Asteroids

[Ler6557]

Since Asteroids is one of the rare vector games, does that mean I will not be able to play it on a Wells Gardner?

[MajorLag]

You can play it on any monitor, it jost won't be in its full vector glory.

[paigeoliver]

And which Wells Gardner are you talking about? I am fairly sure that Asteroids shipped with a Wells Gardner monitor (or was it an Electrohome, I can't remember anymore).

And for that matter it isn't rare either, it is REALLY COMMON.

Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe, Space Duel, Star Wars, Tempest and Omega Race are all VERY COMMON games that had big, big production runs.

[JCKnife]

I think he meant that vector games in general are rare (relative to raster).

[Stingray]

Maybe Asteroids is common in the magical land where Paige lives (arcade machines seem to sprout from the ground there) but I haven't seen one in years. If I ever do manage to come across one locally I'd make every effort to buy it.

-S

[KenToad]

Yeah, I agree with Stingray, haven't seen an Asteroids or for that matter a vector game anywhere since the early nineties.  Maybe collectors have been hoarding these things?  It would seem common if you saw one every day, right?  I'm not really one to go to any big auctions, either.  maybe they're a dime a dozen at the fabled SuperAuction?

KenToad

[paigeoliver]

The Atari Vectors are out there, and are common, they just don't get flipped as much as other titles. Check the VAPS stats, the single most common DEDICATED game on VAPS.org is Tempest.

Collectors tend to buy and sell the non-vector titles more often, while the vector titles just get hoarded. Superauctions is usually good for 1-4 B&W Atari vectors and maybe a color one every other auction.

[Paladin]

I recently bought all the electronics for an Asteroids, but haven't been able to find an empty Asteroids cabinet to put them in yet.  In the mean time I've got them in my Tempest project cab.

I guess that makes it a Temperoids, or would it be an Aspest?  Either way it sounds like a painful condition in need of some cream.

[JoyMonkey]

I recently bought all the electronics for an Asteroids, but haven't been able to find an empty Asteroids cabinet to put them in yet.  In the mean time I've got them in my Tempest project cab.

I guess that makes it a Temperoids, or would it be an Aspest?  Either way it sounds like a painful condition in need of some cream.

Temperoids are very inconvenient. I had one last year and couldn't sit properly for two weeks!

[Stingray]

The Atari Vectors are out there, and are common, they just don't get flipped as much as other titles. Check the VAPS stats, the single most common DEDICATED game on VAPS.org is Tempest.

Hard to believe. I haven't seen a Tempest in probably 15 years. Oh how I'd love to come across one for sale in my area.

I think I'd rather have Temperoids than Permeroids.

-S

[SirPoonga]

The Atari Vectors are out there, and are common, they just don't get flipped as much as other titles. Check the VAPS stats, the single most common DEDICATED game on VAPS.org is Tempest.

Yeah, very common, I have one!

They used electrohome.  Actually, they used a couple different models according to the asteroid repair guides out there.

[paigeoliver]

You just don't see them because people never sell them. The Atari vectors are permanent features in the gamerooms of most serious collectors. Everytime I go do a deal with someone and check out an awesome gameroom I always see Atari vectors. Asteroids, Tempest and Star Wars mostly, but I also see a lot of Battlezone, Ast Delux, Space Duel and have even spied a few Gravitars, Black Widows and Lunar Landers. Never seen a Quantum though, although I have seen several converted Quantum cabinets.

On the topic of converted cabinets, the I-Robot rarity story is total BS. If there were only 500 of them in the US, then I must have seen 400 of them converted to Choplifter!

[ChadTower]

I don't see very many Vectors out there... what I see constantly are MVS cabinets.  Cheap, excellent shape MVS cabs.  They are everywhere.

[JB]

If I recall, Asteroids is supposed to be Atari's best-selling game ever. Wouldn't exactly make sense for it to be rare.

[Stingray]

I don't see very many Vectors out there... what I see constantly are MVS cabinets.  Cheap, excellent shape MVS cabs.  They are everywhere.

I agree with that. I decided I wanted an MVS and found one locally within a week. I decided years ago that I want a Tempest. Still waiting on that one to show up.

-S

[spidermonkey]

The first Asteroids cabs were released with the Electrohome GO5-801 and then replaced by the more reliable and more common GO5-802. I have a nonworking Asteroids with a GO5-801 that is in need of repair. I'm not sure if its a board or monitor problem but I'm trying to find someone in the New Jersey area to take a look at it and I'm not having very much luck. As soon as I mention "vector game" to a local arcade repair man, they practically hang up on me . Anyone know of someone in the Jersey area who isn't afraid of broken vector games ?

[SirPeale]

Anyone know of someone in the Jersey area who isn't afraid of broken vector games ?

Not in the Jersey area, but there's a guy on the KLOV forums that works on these.  Goes by the nick 'TexasHotShot' and his rates are reasonable.

