Goodwill Hunter

Unfortunately, Milwaukee area Goodwills stopped accepting CRTs last December as well...I made it just under the wire, donating a ridiculously heavy 32" tube TV that got replaced by a 50" Black Friday flatscreen last year. As far as the non-Goodwill Milwaukee thrifts go...I can't say.

Yes, I'll try to remember to bring a manual next year, so all can master the complex rules of Atari 2600 Football...you guys cracked me up!

I had one of those Goodwill scores where you know you are the first one to go through a fresh game dump by what is still in there... There were a ton of complete xbox games for $1.99 each...grabbed 5 I didn't have and two I knew I could resell. The PSX games were only $.99 each, and it was pretty easy to decide which ones to take.

Finally had a decent find on craigslist. Searched on “Atari” and a listing for “Atari Music - $25” came up. Minimal description and no pic, so I replied to the listing and heard back almost instantly. The guy emailed a pic which confirmed it was indeed an Atari Video Music. He said it had belonged to his brother who had worked for Atari, and was in storage for 20 years. He didn’t know if it worked, but was moving and wanted it gone, so I was more than happy to oblige. Went to pick it up, and while it didn’t have a box or manual, it did look brand new: Cords were in good shape and it had the original power supply: Looked like someone signed the label on the bottom, but I could only make out the “j” at the front, and the “t” at the back. From what I’ve read about the development of this thing, maybe someone wrote “joint” there. For $25, I wasn’t expecting it to work. But with an iphone, a pair of powered speakers, a headphone splitter and a headphone jack to RCA plugs cable, I was ready to try. To my surprise, it worked like a charm. Been looking for one of these for a long time, so for me this was an extra sweet find.

Ever since I sold out my doubles and trade stock, and no longer "buy too sell", hunting is much more casual experience. But I 'd have to be made of stone to not let a CIB NES Flintstones 2 going out of the thrift I frequent while I'm on vacation bother me just a little... Gave me flashbacks to the time I just missed a boxed Vec & 15 boxed games about 15 years ago, but I'm good.

Dang, you really get the goods man. When you were selling at MGC you always had some of the best stuff.... It seems I MISSED some of the best stuff this time...my fears about this find were confirmed by a fellow local collector yesterday, who told me that the motherlode arrived ay my Goodwill (I'm there 3-4 times a week over lunch) while I was on vacation. Speculation is that a collector who died must have had his collection donated to goodwill by his unknowing family, and it came out over 3 days. He got over 100 CIB Gameboy and PS1 games, but even this was leftovers. Someone else picked up a bunch of mint CIB NES games that Included Little Samson, Bonk's Adventure, and Flintstones 2 - which the finder just sold on Ebay for over $2,200!!! What I found were apparently the scraps...that'll teach me to go on vacation! I can't get over a feeling of betrayal that the Goodwill I have been so faithful to over the years allowed a score like this to go the one week of the year I'm not around Just more motivation to keep going, I guess...win some, lose some.

Haven't had a find worth posting in a good while, but this seemed to merit a photo - Went to my Goodwill after getting back from vacation, and I don't know if this had been accumulating over the past week, or if this was from a collector's rummage, but all of this was there yesterday: A huge Sears Telegames pong called "Speedway" that I had never seen before...has onboard sound, runs on 6 "D" cells and has Hockey, Race and Demolition as selectable games...the box is much prettier than the games....$4.99 Colecovision Star Trek...$1.99 2600 Harbor Escape by Panda...$1.99 NES Bible Buffet...$.99 Genesis Master of Monsters (Complete)...$1.99 Left a bunch of common games behind, as well as a bagged Colecovision with the 2600 adapter marked $34.99. Aside from the prices, it reminded me of the good old days...

The hotel bar and restaurant held the speakers venue…saw a great documentary on Tetris champions and fascinating Skype interviews with some of those present at the start of Atari. A packed vendor hall as usual, which spilled out in the hallways. Tons of pinball and arcade machines, all set to free play, also spilled out into the hallways. Lots of really neat custom stuff, including this gentleman’s creation. Plently of unusual sights, including a pinball machine with a tap, a hungry Stormtrooper, and a hotel room bearing the mark of the triforce (sort of)… But as always, the best part was just playing games with family and friends…see you all next year!

