Valentines Day Acquisition: TEMPEST

Phetishboy

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2006
Messages
47,929
Reaction score
9,392
Location
Avon, Minnesota
I had a line on one about 14 miles from me a little over 3 years ago. Dude wanted $450, and the top of the cab looked like it had been attacked by a Great White Shark. When he went to turn the machine on, nothing happened. He tried and tried, but nothing. He said sorry, I'll see if I can fix it. 3 days later he calls me, but I just didn't feel confident in the machine, so I passed. I have been mildly seeking a decent one ever since. About a month ago, I started to get more active about it. 2 weeks ago, I saw one on MPLS CL for 2 bills, but after contacting the seller, found out that I was the 2nd in line. Unbeknownst to me, 1st in line was an acquaintance of mine and fellow KLOVer, Jeff Klam. He contacted me after he picked it up as he saw I was interested in it. We agreed on a price and I picked it up with my lovely wife yesterday. Serial # 11762. Monitor looks awesome, cab is in great shape, though the marquee is trashed on the top. Game is clean inside and out, this one will just get a sanitizing, a new spinner knob, a new marquee overlay and 2 new Pokeys to fix the spinner and plyr 1/plyr 2 issues. I assume I should rebuild the ARII and the 6100, but for now, I'm gonna just clean it up and enjoy it. I'm pretty stoked:

SSL11608.jpg

SSL11607.jpg

SSL11606-1.jpg

SSL11609.jpg

SSL11612.jpg
 
Last edited:
Nice one Phet, and I also appreciate how you reference your wife, casually, in a public forum. That's respect.

So, the pokey's control the spinner and P1/P2 - since I'm having that sort of issue with my Tempest? You might have inadvertently saved me a lot of hair pulling.
 
I bought all of the parts to rebuild the 6100 when I bought my Tempest. They are still in the box. Once I got the game playable, there was no way I was going to tear it down instead of playing it. I have the parts when I need them, but until it breaks, it is fun time!

Have fun, Tempest very quickly became one of the favorites in the garage - at least for me. It appears that most people don't enjoy hard games.
 
Nice one Phet, and I also appreciate how you reference your wife, casually, in a public forum. That's respect.

So, the pokey's control the spinner and P1/P2 - since I'm having that sort of issue with my Tempest? You might have inadvertently saved me a lot of hair pulling.

She was a trooper I can tell you. Not only did she agree to go with me to pick it up, on St. Valentine's Day, she also took one for the team. While she was laying all the seats down in our Acadia for me, one of the spring loaded seat backs came back and nailed her in the face with a right cross. She was out of it all the way to Klam's place. Her silence was only broken by 3 second repeated bursts of uncontrollable laughter when she realized what she had done to herself. Awesome.
 
Last edited:
Tempest is not hard, it requires dedication. You can score very high with the option to continue at a higher level. Takes time, but it's worth it. My 5 yr old can play Tempest at level 1-5 or so without dying, and I played 6 levels with no monitor when I was restoring mine:001_ssuprised: which means it's only hard at higher levels!

The dedication part kicks in when you play long enough to be able to star at a high level on a new game and get that high score bonus for passing the "first" level.

Since it's a paddle and 2 buttons, it's very zen. You zone out, you win. That's why I love it.
 
That machine looks like it is in pretty nice shape. I commend you for talking your wife into going with you to pick it up on Valentine's Day. That takes some balls.

I myself am in the process of acquiring the parts necessary to rebuild the empty cab that recently picked up. Almost there, I just need a PCB and bezel. I would however like to pick up a new spinner knob. Is there some place that currently sells reproduction knobs?
 
Damn you, Phet. Over the past couple of weeks, I've become obsessed with getting my mitts on a Tempest.

Congrats, man. That one looks nice.
 
Damn you, Phet. Over the past couple of weeks, I've become obsessed with getting my mitts on a Tempest.

Congrats, man. That one looks nice.

Thanks man. I started getting serious about a month ago. I got lucky that one popped up locally just 2 weeks after I started looking. They're out there man, you'll find one.
 
I had a line on one about 14 miles from me a little over 3 years ago. Dude wanted $450, and the top of the cab looked like it had been attacked by a Great White Shark. When he went to turn the machine on, nothing happened. He tried and tried, but nothing. He said sorry, I'll see if I can fix it. 3 days later he calls me, but I just didn't feel confident in the machine, so I passed. I have been mildly seeking a decent one ever since. About a month ago, I started to get more active about it.


Hmm well isn't that odd... I brought mine home about a month ago...

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=118322

Grumble grumble oh uh congrats grumble grumble :)
 
Nice looking Tempest you have there, Phetishboy. I know you had been seeking one out for a while now. Good to know that good things will come to those who are willing to wait many fortnights for their glorious treasure. Glad this quest has finally come to its end. I wouldn't worry about any of the cosmetics for now. Just have fun with it! w00t!
 
That will be pretty damn awesome if you can bring yours back. Tempest might just be the game of 2010 :)

Oh it will come back, don't you worry. If I ever start to slip on getting it back together, I'll just pull out "Night of the Comet" and watch Catherine Mary Stewart play the cabaret one. Between watching her AND the game being played, it puts me in a good place. :D
 
Nice looking Tempest you have there, Phetishboy. I know you had been seeking one out for a while now. Good to know that good things will come to those who are willing to wait many fortnights for their glorious treasure. Glad this quest has finally come to its end. I wouldn't worry about any of the cosmetics for now. Just have fun with it! w00t!

It is so refreshing to have members pat you on the back when something good happens.*











*not to be confused with those times Frizz's member slaps you on the back when something good is about to happen.
 
Back
Top Bottom