My parents' secret stash!

[luckyinheritor]

When my parents were in college, or just out of it, they both had 2600s, and between the two of em, had a little over 60 games, and a buncha extra stuff. They put it in boxes before they had me (because video games are bad for kids, obviously). When I went to college and mentioned that I was getting into games, they gave me their stash of near- perfect quality Ataris and games. I don't know what to do with it. I don't have time to play games often, cuz I'm starting my senior year, in a sorority, working, taking too many classes, etc. I've been contemplating selling them for a while, and since I'm planning on a huge move in a year, sooner is the time to start figuring this out rather than later.

 

So here's what I got:

 

HARDWARE

2 2600s

4 original joysticks- 2 with red dashes painted on the embossed bumps circle on the base, 2 without

1 set of paddles

1 Star Raiders paddle

1 Tron joystick

1 Wico Command Control joystick

1 Trak Ball Controller- CX22 (in box. Box is open, damaged, but still there. Still has warranty paperwork and instructional manual)

 

GAMES OUT OF BOXES

(This one is interesting) Pole Position with this front label, but this end sticker

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

Warlords

Pitfall

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Star Voyager

Adventures of Tron

Tron Deadly Discs

Star Raiders

Blackjack

Super Breakout

Yars' Revenge

Golf

Adventure

Berzerk

Space War

Video Olympics

Air Sea Battle

Combat

Swordquest: EarthWorld

Starmaster

Missile Command

Space Invaders

Donkey Kong

Pac-Man

 

PAPERS OUT OF BOXES

Swordquest Comic

Swordquest Poster

Manuals for Swordquest, Adventures of Tron, Tron Deadly Discs, Star Raiders, Starmaster ("Basic Instructions" and another blue pamphlet entitled "The Power of Starmaster") Golf, Warlords, Berzerk, Donkey Kong, Space War, Pac-Man, Adventure, Space Invaders, Video Olympics, Blackjack, Super Breakout, Air-Sea Battle, Missile Command, Combat, and Yars' Revenge

Atari Force 3 Comic

Tron Joystick offer

Tron the Movie mail order thing

M Network catalog from 1982

2 Atari Video Computer System Catalogs from 1981 (they're green in the background of the cover illustration of cartoony wizard, spaceman, cop, cowboy, and players)

1 Atari Video Computer System Catalog from 1981 (red in the background of the cover illustration of cartoony wizard, spaceman, cop, cowboy, and players)

4 Atari Catalogs that are red with just text and some fancy frames on the cover

 

GAMES IN BOXES

Bump'n'Jump

Gyruss

Freeway

Omega Race (with controller and most of the original plastic in place. Open.)

Phaser Patrol (with supercharger)

Suicide Mission

Communist Mutants From Space

Circus Atari

Frogger (with plastic, but open)

Casino (with plastic, but open)

Golf

Superman

Venture

Space War

Joust

Indy 500

Battlezone (with plastic, but open)

River Raid

Combat

Video Pinball

Warlords

Carnival

Vanguard (with plastic, but open)

Super Breakout

Laser Blast

Gorf (with plastic, but open)

Q*Bert

Missile Command

Maze Craze

Super Cobra

Surround

Midnight Magic

Centipede

Kangaroo

Dodge Em

Ms. Pac-Man

 

I also have this neat little cartridge holder box that holds 16 cartridges- in 2 rows of 8- and all the loose papers along one side of the cartridges.

 

I'm pretty sure it all works- both systems do, and at least two of the original joysticks do, as do a bunch of the games that I've tried. No real dust, no marks, no wear and tear, the only game that isn't in pristine condition is Pitfall, whose label is darkened with some speckling.

 

What should I do with this? I was going to Ebay it, but I've seen the prices there, and they were discouraging. Also, I kinda wanted to make sure someone who really enjoys this stuff gets it. There's a store that specializes in buying and selling old game systems not too far from me, which was another option.

 

I can post pics if you want, my camera's just temporarily outta battery.

[Crazy Climber]

You have a nice lot there, nothing to terribly rare though. Would be an excellent starter collection for someone

[StanJr]

agreed, that is a very nice starter set for someone. If you really want to make sure someone gets it who is going to love it and give it a good home you should throw it on the Marketplace forum here or do an auction at Chase the Chuckwagon. Either place has the greatest likelihood to find it a happy home.

