Is TRON overpriced forever?? is it just temporary?

[Tombo]

You can buy full artwork, joysticks, etc. for Donkey Kong or Galaga in an instant, but not a Tron...

Yes you can!




Tom

Edit: D'oh...you said full joysticks too. Damn, almost had you!

 

[Robotron Jon]

They made a lot of Trons. They will still come up for sale for cheap prices into the forseeable future. Just gotta be fast and lucky...

 

[8up]

That doesn't make sense. I would still want to own arcade machines even if they had zero monetary value (in fact, that would be better, because I could get the ones I wanted for free). I like the machines and games themselves. When I was 12 years old, playing Super Punch-Out at the local general store, and vowing that I would own one someday, it certainly wasn't because I was thinking about how much I could sell it for.

Are you under the impression that most people on here buy these machines as investments or as part of a resale business? I would be surprised if that is actually the case here.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++1

 

[smisch]

Tron

Think they will make a game for it? Pin?

I'm kind of surprised more theatres haven't upped there arcades because of it? Maybe rented some for the release?

 

[chas010]

That doesn't make sense. I would still want to own arcade machines even if they had zero monetary value (in fact, that would be better, because I could get the ones I wanted for free). I like the machines and games themselves. When I was 12 years old, playing Super Punch-Out at the local general store, and vowing that I would own one someday, it certainly wasn't because I was thinking about how much I could sell it for.

Are you under the impression that most people on here buy these machines as investments or as part of a resale business? I would be surprised if that is actually the case here.

These machines absolutely need to hold some value inorder to survive. Do you think there would be any repair or reproduction (what little there is) outfits if these things were worth dirt? I wouldnt start a buisness repairing or catering to worthless junk. You think everyone can repair there own pcbs? How about people who stock parts for thirty year old junk? good idea? maybe just to be nostalgic? Money makes the world go around.

 

[MaximRecoil]

These machines absolutely need to hold some value inorder to survive. Do you think there would be any repair or reproduction (what little there is) outfits if these things were worth dirt? I wouldnt start a buisness repairing or catering to worthless junk. You think everyone can repair there own pcbs? How about people who stock parts for thirty year old junk? good idea? maybe just to be nostalgic? Money makes the world go around.

I replied to the following:

If the true value of these things was determined by the members here, there wouldn't be a value high enough to even justify owning any game.

What you posted has nothing to do with my reply, nor the text that I replied to. In other words, I would want arcade machines even if they had little or no monetary value (i.e., monetary value is not my justification for owning arcade games; liking the games is my justification), just as I said.

Your hypothetical scenario about the state of the hobby in the case of arcade machines having little or no monetary value is not relevant, nor is it necessarily accurate. For example, the vintage console hobby does fine, and much of it centers around consoles only worth $20 or $30, and games that often sell for $1 to $5 each. Sometimes the stuff is free. For example, I have 3 frontloader NESs, 2 SNESs, 2 Sega Genesis, and a TurboGrafx-16 and various games for them; all working, and all gotten for free over a period of time when my friend was working as a garbage man a few years ago and rescued them from the trash and gave them to me. I also have a working NES toploader and a working Atari 7800 with a few 7800 games and a couple dozen 2600 games; both of those were free from people who were looking to get rid of some "junk".

 

[pookdolie]

Fuck the cab. Anyone see what the 2-disc DVD is going for on eBay new (sealed)?

HOLY CRAP. There are BINs from $129.00 up to $199.00!

Guess I bought mine at the right time - last month, for $20 new! Exact same 2-disc Anniversary set.

 

[chas010]

I respectfully disagree with you as to the relevance to your reply and I don't think a comparison to a shoe box sized plastic device compares to a refrigerator sized wooden cabinet.

