"Trashed" Tron Arcade Restoration!
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- čas přidán 6. 07. 2024
- ** Music too aggressive for your liking? Try the softer, quieter version at: • "Trashed" Tron Arcade ... **
This one is perhaps his most epic restoration yet!
Join Tod as he tackles his latest (and maybe greatest?) arcade restoration challenge -- TRON!
He starts his journey with a road trip to pick up a Tron arcade cabinet that nearly ended up in a burn pile (and rightfully so!). Missing nearly all of its major parts, Tod has to gather the required components and figure out how to put them back together into a working game. The nearly six-month-long restoration process includes woodworking, wiring, circuit board repair, arcade monitor rebuilding, polishing, painting, and so much more!
By the end of the video Tron is up and running and ready to take its spot in the 1980s-style arcade. Hopefully you will enjoy the ride and gain some helpful knowledge about arcade games and the movie itself. As always, Tod approaches his work with a sense of humor and keeps the video light and upbeat.
** If you enjoy the video, please help me out by liking and subscribing. And comments are much appreciated! **
Be sure to check out my other videos, including an epic Nintendo Red Tent restoration and a walkthrough of my extensive video game collection. Thanks!
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:55 - The Purchase
06:44 - Finding the Pieces
11:03 - Cabinet Restoration
20:30 - Cabinet Finishing
30:30 - Painting and Prepping
39:11 - Electronics Rehab
56:30 - Monitor Rebuild
01:09:39 - Piecing It Together
01:18:22 - Bringing It In
01:25:30 - Controls
01:34:55 - Final Details
01:45:20 - Results
Music Credits (channel licensed through Uppbeat):
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!)
Afro Cat (Infraction)
uppbeat.io/t/infraction/afro-cat
Begin (Swoop)
uppbeat.io/t/swoop/begin
Break The Mold (Soundroll)
uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/break-...
Brooklyn (Infraction)
uppbeat.io/t/infraction/brooklyn
Cyborg Ninja (Kevin Macleod)
uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/cy...
Dream Land (ATM)
uppbeat.io/t/atm/dream-land
Extreme (Oakvale of Albion)
uppbeat.io/t/oakvale-of-albio...
Forever And Always (Infraction)
uppbeat.io/t/infraction/forev...
Fractal (Moire)
uppbeat.io/t/moire/fractal
Future (Matrika)
uppbeat.io/t/matrika/future
Hackers (Infraction)
uppbeat.io/t/infraction/hackers
Intervention (IMG)
uppbeat.io/t/img/intervention
Interplanetary Walk (Paul Yudin)
uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/inter...
Kawaii Game (Pecan Pie)
uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/kawaii...
Lazer Beam (Matrika)
uppbeat.io/t/matrika/lazer-beam
Live It (Infraction)
uppbeat.io/t/infraction/live-it
Midnight Cruiser (Capturez)
uppbeat.io/t/capturez/midnigh...
Neurovibe (Hartzmann)
uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/neurovibe
Polarity (Prigida)
uppbeat.io/t/prigida/polarity
Refresh (Mountaineer)
uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/refresh
Reproduce (IMG)
uppbeat.io/t/img/reproduce
Runaway (Oakvale Of Albion)
uppbeat.io/t/oakvale-of-albio...
Sequence (Moire)
uppbeat.io/t/moire/sequence
Shadow Runner (Mountaineer)
uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/shad...
Space Ranger (Moire)
uppbeat.io/t/moire/space-ranger
Summer Strut (Infraction)
uppbeat.io/t/infraction/summe...
Ultraviolet (Infraction)
uppbeat.io/t/infraction/ultra...
Vacation Collective (FE77A)
uppbeat.io/t/fe77a/vacation-c...
Wazzup (Mountaineer)
uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/wazzup
Video Credits:
CZcams clips:
VIDEO FEVER - Games People Play from ABC news LA
9th Key Pattern
• VIDEO FEVER - Games Pe...
Tron--Enter the Game Grid (1982) Iamthe80sguy2 (Scanned into computer)
• Tron - Enter the Game ...
Tron--Light Cycle (1982) Same..
• Tron - Light Cycle (1982)
Tron meets the tower guardian , tronfanboy
• Tron meets the tower g...
