Magmavision2000 Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 I've decided to try to collect all atari pong systems before the new decade but I don't have a good idea on the prices of each system. So if anyone can give me a price guide (and some tips) that would be awesome. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 I don't think they were produced in sufficient quantity for there to be a price guide. My guess would be they're worth whatever the market will bear, as determined by eBay buyers and sellers. There shouldn't be much competition for you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+swlovinist Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 I've decided to try to collect all atari pong systems before the new decade but I don't have a good idea on the prices of each system. So if anyone can give me a price guide (and some tips) that would be awesome. Thanks in advance. Prices are all over the place. Atari Branded pongs in nice condition boxes fetch more $$$ typically, as well as rare ones that do not show up often. Since these consoles were not know to last, having them fully operational is another hard one to test. I would not worry about value and just purchase items that you want for the $$ you want to spend. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted July 6, 2018 Share Posted July 6, 2018 Prices are all over the place. Atari Branded pongs in nice condition boxes fetch more $$$ typically, as well as rare ones that do not show up often. Since these consoles were not know to last, having them fully operational is another hard one to test. I would not worry about value and just purchase items that you want for the $$ you want to spend. This. FWIW loose Super Pongs are usually pretty inexpensive, as are Ultra Pong systems. And of course there's the golden rule of "first edition" pricing, so you can expect to pay far out the ass for an original Atari Pong*, although how far exactly can be indeterminate. Say, John, since we're here and talking about Atari Pong systems, you're probably the guy to ask: do you by any chance own an Atari Pong Doubles (C-160) system, or know of any pics/scans or other information on it? According to David Winter/Pong-Story.com, it was never actually released, but a photo of the box exists (and a Sears version called "Pong IV" supposedly came out). I'd like to learn more about it but there's basically no information out there on it. I figure if anybody actually owned one or knew anything about it, it would be you. (*Ironically, the Sears version actually launched before the Atari version but is worth less.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magmavision2000 Posted July 7, 2018 Author Share Posted July 7, 2018 (and a Sears version called "Pong IV" supposedly came out). I think I have that. is this it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted July 7, 2018 Share Posted July 7, 2018 (edited) download (1).jpgdownload (1).jpg I think I have that. is this it? Close, but not quite. "Pong IV" is a different model, 99717. FWIW I've never actually seen one of these, either. Not even a photo of the box. I suspect Dave Winter's information may be a little incomplete on this one. "Super Pong IV," model 99737, is fairly common. Confusingly, there was another Sears model also called "Super Pong IV (model 99789)," but I guess that one was a Sears rebranding of the Atari Super Pong Pro-Am Ten that came out a year later. Those are pretty rare, but I did see one on eBay once. Shoulda bought it! Edited July 7, 2018 by BassGuitari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magmavision2000 Posted July 7, 2018 Author Share Posted July 7, 2018 "Pong IV" is a different model, 99717. FWIW I've never actually seen one of these, either. Not even a photo of the box. I suspect Dave Winter's information may be a little incomplete on this one. I think so to. When I google "Pong IV 99717" all i get is the sears super pong IV console. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted July 7, 2018 Share Posted July 7, 2018 The most I was able to [accidentally] find on Pong IV is this page from a Sears ad: Unfortunately this isn't proof that it actually came out; other vaporware consoles like Atari's Tank or Tank II also made catalog and ad appearances. At least from a gameplay standpoint, you can just take any of the more common 4-player Super Pong systems, set them to Pong, and connect an extra paddle or two, and it will be exactly what Pong Doubles or Pong IV would have been. All the Atari/Sears Pongs were essentially the same base hardware with different combinations of incremental features tacked on (except Ultra- and Hockey-Pong, and non-Atari clones such as Hockey-Tennis III and Sports Center). Maybe even Atari realized how redundant these would have been next to the Super Pong unit and yanked them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted July 7, 2018 Share Posted July 7, 2018 I love looking at old Sears catalogs. Obligatory inflation calculator stuff: assuming these are from 1980 (they could well be a few years before that), prices in today's dollars: $70 Hockey Pong would be like $211 today $79 Super Pong would be like $238 today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted July 7, 2018 Share Posted July 7, 2018 I love looking at old Sears catalogs. Obligatory inflation calculator stuff: assuming these are from 1980 (they could well be a few years before that), prices in today's dollars: 1976. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted July 7, 2018 Share Posted July 7, 2018 1976.GTFO! $305 for the "cheap one" $345 for the fancy one Good golly I was only six years old at that time but there's no way my family would spend that kind of money for that kind of silliness. I assume they were mostly chucked in yard sales a few years later? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magmavision2000 Posted July 7, 2018 Author Share Posted July 7, 2018 whats this pong console? https://www.ebay.com/itm/ULTRA-PONG-DOUBLES-BY-ATARI-4-Controllers-Booklet-Untested/202351924767?hash=item2f1d1d561f:g:VP0AAOSwPcBbMtlG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted July 7, 2018 Share Posted July 7, 2018 (edited) I assume they were mostly chucked in yard sales a few years later? I dunno. Probably. Maybe not necessarily though. I think Pong systems still got a little bit of mileage into the early '80s as low-end alternatives to the more expensive programmable cartridge systems--I think I remember seeing a scan of an ad for some electronics store that was still selling heavily discounted Ultras and Super Pro-Ams in, like, 1980 or '81. whats this pong console? https://www.ebay.com/itm/ULTRA-PONG-DOUBLES-BY-ATARI-4-Controllers-Booklet-Untested/202351924767?hash=item2f1d1d561f:g:VP0AAOSwPcBbMtlG Ultra Pong Doubles, the ultimate Pong system from Atari. There was also a "regular" Ultra Pong (sans "Doubles") which as far as I can tell might be the exact same system--same name badge and all--but with two controller jacks instead of four. Or, it was literally the exact same but was only packaged with two paddles. Hard to tell since they have similar model numbers: C-402(S) and C-402(D). I've never witnessed a complete, boxed Ultra Pong (no "Doubles") in person, so I can't say for certain what the deal exactly is. But I'm leaning toward "One console, two different packages." In any event, the Ultra is a cool and, actually, pretty unique system since the game graphics are silhouetted against a trippy color-gradient background. It's a great effect! And of course there are gobs of different Pong variations, some not seen on any of the previous Super Pong systems, or even the Video Olympics cartridge for the Video Computer System. It's also one of the more common and inexpensive Atari dedicated systems, and definitely worth a look if you're thinking about buying one. Edited July 7, 2018 by BassGuitari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magmavision2000 Posted July 8, 2018 Author Share Posted July 8, 2018 Also how many Atari pong consoles were released? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Also how many Atari pong consoles were released? Seven: Pong, Super Pong, Super Pong Ten, Super Pong Pro-Am, Super Pong Pro-Am Ten, Ultra Pong, and Ultra Pong Doubles. More info here. There's a handy chart at the bottom that tells what systems' Sears equivalents are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magmavision2000 Posted July 8, 2018 Author Share Posted July 8, 2018 Seven: Pong, Super Pong, Super Pong Ten, Super Pong Pro-Am, Super Pong Pro-Am Ten, Ultra Pong, and Ultra Pong Doubles. More info here. There's a handy chart at the bottom that tells what systems' Sears equivalents are. whats the ? one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 It just denotes that there is no known Atari equivalent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magmavision2000 Posted July 9, 2018 Author Share Posted July 9, 2018 It just denotes that there is no known Atari equivalent. Oh ok. also another thing I would like to ask is how hard are these consoles to repair? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 In any event, the Ultra is a cool and, actually, pretty unique system since the game graphics are silhouetted against a trippy color-gradient background. It's a great effect! Fun fact, the pong consoles that used "rainbow" gradients had their timing crystals deliberately skewed slightly off from standard ntsc color frequency. They imparted a square wave overlay on top of the video signal which caused a "rainbow" effect on color tvs. Since the offset of the wave determines the color hue produced onscreen, the fact it did not match the timing crystal inside the tv caused a gradual color change from one side of the screen to the other. I would imagine most modern hdtv flat panels would not process this off spec colorburst signal correctly. You may end up with fine pitch grayscale jailbars if you get anything at all. My 4k TCL hdtv did this when I loaded Air Raid from my Harmony cart (possibly it expected a PAL colorburst? Air Raid has way too many scanlines, 290, such that many ntsc tube tvs without a vhold adjustment will actually screen roll). