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My mailbox is filled every week with questions such as this:

> I am interested in purchasing a Pac Man arcade game
> for my husband for Christmas. Can you help?

Unfortunately, I receive dozens of these requests a week... and I really like my day job. But I can give you something almost as valuable:

The Arcade Game Purchase FAQ

Hold on a second! Before I give you a list of places to visit and things to do, you've got to be absolutely sure you know what you want. You don't just want to buy "a Pac-Man". There are questions you need to have answered before you grab for the shopping cart.

What game do you want? First, make sure you know what it is you want. Most of you are looking for a specific title. Great. For the rest of you, write down a list of the top ten games you are looking for. If you need help verifying the titles, then visit the Killer List of Videogames listed in our Resources on the Internet section. You've got a good start. And be sure you know what the variations of a title mean. Pac-Man is not the same as Pac-Man Plus, or Super Pac-Man. You might enjoy Dig Dug, but would you and your friends really enjoy a Dig Dug II just as much?

What kind of cabinet? What kind of cabinet are you looking for? A full-size upright? A smaller cabaret? A cocktail table? A cockpit game you can sit in? Your selection in cabinets will have a big impact on your chance of finding the game, and how much you are going to pay for it. Uprights are the cheapest, and the most common. Cabarets are available for only a few games and are slightly more expensive. Cocktails are even more expensive and harder to find. Cockpits are usually quite a bit more expensive and slightly more difficult to find.

What condition? You need to have a very firm idea in advance what the minimum condition is you'll accept an arcade game in. Let's face it, most of these games have seen years of abuse. Some common sights include a worn down control panel, cigarette burns, scratches on the glass and cabinet, images burnt into the screen, and the assorted dent and ding. If you set your minimum as being a mint game in perfect condition, you've limited your selection and you've substantially raised the price you are going to pay once you find it. Most people are willing to buy a game with a few cosmetic flaws. It really doesn't detract from the game, and you avoid a long search and a hefty premium.

How much time do you have? If you need it next week, once again, you're going to limit your selection, and pay more money. If you've got time to hunt around, then you can figure out a reasonable price range, and investigate a number of sources. You're going to either get a game in better condition, or pay less money, or both.

How much do you have in your wallet? You may have noticed a theme here, and that's money. If you've got money to burn, you can get yourself whatever game you want, in top condition, and in less than a week. Visit your local gameroom dealer. Many of them delight in customers with little time, limited knowledge, and a pocket full of cash. If, on the other hand, you have a budget, you'll have to make some choices, do your homework, and take the time to do it right.

By now, you should be able to give a good description of the game you are looking for. Care to save some money? Care to make sure you've picked a good one? If so, you'll want to do some homework before you hit the pavement. Note: This is where most people go wrong. They're eager to get their hands on an arcade game NOW. If you don't do your homework, you risk paying too much, or making a mistake that you'll discover down the road. Absolutely do not underestimate the importance of researching before you make your first purchase.

There is a saying among arcade collectors. "The first game you buy is always your most expensive one." Like any good generality, this statement isn't always true... and doesn't have to be true... if you do your homework. A strange fact about arcade games is that the more educated you are about them and the more footwork you are willing to do, the better the games that you can get for less money. I'm not kidding!


Rules of thumb. There are a few guidelines you'll probably want to know before you hit the pavement. But these are general rules, and there are exceptions. If you find something that doesn't follow the rules, try to figure out why.

Spot the conversion. If you are looking for a Dig Dug, and you see one... but it isn't in the standard Dig Dug cabinet, you're probably looking at a game that has been converted from something else. Conversions are not worth as much as "dedicated" games which are in the original cabinet. Do not pay a premium for converted games. You might want to check out the Introduction to Conversions FAQ.

Price range. The large majority of classic arcade games fit within the price range of $200-$800. A rare game could sell for more. An unwanted title could sell for less. If you've spotted the game you are looking for, and it is outside this range, that's a red flag. Find out why. Does this game actually command a special price, or is the seller charging too much for it? Of course, just because a game is within this range doesn't mean it is a good deal. $600 is just WAY too much money for a Space Invaders. There just isn't a decent price guide for arcade games, but you may want to check out our Pricing of Arcade Games FAQ for some general information.

Keep an eye out for details. If you are buying a Centipede, for example, know what the artwork around the control panel looks like and be able to spot replacement artwork. Know what the cabinet should look like. Look for oddities in the sound and display. Look for burn-in or "dark areas" on the screen. Play the game. If you have access to an arcade game emulator, such as MAME, use it to refresh your memory on the look and feel of the game.