TRON (ARCADE - FULL GAME) Zeusdaz - The Unemulated Retro Game Channel
• TRON (ARCADE - FULL GAME) - Hry
I think enough time has passed that I can reveal a secret. At the time of the Movie's release, I worked in a mall across the hall from an arcade. Whenever their machines would malfunction, I would fix them. they always opened the machine doors for me and clicked off lots of credits. When the Tron machine arrived, the instructions said that they were to put it in the back room and not to put it out on the floor until the movie's opening day. they invited me over to play the game in the back room every night after closing. We played for hours every night for the next week. On opening day, everyone around me watching me play the game was amazed at how good I was on the first day!!
I think you are probably safe! That is really cool, for sure!
I'M TELLING!!!!!!!!!!
Report to the MCP game grid.
Expect a letter from Disney's lawyers.
You were basically a sandpit tester, excellent.
Today...it is truly a treasure to be able to play those old arcade games of the early eighties.For someone who is about 55 now....its very nostalgic..
Definitely!
@@djsi38t I'm with ya. I thought it was gone forever.
I remember Tron in one of my local arcades, about 45 years ago. Glad to see its still appreciated. 😊
It’s a classic!
Wow! That wasn't just a restoration, it was a resurrection! Excellent work!
Thanks! And I kind of agree- it was something!
I’m in no way a video game person but I do enjoy watching a person that has a passion for what they do and you definitely fall into that category!
I really didn't expect myself to sit here and watch the entire hour and 50 minutes, but it was so well put together. Awesome job - and game at that. LOVE the movies. Awesome stuff.
That’s great! I’m glad you enjoyed it :)
I thought the same thing. And then did the exact same thing. Then I ended up watching the Movie Tron in the afternoon 🤣
I was of the same thought speaking from 12 June 24
Same here. I took some breaks, but the video was strangely meditative.
Lol, same. It’s 1:40 am. Time to crash.
Amazing work, as a former vending / videogame / pinball repair tech, you did much more work than our 'professional' jobs. Congrats, and wonderful work.
Much appreciated. Time is not money when it’s just a hobby so I can take a little longer with the repairs and restorations, and sometimes go a little overboard. Thanks!
That water damage was beyond what I would have considered saveable. Kudos to you for brining it back from it's watery grave!
Yeah, I felt the same way for sure. I was close to cutting new sides but wanted to see what was possible. It certainly worked out in the end.
@@tcurtis49 The results are amazing! Very satisfying to see you repair the bottom like that.
I'd have taken off a larger chunk just to save time. I love restoring things, but actually recompressing the chipboard to its original form ...a bit too much for me. But it's nice to see someone be so meticulous.
I plan not to restore a cabinet, but to create a copy of the millepede cabaret, with modern replacement CPU (Pi or PC) but with a CRT.
Dang this video brought back some memories, the hours I spent hanging out at the local arcade and the quarters I pumped into this game.
Great memories!
I am 25 years old. I love you videos. What you do for the retro community is invaluable to us, whether most people my age know it not. The same goes for the 8-bit guy, adrian black, and all the other retro hobbyists out there. Your knowledge is invaluable. I know these are just video games, but they are a key part of history, so thank you.
Glad you like them! Thanks!
I owned a coin-op route business from 1993 to 1999 with many locations from fun centers to convenience stores and any place that would let us put a machine in. That's where I first cut my teeth learning electronics diagnostics and repair and all kinds of other things. I purchased Randy Fromm's Arcade School on VHS, watched those and spent a good deal of time in the back of the Colorado Game Exchange with the repair techs learning from them. I moved on to other ventures, but I'll always have a deep love for arcades and arcade machines.
You did a top notch job restoring this Tron! I really appreciate that you did everything properly and didn't do any hack jobs like I see a few other arcade (and automotive) channels do consistently. You earned a sub!
The hack that really grates on me is when they encourage sanding on point contacts/switches which will make them work temporarily but removes the thin high quality contact alloy metal exposing the cheap metal underneath that degrades quickly. The guy I purchased my first few machines from told me to sand those contacts with a nail file to clean them, and I completely ruined an antique electro-mechanical pinball machine doing that not long after.
