Asteroids - Worth It?

[FrizzleFried]

Alright....

I have a gentleman willing to sell me a working Asteroids in a "pretty beat up cabinet,  but with no water damage" for $300.00...

...waiting for pictures...and he is local.

Worth it?

[ChadTower]

Yes, if it's working.  If not, just talk him down some, Asteroids is a great game and all vectors are worth saving.

[FrizzleFried]

Does Asteroids use the same XY as Tempest?

[Jeff AMN]

Save the vectors!

Yeah, I'd bite at that price.

[CheffoJeffo]

Does Asteroids use the same XY as Tempest?

Nope -- Asteroids is BW.

Definitely worth saving.

Cheers.

[FrizzleFried]

Does Asteroids use the same XY as Tempest?

Nope -- Asteroids is BW.

Definitely worth saving.

Cheers.

Oh yeah forgot about the color/bw difference.

[ChadTower]

There were a lot more b/w vectors made than color vectors.  These days it seems like b/w parts are just as hard to find, though, since more people have gone to more effort to save the color monitors.

Either way, they're not as different from rasters as people think.  If you're skilled enough to work on one you're skilled enough to work on the other.

[horseboy]

Get it for sure if it works. There is some good Asteroids repro artwork to be had. You can make that thing look nice if you put a little dough into it. Also, finding a good condition empty/converted Asteroids cab isn't the hardest thing in the world.

[ArtMAME]

Yes!!! If it is working that is an awesome price.  All Asteroids artwork is readily available for restoration.  Yeah it is an investment, but definitely a great investment and worth it. 

[FrizzleFried]

This is how he describes the cabinet to me:

It Is an original cabinet. The top right corner has a couple Inches broke
off. and It looks like some body tipped It over In a pickup at one point and
It landed on a tailgate I'm guessing. So looking at the monitor on either
side there Is a little of the cab damaged where It landed on whatever. A
little bondo and black paint and It would be fine. The cardboard monitor
bezel and plexi are fine as well as the Marquee. Also the painted sideart Is
Intact with the normal wear and tear you would see on these. It's not that
bad I've had It In my garage with all the rest of my games for a couple
years now.  I just wanted you to know that there Is some damage to the
cabinet. I would take a pic for you but I don't have a digital camera. If
your Interested In doing the deal with the Asteroids It would probably be
best for you to come and look at It.

I am,  of course,  going to go take a look at it.   This deal is coming down because he wants my Joust.  I don't play the darned thing nearly enough (maybe 20 credits since I have owned it).  He is a collector and has many cabs...i think the Joust will find a good home there.

The two offers on the table are:

A 25" Wells Gardner arcade monitor + a 19" black-out bezel + a Galaga Marquee (used) + $400 cash

or

A 25" Wells Gardner arcade monitor + a 19" black-out bezel + a Galaga Marquee (used + the Asteroids cabinet + $100 cash

He gets my Joust cabinet and the 6800GT video card that I have been trying to off both here and craigslist for about $100.

A slight twist to this deal is that I also have another guy who wants $500 for a Tempest cocktail...he said he was flexible...we shall see how flexible he is...I've offered him the $300...let's see if he bites (doubtful,  but who knows).

[SavannahLion]

Either way, they're not as different from rasters as people think.  If you're skilled enough to work on one you're skilled enough to work on the other.

I've been wondering, when reading pages like the Repair FAQ for Atari vectors, I get the impression that the tube isn't what defines whether a monitor is vector or rastor, but rather the circuitry controlling the scan gun. How come no one has come forward and created a retrofit circuit board to convert rastors to vectors. There's an adapter out there that allows vector PCB's to interface to a rastor monitor without blowing things up, why haven't the next step been taken? Is the actual circuitry in the tube itself?

Even if the retrofit only works for specific monitors, that would go a long way to allowing your average Joe (like me) to obtain vector games with the hopes of actually having a working vector monitor with them. Even better, it might bring forth something like a VectorMAME that directly utilizes vector monitors.

I like both Asteroids and Tempest, so I can't say whether to go with one or the other.

[ChadTower]

I've been wondering, when reading pages like the Repair FAQ for Atari vectors, I get the impression that the tube isn't what defines whether a monitor is vector or rastor, but rather the circuitry controlling the scan gun.

Yes, almost correct.  The circuitry is the major key but coincedentally a lot of vector monitors use a tube with a slightly different deflection angle than most rasters.  So there are really two major considerations:  the monitor chassis and the tube deflection angle.  If you have a tube with the right angle you can swap a tube from a raster into a vector.

How come no one has come forward and created a retrofit circuit board to convert rastors to vectors.

Mostly because of lack of demand coupled with proprietary, expensive to reproduce parts on the vector chassis (most notably the HV transformer).  Let's face it, as cool as it would be, that's an expensive proposition to only sell a couple hundred units.

There's an adapter out there that allows vector PCB's to interface to a rastor monitor without blowing things up

If you're talking about the ZVG, that's not what it does.  If you're talking about something else, please post a link, as I have never seen a vector PCB -> raster monitor adapter.

VectorMAME that directly utilizes vector monitors.

There is a VectorMAME that works in conjunction with the ZVG.

[MameMaster!]

not to derail this....but why is it when ever someone is selling something "slightly damaged" or "mint" that they conveniently DON'T EVER own a digital camera......I don't even see how that's possible these days....

The last time I went to check out a "mint" condition DK machine (he had NO photos to email me---and I drove almost 2 hours to see it)...it was a TOTAL disaster. 1/3 of the screen wasn't even working......the marquee was gone....liberal amounts of cigarette burns etc etc......and worse.

I'm just sayin'.

Good luck though....you may be able to offer $225 or so if it needs a lot of work....

[ahofle]

Tell him no one wants Asteroids machines anymore, show him this video, and then offer to take it off his hands for $100. 

Warning, do not watch if you have a weak stomach: 

[SavannahLion]

If you're talking about the ZVG, that's not what it does.  If you're talking about something else, please post a link, as I have never seen a vector PCB -> raster monitor adapter.

Worse yet, what I did see isn't an adapter per se, it's an emulator on a chip. Seems I got ZVG and the EoaC mixed up in my head. 

[shorthair]

Oh yeah forgot about the color/bw difference.

Now, see, I could jump all ova yo ass on this cos to me this would be a no-brainer. But, why would I do that?

[FrizzleFried]

Oh yeah forgot about the color/bw difference.

Now, see, I could jump all ova yo ass on this cos to me this would be a no-brainer. But, why would I do that?

Please...---my bottom--- is reserved.  It is not to be jumped.  May I suggest one of those "alternative" forums?

[CheffoJeffo]

Oh yeah forgot about the color/bw difference.

Now, see, I could jump all ova yo ass on this cos to me this would be a no-brainer. But, why would I do that?

Who the heck is shorthair and what the heck does he keep trying to say in these threads ?

[ChadTower]

Please...---my bottom--- is reserved.  It is not to be jumped.  May I suggest one of those "alternative" forums?

My boot has standing reservations on his ass.

[Zakk]

Please...---my bottom--- is reserved.  It is not to be jumped.  May I suggest one of those "alternative" forums?

My boot has standing reservations on his ass.

Is that what you kids are calling it these days?