The Grails That Were not to Be

[vintagegamer]

I should probably go a similar route for a Wild Western. I have an original bezel, marquee, control panel with spinner, board set but no cabinet. Looks like the Johnson City TN auction guy has yet again refused to sell his. It's weird how common that game was BITD and now it's rare. One will turn up someday or at least a converted cabinet and then there will be much rejoicing.

Those cabs are also deteriorating so throw one together and play it today! Life's too short my brother.

 

[jericso]

Those cabs are also deteriorating so throw one together and play it today! Life's too short my brother.

I had a nice Qix cabinet for this purpose but I sold it to a member here a few years ago. I don't mind having this out there as unobtained grail really.

 

[Zman6]

Ive been collecting for 10+ years now and was pretty done for the past 5 years (having run out of space). I recently got back into it because of 2 games I didn't think I'd ever own.
A Near mint Star Wars fell into my lap a few months ago and was offered to me at a price I couldn't pass up, and then I just scored a very cheap Tron to restore about 2 weeks ago.
It's been fun getting back into it. It's cool to see a lot of the same guys still here as well.

Games I would still love to own, Tempest, Tapper, Star Wars Trilogy,

 

[Esom]

Necroing to muse on this topic:

I was fortunate in that my "grail" was the first game that started my collecting, Soul Calibur 2. I got it half a year after starting my search and it holds a prominent place in my arcade. Sure, there are plenty of games I'd like to own, but nothing is imperative.

I have a new goal I'll likely never achieve - collecting every fighting game from 1984 to 2004 - but is that a grail? I don't think so. That's just a fun thing to work towards, and knowing it's nearly impossible, holds no real weight on my psyche.

What is the point of a grail, though? To stress yourself out while you look for it? To have the fleeting sense of attainment once you do? Will you go to your grave holding a grudge if you never do? Seems petty.

I get it, it's hyperbole, but even the actual Grail has the same bearing. "Someone else has the thing I want, and that cannot be!" I say, make friends with the one who has it and visit when you get the impulse. Probably a better goal than trying to attain the item itself.

I realized the other day, after two years I'm about 10% of the way to my goal numerically (I don't even want to think about how far off I am financially). Starcade down the street has probably 30%. I found myself coveting their candy cabs and expensive PCBs. But who's the winner there? If I purchased them from a thriving arcade I'd certainly be closer to my goal, but the patrons of the arcade would never have access again. Meh.

I'll stick to trading with other collectors and pick up what I can when I can, and be content. That's not to discourage others from trying to get that one particular acquisition, but maybe to put it in perspective. Be satisfied with the pursuit, you'll be healthier for it.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

 

[Griffin]

Having now been in this hobby for almost 20 solid years, I can honestly say there are games that I always wanted but never did get to own. And now that I'm coming up to what are probably my last few years in the hobby, they're probably now games that I may NEVER own. If you would have asked me 20 years ago, I would've predicted that I would've owned them all by now. But sadly, that apparently was not meant to be. Those games off the top of my head are:

Blue Shark
Jungle King
Tapper
EDOT
Star Wars Cockpit
Dedicated Skull and Crossbones

I'm not sure I believe in the grail concept anymore, but if I was going to indulge the wide-eyed childlike urge then it would be a full motion Space Harrier sit down. I'd probably hate it within a short space of time for sheer size and probable expensive maintenance - it would be like a smoking hot porn star, you think you want it until you find out what it's actually like.

 

[ZaxxonBoner]

ROBO BOP!!!!!
Years ago I almost bought one at an auction to give to my then 6 yr old nephew. He would have loooooved it and my sister would have been absolutely pissed. Bidding went higher than I was willing to go for just a gag gift, so I passed.

It's nagged me ever since though, and anytime one comes up for sale I think... What if?...

Today my nephew has his driver's license, but he still has no Robo Bop.

I will likely never have a Robo Bop, but I will always want a Robo Bop.

 

[vintagegamer]

I'd like a SW and Commando for me, and a DL for my daughter. Never could make that happen

 

[ccie38296]

I'm only in my mid-40s and been collecting for about 5 years so I'm not ready to give up on anything yet, but I'm short on space and now with 14 (usually) working games and 3 in-flight projects the specter of constant maintenance and repairs is starting to make me feel much more selective in my future targets.

I got a notification on this post a few minutes ago and had to laugh at how poorly it aged. 8 months later and I now have 25 games. I guess I haven't been at selective as I thought.

 

[ccie38296]

I'd like a SW and Commando for me, and a DL for my daughter. Never could make that happen

The guy I was buying my PC10 from a couple nights ago has a Commando he was trying to sell me too… Bethlehem PA area, so not incredibly far from you.

 

[vintagegamer]

Thanks

 

[ZaxxonBoner]

But fuh real, having cycled back into the hobby, I found and sold then found again almost every game I had my heart set on.

Root Beer Tapper and Food Fight are about the only two I never snagged but really wanted. They were pricy back then, and they're even pricier now. I doubt I'll ever get 'em, and I'm ok with that. I don't think they'd even physically fit up my tight stairs tbh.

