Advice needed...making an offer on a rare game

[jar155]

Guys, it's pretty undeniable that the game is scarce. I can't believe that's even up for debate. A few made it to the coasts, and three or four into the interior of the USA, but that's about it. When it was brand new and it would have been at its most easily found state, people were making threads right and left about finding it. Entire web sites were dedicated to finding them. They simply did not get over here in significant numbers at all. Whether you like it or are interested in it has nothing to do with how common the game is.

I'm seriously baffled that anybody thinks that this game is anything but rare. I mean, seriously...

 

[modessitt]

Guys, it's pretty undeniable that the game is scarce. I can't believe that's even up for debate. A few made it to the coasts, and three or four into the interior of the USA, but that's about it. When it was brand new and it would have been at its most easily found state, people were making threads right and left about finding it. Entire web sites were dedicated to finding them. They simply did not get over here in significant numbers at all. Whether you like it or are interested in it has nothing to do with how common the game is.

I'm seriously baffled that anybody thinks that this game is anything but rare. I mean, seriously...

well, it depends on what you call rare. You say "a few" and "3 or 4". In my mind, that means 10 or less, and would be rare.

But I decided to put that to the test, and found this thread from 2003 that people reported locations for this game, and there are at least 48 different sightings (I tried to skip the repeats but might have missed one or two):

http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=31254

Two were in Canada, 1 was in Mexico, and the rest were in the US.

Now, these reports were made only by members of that site, so you'd have to expect that the reported games were only a percentage of what was really out there. That's like us all reporting on where a F-355 Ferrari is on location. We might come up with 50 among all of us, but I'm sure there are more than that.

So, even if they reported half of all versions in the states, that's still about 100 separate machines....

 

[jar155]

According to Wikipedia (I know, I know) they have the number at less than 20. I checked their reference and I do remember that site being the authority at the time. I used to look for the machine feverishly for about 3 years and never found it aside from the time I played it at E3 in Nintendo's booth. It's highly possibly that more came into the country as they finished routing them in Japan and they were no longer $15,000 a pop. I still wouldn't ever think that anywhere near 100 made it over. That's gotta be at least double the real number for sure.

Also, I'm referring more specifically to the Deluxe version. It weighs over 1,000 pounds. It was just very uncommon.

 

[gutsman004]

I'm baffled as to why you are defending its' rarity instead of asking everyone for help in finding you a possibly cheaper one.

And as far as what to offer....if the game really weighs over 1,000 pounds,that may work in your favor as who honestly wants to move a half ton game around.You may be able to get it a little cheaper just due to that.I could be wrong,but might be a possibility worth exploring.I mean,how many times have you seen really cool,fully working but very large games go for next to nothing at auctions? I know this is a different circumstance,but it still comes down to moving a big,heavy game around is not a lot of fun.

 

[DogP]

Guys, it's pretty undeniable that the game is scarce. I can't believe that's even up for debate. A few made it to the coasts, and three or four into the interior of the USA, but that's about it. When it was brand new and it would have been at its most easily found state, people were making threads right and left about finding it. Entire web sites were dedicated to finding them. They simply did not get over here in significant numbers at all. Whether you like it or are interested in it has nothing to do with how common the game is.

I'm seriously baffled that anybody thinks that this game is anything but rare. I mean, seriously...

I can't believe you're defending that it IS rare by claiming there was a web page with people posting sightings, which were very few (and without posting the site). Without seeing the page, I'd assume that it was a VERY small crowd of F-Zero fanatics, and they can only be in so many places at one time. And it does take time to come across them, since you're not travelling around the US every day checking every arcade for one. I would have posted my sightings, had I known such a sighting registry existed, and if I cared.

DogP

 

[RetroHacker]

You know, you all are completely missing the point of the thread. It doesn't matter if the game is just a Ms. Pac-Man - he sees a game he really wants, on location. He needs advice in approaching the operator to buy it.

Now, I've never done this, but I'm sure someone out in KLOV-land has. In my mind, I'd figure out what the game was worth to me, and offer the operator that. Don't tell him the game is rare, just tell him you want it, and that you're willing to offer good money. I've bought games from operators before - just not games that were out on location... Fortunately, the operators I've dealt with have been really nice guys - but I know of some that aren't.

