Any hardware reccomendations?

After a long term relationship with my ex-fiancé... I find myself with more free time than I've had for, maybe 8 years.

I'm thinking of branching out in arcade hardware. Anyone have any thoughts on some good systems to check out? I'm not only looking for something with good games, but if it has a good community (particularly if people here like it) that's even better. Something with a good selection of games, few console ports.

I'm debating on:

Taito F3-
Pros: Swappable cartridges just like the neo, nice mix of shooters and puzzlers. 2D loveliness.
Cons: I love Bub and Bob as much as the next guy, but almost 15% of the games on the system star those loveable dragons.

Taito G-Net-
Pros: Some really bad ass shooters. Also games on a PCMIA card would make storing the games a breeze. They'd probably fit in a CD case.
Cons: Not that many games, most of the good shooters have been ported.

Sega ST-V-
Pros: Again, nice cartridge form factor. Right on the cusp of the 2D/3D revolution so you'll get a good mix of both. Plenty of games. Rev Quixo collects 'em, so I know one person who has them on this board.
Cons: Region lock, also seems like quite a few games in a quiz/mahjong/adv non-english friendly way.

Seibu SPI-
Pros: Cartridge based. Only system with Battle Balls. Doesn't seem to be any 'filler' games.
Cons: I've never seen one for sale, 6 games (3 of which are Raiden Fighters).

Kaneko Super Nova
Pros: Cartridge based. Nice mix of shooters, puzzle games.
Cons: I don't know. Not a lot of games, I guess. Also non-stop gal panic.

Seta Aleck64
Pros: Analog joystick.
Cons: Analog joystick. Questionable games.

Polygame Master
Pros: Very neo-esque. Early Cave Shooters. Lots of games.
Cons: I tried to get into the PGM before and I couldn't get interested. Also, you miss out on the later Cave games and games like Spectral vs Generation since they're stand-alone boards.

Anyone have any thoughts?

I forgot CPS2..

Pros: Lots and lots of games.
Cons: Suicide batteries, game regions and lots of ports.

I think of the list my 2 suggestions would be CPS2 and PGM. In my opinion they have the best selection of games and are for the most part relatively easy to get a hold of, certain titles aside of course. Some of the hardware you listed is either hard to find, very expensive or just doesnt boast enough really good titles to warrant collecting in my opinion.

Both CPS2 and PGM do of course have some bombs though.... but the good games easily make up for those without question...

PGM
PGM
PGM

Blaine, glad to see you back under one circumstance or another.

I'd say PGM because it's something I never got into, but always interested me. How's that for bad reasoning? There are, as far as I understand, JAMMA versions of many of the more interesting games (should you not go that route). Though, I don't think Cave had any releases on the system. Bee Storm was licensed to IGS.

Don't forget other sub-cultures such as "system 16", "vertical", "rotary", or any specific company.

...I swear Battle Balls has a JAMMA version. Perhaps it's just that you won't find the games and little carts separately.

Jaleco Mega System 32 is another system in the same era as the ones you have listed. There aren't many games for it but there are some gems, I made a thread about it here.

CPS2 and F-3 are my favorites out of the listed systems, both have a very high ratio of good games.

It's easiest to find CPS2 games while games for some of the other systems like Super Nova and Aleck64 can be a real bear to track down.

I got lucky when I started collecting F-3 I bought a couple big lot on ebay that had 10 games and a region free mother board, was one of the best deals I ever got and I still haven't seen some of those games for sale again to date. Buying in bulk is good.

The only thing I don't like about the F-3 is that some of the early games came as stand alone PCB only where as some that were released later came as both stand alone PCB and cart.

There is lots of Bub and Bob but that's to be expected as it's a Taito system. There is certainly no shortage of Puzzle Bobble/Bust-A-Move though, but that's ok with me. There's also some nice shooters and interesting titles like Land Maker and Elevator Action Returns/II.

Has anyone ever seen a Twin Qix cart or stand alone PCB? I never have.

