So. I totally understand why things like this exist-- My generation was the last one to really spend time in actual arcades playing video games on these things-- but then the home console market killed the industry, and game quality went way up on the home offerings anyway. (not saying this was a bad thing, but it was the end of an era that many find nostalgic. I too miss old arcades.)
Now, the WTF.
I found them at walmart. Walmart of all places. I took a picture.
Now, I admit I was intrigued enough by the offering. I doubt I could build one for cheaper than that price, and it includes a nice LCD display, and all that jazz. Intrigued enough to look more closely into the offering in fact.
Turns out, you can get an aftermarket driver board for that LCD display so that you can drive it with HDMI signals, and after that, hooking it up to a raspberry pi for EmulationStation/RetroPi is academic. So, this 300$ offer looks like a great start for making your own MAME upright.
But still..
AT WALMART!?
EDIT--
Other thing that has me intrigued now...
Since you can drive it from HDMI/VGA signals, it should be possible to re-wire an aftermarket controller from a game console to expose the button wires, and wire it up to a console upright like this. There is lots of empty space inside the cabinet-- putting a game console inside should be easy-peasy. A hacked original XBOX looks like a great fit. For many in the current generation, old school Halo is a nice retro title. A retro title that supports local LAN multiplay with up to 4 people. It should not be hard to fit the back of this thing with a wall panel mount style ethernet port, and run a patch cable from that to the console living inside. The joysticks would need to be replaced with analog sticks, (these are digital clacker type) but that would not be a major thing I don't think.
If I were to make a startup similar to a Dave & Busters, it would be something to consider. Legit old school game console inside an upright, with legit discs.. No coin slot, so free to play. (It's a dining establishment "+games", not the other way around) For 300$ a pop for the base unit hardware, and perhaps another 60$ for some replacement artwork (vinyl stickers from a print shop + clear(and)translucent white plexiglass panels, and an internal CFL), and some second hand game consoles and game discs, and as far as I know, it would be legit.
The things odd things at walmart make me think of.