Question: Market for MVS System

[ArcadEd]

First off, my name is Ed Farias and I own www.arcadeinabox.com.

Upon a discussion at KLOV about the street fighter II supergun I have on ebay ( http://cgi.ebay.com/Street-Fighter-...oryZ4315QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ). Many people started to disucss the possibility of making a similar system, but specific for Neo-Geo MVS.

I am up for the challenge, maybe. The reason I came in here is because of the wide range of knowledge in this market. So, there is a few concerns about my company doing this.

1. Consistantly being able to find 2 or 4 slot MVS Boards.
2. The one place I did find them consistantly (Coinopexpress.com) charges about 125 for the board and I have no idea on shipping. This would really increase the sale prices of the boxes.
3. Would people spend 600+ dollars on a system like this? This is the big one .

In a nutshell, the box would remain black, but would have red t-molding along the bottom and front edges as well (instead of black). The boxes will be hinged (Hidden inside hinges) with a thumbscrew lock down in the front. Remove the thumbscrew, flip open the lid and swap games. They will also have Neo-Geo and/or SNK logos on them. The button layout will be the standard ABCD button layout of the Neo-Geo systems. We take pride in doing professional, high quality work.

Any feedback is much appreciated.

Thank You,

Ed

 

[Xian Xi]

I wouldnt spen $600 on it only because I make my own stuff, here at NG.com there are alot of DIYers. But there are some who might shell out the cash depending on how nice it looks.

 

[billd420]

Hey you stole my idea LOL. Your project looks pretty cool, I have a few suggestions however.

First, I would look into getting some artwork on your arcade in a box.

And second, ditch the SHITTY Happ control joysticks and get Sanwas! They look so much better and play like a dream!

About the MVS in a box... they can be had for a lot less than $600 without the joysticks (look up Consolized MVS for examples). I don't think there would be too much of a market for that price unfortunately.

-Bill

 

[zapatistab]

Hey you stole my idea LOL. Your project looks pretty cool, I have a few suggestions however.

First, I would look into getting some artwork on your arcade in a box.

And second, ditch the SHITTY Happ control joysticks and get Sanwas! They look so much better and play like a dream!

About the MVS in a box... they can be had for a lot less than $600 without the joysticks (look up Consolized MVS for examples). I don't think there would be too much of a market for that price unfortunately.

-Bill

I agree with Bill. For that price, you could at least use Sanwa or Seimitsu sticks and buttons.

Building just a Supergun, and keeping the PCB outside of the box, I personally think would be a better idea. That way you can use the smaller power supplies. Same idea as the Sigma Supergun. A thinner smaller arcade stick/supergun would probably be more desireable. And Sanwa or Seimitsu parts of course.

 

[ArcadEd]

Thanks for the suggestions all, but as I feared. The price is just too high to really make this a profitable item to start making .

Kind of interesting the different thoughts on joysticks on the multiple forums I frequent. I actually prefer the happ controllers, but I grew up playing a lot of street fighter in the arcades too, so . I'll get a pair of Sanwas to see what all the fuss is about .

Oh, and power supply is already external. It's a brick type power supply.

I appreciate the feedback.

Thanks.

 

[SpamYouToDeath]

Three things:

1. Why do you need a 2- or 4-slot? With easy access to the cart slot and a quick power switch, I don't think anyone minds swapping carts. Plus, you can get a 1-slot a lot cheaper than the other boards. You should check out Excellentcom and see if they have a good supply of boards.

2. What video encoder are you using? Assuming it costs $100, you use a $150 board, and you want a profit of $100, I can't see the wood/labor/controls costing $150.

3. Happ > *. Japanese sticks feel like something for people with weakened motor function in their hands.

 

[ArcadEd]

Three things:

1. Why do you need a 2- or 4-slot? With easy access to the cart slot and a quick power switch, I don't think anyone minds swapping carts. Plus, you can get a 1-slot a lot cheaper than the other boards. You should check out Excellentcom and see if they have a good supply of boards.

2. What video encoder are you using? Assuming it costs $100, you use a $150 board, and you want a profit of $100, I can't see the wood/labor/controls costing $150.

