People are still digging them out of their closets!

[Mirage]

The past two years, I've seen very few 2600 carts in the wild aside from the inevitable occasional Combat, Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Asteroids, which I always leave behind (since they're usually asking $2-3 each for them!)

 

Well, yesterday, I had a good feeling when I stopped at a favorite Goodwill store. They were putting new merchandise out, and I spotted a Pac-Man on their cart. I walked up to it anyway, looked at the Pac-Man, and almost walked away, when I noticed a whole neat row of 2600 carts on their sides (labels not showing). I was startled to see them, and as I went through them, noticed that they were all in nearly perfect shape. Nothing rare, and nothing I didn't already have, but in this good of condition, for only .99 each, I had to buy them anyway. In the photo is what I got... a tiny bit of Actiplaque on the Chopper Command and Enduro, but otherwise, these are very well taken care of, clearly, and are good replacements for some of my less-good labels.

 

So, keep looking! They're still coming out of the closets in 2008!

 

I left behind the Combat, Pac-Man, and Space Invaders, and I was feeling slightly charitable, so I also left behind a near-mint Pitfall (now wishing I hadn't!) I have a feeling that this happens quite often, but this time *I* was the one taking them all before they put them on the shelves. Usually, the Goodwill employees shoo people away from the carts, but they were really busy and didn't bother me.

 

I am a little bit re-motivated! I also picked up a semi-rare NES "Wally Bear and the NO! Gang" cart (not the uber-rare version though, unfortunately). I looked around for a 2600 console, but didn't see one.

 

[charliee1151]

Well, thank you.

 

I'm a new member, and I joined because this particular group seemed to be more hospitable than others about any non-board-centric discussions. That is, you have forums about Coleco, Nintendo, etc, not just Atari.

 

So why my "thank you"? 'Cause I am one of those closet guys, literally within the last week. I've pulled out some half-dozen of my legacy consoles, with literally dozens of games each. And thus, you have given me a perfect introduction into my question:

 

What do I do with those consoles? I don't necessarily mean for disposal, but for usage. I certainly can't play all of them (I have a bunch), and besides, I like to program and make hardware. (I have made my own carts for other games, put my own progs on them, etc). So, which way do I go? It seems that a lot of "secrets" on the 2600 are known already, given that it has been out so long. As for the Ebay approach, that seems like a lot of effort, and I'm really hoping to find some like-minded people that I can share a kinship with (uh, in terms of hardware and games, that is), rather than just go for the $$.

 

Hmmm, maybe it is easier to ask my question this way: Where are you on some of your latest attempts/achievements? Anything particularly troublesome that a new pair of eyes may help? Any secrets we need to ferret out {fiendish cackle}?

 

As you can see, I don't even know what questions to ask!

 

I do have a full eprom/rom/ram developement system, so I'm not limited to any specific system. It is currently set up for the Arcadia 2001, but easily changed.

 

 

Thanks,

I'm hoping this can be fun,

Charlie

[Frostbite Bailey]

You have certainly come to the right place Charlie if you are looking for information about classic games and their systems. Many people here make their own "homebrew" games; What interests do you have for Atari 2600 games; have you tried to program any? Welcome! Cheers, FB

[shadow460]

My goal is to get copies of every game I have ever owned or rented. For the 2600, I have about 80% of those. Once I get that done, I may write FAQs for all of them.

[AtariLeaf]

Nice finds. Always nice to find something after a long dry spell. I think we're going through another one of those waves where many were nostalgic for a while, found these on ebay and were buying them up. Now that nostalgia has disappeared for many and they'd like to sell or get rid of them. Thats what I'm hoping anyway

 

As for why they'd shoo you away from the carts, I don't get it. You're helping them out so they don't have to put them on the shelf.

 

PS - those labels are really nice. Very rare to find activision games in such good condition.

Edited October 20, 2008 by AtariLeaf

[Mirage]

As for why they'd shoo you away from the carts, I don't get it. You're helping them out so they don't have to put them on the shelf.

 

I've never understood that either. I don't know if it's all places, or just some of those that I go to. I think they feel they're battling the professional buyers that buy up all the good stuff for resale before regular customers can see them, but that makes no sense to me either.

[charliee1151]

"What interests do you have for Atari 2600 games; have you tried to program any?"

