One never knows the condition of a game until seen in person

pseeds

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One never knows the condition of a game until seen in person

So I made a run to Houston, TX last week. Started out as one stop and turned into 4. Figure it makes sense to maximize pickups on a trip. Night before the run I see a converted Dig Dug. One pic of the machine from the front. Converted to Gang Wars - http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7909

Ad indicates plays blind and seller says they don't know much about games.
Asking $200.00. Offer $75.00. Counter $100.00. Ok.

Get there. Stop #3. Way behind schedule (Remember another reason I don't like Houston - traffic) on Friday at 1715 or so. Hot, tired, etc. Machine is outside. Looks like a turd that didn't flush. Seriously, worst machine I have seen. Cabinet cracked on one side, beat up, hole in back door where lock would be, filthy, etc. Not a $100.00 machine. Get the seller. Explain position. Agree on $75.00 (still high but I am there and think I can salvage parts). Pay $60.00 and need to get $15.00 change from other pocket. Ask again about problems with game. Look through hole in back door (always have a flashlight) at monitor and see no yoke on tube! (not sure if it is inside cabinet). Chassis is there. Dude, not a $75.00 machine. Tell seller $60.00 is it. Seller agrees. Load turd and back bottom piece where switch and power cord are located falls off. This was likely a $10 game (or less) at auction. :)

One just never knows the condition of a game until it is seen in person. That bites for long hauls but at least this machine wasn't the reason I made the haul.

Just another experience. If the board works I will be happy as I wanted that game and can get some good cabinet parts off it. I may yet try to salvage the cabinet as the Dig Dug side art doesn't look super bad. I could visualize a 60-in-1 in that cabinet and have no remorse about doing that since this machine lost its essence many years ago.

EDIT: Ha! Listing still on CL -

http://houston.craigslist.org/vgm/1870734015.html

"This arcade game is at least as old as 1984. It needs to be serviced. The screen is broken and we believe that the tube needs to be replaced. It powers up and the sound works fine. With a little work, this game will be back to functioning in no time! Make an offer! "

This was the only picture I ever saw until I saw the game in person:
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Seller added later:

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3ne3o03l25V25O05P0a7taf835f64704e125d.jpg
3ne3k23od5T35W15S3a7t455bf52469551cfa.jpg


I still would have been interested even with all the pictures. The crack is not really visible. It is toward the top bend at about 2/3 monitor level on the left side as I recall.
 
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The worst part imaginable is a Dig Dug converted into a god-aweful Gang Wars!
Geez that game sucked!!!
 
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The worst part imaginable is a Dig Dug converted it a god-aweful Gang Wars!
Geez that game sucked!!!

I never played it. I need to pull the board and plug into my JAMMA cab. Guess that could be a reason I never saw the game BITD. :)

I just saw a GW with marquee and manual sell on ebay for about $75.00 + $25.00 shipping so there are "those" out there.
 
At least he admitted that the monitor was toast in the ad!

True. I was thinking chassis problem but not "no yoke". I really don't want to deal with that but will see if I can salvage the whole monitor (may have to get modessitt involved) - it will be an experience.
 
I can't stand when you waste time on traveling... A guy emailed me of kijiji a couple weeks back saying he had a frogger (which I am looking for) and a Wardner and Tiger Heli. Typical email with 'what is your offer?' instead of a price.. I emailed back about how stupid that was like me emailing him to sell a car and saying 'i have a car for sale, what is your offer'.. And that i would like to know if working, condition, pics...etc.. He emailed back, no pics, but just 'in great working order'..no prices.. And how fun they were... Now 'great working order'to me now means its probably a stinking piece of junk..I told him without pics wasn't gonna waste my time. Well a week later he emails me telling me i should check out his wardner that it's a really fun game, awesome shape..etc.. I go back on kijiji and see he has placed the ads for his games for a grand each.. No pics, except for the tiger heli.. Which states its in great shape..etc.. But the game is a space invaders deluxe cab with the marquee flipped, and the entire cabinet painted what looks to be flat black.. And scratches and chunks missing all over. So i wrote out an email about if he actually though someone would prefer that piece of crap over a brand new ps3, brand new 40" LCD tv and a couple games.... And that it was a crappy conversion..jamma... Sent a link to bay showing the pcb for 25$..etc..
No reply..
Well today I went to kijiji to get a link for this post and the guy still has them for sale, for 600$, but has removed the picture...
Cannot stand people like that..
 
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