Dragon's Lair Fans - Arcade Lifestyle

General Chat => Arcade Lifestyle => Topic started by: ckong on July 25, 2012, 08:24:10 PM

Title: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: ckong on July 25, 2012, 08:24:10 PM
Some of you might know that I also have a weak spot for Candy.  ;D

And a few years ago I decided to buy a lot of Candy, not only for me, but also for some other Candy lovers.

Ah, those were the days. My driveway and house looked like this:

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/IC09%20-%20Cab%20arrival/ic09-1.jpg)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/IC09%20-%20Cab%20arrival/ic09-4.jpg)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/CIMG1239.jpg)

And yes, after this


(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/IC09%20-%20Cab%20arrival/ic09-3.jpg)

I couldn´t stand upright anymore (lifting down 16 heavy cabs pure by muscle power)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/IC09%20-%20Cab%20arrival/ic09-6.jpg)

Anyway, one of the cabs was destined for a fellow gamer who is living very close to me. But as soon as he collected it, I felt sorry having it sold. I thought that I didn´t like the cab, but once it was gone, I felt sad. So the new owner and I agreed that I would have first rights when he would sell it someday, which would never happen, he assured me. :(  I checked some of the same cabs out now and then, but I never found the real one.

But wait, just a few months ago the owner did put a sales add up for it on Nozomi!!  :shock: I stood perplex, because he did sell it after all, but even more because he didn´t notify me upfront. I saw the add by pure coincedence. I knew that everybody would be all over it, so I contacted him right away. He thought that I wasn´t that interested anymore, now mainly being into classic cabs and such, but I sure was, and we made a deal very quickly.

´Sadly´ my vacation was due, and I also had a little accicdent which halted collecting the cab, but a few weeks ago, on a sunny 1. July, I finally was able to go and get it.

The whole roadtrip took 2 x 12 km´s, so I didn´t have to get up early.  :D

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/routeroadtrip.jpg)

It was a nice and peaceful day

 (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030767.jpg)

Not much traffic on the road, so I was sure to be there in time

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030781.jpg)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030783.jpg)

I entered the city of Borculo

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030785.jpg)

only to leave it behind on the other side of the city about one minute later  :)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030786.jpg)

The enormous route brought me further and further in the inlands of Holland, where only wild animals can survive:

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030790.jpg)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030792.jpg)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030793.jpg)

And of course the lonely pioneers:

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030795.jpg)

This was also my destination and I was glad that I could get out of the car after a long, 20 minutes drive since I left home.  :lol:

Swiftly moving forward in time. The pionier and I exchanged some kind words, and then we went to the place where this huge babe stood waiting for me (the pioneer is saying goodbye)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030799.jpg)

Wow, that´s a lot of Candy.

Because of my little accident a few weeks before, I couldn´t lift heavy loads without pain, so the pioneer had arranged two good helping hands. Because of the size of the cab and the narrow stairway, we had to dismantle the cab (hell yeah, that´s something you can´t do with a woodden cab. Well, you can, but I wouldn´t advise it, you will end up in tears).

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030801.jpg)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030815.jpg)

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030816.jpg)

So we brought the cab in parts downstairs, and assembled it again. We did put in the monitor vertical, I happen to like vertical SHMUP´s  8).

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030817.jpg)

Let´s test if everything is still working.

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030819.jpg)

Yes, sure it did.

We loaded the cab with the three of us in my car (always astonishing what my car can load) and I headed back home, which took 5 minutes longer because I had to drive more carefully.

And here she is, in the doorway of my shed.

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/ckong65/Blast%20City%20roadtrip/P1030820.jpg)

A majestic Sega Blast City, with a tri-sync monitor, an awesome picture in 15Khz, but even more awesome in 31 Khz. I will post some more pictures once the cab is in its final place, showing off what she can do!  ;D

And now the rant can start.  :D Why is there a roadtrip report for a candy cab on DLF? Well, that´s obvious, it´s all about arcade gaming and arcade lifestyle, isn´t it.

I´m wondering if there will be another road trip report for a Japanese cab soon.  ;) Come out of the closet!  :lol:




Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: ataritoobin on July 25, 2012, 09:20:18 PM
Nice one  :spaceace:

No shame on Candy cabinets.  I still miss my Aero City cabinet.  One of the few cabs I regret selling.  :'(
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: ckong on July 25, 2012, 09:26:07 PM
I have had an Aero City, twice. Beautiful little cabs with their 25" monitors. But I guess they were just a bit too small for me, I never could find a comfortable position playing them.
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: Reboot on July 25, 2012, 09:40:37 PM
Nice cabs those candy's only a bit high in price.
Haven't red into them, so many different ones, what is the best one if you only could choose one? 
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: scr33n on July 25, 2012, 09:55:00 PM
Nice candy  :-*

what is the best one if you only could choose one? 