It was one of the techs at the CGE that taught me that contacts need cleaning, not sanding, and that the proper way is any chemical or non-abrasive that will remove gunk and polish but not damage the contact finish, one of his common tools was a simple pink eraser, sometimes with some contact cleaner; a pink eraser and D5 is my go to now. Some people laugh in my face when I try to teach them this eraser trick, but it works quick and easy without any damage. This works on any metal contact, points, edge connectors, pins, etc.
Thanks! I try to do what's best in the long run as much as possible by listening to the pros but always learning new things as I go. I've used a pink eraser forever cleaning contacts--I still do it from time to time, but once I got used to using a fiberglass brush and deoxit I've just stuck with it. Much appreciated and I am in the middle of some interesting projects right now that I can hopefully detail before long.
@@tcurtis49 I may have to try one of those fiberglass brushes, it looks like they work great.
Everything I've watched you do from cabinet repair on that old dodgy fiber board to your ability to diagnose and decipher a schematic to get those crazy wonky old boards running if I was still running a coin-op route I would hire you immediately. I do think you've moved beyond just a hobbyist, you do a lot better job than several arcade channels that tout themselves as professional.
If I didn't have so much going on right now I would be doing a cap kit on my stand up Double Dragon, you've kinda given me the bug again.
That's very kind and I've picked up a lot from doing it for so long. I started buying arcade games at auctions in the mid 1990s while in dental school in Indianapolis. I've always been a technology nerd and a computer programmer so that helped me understand the technical side of things. The rest has been trial and error, seeing what other people are doing, and having some artistic and hand coordination skills from being an orthodontist. But it really comes down to patience and taking things one step at a time. I appreciate the thought and hope you have fun when you get to the cap kit--I have 2 G07s to rebuild as part of my ongoing projects this weekend myself that I've been putting off.
@@tcurtis49 I'm looking forward to your future videos!
As someone who has put countless quarters in this particular game, I can say that watching this video was extremely enjoyable! I don’t normally watch videos that are this long, but I simply could not look away! It definitely brought me back to my days of managing an arcade. You’ve got quite this collection there!! Thanks for sharing!
I'm also surprised how many people watch it all the way through. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Tron had some of the strongest 'vibes' of any arcade cabinet! Nice work Tod!
Thanks! It sure did!
It was very atmospheric.
I know I'm late to this video... But I must say, you are an arcade hero! You rescued one of my favorite arcade games and did a beautiful job giving Tron some well deserved TLC. 🤗 These games deserve to be taken care of and appreciated. Thank you for posting this !
You’re not late-none of my videos gained any traction until recently. I was almost at the point of not making any more. But seeing the great response over the last month or two has been really rewarding. I’m in deep on several projects right now so more to come :) Thanks!
Dang, dude. A Tron machine right next to Gauntlet? My two all-time favorites.
I've been lucky to find many of my favorites over the years. Gauntlet is certainly awesome :)
One of the iconic arcade machines of my day, I'm insanely jealous of your abilities to get this from a messed up carcass to a cabinet that wouldn't look out of place in the mid 80's when I played them to death. Much respect man.
I'm always on the lookout for games that had some meaning for me. Getting them back to where I can feel those same feelings from walking around in an arcade in the 80s is really rewarding. I appreciate the kind words :)
Beautiful! It's so cool that people keep these important pieces of game history alive.
Thanks!
Just wanted to say thanks for saving a part of gaming history and keeping this gem out of the landfill.
Thanks!
Awesome. . I can't Believe I watched da Whole Video. . . Thanks for putting a Big Smile on my face. . . Enjoy ur Tron. 👍👍👍
Thanks for watching and I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks Tod. I very rarely subscribe to channels but as a 80s arcade kid this brought back great memories for me. Can wait to watch more of your stuff!
Glad you enjoyed it and I have plenty of 80s stuff to keep working on!
I have memories of original trons having those color patterns on the side. Its been a long time since I saw one.
Yes, I have found that it is perfectly normal for Tron and some related games after all.
This brings back a flood of memories. I remember watching my cousin playing the TRON arcade game at the theater and then seeing the movie. My nine year old mind was blown. I know the arcade game came out in August of 1980 (a full month after the film release) so it would have probably been September when we saw the movie. Thanks for bringing back this great piece of 80’s culture. Now, if I had just held on to all those Battlestar Gallactica toys ………
I have the same kind of memories and it looks like Tron has a special place in many hearts :)
That was a great restoration on the Tron arcade game!!! I love it. It brings back memories of when I was a kid playing in the arcade at the mall back in the early to mid and even late 80's.
