Coleco arcade tabletop games

[kainemaxwell]

Anyone here still own these back from their release in the 80's, or have been collecting them? Are they worth getting and still playing?

[Kevin H]

I have a few. Zaxxon, 2 Mrs. Pac-man, 2 Froggers, and a couple of others. They are cool and great conversation starters.

[Pantechnicon]

I think PDF has a complete set. I scored a few of them a couple months ago for around $20 each: Galaxian, Frogger, Ms. Pac-Man and Pac-Man. Frogger needs some spare parts. I may have to cannibalize the Pac-Man for them.

And yes, they are very fun/cool to play still and people, depending on their relative age, are immediately attracted to them by virtue of either familiarity or curiosity.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I've always enjoyed the Coleco tabletop units ...

I have Pac-Man, which is relatively accurate (considering the technology and when the things were made) and still pretty darn fun with the exception of the "siren-type" sound effect which can't be turned off without opening the unit and clipping the speaker wires (or adding a switch to them).

I believe they added a sound on/off switch in the subsequent Ms. Pacman unit.

I also have a Tomy TRON unit, a BanDai Crazy Climber tabletop ...

... and the re-worked/re-issued Frogger and Space Invader units from a few years back (2005 I think).

Frogger is excellent, and I believe the same playfield LED's as the original Coleco unit ... it uses a mirror and external light like some of the Nintendo Game & Watch era tabletop units so the batteries last forever in that one.

Space Invaders isn't as good or as fun ... and for some reason has over-sized invaders and multiple playfields (you need to move from the left screen to the right screen on one static display).

If you're in the market for tabletop units, I'd say go for it, but don't spend too much, as some of them are "worth" a lot, but if you stay vigilant you can find eBay auctions that end low. Also be sure that the battery compartment areas don't have any corrosion from batteries stored in them for umpteen years.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Yep, I collected the whole set, plus the Parker Bros. Q*Bert:
http://www.thelogbook.com/earl/hizzouse/full-5/cabinet2.jpg

Of those, the only ones I picked up in recent years were Donkey Kong Jr., Ms. Pac-Man and Q*Bert. The rest I've had since I was a kid. In fact, here's a photo of me getting the Zaxxon tabletop for either my 11th or 12th birthday (I forget which) from my older brother:

http://www.thelogbook.com/earl/hizzouse/q1-07/zaxshawn.jpg

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

LOL

I love the display cabinet, the light cycles doing laps on the top ...

... and athletic top/shorts in the vintage photo!

Nothing says 80's like white stripes down the side of short-shorts.

Nice collection & great stuff!!

[Neil Koch]

Didn't a couple of these get re-released a couple of years ago when the plug-and-play craze hit? I seem to recall seeing Frogger at Spencer Gifts.

Anyway, I'd like to pick up a Galaxian if I could find one cheap. Always wanted one as a kid.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Didn't a couple of these get re-released a couple of years ago when the plug-and-play craze hit? I seem to recall seeing Frogger at Spencer Gifts.

Anyway, I'd like to pick up a Galaxian if I could find one cheap. Always wanted one as a kid.

Yes they were, read my 1st response above for reviews.

[Steve W]

I've only started buying them in the past couple of years myself. I found one out at the local flea market from the collector guy out there. Zaxxon, which I bought for $40. After that I started looking harder in thrifts for electronic toys like that. I've picked up a few handhelds since then, and last year I found a Coleco Donkey Kong in a thrift for something like $3. I wish I could find more in the wild.

[InsaneDavid]

There is a strong collectible market for these, I believe Sniderman has a full set as well and I know Videogamerdaryll had a whole slew of them at one time. In the Pictures section of my site (http://www.classicplastic.net/dvgi/index.htm) I have images and descriptions of the tabletops I own, as well as the criteria in which they were obtained and a quick explanation of the different display technologies they use.