3. Happ > *. Japanese sticks feel like something for people with weakened motor function in their hands.

1. I could a 1, I'll check out that link.

2. Lets assume the prices like you said. So 250 +
Wood (Cnc Manufactured with black melamine or bare wood with formica) - $50
Speakers - $10
Jamma Harness - $20 (From Happ, Very nice harnesses)
Joysticks - $15
Buttons - 10 for neo geo - $15
Wire, quick connects, power switch, power inlet - $15
Fan and Fan guard - $5
T-Molding - $10
L-Pad - $5
Various shipping charges for stuff bought online - $20
Table Top power supply - $10

= 170
+ 250
=420

So 420 dollars in parts, roughly. 100 profit + shipping wouldn't be too bad. So they would sell for about 520. Start adding side art to make it look pretty, you are looking at the 550-600 range again.

So I'm just not sure it's doable.

 

[alec]

Nice street fighter box you made there. A neo geo box wouldn't be a bad idea. There is one thing about Neo Geo's though. If you shake them really hard, the cart connection can become loose and graphical glitches can appear. You can also lose sound and soforth. If you were playing with a crazy friend, I could forsee some problems occuring since the motherboard is really close to the joysticks, and it really isn't weighed down like a cabinet is.

You would have to make a really big box to house a 4 slot motherboard with all the carts in it.

 

[ArcadEd]

Intersting points, I didn't even think about that. Thanks Alec. And thanks for the kind words.

One thing I did think of, is I could shave about 20 off parts by scrapping the component encoder and just going s-video composite. Personally, I think S-video looks better than component. At least on my TV.

 

[Dolphin]

Although I haven't put much thought into what I'm about to type, I think it might be worth your while to retool your overall strategy if you wish to make money by peddling in the Neo-Geo scene. Judging by your initial posting, you seem to be thinking in terms of something approximating volume sales.

Speaking as a lazy, cynical observer, it seems to me that the way to make money here is not with volume, but by putting forth (on eBay, of course) a few overly-engineered, overly-embellished pieces and setting the opening prices at an obscene, ungoldy amount designed to make the average wallet recoil in sheer horror. I'm still waiting on someone to try selling a neo-geo with a case milled from 22k gold with platinum accents (platinum switches, etc.); maybe there's a market for such in Saudi Arabia.

 

[ArcadEd]

Dolphin, I don't think I understand you post fully.

First off, the box that is up on ebay cost me almost 300 to build, not including time.

Secondly, are you saying it would be better to build crap units, with crap parts, that take me little to no time and throw them up for sale?

That's not what I am about, and will never do that.

As for the selling on ebay, that is more of a feeler thing. If I do start making these, they will be available from my site at www.arcadeinabox.com. I very rarely sell items on ebay.

If I am way off base on what you are saying I apologize, I guess I just don't understand. A few posts up I listed the costs of building one of these. If something seems out of line with that, then I would be than happy to hear suggestions.

 

[complexs6]

Here is the thing, The idea aint bad but it wont work at that price. A better idea would be just make a supergun out of it like mention before to cut down on the cost and like bill said artwork would help. If someone here was going to spend that kind of money it would be in a cabinet, I thought about buying something like that but its hollow and has a hole to put a trackballmouse also aside from 2 joysticks and 1 more above the mouse but I had to build it myself which I dont have time to do. I like this idea of having a MV-1B board facing the back and you make a slot on the back where you put carts in and out of. I wanted to do this with a samurai shodown 2 control panel but it turned out to be to small. MV-1B is a 1slot board thats one of the smallest of all neogeo pcbs.

 

[ArcadEd]

OK, that's cool.

My main question was is there a market for something like I described, in the quality/fashion I was to build them in.

I think it's a majority consensus that the answer is no .

Thanks all.

Ed

 

[msu89dawgs]

Dolphin, I don't think I understand you post fully.

First off, the box that is up on ebay cost me almost 300 to build, not including time.

Secondly, are you saying it would be better to build crap units, with crap parts, that take me little to no time and throw them up for sale?

That's not what I am about, and will never do that.

As for the selling on ebay, that is more of a feeler thing. If I do start making these, they will be available from my site at www.arcadeinabox.com. I very rarely sell items on ebay.

If I am way off base on what you are saying I apologize, I guess I just don't understand. A few posts up I listed the costs of building one of these. If something seems out of line with that, then I would be than happy to hear suggestions.

Not trying to speak for Dolphin, but if you haven't been on these forums much, you most likely have no idea to what/who he is referring. There are some sellers with a history of modding AES and MVS units, often with useful items like s-video or component video, stereo audio, and Unibios chips (if you don't know what that is, do a search on these forums). Some of the "upgrades", such as LEDs in the buttons of joysticks, etc., are seen by many here as being of dubious value, while some people think they're very cool. Do a search on "Princess stick" for some history here. Also, the quality of the workmanship of these sellers has been called into question, and hotly debated here in some cases. Aggravating the situation is the fact that these upgraded systems and controllers are frequently listed on eBay at what some consider to be exorbitantly high prices, although many times they do sell for at or above the asking price. There is one person in particular who has been somewhat of a lightning rod for this practice, although I won't mention his name. If you've looked at a good number of MVS and AES auctions on eBay, you may have seen some of his items.

