Page 10 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #6

T T are actually quite efficient at their jobs, but just tell that A real pinball playfield, complete with disco-era

he date? November 11th, 2000. The time?
to my inner child, who is seconds away from walking
artwork (dig the dancing queen with her spa-
5:15 am. The sound? The annoying *BUZZ
into his dream arcade! They hand us our bidder cards,
ghetti strap dress!), is mounted inside the cabi-
BUZZ BUZZ* of my alarm clock. The rea-
white monitor reflects onto the playfield to pro-
8:30 am. Bill and I are scoping out the rows and
son? A gigantic arcade auction being held in Timo- and we walk in. net, illuminated with black light. A black and
nium, Maryland with the possibility of finding some rows of games. There must be at least 300 video vide the graphics for the flippers, the score, the
cool piece of arcade history for really cheap. This is games and 100 pinballs. Maybe more. Incredible! The drop targets, and the ball itself. Remarkably,
my third auction, and I am by no means an expert hall is divided, with the newer videos and all the pins after a few minutes of jumbled graphics, the
just yet. My first auction was four years ago, when a located on the right hand side as you walk in; the clas- game works fine!
local arcade closed its doors after 18 years in the sic videos and other items like jukeboxes, video slots, In one of the back rows sits a lonely,
business. I was a little intimidated, and I didn't bid on and crane machines are on the left. In the middle of unloved Tornado Baseball. This mid 70's piece
anything. The second auction, also in Timonium, the hall, bisecting the left and right rows of games is has cleaned up nicely, but a note taped to the
was last November. I went with intent to buy, but maybe 200 or so folding chairs for the bidders to take game says that it won't fire up. Perhaps some-
was outbid on every piece I wanted. I left in a foul a load off when the auction begins. In front of the thing simple, perhaps not, but such a beautiful
mood. This time will be different. Why? Because I chairs, facing them, are the small items, such as cabinet to look at. We also see many games
am going WITHOUT the intent to buy. I am that you just don't hear that much
going to look around, network with other col- about anymore. A Mousetrap in good
lectors, play some old games for free, and just shape, but with some kind of ROM
enjoy the experience. Plus, I've promised Se- problem that keeps the game from
leen that I won't clog up the house with more firing up properly. A Bagman in very
games. I have six machines in our game good condition, but with a glitch that
room, and room for no more. But that doesn't resets the motherboard every few sec-
eliminate the possibility of bidding on parts or onds. An Amidar in the sky blue cabi-
motherboards! net that looks like it was pulled straight
6:45 am. This is a wacky sight. Here I am, out of 1982! No fading or scratching of
sitting on the stairs leading into my friend Bill's the art, monitor is vibrant, controls are
basement, eating a medium well steak. At a tight. Someone's gonna be happy with
QUARTER TO SEVEN in the morning! Prime this baby!
steak eatin' time if you ask me! Bill is a long 9:30 am. By this time, we are get-
time friend who just started to collect arcade ting a little hungry again. We get some
games within the past year. He's gotten some hot dogs (more meat!) from the lunch
incredible deals and some great games in that tables set up in the rear of the room,
time, but he's never been to an auction be- and proceed to check out the newer
fore. Right now, he's on the internet, checking games. This area is where the games
last minute info like directions and entry fees and cocktail table videos, countertop poker, baseball and with the larger cabinets and 25 or 33 inch moni-
stuff like that. Oh yeah, why a steak? Bill didn't have trivia machines, old style table top jukeboxes from tors are placed. Lots of Mortal Kombat 4, Max i-
anything else in the house as he needed to go to the ancient diners, neon beer signs, billiard lights, and mum Hangtime, Area 51, and similar games
grocery store. He cooked half for himself, and the other assorted game room related items. are stashed. Most of these are in very good
other half for me. I don't care, it tastes great! Surveying the classic vids, I spot a decent shape, due in part, no doubt, to the fact that
8:15 am. We arrive. The anticipation is killing me. Galaxian machine with very nice side art, but a dam- these games are maybe only a few years old,
The auction is held in a large warehouse-style build- aged joystick. It looks like somebody chipped half of compared to the 15 to 20 year age of your av-
ing at the Maryland State Fairgrounds. Initially, the ball top away with a hammer and chisel! The erage classic. There are quite a few Golden
you have to sign in, let them photocopy your driver's game still works fine, though, and I play a free game. Tee '97s, and '98s, probably traded in at the
license, give them a $5 entry fee, and a $100 de- We also see tons and tons of Galagas and Ms.Pac- local bars for the newest Golden Tee title. We
posit. No big deal here, since if you don't buy Mans. All are at least in good shape, and many have take special interest in the older pinballs. And
anything, you get your $100 back. If you buy some- been restored to the point of incredible beauty! Vibrant when I say "older," I mean 1950's! These ma-
thing that totals more than $100, then your deposit is colors on both the monitors and the cabinet art, tight chines are so much narrower that your modern
applied to the total cost of the item. If you buy some- and responsive joysticks, and clear sound from the pinball, and it was cool to see the coin doors
thing totaling less than $100, you get the difference speakers instantly takes me back to that 7-11 I used have 10 cent coin slots! A worn sticker on one
back. It seems to take forever. I know these people to play many of the games at "back in the day." I know of the games reads something like...
these games will go for a hefty price, as Ms.Pac "REWARD for
and Galaga hold the honors as the most information on
"desirable" arcade games among everyday collec- anybody using
tors. Further scoping reveals several very nice slugs in this ma-
Battlezones, all with crystal clear vector monitors, chine." I wondered
drawing the images of the enemy tanks with un- if there really was
surpassed clarity; two Centipedes, both in great a reward, and if
cosmetic shape, but one just doesn't turn on. It anybody ratted
could be something as simple as a $2.99 fuse... somebody out for
could be the power supply, or the motherboard. using the fake
An original Pac-Man sits proudly in the first row. A coins. If so, that
beautiful specimen with the sunshine yellow of the person probably
cabinet such a stand out from the flat black cabi- got pummeled by
nets you generally find in arcades today. The joy- a gang of greas-
stick is a little loose, but that's an easy fix. This ers the next time
one should go for reasonably high as well. he was alone!
In amongst the more well-known games, we Another strange
were astonished to see several old black and thing about these
white monitor arcade classics, like Atari's Video machines is that
Pinball. It’s still a striking masterpiece of a game. the women on the

Classic Gamer Magazine Spring 2001 10