The Weird Taito Taitan arcade cupboard – The Arcade Blogger

Generic cupboards from the Golden Age of arcade gaming tended to be useful workhorses. In fact the great thing about devoted cupboards from producers akin to Atari, Williams, Gottlieb and Sega is simple. These cupboards often had bespoke designs, devoted controls and wonderful art work, all designed to attract gamers in.
However generic cupboards tended to be useful, constructed to resist the rigours of life out on the arcade ground. They have been fashionable with arcade operators, as they have been designed to accommodate new video games with out the expense of changing a whole cupboard. Commercially, ops may hold issues contemporary by merely swapping out the PCB and delivering a model new recreation at a fraction of the price of buying a model new full machine. Over right here within the UK, a “chip store” Jamma cupboard was the staple of many gaming experiences – the format was launched in 1985 and caught on shortly, for the explanations said above. It made way more sense than the pricey ‘scrap and change’ nature of shopping for devoted arcade machines.
However with out the complete artwork package deal, the cupboards that housed Jamma-based arcade video games have been often ugly issues that merely relied on the sport’s appeal to mode to attract in gamers. These “common” machines have been work horses, not items of artwork.
That stated, there have been events when some producers toyed with design concepts to draw gamers to those generic cupboards.
In 1981, Japanese producer Taito designed a common cupboard, generally known as The Taitan that might accommodate any considered one of twelve of its hottest video games. Previous the Jamma customary by some 4 years, the thought behind the cupboard was to tie in operators to Taito video games. The pondering being that the majority video games had a shelf lifetime of 6-9 months. Taito’s reasoning was that it may accommodate a number of titles at a fraction of the same old typical value of changing a recreation.
However what concerning the participant? How may operators draw gamers to those in any other case fairly uninteresting cupboards?
So far as I can inform, the Taitan cupboard was designed solely for the UK market. In an effort to make the machine stand out, Taito approached and commissioned two UK based mostly brothers, Roger and Martyn Dean. Roger by that point was a famend artist, answerable for designing many psychedelic album covers for varied bands all through the 70s. His most recognisable work was for the band Sure.

As an apart, in addition to working extensively with Sure over a few years, Roger Dean would additionally go onto create among the most well-known and revered field art work for videogame developer Psygnosis – learn extra about that here.
So Roger’s creative imaginative and prescient and pedigree was sufficient to steer Taito that he may create one thing that will attraction to (and draw gamers to) an in any other case generic trying arcade cupboard. His provenance meant that he was commissioned, alongside along with his brother Martyn, and work started in late 1980.
We took the essence of what’s on the video display and put it on high of the cupboard too…
Martyn Dean, talking in 1984
Taking inspiration from the video games housed inside arcade cupboards, the 2 brother’s regarded to revolutionise participant’s perceptions of what an arcade cupboard may appear to be:
Regardless of interstellar mayhem on the display, the video cupboards remained boring brown bins, enlivened solely with comedian e book flash. The Deans began work on redesigning the machines. As an alternative of trying like all people’s tv set, wood-grained to match the lounge furnishings, they felt Area Invaders ought to appear to be simply that – invaders from house. Martyn Dean went for a pure picture, mutated: the normal Bug-Eyed Monster, whereas Roger Dean’s creation was extra belligerent, a futuristic Teutonic knight, a Robotic Warrior.
Extract kind the e book “Magnetic Storm” by Roger and Martyn Dean, 1984
So two designs have been labored up. One trying like an alien-like ‘Bug’ and the opposite generally known as the ‘Robotic Knight’.


The creations needed to survive fixed use and be immune to potential vandalism on the arcade flooring. The cupboard heads have been created utilizing a course of name Response Injection Moudling (RIM). RIM mouldings are comprised of polyurethane foam injected into moulds at excessive stress, the identical as trendy automotive bumpers. The paint was polyurethane, which bonded chemically to the floor in order that it couldn’t be chipped or scraped off.
RIM, or response injection moulding, is a chilly casting course of that begins life as two separate liquids. Totally different supplies, together with polyurethanes, polyesters, and epoxies will be processed utilizing re

The ultimate outcome was beautiful:






A subsidiary of Taito was arrange available in the market city of Cheltenham right here within the UK to supply the Taitan cupboards. This firm was in reality lengthy standing producer Ramtek. Fashioned by three former GCHQ engineers, the corporate was set as much as design and manufacture CRT displays.
Taito then invested in upgrading the Cheltenham operation. A brand new manufacturing facility was acquired and a brand new manufacturing line put in, together with a check soak facility for CRTs and arcade PCBs.

