Ask questions of Curt Vendel about Awesome Arcades

[Blackwolf]

Okay, so due to family circumstances over the holiday weekend, returning guest Curt Vendel of Awesome Arcades (http://www.awecades.com/) was unable to make our live show. We will be prerecording an interview this weekend with him about his latest project. Here's an excerpt from the original press release about what Awesome Arcades is:

The Awecade AC-601 “Arcade Center” offers a brand new twist to the arcade experience. With ‘new school’ styling, a 21-inch CRT monitor, stereo speakers, control panel utilizing the same high quality arcade joysticks and buttons and ‘classic arcade sounds’ built right in to complete the mega-arcade feel, the Awecade is a stylish homage to the classic video arcade machines of the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s – yet completely comprised of 21st Century technology. There is no coin slot, as the machine is designed strictly for home game rooms. It comes complete with over 80 all-time fun-filled video game classics from companies such as Atari, Midway and Digital Leisure, which are built right in to the machine.

Additionally, Awesome Arcades has obtained an exclusive license from Exidy for 19 titles including several Light Gun games (Mousetrap, Crossbow and Venture).

Curt Vendel, Founder/CEO of Awesome Arcades is no stranger to the video game industry, having just received numerous accolades for his stellar design work of Atari’s “Flashback 2” video game unit. Additionally, Vendel has spent more than a decade assembling the largest, privately-held collection of Atari games, memorabilia and corporate documentation, which is chronicled on his web site, atarimuseum.com. Vendel states that, “the timing and the market for the Awecade couldn’t be better. Today, more and more families and gaming enthusiasts are looking to complete their home game rooms with an arcade that not only performs, but one that is aesthetically pleasing to fit in with existing home decor. At a price point of $1799 which includes free shipping anywhere in the continental United States, we believe we have hit on the perfect combination for the price-conscious family.”

If you have any questions for Curt, reply in this thread and I will do my best to get them answered during our interview that will air this Sunday night on The Bobby Blackwolf Show.

[Coleman]

I kinda posted my questions concerns before but since this seems to be the proper place to voice myself I will do so again.
My Question is basicly why should I buy this expensive machine versus building a supergun and playing the games directly off of the original PCB board.
Also I am curious if this system is Jamma or Atomiswave or Sammy compatible.
I would like to know if any games can be added to the cabinet once it is purchased Via cartridge or PCB board or internal memory.
Another question that i have is that there are several games on there machine which did not use conventional joysticks. For example: Centipede used a trackball but a trackball does not seem to be a part of the cabinet. Is this available as an add on or is it just missing altogether. And if memory serves me correctly the original defender game did not use a joystick for movement but had a series of buttons for controls. How are these types of issues being delt with.
My final question is why should i buy there system for 1800 dollars when I can buy a stand up cabinet from a website (http://www.coinopexpress.com/products/machines/cabinets_only.html) much cheaper that will be compatible with many types of videogames.

[Flavius]

What makes this better than a $50 second-hand, gutted arcade cabinet, a large second-hand monitor, old pc running MAME & an X-Arcade joystick? :p

I kid, I kid...

[Tulare]

I think my questions are about price as well. I'm wondering who his target group is? People you already buy, or are looking to buy typical arcade machines.

It does seem like a damn cool idea, but someone could get a 360 and have well over $1000 to spend on any number of games. That being said, if I had the money to throw away, I'd probably get one. Apulo must already be saving up. :D

[hitstun]

Yeah, seriously, why would anybody buy this for $1800 when I can buy all the worthwhile games on my PC for $60? What makes it worth that much? Is the cabinet THAT good? The monitor is only a 21", and for an operating system dedicated to arcade emulation, a P4 shouldn't be necessary. There's got to be something I don't see here. The Atari fanboys seem to like it.

That second player button arrangement is shown as left-handed in every picture I could find. Is it possible to get it with both sides right-handed?

http://www.awecades.com/images/controls-card1.gif

By the way, nice light gun. Is that sold separately?

On the site, the only game packs I see are Midway Arcade Treasures 1 and 2, Atari Anthology, Dragon's Lair 20th Anniversary collection, and a pack of ancient games from Exidy. How likely is it for Awesome to get more games for their cabinets, and how much would they cost? Will we be seeing some more Atari-era collections become Awesome exclusives? What about a Sega AM-2 racing game collection? How about getting some fighting games from after, say, 1997? That would be badass.

What are the chances of making an Awesome Arcade as a standalone console like the Atari Flashbacks?

I know of a few really good alternatives to buying a pre-built cabinet like this, but I'll be nice and stay quiet about them for now...