Thoughts on TRON

drjones

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I have the opportunity to pick up a non-working TRON for around $400 after gas. Have only seen pictures, but the cabinet looks solid, art leaves something to be desired though not horrible. Everything lights up, monitor works, sound works, screen is garbled. TRON isn't a grail for me, though I do like the game, and I think it looks super cool. I'm not too familiar with the market on these, but it seems like nice working games fall in the $800-1000 range? It's a crapshoot at the moment without seeing it, but I'd guess absolute worst case, new boardset and art somwhere around $300? So - thoughts on this? It's a good hike, around 4 hours, and I'm on the fence.
 
I have the opportunity to pick up a non-working TRON for around $400 after gas. Have only seen pictures, but the cabinet looks solid, art leaves something to be desired though not horrible. Everything lights up, monitor works, sound works, screen is garbled. TRON isn't a grail for me, though I do like the game, and I think it looks super cool. I'm not too familiar with the market on these, but it seems like nice working games fall in the $800-1000 range? It's a crapshoot at the moment without seeing it, but I'd guess absolute worst case, new boardset and art somwhere around $300? So - thoughts on this? It's a good hike, around 4 hours, and I'm on the fence.

4 hours is quite a drive for a game you're not sure you'd like to have. If it was a grail of yours that would be different. Your uncertainty on wanting this game is eluding to the possibililty that you might get it home and then have buyer's remorse. Choose Wisely..
 
4 hours is quite a drive for a game you're not sure you'd like to have. If it was a grail of yours that would be different. Your uncertainty on wanting this game is eluding to the possibililty that you might get it home and then have buyer's remorse. Choose Wisely..

Yeah that's basically where I'm at. I want to have a TRON eventually, just wasn't sure if that price tag was a "Are you freaking kidding?!? get off your ass and go get that TRON!" sort of price tag or a "Meh. Let this one go and find one closer." sort of price tag.
 
Have you played Tron?

Tron is up on some people's lists because it's "that game." I'd still grab one at a decent price, but it's not as high on my list anymore. I remember it being more fun back in the day.

Best looking game? Arguably, yes.
Best gameplay? No.

Worth a drive across town? Sure, but 4 hours one-way... you'd better REALLY like Tron.
 
$300 for art is conservative, if all you had to replace was the side art and maybe the inner art and shroud art. if you had to replace everything, you're looking at easily $600 just for the art, plastics and translite. Darin over at PhoenixArcade has a nifty package for just such purposes. The plastics and translite are the worst culprits, since the translite is prone to cracking right in the middle, and the flourescent paint on the plastics are prone to fading.

I picked up my TRON for $50, mostly intact. But unfortunately, I'll need an almost complete package to make it minty since mine suffers from the problems above
 
I bought mine bc I'm a TRON MOVIE fan, and also bc I am blacklight freak.

The art on mine looks like podu so it's neatly nestled between another game and a wall. The front of it is all that needs to be seen for me to be happy.
 
Have you played Tron?

Tron is up on some people's lists because it's "that game." I'd still grab one at a decent price, but it's not as high on my list anymore. I remember it being more fun back in the day.

Best looking game? Arguably, yes.
Best gameplay? No.

Worth a drive across town? Sure, but 4 hours one-way... you'd better REALLY like Tron.

Yeah, played it many times, like it don't love it. More into the art and general coolness factor, though it is a fun game - thanks for the input.

$300 for art is conservative, if all you had to replace was the side art and maybe the inner art and shroud art. if you had to replace everything, you're looking at easily $600 just for the art, plastics and translite. Darin over at PhoenixArcade has a nifty package for just such purposes. The plastics and translite are the worst culprits, since the translite is prone to cracking right in the middle, and the flourescent paint on the plastics are prone to fading.

I picked up my TRON for $50, mostly intact. But unfortunately, I'll need an almost complete package to make it minty since mine suffers from the problems above

$50! Nice. Thanks for the heads up - haven't seen it in person but from the pics I'd say the only thing that really needs replaced is the side art, other art pieces look clean and intact.
 
$50! Nice. Thanks for the heads up - haven't seen it in person but from the pics I'd say the only thing that really needs replaced is the side art, other art pieces look clean and intact.

When you get it, double check the plastics with the black lights on. They may look good in person or in pics, but are notorious for losing their reactivity to the UV light over many years, and you'd never really be able to tell.
 
The garbage screen can be fixed by something as easily as cleaning the contacts on the power supply connectors, but it could be any number of things. Threads here will give you a good idea on places to start. If you can't do it, I bet cdjump could fix it for much less than the cost of a working boardset.
 
$400 for a non working TRON is OK, if the cabinet is in good shape, if it has a nice controller (Blue joystick) and all the parts. BUT I would not add a 4 hours drive on top of it.. Wait for one closer and in better shape. One local here on CL is $1200, Doubt it would sell for that much.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies. I think I'll sit this one out. A very wise local KLOV-er told me when I first started this stuff not to 'buy everything that pops up'. I think that applies here.
 
I just sold my tron in decent shape for $700. It played fine and I installed a battery backup RAM for score save. Mine cost about $400 to the door. I played it about 30 times.

I love the light cycles, but the other games were boring, imho. Tanks got nearly impossible by the 4th level. I didn't like how the "windshield" overlays get cracky over time, but the machine did look really nice in a darkened room. I'd buy one again if I thought I could flip it for profit, but I have no desire to keep one for any length of time. That itch has been scratched.
 
I didn't like how the "windshield" overlays get cracky over time, but the machine did look really nice in a darkened room.

Agreed. The black lights definitely make the game, even if it isn't that much fun. Alongside Star Wars, it's one of the five best looking cabs out there.
 
Have you played Tron?

Tron is up on some people's lists because it's "that game." I'd still grab one at a decent price, but it's not as high on my list anymore. I remember it being more fun back in the day.

Best looking game? Arguably, yes.
Best gameplay? No.

Worth a drive across town? Sure, but 4 hours one-way... you'd better REALLY like Tron.

My exact sentiments. Without a doubt, one of the coolest looking games. But for me, the gameplay is terrible. Would not own one unless it came dirt cheap and even then I would struggle with keeping it. I like games I enjoy playing. :D
 
Have you played Tron?

Tron is up on some people's lists because it's "that game." I'd still grab one at a decent price, but it's not as high on my list anymore. I remember it being more fun back in the day.

Best looking game? Arguably, yes.
Best gameplay? No.

Worth a drive across town? Sure, but 4 hours one-way... you'd better REALLY like Tron.

Agreed. It definitely helps "complete" a game room though.
 
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