I got my Atari Deluxe model (12 games + riser) and spent 45 minutes setting it up and 15 minutes playing it. Here are some pictures and my gut-check opinions. I gave letter grades for each category:
Assembly: "A"
The assembly took me 45 minutes with a standard Phillips screwdriver. Each back of parts and each shelf was clearly labeled. There was never an awkward moment. Once in a while, I would have to adjust my angle to start the screw, but everything was machined well.
Art: "A-"
I love the art and side art. Boy does that look sweet when I see it from afar. On the down side, I wish the kick plate was blank instead of having the games listed. I could install a coin door there or something else.
Construction: "B"
For light and casual play, this seems pretty good. It's made from light boards, but still feels solid. It's like the desk/furniture you bought for your college dorm - not expensive, but you don't wanna get rough with it.
Buttons: "B+"
They seem responsive. I've felt better, but I have had worse.
Trackball: "B"
Could have had a lot more "spin" to it, but it is a lot better than some cheap trackballs I have used in 60in1 machines. It felt OK on Centipede and Millipede. Quantum was a blast.
Spinner: "D"
Man, they whiffed this one. This is not a spinner, it's a knob. No satisfying clicks or feel to it - I would really hope they improve it. Having said that, Tempest was enjoyable, but it could have been SO much better.
Video: "B+"
Good output to the screen. It rendered horizontal/vertical games well. Some pixelation, but great output for the price of this machine.
Audio: "C+"
I noticed some audio lag in the games. Centipede was the most notable since the sounds seemed to come slightly after the action. Most won't notice, but it bugged me a bit. I also wish there was a volume knob instead of the 3 switchable volume settings. Otherwise, serviceable sound from the mono speaker.
Size: "B"
Some will knock the small footprint and height, but I liked it as a single-player experience while I was sitting in a chair. I will build the riser tomorrow and will probably the overall experience a lot more.
User Interface: "A"
You can get in and get out of games quickly. It's not too flashy and it'll draw the people in during a party.
OVERALL: "B"
For the price, this is a welcome edition to my arcade. I'll be keeping this and also be looking for others at garage sales this spring. I would easily drop $100 for a used one since the emulation is above average and the cabinet design very appealing to me.
2018-10-17 21.03.27 (resized).jpg2018-10-17 21.04.56 (resized).jpg2018-10-17 21.05.04 (resized).jpg2018-10-17 21.13.08 (resized).jpg2018-10-17 21.42.18 (resized).jpg2018-10-17 22.19.11 (resized).jpg