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The Model III had BASIC in ROM and so, if memory serves, it would default to that if there was no bootable disk in the drive. While very few people did so, it was possible to operate the Model III as a cassette-based system and I think it was even sold in a low-budget, no-drive configuration. (That said, the I last saw/touched a Model III in Junior High in 1985!) Given that the Model 4 was backwards-compatible with the III, I expect that it too would boot into BASIC. I'd suggest opening the case and checking to make sure that all of the cables are properly connected, etc. This may be useful: "][18] My Model 4 or 4P has video problems in Model 4 mode, but is fine in Model III mode. How can I fix it?

Were these even originally available in Canada? Game Cubes are dirt cheap, but I have NEVER seen a Gameboy Player. You may also wish to post on CGCC.CA as that will reach a more Canadian audience.

If you care to (carefully) open the case, a look at the circuit board should provide should help answer the question if it is a prototype or an actual production model. If it is just a breadboard or a mass of patch wires then it is probably a prototype. Also look at the bottom of the case for a serial number, FCC notice, instructions, etc. -- none of these items would be found on a prototype version. I actually have this model (no box, however), but it is packed away in storage. It was $1 at a rummage sale.

Thank-you for the excellent review! It does not appear that volumes 3 through 5 of this series were ever published. Both Amuicus (a union-catalogue of major academic and some public libraries in Canada) and the Library of Congress only list the first two volumes of the series. Here is the catalogue record for the second volume: TITLE(S):*General purpose software / edited by Interface Age staff Interface age PUBLISHER: Portland, Or. : Dilithium Press, c1980. DESCRIPTION: viii, 204 p. : ill. ; 22 cm. SERIES: Best of Interface age v. 2 NOTES: Includes index. NUMBERS: LCCN: 80126172 ISBN: 0918398371 CLASSIFICATION: LC Call no.: QA76.6 .G44 Dewey: 001.64/25 19

There was a Fonz arcade game. I don't think it is able to be emulated on MAME because it is partially mechanical. Ah, here it is: http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7836 I've never seen one in person, but from what I've read it is just a basic, timed racing game -- not too much unlike the handhelds of the same vintage.

The Blue & The Grey (I think that was the title) was a DOS-based military strategy game set during the American Civil War. It was released in about the early-1990s. In addition to the manual and reference sheet, there was a copy of the Stephen Crane novel The Red Badge of Courage. Not quite manuals, but in its heyday Infocom included all sorts of printed material with its games. Alas, not anymore.

Some years ago now, I found a TV Scoreboard in box (again, no manual) at a rummage sale for $1. It did, however, include the optional power adaptor. I think this was a later model because it included the lightgun. It is currently packed away in storage so I cannot easily check the catalogue number. The box certainly adds to the collectable value. The only boxed system I have ever encountered is mine.

While he doesn't have any 2600 hardware (as far as I can tell), there is a flea market vendor around here with everything in his booth covered in dust and filth. I have no idea how he sells anything. As for cleaning them, I acquired many grungy systems at garage sales and such. I would routinely remove the case and wash that in the sink -- even let it soak if required. This gets it back to a presentable condition easily.

I got an Atari 2600 around 1981. Only one classmate of mine had one; we traded games occasionally and there was a nearby video store that had a few titles for rent. I ultimately owned about 6 cartridges for it; I probably played 12-15 titles altogether. I sold it in Spring 1983 and I put the money towards a new Coco. Alas, I remember seeing advertisements for games lke Bard's Tale, Ultima, the Infocom series, etc. -- none of which would run on my system. The readily available cartridge games at Radio Shack just did not compare in terms of quality. Eventually I discovered some of the better arcade ports and I held onto the system until I got a PC for Christmas 1988. The only real upside to having a Coco was that we used them in High School so I could do my BASIC programming assignments at home.

I also voted for the Sixth Generation. The PS 2 is the most recent console I own and I it! I have absolutely no interest in online play or DLC. I have yet to see anything for the current generation that would make me have to go out and buy someting newer. Sate-of-the-art graphics are not really an issue when I am playing 1980s arcade games.

So, if I understand correctly then, the PS 3 cannot play (at least some) games without Internet access to "authenticate" the game. Or is it just because this particular game was purchased online?

