# Help me fix my arcade machine **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 26, 2025, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fix-my-arcade-machine/1024314 "2025-10-26T22:26:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fix-my-arcade-machine/1024314/1 "2025-10-26T22:26:13Z")
Have had this guy for over 20 years… [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOns4tDD-hLle4bU0FKDJ9kz07Sda_eStM1Rk0wj18QkdSM7SzCmSVm4yrSkTjRTY9GzjTDCK4WA_7HCmDaTVF0n6ZpqkcrKN1v7a7xGSgEdxWF-uiO=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Saturday, Oct 25 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP8GwzSwdC0eIot60x0FXYxyGhxdn4Jg4eAxZ-wijEAnVWNjMz7rajyrsP_I0EGzw?key=OC1BT1FLM1plWEk2RWw3azdBTTdwdERzT2hiZzhn) Now it’s doing this (you may have to click as this is a video (the sounds you hear are NOT from the machine): > **[New video · Saturday, Oct 25 🎬](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOymcEbNmAyQhooccuqBjRzbti4_5WeJTwRdtNEGdInqCub_zseFJhdwJk02DBRcw?key=Vm1Mc01hR3NJNjhkMU5sOEp1Si13Vy1aTlpreVJB)** Any suggestions? Google search terms, types of shops I can take it to, other? Hell, I don’t mind trying to fix it myself as long as the instructions are clear! ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fix-my-arcade-machine/1024314/2 "2025-10-26T22:50:30Z")
No actual experience, but a quick search seems to show that most people are replacing the CRT with LCD screens now - assuming the CRT is the issue. Nice machine though! ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fix-my-arcade-machine/1024314/3 "2025-10-26T23:20:20Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Any suggestions? Google search terms, types of shops I can take it to, other? That looks a lot like the 12 in 1 Midway from Big Games Entertainment. Did you buy it at Target for $499 and does the cabinet feel a bit cheap with a somewhat lower than arcade standing position while playing? If so, it might be a bit tricky. My understanding is that the video signal is a bit weird (I think VGA using RCA connectors or something similar), so debugging it might be tricky. The manufacturer is also out of business. I’d do searches for something like “12 in 1 Midway from Big Games Entertainment”. I did find [an ancient thread about the machine](https://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,62024.0/all.html?PHPSESSID=15d6183dmq7al73u6ru4ptgbjq), so maybe something in it can help. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fix-my-arcade-machine/1024314/4 "2025-10-27T13:55:44Z")
Damn, @DMC , I’m going to nominate this for post of the year. Appreciate it, and yes, that is exactly the machine I have. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fix-my-arcade-machine/1024314/5 "2025-10-27T18:51:03Z")
That thread is full of all sorts of issues, fixes, and info, so best of luck! I also noticed that although the thread is 18 years old, it still gets new posts on occasion, with the most recent one being from a few months ago. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fix-my-arcade-machine/1024314/6 "2025-10-27T20:21:50Z")
Beginning to think that perhaps I should just buy a new machine and tinker with this one to see if I can fix it. Note: I have zero experience in this field whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fix-my-arcade-machine/1024314/7 "2025-10-27T20:35:11Z")
I would at least post a picture of your screen in that thread and see if anyone has any ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fix-my-arcade-machine/1024314/8 "2025-10-27T20:49:08Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Beginning to think that perhaps I should just buy a new machine and tinker with this one to see if I can fix it. Note: I have zero experience in this field whatsoever. Might make a great Youtube video. I’d watch it. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fix-my-arcade-machine/1024314/9 "2025-11-03T19:57:10Z")
As anyone who had an early TV can tell you, you have lost the horizontal sync. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-fix-my-arcade-machine/1024314/10 "2025-11-04T20:45:28Z")
Joust, Robotron, AND Defender!? I think I may have figured out my retirement plans.