[ChadTower]

The first Asteroids cabs were released with the Electrohome GO5-801 and then replaced by the more reliable and more common GO5-802. I have a nonworking Asteroids with a GO5-801 that is in need of repair. I'm not sure if its a board or monitor problem but I'm trying to find someone in the New Jersey area to take a look at it and I'm not having very much luck. As soon as I mention "vector game" to a local arcade repair man, they practically hang up on me . Anyone know of someone in the Jersey area who isn't afraid of broken vector games ?

You should just spend the cash on the Fromm vector repair video... great stuff and well worth $40.

[Flinkly]

where do you guys find mvs cabs?  i've been looking for one for like two years.  thats where my arcade addiction started, and hasn't been totally quenched since i've never found a cabinet.  anything i'm missing?  should i start asking at the local shops?  i guess i've just got crappy luck.

[shmokes]

Temperoids aren't so bad.  At least they aren't permanent.


Wocka wocka wocka!!!

[tommy]

I havent seen many cabs at all except at the huge arcade places, but i have seen many mvs cabs here and there, thats all i can find.

[paigeoliver]

The first Asteroids cabs were released with the Electrohome GO5-801 and then replaced by the more reliable and more common GO5-802. I have a nonworking Asteroids with a GO5-801 that is in need of repair. I'm not sure if its a board or monitor problem but I'm trying to find someone in the New Jersey area to take a look at it and I'm not having very much luck. As soon as I mention "vector game" to a local arcade repair man, they practically hang up on me . Anyone know of someone in the Jersey area who isn't afraid of broken vector games ?

There is a guy on klov.com doing those repairs via mail order now. He does both your monitor and your boardset. He has a website at http://www.hyperspacearcade.com

[Stingray]

where do you guys find mvs cabs?  i've been looking for one for like two years.  thats where my arcade addiction started, and hasn't been totally quenched since i've never found a cabinet.  anything i'm missing?  should i start asking at the local shops?  i guess i've just got crappy luck.

Found mine through one of the members at Atari Age. Your best bet is to post wanted ads in all of the gaming related forums that you visit regularly. You'll probably be amazed at how many local arcade collectors turn up once you start seriously looking.

-S

[ChadTower]

There is really only one yearly auction here in MA.  I went last year for the first time, there were probably 8 MVS cabs and they were the least bid on machines there.  Some of them had expensive carts in them, too.  By the end of the auction, people were getting them on $75 bids because no one else cared.

[clanggedin]

Sorry for my retardedness, but what does MVS stand for?? It's a NEO-Geo cab right??

[ChadTower]

Yes.

[Thenasty]

I think I'd rather have Temperoids than Permeroids.

-S

at least you are not asking for Hemorrhoids

[SirPeale]

The first Asteroids cabs were released with the Electrohome GO5-801 and then replaced by the more reliable and more common GO5-802. I have a nonworking Asteroids with a GO5-801 that is in need of repair. I'm not sure if its a board or monitor problem but I'm trying to find someone in the New Jersey area to take a look at it and I'm not having very much luck. As soon as I mention "vector game" to a local arcade repair man, they practically hang up on me . Anyone know of someone in the Jersey area who isn't afraid of broken vector games ?

There is a guy on klov.com doing those repairs via mail order now. He does both your monitor and your boardset. He has a website at http://www.hyperspacearcade.com

Same guy as I posted above, but Paige was nice enough to include a URL.  Thanks, Paige!

[Stingray]

Sorry for my retardedness, but what does MVS stand for?? It's a NEO-Geo cab right??

Multi Video System

-S

[spidermonkey]

Sorry for the late reply guys but thanks for the help. Very helpfull link Paige

[Joystick Jerk]

... but I haven't seen one in years.

In many cities, one could say this about arcade games in general.

[Timoe]

An image of my asteroids can be seen here.





(just kidding its my bosses collection[cruisin usa not pictured)

he actually has 3 asteroids machines.

[Dire Radiant]

Yeesh...you don't have to be rich to collect arcade machines but it helps!

[telengard]

An image of my asteroids can be seen here.


(just kidding its my bosses collection[cruisin usa not pictured)

he actually has 3 asteroids machines.  Apparently one at each of his 'main' houses.

Hey I have a swopper chair too.  All I need now is all the games and I'll have myself a cool gameroom.   

~telengard

[dphirschler]

I thought I'd let you guys know that your information within this thread might just save another Asteroids machine.  My friend has been frustrated by his for some time now (over two years) and was very hopeful about the links I gave him from this thread.  I told him to get used to seeing my high score on his machine when he gets it fixed!   


Darryl

[nostrebor]

An image of my asteroids can be seen here.





(just kidding its my bosses collection[cruisin usa not pictured)

he actually has 3 asteroids machines.  Apparently one at each of his 'main' houses.

This guy is no serious collector! Just look at all that space between his machines. You could easily get 4 more uprights against that wall. And where is the Rough Ranger! No collection is complete without Rough Ranger.

What a lightweight









 

[DarkKobold]

And where is the Rough Ranger! No collection is complete without Rough Ranger.

I'd have to agree. No collection is complete without some semblence relating the collection to homoerotic fantasies.... Uh, yeah....

[ChadTower]

Cool!  One of my pins has a disconcertingly homoerotic backglass.  My collection can be complete one day!