Taito Egret II - imho



Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: Muerto on July 25, 2012, 10:25:35 PM
Congrates on the purchase! Kinda like candys, only way to play the newer shoot em up! :spaceace:
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: leonk on July 25, 2012, 10:27:54 PM
Nothing wrong with Candy cabs!

I live in a tiny home in downtown Toronto, Canada.  For 5 years I owned a woody -- stored in my parents basement! Too big to fit in my house (they live outside the city).  Last year I finished the basement, and my gift from my wife was permission to get 1 arcade machine into the house!  The only thing that fit perfectly into the new spot was a Sega New Astro City!  (The woody was sold to a local collector).

I now have MAME in it, and a Naomi 2 system with DIMM on the way in the mail!

OP:  You didn't get this Blast City originally, what cab did you pick up? Was this a container purchase from Japan? Is that story stored anywhere?  What was the original price per cab and how long ago was this?

Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: DarthNuno on July 25, 2012, 10:40:57 PM
(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/forforum3/invasion.jpg)

Congratulations! The perfect weapon to play 'recent' games  :-*

Tate mode rules!  ;)

 :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: ckong on July 25, 2012, 10:52:04 PM
..... a Sega New Astro City! ....

OP:  You didn't get this Blast City originally, what cab did you pick up? Was this a container purchase from Japan? Is that story stored anywhere?  What was the original price per cab and how long ago was this?



Excellent choice, I have two of them, great cabs with superb 15K monitors.

About your other questions, yeah, it was a kind of a group buy, had to do with the Insert Coin 09 event in the UK. Just search for Insert coin on Arcadeotaku and you can read all about it.

My catch in that group buy was an Egret 2, an Egret 3 and I beleive an atomiswave. Sold most of them already again. The other cabs that I bought, 16 in total, were on order from Nozomi members. It was quite a happening, I can tell you that.

I now still have 2 NAC´s, the Blast and a tri-sync converted Egret 2 which once used to be an Atomiswave. All excellent cabs.


Thanks Bruno, I love the picture.



Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: level42 on July 25, 2012, 11:05:12 PM
(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/forforum3/invasion.jpg)

I wonder what Mrs.CKONG thought about that..... ;D

What a load of plastic.......no soul. No artwork, no dedicated controls...
Look at those button colors...they hurt my eyes....and I am not even starting about the games....

Screens full of bullets.....and you don't get killed ? WTF ??


Sorry no....it will never be my thing. But i am not saying I hate them. I just don't like them.
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: gyruss on July 25, 2012, 11:22:00 PM
Really nice Erik, i wish we knew each other when you imported all those beauties, would love to own an egret 2 or 3, but I guess that's only a matter of time..

What's inside them atm?
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: ckong on July 25, 2012, 11:24:20 PM
Really nice Erik, i wish we knew each other when you imported all those beauties, would love to own an egret 2 or 3, but I guess that's only a matter of time..


Indeed, one day .....
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: polderarcade on July 25, 2012, 11:31:24 PM
Quote
The enormous route brought me further and further in the inlands of Holland, where only wild animals can survive

The best part of Holland if you ask me. ;)

Nice cab, love to get myself one if I have some spare money.
And indeed I think they are great for vertical SHMUP´s
deathsmiles ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: leonk on July 26, 2012, 06:56:01 AM
Quote
Quote
What a load of plastic.......no soul. No artwork, no dedicated controls...

1. They're made from fiberglass not plastic.
2. They have a soul - a far east one
3. Artwork? Wrong again.  You just see the stripped version.  With kits, you get nice move strips, and marquees that are much bigger than the woodies that go into the marquee holder
4. Fishing rods and baseball bats are just some of the dedicated controls for the candy cabs.  A lot of them also have majong dedicated controls (with what seems like 100 buttons!!!)

Best part .. you can fit a lot more games into your game room!!!  You don't have a lot of wasted space like you do in the woodies.  I've seen a lot of bad woodies as well (black sides with stickers stuck to it that bubble up, 19" screens in a cab the size of a car, a cab that looks like it went through a car wash and is now a termite sandwich, etc).  To each their own!   :lol: :lol: :lol:

Seriously though, if I were going to play a lot of fighters and/or shooters, they just feel more right in a candy than they do in a woody.  Candy were the last big hoorah before consoles killed it all.

 
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: ckong on July 26, 2012, 07:12:38 AM
.... Nice cab, love to get myself one if I have some spare money.
And indeed I think they are great for vertical SHMUP´s
deathsmiles ;D ;D ;D

I´m sure that you know that Deathsmiles is a horizontal SHMUP. Nevertheless an awesome game.
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: ckong on July 26, 2012, 07:30:26 AM
@leonk, don´t worry, Level42 didn´t mean what he said, because here is his real opinion of Candy cabs:

I'm sorry, I do have my principles..........

