I'm a big fan of MAME. Even of MAME with an LCD screen.
With the old plastic games, it really is about experiencing the whole package. Nice shaped plastic case, VFD screen, bleep sounds. And they are so well made, they often look and play like brand new.
With arcade titles though, the game stands more on its own. The game is a design challenge in a specific resolution, with x-number colour palette all dictated by the computing power available at that time. Screens and construction options were not important! Using chipboard for a cab is nothing but a low-cost solution. I think, only a few cabs really are a combination of cab-design AND game design like you see with the electronic games. Most stuff is just a basic case with stickers and silk print. So that makes me return to the game. The game, nothing more, is what's worth in my opinion. And sure, you must have good tools to play it (right controls, enough computer power for accurate emulation). I like to see Donkey Kong on a wide gamut TFT with better colours than ever, with a good speaker set to play the great samples even better. It's the game, and nothing more, in the best way possible presented today!
But I visited Bruno, and I truly admire his collection. But I think the quality in the collection is the experience of a whole arcade room. Bruno creates a game hall that teleports you back into the 80-ies. That is true awesomeness! But having a single cab..... It's just a stinking rotting piece of crap most of the time. These things are not made for surviving 30 years after being taken out of a smoky pub. If you like games and you are short on space, MAME is the best option to enjoy those games. To experience the past of an arcade hall, visit one of the great collectors here now and then
. Bruno, when do you start your retro-arcade-restaurant?
