Bright yellow video game machine by Martijn Koch
Retrothing draws attention to this 21st century reworking of the very first arcade console by Martijn Koch. Quoting the designer:
“I created Retro Space especially to honour the design of the first ever arcade cabinet (1971’s Computer Space). The perfect machine to mark the end of the marvelous time in gaming history.”
Retro Space is shipped with over a hundred licensed games, and “all the emulators needed to play your old 8 and 16-bit disks and cartridges from the attic”—which is usually a way of saying that it includes MAME. It also doubles as a home entertainment system, and will stream audio to your stereo set, video to your TV, or play either itself. Holy Neiman Marcus, where do I order?!
To be honest, I think the Retro-Space’s design looks like something a 12-year old can whip up on a lazy Wednesday afternoon. It’s got really **nothing** retro on it. Type in “mame cabinet” in Google and it’ll show you loads of better and more original designs.
Gimme the original Computer Space and I’ll be a happy man!
I am looking at the third Google images page now, but I cannot find anything that looks remotely as good as either the Computer Space or the Retro Space. Have you got links to examples?
What I like about the two yellow beasts pictured here is that the woman-player gets to look straight ahead, instead of having to hunch over the display like a homo nerdiensis.
http://dvice.com/archives/2008/03/tardis_mame_cab.php
http://buildahomearcade.com/planning-and-design/planning-the-arcade-cabinet (especially the jukebox :-))
http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/ipod-nano-mame-cabinet (ok, slightly off-topic, but still a nice idea)
I think the Retro in Retro Space refers to the idea, to having a machine that’s actually styled instead of having a machine that looks like you robbed a club house.
Oh, but what about those hard edges? I think it’s a great idea to do such a styled arcade, and very happy about those who want to do a revival of the oldies. But seriously, i think the revival is meaningless if it is did only to supply the wants of the people. I mean, look at the Computer Space. The cabinet is fully smooth and liquid shaped, a beautiful piece of art. Then look at the “Retro” Space and WTF. C’mon Mr. Designer, lazy about drawing without your ruler? Or it is the best you can do?
If you call your work something, is better you have reasons to do it.
A shiny-yellow-hard-edged-mame-arcade-self-called-retro is not Retro, it is just marketing.
I always get mad about those people who have the means to do such great things and always do it wrong. ALWAYS.
(sorry about my english, i really did my best.)
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