jhd
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Posts posted by jhd
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I once found a (2600) Donkey Kong Jr. cart and a joystick.
Not quite game related, but on another occasion, I found a big pile of printer cables, etc. -- I passed on the Zip drive.
One evening, I left an old computer desk out by the same bin and it was gone within a few hours.
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A multicade like you posted here should be no more than about 800-900, working all the way with a warranty. They simply are not that valuable anymore. You cannot run them on route without fear of lawsuits and nobody on earth wants to touch repairs on those boards (not that they break that often, its all modern hardware).
I have seen a few of these muti-game systems turn-up in obscure locations (e.g. the local Greyhound Bus Depot). Indeed, the operator's contact information was prominently displayed on the front of the machine.
I understand that these are technically illegal (in terms of copyright law); presumably this operator was willing to take the risk in return for the amount of revenue the machine would rake-in.
How much enforcement is there, realistically? Does Namco, Midway, etc. have operatives searching for these machines? Is there a posted reward for turning-in rogue operators?
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I've never found anything really great that was game-related at a thrift shop. I've had a few memorable finds:
Daggerfall, complete in box -- probably only $1 or so (this was about 10 years ago)
ROB, no accessories -- about $5 in the toy section
River Raid II, Space Shuttle and a few other R6 cartridges -- about $4-5 each
I've done far better in terms of finding books, and I've even found a few pieces of original art that currently adorn my walls.
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This seems to be universal. A former co-worker of mine worked P/T at Goodwill a few years ago, and she was shocked how much valuable stuff never made it to the sales floor. Indeed, much of it apparently to management before even the regular staff could get their pick.
Alas, no interesting video game hardware passed through the store during her short tenure there.
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My first VCS was a 4-switch and I'm fairly certain that I got it in Spring 1982. It came with Combat and Asteroids as pack-ins.
I expect that it came from the local Consumer's Distributing store -- a now defunct Canadian chain akin to Service Merchandise.
The Vader model came out a little bit later; I remember that a classmate of mine had that model.
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Hehe, the retro store near me just got in a 7800 unit that they're selling for $129.00
What is he buying them at? Even if it is $80, you would come out money ahead.
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I'd certainly consider getting one, where it available in Canada.
Sure, it does nothing that existing hardware won't, but the idea of having a turnkey, in-one-box solution appeals to me, not to mention the space saved in my living room.
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The only two systems I am currently collecting for are the PS 2 and, to a much lesster extent, the Atari 2600. In theory I also collect for the PS 1, but I have not bought any games in a few years now.
- Do you have a strategy when you're collecting?
Not really. I don't hit the thrift shops as frequently as I did before I moved to my current city. This is mainly because they are far less conveniently located (and I don't have a car). Ditto the specialist game shops.
I do not use Ebay, and I have bought only a very few titles from other online vendors.
I do check out the discount bins at Gamestop and/or department stores whenever I am in the mall. Very occasionally I will visit a pawn shop if the neighbourhood is not too dodgy.
My primary goal for the PS 2 was to acquire all of the retro/classic game compliations released in NA. This I have accomplished
I will buy almost any Atari 2600 game that I don't already have.
The main criteria is that the game must be fun to play -- so I will never buy, for example, Basic Math or Madden 2K7.
- How do you manage your financial outlay?
With rare exceptions (e.g. some PS 2 RPGs), I will not pay more than $25 for a game. I will never pay more than $50 for a game, regardless. I accept that this means that I will never have some rare and/or desirable titles.
- Are you patient in your purchasing?
I have averaged about 1 Atari 2600 game per 18 months over the past decade.
There are a few PS 2 titles I would like, but I am willing to wait until I can get them at my price point.
- What are you looking for in the products you're buying?
For PS 2 games, condition is obviously an issue. I have passed on several because they were badly scratched, etc. I also like to have the manual and original case insert.
For Atari games, condition is not an issue.
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you don't have the noise of it during the daytime when people are awake and might be bothered by it.
As opposed to at night when they are asleep and so not bothered by the noise?
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These museum collections are pretty sweet, seems like they still have a long way to go though. There are individuals on the various forums with more complete collections than they have. Dream TR is basically a museum in himself.
In some ways that is a cause for concern. These people will, eventually, die and then what happens to the collection? Does it get sold (as a lot or dispersed), trashed, or just forgotten in storage somewhere? How many of us have loved ones who appreciate the value (monetary and otherwise) of what we collect?
Not game related, but, for example I have amassed a large and significant collection of books on Canadian history and politics. I have already made plans for it to go to a University or College library when I am no longer around to enjoy it myself as I wish to see it kept together as a single collection.
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I guess you could always map 'rotate left' and 'rotate right' to a couple buttons if you have more than 4 buttons on your setup. That might work.
This is how it is handled in the Midway Arcade Treasures collection (Volume 2) on the PS 2, at least -- the shoulder buttons are used to rotate. It makes the game nearly unplayable.
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Just there a few days ago ; My father is a professor at the U of C, Unlimited access to that collection is awesome.
So, is there anything especially obscure/rare/imported/homebrew/etc., or does it just include mainstream titles?
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Perhaps this is a a bit O/T, but I don't understand the obsession some people have with wanting copies of prototypes and unreleased games (by which I mean the ROMS, not the actual physical items).
I very much enjoy reading Tempest's reviews -- especially in those cases where there are multiple versions of a game and it is possible to see how the game evolved over time. (Cabbage Patch Kids is a really great example of this idea because there exist so many WIP versions from different stages.)