Computer Othello has always eluded me too. Nintendo's first arcade game. I've seen 4 or 5 pop up for sale over the years, but never made it happen. I doubt I'd ever actually play it, but I'd certainly enjoy looking at it. That row of buttons is so cool.

For many years I really wanted a Q*Bert cocktail. There are currently two for sale, and one is only a few miles from me, but I find myself happy with my upright. Even tho I'm a cocktail guy, at this point I doubt I'll ever own one, but I'll always love seeing them.

 

[jimbodeanny]

Necroing to muse on this topic:

I was fortunate in that my "grail" was the first game that started my collecting, Soul Calibur 2. I got it half a year after starting my search and it holds a prominent place in my arcade. Sure, there are plenty of games I'd like to own, but nothing is imperative.

I have a new goal I'll likely never achieve - collecting every fighting game from 1984 to 2004 - but is that a grail? I don't think so. That's just a fun thing to work towards, and knowing it's nearly impossible, holds no real weight on my psyche.

What is the point of a grail, though? To stress yourself out while you look for it? To have the fleeting sense of attainment once you do? Will you go to your grave holding a grudge if you never do? Seems petty.

I get it, it's hyperbole, but even the actual Grail has the same bearing. "Someone else has the thing I want, and that cannot be!" I say, make friends with the one who has it and visit when you get the impulse. Probably a better goal than trying to attain the item itself.

I realized the other day, after two years I'm about 10% of the way to my goal numerically (I don't even want to think about how far off I am financially). Starcade down the street has probably 30%. I found myself coveting their candy cabs and expensive PCBs. But who's the winner there? If I purchased them from a thriving arcade I'd certainly be closer to my goal, but the patrons of the arcade would never have access again. Meh.

I'll stick to trading with other collectors and pick up what I can when I can, and be content. That's not to discourage others from trying to get that one particular acquisition, but maybe to put it in perspective. Be satisfied with the pursuit, you'll be healthier for it.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

Still haven't gotten used to seeing you here on the KLOV forums, Esom.

I like your goal of collecting every fighting game in that 20 year span. That's totally in your wheelhouse. So if you're starting with 1984...have you found yourself a Karate Champ? You definitely need one. I won't let @CarrieZ part with hers because I'm one of the few that love that game. It also gets tons of play at CAX each year.





As for candy cabs, while I do find them cool and convenient, I just don't have any nostalgia for them and they lack all the great artwork and appeal of the large, dedicated upright American cabs. That was why I was so particular about going after a later gen Big Blue for my ST cab. I fricking love that can. It brings back all the feels of playing Street Fighter 2 in the arcades in the early-mid 90s.

 

[Yotsuya]

There are two games I'd like to own but probably never will: a Monaco GP and a sit-down Atari Night Driver.

 

[Esom]

Still haven't gotten used to seeing you here on the KLOV forums, Esom.

I stalk the monitor repair/marketplace mostly. Sometimes when I'm bored in the shop I make these pointless ramblings.

So if you're starting with 1984.

Indeed, that's why I started there. My first fighting game! Alas, I don't own one yet. I am very much still in the bargain basement phase of collection. I've seen a few for sale in the area, but they would all dwarf my most expensive cabinet by several hundred, at this point. We'll get there eventually.

As for candy cabs

Because I traveled so much for competition, I played in many... many arcades. I began to associate certain games with certain hardware. SFII in Dynamo HS-5s, MK and KI in Midway chokers, and, without fail, Darkstalkers in candy cabs. Seems sacrilege to play them any other way. I wouldn't turn down one of those funky Euro Namco cabs if they ever came my way, though. Guess I grew up a chameleon.

 

[jimbodeanny]

I began to associate certain games with certain hardware. SFII in Dynamo HS-5s

Yeah, in my youth, I recall SFII almost always being in a Dynamo/Z-back with that awful control panel slanted angle, some form of Big Blue, or any of 100 various converted cabs of sorts. The Big Blue was always my favorite and I wanted a later gen because that's what SSF2/ST came in and was featured in the flyer. Plus, they were the cabinets that Capcom used for the SSF2 tourney that our MN boys, Jesse Howard and Wes Truelson competed in back in 1994.

 

[gumby1109]

I would have to say my grail these days would be a Dragon's Lair. I have what I've always wanted and sold a few that I wish I hadn't. If I could save them all, I would. That was my take on the hobby years ago. These days I'm more selective and I've downsized my collection a bit. Holding at 40, games that is, not my age.

 

[keithkrueger]

Missile Command and Centipede are two common classics that were on my original want list 20-something years ago that I never came across a good deal at the right time.

Then some of my other original want list games I have owned multiple times: 1943, RBI Baseball, Super Hang On

 

[Phetishboy]

I have decided that I'm never going to get a Tapper. It's the only game that my wife has really asked for in the last three years, but I just can't seem to find one.

 

[64B1T]

I have decided that I'm never going to get a Tapper. It's the only game that my wife has really asked for in the last three years, but I just can't seem to find one.

My wife also really wants one. I think the last few machines we've picked up have all prompted the question "Why <this game> and not Tapper?"

Even Marble Madness, which was #2 on her list, lol. At some point I'll have to knuckle down and buy one.