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Homeland Security Seizes Fake Frogger, Donkey Kong Machines
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IvanDashSmith
11/10/09

In reply to Homeland Security Seizes Fake Frogger, Donkey Kong Machines
David R. Foley strikes again. #retro
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Orionsaint
11/10/09

In reply to Homeland Security Seizes Fake Frogger, Donkey Kong Machines
#retro
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Fecal-Lord
11/10/09

@Orionsaint: Eat the fly, eat it! #retro
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Duin
11/10/09

In reply to Homeland Security Seizes Fake Frogger, Donkey Kong Machines
So it's a MAME-in-a-Box.

Nicer to hear about this I suppose than the seizure of illegal contraband. #retro
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Bouchart
11/10/09

In reply to Homeland Security Seizes Fake Frogger, Donkey Kong Machines
I know it's true, but I find it difficult to believe that some 30 year old arcade cabinets is worth over $100,000 when they can be made for just a fraction of the cost.

Note to self: when making bootleg cabinets, buy parts locally if possible. #retro
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supercrap
11/10/09

@Bouchart: That value would have to be for all 168 machines, and even that is pretty generous. #retro
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Bouchart
11/10/09

@supercrap: Oh I see. I misread the article as value for each machine, not value for all of the machines.

Still, the profit margin on those things must be huge. #retro
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deanbmmv
11/10/09

In reply to Homeland Security Seizes Fake Frogger, Donkey Kong Machines
Surely Pac-man and the like are out of copyright now?
Or do they fall under the "Walt Disney Copyright till the end of time and space, and even then will probs still be in effect Act"?

It's great to see law enforcement really clamping down on pirates, what with the 360 dude the other week, and now these Arcade cabinets pirating 30 year old games. These people are bringing the games industry to it's knees. :P #retro
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grahamwest
11/10/09

@deanbmmv: Pretty much anything created more recently than 1923 is still copyrighted and is very likely to remain so forever. Things from 1923 to 1963 which did not have a copyright notice on them when published are also in the public domain but I believe that is a small minority.

Here's a good explanation of what copyrights have expired and when.

[inventors.about.com] #retro
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deanbmmv promoted this comment grahamwest was starred grahamwest was unstarred

deanbmmv
11/10/09

@grahamwest: It's far too long tbh.
Still at least we have Fair Use n the like. #retro
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Megaman LXIX
11/10/09

@deanbmmv: That's remind me a lot of my own theory on robbery:

You should only be allowed to rob old people (mostly senior citizens, but anyone over 50 is probably okay), because really who gives a shit... THEY'RE OLD!

That's how the law works, right? #retro
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deanbmmv
11/10/09

@Megaman LXIX: If they're over 70 years old, and not wearing Mickey Mouse ears, then they are in the public domain.
So you can do what you want then, clone them, cut them up into your own derivative work whatever.
Though while they are under 70 you are free to take small parts of them, poke fun at them, or use them as a lesson for all. #retro
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OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear
11/10/09

In reply to Homeland Security Seizes Fake Frogger, Donkey Kong Machines
It looks like its

[puts on sunglasses]

gameover.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #retro
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Bouchart
11/10/09

In reply to Homeland Security Seizes Fake Frogger, Donkey Kong Machines
This is just misdirection on the part of Homeland Security. They actually just seized a dangerous shipment of highly modded Polybius machines that would threaten Western civilization as we know it. #retro
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Michael Dukakis
11/10/09

In reply to Homeland Security Seizes Fake Frogger, Donkey Kong Machines
Donkey Kong was taken into custody after it was found out his banana's contained pure opium! #retro
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Ad-hominem
11/10/09

In reply to Homeland Security Seizes Fake Frogger, Donkey Kong Machines
...These machines were going for over $1,000-$6,000 each? Who wanted them that badly? #retro
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Trygle12... NOW IN HD!
11/10/09

@Ad-hominem: You can make a MAME cabinet for much less than 1K....

