Dragon's Lair Fans - Arcade Lifestyle

General Chat => Dragon's Lair / Space Ace => Topic started by: amadama on April 12, 2007, 07:35:19 AM

Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: amadama on April 12, 2007, 07:35:19 AM
Hi guys,
I have a chance to get a DL, DL2 and Space Ace for US$3400. They are all in very good shape.
Is this reasonable for all three games or should I keep on looking?
Thanks,
Alex
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: DarthNuno on April 12, 2007, 07:54:04 PM
Hi,

IMO it's a good opportunity to catch the Bluth's games trilogy in one shot  :o
The price is correct, but the games MUST be in very good condition & fully working of course.

I think you should be able to catch them cheaper... but it would take some time  :?

Good luck.
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: amadama on April 12, 2007, 09:14:44 PM
He will end the auction early at $3400 for all of them as long as I pay cash when I pickup. It's a seven hour drive and I would need to rent a small truck but it's very tempting. They look to be in nice shape (esp the DL2). The other machines need side vinyl and side art. The seller has done a partial restoration.
Let me know what  you think as I really trust your opinion on these matters.
Thanks,
Alex

Here are the ebay links to all of these items:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150110211153&rd=1&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150110212782&rd=1&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150110215657&rd=1&rd=1
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: amadama on April 14, 2007, 10:29:08 AM
I won all three machines!
Now to prepare for my 700km to pick them up! (not to mention being a lot poorer in the end) :(
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: apinion on April 16, 2007, 06:35:16 PM
Congrats! Those are very reasonable prices on the 3 machines.  I am trying to buy a bigger house and might look into getting a DL2 machine at some point.

Since you now have a DL and a SA machine here is what I would do next:
Try to find the Dragon's Lair limited edition laser disc. This disc is a new pressing done around 2002. The images look great. It also has prototype footage that was not used in the original game. They only made 400 of them but they do pop up on ebay every now and then. If you go to The Dragon's Lair Project http://www.d-l-p.com you can find the rom images Dave Hallock created that allow you to play the prototype footage.

Dave also programmed a set of Space Ace roms that changes the scene ordering and moves. It make the gameplay flow more smoothly.

You are going to have a lot of fun with those games. Welcome to laser disc gaming!
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: amadama on April 17, 2007, 02:33:12 AM
Thanks apinion! I will keep an eye out on the limited edition disc. In the meantime I am ordering some new vinyl and side art for the DL and SA machines.
I am really not looking forward to the long drive to pick these machines up. I am renting an open trailer and will have to transport these three machines upright for over 700km! Anyone have any advice on how to best transport these machines?
Thanks,
Alex
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: DarthNuno on April 17, 2007, 05:24:13 PM
Quote from: "amadama"

...I am really not looking forward to the long drive to pick these machines up. I am renting an open trailer and will have to transport these three machines upright for over 700km! Anyone have any advice on how to best transport these machines?...
Alex


WWWWWWWWWWOOOOWWWWW  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  Great  :o

It'll be an amazing roadtrip  :!:  :!:  :!:  DL + DL2 + SA cab' ... during the same roadtrip  :o  Impressive !!!

Just don't forget to remove the laser disc from the player for each games before moving the cabs'   :wink:

...wanna see the roadtrip in picutes please  :P

Be carefull & have a lot of fun  8)
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: apinion on April 17, 2007, 05:34:13 PM
That will be a long drive!  The first thing I would do is take the laser discs out of the players. The DL and SA players are probably wired into the machines so they will have to be powered on to open them. Bring some album covers to store them in on the trip. If you have any laser disc covers laying around that would be even better.

I would also take the players out of the machines. The DL2 probably uses a Sony LDP-1450 whic is pretty reliable . DL and SA use either a PR-7820 or a LD-V1000.  The PR-7820 was used in earlier machines and is not very reliable. The LD-V1000 was used in later machines and is not as durable as the LDP-1450 but is better thatn the PR-7820. Either case I would not transport them in the machines. My DL had the LD-V1000 bolted into the laser disc drawer and was shipped  in the machine and it was fine. The machine still plays great. I still would have preferred the shipper to ship my player separately.

I had a truck and of course when I went to pick it up at the Overnite terminal it started to rain! Carry a tarp and some rope (of course).