Had a great time at the 2012 Midwest Gaming Classic! Once again thought that Dan, Gary, Marty, and all of the organizers did an awesome job and put on a fantastic show. Was good to see all of the familiar faces again, and as I wasn’t vending for the first time in a while (who would buy my last-minute deals without Ax there!), I got to see the whole show for a change. It’s amazing how it has grown over the years, and how creatively every bit of available space in the hotel was used. I took a few shots with the iPhone, and thought I would share them with those who couldn’t make it… The line outside the hotel Saturday morning just before the show opened. This is where I was based, in the MGC Museum…loved the cool 80’s arcade feel to it! One of the items I exhibited, an APF-M1000 / Imagination Machine setup. My other Museum piece…a Sears 2600 demo console (plasma & lava lamps sold separately!) Next to the museum was a room full of newer consoles, all playable. The family room featured an awesome Lynx display, all playable as well.

As a vendor, I thought it was a fantastic show. Going to need to find an assistant one of these years, so I can see the rest of what was there. I can understand the concerns about the show being too spread out, but there seemed to be plenty of maps throughout the place. I was able to quickly find the Ben Heck room right before the show opened. Although I didn’t have any luck getting my 360 looked at, I did get to play Bill Paxton pinball, which was simply awesome. Congrats to Dan, Marty, Gary and their team on putting on another great show. I know it’s a ton of work, and it’s tough to please everyone, but I’m just happy that an event like this is right in my backyard. Till next year… Rich

Had a guy buy an electro-mechanical baseball handheld (pull the lever to set up a pitch and after pressing the pitch button, a spring "windup" sound is heard) from me after seeing it in the museum and being flooded with memories of playing it with his brother...said he was going to give it to him as a Christmas present. Aside from making money, one of the neat things about being a vendor is watching people find something from their childhood they haven't seen in 30 years, and just totally going nuts over it, telling stories about it to anyone who will listen. Rich

Glad that some of my best stuff went to collectors I know from the forums. Trade-N-Games and I always seem to make some good trades at the MWGC. The Ghost Lion box I got from you was probably my best find of the show (If I don't count the Skitchin' manual you pulled for me...thanks again!). And I love your book!...the color photography is awesome. Most of my haul came from you and Dave 2236...not bad for someone who had to man a booth solo for two days: Rich

As a vendor, my picture opportunities were rather limited this year, but I still managed to grab a few worth sharing: Friday at 2:00 pm – Gary checks vendors into the empty hall Some disreputable types pillage Dave 2236’s booth before the show opens The Robot Panic Booth…thanks for announcing my Sunday discounts guys! Some of my stuff…20 years of tradebait, gone in just two days! (and yes, that is a 32X Spiderman Web of Fire in the upper right) The shoppers storm in…incredibly busy for most of Saturday. Didn’t have much time to buy, but she did make me a great trade…2 AA batteries and a plastic bag for a beer – I think I came out ahead. CosPlayers Pt. 2:......... “BRAINS!”............................................”THAT NOT MY BEST SIDE ON BACK COVER!” It was very cool that they opened up the museum and pinball area for the vendors after the show on Saturday….amazing array of both old and new pinball machines! Some awesomely rare Xbox hardware in the Classic Gaming Museum! “SHALL WE PLAY A GAME?” Again, I could only get so many pics as a vendor, but they should give those of you who couldn’t go an idea of what you missed…so start planning now for 2010, the year you should make contact with the Midwest Gaming Classic! Rich

Most fun moment for me at the show...Resident Evil CosPlayers buying one of my longbox copies of Resident Evil! Best part was she said her last name is really Valentine! Great couple, fun to talk to, and happy to pose for a picture. I've got a few other pictures from the show I'll be posting shortly...what a great weekend! Rich

Hey Ax, was great talking with you yesterday, I found that box of Genesis cases we discussed, and I'll have it at the show today. As a vendor, yesterday was a great day, super busy, sold a ton, met a bunch of great people, the only part that sucked was not getting to enjoy the show with everyone else! How cool, however, that Dan, Gary, Marty and the rest of the staff kept the museum and pinball area open after closing for the vendors! That was a good time, and after missing last year, great to see how the show just keeps getting better in all areas. If you didn't go yesterday, do go today...5 bucks cheaper to get in and still tons of great stuff to see, do and buy! Rich