Category Archives: crap I buy

Restoring TRON

Here’s where I document the restoration of my TRON cabinet, a time honored tradition shared by many other owners across the internet.

I intend to strip down the entire machine, repair and paint the cabinet, replace all artwork, and clean up and fix any mechanical or wiring issues that remain. When I’m done, this TRON should be damn close to like-new condition.

TRON and Cyberball cabinets

(Cyberball is next, but that one is gonna be a bit more of a challenge)

I began the teardown this weekend, removed most of the fixtures and exterior bits, and sanded and repainted half the brackets. Discharging the monitor, something I’ve honestly been dreading for years, was a nonevent, and I’ll be pulling that and the boards out next.

I’ll list out my parts purchases as I go, partly with the intention of tracking how much I really end up sinking into this, and partly to make things easier for the next poor soul who wanders by with a restoration project.

Initial parts orders:

Rear screen art
T-molding (40 ft)
4 f15t8/cw fluorescent lamps (2 spares)
2 f15t8/bl fluorescent lamps (very nice price, 1 spare)
2 f15t8/blb fluorescent lamps
Polaris 651 High Voltage Probe

Playstation 3, first thoughts.

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Dear internet, this week I bought a Playstation 3.

While I’d been keeping an eye out for an original 60 gig for the whole hardware backwards compatibility thing, the local Game Crazy received a gently used 20 gig, one of the first series low end models lacking wifi, memory card reader, and the chrome trim of the 60, but fully compatible like its big brother. The price was right, and my resolve weak, so I took it home, threw in a 120 gig drive, and got to work rearranging the entertainment center to fit the new addition into the mix.

Several hours later I was greeted with the orchestral hello and the discovery that my receiver hates the PS3. None of the interface tones within the XrossMediaBar and Playstation Store can be heard, something to do with the lack of a continuous audio source via the optical hookup. It’s a known occurrence and a bit of a pain, but I’ll live with it. The audio quality otherwise is outstanding.

I initially thought I’d scored when a disc slid out upon initial startup, only to be dismayed upon learning that it was Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights. Still, a free game is a free game, and it’s got Ursula Mayes, so I guess that counts for something.

Blu-Ray performance is nice, and the PS3 is a respectable DVD player as well, although the Oppo will remain in the entertainment center for now. The Blu-Ray version of Robocop (always remember your first theatrical boobs) is a solid-enough transfer with admirable audio, but apart from a trailer, lacks any sort of extras or commentary.

As far as available PS3 titles go, nothing immediately screams at me. Metal Gear Solid 4 is a no-brainer, but I’ll wait on that until I’ve finished the first three. I was given a copy of Heavenly Sword at one of the conventions last year, so that’s on deck once it finds its way back home. Apart from those, Ratchet & Clank Future, Resistance, and Uncharted are on the list, and from the PSN I’m likely to pick up PixelJunk Monsters, Super Stardust HD, and maybe a couple other shooters. I’ll admit, the majority of my game time on the console (for now) will be with previous generation titles. I’ve still got a lot of catching up to do.

So, Sony-savvy readers, what else should I play?