Okay. You've got a few rules to work with. You ready to start looking? Here are some places to start with. Each will have its own advantages and disadvantages. You'll probably want to work a combination of these to get a good feel for whats out there and how much you want to pay.

Arcade or Gameroom Dealers. Have a lot of money, but not a lot of time or information? If thats you, then this is the place to buy an arcade game. Most of these sell arcade games at a premium. Yes, even if they are a "dealer", "distributor", or "wholesaler". Be *very* careful when you visit these places, and take what they say with a grain of salt. I've heard my share of horror stories, and a comparing some of them to a used car dealer is by no means unfair. But on the plus side, they are easy enough to find, often have a good selection, and sometimes will help you find any game you want. And some will throw in a warranty.

While most collectors suggest you to steer clear of them, I suggest you visit them first! Pump them for information. See if they have what you want. Their games should be in good to excellent condition. If they have your game, chances are excellent that it'll still be there a month from now. Leave the kids at home, watch out for high-pressure sales tactics, and don't act too excited about anything. If you can't find a better deal elsewhere, you can always come back here.

eBay. You can learn a lot by watching eBay, the online auction site. The category you'll want to visit is Collectibles: Coin - Operated. Chances are slim that you'll pick up any game at an excellent price, and bidding can get WAY out of control when a group of uninformed bidders are chasing after some of the more popular games. If you end up "winning" an item, be prepared to pay an additional $75-$150 for crating and shipping. It certainly doesn't hurt to comparison shop them against the local gameroom dealer. And you might learn some important information in the item descriptions. If you can navigate around eBay fairly well, you might try looking through some of the completed auctions to get a better idea on the price and details of specific items.

USENET Newsgroups The discussion groups "rec.games.video.arcade.collecting" and "rec.games.video.arcade.collecting.marketplace" (see the Resources on the Internet page for details) are a very excellent source for games and for information. It is filled with many collectors, often quite experienced, who discuss all sorts of issues regarding arcade game collecting. And they often post messages with arcade games they have for sale, usually at reasonable prices. On the down side, in order to access the newsgroup, your browser needs to be properly configured, and the newsgroups are a little difficult to use. If you post a message without a lot of details, such as, "I want to buy a frogger. Thank you.", you'll probably be ignored. But RemarQ, a free service, provides an easy way to read and write newsgroup messages.

Arcade auctions. There are a few companies that hold arcade auctions in various cities across the US. They allow for buyers to come early to inspect the games before they're put up for bid. You'll want to inspect the games ahead of time because some have had a rough life. In the past, this has been a great way to pick up classic games at great prices. But as more and more people learn about these auctions, great deals will become less frequent. Visit our Resources on the Internet page for some links.

Local trade newspaper. I've rarely seen arcade games for sale in the local newspaper, but I regularly see them in the local publications where people post all sorts of items for sale. The "Tulsa Bargain Post" is one such publication that is local to me. Price and selection will vary greatly. And they'll be listed in all sorts of categories: "furniture", "sporting goods", "electronics", "toys", "hobbies", "collectibles". Cheap, and worth a try. Be sure to pick up the publication the day it first comes out.

Thrift stores. People will often donate arcade games to the Salvation Army, AMVETS, or other charitable organizations. Many of these organizations operate stores where they sell donated items, such as clothing, furniture, books, and yes... arcade games. The upside of this is that they usually sell the games dirt cheap. You could very well pick up an Asteroids for $50-150. The downside is that as soon as they put a game out on the floor, its sold. The selection is very random, and you're likely not to find anything for a while. If you find a store that carries arcade games now and again, your best chance to snag a game is to visit them first thing in the morning when they open their doors. Finding an arcade game at a thrift store is usually a long shot, unless you've got some inside help.

Arcades and vendors. These are the people who either run arcades, or have arcade games that they put at a location to make money. In general, they don't want to deal with someone who is just starting out, looking for their first game. There are a number of documents on the web which describe how to go about approaching a vendor, but it is not recommended for the novice. Also remember that if you are in a large city, your local vendors have been worked over on a regular basis. On the other hand, some arcades actually put price stickers on some of their games that they're wanting to sell, so it doesn't hurt to visit a few local arcades. It might even jog your memory and help you remember a game you want, or help you better refine your decision about the type of game you'd like.


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