But I have no trouble at all shouting here that Japanese Candy cabs are not that bad after all and I can understand it and appreciate it that people love them and that they keep the Japanese Arcade spirit alive

 :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: Belike on July 26, 2012, 07:55:22 AM
This cab has a nice history and the landscapes are awesome, thanks for sharing. :spaceace:
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on July 26, 2012, 08:31:19 AM
I will not bash the candies, i will only say the i am happy for you erik  ;)
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: joeks on July 26, 2012, 08:53:30 AM
Quote from: leonk
1. They're made from fiberglass not plastic.
2. They have a soul - a far east one
3. Artwork? Wrong again.  You just see the stripped version.  With kits, you get nice move strips, and marquees that are much bigger than the woodies that go into the marquee holder
4. Fishing rods and baseball bats are just some of the dedicated controls for the candy cabs.  A lot of them also have majong dedicated controls (with what seems like 100 buttons!!!)

Best part .. you can fit a lot more games into your game room!!!  You don't have a lot of wasted space like you do in the woodies.  I've seen a lot of bad woodies as well (black sides with stickers stuck to it that bubble up, 19" screens in a cab the size of a car, a cab that looks like it went through a car wash and is now a termite sandwich, etc).  To each their own!   :lol: :lol: :lol:

Seriously though, if I were going to play a lot of fighters and/or shooters, they just feel more right in a candy than they do in a woody.  Candy were the last big hoorah before consoles killed it all.

 +1

I own 3 Sega candy cabinets myself. An Astro, New Astro and a Blast City and I am proud to own them :)
Can look at it for hours, even without the machines powered on.

Great to see you've bought Henk's Blast City back :)
Awesome cabinet.
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: SeTTleR on July 26, 2012, 12:01:56 PM
WOW, this is a really nice cab. I played on a Blast City one time and I really liked it. Does the screen have any burns? I think it's hard to get a Blast City in Europe without burns. Nonetheless, this Cab is really cool! Gz!!
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: ckong on July 26, 2012, 02:58:35 PM
WOW, this is a really nice cab. I played on a Blast City one time and I really liked it. Does the screen have any burns? I think it's hard to get a Blast City in Europe without burns. Nonetheless, this Cab is really cool! Gz!!

Burns: 0%, noppes, nada, niente. No sir, no burn at all! One of the reasons why I did want this particular cab.  :spaceace:
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: joeks on July 26, 2012, 04:14:43 PM
Eric,

Can I have first dibs on it if you ever decide to sell it? :)


Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: ckong on July 26, 2012, 04:20:12 PM
Eric,

Can I have first dibs on it if you ever decide to sell it? :)

Yes, you can, and you have.  :)
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: level42 on July 27, 2012, 12:25:30 AM
First of all, I am truelly very happy for Erik that he found his Japanese holy grail because he's one of my best friends in this hobby.

And indeed I still agree what I (somewhat "encouraged") posted there (see Erik's quote). I can understand that others like them, but that doesn't mean that I neccesarely have to like them ;) I do see their place in arcade history though and I can see me play Metal Slug on one...

The whole point is that this hobby is for a large part fueled by the emotion of the memory of cabs/games. I COMPLETELY lack that emotion with candies simply because I never even knew they excited until I started in this hobby.... I am too old to have a link with them.
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: leonk on July 27, 2012, 04:26:54 AM
Level42: I understand.

I grew up in the 90s ... My first cab experiences were mortal kombat and newer cabs. In the last decade, candy cabs invaded some arcades here and I played them.  For me, I have no emotional attachment to 80s cab games - they're as interesting for me as playing a game on an Atari (ie none)

Every pot has its lid.  Let the flames begin.  ;)

I enjoy forums like this not because of the games they restore but rather amazed at the dedication and craftsmanship that people put into the restore - you guys are true artists.
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on July 27, 2012, 08:49:07 AM
First of all, I am truelly very happy for Erik that he found his Japanese holy grail because he's one of my best friends in this hobby.

And indeed I still agree what I (somewhat "encouraged") posted there (see Erik's quote). I can understand that others like them, but that doesn't mean that I neccesarely have to like them ;) I do see their place in arcade history though and I can see me play Metal Slug on one...

The whole point is that this hobby is for a large part fueled by the emotion of the memory of cabs/games. I COMPLETELY lack that emotion with candies simply because I never even knew they excited until I started in this hobby.... I am too old to have a link with them.

