What is the most you would pay for a game?

[Flack]

I have been extremely both lucky and frugal when it comes to buying arcade games. I think the most I have paid for a game is between $200 and $250, and that is for stuff like Gauntlet II or Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. I paid $125 for my Karate Champ, $100 for my Q*Bert, and less than $100 for several of my games including Shinobi, Make Trax, and so on.

There is one game I have been looking for for ten years. In the past 10 years I have never seen one for sale locally. I have seen a couple for sale on eBay. They always seem to go for $500+ and are at least 2-3 states away, so I would have to figure in at least shipping (one just sold for ~$1,100).

I just found one of these machines for sale, locally, for $600. I am probably going to buy it, but as it's 3x as expensive as any game I've ever bought, I'm getting sweaty palms thinking about it.

When I first started this hobby I made a loose list of 20 or so games I wanted to own. This game is #1 on the list and has been forever. It's the only one I either haven't owned, or isn't on the 48-in-1. Due to its unique controls, it's terrible in MAME, too.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

I just found one of these machines for sale, locally, for $600. I am probably going to buy it, but as it's 3x as expensive as any game I've ever bought, I'm getting sweaty palms thinking about it.

Oooooo, you gotta tell me what it is (even if it is just in e-mail).

The most I would pay for a game would be $2000 for a Major Havoc. BUT!

- I would want the color x/y monitor to be rock solid
- No board troubles

If there's scratches on the cab, whatever, but to drop that much coin and not have a decent vector monitor out of it

And because that is preposterously too much to pay for an arcade game, I'd need to have the rest of my shit in order: several thousand in a savings account, no credit card debt and, er, I assume I'd be single when pulling the trigger, because there's no way I could justify dropping that much on a game if I were married. (My shit is most definitely NOT in order, so the MH thing is pure fantasy.) (OK, it's a semi-fantasy, the pure fantasy is the sequel game, "Major Havoc Versus the Space Starlets With Bob-cuts".)

Also, I'm not even sure if people would sell Major Havoc for $2K. I thought I heard people selling them for 2500 before the worldwide economic disaster of the Aughts.

I am willing to get on board with this possible purchase of yours, Flack!

When I first started this hobby I made a loose list of 20 or so games I wanted to own. This game is #1 on the list and has been forever. It's the only one I either haven't owned, or isn't on the 48-in-1. Due to its unique controls, it's terrible in MAME, too.

I'm guessing... Robotron? I think you had a Robotron cab before, but not Robotron proper? As long as it's not Xenophobe, which would qualify in your above line, I think you're safe.

Let's see, though - $600 being an excellent price, you don't own it, it's got unique controls... if not Robotron, then Crazy Climber?

[AArdvark]

Dying to know the game!

Just dying here.

Well, if it's that rare it can't be one of the more popular games
like Asteroids or ms. Pac Man.

and the controls are unique to the game so it has to be original cabinet. Is it a sit-down game? (not environmental cabinet, sit-down)

Are you gonna keep us all guessing?

Gorf?

(wait, you said vectored...)

Tailgunner? (nah, nobody'd want that one)

star castle? (simple controls)

Hmmmmm

THE
STUMPED LIKE
MCCARTNEY'S EX WIFE
AARDVARK

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Oh, I was the one that brought up vector. I have it on good authority that this is not a vector game Flack is thinking of.

[Flack]

I can tell you now, as it's a done deal -- it was/is 720. Sorry to keep you in suspense ... the last I heard, the game *might* have been making its way to eBay and I didn't want to tip my hand until I owned it.

I know 720 isn't a lot of people's favorite games, but as I was telling ICJ via e-mail, I was in seventh grade when skateboarding made its big comeback. I was so into it I sold all my ninja stuff in order to afford a real, name-brand skateboard. 720 just kind of came along at the perfect time, where I was into skating and I was into arcade games and this funky game came out with a ghettoblaster on the top of it and that funky joystick and of course that classic Atari speech synthesis ... "SKATE ... OR ... DIE!"

Between that totally unique cabinet, controls, and game design, I've always loved that game -- and I've always HATED how it plays on anything but an original joystick. I guess the closest might have been the PS2 version that came out on one of the Midway disks ... the PS2 analog stick was close, but still didn't feel right. The C64 version was fun but far from authentic.

So like I was saying, back when I made my initial list of "games I must own someday", 720 was number one. Other games on that list that I haven't owned yet: TRON, Yie Ar Kung Fu, Double Dragon, and Championship Sprint. I was pretty young and naive when I made that list. I doubt I'll ever own Double Dragon or Yie Ar unless I run across a good deal -- they just play too well in MAME. I would take a Championship Sprint if I ran across one but I have Ivan Stewart Off Road (3 Player) and like it just as much. TRON ... well, who knows. If I run across a decent one and have a grand laying around I might think about it. It's one I've almost completely written off.

Actually I think Track and Field is on the list, too.

[Flack]

Full post tomorrow, but ...

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

You got it! Hell yeah!!!

And yes, speaking for everyone, we want (more) photos.