Condition is everything with these. Be sure to check for evidence of battery leaks (not just old battery corrosion) in the battery compartment, as they have a tendency to get up onto the PCB and display and kill it. The battery doors are also something that disappears from most of these. Lastly, the stickers on the sides, top, control panel and the like can wear off and become detached over time. If you're looking for these just to play then that isn't a problem but more than likely they're going to be display pieces as well - which is why condition is such a big factor.

Also check out MiniArcade.com (http://www.miniarcade.com/) and HandheldMuseum.com (http://www.handheldmuseum.com/) for more information on tabletop arcade games.

[diskoboy]

I used to have a Frogger and DK, and I miss them, dearly.

I have no idea what happened to them, but I still have my battery door for Frogger, for some reason... Usually, those are the first things I lose.

[kainemaxwell]

Reason I asked was because I was looking at a few on ebay and was wondering what the DP folks thought of them, and advice on which to get, avoid, etc.

I did find a Pac-Man still at a low price, missing battery cover though. :(

[Damaramu]

I have one; Galaxian. It's my only one and I've had it since....81 or 82 (can't quite remember).

[NE146]

Space Invaders isn't as good or as fun ... and for some reason has over-sized invaders and multiple playfields (you need to move from the left screen to the right screen on one static display)..


Although the Frogger is the same game as the old Coleco one, the Space Invaders is simply the latest shell for the same Space Invaders they've been releasing for the past 10 years in so many different shells such as keychains, the Radio Shack dual screen, and several different other forms.


http://www.excaliburelectronics.net/Merchant2/graphics/00000004/402_CS_handheld.jpg

Incidentally I love old handhelds. They're my favorite nostalgic childhood toy. :)

[DefaultGen]

.....

[kainemaxwell]

I love the look of the Zaxxon machine. Be nice to find gameplay pics though. Is there anything i could do to keep the stickers from peeling off over time (even if I get a unit in NM condition)? I take it if i get into picking one or two of these up, I should invest a perma power set too?

[Greg2600]

In the late 80's, my cousin gave me his Popeye one from Nintendo. I think my sister dropped it down the basement stairs not longer though, and we threw it out.

kaine, given the age, I don't know how durable the Perma power's are these days? I was contemplating them for the CV EM #2 Wheel, if I ever get one that works! As for the stickers, rubber cement is usually what I fix labels with.

[Aussie2B]

I adore my Donkey Kong tabletop. It's been with me my entire life, since I assume my parents bought it for my brother when it was new, which had to be roughly around when I was born. It was one of my very first gaming experiences, possibly THE first, and I still enjoyed playing it well over a decade later. I believe one of the very first things I asked about when I got online and registered my first message board account was related to it. It's taken a beating over the years, but it still plays fine and that's what's important. Can't remember the last time I played it, though, as I can't be bothered to by the blasted batteries for it. :P

[norkusa]

A few days ago I was in a thrift store browsing thru the toy aisle. In the corner of my eye, I saw what looked like a blue Coleco tabletop arcade game. I got excited figuring I found either a Donkey Kong or Ms. Pac Man tabletop but when I picked it up, it turned out to be this:

http://excaliburproducts.com/media/ss_size2/342-sg.jpg

Family Guy Pinball?!?? Ugh.

[c0ldb33r]

It'd be a fun project to take that family guy pinball case, rip out the innards and build your own micro mame project using a micro PC. For a screen you could either buy a small LCD or somehow use a PDA screen. Get some bitching artwork on the side of it and you'd have a pretty fantastic little arcade machine :)

[Cornelius]

It'd be a fun project to take that family guy pinball case, rip out the innards and build your own micro mame project using a micro PC. For a screen you could either buy a small LCD or somehow use a PDA screen. Get some bitching artwork on the side of it and you'd have a pretty fantastic little arcade machine :)

That'd be cool, but the Family Guy pinball is Freakin' Sweet as it is! I'd have picked that up if it were cheap.

