Shadow Force: Transformation Ninja
Updates to look and packaging:
7 Likes
Gunbird
Updates to look and packaging. The marquee and bezel here are old custom designs.
7 Likes
Aliens
I created a custom bezel on the prior version of this overlay but there was an actual bezel distributed with the kit for this game which I recreated (very simple design) and used for this update.
6 Likes
Inferno (Williams – 1984)
Known for 80s arcade hits like Defender and Robotron: 2084, Williams also released a few odd titles that didn’t generate quite so much buzz, and Inferno definitely falls into the latter category. Sort of a mashup of Crystal Castles and Robotron but with dual joysticks that only move diagonally, and a strangely creepy vibe, the game sends one or two heroes into a series of maze-like caverns to battle cyclopes, tanks, nymphs and “boom boom birds” sent by the Grand Lizard. The mazes have multiple height levels and their narrow corridors can be a challenge to navigate without properly configured controls (ideally you need a flight stick and another joystick, but you can make it work with two normal sticks and a nearby button). If you’re looking for a weird 80s game you may not have played that’s unmistakably Williams, delve into the depths of Inferno.
6 Likes
APB (Atari – 1987)
Take the wheel as Officer Bob and apprehend speeders and scofflaws in this somewhat humorous top-down driving game from Atari. APB is more complex than it looks at first glance, requiring you to not only navigate city streets at high speeds but aim a reticle and hit your Siren button to issue tickets and pull over more dangerous suspects. Get too many demerits and you’ll be the one getting arrested.
This cabinet is known for some… eclectic artwork, as well as its flashing marquee lights when you hit your siren, which we recreated in the MAME version of this overlay (adapted from Mr. Do’s original lay file, thanks to him for the functionality as well as explaining how it works!) along with two screen sizes. Now hit the streets, rookie, and let’s be careful out there.
6 Likes
Dogyuun (Toaplan - 1992)
This is another one that required a lot of custom design work as there was no original marquee or bezel that I was able to find. There were western releases but I believe they must have been very limited in quantity considering the difficulty in finding the kit materials. I was able to use an english language instruction card and the marquee was a recomp of the arcade flyer.
Toaplan made absolutely amazing shooters and all of them come highly recommended to any shmup fan.
5 Likes
This turned out really nicely @ArsInvictus , it feels like an original cabinet! The marquee is great and I think the red is a really nice touch as well.
Such a cool game deserves a custom cabinet!!!
2 Likes
Very nice @walter.farmacia! I can use this! Is there any chance you can show more of the bottom of the control panel? move it up a little bit?
2 Likes
thanks! @ArsInvictus of course you can edit it and make it more beautiful, I used this reference photo
5 Likes
Gain Ground (Sega – 1988)
Gain Ground combines action and real time strategy in a way few arcade games did, with a huge set of playable characters and levels that require both reflexes and planning. It most resembles Gauntlet, one of its key inspirations, but each level is a single screen and requires you to figure out the best combination of warriors and tactics to defeat all the enemies and/or get all your warriors to the exit. The strategy aspect is not deep, it’s almost more of a puzzle game, but it does require more thinking as the levels progress.
This one was an interesting challenge to adapt to a vertical arcade format, as the original cabinet was an enormous three-player machine, so I reimagined it in a more standard format while maintaining all of the original artwork and character info. The MAME version has two screen sizes and includes a darker version. (For comparison, this is the original cabinet, in somewhat worn form.)
7 Likes
Great sound effects on this one, as with so many Williams classics. Hadn’t heard of this game. Wonderful job with the marquee, bezel and CPO, Thoggo. Thanks for the fun!
3 Likes
Pac-Man (Namco (Midway published) - 1980)
Updated look and packaging.
6 Likes
Super Pac-Man (Namco (Midway Published) - 1982)
I’m not sure I ever saw this in the arcade back when it came out in 1982, despite the ubiquity of the original and Ms. Pac-Man at the time. I haven’t spent much time playing this, but the extra dimensions of “flight” and eating keys to open doors and eat fruit was probably a bit confusing to players used to the simplicity of the original game. That said, reviews of this game say it’s a great game in it’s own right once you understand the strategy.
I restored the marquee provided by @MrDo (thank you as always!) for this one.
6 Likes
Ms. Pac-Man (Midway - 1982)
This was actually a mod-kit for the original Pac-Man created by a group of MIT dropouts who found they could make tons of money modding games like Missile Command and Space Invaders to make them more challenging. For more of the back story and interviews with the actual developers, check out the documentary High Score on Netflix.
Due to legal action from Atari, they were required to present the game to Midway, who decided to purchase it and released it as Ms. Pac-Man. The reviews of this game were laudatory at the time and it was considered by many to be a significant improvement over the original. It went on to become one of the most popular arcade games ever made.
7 Likes
Looks really nice Walter! That’s definitely a game we should get in the collection.
3 Likes
I hope you like it, NBA Showtime can already be played on MAME, but I don’t have the bezel and the marquee
3 Likes
Thanks for your contributions, Walter. Looking great! Ars, I love your passion for preserving relatively rare games, but it’s also nice to see some classics get a beautiful update (PAC-trio above).
5 Likes
