wiseguyusa

I have to tell you, I never liked the term "arcade" which is why I prefer to use "coin-op" for the machines, and it's not that I am a grammar Nazi, it's just that the idea of a building full of nothing but coin operated amusements aka vending machines is part of the mentality that killed the medium. What happened to "coin operated amusements" in pizza places or laundromats? the idea used to be: stick a machine anywhere someone might be stuck and bored with some change in their pockets and amuse them for a few minutes for a quarter. If my auto mechanic had Klax or Tetris or a pinball machine in his waiting room..... the literal definition of "Arcade" is "a row of arches supported by columns" Does that sound like the description of the "Quarter Horse Arcade" to you? Or anyplace that you went to play games back in the day? I'm not sure when coin op games got segregated from bowling alley's and pool halls and put into "arcades" but it seems like the more that happened the less relevant the medium became. It also seemed that made the games less "mainstream" when going to a destination to play videogames became the norm instead of just playing a game at the 7-11 while waiting for your bus. they had become less integrated in the places we went everyday and wanted distraction from. I wasn't in the "industry" except for a brief stint at a corporate "arcade" called "Jollytime" (I think) in 1989 so the decline was less apparent to me outside of the bubble. But from the outside looking in, it sure seems that the "arcade" was the beginning of the end of "coin operated amusements"

Before the infamous "crash" of 1982, there were dozens (if not hundreds) of labels making titles for the 2600. Not that all of them were national treasures, but programming a 2600 game in 1982 was a fairly specialized skillset. That said, most serious programmers that I have known could fairly easily adapt to new protocols and programming languages, so I do not offend any sensitive codewriters as I have inadvertently in the past, let me state: I have no doubt that they were able to find new employment, but given the condition of the console market, I am guessing it wasn't writing video games for home consoles. So where did the famous and not so famous game programmers go to put food on their families after the console crash of 1982?

I seem to remember SNES or Gamecubes in McDonalds playgrounds(?)

I took this screenshot from a commercial, this is exactly how I remember Korvettes Video games. A "videwall" of 19 in TV's. I recognize APF TV-Fun "Hockey Jockari" I think I see a Telestar Arcade (in color) and a Telestar b/w Ball & Paddle (Ranger) to the right of it.

Oh and how can we forget Big Lots dumping all those 2600 and 7800 games for $1 each!

Venture liquidated stock after the Lynx was discontinued about 1995ish, they didn't carry them when they were new, same for the Jaguars. KayBee did the same with 7800s as well as Lynx & Jaguar

There was a place in the suburbs of DC called "The Math Box" that was like a Babbage's in 1978. I got my TI Little Professor from them and a few Atari cartridges. The other "indy" store with a cool name was a high end audio store called "Hi Fi Fo Fum" in the suburbs of St Louis. Didn't carry anything Atari (MAYBE Video Music in the 1970's) but the had a name almost as cool as "Math Box" LOL

Not at the moment, I got flamed pretty hard for my newbie presentation in another thread, I'd be happy to PM you what I have.

A really talented programmer friend of mine was willing to do my Night Driver/280Zzap hack idea in exchange for rent of my spare BR for a few months. Unfortunately I have a paying roommate in there now. Still searching LOL

That was kind of my point, I only saw Gameline & Xante at TG&Y, I actually bought my Gameline starter kit from Electronic Games Magazine, I got the "Charter Member" bundle, but I saw them for sale at TG&Y!! . I remember the Lynx and Jaguar closeouts at Venture.... good times $75 Lynx with 2-3 games included! I never saw Coleco Telestar stuff anywhere but Korvettes, the only other place that I saw Odyssey stuff was Magnavox DEALERS (remember those?) Fairchild and Bally I only saw at Wards, I don't remember anything but Atari, Commodore and TI stuff at KMart.

Heavy Sixer purchased at a Thrift Store in Waterford, MI February of last year. 1 original joystick, original paddle controllers and original grey PS Worked when I bought it, broke the ribbon cable while removing spider eggs from inside of the shell. Serial # 88808H i.imgur.com/hQMuLCe.jpg

Back when this stuff was new, where did you see "Coleco Telestar Arcade" or "Xante"? If it weren't for Korvettes I would have never seen an Odyssey, Coleco Telestar Arcade, or an APF system. If it weren't for TG&Y I would have never seen Xante or Gameline. Where did you see the odd/rare stuff for sale? What price tag have you seen on a box from a store that you never heard of?

That Batman VR looks pretty impressive, wish I could find one closer to Flint, MI I'd drop a few DOLLARS in that one. My 1990's arcade was a place in Columbia, MO called Gunthers which recently re-opened as a "barcade"

Just like pinball, there are still some vending type games still being made (no coins anymore I don't think) When did the "coin-op" game make it's death rattle? Was CA Rush the last "generation" ?

Buzzkill

It seems that making an Atari Video Music C-240 out of a Raspberry Pi would be pretty easy once you extracted the ROM. Thoughts?

Awesome! Thanks!

I am about to buy a bundle from Craigslist that includes 2 UK games for CV. Will they play in my US CV?

Since you are doing the packaging, you don't have to be stealthy to give yourself credit, You could put your photo and Bio on the box if you so desired... but what fun is that?

Nice! I am missing a heavy sears, and a Gemini.

Were the cheats in Combat intentional or bugs?

What is the number for the other shade? What about Sears silver?

The top is fine, it's the bottom thats f*a$#@!ed up. I have half a dozen of both anyway. Maybe it wants to be reincarnated as a Sears TeleGames!

Thanks! I have been looking for the right colors!

Never played it, got a few finger wags from a few Sierra Online games though