MUCH less. #retro
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Techno-Atom
11/10/09

@Ad-hominem:

Contrary to what you might hear on the "net", there are still a lot of people who seek out Arcade Cabs and restore them and even use them still for personal use or commercial use. #retro
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badasscat
11/10/09

@Techno-Atom: Yeah, but these were bootleg machines, and anybody who cares enough to spend that much on an arcade machine would know it.

There are certain "classic" bootlegs that are actually worth something because they play the games slightly differently, but these wouldn't be in that category. These machines are practically worthless. This is like when the RIAA says it lost 5 quadrillion dollars to piracy last year; it's just a made-up number based on some DHS agent looking at an Ebay auction for one of the (real) machines. #retro
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Taggart6: I don't always drink beer, but when I do...
11/10/09

In reply to Homeland Security Seizes Fake Frogger, Donkey Kong Machines
So when's the public auction? #retro
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(Starman) Starman [Key in repetitiveness.]
11/10/09

@Taggart6: I don't always drink beer, but when I do...

I auctionate! #retro
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Taggart6: I don't always drink beer, but when I do...
11/10/09

@(Starman) Count Von Count: We already booked this guy: #retro
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Blore07
09/30/09

In reply to Super Street Fighter IV Is NOT Coming To Arcades
no one seems to be bringing up the exact arguement they were bringing up about their home versions.

Now, I dont know much about arcades and how owning/renting a cabinet costs.

But think, all of you moaning how its going to be too expensive and its too soon, the arcade owners or cabinet maker... people...
might be feeling simmalar but on a much larger scale due to a cabinet costing a fair bit more than a game i'm assuming.

But yeah, before someone completely destroys me on this comment, I dont know anything about how arcades are run, it was just what popped into my mind.

By the way, do arcades buy or rent their machines? anyone know? i'm rather interested now.
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wtf_G
09/30/09

@Blore07: They buy them, in pairs. SF4 viewlix cabs require two since they're single paneled.

Basically, it's about $30k for one setup.
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Blore07
09/30/09

@wtf_G: Cheers for the swift reply.

So yeah, thats one way to look at how if Capcom release SSFIV in arcades (right away that is) it might not go down well in the long run.

Arcades may be weary of buying Capcoms wares in the future if they had to shell out an extra 30k
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wtf_G
09/30/09

In reply to Super Street Fighter IV Is NOT Coming To Arcades
This is basically a huge loss.

This game is fairly popular in Japan, and was imported to many arcades in California, New York and some in Texas.

The Japanese SF4 scene is largely where most of the tactics/styles come from, and a great source for viewing matches/tournaments from on sites like Youtube and Nico Video.

Basically, to say that a game which is in the top 10 for arcade cabinets will not have a release overseas, is a big slap in the face.

If this game isn't popular in Japan, since SF4 will be the main tournament game played, it won't be nearly as huge here in the states.
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puffa469
09/30/09

In reply to Super Street Fighter IV Is NOT Coming To Arcades
It's a shame. I figured at least there would be a new board Acrcade operators could plug into existing cabs.

I guess Capcom figures its just not profitable anymore to make high end arcade cabs, even for SF IV.
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dagamer34
09/30/09

In reply to Super Street Fighter IV Is NOT Coming To Arcades
Translation: "We'll wait until after the release of Super Street Fighter IV to make Ultra Street Fighter IV with more characters and release it to the arcades first. And ponder for a few months about a console release for that. And then maybe release that version. That way we can double dip!"
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dreamshade
09/30/09

In reply to Super Street Fighter IV Is NOT Coming To Arcades
This could also be occurring due to the tournament scene. Street Fighter tournaments tend to play on arcade cabinets for recreating the bigger experience, but SF4 tournaments have been migrating more to the console version, with offers additional characters at the very least. That could be a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy there, but it's halfway proven that they don't NEED an arcade version in order to keep the high-level players interested.
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