DreamGear Mini Arcade on clearance at Target

[BadMouth]

I was at my local Target yesterday and they had these on clearance for $15:
http://www.target.com/p/dreamgear-mini-retro-arcade-machine-with-300-video-games/-/A-51163400
(still full price online)



The games are original games, not real arcade games.
Not sure what the hardware inside actually is.
Minis aren't my thing, but seems like an ok deal for a shell and color screen.

They also had a little game gear looking handheld on clearance for $10.
http://www.target.com/p/dreamgear-gamer-v-portable-handheld-system-with-220-built-in-arcade-style-video-games/-/A-51161864
I walked around with that one in my cart for a while, but decided I'd just buy some more games for my phone instead.

[pbj]

DCPI is 207-17-9010

http://brickseek.com/target-inventory-checker/

[Malenko]

DCPI is 207-17-9010

http://brickseek.com/target-inventory-checker/

Of the 20 stores within 40 miles, none have any.

[pbj]

Same here, was gonna go grab one during my lunch break.

Oh well.

[BadMouth]

DCPI is 207-17-9010

http://brickseek.com/target-inventory-checker/

Of the 20 stores within 40 miles, none have any.

Because I have nothing better to do at the moment, I checked my location.
It shows none in stock, but they had a half dozen sitting on the shelf yesterday morning.
I doubt they all sold.  It's half price, but still not crazy cheap.

Maybe they don't show when moved to clearance.
 

[pbj]

Well, thanks for the heads up.  I've never had any luck whatsoever with Target clearance items.

[JimmyU]

I wonder how hard it would be to put a Pi Zero in there.

[Howard_Casto]

Probably not hard..... unless it uses some sort of rgb connection, then it might be running at 240p or some crazy interlaced resolution. 

[danny_galaga]

I had a play of one in an electronics shop about a month ago and that screen is crazy small. Assuming the games on it are designed for that size screen, it makes me think MAME games would not be fun at all.

Novel idea, but screen would benefit from being maybe an inch bigger...

[Howard_Casto]

...would benefit from being maybe an inch bigger...

That's what she said. 

[danny_galaga]

...would benefit from being maybe an inch bigger...

That's what she said.

I try and fit in with US vernacular and look where it gets me

[Locke141]

It looks like they also have the Pac-Man Connect and Play on sale. I used one in my Vigolix build I did for a family party. My Mom still brings it to all the family parties for the little ones to play. Which is about the only good use for the thing, as an old PC or Raspberry pi running MAME is be better in ever way.

That said I would be interested in what people would do with one of these Mini arcade.

[Howard_Casto]

I've started collecting the plug n play stuff as of late, not because it's any good, but because anytime I go to a flea market or yard sell they have them for a buck or less.  I think the designs are interesting, like the Ms. pac-man with the twist stick for pole position. 

[ChadTower]

For $1 if you use it once it's worth the cost.

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah and for what it's worth, they aren't nearly as bad as people would make you think.  We are spoiled with mame and mame cabs.... for most people they are a ton of fun and honestly plugging a wire in my tv sure is easier than dealing with emulators. 

I would sure like to get a dump of that pole position rom.... it'd be nice to play that game with analog wheels. 

[Malenko]

thanks for checkin badmouth.

I went to the target at the christiania mall, they didnt have any. I only went there because I was nearby. they look neat but Im not going to traverse God's green Earth tracking one down. I paid like $20 for the MsPac Jakk's game, totally worth it.

[pbj]

It's kind of funny those TV joysticks aren't worth a $1 now.  The release of those things is precisely when the arcade price bubble popped.

[Slippyblade]

I just stuffed one of the Pac-Man plug and plays into a Tully cabaret.  It's got a little 13" TV in there.  It's wonderful.  Gonna put it in the game room and also on Craigslist for $500 and see what happens.

[ChadTower]

It's kind of funny those TV joysticks aren't worth a $1 now.  The release of those things is precisely when the arcade price bubble popped.

Arcade games are skyrocketing in value right now.  It's crazy.  Maybe it popped then but it's bigger than ever at the moment. There are GAME PCBs that are going $2k or more.  Even your basic common games like Defender are $700+.

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah it's crazy.  I'm thinking of selling some stuff. 

[pbj]

Good luck with that.

[ChadTower]

I paid for my Star Wars this year by selling off all the random Star Wars parts I had accumulated over the years along with a couple random pieces I had never used.  I've seen populated Paperboy CPs go for $750.  Major Havoc PCBs are going $1500 easy now.  I don't know where all this money is coming from but I suppose it could be the same places all the pinball money is coming from.

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah I've mostly got random parts I want to get rid of.  I'm thinking of getting rid of the gorf as well.

[Malenko]

sold my Saturn collection for $1,000
http://www.ebay.com/itm/131955088733

ebay took $120, Paypal who is also eBay, took $40

[pbj]

God, I lumped my Saturn + bigger collection of games in with a N64, Z64 and got $300 shipped 10 years ago.  Couldn't even flog it here.

Oh well.

[BadMouth]

Well, apparent scarcity made me go back and buy one of each.  Still 4 of each on the shelf.

I should have mentioned that they were in the electronics department with the pc games, not in toys.

[BadMouth]

On Tapatalk, so keeping it short.

After playing them:

No headphone jacks on either the arcade or game gear style.

Controls feel better than expected. 

All the games I tried so far on the arcade one suck pretty bad.  Most are a single play field.  Some are stupid simple, like a dinosaur catching falling balls. 

The games on the game gear style one are a bit better.  They kinda look like generic NES games.  The control is only 4-way.

Conclusion: The games aren't worth anything.   The cases are worth it for hacking or decoration.

I saw a teardown of the arcade one.  The screen is mounted on the main PCB, so I think it would be a PITA to reuse.  The housing and controls are very nice though and on a separate board.

[Howard_Casto]

I don't know if this helps you any but:

! No longer available

If you skip to 8:44 he shows a good view of the monitor pcb and it has some through holes at the top clearly labeled "video" "audio" "gnd" and "lcdoff"

My guess is pumping a signal through these would override the built in games. 

*edit*

Or they could be video out.  The only way to know is to try it. 

[pbj]

Well, apparent scarcity made me go back and buy one of each.  Still 4 of each on the shelf.

I should have mentioned that they were in the electronics department with the pc games, not in toys.

Want to trade them for some Outback gift cards?

 

[BadMouth]

Well, apparent scarcity made me go back and buy one of each.  Still 4 of each on the shelf.

I should have mentioned that they were in the electronics department with the pc games, not in toys.

Want to trade them for some Outback gift cards?

 

Nah.  I was kind of hoping that they'd be marked down to the $7 range.
If they go down that low I'll just buy them all and pass them on to BYOAC peeps.
$15+shipping+the hassle of shipping them isn't worth it yet.
Not even for outback gift cards.

[ark_ader]

I was at my local Target yesterday and they had these on clearance for $15:
http://www.target.com/p/dreamgear-mini-retro-arcade-machine-with-300-video-games/-/A-51163400
(still full price online)



The games are original games, not real arcade games.
Not sure what the hardware inside actually is.
Minis aren't my thing, but seems like an ok deal for a shell and color screen.

They also had a little game gear looking handheld on clearance for $10.
http://www.target.com/p/dreamgear-gamer-v-portable-handheld-system-with-220-built-in-arcade-style-video-games/-/A-51161864
I walked around with that one in my cart for a while, but decided I'd just buy some more games for my phone instead.

They are not on clearance, they have  some at my local target and they are full price.  Bummer.

[thomas_surles]

Saw these at Fred's today. I think I have the game gear looking one around here somewhere that someone gave me.