let me start by saying that imho the term "grail" is totally overused in the arcade collecting scene - everything seems to be a grail these days. while i agree that everyone has personal grails he wants to collect (e.g. because of childhood memories), i think there are only a few games that really deserve to be called a grail, because they have significant historic value, they are rare as a hen's teeth and they have something which sets them apart from other games. one of those games would be computer space - the first commercial video game (although pretty unsuccessful i must admit). but not only that makes it special, it's the design itself which makes it a real collector's grail: this thing is a piece of art and belongs in a museum!
almost six years ago, on my
roadtrip under a tuscan sun, i made first contact with a computer space. well, to be more precise, not just one, in fact there were two: the beautiful yellow single player version and the green two player alternative. the owner, massimo, had imported them from the usa and they were in fabulous shape as you can see. i've tried to get in touch with massimo over and over again over the last few years, wanting to test waters whether he could be convinced to sell them to me, but he seems to have disappeared from this planet. so i had almost given up hope of ever owning a computer space, let alone a yellow one, and thought that this picture would be the closest i'd ever get!
but you should never give up hope and as always - when you expect it the least - miracles happen
. three weeks ago, a guy from wales had put up a really nice tron for sale on ebay but mentioned in the item's description that he also has other games for sale, amongst them a yellow computer space. i almost freaked out, got in touch with the seller immediately, asked for pictures, freaked out even more when i saw them, didn't care about the price and said "we have a deal". the only problem was the distance: after all wales is not just around the corner. we thought about asking martin the deliveryman first, but then the seller (whose name is gavin by the way) came up with a better idea: he would personally deliver the game to a meeting point just outside the channel tunnel exit in england and i would drive over, say hello, put something yellow in the trunk of my car and return home one happy camper! sounds like a plan? let's get things rolling ...
booking confirmation - check
a picture of the queen as a trade for the computer space - check
some "healthy" nutrition for the first part of the journey - check
some presents for a special guest star - check
oh, and not to forget my new mobile phone! i thought since the lady aka computer space has so many nice curves, i could also get a phone to match her beauty
i'm starting the trip on friday, because i don't want to get up at a crazy hour and drive all night long - i've got something better planned
this is where i'm going first ...
... and this is how long the trip's supposed to take!
two minutes onto the road and i'm already encountering the first of many accidents to come
traffic is just crazy on a friday evening, the autobahns are crowded and it is slighly raining - not a lot of fun to drive!
the worst part is over, because you know that you are on belgian soil when (a) the highways are illuminated (b) there are no constructions sites (c) you can eat while driving without having to worry about traffic
now who's that special guest star i've been talking about earlier? one of my favourite persons in the hobby, captain arcade himself: CHRIS! haven't seen him in over two years (what a shame) and he's so incredibly happy
that i show up at his doorstep ...
... that he even agrees to show me his absolutely amazing collection of japanese robots ...
... which is normally protected by magic and an evil curse!
can't tell you how much i love them
aren't they simply adorable?
apart from the fact that chris is one of the nicest dudes to ever roam this planet, i also love the fact that he always adorns your bedroom with gimmicks when you're spending the night at his place. unfortunately, we don't have a lot of time to chat (let alone have a look at his new gameroom / storage), but i'll be back - don't know if that's a threat or a promise though
the next morning i have to get up early ...
... because there's some more ground to cover
next destination: channel tunnel entrance in calais
time to burn some more fuel
just as i'm entering france the sun is rising
this promises to be a nicer day than yesterday
the sign all "arcade raiders england" should know pretty well
my departure time for the island is 9.50 - so there should be enough time to make it to the terminal
boarding passs printed
just as i'm standing in line to board the train to england, the sun's coming up behind the clouds
always an exciting parts of the journey - boarding the train
eurotunnel - relax, w'ell drive
my car in its parking position
i left the german flags on the car to make it easier for gavin to recognize me. i know they are pretty worn, but they still remind me of the great time we had in brazil last summer
gotta take a leak, so i have to go upstairs. it almost feels like being on a submarine ...
... and the "wonderful" wall decoration "almost" makes you feel like spending your holidays in the provence
enough toilet stories (and photos), let's exit the train on the other side of the channel to a beautiful winter morning - clear skies all around
we've set our meeting point just outside the folkstone terminal on a motorway station - a mere 5 kilometers from the terminal and easily accessible for the both of us!
almost there, i'm getting more and more excited, let's hope everything is going to work out just as we've planned it - after all it's also a five hour ride for gavin down from wales
lo and behold, just as i'm pulling in on the parking lot, gavin's showing up with his van as well
- that's what i call perfect timing!
wales vs germany
i can't (and don't want to) wait any longer - open it up, gavin!!!
to be continued ... 
