Hi,

I have a fantastic plan that may interest you. Please take a moment to read.

Let me begin by saying (well, to those that have already heard then 'repeating') that I am fully planning to obtain me a Tron Arcade game of my own. While in the search for a proper one, and while working to sell what I need to so I can afford one, I've been attempting to learn as much as I can about restoring, repairing and maintaining one. I think I've learned a lot about what I have in store, but the most obvious problem associated with them is getting attractive side art. I know a lot of owners settle for what they have and many buy reproductions from a couple spots on the web that seem unsatisfactory when received.

Well, this aspect of owning the project has not at any point intimidated me because I deduced that I would simply make my own. That may sound far-fetched to some of you, but understand that I'm a graphic designer by trade and I've worked in a high-end printing/graphics facility for almost 10 years and know precisely what to do to make ones that will be fantastic.

I not only have the hardware, but the best of the best. Where I work we have a 44" Epson Color Matching system and a Jazz scanner, and all the necessary software. That takes care of the tools. The Epson can be fitted with decal media.

All I'm going to need is to get my game then probably (gag) purchase just one sample of those guys stickers they made ( just so I can scan that since I can't really plonk my game on the scanner). Once I have the scans I will (here is the important bit) RECREATE the image. Those other guys brag on and on about how great theirs looks, but I know they're nothing but a scanned image that might have been touched up. *insert raspberry sound* Nuts to that. I'm sure it looks putrid. The entire label itself is a two part project, the photo in the middle and the graphics surrounding it. My god, those graphics can be totally recreated to scale in vector art using Adobe Illustrator to 100% perfection, even getting the Pantone color dead on, sharp as a tack. The photo would take longer, but I've restored COUNTLESS photos and have that science down to an art and the art down to a science. I've done some $10,000 jobs before, some real difficult stuff... this Tron label I could do in a coma and 100% accurate.

Now, those guys' jobs are nothing more than "color copies" or "color duplicates" like Xeroxing a photograph. GAG! But, MINE is going to be a "perfect recreation" that will be as clean and dead-on as the ones Bally used on the first machine.

Now, what I'm interested to know from you all is, will you be a market for this? Will you buy them from me?

What is a foregone guarantee is satisfaction. Not only that, but I'm going to set up a presence on Ebay for these things and stomp the other guys' price in the stomach. Not only THAT, but I'm going to offer something they NEVER will; free samples. I'll make cards that can be sent to anyone interested that will have something like a 5% scale image and a 3" x 3" section at 100% to show detail and shows the quality of the label, free to examine before you buy. How's THAT sound?

It gets better. I'm going to make spinner art, and probably that backdrop image behind the bezel if there's a demand for that too.

Okay, now sound off. Should I market this too or what? I know I'm making mine for my own, but will you guys buy them too?

Yea, I already thought about the rest of the art on the machine. I wish I didn't have to wait until I owned one, but I'll need it for this project. I'll probably purchase the 'other guys' label so I can have it for easier scanning, but I'll only use those scans as a guide for placement and size, if they're correct. But, knowing it'll look cruddy, I'll still need 'THE' art on the side of the cabinet for the main photograph in the middle that I'll use to create a sharper and more vibrant one for the completed image.

I'm 100% certain I'll be putting these on mine, I just don't know about if I should invest time and money in a marketing venture, and that's what I'm fishing for responses about. I'd probably sell them on eBay, I suppose. I don't know yet.

I haven't played Tron using MAME. To be honest, the game itself isn't the attraction to me. It's the whole thing, the piece of personal history and nostalgia, and a childhood vow to get one when I could no matter how long it'd take. Well, here's the dream becoming a reality.

Totally awesome.

Yea, you're right.

I had thought about that aspect, but was putting on blinders in hopes that they'd not care of someone wants to improve something they quit making back then and don't care about doing for us. I was thinking so long as I'm not moving in on a market they plan on ever using again then they'd not care, but I know you're right. It was just thinking I could keep it just low profile enough to not step on Disney's foot but just high profile enough to contribute to the collector's pieces.

I don't think Ford would care if anyone made Model T fenders to specs and sold them on Ebay. I was just seeing things in that light.

Oh well, one thing's for sure, I'll make my own for my own when I get it and if Disney doesn't like that they can suck on an egg.



All in all, I know you're right and knew it all along but was clouded by wishful thinkin'.

Thankfully, my upright's sideart is about 98% intact ( http://users2.ev1.net/~curtishart/badger/gameroom/tron.html ) so I'm content until that bright, shiney day when it gets cleared and the repro's flow like water

-Curtis

Shoot, why stop there?

I'd love to have a super customized Tron paint job on my truck! Fully equiped with backlit circuitry and a Jet Wall emitter!

...I'd just love to have Dillinger's helicopter and go around violating airspace restrictions and harrassing news helicopters.