No moonrocks to shoot...

To review or not review - that is what I have been pondering since the day I received my order. This is a small business and I would not like to cause harm to a small enterprise, but I simply can't hold it back any longer.

During September 2022, I ordered a custom made Video Arcade game, from "Games for Africa", whose website is listed as pinballexperts.co.za

This unit contains approx 550 games (albeit some are different versions of the same, but that is neither here nor there for my requirement). The main (almost Only) reason I bought the machine, was because I wanted the ORIGINAL Asteroids game. Needless to say, I very specifically asked whether that was included, and based on that, and the fact that I did get the necessary warm and fuzzy feeling about dealing with George and his business, I placed the order.

I'll fast forward the minor aggravations, and focus on 08 October, when I received the unit.

Well, you've guessed it - no Original Asteroids, not even the second version (Asteroids Deluxe), but rather some murky / shady / ****py version entitled Asteroids 64.

I kept my cool, but eventually, on 5 November, I sent an e-mail, detailing this and other serious issues. (Do yourself a favour and read the Mail at the bottom of my Review). The same day, George sent a WhatsApp to ask for my address, in order for his "tech to have a look". 09 November he asks "will there be someone available to attend to the issues?" I replied, "Sure, what time?" Today is 04 February 2023. NO Response / feedback / update from either George or his "Tech". So, I'm guessing the Christmas rush must have really kept him busy (NOT); or the 50km from Joburg to Pretoria is taking its toll on his vehicle or tekkies.

Subsequent to the faults list contained in the e-mail, other intermittent problems started emerging as well, such as (what appears to be) a noisy fan and a horizontal shift sync (essentially the picture is blurred). The ABSOLUTE MOST ANNOYING part of this machine, is that the joystick doesn't always function correctly. One would push it in a particular direction and it would have a mind of its own - either by not responding or by moving the onscreen item in a different direction.!

So, what was meant to be a source of relaxation and fun, is now a big box of IMMENSE FRUSTRATION.

v___________________My e-mail to Games for Africa___________________v

Afternoon George

I have a few problems and I was going to just accept/ignore them, but the final straw is that the left joystick has recently intermittently started malfunctioning in less than 3 weeks.

Problem 1: When we spoke - one of the very first questions I had, was if the machine had the Original Asteroids, because that was the main reason for purchasing the machine. You responded by saying, "yes, it has Asteroids 1 and 2”. Not so, the only version that I can find is “Asteroids 64”.

Problem 2: I asked whether it would be possible and what it would cost to add a volume control; to which you responded that it has a volume control. Unless my eyes are deceiving me, I can see no such control. Is it perhaps a function which is selectable via a combination of the buttons or via the menu?

Problem 3: The perspex panel which covers the LCD, was in such a position that it covered the top of the display, whereby one couldn’t see the Scores of the games. When I phoned you, you said that your guys were going to Pretoria the next day and that they would fix it, but by 16:10 you had not even looked at the address which I sent, so I subsequently fixed it.

Problem 4: The black cutout on the perspex display was badly cut, in that, on some sides, one can see the wood behind it, and it was also cut skew.

Problem 5: Although I have not played anything which uses the right joystick, I have used it on the odd occasion to search the menu, and then it usually just keeps running downwards, as if the joystick is stuck in the down position.

Problem 6: The LCD has burnt pixels, or whatever the term is for faded areas on the display. The pixels aren’t dead, but there are blemishes, especially in the bottom left quadrant of the screen.

Problem 7: The large red washer under the right joystick is upside down.

I should just add, that the game is in my office at home, and as a result, it is Only Me that plays with the unit, so there is no chance of abuse.

Please let me have your comments soonest.