 

Well met!

 

[Benzman66]

Ebay is hit and miss. I sell on there on a regular basis. It really depends on what day and time the listing ends. I have seen some listings as yours end for $20-30 dollars, and some at $150-200. You can always give it a try and list it, just set a reserve. That way if it doesn't reach what you want, you don't have to sell it. Oh, and have it end around 10PM-11PM.

[shadow460]

@OP: Play it!

[godslabrat]

You have a nice lot there, nothing to terribly rare though. Would be an excellent starter collection for someone

 

Yeah, if you don't plan to keep it for yourself, find someone who really wants it. Give/sell it as a lot, it's not rare enough to be worth much separately.

[shadow460]

I just re read the list. If you're not going to play that Omega Race, let's negotiate a price for it. I've been looking high and low for the controller and the manual.

[luckyinheritor]

What do you feel comfortable paying? A pricing guide says complete set in box gets ~$20, but I'm open to suggestion, and if you honestly think it's worth more, lemme know.

 

I just re read the list. If you're not going to play that Omega Race, let's negotiate a price for it. I've been looking high and low for the controller and the manual.

[T2KFREEKER]

Man, I know I would love that TRON Joystick and those Deadly Discs and Adventures of Tron carts. That would be awesome if you want to let it go. I'm up for anything TRON related.

Edited August 12, 2009 by T2KFREEKER

[Philflound]

You have version e in the Pole Position variations.

 

Pole Position labels

 

Phil

[Retro Rogue]

And here I thought it was going to be about someone finding their parent's stash of weed or something....

[Wickeycolumbus]

And here I thought it was going to be about someone finding their parent's stash of weed or something....

 

My thoughts exactly

[nathanallan]

Dude, that stuff was your parents' stuff, not just a lot you find at a garage sale or some thrift shop. The ones they had from back in the day. I wouldn't get rid of it, not at all. No kids of my own, but if my kids ever sold my old gaming stuff I'd probably want to kick their asses (if it was sold for no good reason that is).

[luckyinheritor]

Man, I know I would love that TRON Joystick and those Deadly Discs and Adventures of Tron carts. That would be awesome if you want to let it go. I'm up for anything TRON related.

 

Name a fair price!

[luckyinheritor]

Dude, that stuff was your parents' stuff, not just a lot you find at a garage sale or some thrift shop. The ones they had from back in the day. I wouldn't get rid of it, not at all. No kids of my own, but if my kids ever sold my old gaming stuff I'd probably want to kick their asses (if it was sold for no good reason that is).

 

Well, if it had meant a lot to them, I'm sure they wouldn't want me to sell it, but they think video games are dumb and evil. Also, if it meant a lot to them, they wouldn't have given it to me. My dad's a hardcore pack rat, and keeps everything 'just in case it'll ever be needed or wanted' and I'm sure this fit his only way of getting rid of stuff. And I'm gonna be moving, via car, across the US. This stuff takes up 2 "medium" UHaul boxes. I have no room for that much stuff. I am seriously contemplating cutting my comic books by 3 long boxes for this, which will be sad, but will be worth it, in the long run, for grad school. *shrug*

[luckyinheritor]

You have version e in the Pole Position variations.

 

Pole Position labels

 

Phil

 

 

Thanks, Phil! Do you have any idea as to how this affects its worth? Also, does that site have alternate box printings? I have a game, I forget which one now, that the box printing doesn't match what I've been able to find on AtariAge. I'll go check for it after work. Thanks again!

[Atarian7]

SNL flashback:

 

"you put your wEEd in it" (officer enters the store) "hey there's no weed in there!"

[T2KFREEKER]

Man, I know I would love that TRON Joystick and those Deadly Discs and Adventures of Tron carts. That would be awesome if you want to let it go. I'm up for anything TRON related.

 

Name a fair price!

 

Hmm, I don't know. Say $20.00 plus shipping?

[Philflound]

You have version e in the Pole Position variations.

 

Pole Position labels

 

Phil

 

 

Thanks, Phil! Do you have any idea as to how this affects its worth? Also, does that site have alternate box printings? I have a game, I forget which one now, that the box printing doesn't match what I've been able to find on AtariAge. I'll go check for it after work. Thanks again!

