Pong info

Tufnel

New member

Donor 2015, 2017
Joined
Aug 20, 2014
Messages
2,435
Reaction score
171
Location
Florida
I was having a discussion and we were wondering how many actual functional original Pongs there are out there.

I am talking about the yellow Atari/Syzygy Pong with original circuit board, black and white 70s tv etc. The one everyone thinks of when they picture a 70s Pong.

There are 30 or 40 listed in vaps but most of those are board only, in pieces (those original cabinets did not age well), or cocktails, clones, etc.

anyone ever come across one or know someone who has a live one other then the one at funspot and similar places?
 
I have a feeling there are a lot more of them out there than we think there are. Yellow Pongs are the sort of thing that will disappear into private collections of arcades, general video games and just pop culture and never, ever come back on the market again.
 
I have a feeling there are a lot more of them out there than we think there are. Yellow Pongs are the sort of thing that will disappear into private collections of arcades, general video games and just pop culture and never, ever come back on the market again.

could be..

I would think the same would be true about computer space but those seem to pop up for sale or in collections here and there, Pong doesnt.

They didnt make anywhere near as many computer space machines as Pong but maybe because they were plastic more are still around?
 
VAPS is nothing more than a good place to start when determining how common or rare an item is. It's completely voluntary to maintain a list and even the people who do know of VAPS don't maintain one. I'd say, and this is a hell of a number but i'm gonna stick to it, that 90% of the local collectors I know personally don't maintain a VAPS list and i've some some pretty rare shit in their basements, garages, and warehouses. I don't think any of the local arcades/museums/players clubs maintain one and none of the retailers do.

It's a great idea. But much like taking a census the numbers don't mean shit if the entire planet isn't on board. These machines are out there. The bigger problem today is getting someone to part with one or acknowledge they have one. A lot of these guys don't want to be bothered by people. And there's nothing wrong with that it just makes it more difficult to understand what's out there until you see it for yourself.

There are a lot of people int his hobby. Some want to scream from the rooftops when they obtain something and then invite the world over to get drunk and play it. Others just want to be left to their hoards.. erm, devices..
 
could be..

I would think the same would be true about computer space but those seem to pop up for sale or in collections here and there, Pong doesnt.

They didnt make anywhere near as many computer space machines as Pong but maybe because they were plastic more are still around?

There's one for sale right now on Craigslist near me. There was another one on Craigslist about 3-4 months ago, I think it was in Vegas or maybe Phoenix.

The problem is that people selling want big money for them. I'd love to have one myself but not for $5,000.
 
VAPS is nothing more than a good place to start when determining how common or rare an item is. It's completely voluntary to maintain a list and even the people who do know of VAPS don't maintain one. I'd say, and this is a hell of a number but i'm gonna stick to it, that 90% of the local collectors I know personally don't maintain a VAPS list and i've some some pretty rare shit in their basements, garages, and warehouses. I don't think any of the local arcades/museums/players clubs maintain one and none of the retailers do.

It's a great idea. But much like taking a census the numbers don't mean shit if the entire planet isn't on board. These machines are out there. The bigger problem today is getting someone to part with one or acknowledge they have one. A lot of these guys don't want to be bothered by people. And there's nothing wrong with that it just makes it more difficult to understand what's out there until you see it for yourself.

There are a lot of people int his hobby. Some want to scream from the rooftops when they obtain something and then invite the world over to get drunk and play it. Others just want to be left to their hoards.. erm, devices..

Yah I agree thats why I posted instead of just looking at VAPS info (I dont have a vaps list)

Just seems odd that a game where they made so many units you almost never see it in collections or for sale.

Its not some super rare game.. they made a ton of them.
 
could be..

I would think the same would be true about computer space but those seem to pop up for sale or in collections here and there, Pong doesnt.

They didnt make anywhere near as many computer space machines as Pong but maybe because they were plastic more are still around?

The general public doesn't know that Computer Space exists, so when Kobe Bryant decides he wants a vintage toy for his private bar he is more than likely going to go for a Pong than a Computer Space. Then it never goes on the market again. The Computer Spaces stick more closely to the mainstream collectors.
 
I keep my VAPS list up to date. Free rep points are free rep points. :p

Anyway, I have a Paddle Battle(one of the many clones), and parts aren't easy to come by. I removed the TV when I got it back in '84.... But that's because I was told it didn't work. Had I known then what I know how, I'd never have done that.

Still, I'd love to have an original Pong.... But like the rest of you, not for the kind of money people are asking.
 
Back
Top Bottom