Elcheapo Walmart Games on Clearance

[rubberpoultry]

I just got an email from Walmart which lead me to this link:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5185227

I know most people say these suck, but I thought someone might be interested. They dropped the prices by $90.

If I had the cash I might buy one for my 2 year old....but probably not.

RubberP

[FrizzleFried]

Target was clearing these things out for $99.00 a month or so back...

[rubberpoultry]

Dang! Really? I might have spent $100 on one for the son.

[Kremmit]

From the Walmart product description:

Set it up in your dorm, basement or rec room for hours of old-fashioned fun.

Old-fashioned fun? 

Damn kids, get off my lawn!

[horseboy]

I thought lawn darts and lincoln logs were old fashioned fun. 

[Donkey_Kong]

wth is contra gyruss? 

[horseboy]

I am not sure how to describe it, but the first time I played it I barfed from motion sickness.

[bleargh]

Geez... $355 at Wal-Mart and $99 at Target?

Why can't we ever get anything like that up here in Canada.  It doesn't snow that much.

(he says as he looks out the window and sees white fluffy stuff falling on the ground)

[CheffoJeffo]

Why can't we ever get anything like that up here in Canada.  It doesn't snow that much.

Says the guy who is closer to John's Jukes and the TimeWarp Warehouse than any of us ... I would trade places with you in a heartbeat ... or I would have a few months ago when John was clearing that warehouse out.

More on topic, I would welcome the opportunity to pick one of these up cheap and hack it -- people may complain about the cabinet, monitor and controls, but all of those are easily fixed -- I can see an interesting project arising from one of these (bartop a la Jakk's hack, perhaps?)

For those who subscribe to GameRoom, check April's issue for the second part of the interview with Clay Cowgill, who is a multigame legend and worked on the guts of these things.

Cheers

[shardian]

More on topic, I would welcome the opportunity to pick one of these up cheap and hack it -- people may complain about the cabinet, monitor and controls, but all of those are easily fixed -- I can see an interesting project arising from one of these (bartop a la Jakk's hack, perhaps?)

That is how I feel. For $100, it is worth it alone for the brains of the unit. It simply plugs into the tv with A/V plugs. How easy can a hack get? Plus, they are legal.

[ChadTower]

Yeah, they're legal, those roms are way over 18 now.

[rubberpoultry]

That sale must be long over. Target lists this thing for $499 on their website.

[FrizzleFried]

Yah,  it was after Christmas stock that was being cleared out...

Here is a link here in the BST forum about it...

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=63258.0

[TOK]

For anyone planning to use these as the basis of a better machine, read up on the color reproduction on them. I can't remember specifically what the issue was, but basically they cheaped out on the hardware and the machines don't properly produce all the colors of the real games. When they came out, there was a lot of talk about washed out looking images that was attributed to the monitor, but the monitor wasn't actually the source.

[bleargh]

Sure, John's Jukes is close if you don't count it being a four hour ride to Vancouver.... hour and a half to the ferry (where you'll sit and wait an hour for the next one), hour and a half on the ferry, and another half hour into town.  Never mind cost of gas and the ferry being $50 each way.  Oh, and want to put a cabinet in the back of your truck?  You're now an "overheight" and that nearly doubles the cost of the ferry ride.  And if you didn't feel like leaving at the crack of dawn to get on the road you'll likely end up having to plan to spend a night in town too as you'll miss the evening ferries back (if you're not there by ~4pm you won't get on the last 9pm ferry) (summer line-ups).

So, uh, yeah.... mileage wise I'm close to John's Jukes and the Time Travel Warehouse, but just getting there and back to pick up a cabinet would run ~$250 plus gas and take the better part of a weekend.

[CheffoJeffo]

As I said, closer than the rest of us ... 

[bleargh]

Phhhppptttttt... 

[vr_junkie]

These can be enhanced/hacked check out this post on the Midway version:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=62024.0