[NE146]

On a handheld note my sister snagged these for me in a recent Tokyo trip.. a new Crazy Climber handheld (previous one I have from a couple of years ago is a keychain). And of course another new Space Invaders LOL The graphics on this Space Invaders looks a lot more updated though.. so I think it's a whole new port rather than the re-released rehashes I was talking about above. I dont plan on opening them anytime soon though, so it's kind of hard to tell..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/b2stoys/crazyclimber.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/b2stoys/spaceinvaders-1.jpg

[Steve W]

It'd be a fun project to take that family guy pinball case, rip out the innards and build your own micro mame project using a micro PC. For a screen you could either buy a small LCD or somehow use a PDA screen. Get some bitching artwork on the side of it and you'd have a pretty fantastic little arcade machine :)

I've wanted to do that for some time. I have a Tapwave Zodiac that I don't use too much, but I don't have a disposable Coleco style desktop. I'd love to make it into a sweet micro arcade unit.

I'm glad this thread got dragged back up, since I just bought a Coleco Pac-Man at a thrift a few days ago! I have some repair work to do on it, though.

[Kid Ice]

It'd be a fun project to take that family guy pinball case, rip out the innards and build your own micro mame project using a micro PC. For a screen you could either buy a small LCD or somehow use a PDA screen. Get some bitching artwork on the side of it and you'd have a pretty fantastic little arcade machine :)

One of my dreams since I was 11 years old is to have something like this...the Coleco Frogger tabletop but instead of that LCD crap, it *really* plays Frogger. This just has to be do-able now.

[MarioMania]

I got a beat up Donkey Kong for the value center for like $15..the mint one's go for alot..I want a Ms. Pac-Man & Zaxxon

[Joe West]

I still have Ms Pacman.........i bought it brand new, still in grat shape

[gameofyou]

I have Donkey Kong, Frogger, Galaxian, Ms Pacman, & Pacman. They are still fun even today.

[Sanriostar]

Years ago I found a Coleco Zaxxon, and it needed some refurbishment.

Lil' hint: do *NOT* try to learn how to solder on a Coleco Zaxxon! I was on pins and needles trying to get it to work! I made unintentional shorts with too much solder, and I spent more time fixing my repairs than fixing the original problem; dead sound and one of the screens wasn't lighting up.

Learn to solder on an old heavy sixer, or a Colecovision, leave the handhelds to experts!

I'd also love to make a Coleco MAME tabletop!

[Octopod]

I had a couple of these when i was a kid but they are long gone. I would love to get a Galaxian now....hell, id love to have a whole set of them.

[c0ldb33r]

Learn to solder on an old heavy sixer, or a Colecovision, leave the handhelds to experts!
QFT! I lost a NGPC Color that way :(

[kainemaxwell]

So can one of the Coleco tabletop experts here tell if the permapacks are, or would be, still good in this day?

[gonzo90017]

I remember some years ago a member here was selling the measurements for the artwork for the coleco tabletops. Man, wish I could find a link since my frogger, pacman and galaga's artwork are pretty beat up.

[qbertandernie]

ive got a galaxian and a zaxxon...both in pretty good shape.

and a hard wired donkey kong! .... in french....

[Kid Ice]

So can one of the Coleco tabletop experts here tell if the permapacks are, or would be, still good in this day?

Mine still works.

[MarioMania]

How would someone make a MAME tabletop..Would a Pocket PC be good,

[Tempest]

I've got all of them except for Ms Pac-Man. I picked them up for $15 at one of the Phillyclassics years ago. They make a nice decoration for my game room, but I never actually play them.

Tempest

[Steve W]

Here's mine, which I also posted in the Electronic Toys thread in Off Topic. I just picked up Pac-Man, which I'm dang happy about. The Robot from Lost In Space is there to denote scale. :D
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp222/StevePW/colecoandrobot800.jpg

[Cornelius]

The Robot from Lost In Space is there to denote scale. :D
I don't often laugh out loud from something I read on the internet, but this one got me. Bravo!

