What Happens When Someone Throws Away a Perfectly Good Arcade Game?
So you might have read a blog from me in the previous week that discussed how some older games are simply vanishing. In fact, only 13 percent of physical “classic” games, as it were, are being accounted for. That leaves 87 percent that have simply gone away, either to the trash or somebody’s storage or a waste bin in a thrift market or what have you.
It’s scary, to say the least. How can someone just throw away video games? They could easily give them to someone else, sell them on eBay or even take them to the local GameStop. But throw them away? Outside of them simply not working anymore, I can’t fathom an idea.
Well, it appears someone hit the mother lode of such a story this week. The Art of Atari author and game historian Tim Lapetino came across, of all things, a perfectly working Discs of Tron in the Chicago-land area this week, taken to the curb because someone didn’t want it anymore.
Let me fill you in on a little history. Discs of Tron didn’t get a high amount of arcade distribution at the time because it was a deluxe sized cabinet, meant to envelop someone into the world of Tron. It’s a skillful game where you throw discs using a joystick and an aiming spinner to knock them off the platform, while avoiding incoming strikes on your own stage. It’s much different than the original Tron arcade game, but cool nevertheless.
Anyway, while Lapetino was visiting his relatives, his niece mentioned that some Tron thing was sitting on the curb down the street. So, curious, he chose to investigate — and found the machine sitting there.
What’s more, the machine wasn’t in bad shape at all. In fact, it had only been played less than 3,000 times, according to the game’s internal counter.
Now, the game weighs about 700 pounds, so Lapetino just couldn’t throw it into the back of his car like a discarded Arcade1Up. (I’ve done that before.) So, with its size and all, he actually had to tow the machine back to his home. It’s here that he did some checking up on it, finding that it had all its original components intact, and actually worked great. Like, not even any glitches or needs to replace the screen or anything. The only thing really missing was the back glass panel, and anyone can find that relatively easy online, perhaps on eBay or even Etsy.
So this brings up two interesting points. The first is that it reiterates how easy it is for someone to throw away arcade history, rather than trying to share it with someone else. It’s a shame. We’re not sure if the family just discarded it because it reminded them of a late child, or if its size just made it a nuisance to have in the house. (Like the Time Machine replica that those idiots on The Big Bang Theory won and dragged up to their apartment.) But you can always sell something like that through Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist and, at the very least, find an interested buyer that can do more with it. My guess is that they didn’t want to even bother.
That’s a shame. We’re seeing more people that have less interest in stuff like that, mainly because they’re too bothered or they just don’t realize what they have in terms of worth. I mean, not everyone can be a gamer, but there’s always an alternate solution to simply leaving it by the dumpster, right?
And that leads to the second thing — the lucky thought that there are gaming historians out there that docare. The ones that roam the flea markets. The ones that check around at pawn shops for older games at a decent value (or jacked-up price, depending on who’s selling.) The ones that can easily pick up a broken machine and do something with it. (You’d be surprised how quickly someone can turn around a disabled Arcade1Up into a modified cabinet, I seen it.)
So, fortunately, we’re in a position where said historians and “game hunters” — and even a few “repairing” types — can actually give retro gaming a boost again. Sure, there’s a cost attached to it (which is mainly the reason why so many people turn to emulation these days, since it’s cheaper), but for those brave few, there’s significant value. I can see all these game collections online (mine included) and fully appreciate that there’s people out there that still love classic gaming.
Side note- John Riggs has been doing some awesome repair work on his channel, trying to restore broken NES cartridges. That is, when he’s not on his side gig of trying to take over the world as Dr. Robotnik. Check out his latest rescue video below.
Anyway, nice find, Tim. Let me know if you come across a decent-shaped Battletoads cabinet, eh?
Thanks for reading, everyone!
