Coin-Op games are still around...

...whether they are from 1977's Space Invaders, to the latest House of the Dead series... they're still around from arcade to arcade somewhere, in some form.

...the thing is, if a private owner wants to get ahold of an arcade machine, I've researched that they can be pretty damn expensive... even for an old 80's game. On-line used coin-ops & pinball machines can run into the 1000's... with MAYBE a cheap game running around 800 (with a number of visable blemishes).

...I remember my arcade around here (before they closed down for good) used to sell a coin-op game every now & then for maybe $200. This was mid to late 90's sales numbers.

...the question is. Do you know of any place that I can get ahold of to get a true coin-op game machine (or pinball) for a reasonable price (ie: under 500 beans)? Someplace where either they deliever, or they have hookups to pick it up locally?

...does anyone here have their own coin-op game (not a homemade MAME machine... I mean a TRUE coin-op game)? If so... what price did you get it for and where'd you get it from?

Well if your a SNK or Capcom fan you can get one of their fighting game machines short miles away from where I live in a mall that sells arcades...

course they range from 700 to 10,000$$$

I don't know of any place that will trade for beans.

good luck finding one under $500. I've been searching for an old ms. pac-man and the cheapest i can find is 800-900. I'd try ebay. I bought a Golden Tee 2k arcade machine for $350. I found one that was only about 2 hours from my house so I was able to go pick it up. I'd say you can find some on ebay cheaper than anywhere else.

i'll just play the ones in those game compilations like midway arcade treasures. i got a ps2 and gamecube in my dorm

Midway treasures are fine & all... but they just don't do justice like a true coin-op would do! Same goes with the MAME & those who build the MAME cabinets!

Local dealers who are willing to part with their games for new ones may consider selling theirs, but from what I know... most arcade owners usually rent their games out for just that reason... they're uber-expensive.

Why are classic arcade cabinets so expensive in the first place? You got a dated 20 to 25" color TV, a bunch of wood, and a arcade circuit ROM board that's dated technology with a coin-operated slot & controller stick. In all honesty, you'd think the used 80's games would be running for may be 200 to 400 dollars at most! It seems that they're not like today's game systems, TV's, and cars do with age... they seem to either inflate or stay steady... unless they're refurbished like new.

Supply and demand baby. Those that remember playing these games growing up will pay big bucks for the originals. Someone growing up playing Killer Instinct probably hasnt accrued the kind of money that someone who remembers playing pac-man has.

I would LOVE to own the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade cabinet
:)

Don't forget, COLLECTORS item...
collectors would pay a lifes worth of money for originals and whatnot...