MMAO - Game: Computer Space - 2-Player (Green)

modessitt

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I know a local collector who is unloading a bunch of pieces. Most are common titles, but one is this piece. He would rather sell it to someone who would appreciate it and doesn't want to have to use E-Bay, but will if he gets no reasonable offers. He's seen what even broken ones with non-standard parts sell for, as well as what some are listed for currently, so he's not going to let it go for a couple hundred dollars. If you are interested, contact me via PM and let me know what range your interest falls in and I'll pass it on to him. All communication will be through me, and if it has to shipped, it'll probably be packaged through my work (I work for an arcade retail/repair shop). I'm not sure at this time what payment options will be available. It might be best if someone was able to pick it up in person and pay cash, but who knows.

Anyway - some history as far as I know:

The person is very wealthy and has owned it it for at least 8 years that I know of. Everything in the game is original. The only "non-original" part of the game is that an Atari cone button has been added to the control panel to the right of the coin entry slot as a credit button. The game was working, but then had some display issues. Since the original monitor has vacuum tubes, I didn't know if it was in my ability to repair. At one point, we were going to replace it with a B&W TV, but never got around to it. Prior to the display issues, the game was working fine. All controls worked.

I've posted pictures below that I took today when I was out looking at it. I haven't had a chance to plug it in yet. I'll be moving a lot of his games to storage, and will be picking this up to bring back to my shop to see if it's still working or not.

Let me know if you are seriously interested. I'm guessing any serious offer will be considered. Bear in mind that I will NOT be making the final decision as to who gets it. The seller may chooses someone who can pick it up over someone who wants to ship, even if the first person offers less money. But maybe not. I've told him a serious collector is his best bet for a hassle-free sell, so don't make me a liar. He might even accept the first offer if it's a good one, and not bother waiting for a "better offer". I think his primary motivation is to move it, but he'd rather keep it than let it go for under-market.

So - PM me if you are serious about talking about it.

Anywho - here are the pics. If they can't all fit in the same post, I'll post more in the next...

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You can see the cone button just to the right of the coin slot:

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It's a little blurry, but I think the serial # is 30570 - if anyone cares:

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More pics:

Original Zenith 13" B/W TV-monitor with vacuum tubes:

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Original game boards:

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Original power supply, transformer, and coin counter. The coin counter reads "002584":

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Original "gas-can" coin box. Apparently the coin mechanism was loosened in order for the credit button to fit:

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Here's a video I took today of me playing a 1-player game:



The credit or start button is a bit flaky, as I have to push them 5-10 times to get a game to start. Also, when I was playing a 2-player game, the player 1 ship disappeared while the player 2 ship kept going. Probably needs chips cleaned, capacitors on the boards replaced, and maybe the chip sockets replaced or edge connectors cleaned. I'm not going to spend much time on it now, unless I get a lot of interest and I need to.

The game is now sitting at my shop near my desk... :)
 
Man.. Someday I'd love one of these.. Not for the gameplay but as an amazing conversation piece or just to, well, say I own one :) heh.

I've never seen one that's got the tv back removed.. Usually its just an off the shelf b&w tv that they tossed inside.. Very cool!

Hope someone with deep pockets gets this! Green is a great color.
 
I have a Blue one and yeah I need to justify it coming in games room as it will kick a real playable game if it comes in. I have mine wrapped and stored in a heated space.

Michael
 
What display issues is the game having? Hard to tell in the video.

There is sometimes a little wave on the right by the score. I don't know anything about tube tv's, so I don't know if this is tv-related, power-related, or something else.

And of course the weird stuff that sometimes happens during the game like happened in the 2-player game I mentioned.

And I can't find a brightness knob, but I see some at the front I can't access now...
 
Still never seen one in person. Just started reading "Atari Inc. Business is Fun" and in the chapters that cover the creation of CS - great stuff.

Wish you were closer - would love to play it!

*bump*
 
... so he's not going to let it go for a couple hundred dollars.

I've told him a serious collector is his best bet for a hassle-free sell, so don't make me a liar.

Is there much of a difference in value between this green 2 player (with joysticks) model and the 1 player yellow (only buttons) on ebay?
I've played it a few times, and it's hard and quite fun. I like it!

Either way, I can't wait to totally lowball him and then be dick when he wants a fair price. woo!

Good luck with your sale of an awesome piece.
 
Is there much of a difference in value between this green 2 player (with joysticks) model and the 1 player yellow (only buttons) on ebay?
I've played it a few times, and it's hard and quite fun. I like it!

Either way, I can't wait to totally lowball him and then be dick when he wants a fair price. woo!

Good luck with your sale of an awesome piece.

The 2-player version is rarer, and it was designed by an outside firm Nutting hired, not by Nolan and Ted (which is also why you don't see Syzygy Engineered on the control panel).
 
Thank you to all those who were interested or made offers.

This item has been sold.

I will leave it to the buyer if he wishes to identify himself, or the final price...
 
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