Need info on Ms. PacMan Cocktail game...

[mauigamer]

Hi, I have an opportunity to purchase a original 1981 Ms. Pacman cocktail game for $1200. The cabinet is in great shape and the screen has a little bit of burn but not bad. It does not have the speed chip installed. My questions are...
Does this price seem fair?
Are original pacs worth more than brand new pac cocktails?
How hard is it to get a speed chip and install it?

Any help from arcade collectors appreciated.
Alex

[Flack]

I am by no means the most qualified person here to answer, but here's what I know.

Pac-Man and particularly Ms. Pac-Man cabinets are going through the roof right now. I saw a full-size Ms. Pac-Man cabinet bring in $1,200 recently at an auction, and the paint was faded and sanded off in some places. That's an extreme example, but I haven't seen a Ms. Pac-Man go for less than $600 in a LONG time. The "general" rule of thumb I was taught for cocktail cabinets is that they are worth between 2x-3x the value of their stand up counterparts. For some reason, Ms. Pac-Man goes for more than the original Pac-Man does, I would say a Pac-Man cocktail, in good condition, is worth $1,200. It's not a steal, but it's probably slightly under market value.

I would say that as far as the collectors market goes, the classic games will always be worth more than the new ones.

The "Speed chip" is pretty easy to install, and costs $45 from Bob Roberts (actually it includes all the roms to get your game playing like brand new). Here are links to the instructions, you'll have to judge if this is something you are capable of doing. If not, a friend who is comfortable with working on PCB's. Link: http://www.dameon.net/BBBB/speedup.html

Completed Pac-Man Cocktail - $1250
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3253077183&category=13716

Completed Pac-Man Cocktail - $1295
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3254934376&category=13716

Completed Pac-Man Cocktail - $1595
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3253833334&category=13716

Check those auctions and see if the cabinet you're looking at compares with those. I hope this information helps!

[NE146]

I think that's way overpriced.. but if people are paying that.. oh well.

[Darth Sensei]

Also, Alex has to consider that if he lives in Hawaii he has to accept whatever he can find on the island. It's not as if he can buy one in Ohio and go and pick it up. Shipping would be a killer.

D

[Flack]

Also, Alex has to consider that if he lives in Hawaii he has to accept whatever he can find on the island. It's not as if he can buy one in Ohio and go and pick it up. Shipping would be a killer.

A fact I did not know. Shipping is going to add several hundred dollars ... I'd take what I can get locally.

And, I agree with you too, NE146. I find Pac-Man and most of its variations to be some of the most boring video games ever. I'd take a Donkey Kong or a Centipede over any Pac-Game anyday.