As others have said I too questioned how you began the video, but you made a believer out of me. You're clearly very skilled. Great work and nice to see you save a bit of nostalgia!
Cindy really questioned me on this one (and the Red Tent) but with enough time and effort you can certainly get them looking pretty good. I'm glad you liked it!
Thank you, Tod. This video popped up in my feed. I am a sucker for nostalgia video games in cabinets. Tron is top shelf. Sit down Star Wars is the Holy Grail!
There was a sit-down Star Wars at our local donut shop growing up, Was awesome!
Fascinating video! Maaan, Tron was easily the most bad-ass looking arcade game with the black lighting, glowing joystick and the trippy electronic sounds.
I know, it’s awesome!
This is so impressive. Not much phases me anymore these days, having been on the internet for so long now, but this craftsmanship and level of bravery to take this daunting project on in the first place, truly amazed me in the realest sense of the word.
I’m glad to help redeem the internet, at least for today :) Thanks for the nice compliment. Daunting is probably the best word to describe what I thought when I first saw it in person.
Speaking as someone who knows nothing about fixing / restoring these types of games, but has been involved with other types of restoration projects.... I can say that I LOVE this video! Seeing the starting point, hurdles, expense, and finished project is educational & interesting. Well done!
Thanks so much-it means a lot to me that people enjoy the process like I do.
2.30am here in the UK, just watched it all in complete awe. Very impressive work! Congratulations on a superb job, Tod!
Thanks! Ton of UK viewers lately. That’s great!
@@tcurtis49 Another UK viewer here - great job man! :) Liked and Subscribed.
User! . You are the ultimate Game Warrior. End of Line -MCP
"And we'll make beautiful little solder joints..."
You're like the Bob Ross of Arcade rescue!
I do get pretty chill with the electronic work but probably let a few expletives fly with the cabinet work :)
I can't believe this is something you do as a hobby. You are as good as any professional.
Thanks!
Tons and tons and tons and tons of quarters spent on that game at Command Center Arcarde in Renton Wa. in the 80's. Great restoration! nice to bring back soooo many memories.
Thanks! Glad it brought back happy memories!
Clicked on this thinking it'd be a short 5 minutes or so. Stayed glued to the tube watching this to the end and enjoyed it thoroughly. Thanks for taking the time and effort documenting your restoration adventure for us all. Absolutely amazing! I wish you luck in future restorations and banana production.
Thanks! I knew I was doing something risky making them so long but it’s hard to feel like you’ve been a part of the journey on a short recap. I’m glad there are others like me that want to experience the whole process.
Same here. The video was almost finished before I realized the length of the video. Great work on both the machine and keeping the video interesting 🙂
Unreal amazing work. A triumph!
Great restoration! And despite the length of the video I never felt the need to fast forward because your editing and pacing is spot on. I know this was a lot of work. Great job!
Thanks! Yes, a lot of work…but worth it if people get enjoyment out of watching. I appreciate the compliment!
This is honestly the best video I’ve seen all year! I don’t know why it came up as suggested, but I’m so glad it did.
Thank you!
I don't understand the algorithm either, but I'm happy you liked it. Thanks!
I had no idea you could fix particle board! You're workmanship is amazing Tod, great stuff! The dubstep and retrowave also slaps 😎
oh and i see you have the SMB3 Pinball! You are a lucky man!! that's my dream unit 😍
Thanks! Yes, you can, but if you have a big workshop with plenty of tools it’s often easier to just cut new pieces. But I like the challenge and the preservation aspect :)
Yeah, I was expecting the cabinet to end up as a Ship of Theseus after the restoration. But it didn't! There is some original material left.
This was a great watch. TRON is by far one of my favorite game cabinets and movie, and being a kid in the 80's, this hit all the right feels. As a game collector - as much as I can with three kids ;) - TRON games are at the top of my collection. I thoroughly enjoyed this restoration and you did an amazing job.
Great! Glad you enjoyed it. I loved working on it and love the game as well!
You're doing the Lord's work, sir! I will never forget the first time I saw this beautiful game cabinet in the dark and seedy little arcade in my hometown. It was the most futuristic thing I had ever seen, and it was glorious!! You have successfully built a time machine; transporting me back to that day. Thank you for your obvious love and dedication to these priceless works of functional art!!