I could not describe it better, so +1!  :spaceace:
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: ckong on July 27, 2012, 12:21:52 PM
I also don't have any relation or memory from the past regarding candy cabs. In fact, I first heard about them about 7 years ago. But still I like them very much. so I wonder why?

I guess it is because not only do I like to play the early 80's classic games (because of fond memories but also because they are still enjoyable), but I also happen to like the frantic gameplay of more modern games from let's say the early nineties until today, where I mainly or almost completely focus on SHMUP's. They very often happen to be from Japanese origin and I like them because they are though, always colourful, often have that mysterious Japanese appeal and they very often have great music. In short, they give me a good thrill.

In Europe these 'modern' games very often didn't come out in dedicated cabs, but in ugly generic woody's. However, in Japan the gamers had it better. There the arcade market was and still is very big, so cab builders did their best to give the players, in a cost effective way (make cabs in which games could easily be swapped), the best gaming experience, through cabs with big monitors, good sound systems, comfortable seats, so players could play the frentic games for hours and hours.  :)

And because I reckon that the Japanese know what they are talking about, I tried it myself a few years ago. And they are right, Candy cabs do give the best experience to play my type of games.  ;D so, that's why I like them, not persé for the astethics (although I do think some of them look great, like the NAC and the Blast, not the Taito E2 or E3, these are to round, sissy cabs), but because of the gameplay experience they give me. I very often hear that those big monitors are too big for 15K lowres games, but that is a matter of taste. I want to see scanlines, it adds to experience, not only for older games, but also for modern games. And big monitors give great scanlines.  :D


Just as I like to play the classic games in their original way, I also like to play the modern (SHMUP) games in the way as it was intended for them.

Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: DarthNuno on July 29, 2012, 09:45:13 AM
Do the XBOX 360 cave conversion can be played on 'tate' mode? Or any XBOX/PS2 shmups by the way?
Title: Re: Found one of my grails - a nice Asian type
Post by: ckong on July 29, 2012, 10:37:22 AM
Do the XBOX 360 cave conversion can be played on 'tate' mode? Or any XBOX/PS2 shmups by the way?

Yeah, here is a list that I try to keep up to date


Tate SHMUP's


Sega Saturn
Batsugun (J)
Battle Garegga (U)
DonPachi
DoDonPachi
Galactic Attack (U)
* aka Layer Section (J)
* aka Rayforce (E)
Gekirindan
Gunbird
Kyukyoku Tigers 2 Plus (Twin Cobra 2)
Shienryu
Sonic Wings Special
Strikers 1945
Strikers 1945 II
The Game Paradise
Gunsmoke
Image fight

Sega Dreamcast
Trizeal
Gunbird 2 (You have to select Arcade (as opposed to Original 1 or Original 2) to display GB2 in tate)
Trigger Heart Exelica
Under Defeat
Psyvariar 2
Ikaruga
Radirgy
Karous
Castle of Shikigami 2 (U)
* aka Shikigami No Shiro 2 (J)

Sony Playstation
Capcom Generations Vol. 1: 1942, 1943 Battle of Midway, 1943 Kai
Capcom Generations - Blazing Guns (E): Mercs, Commando, Gunsmoke
DoDonPachi
DonPachi
Raiden DX
Raiden Project
Sonic Wings Special
Strikers (only the imports have TATE, including the PS1 Book release)
Toaplan Shooting Battle (one game on there)
Twin Cobra
Xevious
Image Fight
Assault
Dragon Spirit
Exed Exes
Vulgus

Sony Playstation 2
Gunbird 1
Gunbird 2
Trigger heart Exelica (not yet released)
Psyvariar 2
Psyvariar Medum Unit
Psyvariar Revision
Radirgy
Dodonpachi Dai ou jou
Espgaluda
Mushihime sama
Ibara
Homura
Dragon Blaze
Raiden III
Shikigami No Shiro (Japanese version only)
Shikigami No Shiro II
XII Stag
Contra

Nintendo Gamecube
Ikaruga
Shikigami No Shiro II
Radirgy Generic

Nintendo Wii
Shikigami No Shiro III

Microsoft XBOX
Shikigami No Shiro
Shikigami No Shiro II
Psyvaria 2

Microsoft XBOX 360
Shikigami No Shiro III
Raiden Fighters Aces (J)
Raiden IV (J)
DoDonPachi Daioujou Black Label Extra (J)
Espgaluda 2 (RF)
Ketsui (J)
Muhishi Sama Futari 1.5 (RF)
DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu Ver 1.5
Guwange (16:9 ratio in Tate, not 4:3)
Triggerheart Excelia
KOF Sky Stage
Mushihime Sama HD
Ikaruga
Bullet Soul
Muchi Muchi Pork
Pink Sweets