Espial TI-99/4a - What's it worth in poor condition?

[missyrelm]

Good condition cartridges of Espial are *way* out of my league...

Soooo... I am wondering how much the Espial cartridge (not disk) for the TI-99/4A would be worth if it was loose and in crappy condition but still plays just fine. One that works but looks horrible from the outside. If anyone has any idea what this might be worth please post here or PM me...

 

I've just recently renewed my interest in the TI-99/4a and all the games that I used to play on it (I lost them in a tornado a few years back) It took me a while to figure out the name of this game that I loved when I was young (if it hadn't been one of the few sidecar games I never would have figured it out), and I can't tell you how dismayed I was when I found that it was a very rare collectors item.

 

The prices people are selling it for ATM are way out of my league, but most of these are in good condition with box and instructions.

 

I'm not really that kind of collector, I just want to play the game again someday, so it doesn't really matter to me if it's in the box or not. As for instructions, all I need is enough to know how to play it.... If someone sold me a photocopy or scans of it, that would be cool (I think that's legal, isn't it?)

[Christophero Sly]

That's a difficult game to find. If you really want it, you'll probably have to settle for whatever condition you can get.

 

Digitial Press puts the game's value at $25 loose, but I don't know if that's a realistic figure.

[missyrelm]

Well, I think that CIB or NIB is probably around $180-$250.

I don't have access to the Digital Press books but I don't think I've ever heard of one selling lately anywhere near $25.

If there are loose versions of this in any condition as long as it works,

that someone is willing to part with for under $50 (yeah, I know, fat chance, but it doesn't hurt to ask), make me an offer..

 

That's a difficult game to find. If you really want it, you'll probably have to settle for whatever condition you can get.

 

Digitial Press puts the game's value at $25 loose, but I don't know if that's a realistic figure.

[Buyatari]

This game is pretty pricy and you never see it. However that guy selling fake TI rare games has saturated the market. I don't think he ever made copies of this title but all rare TI games are way down right now. $50 for a beatup seems possible right now.

[Christophero Sly]

I don't have access to the Digital Press books but I don't think I've ever heard of one selling lately anywhere near $25.

I got that figure off DP's online rarity guide.

 

However that guy selling fake TI rare games has saturated the market.

I haven't heard about this guy. Can you give me some more info?

[missyrelm]

I've done searches both here and on google for fake TI games, but can't find anything about it.

Does anyone know details on this, and especially how to avoid buying one of them?

 

This game is pretty pricy and you never see it. However that guy selling fake TI rare games has saturated the market. I don't think he ever made copies of this title but all rare TI games are way down right now. $50 for a beatup seems possible right now.

[Buyatari]

I don't have access to the Digital Press books but I don't think I've ever heard of one selling lately anywhere near $25.

I got that figure off DP's online rarity guide.

 

However that guy selling fake TI rare games has saturated the market.

I haven't heard about this guy. Can you give me some more info?

 

There was a thread at DP. I bought several hundred dollars worth of games with the ink and glue still wet. He admitted they were just made and acted like I was crazy for caring that they were. I explained as a collector they were worthless to me and he told me he sells only to gamers and not collectors. Paypal saw it differently. Since then Ianoid and another buyer had similar experiences.

 

He sells games that were never produced and almost never shows the cart. Always ask to see a picture of the actual game you are buying then compare it with a known "real deal". Be wary of sellers who sell R10s or games unlisted in the rarity guide and then relist them a week or two later.

[Tempest]

I don't have access to the Digital Press books but I don't think I've ever heard of one selling lately anywhere near $25.

I got that figure off DP's online rarity guide.

 

However that guy selling fake TI rare games has saturated the market.

I haven't heard about this guy. Can you give me some more info?

 

There was a thread at DP. I bought several hundred dollars worth of games with the ink and glue still wet. He admitted they were just made and acted like I was crazy for caring that they were. I explained as a collector they were worthless to me and he told me he sells only to gamers and not collectors. Paypal saw it differently. Since then Ianoid and another buyer had similar experiences.

 

He sells games that were never produced and almost never shows the cart. Always ask to see a picture of the actual game you are buying then compare it with a known "real deal". Be wary of sellers who sell R10s or games unlisted in the rarity guide and then relist them a week or two later.

 

Are you talking about those rare Databiotics, Asgard, etc. games that have suddenly popped up on ebay all of the sudden or something different? I was wondering where all these UR TI games were coming from. Thankfully I never won any of those auctions.

 

Tempest

[Christophero Sly]

However that guy selling fake TI rare games has saturated the market.

I haven't heard about this guy. Can you give me some more info?

There was a thread at DP. I bought several hundred dollars worth of games with the ink and glue still wet. He admitted they were just made and acted like I was crazy for caring that they were. I explained as a collector they were worthless to me and he told me he sells only to gamers and not collectors. Paypal saw it differently. Since then Ianoid and another buyer had similar experiences.

 

He sells games that were never produced and almost never shows the cart. Always ask to see a picture of the actual game you are buying then compare it with a known "real deal". Be wary of sellers who sell R10s or games unlisted in the rarity guide and then relist them a week or two later.

Unbelievable! I'm glad you got your money back. Thanks for the info

[Tursi]

He sells games that were never produced and almost never shows the cart. Always ask to see a picture of the actual game you are buying then compare it with a known "real deal". Be wary of sellers who sell R10s or games unlisted in the rarity guide and then relist them a week or two later.

 

Damn, that is nuts.

 

I find myself wondering what he used for shells, though -- did you happen to save a pic of the pirate carts?

[Buyatari]

Well its like Best Electronics I guess he bought out the spare parts and took it upon himself to put games together and sell them. The labels are wrong though.

[Buyatari]

Check out the "Daily proto-dev-grail-interest finds " thread at DP

 

What does this seller means with "This auction is for gamers like myself not collectors"?

Will this ET unreleased game for TI 99/4A be actually enjoyable?

Edited September 28, 2007 by Buyatari