That's super kind to say! It has the exact same effect on me, which is why I love doing this. Thanks!
I just watched this entire video lol. This was my favorite game as a kid...great work!
Glad you liked it :) And it is definitely a classic!
These restoration videos are an absolute joy; this was the perfect thing to watch on a Sunday morning. Can't wait to see your work on the Pole Position cabinet.
Thanks so much! Pole Position is not quite as intense so hopefully will be a little shorter video to put together. And I still have to wrap up the restore :)
I have great memories of going to the nickel arcades in the 80s. Always dreamed of owning a machine or two, and a couple pinball machines. Wish I had the skills to do this sort of thing, seems relaxing.
It is relaxing. And very rewarding. I hope you find something fun to tinker around with sometime :)
A legendary restoration of THE legendary arcade cabinet. Well done and thanks for sharing!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
I'm impressed. I saw the water damage of that particle board and was thinking "use the cabined to make a replacement template, outsource for the graphics" but that would have been even more expensive I guess. Makes sense to have done the resin and filler pours. Well done sir, and you've taught me a thing or 2
I was impressed by the result and will likely try it again on my next project. But it would have been perfectly logical to just cut new sides. I certainly like to see what I can save whenever possible and was glad to keep the original sideart on it. Thanks!
these old arcade electronics was so primitively slapped on wood boards - unbelievable.... :D
They weren't built to last forever, that's for sure :)
They had to be. How long does it take to recoup the cost of a machine 25c at a time?
Bro, one of my new favorite channels. Not only for the nostalgia, but for amazing attention to detail. Great job.
Thanks!
Wow! Amazing! --- Tron the movie was a master piece for its day that I watched back when it came out in the theaters.
I agree-awesome movie!
Man!!.. that's beautiful, I can still remember the spot where the machine was on my (then) local arcade, so many tokens but so many happy hours!!, I miss those arcade times. Excellent restoration btw! congrats!.
OH MY GOD! I wanted to watch a Tron arcade build while I put together my Arcade1Up Tron at home and suddenly I see the mystery seller from the end of Nintendo Quest! Very happy to find your channel! What a killer collection! Funny if tragic story: I once drove up to help my buddy Callan with his arcade repairs at his warehouse maaaaaaany years ago, and I drove up to his loading dock just in time to see a full size environmental Discs of Tron wobble off the ramp and take a header straight onto the concrete. It was a high loading dock and the machine didn't stand a chance. Exploded like it was made of Legos. Talk about traumatizing. I'm glad to see this classic Tron get some TLC! Cheers!
Haha yes I am the mystery seller from Nintendo Quest :) And that is traumatizing about the EDOT! Thanks for the cool comment!
Electronics is voodoo magic to me. Mad respect to folks that do this stuff.
Thanks! It's just years of picking up bits and pieces. But definitely a fun hobby!
The fact that you re-cut the back air slots because they weren't perfectly straight tells me everything I need to know. Nicely done.
Yeah, that’s a pretty good indicator of me in general. Can’t stand to have something not right :) Thanks!
I was SOOO happy when you didn't just replace the side art! Thank you for that decission!
I’m always trying to keep whatever I can on a cabinet that’s original. I don’t mind if there’s a bit of wear and tear. But things like control panels I do like to have looking like they did back in the day. I really wanted to use the original plastic pieces in the front but they were just too faded, unfortunately.
Hello Tod. I was looking through my YT home feed and saw this video. I clicked on it and was ready to see your journey from start to finish. I enjoyed the editing and production and seeing you bring this old classic back from the trash heap. Thank you very much for this informative, enjoyable trek. I've subscribed to your channel and look forward to going through your archives and seeing all of the new videos you produce.
That’s very kind. I’m glad you find these enjoyable to watch-my main goal is to just have people feel like they are on the same journey of discovery with me as I go along. I have a couple of video game collecting videos to get to but am keeping my eyes open for the next epic arcade game restoration now that the weather is starting to warm up.
Wow! Took me back to the arcade on the Navy base in Port Hueneme, California. I was 9 years old and absolutely sucked at it but loved the look so much. Once I quickly lost my dollars worth of quarters, I would become that annoying kid looking over the edge of the cabinet to watch. LOL Good Times! Thanks for sharing your restoration.
