Price check on Joust, Space Invaders and Asteroids

PachoHerrera

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Long time lurker, first time poster. I have the opportunity to buy a Joust, Space Invaders and Asteroids. Have been sitting in a lady's basement for 20 years. I have no pictures of them, but from her description, I assume the cabs are in good shape and they are complete electronics-wise, but definitely non-functioning. She wants $1,000 for all. Just wondering what is the market price for these titles these days? I'm in the PNW.
 
Long time lurker, first time poster. I have the opportunity to buy a Joust, Space Invaders and Asteroids. Have been sitting in a lady's basement for 20 years. I have no pictures of them, but from her description, I assume the cabs are in good shape and they are complete electronics-wise, but definitely non-functioning. She wants $1,000 for all. Just wondering what is the market price for these titles these days? I'm in the PNW.
If they aren't rotted out water logged turds that's not all that bad of a deal. I bet you could go there and flip $700 around in her face and take them. Maybe even $500. If they are in perfect cosmetic condition and not working that wouldn't be a bad deal at all.
 
but from her description, I assume the cabs are in good shape and they are complete electronics-wise
Never assume this.

But even if all 3 don't work, that's still a good deal.

EDIT: Also...if you wind up getting these games, do not power on the Asteroids without consulting with @andrewb or @VectorCollector first. Not a good idea to powering on a vector in unknown condition.
 
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Oh...and never buy a game without getting a look inside. There is a very good chance that this lady doesn't have the keys to the back door so hopefully you can take a flashlight and stick your head in the coin door to make sure all the major components are there.

Never assume the games are complete. Always find a way to get a look inside before buying a game. Otherwise, you could end up with a partially cannibalized game.
 
I appreciate the advice. I will check out some pictures of inside the cab to make sure everything is there. I've been burned before buying a midway WWF Wrestlemania from a druggie.
 
$1000 for those three games? I'd jump on that in a hot minute.

Asteroids: $600 to $900 and up. If it's in decent shape.
Joust: I don't understand it, but that game gets a ton of love. $950 to $1475
Space Invaders: The fuchsia-headed step child of the bunch. $600 to $950

All per VAG https://www.vintagearcadegal.com/the-unofficial-price-guide

Provided the crts are there, the boards are there and not waterlogged. (look for swell along the bottom)

Even if waterlogged, you could get these and make a mint.
 
Getting them out of that basement could be an adventure, but it's still a good deal if they're even close to complete. Bring a good dolly and quality help.

I'd also want to get in the backs of them to make sure everything is bolted down real good, especially the monitors. Really easy to destroy a picture tube if some previous genius has left stuff unbolted.
 
Got them all yesterday and hauled them home with a buddy. They look to be in very nice cosmetic shape, very dirty but complete. And the lady was wrong, she had a Space Duel not Space Invaders!
 

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Got them all yesterday and hauled them home with a buddy. They look to be in very nice cosmetic shape, very dirty but complete. And the lady was wrong, she had a Space Duel not Space Invaders!
That's like an actual bank error in your favor in real life, lol.

Follow AndrewB's guide for starting up a 6100 before booting up that Space Duel.

If you keep it then Space Duel is pretty easy to convert to play Gravitar and Black Widow too, you'll just need to modify the control panel to have joysticks and add a multi-vector board.
 
The Joust cleaned up nicely. Sent the 3 game boards to my board guy to service. Meanwhile, I recapped the sound board, recapped and reflowed the monitor chassis, recapped and rebuilt the linear power supply with new components, headers, etc. from Arcade Parts and Repair. These early Williams are actually super easy to work on, especially coming from working on pinball machines.
 

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Joust looks to be in excellent condition. Nice score on the space duel, way better than SI for value. What did you end up forking out for these may I ask? Full price or did you get her down on the price a little. I would have said aww no SI, that's going to lower the offer. ;)
 
I ended up giving the lady the $1,000 she was asking for. I have a soft spot for old ladies. She let me go through her late husband's collectibles, so I snagged some old Star Wars stuff for my 5 year old.
 
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