For what it's worth, around here the PlayStation 2 is still being sold at the $99 level (at those handful of stores that still have it it stock). It has been "stuck" at this point for several years now. (The PS One finally ended its retail life on clearance for around $50.) If Sony is still making money off the PS 2 (and I assume that they are), I can see the reluctance to drop the price on the PS 3 to that same level as that would elimiate the market for their "budget" console.

Is this game based on a licensed property (e.g. anime, comic book, toy series)? I've never heard of "Power Lords", but the advertisement suggests a significant back-story. There is a 1983 copyright/trademark notice at the bottom of the flyer, but the print is too small to read.

Almost all of my 2600 boxes (ca. 40) are stored flat-packed inside of a larger file box. My Folks moved house some years ago, and while they were happy to move/store my stuff along with theirs, I had to reduce the overall volume somewhat. (Note that it is not possible to flatten a Parker Brother's box without completely destroying it.) That said, most of the boxes were obtained second-hand and so they were not in pristine condition to begin with.

Remember that it was the pack-in game for the Gemini console for a long time (later replaced by Mouse Trap). Like Combat, that would account for a signifcant chunk of the total sales. Many of the copies I've seen have the "Not for Resale"-type sticker on them indicating that it came with the system.

There was a similar discussion about libraries collecting video games back in December: Video Game Collection at the University of Calgary In sum, there are a few other academic institutions (and public libraries) collecting games -- it may be helpful to contact them and see what issues they have faced, etc.

Around here, Wal-Mart and Zellers both have stacks of them new for $99 -- though only the graphite black model. I bought a new-but-open-box PS 2 from Future Shop for $89 about six months ago (as a back-up system); there were several still sealed at $99. The Sony Store may still have a few; I've not checked. As noted by others, virtually all that is left at retail is sports games, kiddie games, and music games. Surprisingly, many of these titles remain at full-retail ($30+). I cannot imagine anyone starting a PS 2 collection at this point, but I suppose it is the cheapest (new) system currently on the market.

The Coco joystick is simply a pair of potentiometers, mounted at right-angles to each other. The fire button is a simple momentary-contact switch. The switch is very easily fixable/replacable; I upgraded mine to rapid-fire when I was about 14 I'm not sure if the pots are as easily repairable; perhaps open the case and see if there is just a loose connection or obvious mechanical damage.

It's not comprehensive, but check-out replacementdocs: http://www.replacementdocs.com/news.php Currently, there are 299 NES manuals (some in Japanese), 167 Genesis manuals, and 201 SNES manuals.

Before I go somewhere "new", I will do a quick search to see what local game stores, thrift shops, pawn shops, etc. are around. I do not atempt to hit all of them, but I will go to as many as are convenient and that time permits. I have made some great finds -- rarity does seem to vary by region. For example, I found a store in Maine last year with multiple copies of a title that I had been unable to find anywhere locally. I have had rather less success with find video games thrift shops, but I also collect books and art glass and so I usually find at least a few things to justify the visit.

Jferio is exactly correct on this -- there are too many IP issues to ever make such a project viable (or even possible). Nintendo, for example, is certainly never going to license their IP to a competing hardware manufacturer so Donkey Kong will only ever be (legally) appearing on the Wii. The best you are going to get (other than downloading ROMs, of course ) are the original arcade compilations on various modern systems. Lock 'N' Chase should be part of the new Data East compilation.

Growing up, I had a Coco (post-atari 2600). I used to use the blank pages at the back of the game manuals to log the high score (and date achieved) for each of the games.

Could it be residue from packing tape? I don't know how it reacts to plastic long-term, but tape adhesive will stain and discolour paper given enough time.

Agreed -- this is an excellent article. I look forward to the future installments. There are a few established museums and universities that collect video games and related material, but by far it is mostly either in private collections or still with the original company (or long buried in a landfill somewhere). Unfortunately, the historical record is frequently lost (or discarded) by other types of companies as well. I used to work as a professional archivist and it was not uncommon for businesses and other organizations to call and ask us where their old records are; usually when a major anniversary or other milestone was approaching. We had to frequently explain that if they did not chose to donate their records to our institution then we did not have them.

I went from an Atari 2600 to a PlayStation to a PlayStation 2, so I never had a ColecoVision, Intellivision, NES, Genesis, or SNES. Happily there is now emulation for everythign but the SNES, so I feel no urge to buy more old hardware. Genesis systems used to be dirt-common around here, but have hardly seen any games other than piles of old sports games. In contrast, I have never seen a CV "in the wild" and only very rarely have I seen games or other hardware (e.g. SA controllers).