That said, from what I've read the vast majority of these games are not especially fun to play -- they are either unfinished or they went unreleased for a good reason. There are some exceptions, of course, I happen to rather like Aquaventure and that never made it to release, but I have no burning desire to play some unfinished WIP. For me, if the game is not fun, I have no interest in acquiring (or playing) it -- in any format.
If I did, however, somehow find a prototype or lab loaner at my local thrift shop for under $5, I would very probably buy it. But unless it was fun to play, it would very quickly be put up for sale.
[Edited to fix spelling mistakes.]
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The University of Calgary Library has recently begun collecting video games (including classic games):
This collection provides students and researchers with the resources to study a wide range of video games and related interactive media objects. It covers games from the late 1970's to the present. It includes mainstream titles, educational games, and unique and independent games in handheld, console, and PC format.
The collection also supports students and scholars who want to create their arguments by building a game from scratch or modifying a commercial off the shelf game by providing both the tools and some technical support.
Games and Related Media Collection
Pac-Man gets new respect as U of C research tool
Is this unique, or do any other libraries maintain a similar collection?
I know that the local public library collects (some) strategy guides and books on video games in general, but not the games themselves.
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I'm not a member either, but some public libraries do provide free access (usually requiring a library card), e.g.
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My friends father gave me a TRS-80 model II, i didnt really have much software except for word processing. i ended up selling it off to a friend that really wanted a old computer (this was like 15 years ago). now i really wish i would have kept it.
I remember that the Model II used 8" floppy disks; did it even have a hard drive?
I suppose it would be possible to play an older version of Nethack (and similar early ASCII character-based games), but overall this is machine is not exactly a gaming powerhouse.
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I'm just curious how someone managed to jam a ColecoVision cartidge into a Gemini...
(At least the screen shot is for the 2600 version.)
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I don't buy on Ebay (for reasons like this), but many year ago I bought a huge lot of 2600 titles at a garage sale for about $20. Mixed in with the 2600 cartridges was an Xonox Robin Hoot-Sir Lancelot for the CV. I was initially disappointed until I traded it online for several 2600 titles I badly wanted.
I suspect that this happens very often.
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Does it have the usual Canadian bilingual packaging?
If not, then it was very probably something imported "informally" rather than through normal channels of distribution.
Speaking as a fellow Canadian, I have never seen anything like this (though the Jr. model is, in my experience, much less common than its larger siblings).
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Great info, thank-you Tempest!
Was Mark of the Mole was an official Atari project, or just a side-deal between the band and someone at the firm? (Or is that an unanswerable question?)
The article implies that it was an official title, but, as noted, it does seem to be rather a niche product. I wonder if it was intended to be a promotional item for the band (something like Pepsi Invaders) rather than a formal commercial release.
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Same thing happened with GTA 4. I was always able to find MY way of beating each mission until they forced me to chase someone on motorcycle. I suck at racing games and that was the only game mechanic I was allowed. Needless to say GTA 4 is now getting pretty cozy with God of my Closet right now.
Agreed!
I am a big fan of RPG games, yet some developers feel the need to insert an unnecessary "action" sequence into the game. This has caused me to abandon more than one game out of sheer frustration. Had I wanted to play a game that relies upon quick reflexes or timing, I would not have chosen an RPG!
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Not mentioned so far is the Sonic Mega Collection Plus for the PlayStation 2, etc.
This is the only commercial release of a Game Gear emulator (that I am aware of), and it includes a few titles:
* Sonic the Hedgehog
* Sonic Chaos
* Sonic Drift
* Sonic Labyrinth
* Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
* Sonic Blast
The graphics look really bad, however. I don't know if this is a function of a poorly programmed emulator or just the significant difference between the Game Gear screen resolution and a TV.
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Just to add that only the Coco 3 had a proprietary monitor port; like most other home computer hardware of the time, the original Coco and Coco 2 used an RF modulator for output to a TV. Note that the maximum resolution was 256x192x2 colours (using artifacting). It uses a Motorola 6847 video chip.
The systems could be modified to output to a (presumably monochrome) monitor, there were numerous third-party kits available.
If fading memory from 1987 serves, the Coco 3 monitor was the Radio Shack "CM 8". This was very definitely not a PC monitor and it used a custom video cable.
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I just finished reading the John-Michael Battaglia interview and it raised an interesting question: did Atari continue to sell the Swordquest games after the contest had ended?
Given how very common the first two titles are, they must have been available for a long time, but there was really no point in buying the game after the contest had finished. It's not like either game is especially fun.
I realise that Waterworld is a special case in that the contest was never scheduled because of the crash, but that game did not see much (any?) formal retail distribution anyway.
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Consoles from Goodwill?!?
in Classic Console Discussion
Posted
I went to a local thrift shop yesterday and all I found was a single PlayStation game (albeit one that I wanted); the usual pile of bare PSX and Genesis consoles was missing.
I'd guess that much of this stuff was bought by people looking for cheap Christmas gifts. Remember that we game collectors are not the main demographic that thrift stores are going after -- somebody is buying that old, used clothing and battered kitchenware and presumably a $10 game console appeals to the same crowd.
Other than the few few random cartridges and a Sears Telegames console (uncommon in Canada, BTW) I found in July, I have not seen any Classic-era game hardware at thrift shops in a few years, and I don't expect to. This stuff is now approaching 25 years old; the people who still have it now are either collectors or vendors/resellers.
There may be the odd forgotten cache remaining undiscovered in someone's attic or basement, but the chances that a particular thrift shop will suddenly receive a major donation of old games are so very small as to be meaningless.