Final Blow

I recently received a NOS Final Blow Kit.  A local pub had this game back in the day, along with Toki and OutRun.  I remember playing this game and never really getting to grips with the controls, but I can’t resist NOS and it will be interesting to see how the game fares today.

 

Here Comes A New Challenger

Street Fighter Zero has been removed from the Yellow Cute, and in its place is the awesome Street Fighter III 2nd Impact: Giant Attack.  The board is revision 970930. 

I have also cleaned the marquee holder with Novus and added some art.

MVS Recent Additions Part 1 – Blazing Star, Last Blade 2 and Metal Slug 5

I’ve gone a bit MVS crazy lately.  Here are some pictures of recent additions to my MVS collection.  I’m very pleased to get hold of Last Blade 2 English Kit.  It appears that during 98-99 SNK was focusing on the ill fated Hyper Neo Geo and MVS Kits had a small print run, other than Metal Slug and King of Fighters.

Blazing Star, Matching Serial # 004710

Last Blade 2, Matching Serial # 004272

Metal Slug 5, Matching Serial # 002384

P&O Pride of Burgundy

On a recent ferry crossing from Dover to Calais I was pleasantly surprised to find an arcade onboard.

The last time I made the ferry crossing was about twenty odd years ago on a school trip to France, and I remember being disappointed that they only had one game onboard - P.O.W.: Prisoners Of War, by SNK.  I wasn’t a fan of this game, maybe I’ll give it another go to see if it fares any better today.

It was good to see Daytona USA 2 and Time Crisis II, but it does seem a bit of a missed opportunity not having Deadstorm Pirates!

Japanese Arcade Game Books

 

I recently received these Japanese arcade game books, all published in 1996.

Arcade Game Classics Vol. 1: 1978 ~ 1987

A very nice book, giving details, pictures etc of arcade games released during this era.  All pages are in full colour.

Arcade Game Classics Vol. 2: 1988 ~ 1993

Follows the same format as the book above.

Doing / Making Game Centre At Home

This book is packed with info on arcade cabinets, superguns, PCB hardware, game centres and places to buy arcade related items.  Very cool!

New Arrival – More Capcom Cuteness

About The Cab

Here is my latest cabinet – a gorgeous Yellow Cute.  My Project Yellow Cute needs a lot of work and progress is slow with work, the wife and a new baby daughter.  This Yellow Cute is in excellent condition and was ready to go straight in my games room.  The cab is totally original and very clean with only a few minor marks.  The monitor has a beautiful zero burn Toshiba tube and a Sanwa chassis (M1723E).  I just need to add some art to the marquee holder then I’m done!

The Games

At the moment the cab is host to an old favourite – Street Fighter Zero.

A massive thanks to Slugflyer (Arcade Otaku) for this awesome cab!

Joystick Gamers! Video Game Photo Magazine

One of the great things about Japan is stumbling upon an arcade.  I love that mixture of excitement and anticipation of finding out what gaming gems await inside, whether it’s in a shopping mall, a tourist attraction, or down a dimly lit street.

I’ll never forget Nanboya Arcade.  Unable to find a place to stay in Osaka, a kind local took us to a hotel and negotiated a cheaper rate within our budget.  After dumping our bags, we left the hotel for a bite to eat and just happened to pass Nanboya Arcade.  Located on a bustling street adjacent to a crossing, a worn sun faded Gradius poster in the window hinted at the awesome selection of classic cabinets inside.  Home to Irem Madonna’s, Namco Consolette, Pony’s, Konami Domy Jr, Nintendo Vs, and SNK Candy Cabinets, I was amazed to find such an arcade still exists.

Another ace find was Solar Assault in Mikado Arcade, Takadanobaba, Tokyo.  I remember seeing pictures of this Konami 3D shooter in magazines back in the day and thinking how awesome it looked….and then nothing, not a mention of it anywhere.  I wondered if it was cancelled.  Did I imagine it even?  And then it’s there right in front of me, all these years later, waiting for my 100 Yen coin!

I recently picked up Joystick Gamers! Video Game Photo Magazine. 

An awesome little booklet containing some beautiful pictures of decrepit, filthy arcade game centers and cabinets – my favourite!  Here’s hoping they release more issues.