He's not going to want to sell you something right out of a location - especially if it's making money. Even if it isn't, he's going to have to replace it with something else to fill the space. You'll have to give him enough cash to make it worth it.

-Ian

 

[Technopope]

F-Zero AX really is a pretty cool game, at least the deluxe motion version that I played. Pretty rare in my area (Houston), as I have only ever seen one, with all Japanese instructions.

The *really* rare things may be the license cards that go along with it. I have 3 or 4 of them somewhere and I will see if I can scan them to post if anyone is interested. A very quick Google search didn't show any decent images of them.

The Gamecube version, F-Zero GX, may be one of the best looking games for that system. Well worth the $10 if you have a Gamecube or Wii.

 

[Deadly]

If anyone really cares to prove if it's "rare" or not then call Sammy up and ask them for cryin out loud and stop piss matchin back and forth. I've never seen one but that doesn;t mean jack shit does it? Nope. Wikipedia is written by people like Frizzlefried *shudder*

Oh yeah - Jar - good luck dude. That's awesome to find a game that yanks yer crank.

 

[micksimmonds]

I had one that was very nice, had card reader, everything was 100% great picture, I sold that locally for $1200, there was one at a local auction last month, monitor looked terrible, no card reader and pretty beaten up, operator shilled it up and approached us afterwards and would sell for $850 outside of auction, but really with bad monitor, no card reader and condition, and inputs were iffy, was too high, its a fun game and I miss mine but as its local can always go and play it

 

[Robotron Jon]

As I recall, there is at least one if not two of these at Circus Circus in Las Vegas.

I have played the game before, I thought it was pretty cool.

I started another thread on this game some months ago, it was met with lukewarm interest.

 

[bottlejunkie]

look's like that thing would take up ALOT of real estate,even if i found one wouldn't have room for it.nice find though

 

[LeeB99]

The size of that thing is probably to the buyer's advantage. Most LARGE pieces of equipment seem to sell for pretty cheap these days. I didn't know this was a rare game, as i had seen the same ones mentioned earlier at the arcade in Circus Circus in Las Vegas...

Anyhow, ask if they want to sell it, don't tell them that you know/believe it is rare. If they ask more than $1,200 then you might want to counter with the knowledge that other examples have sold for less than $1,200. The worst thing that can happen is that they say "no"...

 

[SSilver2k2]

I have an F-Zero AX in my gameroom It too is one of my grails. If you can get it with the card reader, its worth 1000 - 1200. The game is awesome, but the gamecube version is better. The track selection could be better.

Would i purchase it again? Hell Yeah.

Now, in regards to purchasing it and haggling, its big, thats a plus. If its missing the card reader, then haggle down. The topper is a big and needs to be in good condition, if it isnt, the price needs to come down.

Also the monitor. Those monitors are a pain to work on (not capping, but getting to all the areas since its such a small door), so if it doesnt look good, haggle down.

 

[VectorJunkie]

That's not the one, but worth referencing. Heck, I might contact this guy if things don't go how I hope with the local one.

What do you mean that is not the one? That is the deluxe model shown on the F-Zero AX flyer. Were you wanting the lesser Standard model as your Grail?

 

[LeeB99]

There appears to be quite a difference between the two different cabinets shown on the flyer. The bigger one looks like a full motion simulator, whereas the "smaller" model looks like just you typical racing game cabinet. I suppose that the original poster has found one of the larger motion simulators...

 

[VectorJunkie]

There appears to be quite a difference between the two different cabinets shown on the flyer. The bigger one looks like a full motion simulator, whereas the "smaller" model looks like just you typical racing game cabinet. I suppose that the original poster has found one of the larger motion simulators...

I think he found the other one since he said the picture of the deluxe unit was not the same one. My point was sort of teasing, but also an honest inquiry. If this game is your grail, go for the Deluxe unit. If you like Star Wars, would you not want the cockpit with the 25" Amp in it? Granted, reality is why people have uprights.... Either way, I hope one shows up at an auction here so I can at least play it.

 

[8-Bit]

Here's how I see it. Because of the difficulty of finding these you take what you can get, and if you find the higher end model at some point grab that one and trade you lower end model to someone like you. Beggers can't be choosers.