The 3D models do lack a bit of the original cabinet's side artwork, so hopefully the gold burn will put the final touches on these uprights to make them look more accurate than they already do. Simply select the machine and you're off to play. The game's front end is a simple room with a rotating Lazy Susan, complete with accurate 3D models of the original arcade machines.

Namco Museum 50th Anniversary goes the minimalist route and simply offers what most arcade packs should - an easy to navigate menu of arcade machines. Whenever a publisher puts together a classic compilation, what usually drags down the production is sloppy attention to interface. We're sure they'll be in place once the game is finalized, though - the development team most likely hadn't emulated the hardware's sound fully for the preview build. Most of the games are arcade perfect, but two games, Rolling Thunder and Dragon Spirit, currently lack their musical soundtracks. This early version only has 13 of the full roster of 16 games working, with Pole Position and Pole Position II, as well as Pac-Mania currently not implemented. We're not surprised since most of these games are from Namco's 'early years,' and lesser systems have had no problems pulling most of these titles off perfectly. In the version we've tinkered with, most of the games in the package are fully playable and emulated to nearly 100 percent accurate compared to the actual arcade hardware. Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, Galaga '88, Galaga, Galaxian, Dig Dug, Pole Position, Pole Position II, Rolling Thunder, Rally X, Bosconian, Dragon Spirit, Sky Kid, Xevious, and Mappy. The full lineup of games include Pac-Man, Ms.

When all's said and done, Namco 50th Anniversary will feature fully emulated versions of 16 of Namco's most recognizable arcade games from the 1980s. The game is scheduled for a late August release, but we were able to get an early look at the compilation pack several weeks before the product goes final.

Namco made about a gazillion dollars with a clever five-pack labeled collection of old-school arcade games on the original PlayStation nearly a decade ago, and the company's set to do the same with a single shot compilation with Namco Museum: 50th Anniversary Arcade Collection.

Namco museum 50th anniversary wii