I’ve been lucky sufficient to speak to a former worker at Ramtek who described working for the corporate:
We have been a small group of seven; one foreman, 5 staff and a storeman. As soon as we have been up and operating we have been making 48 machines per week. These went out at about £2.5k every (I feel). The “bug heads” added about one other £600. doesn’t sound quite a bit, however beer was 30p a pint and spirits 32p! My wage was £125pw. As soon as the road was up and operating I used to be despatched right down to Coleford within the Forest of Dean to oversea a refurbishment contract on the sheltered workshop. I needed to report to move workplace at Cheltenham every morning. On one event I used to be transporting a set of boards to Coleford. 200 boards at £1000 every, my little Morris 1000 automotive was value greater than a Rolls Royce that day!
Evan Boardman – former Ramtek worker
There’s some query over the precise value added to the value of the cupboards on account of the addition of the Taitan toppers; estimates differ from £600 to £1,000. However one would assume the extra outlay wanted critical consideration by the market.

To analysis the undertaking, we had a number of machines put in within the workplace. Everyone turned addicted and spent a frightful period of time on them. However all people additionally turned ambidextrous, and productiveness truly rose. While you’re shot filled with adrenalin it has to go someplace, so you’re employed like a demon.
Martyn Dean describes the ambiance in the course of the design part
Right here’s an attention-grabbing press reducing from Coin Slot Journal in 1981. Taito’s Rod Perry talks about cupboard and monitor manufacturing at Ramtek. It’s not the very best scan, however you can also make out the Taitan cupboards being soak examined on the manufacturing line at Cheltenham:
Right here’s an in depth up of the Taitan cupboards:

Taito introduced the Taitan cupboard for the UK market in February 1981 and produced this flyer:

Precise manufacturing numbers are not possible to seek out, however I feel its truthful to imagine that just a few hundred rolled off the Ramtek manufacturing strains in Cheltenham and have been sited throughout the UK. A number of collectors I’ve spoken to recall seeing them out on the arcade flooring. Though there have been some challenges, as described by Roger and Martyn Dean:
Many amusement arcade operators come from the world of showmen and travelling gala’s. Since their Taitans have been additionally pure fairground merchandise, [we] have been astonished when the prototypes met some resistance from the commerce. We found that the showmen’s reluctance was merely over the color, a vivid metallic inexperienced. Showmen are enduringly superstitious, and inexperienced is unfortunate. While you enterprise into a brand new subject, it’s essential to study the native folklore, the traditions, the taboos. Even the best-planned initiatives can fall foul of straightforward cultural oversights.
Extract kind the e book “Magnetic Storm” by Roger Dean and Martyn Dean”, 1984
What impressed this publish was some photos shared just lately by collector Simon Mills, who’s at the moment restoring a Taito Taitan cupboard:



A few different Taitans have turned up in recent times. This one was apparently present in an vintage seller’s showroom just a few years again:




Launched in restricted numbers, the cupboard design was in the end dropped. It’s not clear why so few have been produced, however presumably Taito determined to go in a distinct industrial course.


Despite the fact that their designs had a brief lifespan, the Deans determined to show a few the Taitan machines themselves, creating an set up of what they described as ‘a whole amusement setting’. They positioned the cupboards at a public exhibition alongside different extra humble trying arcade machines. The Bug and the Robotic Knight sat underneath a part of the lighting set that that they had beforehand designed for the band Sure’ dwell present:


So there you might have it. The Taito Taitan cupboard design was actually distinctive however sadly had a brief lifespan, however nice to see just a few are nonetheless round. A cool piece of British arcade videogame historical past.

I feel I need one!
Prolonged due to Simon Mills, Evan Boardman and Alan Meades for his or her assist in pulling this information, photos and scans collectively. I’ve used some photos right here that I used to be unable to attribute to anybody – do get in contact in case you’d like me to place that proper. I did attain out to Roger Dean to ask for his recollections of this temporary interval in his profession however didn’t get a reply. However he’s nonetheless an energetic artist and creator, do try his web site here.
Many thanks for studying this week. In case you like what you see, be happy to share this text in your socials!
Tony