I see a lot of the Merit Megatouch "Maxx" Series available for sale (Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, etc).  Are these a good buy?  Most working are around $150 to $200 and non-working around $50 to $100.  I've never worked on one of these but am thinking about adding one to my collection.  Seems like good bang for your buck.  Are parts readily available?  I imagine, like most video arcade games, you'd be looking at either power supply replacement/repair or pcb replacement/repair.

If anyone has any advice on price and/or the amount of work required to upgrade them and repair them, I'd really appreciate it.

I'm one episode behind on the show so this may have been covered but, has John decided what to project to do when he teams up with Ben Heck yet?  As I was listening on the previous episode, I kept thinking that it would be cool if they could do something monumental that would help everyone with restorations.  My idea, which I admit may be totally impossible, is a universal monitor chassis. 

Seems like my restoration process always goes something like this:  Get the game running, notice that the monitor looks like crap, do a cap kit, get everything adjusted, marvel at how great the monitor looks, wait 2 hours, blow something on the newly capped chassis, spend hours trying to figure out what blew..... you've been there, you know what I mean.

I think it would be awesome if someone could design a chassis that would work with most of the common monitors and be bullet-proof. 

Any other ideas?

What part of the world are you in?  I have a Championship Sprint that I believe is in poor condition (haven't seen it in a while).  It is in storage right now but, if you're near central Ohio....

Just a thought.  I had planned to restore sometime this summer but I could be talked into selling. 

Or Popeye?

I think I just realized why I like DKJr more on 8-bit:  I can use my right hand to control the joystick.  The Nintendo cab has the joystick on the left.  I am not ambidextrous.  That's why it seems easier. 

The wife has said she is ok not doing a pool table but I'm still torn. Not to mention that saving for a nice one is still a few years out. In the mean time she said, "arcade machines would be cooler."

Your wife is right.  Pool tables are great if you have the space but think how many games you could get down there instead.  How about, instead of a pool table, you opt for a shuffle puck bowler?  Much less space required, just as fun, and the leftover room can be used for pins and vids.

Missile Command - Using a joystick is much more precise than a track ball.

But i fail to see how a joystick is more precise than a trak ball. But maybe it´s just me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrQuR1LHAVI

It always seemed easier to get your shots lined up directly under the incoming missiles.  On the MC cabinet, I find myself guessing and really just spraying shots after only a few levels. 

Who said DK JR is better on the console?!

I would not agree with this!

I mis-typed.  I think it was Mike Tyson's punch out that Jow suggested was better on the console.  I disagree with that BUT...... If you have any 8-bit Ataris laying around, I challenge you to play a few games of DKJr and then go to your DKJr cab and play a few games.  I do think the 8-bit version is better.

EDD and Moogrum bring up a good point.  I think most sports titles are better on consoles than in an arcade.  Football, baseball, and basketball need to be played from beginning to end to be fun.  Without feeding several quarters, there is no way to do that in most sports video arcade games.  There needs to be a gimmick for an arcade sports title (i.e. one round only in Punch-Out, one series in Ten Yard Fight, punching a guy in the face in Arch Rivals).

 

On last week's Arcade Outsiders, they discussed how Jr. was better as a console than in an arcade cabinet.  I've always agreed with that.  If you play DK Jr. on an Atari XL computer, it looks great and it is much more forgiving.  On  8-bit computers, these two games are also better:

Missile Command - Using a joystick is much more precise than a track ball.  I even think this game was better on the 2600.
Pengo - This was one of my favorite 8-bit games but it is brutal in an arcade cabinet.  Just played it again on my Atari XL and, sure enough, I like it a lot better.

Any others?

I saw this too.  I wonder if they had a single one of each and it only took one sucker to deplete their inventory.  I did enjoy looking at the old wood rail pins though.  Usually, when you find one of these, they are in rough shape and those looked factory new.  Still not worth the price tag though.

Rampart is one of my all-time favorites, despite the fact that I typically don't like most '90's games.  I have a Rampart cabinet that was converted to something else and will be my next project but I literally need everything so it won't be cheap.  This is the three player cab (they also made a 2 player).  Absolute great game.

Anyone have a spare power brick for an MCR II series game (Series I and Series II might also be the same, not sure).  I have a Satan's Hollow that I can't start restoring because, while everything else appears to be there, someone pirated the power brick from the bottom of the cabinet.  Anyone?