Even with controllers people wanna play em. A coworker has an NBA jam setup and made me quite envious when I realized how much fun it could be with friends. Then again my friends aren't the kind of folk to play, much less wait, for their turn at Donkey Kong

[CanadianRyGuy]

The reality is that you have two approaches, an arcade for you, and an arcade for everyone else. They don't need to be mutually exclusive tho.

The case for beat em ups is simple... Memories and not needing to practice in order to enjoy the game. Some arcade games are difficult to just pick up, and require some practice and dedication. Simpsons is two buttons, and pretty straight forward.

When you have a group of folks over, anything communal like a 4 player game (especially one with nostalgic value) is going to be a crowd pleaser. It's akin to watching sports as a group. Some may not totally enjoy hockey, but perhaps when 10 people are watching together, there is something more to it for them.

The 4 player Pi setup is a no brainier. I have a Pi with only console games and always get asked if I have one of those 4 player games. Even with controllers people wanna play em. A coworker has an NBA jam setup and made me quite envious when I realized how much fun it could be with friends. Then again my friends aren't the kind of folk to play, much less wait, for their turn at Donkey Kong

Well said!