 

Yes, since it's my site, the Atari page is complete for the most part unless I find more variations. You'll see the table with the cartridge link and box link for each game. Right now I'm working on Activision. There is usually a slight premium for some of the variations, but you need to find a collector of it. Your best bet is to see if you could sell everything in one lot. So far, there has been interest in your Tron stuff and the Omega Race. I personally need a couple of the boxes, but I don't have any money to buy anything. This is the type of market that you either wait to sell in piecemeal or you dump the whole thing at once. I would personally pay $100 for everything you have if I had the money. Someone may offer you more. If it's no big attachment to you, I'd say be rid of it and have some extra money.

 

Phil

[Paranoid]

You're into gaming, but selling this collection, you collect comics, you're about to graduate from college, and you're busy with your SORORITY?

 

If these were each an individual lined up in a row, all it would be missing is the song, "One of these kids is doing their own thing" playing in the background.

 

Excuse me while I raise my eyebrow and wonder what the real backstory is here.

[missioncontrol]

no offense dude, but yeah, something in your story doesn't add up. Also according to your story, it sounds like your parents broke it out and gave it to you because you "claimed" to be interested in it, but now you got your hands on it, it sounds like you want to sell it for top dollar rather than enjoy it. I'd say give it back to your parents and say thanks, or ask them how they would feel if you parted out their stuff.

 

my 2 cents...

[luckyinheritor]

You're into gaming, but selling this collection, you collect comics, you're about to graduate from college, and you're busy with your SORORITY?

 

If these were each an individual lined up in a row, all it would be missing is the song, "One of these kids is doing their own thing" playing in the background.

 

Excuse me while I raise my eyebrow and wonder what the real backstory is here.

 

May I ask what doesn't add up? I'm into some gaming, the Ataris are not what I'm into. I'm community service chair for my sorority, so I'm planning about 40 events for a gaggle of girls this semester, while trying to get into grad school, which isn't really that hard compared to some sorority things and considering the programs I'm looking into. Backstory? The only backstory you may be missing is that I'm not getting enough hours at my job, and my boyfriend/roommate's job keeps cutting his hours back, so we're poor.

 

And missioncontrol, I got this from my parents 3 years ago. I've had some restpectful fun, but it adds to the bulk I move when I move every year, and I haven't played it in about a calendar year anyway. My parents don't want it back, and have told me if they can get money for it then all the better.

 

May I ask what is so fishy?

[Zwackery]

What should I do with this? I was going to Ebay it, but I've seen the prices there, and they were discouraging. Also, I kinda wanted to make sure someone who really enjoys this stuff gets it. There's a store that specializes in buying and selling old game systems not too far from me, which was another option.

Well, if you know what this is going for on eBay, you know what the actual market value at the moment is, so you can price it to move into the hands of "someone who really enjoys this stuff". You give a collector a nice deal, and you get 100% profit since everything was given to you. A specialty store will more than likely be watching eBay as well, in addition to other sources, and would more than likely offer you less because the store wants to resell the items at a certain profit margin.

 

Take some pictures, create a new topic in the Marketplace forum, post the pics and list of merchandise, slap a dollar value on it, and be flexible when it comes to negotiating a price.

 

Good luck on graduate school, I was crazy enough to do it twice.

[Philflound]

I always love the people on here who flame the newbies. First off, she's a woman, not a dude. Second, it's none of your business as to her life and how she spends it. I currently do many things too, and somehow fit it all in. Some of us are extremely energetic (and tired at the end of the day) instead of sitting on the couch drinking a beer watching the latest game. I'm really getting fed up with the lack of respect by some people on AA.

 

Phil

[Zwackery]

I always love the people on here who flame the newbies. [...] I'm really getting fed up with the lack of respect by some people on AA.

 

Phil

I won't presume to speak on behalf of the people who you think are flaming luckyinheritor, but do you think that some of the "lack of respect" that you perceive might be related to the perception that this is a situation of yet another individual showing up on AA to sell a stash of Atari in the hopes of significant financial windfall contrary to that individual's professed interest in Atari and/or video games?