Most people I know transport the games upright. The games are old and laying them down can cause parts to slide around and create new problems. But when I got a MACH 3 (very heavy) we had to lay it down and push it in my living room. When we stood it up and hooked the player back in the machine it worked fine.

Good luck!  Everything should be fine. You are going to have a lot of fun!
You might be able to find a Thayer's Quest kit which plugs into either DL or SA. I pieced one together a few years ago and played TQ in my DL for quite awhile.
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: amadama on April 17, 2007, 11:04:21 PM
Hi guys,
Thanks for the recommendations on the move.
I have confirmed I will be using a rental trailer (5x9ft) with a ramp (thanks goodnesss!). The seller will help wrap the machines (after I verify them of course). And I will definetely remove the laserdiscs before loading them up.
I'll try to follow Bruno's advice and take pictures along the way (I really like the way you document your trips Bruno!)
I would love to find a Thayer's quest kit! If anyone has any leads let me know.
Thanks guys, I'll keep you all posted along the way
Alex
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: mike ryan on April 19, 2007, 05:08:17 AM
Hi  Amadam

                           Congratulations! on the purchase of the Bluth trilogy. I have also purchased games from VC, everything is always as listed, he is a pleasure to do business with. I had my cabs shipped, he palleted them covered them with cardboard and then covered it with plastic free of charge. The cab was bullet proof.

                          I would love to see some pictures of the mini Dragons lair cab you are building for your daughter, I was also trying to build a mini cab for my daughter aswell but got side tracked, She loves to play DL.

Kind regards
Mike Ryan
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: amadama on April 19, 2007, 05:12:30 AM
Hi Mike!
You are the reason I found out about Bruno's great website (from a google search of home made DL cab!).
I am taking pictures along the way as I build the 2/3 size cab. I'll tell you, I couldn't have done it without all the great documentation Bruno keeps on this site!
I have all the pieces and artwork ready but I will wait until I pick up the machines from Rochester to compare with the "real deal".
I am curious as to how your full size replica came out. Do you have pics or measurements of it?
I'm also glad you have dealt with the seller before and find him to be of good character.
At Bruno's request I will be documenting my trip just like he does (although I don;t think I have that much discipline).
Here's my email address:
agmadama@aol.com
Drop me a line sometime.
Alex
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: apinion on April 20, 2007, 05:45:49 PM
Bruno does a great job on documenting his adventures. Make sure you take some good pics!

You can find complete Thayer's Quest kits on eBay but they can run $1200 and up. You need the laser disc, pcb and control panel. I pieced mine together.  I got a laser disc a few years ago on eBay. I was trying to find a SA marquee on the Dragon's Lair Project and found a guy that had one. He lived 1 mile form my house and collected laser disc games. I bought a TQ marquee, pcb and control panel for $250. That was a bargain. I also bought his Cliff Hanger (yes, a working Cliff Hanger) and his MACH 3. He delivered them himself.

The hardest part to find in the keyboard control panel. The membrane keyboard did have problems after time. If you can find the disc and pcb there is a hack you can use at  http://www.d-l-p.com
That will allow you to use a regular keyboard instead of the hard to find control panel.

You are going to have so much fun with those games. There is nothing better than being able to play those games whenever you want.

One extra bit of advice is to unplug the games when you are not playing. Plugging them into a surge protector is another good idea. I unplug my surge protectors when the games are not on. This may not be necessary but I am paranoid about anything happening to my games. I do not want to replace the power supplies.
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: amadama on April 21, 2007, 07:01:45 PM
Hi guys,
I'm back from my ridiculously long adventure and I have my three new machines!
Tonight I post the pics (if I can figure out where to host them first),
Alex
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: DarthNuno on April 21, 2007, 11:24:56 PM
Quote from: "amadama"
Hi guys,
I'm back from my ridiculously long adventure and I have my three new machines!
Tonight I post the pics (if I can figure out where to host them first),
Alex


 :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  :P  YYYEEEEESssssss  :)

So you have now the complete Bluth Games Trilogy  :o  Coooonngrats  :o

For the pictures, I can host them of course. Just mail me for that  :wink:
Title: Is this too much to pay for DL, DL2 and Space Ace?
Post by: amadama on April 22, 2007, 07:34:56 PM
Hi Bruno,
I have emailed you some pictures from my trip.
Thanks,
Alex