 

Well, the Atari 2600 is not one I have done any programming for; I really came here because of the fondness that my "closet-diving" evoked when I came across all these items. I have a lot, other than just the 2600; and probably 30-50 carts for that, tons of manuals, catalogs, etc. Likewise for Colecovision, Arcadia2001, Nintendo, Playstation, Intellevision, Turbo Express, Commodore Amiga, Vetrix, etc.

 

Since I am apparently reliving my childhood, I just wonder which one I should dig into. I'd rather do something other than just fire them up and play the games, which I why I asked if there is anything, on any console (that I have, of course) that would be of interest. I am very capable of programming, but my forte is hardware; I can go either way.

 

[i can remember being one of the first to "crack" Nintendo's CIC codes; the usual path at that time was to buy a real dumb game (mostly, John Maddison Football, I think -- about $5 when all the "good" games were $30+), and unsolder the CIC chip to put in the homebrew carts that were PROM copies of

the desired games. I used a Dallas NVPROM so I could easily re-program it with whatever game I wanted at the time. That and a couple of glue chips to emulate the CIC, made things a lot easier!]

 

I expect I will have to eventually dispose of them, and I like them to have a good home, as opposed to the local landfill. Maybe I should upload some pictures? In the meantime, I'd like to rekindle some of those feelings, so I welcome a suggestion or two as to where I should apply my talents.

 

And thanks for the welcome.

 

Charlie

 

PS. I should note that all of these items are going to be made available at a local garage sale this weekend, so if there is anything I should NOT get rid of, contact me ASAP!

Edited October 20, 2008 by charliee1151

[maximebeauvais]

yeah, atari 2600 games are out there for sure.

 

I went to the market on Saterday and I saw around 25 atari games......all commun but it was the first time in around 6 months that I saw atari game.

 

There were also around 20 intellivisions games (most french version) and coleco, atari xt (or something like that...the computer) and atari 400.

 

so yeah, atari game could still be found....maybe not like in the 1990-2000 (when I started my real collection) but they are there.

 

good luck everyone !!!!

[fiddlepaddle]

PS. I should note that all of these items are going to be made available at a local garage sale this weekend, so if there is anything I should NOT get rid of, contact me ASAP!

Where's your garage at and what time does the sale start?

[charliee1151]

Florida, 8AM Saturday.

 

More specifically, Coconut Creek. I don't suppose your going to be there?

 

------------

Actually, it would be cool if you could. Unfortunately, I won't be there.....so I have a "garage keeper" to handle it.

 

Thanks anyway.

 

Charlie

 

PS: I can post my for-sale-stuff someplace on this board, right?

Edited October 21, 2008 by charliee1151

[fiddlepaddle]

Florida, 8AM Saturday.

Oh, well... too far for me. A bit of warning about selling your old stuff: if you felt nostalgia when you stumbled across it once, you'll feel that again. If you sell a bunch of it, you'll regret it. DON'T DO IT!

[charliee1151]

I agree, but I've got to do something. I've been saving almost every electronic piece of equipment I've ever had; it was only a few years ago that I actually threw away a VideoDisc player.

(I found out I also have a Turbo Express, and a TandyVision).

Maybe I should Google for video game collectors close to home?

 

 

Charlie

[fiddlepaddle]

I like doing things like that in person, but online auction is probably the best way to maximize the money you'd get. Easier, non-wasteful methods of dispatch would be maybe craigslist, or find a retro game store and see if you can get a reasonable price. Another way, and also probably the most fun of all, would be to wait for a game show or game swap meet, rent a table and make a weekend out of it. You might have to drive a few hours and/or wait a few months for that option, but believe me, it's worth it.

 

I actually threw away a VideoDisc player.

You actually "threw it away"?!? Isn't that one of those RCA video record players? Those are getting pretty darn hard-to-come-by these days.

[charliee1151]

Yes, and yes. But I literally had no room. That's why I am doing what I'm doing now, trying to give this stuff a good home.

 

I've been checking the flea-market and tail-gate-party listings for a while, but nothing currently in my area.

 

Also looking into "ham" (amateur radio operator) get-togethers.

 

By the way, I found out I have three (3!) Arcadia 2001's. WTH??

 

Charlie