In short, I don't think Dolphin is knocking what you are trying to do; I think he was injecting a bit of sarcasm into the past and current practices of people who he feels might not be as conscientious as you seem to be about delivering a quality product at a fair price.

Dolphin, if I misstated any of that, please correct me. I didn't feel that you were attacking the original poster, just venting a bit at some other modders (or maybe just at one).

Of course, it's 6:30 in the morning, and I was just woken up by a screaming 14-month old, so my brain might not be functioning properly right now, and I might be way off base. If so, I apologize. I need to go back to sleep...

 

[ArcadEd]

Thank you for that explanation.

 

[msu89dawgs]

Thank you for that explanation.

Probably more confusing than anything. Echoing what others have said, very nice SFII unit you have for sale on eBay.

 

[zer010gic]

3. Happ > *. Japanese sticks feel like something for people with weakened motor function in their hands.

He is crazy that’s comparing apples to oranges. Japanese sticks have a total different feel. They are for finesse playing. Not for batting the stick around in sloppy manner like happ sticks require. The Japanese sticks do have a softer feel but are more precise and have little to no play compared to happs offerings. Sanwas particularly have a restrictor plate option that makes them great especially for fighters using an octagonal plate. Its a matter of opinion to which is better but the Japanese sticks offer more options to the sticks them selves and depending on the style of gaming your playing can be a much better stick. FYI I have a nice new pair of Sanwas on my Neo Geo big red that are wonderful.

Corey

 

[msu89dawgs]

zer010gic - I'm surprised you haven't replaced those buttons with Japanese buttons, or at least Happ competition buttons. Personally, I do better with US style sticks than Japanese, but after using competition buttons, I hate concave buttons.

 

[ArcadEd]

Probably more confusing than anything. Echoing what others have said, very nice SFII unit you have for sale on eBay.

Thank you .

 

[msu89dawgs]

Thank you .

Have you ever built one to accommodate a Capcom CPS-2?

 

[ArcadEd]

Not yet, but I've been keeping an eye on ebay to find a CPS2 kit to try out.

 

[zer010gic]

zer010gic - I'm surprised you haven't replaced those buttons with Japanese buttons, or at least Happ competition buttons. Personally, I do better with US style sticks than Japanese, but after using competition buttons, I hate concave buttons.

This was the first step because I hate the happ joysticks next I will be upgrading the buttons. I dont want to modify my cabinet so I will probably have to use the happ competition convex buttons. I would use the Semitsu buttons (little stiffer) but american button wholes are smaller then 30mm and bigger then 24mm and I dont want to have to change my cab.


Corey

 

[themisterfalcon]

3. Happ > *. Japanese sticks feel like something for people with weakened motor function in their hands.

hahah come over then and get your butt kicked in KOF by a motor fuction impared handicap then

In all seriousness though, its just personal preference. Some people like perciseness, and some people like the "batting" action done with Happ sticks. They really aren't comparable. Buttons don't really matter, Sanwas just come in hotter colors.

In regards to the $600 arcade in a box. You can get an entire cab for that. A Sega cab from Matsu shipped to anywhere in the mid-west will run you a little more than that. I would rather buy a whole cab personally...

 

[ArcadEd]

Well changing my game plan a bit. Since I had one request, thought I would ask opinions on just a kit. Basically just the wood, black melamine coated, and cam and pin locking system making it easy to put together.

Any thoughts on that? If you like the design, it might be the way to go from a business standpoint since I really can't get the price point down to something reasonable.

Anyway, I'm enjoying your ideas on this.

Ed

 

[SpamYouToDeath]

hahah come over then and get your butt kicked in KOF by a motor fuction impared handicap then

In all seriousness though, its just personal preference. Some people like perciseness, and some people like the "batting" action done with Happ sticks. They really aren't comparable. Buttons don't really matter, Sanwas just come in hotter colors.

Although "batting" is a somewhat correct term, I feel it is incorrect in the randomness it implies. You actually have a easier time hitting diagonals if you have more morement, but you have to use the stick in a sort of "slapping" manner to hit everything fast enough.

And back on topic, I think a sort of assemble-it-yourself kit would be great, as long as it significantly reduced the price.