Review of X-Arcade and Mame on Ubuntu

I don’t know about you, but for me … sometimes it is the old tried and true that wins at the end of the day.  Using bonus options on Everygame casino bonus and playing online poker is fun.  But let’s face it … nothing can beat playing a traditional game of poker with a group of friends on a Friday night with some beer and munchies.  Where reading the players and who is talking the straight talk and who is bluffing.  Where it is not just about the cards in your hand, but the personality of the person who you are playing against.

Sometimes you play with real money.  Sometimes you play with chips.  And if you want it to be a family fun night, you play for Oreos and chocolate chip cookies.  But at the end of the day, win or lose, everybody walks away still friends.

Taking a trip down memory lane with cabinet video games.

Arcade machines came into the market in the late 1970s.  These are the most popular arcade games from the 1980s:

1. Pac man (1980)
2. Donkey Kong (1980)
3. Space Invaders (1978)
4. Galaga (1981) — I personally had never heard of this one.
5. Ms. Pac Man (1982)
6. Street Fighter (1987)
7. Defender (1981)
8. Asteroids (1979)
9. Centipede (1980)
10. Frogger (1981) — My personal all time favorite arcade game.

Another favorite of mine, which is not on this list, is Tetris.  I spent many hours playing that game when I was younger.  The rosey-eyed glasses of youth.

Do you miss those times?  I do.  But never fear, X-Arcade is here.

What is X-Arcade?

X-Arcade is a renowned brand that specializes in producing high-quality arcade controllers and cabinets for gaming enthusiasts.

Their flagship product, the X-Arcade Tankstick, is a premium arcade controller that emulates the feel and experience of playing classic arcade games. The Tankstick features a durable and robust design, with a full-size arcade-style joystick, a trackball, and an array of responsive buttons, providing an authentic arcade gaming experience on various platforms.

X-Arcade’s controllers are designed to be versatile and compatible with multiple gaming systems, including PCs, gaming consoles, and even retro gaming setups.

With their commitment to quality craftsmanship and attention to detail, X-Arcade has become a trusted name in the arcade gaming community, catering to those seeking an immersive and nostalgic gaming experience.

I personally own the X-Arcade Tankstick With Trackball, and it has lasted over 10 years (and still going) with many hours of fun family entertainment.  This is the most economical option, especially if you already have a computer with a monitor that you already want to use. ($300)

If you are looking to add this to a business or office (employee perk to blow off steam during long hour workdays), here are some other options:

• “X-Arcade Machine” Full-Sized 32″ LED Arcade Cabinet — Passionately designed to deliver the authentic experience of an entire 80s arcade with a full-sized, commercial-grade arcade cabinet.  The screen is a fullsized 32″ screen (rectangle, not square).  The keyboard and the mouse are stored in their own cabinet. Includes coin slots.  ($2000)
• Lumber Jacques” Commercial-Grade Arcade Cabinet — This one has a small screen as you had with the old 1980s arcade games.  Yes, it may be more “authentic”, but why restrict yourself to a small square screen.  This one includes a coin slot.  ($2000)
• Arcade2TV Pedestal Home Arcade Kit — This is just the controllers and a pedestal, so you play standing up.  You would still need to add your own screen.  The advantage of this one is that if you already have an HDTV (or other computer setup), you are just buying the controller.  But the end cost is the same as the first one.  Although, if you have a big screen TV that is larger than 32″, then this is the one to go with.  Not to mention that you can add your own arcade games, Xbox One, PS4, PS4, Wii, Xbox 360, PC, PI, and more.  You can connect traditional controllers to the X-Arcade box.  Includes coin slots.  ($2000)
• “Space Race” Cocktail Arcade Machine — In this setup, the screen is between the two players.  This setup works for some types of games, but not other types of games.  ($2000)

With the exception of just buying the controller (which costs $300), all of the other options cost $2000.  If you are in a business or an office, paying $2000 may be a good option, because the computer can get locked up and you have the option to either require coins or tokens or it can just be free.

If you are planning an event for your employees, you have to take into account:

• Food and beverage
• Room rental
• AV
• Event Staff
• Furniture and decorations
• Entertainment
• Attendee hosting
• Speaker fees and expenses
• Printed materials
• Technology and event management tools.

If you are a big company, there may be no way to get around that.  But if you are a small company, maybe skip going “someplace else” and just invest in an X-Arcade Machine for your company destressing room.  Your employees will thank you for it.

Mame software (Linux, Windows, and iOs)

The controller is just the hardware.  If you want to run the actual old games, you are going to also need the software.  My recommendation is Mame.

MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) is a software platform that emulates the hardware and software of vintage arcade machines, allowing users to play a vast library of classic arcade games on modern computers or other supported devices.

Developed in 1997 by Nicola Salmoria and the MAME team, MAME accurately replicates the original arcade hardware, preserving the authenticity and gameplay of the original games.

It supports a wide range of arcade systems, including popular platforms such as Capcom, Konami, Atari, and many more. MAME’s extensive library contains thousands of game ROMs, encompassing various genres and eras, ensuring there’s something for every arcade enthusiast.

MAME’s dedication to preserving gaming history and its open-source nature has made it a beloved and widely used platform, allowing players to relive the golden age of arcade gaming in the comfort of their own homes.

MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) is one of the best and most well-known emulators for arcade game lovers. This is a free and open-source emulator. MAME emulator was released in 1997 to support 7000 unique and 10000 arcade game ROMS.

Here is a link to a full ROM set (https://www.romspack.com/mame-roms-pack/).  You can either download the whole set (over 72 GB) or individual games.  The file is so large that even with a good internet connection, it can take you over 24 hours to download the whole package.  So if you start the download, make sure that you do not have to use that computer for a long time.

Did I forget to mention that since the Mame software runs on a standard Windows, iOS, or Linux computer when the Mame software is not running, your computer is still a computer and it can be used for other computer uses?

So if you are looking for a Christmas present for employees or your family, I would definitely recommend investing in an X-Arcade controller, installing the Mame software, and downloading a Roms Pack.