I guess in the end though its really about which games you like best. While systems like CPS2 and F-3 had a lot of home ports IMO a port is a port, if you want the real deal you go arcade.

ForeverSublime said:

Blaine, glad to see you back under one circumstance or another.

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Thanks. Good to be back.

ForeverSublime said:

I'd say PGM because it's something I never got into, but always interested me. How's that for bad reasoning?

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At least it's a reason! The PGM is making some strong arguments.

ForeverSublime said:

...I swear Battle Balls has a JAMMA version. Perhaps it's just that you won't find the games and little carts separately.

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I know there's a PSX port of Battle Balls, but it's not easy to find. I wouldn't be shocked if there was a JAMMA board.

Is anyone on ng.com really big into PGM? Part of what I'm going for, I guess, is I don't wanna be on an island. There's a lot to be said for community - it makes it easier to find games (usually people who have them know where to get them), get suggestions (expensive isn't always good and good isn't always expensive) and just talk about the games.

The Chief; said:

Jaleco Mega System 32 is another system in the same era as the ones you have listed. There aren't many games for it but there are some gems, I made a thread about it here...

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I'm sold on the JM32 - Game Tengoku + Mobo for about the same as the Saturn port? Count me in. I may only ever buy 3 games for it, but it seems fairly friendly to collect.

Even if I do go with the PGM or F3 (or CP2), I'm still picking one of these up.

almost all of the cave stuff on the pgm hardware is on separate boards. like theres no cart version of espgaluda or guwange, etc.

ddp2 beestorm is on cart, but most people say its crap because cave didnt make it.

i have demon front and its good, but i dont know much else about pgm. theres one game i really want to try out but i forget. i think martial masters?


i know you didnt list it, but id suggest a naomi if you dont have one. so many games that arent fighters. its really a nice change of pace.

Blaine said:

I'm sold on the JM32 - Game Tengoku + Mobo for about the same as the Saturn port? Count me in. I may only ever buy 3 games for it, but it seems fairly friendly to collect.

Even if I do go with the PGM or F3 (or CP2), I'm still picking one of these up.

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Cool man, I'd say Game Tengoku is a solid choice for your first M32 game. I just replied to you post in my M32 thread.

Like not sonic said the Naomi also had a ton of good stuff but I didn't mention it before seeing as how it's a bit newer than the other systems you listed that were primarily 2D. Atomiswave also has some good game, especially if you like fighters.

not sonic said:

ddp2 beestorm is on cart, but most people say its crap because cave didnt make it.

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It's crap and cave didn't make it? Or people say it's crap because cave didn't make it?
Which is to say, it's not crap, but people assume it is.

Blaine said:

It's crap and cave didn't make it? Or people say it's crap because cave didn't make it?
Which is to say, it's not crap, but people assume it is.

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based on what people have said its the latter, though i really wouldnt be surprised at all if it was the former. i havent played it yet personally, but do intend on picking it up one of these days. its cheap, which is nice.



also if you dont have a cps2 yet, what are you waiting for?

imo it goes:

neo, cps2, naomi, then whatever else. most of the other cart based boards dont offer that wide of a library of good games (to me.)

id like to get an stv one of these days though. but the f3 just seems so meh.

not sonic said:

but the f3 just seems so meh.

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Sounds like maybe you just don't like Taito? The system totally lacks fighters but that's ok cause fighters aren't Taito's thing. IMO the system excelled in the Puzzle/Action/Shooter categories and had many A+ titles. Have you played many of the games? Elevator Action Returns/II is highly enjoyable, so is Space Invaders '95.

Space Invaders DX is great to have to, it includes various classic versions of the game as well as a remake. I like the idea of having classic games on official redesigned hardware, much more reliable and JAMMA. Namco has also done this a few times with their Classic/Reunion boards.

I'm starting to like them all.

Blaine said:

I'm starting to like them all.

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No problem with that, they all have reasons to be liked.

If you'd like any game recommendations for a particular system LMK and I'll do my best to steer you in the right direction.