Thanks! It seems like this game brings back so many memories for people. That’s awesome :)
As TRON was a formative part of my childhood, I want to thank you for saving and restoring this machine. You did a FANTASTIC JOB on it and it looks and sounds soooooooooooo good!
End of line.
Thanks!
When I saw the condition of that cab I thought there's no way you're saving that thing, might as well just rebuild the cab. Boy was I wrong, you did a great job!
It would have been easier in the end but I’m glad to keep it as original as I can. Thanks!
@@tcurtis49 I'm 40 minutes in and loving it! But, when you started replacing the art, I immediately wondered why you didn't do it all from scratch. You clearly have the skills! Maybe I'll find out later in the video?
Actually, the answer is obvious. This made a great video!
@@halloweenengineer6283yeah there's just so much rot, fresh cab makes a lot more sense
You are not wrong he should have use used the old box for the dimensions and went with new wood. There's a time it's not worth saving
Wow, awesome restoration. I never thought you can "repair" that swollen particle board that good. Well done!!
It seems like I get a lot of that with my projects and you can definitely fix it, but it takes quite a bit of time and effort. Glad you liked the video!
ty so much from Australia! i love the fact your wife is so supportive!!! top work and one of my fav movies
Thanks! Yes, I am lucky to have a wife that likes this stuff as much as I do! Hello back at you-love Australia-spent a week in Sydney when I graduated high school :)
Man, I love those oldies! It reminds me of the golden age of arcades. In the past, I did the electronic servicing of many of those. Maybe I could buy some of those old units and try to restore them, well, but teaming up with somebody better than me for the casing/graphics. Thanks for sharing your hobby, it was very nice to watch!
It’s still a thriving hobby and a lot of good people out there working on these. Maybe it’s time to dip your toes back in!
Excellent Work👌👊🍻
Thank you for saving this machine
I applaud you for going to so much effort and expense to save an arcade cabinet game that looked hopeless. You are the MAN! I also loved that game. I still go to a retro arcade and play it every chance I get. Along with Galaga. One of these days I’ll have to take one of these projects on when I have a place in the house for it.
Thanks! I hope you find something awesome to fix up!
What a gorgeous cabinet. You did a bang up job bringing it back to life!
Thank you!
Absolutely incredible resto! If I hadn't seen it, then I don't think I'd believe it! Great work!
It is a little hard to believe looking back at the original condition, but it definitely came out great. Thanks!
Damm awesome. i miss arcades. One of my fav, Both Tron games, strider, MC1, KI1, Time killers, steel talons, and Neo geo games. Still have the memory card for it. Yes a memory card for an arcade game. Was revolutionary.
That's awesome. And I miss the old school arcades as well.
I love that arcade room…..👍👍
This was a fun watch. I'm glad folks like you keep that history alive!
Thanks!
Some people just have the talent to do this! I would have just found the plans and built a new cab from scratch to go with all the innards. I did this for a Star Wars Arcade cockpit, though ended up making it a MAME multicade... I just love the Star Wars cab and it's a unique look and machine to have. I have been eyeing the A1Up cab just to have the aesthetics in my game room of Tron. But back to you, phenomenal job in reconstruction, detail and explanation. You spent $2,600 to rebuild this beauty, but your time and effort are worth much more that you put into it. Glad to see what was left of this classic shell of a machine turned back into a work of art and playing again. The MCP thanks you!
Haha, thanks! I’m more intrigued by the challenge and learning new skills than having a finished product. But it is a bonus! People do make Trons from scratch and newer parts which is fine but not my style. I have a friend who always wants me to pick up Star Wars but they are really expensive. Maybe if I find one that’s been laying in a field…
@@tcurtis49 Oh, they're out there. I've seen some just as bad as your TRON looked! So sad to see the dilapidated carcasses of classic games. I mean, how do people let them get that way? Abandoned, alone... they need people like you to rescue them. :)
Thank you for saving these games!❤️
My pleasure!
Dude! Thank you so much for this! I shed a tear watching this. In '82, I was in 8th grade, and our bus stop was a 7-11. There was a Defender machine, and Tron machine in the 7-11, and my friends and I dropped many quarters in both games, especially the Tron. Thanks again for this video, so many memories. When I found your channel, I subscribed immediately!
