Page 14 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #8
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games in the Bargain Corner.
Minutes after Minch’s call, a
second potential buyer phoned in
for directions to pick up the
games. The seller incorrectly
assumed it was Minch calling
back.
When Minch called to confirm
that he could transport the
machines, the confused seller
informed him that he had given
the second caller directions and
Minch now had a race on his
hands. Though Minch won that
particular race, he didn't get
away as cleanly as he hoped after
stopping at a nearby gas station
to fuel up for the ride home: "I
was standing at the pump filling
my tank when this truck pulled op machines, the boat carrying retro gaming party when Minch
into the gas station and a guy got 500 of them to Japan sunk while opens up his house to friends. At
out and walked over to my trailer crossing the Atlantic -- making it a recent housewarming party,
and began looking at the one of the most sought-after Minch's friends crowded into his
machines. I asked him, ‘Can I games regardless of the fact that basement mesmerized by the
help you with anything?’ and the Quantum never really clicked glowing screens as they went
man inquired as to if these were with gamers. head to head in a variety of Pac-
the machines that he himself was Man variants (Minch has the
currently en route to How was Minch able to secure gameboard modified to include
purchasing.” When Minch such a rare find? Word of mouth: numerous incarnations of the
confirmed that they were, the Minch came across Quantum popular yellow pellet muncher),
second place driver made no when a friend informed him of a practiced their sharpshooting in
attempts to hide his frustration. guy who was preparing to Rolling Thunder, and
"He was pretty pissed off," said demolish a nearby warehouse experienced the dirt tossing fun
Minch with a small, sympathetic that had some machines of Dig Dug or the double-fisted
chuckle that suggested he knows gathering dust. Though Minch joystick bliss of Black Widow.
what it's like to be on the losing generally collects more for actual
end of that particular race. gameplay than for the rarity of a As for those looking to start their
machine, the prospect of own personal arcade, Minch
As for his "holy grail" purchase, repairing and owning a Quantum recommends starting on the
Minch is lucky to own one of the coin-op proved too much to internet, with the Killer List of
games he has always wanted resist. Another fairly rare game Video Games (www.klov.com)
most: Atari’s Quantum, rumored that Minch owns is Reactor, a offering a comprehensive
to be one of the rarest games purchase he made from an inventory on all known arcade
currently in circulation. Minch advertiser in the Bargain Corner machines as well as manuals and
notes that vector-based games who had the machine sitting schematics for the technically
are some of the most difficult to dormant in a basement. inclined buyer. Newsgroups also
repair as a result of their fairly Other games that Minch served as a great resource
sophisticated technology, though currently owns and cites as his according to Minch, with RGVAC
with a little time and the favorites include Asteroids (rec.games.video.arcade.collectin
purchase of some parts, boards, Deluxe, Centipede, and his four- g) keeping the arcade-collecting
and monitors, he soon had the player Warlords cocktail table, community connected and
game in working order. Rumor with such fan favorites as Star offering an ideal means to
has it that although Atari Wars, Battlezone, and Road exchange tips and information
produced 1,000 Quantum coin- Blasters making for one hell of a with fellow collectors.
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