Weeding out the arcade games

[AlanD]

I've just returned from an 8 month deployment overseas and have decided that I need to make a few changes around the house. I have a 10'x14' shed that has currently 10 arcade games and 2 pinball machines in it. I have realized I rarely play some of these games and am keeping them for the 'cool' factor so I think a few are going to go. Here's the list:

 

Pinballs:

Black Knight

Comet

 

Video:

Gauntlet

Donkey Kong

Elevator Action

Galaga

Gaplus

Qbert

Gyruss

Asteroids Deluxe

Tempest

Joust.

 

I can keep 5 video and 1 pinball based on the area I want to keep my games. I'm pretty well decided to keep Qbert, Joust, Galaga, Tempest and Asteroids Deluxe. My question is: What pinball would you keep? Both work fine (or did when I left). Probably need to clean some switches if anything. Why would you keep it? Help me make up my mind Any inputs on the videos is welcome also though I have reasons for keeping the ones I mentioned.

Thanks,

Alan

[Nukey Shay]

Never played Comet (unless it's another name for the 70's Fireball), but Black Knight is a classic.

[AlanD]

It is an 85 Willaims machine and is the first in the series of Comet/Cyclone/Hurricane which are all amusement park themed. Also the first machine to feature a million point shot. A fun game overall and the first pinball I restored and kept. The first I restored was a Tri-Zone for my Dad. The Black Knight machine has some cool features and several firsts. First with multiple levels, Magna-save and Bonus Ball.

Alan

[YarsRevengeFan]

Hey Alan!

 

Welcome back! Glad to see that you've made it back okay!

 

Man, those arcade games are kickass! What are the going prices?

 

BTW, do you still have and are you going to get rid of that NES Gamechoice 10-in-1 cabinent?

[Ralph3]

Actually, Haunted House waf the 1st pinball game to have multiple levels.

But I would defidentally keep the Black Knight.

[chadtower]

THOU SHALT NOT PART WITH A VECTOR CAB... UNLESS I AM ACQUIRING IT.

[AlanD]

Yar:

Definitely glad to finally be home. An 8 month deployment overseas just sucks. I ended up putting that machine in a kid's hospital near here as a donation about a year ago. I got tired of it taking up so much room when I already had an NES with all but a few games.

 

Ralph:

Hmmm I'm going by the Internet Pinball Database which said Black Knight was the first and according to them release date for BK is also 7 months before Haunted House.

 

 

No vector machines will be leaving the house. Took way way too long to get that Tempest fixed. Now to get the Major Havoc boardsets I have tested so I can swap them in. The Asteroids Deluxe is in such gorgeous shape I would hate to get rid of it. I don't really have set prices on the machines since up to this point I haven't even been out to my shed to test them. 8 months is a long time to sit and expect perfection when you return

 

Alan

[Room 34]

I know Black Knight is a Time-Honored Classic®, but I personally would keep the Comet. That's mainly because when I was in high school I spent every Saturday night at a pizza place in my hometown playing its sequel, Cyclone. Loved that game!

[goatdan]

It's been a while since I've posted but...

 

Black Knight is the one that is much more known to the pinball world still. Comet is not quite as "up there." I'd go with Black Knight because I think that it looks better and plays better.

 

Based on rarity, Black Knight is much more common than Comet. Black Knight is also older, so it would probably be harder to find parts for.

 

Actually, in retrospect I'd say keep the two pinballs. You can never have enough of them!

[AlanD]

Thanks to everyone for their opinion and advice. After consideration I have decided to keep both of the pinballs since the Comet needs some work and I am really not in a rush to get it sellable so I will fix it at my leisure and enjoy it. Also 5 arcades will go - Galaga 3, Elevator Action, Gyruss, Gauntlet and Donkey Kong. I find I play the other 5 a lot more so I will keep them around. That should net me enough to build a MAME machine (or two) and then I'll decide whether to hold the others or let them then move into some other collector's hands.

Alan

[caveman]

I'd keep the Black Knight. It's the classic, hands down.