 

[pookdolie]

Your hypothetical scenario about the state of the hobby in the case of arcade machines having little or no monetary value is not relevant, nor is it necessarily accurate. For example, the vintage console hobby does fine, and much of it centers around consoles only worth $20 or $30, and games that often sell for $1 to $5 each. Sometimes the stuff is free. For example, I have 3 frontloader NESs, 2 SNESs, 2 Sega Genesis, and a TurboGrafx-16 and various games for them; all working, and all gotten for free over a period of time when my friend was working as a garbage man a few years ago and rescued them from the trash and gave them to me. I also have a working NES toploader and a working Atari 7800 with a few 7800 games and a couple dozen 2600 games; both of those were free from people who were looking to get rid of some "junk".

Comparing the vintage console hobby to full-sized arcade machines doesn't make sense for a lot of reasons - space, commercial vs. private equipment, cost to reproduce materials to keep the respective hobbies alive, etc.

I understand what you've said re: not caring about the value of arcade machines in order to own and enjoy them. But I think the others are right, and their points are entirely relevant: there's money to be made, and it helps make owning - and finding - them a lot easier.

 

[Gruber]

Fuck the cab. Anyone see what the 2-disc DVD is going for on eBay new (sealed)? A decent condition set goes for $70 right now. I'm having some serious thoughts on selling mine. I could see Disney releasing the Blu in several months, when the new movie hits video.

It's on amazon even now. They will email me when available. BR Tron will be sweet.

 

[Mindl3ss]

Dang... the VHS are even going for $30+... maybe I will sell mine so I can actually afford the bluray when it comes out.

And I complained when they charged me the price of a Disney VHS instead of the standard 99 cents for other VHS...

 

[MaximRecoil]

I respectfully disagree with you as to the relevance to your reply

How does anything you posted affect the fact that liking the games (rather than monetary value) is my justification for owning them? Even if everything you said was accurate, it wouldn't change the fact that I would still want to own arcade machines even in the event that they had little or no monetary value.

and I don't think a comparison to a shoe box sized plastic device compares to a refrigerator sized wooden cabinet.

What does size have to do with anything? You didn't mention size in your hypothetical scenario. You simply based it all on the prospect of arcade machines being "worthless". The fact is, a hobby can thrive around things which are free or cheap. Take a look at this. Brand new hardware for a 25-year-old console, one which isn't worth much money in and of itself, and wasn't even one of the more popular consoles in its day. For repair and reproduction cottage industries to spring up, all you need is a dedicated fanbase for the object of the hobby. The object of the hobby itself doesn't need to be particularly valuable; people tend to spend money on things they enjoy.

So if working arcade machines in average condition typically sold for say $25 - $50, I don't think much would change about the hobby. If anything, more people would be getting into the hobby when they saw how cheap the cost of entry is. People would still want to restore their machines or fix them if they broke.

 

[MaximRecoil]

Comparing the vintage console hobby to full-sized arcade machines doesn't make sense for a lot of reasons - space, commercial vs. private equipment, cost to reproduce materials to keep the respective hobbies alive, etc.

None of those things invalidate the comparison. The comparison hinges on the question: Will people spend money to repair or restore an object of their hobby which doesn't have much monetary value? The answer is: Most likely. In fact, they are likely to be more willing to spend money on repairing or restoring something like an arcade machine than something like a console, because with a console buying a different one is easy if you want it to be in better condition or it is broken; while it is far more of a hassle to simply buy another arcade machine.

I understand what you've said re: not caring about the value of arcade machines in order to own and enjoy them. But I think the others are right, and their points are entirely relevant: there's money to be made, and it helps make owning - and finding - them a lot easier.

No, it was in no way relevant to my post, because I said nothing about potential ramifications to the hobby as a whole. My post was merely about my personal reasons for owning arcade machines (i.e., nothing to do with monetary value; everything to do with liking the games). However, I don't mind arguing on this sideroad, because I don't think the prediction of calamity in the event of low arcade machine values is accurate.

 

[chas010]

How does anything you posted affect the fact that liking the games (rather than monetary value) is my justification for owning them? Even if everything you said was accurate, it wouldn't change the fact that I would still want to own arcade machines even in the event that they had little or no monetary value.