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magmavision2000 Posted July 9, 2018 Author Share Posted July 9, 2018 Fun fact, the pong consoles that used "rainbow" gradients had their timing crystals deliberately skewed slightly off from standard ntsc color frequency. They imparted a square wave overlay on top of the video signal which caused a "rainbow" effect on color tvs. Since the offset of the wave determines the color hue produced onscreen, the fact it did not match the timing crystal inside the tv caused a gradual color change from one side of the screen to the other. I would imagine most modern hdtv flat panels would not process this off spec colorburst signal correctly. You may end up with fine pitch grayscale jailbars if you get anything at all. My 4k TCL hdtv did this when I loaded Air Raid from my Harmony cart (possibly it expected a PAL colorburst? Air Raid has way too many scanlines, 290, such that many ntsc tube tvs without a vhold adjustment will actually screen roll). Cool! I didn't know that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Oh ok. also another thing I would like to ask is how hard are these consoles to repair?Untested used to mean the seller did not or could not test the device. Now it's a loophole where sellers just use "untested" in the description to unload non-working junk units. Any seller with "untested" in the item description who also has other related items up for sale as "tested, working" is suspect. Repair could be a mixed bag. Pots and contacts are easy to refurb. Sometimes the worn pots or contact switches don't even need replacement, just compressed air followed by contact cleaner followed by vigorous wiping will make them like new again. Then there are broken wires, corrosion in the battery compartment, both still easily fixable, then blown fuses or 7805 power regulators (most vintage electronics used 6 batteries to produce approximately ~9v and a 7805 regulator to step it down to a usable 5v. After the battery supply starts dropping below 7v dc, the regulator can no longer hold the system at a stable 5v and functionality slowly degrades until it dies. Replace the battery to restore function). After that, you get into more difficult stuff. Dry/leaky caps, corroded pcb traces caused by soda, coffee, beer, wine, or other liquids poured into the device, and sometimes the mask roms, ram, cpu, or 5v logic chips do go bad. In the event a custom 5v asic silicon chip is determined to be dead, replacing it is a lost cause. If the case is still in great cosmetic shape, you might swap it with a known working unit in deplorable cosmetic condition. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Oh ok. also another thing I would like to ask is how hard are these consoles to repair? Depends whats wrong with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunnar Ingvarsson Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 (edited) Seven: Pong, Super Pong, Super Pong Ten, Super Pong Pro-Am, Super Pong Pro-Am Ten, Ultra Pong, and Ultra Pong Doubles. More info here. There's a handy chart at the bottom that tells what systems' Sears equivalents are. Was the Super Pong Pro Am ever released? Im asking since as far as i knew it was never released by Atari? And browsing through Atari History Timelines by Michael Current i find the following information... May 2-5: At the New York Premium Show held at the Coliseum, Atari introduced Super Pong Pro-Am (C-200; $50; never shipped) Also i am aware that Atari did release Hockey Pong in Scandinavia because i saw one two years ago, and other sources on the net seem to confirm this, and even though the one i saw was not in a box the manual was with it, and i browsed through it... Edited September 13, 2018 by Gunnar Ingvarsson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 (edited) Was the Super Pong Pro Am ever released? Im asking since as far as i knew it was never released by Atari? And browsing through Atari History Timelines by Michael Current i find the following information... May 2-5: At the New York Premium Show held at the Coliseum, Atari introduced Super Pong Pro-Am (C-200; $50; never shipped) As far as I know, it was. I've never read anything to the contrary (your link doesn't work, BTW). Somebody out there has a complete one, in any case: Edited September 13, 2018 by BassGuitari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOX2600 Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 (edited) This. FWIW loose Super Pongs are usually pretty inexpensive, as are Ultra Pong systems. And of course there's the golden rule of "first edition" pricing, so you can expect to pay far out the ass for an original Atari Pong*, although how far exactly can be indeterminate. Say, John, since we're here and talking about Atari Pong systems, you're probably the guy to ask: do you by any chance own an Atari Pong Doubles (C-160) system, or know of any pics/scans or other information on it? According to David Winter/Pong-Story.com, it was never actually released, but a photo of the box exists (and a Sears version called "Pong IV" supposedly came out). I'd like to learn more about it but there's basically no information out there on it. I figure if anybody actually owned one or knew anything about it, it would be you. (*Ironically, the Sears version actually launched before the Atari version but is worth less.) By the way, Shout out to David Winter and Pong Story. That man does Gods work. He needs an appreciation thread lol. If you have any interest in Pong I suggest checking his site out. The rarity guide is unbelievably fun to go thru learning about new pong systems. Oh boy there were oh so many! Does he or has he ever posted here? Youd be the guy to ask Bass its seems like youve been on AtariAge since the dawn of time much respect! Edited September 14, 2018 by FOX2600 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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