[qbertandernie]

i dont care enough to go buy batteries to give you all screen shots, but the hardwired machine is easy!

i figure since im dumping everything and getting out of collecting i might as well chronicle it for everyone elses benefit...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/qbertandernie/100_2425.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/qbertandernie/100_2427.jpg

[MarioMania]

I saw one of the Tabletops online for under $30..but there's no front Labal or side arts on each side :(

Is there someone that makes Label's for the Table tops

[c0ldb33r]

I found this online today and thought of this thread. It's pretty ghetto, but it's an inkling of what I'd like to do; just replace the GBA with a micro PC or pocket PC.

http://www.litwack.org/arts-crafts/mooncade-10/

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s182/c0ldb33r/mooncade0.jpg

[jcalder8]

Since c0ldb33r was kind enough to bump this thread up I thought I would post a link to a guy who has a bunch of these listed on ebay:
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/mamascellar

[Steve W]

I found this online today and thought of this thread. It's pretty ghetto, but it's an inkling of what I'd like to do; just replace the GBA with a micro PC or pocket PC.

http://www.litwack.org/arts-crafts/mooncade-10/

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s182/c0ldb33r/mooncade0.jpg
That's a total abomination. At least the 'tard could have used a joystick wired up with two fire buttons instead of just cutting out a chunk so the Gameboy can be accessed. Man, this makes me want to punch the designer. Coleco desktops are hard enough to find as it is, why destroy one to make that monstrosity?

[Zap!]

So what's thee rarity levels on all these games? I only have two Pac-Man's (one CIB), but I wouldn't put it at more than a rarity level 5 or so.

[MarioMania]

I just won a Coleco Galaxian Tabletop for like $21.95

The only thing is it's missing Label's..where can I fine some labels

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/MarioMania/198681299_o-1.jpg

[Pantechnicon]

I found this online today and thought of this thread. It's pretty ghetto, but it's an inkling of what I'd like to do; just replace the GBA with a micro PC or pocket PC.

http://www.litwack.org/arts-crafts/mooncade-10/




That's a total abomination. At least the 'tard could have used a joystick wired up with two fire buttons instead of just cutting out a chunk so the Gameboy can be accessed. Man, this makes me want to punch the designer. Coleco desktops are hard enough to find as it is, why destroy one to make that monstrosity?

In fairness to the creator, reading his blog it sounds like he realized his reach exceeded his grasp here. If he could have implemented the original idea like a mini-ITX board inside running MAME, and a cute little control panel, this might have been a worthwhile sacrifice of a collectible item. Instead...well (there's no nice way to say this), he just decided to half-ass it. I give the idea an A, but the execution a C-.

[c0ldb33r]

In fairness to the creator, reading his blog it sounds like he realized his reach exceeded his grasp here. If he could have implemented the original idea like a mini-ITX board inside running MAME, and a cute little control panel, this might have been a worthwhile sacrifice of a collectible item. Instead...well (there's no nice way to say this), he just decided to half-ass it. I give the idea an A, but the execution a C-.
It would have been better if he bastardized a new version of this idea, for instance the family guy one that was referenced earlier in the thread. if you screw up a family guy one ... who cares ;)

[Greg2600]

Since c0ldb33r was kind enough to bump this thread up I thought I would post a link to a guy who has a bunch of these listed on ebay:
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/mamascellar
Supposedly it is an old lady who is cleaning out her basement and selling off things her "40 year old son" accumulated over the years. A pretty remarkable array of stuff though! The Star Trek Mego games are pretty sought after. The Completed Auctions are just as impressive.

[MarioMania]

Does anyone have a link, if not tell me


I just won a Coleco Galaxian Tabletop for like $21.95

The only thing is it's missing Label's..where can I fine some labels

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/MarioMania/198681299_o-1.jpg