Games we see less & less

[jonathan1138]

Most of these names were not common. I frequented local arcades often as a kid, and rarely if ever came across these games.

The local arcades would (malls mostly, which i had access to 4-5) would carry about 25 games, and would rotate every month maybe? They had the big names, with the occasional rare game thrown in (Gladiator was one i remember well, amongst others on the list).

I do remember a resort my family took me too around 82 and i saw alot of these games there - of course that arcade was big - 100 or so games. Thats where i fell in love with Monster bash. I always wondered why my local arcade didnt have that one!

For the games listed on this thread, i would guess Maybe 1 - 2k produced for most of them (i think that was a Minimum run for those days).

Explains why we dont see them now.

 

[flynn54321]

Just off the top of my head - I think of some of the games that I have that you dont really see THAT often...

Pepper II (mentioned already)
Three Stooges (mentioned already)
Space Zap
Death Race
Robby Roto
Carnival
Crater Raider
Fantasy
Domino Man (mentioned already)
Reactor
Pioneer Balloon
Crash!

 

[eXidy]

...

Fantasy!!

Love that game.

Jon

 

[Rich in FL]

Not to be a stick in the mud....but, the vast majority of the titles that have been listed so far were uncommon to rare back in the day and still are these days. There has been no significant drop in their numbers. Warrior and dedicated Major Havocs were rarer than hen's teeth 25, 20, 15, 10 and 5 years ago. Nothing has changed. Jon, you have one of the best collections of rare/low production games I have ever seen. (I'm very jealous!) I think the vast majority of games that were more common a few years ago and relatively rare nowadays are the post-Golden Era games. Ironman Ivan Stewart games used to be everywhere. When is the last time you saw one? The same goes for Hard Drivin', Rampage, Gauntlet, Primal Rage, Carnevil etc. --Rich

 

[ifkz]

...just about any 70's black and white game...

I am surprised that many dedicated cabs are still around, period. Three things that don't help: 1. conversions, 2. MAME, and now for 3. we have 60-in-1 boards. All of the new vids coming off route are probably crowding out the older stuff along with vermin and moisture. Oh well, save what you can, right?

 

[pookdolie]

In this thread, these are the games I remember seeing frequently when younger - both out in the wild and for sale...

Pengo
Bosconian
Pac Land
Two Tigers with flight yokes
Lady Bug
Demolition Derby
Bank Panic
Monster Bash
Gladiator
OutRun Mini
DK Cabaret
Super Punch Out!!

...and haven't seen nearly as much since.

I think the vast majority of games that were more common a few years ago and relatively rare nowadays are the post-Golden Era games. Ironman Ivan Stewart games used to be everywhere. When is the last time you saw one? The same goes for Hard Drivin', Rampage, Gauntlet, Primal Rage, Carnevil etc. --Rich

Ironman Ivan Stewart goes for sale here in SoCal pretty regularly (no doubt because of the racing culture down this way - it must've been all over here back in the day). Funny enough though, I don't remember seeing the Trak Pack version very often.

But finding a dedicated Rampage for sale isn't easy - and they used to be friggin' everywhere. I think that one got hit by the conversion monster way harder than most.

 

[Level42]

Computer Space.

 

[avidgeek]

Naughty Boy
Munch Mobile
Swimmer
Turbo Sub
Track-n-Field (Track ball Version)
Congo Bongo
Virtua Fighter
Space Harrier
Enduro Racer
Haley's Comet
Frisky Tom
Nibbler
Anteater
Guzzler
Graplop

Some are more rare than others but there used to be so many duplicates at the old Super Auctions back in the late 90s. Not so much anymore. I do recall seeing one Exterminator back then....Mylstar got that one. Fun looking game but god did the gameplay get repetitive real quick.

 

[eXidy]

...

When I posted this thread I originally meant games I would see around at auctions, warehouses, ebay, storage units, etc. Yes, back only 8-13 years ago. The demographic of the games has changed a bunch.

Ill give you an example, back in 98 I saw several Exterminators pop up at a local auction, John Russo from Apollo Amusement had 2 and there was one at the local arcade in Lakeland. Since 2000 I dont think Ive seen 1 for sale or trade. Not even a board.

Jon

 

[jow]

Naughty Boy
Munch Mobile
Nibbler
Guzzler

Are those games, or Fritz's nicknames?

 

[NotreCaine]

Pengo and Mappy

 

[SuperGunGuru]

How about a dedicated Mortal Kombat? I know the game itself is not rare, but if you think in terms of the dedicated cabinet, so many of them have been converted. As time has gone on, I don't think you see nearly as many examples of them.

 

[jow]

How about a dedicated Mortal Kombat? I know the game itself is not rare, but if you think in terms of the dedicated cabinet, so many of them have been converted. As time has gone on, I don't think you see nearly as many examples of them.

Add to that many of them have badly faded artwork...

 

[PhoenixStar]

Demolition Derby

Are you referring to the 76(?) version or the 84' Bally Midway Version? I see the 76 version & the '84 2Player upright from time to time, but I rarely see the '84 4player cocktail.

To add to the list,

G.I. JOE

 

[Schusler]

Some of those were rare back then. I seriously have not seen a Munch Mobile since the mid 80's. For some reason, I never seen a lot of the rare birds from Rock Ola or Centuri...

But, what's weird is where the hell are all the Pac-Lands and Bosconians? These two were very plentiful in the arcades I visited back then!

Someone mentioned the old black and white games. Good choice! Look at the Klov listing for some of these. Look at how many there were by various manufacturers....

 

[Zud]

I've never heard of over half of those games... the only one I recall from youth and have never heard much about since is Night Driver.

I just picked up one the other day.

 

[eXidy]

...

Hot Rod by Sega both the upright and the 4 player version. Gain Ground (only seen 4 EVER, and i owned 3 of them).

Jon

 

[osver]

Hot Rod by Sega ... the 4 player version.

Jon

I'd love to have one of those one day... the giant behemoth that it is.

 

[TOK]

When I posted this thread I originally meant games I would see around at auctions, warehouses, ebay, storage units, etc. Yes, back only 8-13 years ago. The demographic of the games has changed a bunch.

Ill give you an example, back in 98 I saw several Exterminators pop up at a local auction, John Russo from Apollo Amusement had 2 and there was one at the local arcade in Lakeland. Since 2000 I dont think Ive seen 1 for sale or trade. Not even a board.

Jon

With any luck, they were snapped up by collectors that wanted them and still have 'em, not gutted and converted into 60 in 1's or something.

Out of all of the games listed in the thread, there were probably 2 or 3 that I remember seeing even back when they were new. My first exposure to lots of the unusual games was via ColecoVision. I've never seen a Looping or Mouse Trap in person and didn't get to play a dedicated Pepper II until just a couple of years ago.

 

[komodo]

Ummmmmm Omega Race?