Conversion cab price impact

matman

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I was wondering if anyone would like to share their opinion on what a conversion cab does to the price of a game...or how much of an impact it typically has on the sale of a game.

For example, taking a galaxian machine and converting it to a galaga, or a taking a ms pac and converting it to a galaga.

I imagine there are varying degrees of impact to sale..but in the end, they are no longer 'original'...

I have seen several machines listed for sale that used to be something else..just wondering compared to the original..what prices are deemed 'fair'. (so taking example #1, the galaxian->galaga...if an original galaga in like condition ~500, what does the fact it used to be a galaxian mean to the price?)

[if anyone cares, i'm more about it being original and i'm not looking to convert anything, and am finding I am partial to original cabs and not conversions..]
 
I guess it would depend on "how converted". For example, I have a machine I like to call a "Galagaxian" - it's a Galaxian that some op converted to a Galaga. The board and marquee are Galaga, the side art was removed, and the control panel and bezel are the original Galaxian ones. This is worth no where near what a real Galaga is worth. But, it plays Galaga, and it looks OK in a line. (and it was cheap).

Now, I've also seen people take a trashed Ms. Pac or something, fill in all the holes, repaint it, and do it up as Galaga - it's the same basic cabinet, and with all new paint, art, etc - it looks great, and would go for probably just what a restored Galaga would.

So yeah, simple conversions aren't worth a lot - people would much rather have the original. But if it was well done, using a very similar cab... should be fairly similar in price.

-Ian
 
I sold a converted Galaxian/Galaga for decent dough, but probably a couple hundy less then I could have if it were a converted Ms. Pac or an original Galaga. Ms. Pac and Galaga cabs are essentially the same cab... Pac Man and Galaxian are essentially the same cab.

Now, a converted Galaxian to Galaga, while still not "really" a Galaga as it has a bit different shape, will certainly pull more than if you were to say stick a Galaga in a Dynamo cab.
 
if it's a totally random cab, for example, it'd be quite a lot less. there's a woodgrain almost sega/gremlin style cab with ms pac in it for $100 on denver cl. at that point of conversion, without a similarly original cab, that would drop the value quite a bit in my opinion.
 
...if an original galaga in like condition ~500, what does the fact it used to be a galaxian mean to the price?

IMHO, $150. That's for the board, monitor, anything else of value.

If the person selling the machine is the same person who converted it, however, my offer is $100 to them. It's all about the lesson. :D
 
I think the amount of decrease in value is very dependent on the buyer. I want games that are as they were back in the day. I want the paint that was sprayed on in '81. I want original artwork, controls and wood. I want original wiring and power supplies and boardsets. I don't want a game that looks like a Galaga and plays like a Galaga. I want Galaga. A conversion or restore takes a +30%-ish hit on what I would pay for it.

But that's just me. Other guys just want to play Galaga, and the cab and parts don't really matter that much, as long as it looks nice. They won't turn up their nose at a nice conversion.

In the end, everyone gets what they like and goes home happy.
 
all that extra work to do the conversion totally ups the price in the long run at least, oh, $500 or so.

and conversions are unique and unique is valuable... i mean, everybody and their sibblings have a Galaga, but only a select few have Galaga in a Galaxian cab, or better yet a Zaxxon or RotJ!
 
I think the amount of decrease in value is very dependent on the buyer. I want games that are as they were back in the day. I want the paint that was sprayed on in '81. I want original artwork, controls and wood. I want original wiring and power supplies and boardsets. I don't want a game that looks like a Galaga and plays like a Galaga. I want Galaga. A conversion or restore takes a +30%-ish hit on what I would pay for it.

But that's just me. Other guys just want to play Galaga, and the cab and parts don't really matter that much, as long as it looks nice. They won't turn up their nose at a nice conversion.

In the end, everyone gets what they like and goes home happy.

You make an interesting and accurate point. I mean for me, i want the original as much as possible..but i'm ok with restoration if someone has defaced the cabinet to a certain point.

all that extra work to do the conversion totally ups the price in the long run at least, oh, $500 or so.

and conversions are unique and unique is valuable... i mean, everybody and their sibblings have a Galaga, but only a select few have Galaga in a Galaxian cab, or better yet a Zaxxon or RotJ!

I wish everyone and their sibling had a galaga - because that would mean i have one ;)

but alas, i do not.
 
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