Dolt

While I was bummed not to snag a cart, I have to admit, if I had to pick two I liked most that weren't mine, it would come down to the two that won and the "Escape from the Mindmaster" shot--from there, it would be a tough choice! Congrats to the winners. In the meantime, this may have started a new hobby for me. I'm at a convention across the street from Disneyland this week, so I brought along Sorcerer's Apprentice to photograph in front of the Disney sign.

Hmmmm...you had to order at least $50 worth of stuff to get just one cart and your cart was #85... sounds like the AA guys had a very happy Christmas!

I truly HATE listings like that where it's impossible to read all the game titles. What the heck is wrong with people? Don't they understand that basic use of a simple <BR> command will let them make a list instead of a huge paragraph that is virtually illegible? People are idiots, I swear. This guy could probably get a lot more bids if you could actually read the freakin' listing.

That sounds quite painful if you aren't careful. Not entirely hygenic either.

I've sent HUNDREDS of items this way, and have never had a problem. You can send them first class if you prefer, although depending on weight, sometimes that winds up being more expensive than priority. The fact that it says USPS on it doesn't mean anything. Their concern is whether or not it says Priority Mail on it...and it doesn't. Perhaps it depends on your local post office but I've never had a problem, nor has anyone I've sent items to this way had to pay additional money in order to receive their package.

If you REALLY want to save money on boxes (and postage), try this trick. Get a bunch of the Priority Mail videotape boxes from the post office for free. They come flat, so you have to fold them into a box shape; when you fold it up, fold it inside out, so that the Priority Mail markings are on the inside and the blank cardboard interior is on the outside. Now you have a free box that you can send carts in at cheap media mail rates--you don't have to send it priority mail!

I got a definite early Christmas present. Last May, I discovered that a videogame shop I walk by *every day* to and from work had a pile of boxed 2600 games on top of a storage cabinet, including a few I still needed. I asked if they'd get 'em down for me, and the clerks responded that I could *only* buy the games from their website. I even offered to buy them on the site and stop by to pick up the games--no dice. Frustrated, I went to work, looked at their site, and the game in the pile that I wanted most--Double Dragon by Activision--wasn't listed! I called up and told them this and they basically blew me off--after all, they had some porno anime dvds to sell or something. So, maybe every other month, I'd stop in and see if I could get them to sell me the games, asking different clerks, but no luck. Yesterday, I went in there to buy some PS2 Activision Anthologies as Christmas presents for friends. I bought them, and as an afterthought, I decided to try my luck again. Maybe it's because I'd already dropped some money or perhaps I just got someone with the authority to overrule the website nonense, but the guy climbed up there, got the game and asked if I wanted anything else up there that I couldn't see from the ground. As a result, I picked up, all complete, Double Dragon, Skate Boardin' (which I had but without a box), and um, Cruise Missle and Spiderdroid (well, I needed them for my collection). They were all still wrapped in original cellophane, but I couldn't resist--I busted them open to take a look. I'm happy to finally get the games that were taunting me through the store window every day since May!

There's too many "V"s and out of 26 titles, something would jump out, so I can only presume that there's nothing there.

Amen to that--it's been cool because I got some bargains here and there, but it's also been a bummer because clearly there's some hardcore collectors who decided to call it a day. I hope it's not the start of a trend--I love buying games but not at the expense of my hobby as a community.

I wish I was brilliant--I'd turn one into a cassette player where you'd jam the cassette into the cart slot. Oh well...

-removing it myself--bad idea...-

Back in 2000, they issued stamp sets that had to do with different decades of the 1900s through today. That one was part of the 80s set, and sadly, it's only there's only one of each stamp design on the sheet. Clive

I don't think there's any shots of me getting my Atari and it's just as well--I was such a brat! I was maybe 11 or so and I was certain I was going to get one, even though my folks were basically broke at that time. My younger brother and I got a bunch of nice stuff, I'm sure, and I recall that he got whatever his big hoped-for present was, but as the presents were slowly cleared away from under the tree, I realized that there was no Atari-shaped box under the tree. As the thought that 'this is it; no Atari, pal" began to sink in, I got all pouty and misty-eyed. I was mad at myself because I knew I should be grateful for what I'd been given, but I was disappointed, I was jealous that my brother had gotten his big present and, gosh, I was 11 and it was Christmas morning, so not getting an Atari was earth-shattering. As a result, I was very surly to everyone as they finished opening their presents (I have one of those dads who takes about 2 hours to open each present ). Eventually, I got sent to go put on the tea kettle so that we could start getting breakfast going, and that was the clincher--they weren't going to pull an Atari out from somewhere as a surprise; that was it for this year. I was so demolished as I walked into the kitchen and started heating the water, sniffling, mumbling to myself about how nobody really cared about me and so on. So when I came back to the living room and found that familiar rectangular box under the tree along with two cartridge-shaped packages (one each for my brother and I), I was both thrilled and utterly ashamed of myself. Now, fast-forward 20-something years. This past August, my folks gave me a pile of Atari manuals they found at a flea market as a birthday present, 'cause they're really sweet people. My mom commented how it was so funny that all these years later, they were still giving me Atari stuff--and I wound up telling them the story above. Well, they had no memory of me being a little jerk at all, just that I was so happy to get the 2600. I sure wish I remembered it their way, but instead I carry with me the lesson to watch how I behave--other people may forgive and/or forget, but I never seem to. As much as I dig my Atari, the memory of getting it will always be bittersweet.

My read your post over my shoulder and suggested you hold a support group for our spouses.

I guess he's an AAer, reading this thread then...

It has a BIN of $99 (way too much even then IMHO), not $150

What's the scoop with this East Coast Game Expo thing going on in Philly? Is this a spin off of Philly Classic or in competition with it? Anyone know any details about it beyond what's on their website (which isn't much at this point). Just curious, as I can't go to PC--gotta work in Vegas that weekend--but I might be able to go to ECGX. I don't want to head down there though if it's gonna be all PS2 junk, though. Anyone know what's up with it?

Bumpin' it 'cause they end in 3 hours!

Ric, I've been puzzling all day on how you managed to pull off that great Star Master/Star Raiders photo without resorting to Photoshop. It sure doesn't look like you faked it, because there'd be telltale marks in the video grain in your image. So enquiring minds want to know--how'd you do it?

But seriously, folks. Nah, I bought that boxed 2600 that I mentioned in a different thread. It's the unit that spawned the 'how do you clean your atari?" thread. Clearly, it's the best $15 I've spent in a while, if only for the entertainment value of that thread alone.

I bought a case of Armor All.

That label looks very homemade to me!

OK, this whole topic, video, etc. I kinda get the gist of it, but for those of us who aparently came in late (cause it seems like this project--whatever it is--has been worked on for a while, certainly before I got here), could you just kind of sum up what the project is and what you're talking about with this topic?

Yeah, I've ruined a few CD jewel cases with Goof Off. I've never tried Goo Gone on them, although it seems to be a little less nasty on other items I've used it on. I'd try it as a last resort, but it makes things feel greasy and it leaves that orangey smell, which I'm not too fond of either. Good ideas, though--thanks. Anyone else?

OK, so I got this "new" used Atari, and it is GRUNGY. Thick, heavy, dusty crud in the grill, the controller sockets and elsewhere. It's almost as if someone spilt molasses on it in some spots, circa 1983, and then never wiped it off. The rest of it is just dusty beyond belief. So, does anyone have any experience in cleaning these suckers up? I was thinking of soaking it in hot water and then going at it with a green scrubby sponge, but I don't think that will get all of it off. Any ideas for how to attain that showroom finish?