Computer Space - Blue - Single Player

Spit_5_Ace

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It's been a long while since I've been active on these forums. Kids and life superseded pins and vids for a long time around here. Long story short, I'm going to be selling my CS. Some background...

Very early 2000's there was an ad in the local Pennysaver for an old "Asteroids" arcade machine. By the time I got ahold of the seller, someone was already enroute to pick it up. A bit later, a picture was posted on our local chat boards of the machine. Turns out it was a CS. I bugged the guy who got it until he sold it to me. I don't believe the machine was ever played - it had 9 clicks on the counter when I got it from him. The machine would coin (Click), but not play. The 5 volt power supply was flaky. I hooked it to a 5V switcher and it came to life. I recapped the circuit boards, replaced one chip that controlled one of the seven segment numbers on the screen and it played perfect. I still have not gone back and sorted out the original 5v power supply but I may if I need to. The case is beautiful. There are a few minor scuffs mostly near the bottom. I think most of them would polish out but I have been reluctant to touch anything. The control panel looks brand new. I believe even the line voltage cord is original. The counter is at 50 now as we played a few games back in the day. Not an awesome game to be honest but historically significant.

I have a SpaceWar that I will be getting rid of as well. I originally wanted a PONG to go along with these two machines to have the first three. First video game. First computer game. And, first video arcade game. I never did get a PONG. Things change - kids have a way of making once significant things seem irrelevant.

I have someone locally interested but have no idea what these are worth in these times. Your input is appreciated.

p.s. I have the original ad from the Pennysaver somewhere. I can't find it right now but I'm hoping it shows up - I'll keep looking.
 

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VAG is a little high on that. Actually, the range should probably be larger. I would leave the high end alone, but reduce the bottom end.
The game is rare, so you don't get a lot of sales. The price spread will be larger because of that. It's certainly possible to hit that high end, but there are VERY few buyers in that range. The lower end is a little high....I've seen a few sell in the 4-6k range. Even during the height of the COVID market. The color has a huge impact too. The common red ones would be much less than the super rare yellow ones for example. The ranges should probably be split by color. But then that would further reduce the data points per spread. It's a hard one to gauge and get it just right. And Cassie mentions that in the VAG.

Your blue one looks really nice. And they are more rare than the most common red ones (red->blue->yellow->brown->white for 1-player games).
If it's working 100% I think 10k is an appropriate ask but you'll need to be patient to find the right buyer and/or be willing to negotiate.
 
Your blue one looks really nice. And they are more rare than the most common red ones (red->blue->yellow->brown->white for 1-player games).
If it's working 100% I think 10k is an appropriate ask but you'll need to be patient to find the right buyer and/or be willing to negotiate.

It is nice for sure. I don't know how you'd find one nicer to be honest - especially unrestored. Like I said, I'm guessing it never powered up so it just got pushed aside somewhere and got outdated quickly.

I was one of the bidders on the white one on eBay way back but was outbid by Greg McLemore - by quite a bit if I recall.
 
Wow. That's ridiculous. I'm not complaining but jeez...

p.s. I wasn't aware of VAG. Checking it out now. Thanks!
It is what it is.

Cassie audited the market. Yes, the market has softened, but we have had people on here looking for one of these for years in this color or that color. Plus, this comes down to Condition, Condition, Condition. All there, in very good shape, the power supply can be re-built, IT ACTUALLY WORKS (many are missing pieces or parts), and LOW COUNTS on the clock.

All of these factors tend to push yours towards the upper end, rather than the lower end.

I'd suggest offering it here for a week or a month at a price you can live with, and then moving to the online auctions, or seeing if you can get it into a large Captains auction. Those auctions tend to lean towards the high end of the "bat-s*** crazy" level of bidding, where we see common games selling for 2 to 3 times what they sell for elsewhere.
 
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All price guides obsolete themselves over time.

Your best data in general is to look up RECENT sales. However even those will be of marginal use for a game that is ultra-rare (like this one), for which there isn't going to be much data. Also, sales of everything have cooled sharply lately, so the pricing landscape is changing.

Your best bet if your goal is to maximize what you get for it, is to post it for sale on multiple venues, start excessively high, and come down $100 or so, every week or two till it sells.

Rare games take time to find the right sellers, and patience is needed if you want to find that person. Not everyone sees every item on the internet for sale every day.

It's like fishing. You gotta put it out there, be persistent but patient, and wait for the right fish to find you.
 
Incredible game in exceptionally rare condition. I'd be posting this for sale at auction as this is truly one of a kind. Love seeing this kind of thing. Good luck with the sale!
 
VAG is a little high on that. Actually, the range should probably be larger. I would leave the high end alone, but reduce the bottom end.
The game is rare, so you don't get a lot of sales. The price spread will be larger because of that. It's certainly possible to hit that high end, but there are VERY few buyers in that range. The lower end is a little high....I've seen a few sell in the 4-6k range. Even during the height of the COVID market. The color has a huge impact too. The common red ones would be much less than the super rare yellow ones for example. The ranges should probably be split by color. But then that would further reduce the data points per spread. It's a hard one to gauge and get it just right. And Cassie mentions that in the VAG.

Your blue one looks really nice. And they are more rare than the most common red ones (red->blue->yellow->brown->white for 1-player games).
If it's working 100% I think 10k is an appropriate ask but you'll need to be patient to find the right buyer and/or be willing to negotiate.
I dont think there is a brown one. I think I remember there being 12 yellow ones and only 1 white one. the white one was used in soylent green..
 
I dont think there is a brown one. I think I remember there being 12 yellow ones and only 1 white one. the white one was used in soylent green..

Yes. Brown. At least one. But it was probably unique like the white one.

Mike Doyle had it at one point. He posted a picture of it with another rare game (Man Eater?). I can't search right now.
 
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