Frequently Asked Questions
If you don't see an answer to your question on this list, feel free to email us at custombarguys@yahoo.com and we'll be happy to help you out.
Q: Is this a MAME cabinet that runs emulator games?
A: No. We are fans of the MAME concept, but presently legality of the emulators is still up in the air. We commercially purchase the following game collections ... Midway Arcade Vol 1-3, Taito Legends, Konami Classics, Dragon's Lair 20th Anniversary, Capcom Arcade Hits, and Revenge of Arcade. We install them on the PC for you, and have created an interface that allows you to play them all from one convenient menu. You also receive all the original discs as a backup.
Q: Can I customize my Gamerator?
A: Absolutely! On our end we offer the ability to customize the colors of your unit right here. Beyond that, there are available third party accessories that you may be interested in to enhance your unit:
1) Our joystick runs on the same hardware as our trusted friends at X-Gaming... and they offer adapters for XBox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, and PS1
2) Our kegerators use euipment from Beverage Factory and they offer many different accessories including beer taps, keg couplers, home brewing kits, and more
3) Our games run off a PC that will have at least 1 GB of RAM, 80 GB of hard drive space, a built-in wireless internet adapter, and Windows (XP at the very least) ... so you can essentially add just about anything you want to your PC and run it through the Gamerator
Q: Why so expensive?
A: In all honesty ... we believe the Gamerator is the coolest marriage of beer and gaming EVER, and want our units to be the centerpiece of your game room, man cave, office lobby, convention booth, or whatever else. As a result, we strive to create a high-end product that uses good quality materials and equipment. We custom build each unit by hand here in southwest Virginia and only use wood and materials from trusted retailers (and "by hand" of course means with modern tools ... we ain't building the world's first Amish Arcade Cabinet or anything!). Quite frankly, most arcade cabinets on the market run anywhere from $2500-$4000 (and from a quality standpoint we'll put the Gamerator up against any of them), and a commercial kegerator will set you back around $500, so this is the best possible deal we can get you for both things.
Q: How do I know you're not full of it and are just some company making cheap-ass cabinets and charging too much for them?
A: A quick history of the Gamerator ... In late 2007, two best friends (Jaime and Jason) got together on a Friday night for some beers and XBox. Many hours and beers later, we had hatched an idea for the Gamerator, an arcade cabinet that played classic games and replaced the coin slot with delicious tap beer. We then founded The Custom Bar Guys, Inc. and got to work on creating what we thought was one of the coolest toys that truly needed to exist. We spent the next few years experimenting with the design (and to be honest learning how to run a business) until we developed what the unit looks like today.
I can tell you that we're just a couple of guys who love video games and beer and wanted to do something with those passions where other people could enjoy our idea as well. We're both married dudes with kids who live in Virginia, have full time jobs, and spend our weekends building Gamerators. It's the total truth that we get a little depressed each time we ship out a unit because we feel so attached to them during the building process. So yeah ... I can assure you we're in this to deliver you a quality product, and anyone who wants to come check us out in beatiful Roanoke, VA is always welcome!
Q: What happens when I decide to buy a Gamerator and click "Order Now" for my $1,000 deposit?
A: The "order now" will take you to a secure PayPal link, and will then allow you to place your initial $1,000 deposit thru a PayPal account or major credit card. From there, you will be contacted by a Gamerator rep directly to discuss any customizations you may want, as well as the timeline for the completion of your order. All units are custom built, so please allow approximately 4 weeks for us to complete a unit once it's been ordered. You will receive status updates throughout the building process, and you will not be charged the remainder of your balance until your unit is packed and ready to ship.
Q: Why use an HDTV for these old games? Couldn't you save money by using a monitor instead?
A: True, we could save money that way, but we want you to be able to do virtually ANYTHING with your Gamerator, so the HDTV allows you to play current games, movies, sports, etc etc. We figure it's the best of both worlds ... the classic games run at their original resolution, so they don't look warped or ridiculous, and the newer stuff can run in crisp HD. A win-win!
Q: This thing looks heavy ... how do I move it around?
A: Thankfully it has wheels on the bottom of the unit. In addition, if you're a little installation savvy ... the unit can be broken down into two parts to be moved as well. Obviously you're taking an assumed risk by doing this, but email us at custombarguys@yahoo.com and we'll be happy to walk you through the process.
Q: Given the width of the joystick this unit looks too wide to fit through a standard doorway ... is that true?
A: No ... all joysticks are anchored by an easily removable bolt system and can then fit through any standard doorway.
Q: Do you ship internationally?
A: Yes, but we'll caution you up front that this unit ships freight on a wood pallet, so international shipping can be pretty costly. We wish it wasn't the case, but we are simply still searching for a more reasonable option for our international shipping, and we hope to have exactly that in the future. For more information about international shipping and to receive an exact quote, email us at custombarguys@yahoo.com.
Q: I see you're in Roanoke, VA ... could I come pick up my unit and not have to pay shipping?
A: Of course! Here's are some general travel times for some nearby cities ...
Greensboro, NC - 1 1/2 hours
Charlotte, NC - 3 hours
Raleigh, NC - 3 hours
Richmond, VA - 3 hours
Washington, DC - 4 hours
Baltimore, MD - 5 hours
Philadelphia, PA - 6 hours
Pittsburgh, PA - 6 hours
Nashville, TN - 6 hours
Cincinnati, OH - 6 hours
Q: What size keg fits in your unit?
A: Our fridge holds the "pony" keg size (in the new cylindrical shape as well as the older barrel form).
Q: Doesn't liquid + electronics + heat = disaster?
A: Thankfully no. Our fridge/keg unit is located at the base of the Gamerator, while all computer parts are located at the top. In addition, we use more energy-efficient electronics that have lower heat emissions. Also, the back of the unit contains open access for the fridge as well as upper vents for the PC. I can assure you that we've done plenty of ... ahem ... shall we say "field testing" of the Gamerator and have yet to experience an issue.