My point being eventually they will need replacement parts. Unfortunately they are filled with wear items that someone will need to supply, most people wont do this just for the love of the games.


What does size have to do with anything? You didn't mention size in your hypothetical scenario. You simply based it all on the prospect of arcade machines being "worthless". The fact is, a hobby can thrive around things which are free or cheap.



I think that home consoles are a simple robust design, free from cheap connectors or battery mounted pcbs. I found a 1971 home console in a warehouse that plugged in and played requiring no maintenance and I wasn't surprised one bit. Also the production numbers for home consoles has got to be huge which will impact supply and demand value.

 

[andys80s]

Forget Tron check this out!

http://cgi.ebay.com/1983-Atari-Star...365?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b4eb2ae5

 

[7146aaron]

Tron

If you break down the price of a nice one, Chris' sold pretty cheap actualy. Feel free to ad in the prices and items I left out.

$560 for the art Package
$25 for the GGG Flight stick handle
$175-225 for a working Board
$45-65 for a rebuilt 90412 PS
$150-250 for a nice monitor
$350 for a reproduction cab
Used Joystick from a Gorf or Xenophobe ?
Used Shroud ?
Used coin door ?
Used marquee brackets and the windshield retainer?
Control panel and spinner ?
Wiring Harness?
Power brick?
Monitor Plexi and brackets?
3 Cam Locks?
Powder coating?
Shipping?
Extreme amount of labor?

 

[Mindl3ss]

Forget Tron check this out!

http://cgi.ebay.com/1983-Atari-Star...365?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b4eb2ae5

That's like the rick roll of the arcade world...

 

[MaximRecoil]

My point being eventually they will need replacement parts. Unfortunately they are filled with wear items that someone will need to supply, most people wont do this just for the love of the games.

I would still want to own them even if keeping them running was more difficult than it is now. Of course, I disagree that everything would dry up if the monetary values of these machine dropped drastically. If interest in the machines dropped drastically, that would be a different story, but that isn't necessarily the same thing.

I think that home consoles are a simple robust design, free from cheap connectors or battery mounted pcbs. I found a 1971 home console in a warehouse that plugged in and played requiring no maintenance and I wasn't surprised one bit. Also the production numbers for home consoles has got to be huge which will impact supply and demand value.

That's all true (though there are exceptions, just ask people who specialize in repairing Atari 5200 controllers), but the fact remains that people are willing to spend a lot of money on the console hobby; programmable game cartridges for X-in-1 functionality, custom controllers, custom hardware, homebrews in professional packaging, video and audio output hacks, etc., even though their consoles aren't worth much money.

 

[chris25810]

If you break down the price of a nice one, Chris' sold pretty cheap actualy. Feel free to ad in the prices and items I left out.

$560 for the art Package
$25 for the GGG Flight stick handle
$175-225 for a working Board
$45-65 for a rebuilt 90412 PS
$150-250 for a nice monitor
$350 for a reproduction cab
Used Joystick from a Gorf or Xenophobe ?
Used Shroud ?
Used coin door ?
Used marquee brackets and the windshield retainer?
Control panel and spinner ?
Wiring Harness?
Power brick?
Monitor Plexi and brackets?
3 Cam Locks?
Powder coating?
Shipping?
Extreme amount of labor?

You can see that this project could get real expensive if you were scratch building one but keep in mind that when i bought this as a complete, working machine, i paid $50 for it locally. It would be real hard for me to justify paying $500-$600 for one of these today and still have to spend the same amount to restore it.

 

[pookdolie]

None of those things invalidate the comparison. The comparison hinges on the question: Will people spend money to repair or restore an object of their hobby which doesn't have much monetary value? The answer is: Most likely.

People hardly spend any money to repair anything console / console game-related.

No, it was in no way relevant to my post, because I said nothing about potential ramifications to the hobby as a whole. My post was merely about my personal reasons for owning arcade machines (i.e., nothing to do with monetary value; everything to do with liking the games).

And their point is that you cannot separate the two; they're not mutually exclusive. I agree with them.