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Marco(2)

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Posts posted by Marco(2)

  1. Posted

    ... sad to let this topic die... c'mon you guys, post!

     

    I want to hear some opinions:

    • do you even care about the competition?

    • what would be good criteria to measure the value (not $$) of a collection?

    • would an Atari 2600 Collection Ranking website be a good idea?

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

  3. Posted

    Dear collector friends,

     

    I've decided to sell off some of my Atari 2600 prototype games. Check it out if you're interested in some cool early versions of Millipede, Rubik's Cube, Deadly Duck and Moon Patrol. Also listed is the ultra rare Grover's Music Maker!

     

    You can check out my auctions by clicking this URL

     

    Good luck!

     

    Marco

  4. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by Tempest:

    I'm glad I stopped at US games only...

    Are you going to the CGE 2001 Marco?

     

    Hi Matt,

     

    Nope, I won't be there. I only attended the 1999 edition. I would love to go but I'm such a bad planner that I always end up being too late to book affordable flights. I tried last Saturday but they only had some business class seats left..

     

    Maybe next year...

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

  5. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by cvga:

    1. Marco

    2. Ianoid

    3. JerryG

    4. Jeff Rothkopf

    5. John Hardie

     

    You may be naming these people because they are relatively well-known. I know at least a handful of people though who operate in the background, that have 2600 collections that make me drool.

     

    I mean, boxed copies of Malagai, Gauntlet, Video Life, River Patrol, Music Machine, and Air Raid, or a PGP... Mmmm...

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

  6. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by cvga:

    It was fun reading about everyone's favorite 5 games but who do you think are the top 5 2600 collectors worldwide?

     

    I was looking for the blushing smiley, but it isn't there, so I just have to say.. thanks for the honour. I don't think you are right, but thanks anyway

     

    I have often thought about this. Of course, most of us collect because it's fun, but there is undeniably some kind of competition in it as well.

     

    But, and the replies to your posting already make that clear, there are so many ways to rank collections. Some examples of features that could be taken into account:

    Complete NTSC collection (complete PAL is well *really* impossible!)

    Most prototypes (of released / unreleased games)

    Most boxed games

    Most complete label variation collection

    Highest percentage of games actually found in the wild by collector himself

    Most unusual items / memorabilia

    Collection of consoles / controllers

     

    I've always wanted to make a website where we would first hold polls on which features we think are important, and to which extent. After a ranking system has been established, people would be able to enter their collections and see what rank they would attain. If their collection would grow, they could update their listing, to see if they would get a higher rank.

     

    Just some thoughts on this intrigueing topic...

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

  7. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by khryssun:

    3000 ?!?

     

    Oh yeah, I do believe this is the case. In working on the Digital Press Guide (check out the awesome Atari 2600 "import" section) my friend Roloff has built up a database of 1600+ games (I am talking about manufacturer variations here).

     

    We are not even close to having all Brazilian, Australian and Taiwanese games in there. I see non-listed games on an almost daily basis. So I guess it's a safe bet to say that we will have 3000+ listed in that database, some day...

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

  9. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by Ze_ro:

    Moral of the story: Don't buy games in Europe and expect them to work in North American video game systems.

     

    Correction:

     

    Buy all the games you can from your PAL pals and send them the games that never made it to Europe (or Australia, another PAL (or should I say 'mate'?) continent).

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

  10. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by Nateo:

    HOLY CRAP! Over 500 carts!? I thought I was hot stuff for getting 44 carts since I bought my atari last summer! How do you do that???

     

    There's lunatics out there with 1000+ games in their collections...

     

    Don't worry, if you keep on going long enough you'll get there; there are probably over 3000 different 2600 games out there, not even counting label variations.

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

  11. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by Tempest:

    I love to hate ebay as well, but some of us just aren't that lucky. I actually prefer to go through an Atari dealer or fellow collector than ebay. But sometimes you just have to break down and sell your soul to the great evil-bay...

     

    Speaking of which... how evil is Ebay actually? Popular belief tells us that Ebay has ruined the hobby by pushing prices through the roof.

     

    Well, I just don't think that is true. As I experience it, only the really rare stuff is worth big bucks on Ebay. However, these games (I'm talking unique protos and Color Bar Generator and the likes) have been worth big bucks all along. I remember the days that Video Life and Magicard sold for $1500 each, not to mention the rumoured price of $2500 for Alligator People. So, Ebay really hasn't changed that much about that.

     

    I'd say also that prices of the other 95% of games has dropped, because of Ebay. I still have some newsgroup auctions on file. If I look at the prices that people paid in those auctions 5-10 years ago, they were higher for the items we now consider (not so extremely) rare (like Waterworld and Crazy Climber). I think the popularity of Ebay has lead to a big increase in supply. Simple economics teach us that, with a demand not growing that fast, prices will drop.

     

    If you're a patient man, you will be able to get every game you want from Ebay. That includes unusual rarities like a boxed Frogger II, the occasional lab loaner of a released game, MIB 1977 heavy sixers, EPROMs on hacked 2600 carts etc etc.

