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Computer Space


xCoduster

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Hi, as of right now I haven't found a way to obtain a copy of the discountinued homebrew port of Computer Space. I'm therefore asking if anyone has the rom on their computer and if they'd like to send a copy of it to me. I'd really like to play the game but I can't as it doesn't exist in MAME. I only need the rom because I plan to play it on my homemade arcade system running retropie.

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Hi, as of right now I haven't found a way to obtain a copy of the discountinued homebrew port of Computer Space. I'm therefore asking if anyone has the rom on their computer and if they'd like to send a copy of it to me. I'd really like to play the game but I can't as it doesn't exist in MAME. I only need the rom because I plan to play it on my homemade arcade system running retropie.

An interesting article about the complications of emulating Computer Space:

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/08/unemulated-eleven-classic-arcade-games-you-cant-play-at-home/

 

Also, there seeems to be some disagreement about whether this was the first coin-op arcade game or Galaxy Game:

https://www.emuparadise.me/M.A.M.E._-_Multiple_Arcade_Machine_Emulator_ROMs/Galaxy_Game/141554

 

From emuparadise page:

Game Description & Reviews:
OverviewGalaxy Game is the first known coin-operated arcade game. It was released in September 1971, two months before the release of Computer Space, but was never mass-produced.
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There's no source for the september 1971 date. Here's the souce for the Galaxy Game date. It has the first prototype installed in November 1971 at Standford University in a Tresidder Union music listening room. A second version that supported multiple monitors and multiple games was installed in June 1972 in a Tresidder Union coffee house.

https://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com/2015/09/03/a-nutty-idea/

 

Galaxy Game can be emulated in mame and is much closer to the 1962 Spacewar compared to Computer Space.

Edited by mr_me
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  • 1 month later...

I happened upon a set a while back on eBay. It wasn't too much more than original price. It seems most things do come up for sale eventually even if it takes a year or more of waiting and checking. Until I read your post I wasn't even aware that it came with a digital download option. I just now got around to trying to get the digital download but the CollectorVision webpage per instructions is no longer active. I believe Pong is available in ROM form if you search for it but I haven't been able to find Computer Space on internet. And the Pong may or may not be the one from this set.

 

I bought my set before I understood how scarce and collectable these independently published homebrews are; especially ones made in limited quantities and/or no longer in production. I stupidly threw away outer box with serial number so I have no idea what set # mine is. I did this because I have the games separated in alphabetical order among other games on my shelf.

 

I wouldn't be opposed to any & all ROM's being offered by CollectorVision either free or for a cost; especially the ones no longer available. But some collectors might have an issue with that position thinking it diminishes the value of their copy. I think after a certain amount of time and especially if another physical run won't happen they should be offered.

Edited by rodge2001
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But some collectors might have an issue with that position thinking it diminishes the value of their copy. I think after a certain amount of time and especially if another physical run won't happen they should be offered.

At which point I could refer them to this post and a game for which the ROM is freely available and the cart in box goes for almost $500.

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/281314-princess-quest-goes-for-456-on-ebay/?p=4081483

 

or digress's War, which goes for about the same, or the Adam ports, which go for $250 - $400.

 

I think it has to do with limited editions and/or the impact/quality of the box artwork. I think there is something extra special about the Princess Quest and War artwork. Lots of others linger around $40 - $80, year after year, even without released ROMs. Don't want your game to become crazy priced in resale? Sell 2000 copies and put routine artwork on it.

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Some sellers, as you know all too well, shoot for the moon when trying to sell items, especially Homebrews, and usually have to adjust their pricing to a more reasonable amount in time. Unfortunately sometimes a collector with deep pockets is looking for specific titles and will pay absurd amounts of money to acquire a game.

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Some sellers, as you know all too well, shoot for the moon when trying to sell items, especially Homebrews, and usually have to adjust their pricing to a more reasonable amount in time. Unfortunately sometimes a collector with deep pockets is looking for specific titles and will pay absurd amounts of money to acquire a game.

 

The figures I've seen are from eBay bidding starting between $60 and $150, but the first part is often true and the second part can apply to bidding as well. I think sometimes they overbid as a safety net and someone else tries the same thing and accidently wins it for a high price, or just wants to win and then renegs on the sale. It's also possible that plants are driving up the bid price. I've had a couple times where I've lost a bid around $120 and the seller PMs me that I can have another copy for that price.

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