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My objective is to acquire one of every ORIGINAL game. Clones and label variations use up money better spent on games I haven't seen before. Have to draw a line somewhere.

landsmarra , you and everyone else who has put together impressive collections SINCE 1991 should be proud of your accomplishment. In the early and mid 80's the only difficulty I had was enduring abuse from my friends and family for being so passionate about buying this stuff. The point is, I COULD buy these games from several retail sources. It was simply a matter of finding (or waiting for) the best price. Now, it looks almost impossible for me to fill the remaining holes in my collection. So stop crying already and feel good about what you have. I'll look into your box insert problem and get back to you.

landsmarra , you and everyone else who has put together impressive collections SINCE 1991 should be proud of your accomplishment. In the early and mid 80's the only difficulty I had was enduring abuse from my friends and family for being so passionate about buying this stuff. The point is, I COULD buy these games from several retail sources. It was simply a matter of finding (or waiting for) the best price. Now, it looks almost impossible for me to fill the remaining holes in my collection. So stop crying already and feel good about what you have. I'll look into your box insert problem and get back to you.

landsmarra, At the risk of witnessing the horror of your uncontrolled sobbing, yes, all real. I was collecting back in the day. Avalon Hill was easy since I lived in Baltimore. I regret not having bought 2 of everything back then. Who knew this hobby would not only survive but thrive?!

...another two cents...

CPUWIZ, if you DO make more, I'd like a boxed one, and I would not hesitate to pay $65 for it. Thank you for your considerations.

Ben, I hope I speak for the entire Classic Gaming community when I say that your eloquence is unsurpassed. Very well put!

Actually, that's DAN Cage, and Albert will be posting the ROMs for NTSC Ikari Warriors and Motorodeo here very soon.

To SS: Thanks for posting the link to the thread about boxes. Obviously I missed that entire discussion. Nice to know its a subject the community cares about.

Thanks for the response, Alex. As a collector of boxed games, I make my own boxes for those games that don't have one, including the homebrews. I can understand the trouble and expense involved in mass-producing boxes for all the games you sell. My suggestion for you would be simply to encourage the developers who sell their games through AtariAge to produce their own boxes for as many games as they intend to sell. If they don't, oh well. Just a nice added bonus. To answer your question, it would be more important to produce boxes for the original games, like Vault Assault (hint to you, Brian), than it would for hacks, like Adventure Plus, in my opinion. If the games cost a couple dollars more because of the packaging, I'd pay it. But that's me. I'm sure I DO NOT speak for the entire community. Any other opinions out there?

Hey, Al, Any plans to make boxes for the homebrews?

In March of 1991 I discovered a store in Ohio called Pleasant Valley Video, which specialized in selling hard-to-find video game carts. As a test I ordered 3 Chase The Chuckwagons COD and received them promptly. They all worked fine but they weren't original. Mystique carts had been opened and homemade chips with the Chuckwagon program were inserted. Then the carts were "sealed" using brown sealing tape, and handwritten labels were applied. The carts were cheesy as hell, but they worked! I was finally able to play a game I never thought I'd lay my eyes on (this was before the days of emulators). Convinced that this establishment was at least semi-legit, I sent a $300 check for a large order of many other titles from their catalog that I hadn't known existed. NEVER saw games or money. After much un-answered correspondence I wrote to the Ohio Better Business Bureau for information about Pleasant Valley Video. All they could tell me was there were many complaints on file about the company. Clearly I should have written to the BBB before sending money. THAT is my second-biggest regret. The biggest is missing out on so many cheap games that are either expensive or exceedingly rare now. I was so bummed by this experience that I gave up on Atari. That Chase The Chuckwagon cart was my 379th game at the time, and several of those are 9's and 10's now. It wasn't until CGE 1999 that I rediscovered this hobby and the community that has formed around it. I have acquired 73 more titles since then. No regrets now, but I sure could use that $300 at this year's Philly Classic.

I have Malagai, Out of Control, River Patrol complete with box and manual, NTSC.

I have Motorodeo and silver label Quadrun complete with box and manual, NTSC.

I have all 3 complete with box and manual, NTSC.

Bought my first cart in 1981. 448 unique carts and Starpath cassettes, all but 8 with boxes and manuals. Centerpiece would be MagiCard and Video Life combined since I got them both at the same time from CommaVid in 1984. Between the last Atari release in 1991 and 1999 I was not active in the hobby. Then I discovered The Atari Nexus and CGE. Got me right back into it. Thanks to all of you for keeping it alive.

Sorry, Thomas, I guess I should have mentioned that. I received Thrust+ via surface transport, and I live near Baltimore.

For those of you still waiting for Thrust+, I just wanted to pass along some reassurance. Got mine (#16) on Friday, December 20th. Very well packaged and in great shape. Hang in there. Fish will come through for you.

This device is a great idea (as was the CuttleCart) and, as a collector, it would fulfill my ideal if it were able to load and run EVERY ROM IMAGE. I know that's a lot to ask, but I would be willing to wait as long as necessary, and pay significantly more for it if it could run EVERY GAME. Feasible?

As a persistent collector, I have to set limits for myself, otherwise the mortgage doesn't get paid. Here are the limits: $40 for a finished game, $20 for "unfinished". A box and manual would add value to the purchase even if it is unfinished. A so-called Special Edition with a number and a signature would not add value.

If I remember correctly, I ordered either #16 or #22 by surface shipment. Have not received it as of December 3rd. I live near Baltimore.

To everyone who is into the Atari 800, please take a look at this item on Ebay. It's a complete WORKING system with a green-screen monitor, dot matrix printer, disk drive, tape drive, and a variety of software. Plus I'll help with the shipping expenses. Thanks for looking. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...2066594728&rd=1

How 'bout this one?

To MegaManFan: My insanity is honored by your awe. Thanks. To AtariBuff and anyone else who would like to try this: Each box is shrink-wrapped for protection and wedged between horizontal strips of clear acrylic molding, the kind used to protect wallpapered corners. Any box can be removed and replaced with ease. I fastened the molding to the wall using small white finishing nails. Leaves lots of little holes that are easily spackled if you need to undo everything. It was a lot of fun to set up. Take a whack at it, and good luck!

My 10's are: MagiCard Motorodeo Quadrun silver Video Life I acquired all of these from Atari and CommaVid respectively back in the day, so all are NTSC. No, MagiCard did not come with a box, but I made one for it so it would have representation on The Wall.