Miss 2600

This actually sounds familiar to me. I think I've seen "FAITH LUCK" printed on a flap of a package before. Probably not a video game box but something else. I can't remember what it was, I just thought it was odd. Hmmmmm. Well, if I ever run across something like that again I'll take a photo and post it here.

OK, I laughed out loud at that line! +1

Strange. When I got the score needed for 2600 Pitfall! (20,000 I think) I sent in the photo and got the rectangle patch. I was disappointed because I think it showed the triangle one in the manual and it is cooler. Maybe they ran out of the triangle one for awhile and sent the 5200 one. I ended up getting the triangle one, too. I found it (and Kaboom!) sewn onto a backpack in a thrift store.

Ah man! Two of the ones I earned back in the day are on the NOS list (River Raid and Pitfall--I actually have two variations of Pitfall) Oh well, at least my Pitfall II and Plaque Attack (I guess) are still rare. The sentimental value is worth more than $$$, though.

When I read that excerpt it sounds to me that the variations they found are between different cartridges played in the same mode.

I'd like to know that, too! I was wondering why there were so many on eBay selling for cheap. I'm assuming Private Eye isn't one of those NOS patches. Only one is on eBay for $75. It would have been a tough patch to get, too. I could never get close to necessary score.

I have a little accordion envelope with manuals alphabetized. I like getting manuals with games and especially the catalogs because I remember looking through them over and over again as a kid. I had (and still have) the Atari catalog with the red cover and the skinny Activision ones (I think I had a blue one and a red--maybe orange--one). What I wish I had kept were the Sears Wishbooks from the 1980s. I loved going through the video game section (always in the back). They go for quite a lot of money on eBay.

Actually, I was just thinking the other day about how Up N Down was the most expensive cartridge I've bought for my collection. Years ago I paid a little over $30 for it loose. I justified it in that I remember seeing an ad for it as a kid and thought about getting it but bought a Bryan Adams LP instead (bad choice!). Then again, I would have probably been more disappointed in the game at the time as the graphics are terrible! I would think Tapper and Spy Hunter would also be in the $30 range but haven't priced them as I had the former since I was a kid and got the latter for $7.50 from a friend. Those prices you quoted seem like a bargain to me.

It's the same one from the other lot, someone else is selling it. Probably because of the 0 feedback on the new seller. That explains why he didn't have close-up photos of it.

Yeah, Tanman!!! Look at what you've done!!!

Yet another Air Raid has surfaced on eBay, and it is in awful condition, but I guess it plays well (although from the comments of those who've played the game, it's not worth playing). This is the second one on eBay where the label is worn over the screws (opened up before?) Strange.

I was intrigued by the "Advent VideoBeam big screen projector TVs." I had never heard of those, so I looked it up. Wow, those were pricey and probably incredibly impressive back in the day! You must have been the envy of all the kids in your neighborhood! It must have been awesome to play video games on it.

Just when I thought this thread would start to die down, it gets even more intriguing!

I totally agree. Dr. Amen who wrote Change Your Brain Change Your Life wrote that psychiatrists are the only medical specialists who rarely look at the organ they treat. They prescribe medications for behavioral problems without ordering brain scans to see how the brain functions or what areas are abnormal. That really opened my eyes. Oops, I guess I'm getting off topic here! I went to an apartment warming party the night the Air Raid auction closed and the theme of the party coincidentally was aviation because the host lived on the third floor on a hill with a nice view of Austin. I thought that made it very appropriate to bring up the auction in conversation.

Now it has hit MTV.com http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2010/04/14/air-raid-for-atari-2600-sells-for-31600-on-ebay/ I can just imagine the current MTV followers laughing at that screen shot!

Being an expert on something doesn't mean you don't keep learning. It just means having extraordinary knowledge and experience in a certain field.

I don't think it will last too long. There will be scammers trying to sell to new, clueless buyers who will overpay for awhile but, once the next opportunity sprouts up, things will go back to normal. I base prediction on absolutely nothing, though

How did you find this auction? Were you searching by category?

Wow!!! That was quick! At least the seller is honest about it. Ha! Ha! They should have made a box!

You never know...I had a co-worker get a bunch of games for free from a lady she was doing house cleaning for. She's not into Atari so she was describing the games to me. At first they were all the real common ones which I expected but then she named off a couple fairly rare ones I didn't have, Crypts of Chaos and Spy Hunter, so I bought them off her.

Private auction, too.

Exactly. There may be some sellers who have common games that see the publicity for Air Raid and think they can charge a lot for their games because they are 30 year old Atari games, so they must be "rare." Well, those auctions will be up on eBay getting no bids and, after awhile, prices will go back to normal. There may be more interest in Atari due to the publicity that will bring new buyers, collectors or speculators driving up prices a bit, but again, as time goes buy, those who aren't that serious about Atari will move on to something else.

I can't think of any off hand! Dolphin is a lot of fun. My friend had it and I ended up with it (probably through a trade). I would put the Pitfalls and River Raid ahead of it though on my favorites list.

Congratulations! I completed Pitfall II once (maybe twice) when I was a kid. It was so hard running underneath all those bats and birds. I took a photo and got my Activision patch which I still cherish along with the letter that came with it. It is one of my proudest video game accomplishments (that and completing Raiders of the Lost Ark).

Is that a caveman on the $2 coin? Interesting choice of coin art if it is.