That's great! So much fun back in the day spotting new arcade games to play. Glad I was able to provide an emotional journey for you. And thanks for subscribing :)
Well done. Thank you for using your gifts to restore these pieces of history. :)
Thanks!
I was completely lost during the electronics section but watched the whole thing anyway. Incredible work!
When I was putting this together I just assumed most people would skip around to whatever parts they found interesting and ignore the rest. I didn’t realize that most watch the (what can be) boring electronics section anyway. So I think it’s cool that it keeps attention anyway. Glad you liked it!
Not boring! I’ve just got a whole new world to learn about
I love that you salvaged as much as possible. You definitely resurrected it ! Well done 👍
I was determined to try and it turned out better than I would have imagined. Although I’m not sure I would want to have to attack water damage like that too often :)
I have fond memories of playing TRON at the local bowling alley on a Saturday morning. Watching your restoration brought back plenty of memories.
Great! Seems like this game brings back a lot of memories for everyone else as well. Glad you enjoyed it!
I think this arcade is the most beautiful one in your whole collection thus far! 😍
It may very well be. I love it :)
Being born in 92, I missed the giant arcade scene and never got to experience it. This restoration was absolutely amazing!
I had a smile on my face the entire time!
It’s really hard to describe how exciting it was to walk into an arcade with some dollar bills, put them into the changer and get quarters, then decide how you wanted to spend them. I remember when Pac-Man came out they had a gated line you had to wait in until it was your turn. So you really tried to get good quickly so you could stay on the machine for as long as possible. I’m glad you enjoyed the video!
Fellow born in 92 here. Feel like we caught the end of it. Always remember malls having arcades and other popular spots having an arcade. Would love to see a true resurgence of arcades (not the prize winning spots, but just true to life arcades)
Great job ! I'm a preservationist myself. I get a lot of satisfaction restoring and preserving old toys and action figures (especially carded figures ). Thanks for posting your video ! I lost a lot of quarters myself trying to play TRON.
Thanks so much! It’s definitely a satisfying hobby and that game was a great quarter taker for me as well :(
One of my college buddies and I played this game every day after classes for probably a year. I absolutely loved it. Great job with the restoration. I just found your channel and I look forward to other restorations. thanks
That’s really cool. It’s a great game for sure. Glad it brought back memories for you like it did me :)
Todd, you ROCK! Man, I wish more people were like you about anything from the past that needs to be restored or saved. Thanks for making the videos and sharing them.
Thanks! I appreciate it!
There‘s a giant amount of people collecting and refurbishing/repairing arcade machines, pinball machines, and (at least here in Germany) slot machines
great work, glad to see some people saving these old cabinets.
Thanks!
Sir, you should be proud of yourself, you did a great job!!👍
Thanks!
You did an amazing job on this restore, it's clear that you are a true artist and demonstrate what can be done as a labor of love. WELL DONE
Much appreciated!
Thank you Tod. This video made my day. ♥ The community needs more folks like you and your family. There are only so many of these treasures left out in the wild. God bless.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Hey Tod! Your restoration of the Tron video game arcade is absolutely stunning. I was captivated by the transformation you achieved, and I want to thank you for sharing it with us. Your work is truly inspiring.
It's incredible to hear that one of these units made it all the way to Zimbabwe Bulawayo in the early 1990s. It's a testament to the lasting impact and allure of these classic arcade games. The fact that they reached places like Zimbabwe truly showcases the power of imagination and the universal appeal of gaming.
I'm in awe of the value you placed on preserving this piece of history. It's not just about the monetary costs, but the intrinsic value that these games hold for so many people. You've done an amazing job in saving precious memories and preserving the history of gaming.
Sending warm greetings and best wishes from Cape Town, South Africa. Keep up the fantastic work, Tod!
Thanks so much and that is crazy. It’s definitely a special part of arcade history. Glad to have a viewer from so far away-amazing how video games help tie the world together :)
Hell of a game .. hell of a rebuild .. thoroughly enjoyed watching start to finish .. man I love TRON ! Memories s s s s s !!!
Thanks!
Another Tron joins the world again... great job, nice detailing, was cool to watch! I remember seeing this game for the first time in our local library. With all the glowing lights it was iconic!
Thanks! It’s an awesome design for sure!
