I’ve always wanted a home driveway. This is something that has appealed to me ever since I saw my first arcade cabinet as a kid, playing Mario Bros. At a local mall. My affinity for arcade games has grown as I’ve gotten older, but even in my 40s, I’ve never had the spare cash or space to pull the trigger on a game. Full size legal lockerFor my house. This is why Arcade1up devices are so attractive.
This company has had success making pint cabinets that are perfect for the hallways in a small house (like mine) or in a child’s room. the OutRun Seated ArcadeI was playing with a length of only four feet and it costs only $550 (no quarters required). So, like me, you may not have any excuses not to buy a set of arcade cabinets, especially now that the X-Men 4 Player Arcade Machine is right around the corner.
Fully assembled, this thing is slick
The first thing to note is that as with IKEA furniture, Arcade1up machines are assembled at home from a box of parts, consisting mainly of painted particleboard. This box was well packed, with everything individually boxed, thus minimizing any potential shipping damage when sending these 100+ pound boxes cross country. I was completely impressed with this packaging (pictured below), and started my adventure on a positive note.
Huge box, but well packed
Once I had everything laid out on my floor, I immersed myself in the instructions. I found the brochure descriptions and diagrams clear, so, unlike IKEA furniture, I never felt lost. All I needed was a Phillips screwdriver to get started.
Everything is listed on the left, and the instructions are on the right
It took me about two hours to assemble both the dresser and its bench, and I took my time to make sure everything was screwed together correctly on the first try – the particleboard tends to fall apart if I have to fiddle with the screws a few times. While crawling on the floor for a few hours was sore the next day, I was happy that the build went smoothly, which I attribute to the excellent assembly design.
A dresser and bench sit comfortably in a small living room
In terms of build quality and components, the OutRun Seated Arcade Machine definitely feels like a real arcade cabinet despite its compact design. The steering wheel is heavy and has a comfortable grip, just like what you’d expect from a legitimate arcade racer. Heck, every time I walk past the machine, I reach out and spin the wheel. It feels good. Now, on the other hand, pedals have become very cheap and flexible. It offers a solid range of motion, but there’s no weight to it. The plastic construction of the pedals is a bit disappointing after seeing what the wheel has to offer, but they still work as expected.
Wheel and pedals. The wheel looks great, and the pedals feel a bit cheap even though they look like part of the game
I was also surprised to see a functional illuminated display on the top of the unit, where the stereo speakers are located. It’s a nice touch that adds a real arcade vibe, while keeping things looking very clean. Below this nominal screen is a 17-inch LCD screen, which I found to be bright and clear, even when viewed at an angle over the player’s shoulder. Although there is a fan in the unit, which can be heard when sitting close to it. Around the steering wheel, you have a few buttons and switches, as well as a shifter for those who enjoy racing manual controls. You can adjust the volume of the locker and change music tracks whenever you want.
Luminous display, visible even in a well-lit room
The screen seems to permanently display a scan line filter, making it look close to the old tube screens used on cabinets in the past. However, the option to turn off scanlines would have been appreciated, especially since I prefer my games to look as sharp as possible, and for fake scanlines to never look like the real thing. It’s worth noting that the LCD screen is a bit washed out, however There is a mod availableWhich darkens the black color of the screen while maintaining brightness. There is actually a whole Edit hostAvailable for these tanks. so yes, You can add Sanwa buttons and sticks to your Arcade1Up cabinets with little effort.
The scanline filter looks very aggressive
There are four racing games included in the OutRun Seated Arcade Machine cabinet. Transgression, Turbo Out Run, Contestantsand Power drift— All racing games from Sega. These are the original and officially licensed ROMs as well. The art on the locker is dedicated solely to OutRun, which seems appropriate since it’s the most popular of the lot. I definitely appreciate that the cabinet holds more than one game considering this is a purpose-built unit with a wheel and pedals rather than arcade sticks. My personal favorites are OutRun and Power Drift. OutRun for classic arcade racing and Power Drift for challenging kart racing. All games work perfectly with the controls, as they should.
All four games are listed below the wheel, as well as the OutRun map at the top of the wheel
So while I may be an angry cynicWhen it comes to mobile games that’s what I usually coverI’m really happy with the OutRun Seated Arcade Machine. It was easy enough to build, the quality of the materials was better than expected, and the arcade style experience was great. I appreciate that the seat is not attached to this seating unit, which allows for easy storage. Additionally, all of the currently available mods should interest arcade fans since there’s an easy way to upgrade their screens, buttons, and sticks. There’s plenty for enthusiasts to enjoy despite its small size, and since Arcade1Up offers over 40 vertical cabinets across its storefront, Target, Best Buy, and Amazon, you have plenty of options although inventory is limited due to high demand.
Despite its small size, it is actually a comfortable cabinet for seating
All around, I’m impressed with what Arcade1up has to offer. The experience isn’t 100% as good as a real arcade cabinet, but it’s surprisingly close. Yes, $550 is a lot of money for four games, but experience is what matters here, and for me, this is where the locker shines.
Where to buy: Arcade1up, Best Buy (list unit), Amazon (list unit)
