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I love Robotron: 2084. It's my favorite videogame of all time. Back in 1993, I lucked into a machine of my own when I met a local tech who had one in his warehouse. I offered four 4MB SIMMs in trade. He accepted. (!)
Unfortunately, on enrolling for my final semester at university, I was faced with a choice: I could keep my Robotron, or pay tuition. I sold it for $525 and, even as I watched it ride off in a pickup truck, I knew I'd have to get another one someday.
Fast-forward to Spring 2000: While getting ready for an extended business trip, I check the USAA auction schedule, since I hadn't looked in awhile. An auction's coming up, all right; the very next morning!
At the auction, I find my dream scenario: not one, but two Robotron cabinets. One's in the dead row. Its joystick's aren't original and the interface board is missing, but it's otherwise in beautiful condition.
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The other cabinet, however, has been hacked beyond recognition into a "Saturday Night Slam Masters."
Seven additional holes have been drilled into the control panel, which has been painted over. The side art is painted over as well. The final touch is a Winston cigarette ad posing as a marquee.
I buy it for $95. A friend weighs in with "Are you nuts?"
The auctioneer works his way towards the prize Robotron, its collectible status promoting it, missing parts and all, to prime second-row territory. Obvious fanatics stroll past it constantly, pretending to look at anything and everything else nearby.
The moment has arrived. The auctioneer starts it at $150. Silence! This is pretty funny; no one wants to start the inevitable bidding war. Finally, the auctioneer breaks the ice. "Come on, guys. You know what we've got here."
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Bidding quickly reaches $400, eliminating everyone but myself and a very persistent competitor. Again and again, he considers, bids, and I raise immediately, hoping to discourage him. Eventually, I shrug a kind of apology. Sorry, I won't let this one get away.
I finally win it at $550, only $25 more than I earned selling the first one. Not a bad "loan surcharge" at all.
Now I have two, count 'em, two Robotrons, and one's like-new, a real keeper! I know a friend who'll want the second one, but first I have to completely rebuild it. I start with the control panel. >>
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