I ask my self if it’s worth all the time and effort you put into restoring it, when starting from scratch seems the best option. But I guess you like the challenge and having a bit of history in your hands. Either way I admire the patience and dedication you have.
It’s all for fun. I enjoy the challenge. If I didn’t, I certainly wouldn’t do these kind of restorations as they certainly wouldn’t be financially worth all those labor hours :)
I loved Tron back in the 80s, the arcade I used to go to had a stand-up one that you walk into and you play it standing up but it's a cabinet that you're fully inside of, the speakers were like a surround sound inside of it, was super cool!
That was probably the sequel, Environmental Discs of Tron. It had a really unique cabinet like you are describing. Unless maybe they made a version of that for the original Tron. I’m not sure.
@@tcurtis49 Yeah, I'm not sure I was a teenager Back then. I just remember the tron game.
Beautiful restoration, well done. Reminds me of my old days in the TV repair shop. I don't miss the burnt fingertips from soldering. I had to replace many CRT's back in the day when I was an apprentice, always hated the 25kV from the HT leads. Before we binned the old displays I also had to smash the Tube to get rid of the vacuum.
Thanks for the Video. Nostalga satisfied 100%.
Awesome! Yeah CRT monitors are beasts :) Glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome restoration, it brought back memories of all the time I spent on that machine in the 80's. This was actually the game I excelled the most at, with one quarter I could play for an hour. It was an era where playing video games didn't turned you in a couch potato.
I always got beat on the tank level. But the others were pretty straightforward. It was a good return on a quarter-I played a lot of Gorf for the same reason.
My extended family ran a bunch of arcades beck in the day and I still remember helping to unpack a brand new Tron machine and being the first to play it.
Wow! That’s amazing…I had no connections to any arcade operators growing up but wish I did!
Really nice work. After restoring 3 Trons, I completely understand what you went through. I love your channel. Keep up the great work.
I went in pretty blindly on this one with no previous Tron experience. Was super lucky to pick up the bundle of parts and have a working board to begin with. Was a very fun and satisfying project. I still have to rely on the experts for advice and it’s always been a kind and gracious community, even going back to the old newsgroup days. Thanks for the compliment!
4:23 😳 My lord.. 😥
Hell of a project! And I can appreciate the gent taking the challenge..
(I wish I had a wood shop with all the fixens.. 🥺 )
I’m glad I married into a woodworking family :) Thanks!
Most worthy! Excellent work bringing that arcade classic back to life.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I always enjoy these types of videos. Great work done here. I just started exploring my interest in arcades and seeing all the work done here is amazing. Theres so much that goes on here from understanding pcbs, woodworking, soldering, etc. Id be proud to do a quarter of it
Thanks so much! Pretty much everything I know how to do comes from being forced to do it, so jump in and start having some fun with old machines. I’m just a few days away from releasing the Pole Position restoration that was also pretty intense. So much fun bringing these back to life :)
Thats what i need to do and get myself in a situation and get myself a machine. Although my girlfriend would probably not appreciate seeing a full sized cabinet in the middle of the living room. Looking forward to your polar position restore coming up. Started learning the basics of pcbs and practicing more on soldering. May take a look at some other material from sources like Randy Fromm i just find this fascinating.
Bruh! Your channel deserves so much more attention. Your entire setup and talent are my life goals. I love the arcade room, the carpet, the cabinets, the attention to detail and dedication to doing things properly, everything!
Fantastic vid. Watched the entire thing top to bottom.
Thanks for the kind words. Traffic has picked up a ton on my channel over the last week so hopefully more people can see it. It’s sort of my life goal as well and I’m lucky to have been working on it for so long now :)
I really enjoyed your video. I absolutely loved the Tron arcade game when I was kid, so this brought me back to my childhood. Thank you.
Glad it could rekindle memories for you. It certainly did for me!
Disneyland had a bunch of Tron games at the Starcade back in the day. Loved playing them.
Tod, awesome video man! Hoping to collect and restore arcades in the future after I get out of the military. I can't justify getting into the hobby when I move every three years, but I can learn and live vicariously through you and the other arcade CZcamsrs. Looking forward to the Pole Position restore, definitely on my grail list, love that game!
Thanks for the nice comments! Hopefully you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy this kind of stuff when you get settled. Pole Position has been rough wrapping up but I’m getting there :)