What the heck happened to this hobby while I was gone

tigerstyle

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What the heck happened to this hobby while I was gone

I left the hobby a few years ago when I sold all my arcade cabinets, but I still kept a bunch of boards, just in case.. I'd be back, I told myself. Well now I'm back. I bought one of those supergun boards on ebay and it works perfectly.

But.. What the f*ck happened? Ebay feels empty now compared to how it was around 2008-2012. The prices went up to insane levels ($200+ for sf2 turbo?!), and the market is flooded with endless multi boards.. Working Mortal Kombat sets are selling for 200-300?!

There's isn't much stuff anymore at all for sales.. It's all gone. Also, the few japanese sellers left have all gone insane with their prices.

Is everybody hoarding all their boards now? Is everybody simply using those damn Pandora multiboards to play?

Did I miss something? I think I have missed a memo or something while I was gone..
 
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Do you remember all those old people who use to complain about how things use to cost?

Welcome to old age. Laughs.

The problems of getting involved a limited supply product that is getting popular again.
They are not making them anymore. Price goes up until the collectors start dieing off.

Blame other collectors, barcade and all those hipster who think owning an arcade machine is cool.
 
I left the hobby a few years ago when I sold all my arcade cabinets, but I still kept a bunch of boards, just in case.. I'd be back, I told myself. Well now I'm back. I bought one of those supergun boards on ebay and it works perfectly.

But.. What the f*ck happened? Ebay feels empty now compared to how it was around 2008-2012. The prices went up to insane levels ($200+ for sf2 turbo?!), and the market is flooded with endless multi boards.. Working Mortal Kombat sets are selling for 200-300?!

There's isn't much stuff anymore at all for sales.. It's all gone. Also, the few japanese sellers left have all gone insane with their prices.

Is everybody hoarding all their boards now? Is everybody simply using those damn Pandora multiboards to play?

Did I miss something? I think I have missed a memo or something while I was gone..

You ain't seen nothing, brother. Empty Quantums are selling for $4,000 and reproduced/fake Zoo Keepers are commanding $2500!
 
Try to buy a Simpsons or TMNT. I should've picked them up 5 years ago when I could get one around the $450 range, now good if not fair condition will set you back over $1000 asking price.
 
Do you remember all those old people who use to complain about how things use to cost?

Welcome to old age. Laughs.

The problems of getting involved a limited supply product that is getting popular again.
They are not making them anymore. Price goes up until the collectors start dieing off.

Blame other collectors, barcade and all those hipster who think owning an arcade machine is cool.

You calling me a "hipster"?
 
Try to buy a Simpsons or TMNT. I should've picked them up 5 years ago when I could get one around the $450 range, now good if not fair condition will set you back over $1000 asking price.

Dont forget paperboys and 720's fetching over 3K
 
I left the hobby a few years ago when I sold all my arcade cabinets, but I still kept a bunch of boards, just in case.. I'd be back, I told myself. Well now I'm back. I bought one of those supergun boards on ebay and it works perfectly.

But.. What the f*ck happened? Ebay feels empty now compared to how it was around 2008-2012. The prices went up to insane levels ($200+ for sf2 turbo?!), and the market is flooded with endless multi boards.. Working Mortal Kombat sets are selling for 200-300?!

There's isn't much stuff anymore at all for sales.. It's all gone. Also, the few japanese sellers left have all gone insane with their prices.

Is everybody hoarding all their boards now? Is everybody simply using those damn Pandora multiboards to play?

Did I miss something? I think I have missed a memo or something while I was gone..

Welcome back, man! I remember seeing you around a lot back when I joined :)

Yeah, it's gotten crazy now. In a good way for selling, bad way for buying. Glad I got all my classics in the old days. Paid sub 1000 for Tron, sub 300 for Dig Dug... good luck getting Dig Dug for less than a thousand now after Stranger Things LMAO. Can't even imagine affording the classic Namco lineup I have if I was trying to do it at today's prices.
 
Might as well skip right to the old saying... "It's your classic case of supply and demand"

Supply of games is at an all-time low. While at the same time...the demand is at an all-time high. Thus...prices are getting pretty wacky.

Unless there is a freak-event that causes a sharp downward turn in the economy, then I don't see this trend changing for at least 10 years.

Heck, some boards cost more to repair than they would have previously cost to just buy a fully working board.

This is why it's great to see things like FPGA/ArPiCade/ArcadeSD.

I love an original game just like the next guy but with the way things are trending, those boards become more and more attractive.

It's not like any of these games are still getting made so one could argue that FPGA is the affordable future of the hobby.
 
simple supply and demand, but show me any costs that haven't gone up drastically in the last 5-10 years.... healthcare, insurance, cars, houses, etc. nothing has stayed the same price unfortunately.
 
The switchers out there are also causing a rise in prices. People have only so much room for the actual cabinet, but a switcher allows you to run multiple PCB's.
 
Yeah, many more "average joes" are picking up a game or two... and oftentimes those are... the dreaded multigame.
 
In before the lock. LOL (bunch of hipsters) :004_ssuprised:

>> A Canadian selling off his games? Unheard of ...
Good luck finding replacements.
 
I blame all of these clowns with

buns on the top of their heads and big weird beards.
 
It's also worth noting that the internet has really changed the arcade hobby landscape. (Just like it has changed many other hobbies)

Sure, the internet has been around for a while but more specifically YouTube and Arcade-related channels have really taken off. Spreading the awareness of the hobby and reaching thousands of people that would have otherwise stood on the sidelines.

All these YouTube channels are providing a really great wealth of information but they are also inspiring and motivating thousands of people to pick up their own game or 2.

People start thinking "Hey, I could buy, fix and maintain my own game!" It makes people feel less intimidated to enter the hobby.
 
Welcome back, man! I remember seeing you around a lot back when I joined :)

Yeah, it's gotten crazy now. In a good way for selling, bad way for buying. Glad I got all my classics in the old days. Paid sub 1000 for Tron, sub 300 for Dig Dug... good luck getting Dig Dug for less than a thousand now after Stranger Things LMAO. Can't even imagine affording the classic Namco lineup I have if I was trying to do it at today's prices.
Dig Dug is one I wouldn't mind getting. I thought they were more in the 700 ish range but I admit I haven't followed prices that close. I too remember when it was 300 game. :)
 
Dig Dug is one I wouldn't mind getting. I thought they were more in the 700 ish range but I admit I haven't followed prices that close. I too remember when it was 300 game. :)

They might be, I haven't seen one listed by a collector in a while, just going by what I've seen posted around in the immediate hype. Still way too rich for my blood now and makes me very happy to have bought one when I did :D
 
Yes, it is getting insane out there. I just re-entered the hobby myself after a couple year break. Having said that, deals are still to be found. Since the year has started I have picked up 3 games - a Defender for $200 (sadly with a 19 in 1), a Space Invaders Part II Taito cocktail, and a dirty, beat up but working (well, when I bought it, anyway) Asteroids for $150.

Of course it's a PITA and you have to be quick and 1st...but deals can still be found.

I like what the poster above said about youtube etc. I also believe that most of these new hobbyists just want a game or two or possibly just a multigame or bartop.

Don't worry, next economic crash and everyone will go back to buying cheap games and whining that people hitting them up on craigslist are low ballers. It's a neverending, vicious cycle.
 
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