     

    Of course, finding stuff in the wild, especially the rare games, adds a lot to the excitement of the hobby. That being said, I think that buying (un)commons on Ebay (especially in lots of 10-20 games) is just as cheap, or even cheaper, as finding them on fleamarkets. So, don't stay away from Ebay because of the price.

     

    As for rarer games, well, I guess it's just a matter of your goal of collecting. If you're a completist, greedy, or live in The Netherlands (or all of the above), Ebay turns out to be a not-so-bad place after all

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

     

    PS: If forgot about one other evil, the fact that Ebay has turned people into greedy *******s not willing to trade, only looking to make a quick buck. Well, that may have been true 2-3 years but if I'm right about price development, I think many of them have turned out to be quite disappointed

  12. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by Tempest:

    Actually I just talked to Marc about his prototype collection and I must say that I'm jealous.

     

    Oh yeah! He certainly has one of the best, if not *the* best prototype collections in the world. We should all be jealous of it... And still he is one of the nicest guys you'll come across in this hobby

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

  13. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by twit:

    How have you become so tied in to the Brazilian Market? (I'm searching for your secrets here...)

     

    I've tried numerous times to propose trading to Bazilian Atari enthusiasts, and mostly they seem more anxious to sell on eBay rather than trade. Any hints or contacts you'd like to share?

     

    (... I had to try.)

     

    Heheh

     

    I think it's mostly about building up a network, really getting to know people. Learn what they are interested in, and set out to find that stuff. I trade with about a dozen or so Brazilian collectors; and, as you noticed, Ebay is a good source too (I'd say it's not the best source for the real nice stuff though).

     

    Hmm, scrolling back, I don't think I've told you anything new. I guess it's not really a secret either: invest time and care into longlasting relationships - and some good ole $$ will do the rest

     

    Good luck tracking down those cool Brazil games!

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

  15. Posted

    Sorry to hear you had to go through this, Tim. I guess that's part of the classic gaming community for ya.

     

    I just don't understand why people end up so frustrated (and nasty) for not being able to own or play something. Whats' the deal with that?

     

    I mean, we're not bugging whoever-owns-Atari-now to release more Quadruns, so we can all have a shrinkwrapped copy, are we? I just don't get it... must be my midlife crisis again

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

  18. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by Alex:

    Heheheh. We have our spies everywhere! I'll have to bug 'em again one day and see if they'll let the ROM out, I know many people would enjoy it.

     

    On this one, I sincerely hope that nobody releases the ROM, unless Eric (the programmer) does it himself. Releasing it would no doubt be against Eric's will. He did not want to take the risk of releasing it to the public, because of possible copyright issues. It would be unforgiveable if the released ROM would get him into trouble...

     

    And, while I'm at it, why do people think they have some kind of right to play everything that exists? I've seen the game at CGE. I've seen how great it is. And, because of some very legitimate circumstances, I know I'll never play it. I'm sure I'll be able to live on though

     

    Look at it as a beautiful woman: you long for her, but deep down inside you know you're too much of a geek (I mean, who collects old videogames?!) to ever be with her. But that's just the beauty of it, isn't it - the yearning?

     

    ... or am I just a romantic fool that doesn't understand the information age...

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco - who turned 31 today; perhaps I entered an early mid-life crisis

  19. Posted

    You're absolutely right, the Brazilian market rocks the Atari world. As I understand, there were very, very small 'factories' (more like, people assembling carts at their kitchen table) producting carts. You will find the weirdest labels and game combinations, like X-Man (or Sex Man, as many of 'em are called) with Custer's Revenge or Lady in Wading on one cart. If you're into collecting boxed games, you'll love Brazil also: most of their boxes are just big enough to fit in a 2600 cart.

     

    The hardware is even weirder. They made two superchargers: the Canal-3 that resembles the Starpath version and the Comp-K7 that looks more like a Commavid cart. They put almost everything on tape: Battlezone, Snoopy and the Red Baron, Raiders of the lost Ark, you name it, it's probably on tape in Brazil somewhere.

     

    They had their own compumate-like keyboard, from Dactar. And, dig this, they had their own Gameline service! It's called Telegame. It consists of a supercharger-like device that plugs into the 2600, that you hooked up to a real modem! Everything was packed in a cool briefcase, reading 'top secret' - how cool can it get?!

     

    Besides the many (50+!) multicarts and the keyboard, Dactar also made a suitcase system: a 2600 built into a plastic suitcase.

     

    And there's plenty more other goodies. You gotta be stupid *not* to collect this mesmerizing stuff

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

     

    PS: Australia is another country that produced way cool 2600 stuff (how about multi-carts with built-in LEDs to indicate which game is playing?!)

  22. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by NE146:

    Yeah I think Beat Em and Eat Em is an often misunderstood game. But it's a classic in every sense of the word and is true fun for the whole family! Try it now! You will get a lot of Fun & Thrill!

     

     

    (first person to place that quote gets a banana)

     

     

    Gimme my banana!!

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

  23. Posted

    Hi,

     

    Nice one, they are not that easy to find! Depending on condition, a loose one would go for $15-$25, a boxed one could get 3-4 times that.

     

    You may want to check it out well though, the inner works (some plastic ring) easily break.

     

    Cheers,

     

    Marco

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