Another game I regret selling...
But in this case, it was a blessing in disguise. I'm talking about Zaxxon. The version I sold was Sega's dedicated cabinet version of the game, meaning the American version of the machine.
And I'm not even sure whether this cabinet was ever officially imported here in Europe? In any case, I do remember playing the game when it was first released, but I don't recall ever seeing a dedicated cabinet.
Funny enough, as I'm writing these lines on October 27, 2026, it's exactly 19 years to the day since the road trip I made to England to pick up my very first Zaxxon cabinet
The road trip report is still available here
But back to the present... or rather to July 7, 2026, the date on which I'm about to set off on a new road trip to pick up a somewhat more special Zaxxon, shall we say.
The starting point of this road trip will be my workplace in Luxembourg
Open sesame... we're off on a new mission.
Since this road trip was improvised at the last minute, I'm far from being fully prepared. My first stop comes after just a few minutes of driving to fill up the tank while I'm still in Luxembourg, where fuel is a little friendlier on the wallet
...but also to leave my workday behind, swap out my office clothes...
...and get into proper road-trip mode!
And with a bit of style, too. I bought this Zaxxon T-shirt shortly after acquiring my first Zaxxon cabinet. Since then (almost 19 years!), it had been hanging in my game room as a decorative piece... but today it's no longer decoration. It's become a genuine prop for the adventure!
I’ve crossed into Belgium...
The usual traffic congestion is there to greet me, right on schedule!
At least the traffic jam allowed me to spot this clever little trap set up by the police... A fake police car made entirely of cardboard, strategically placed to make drivers slow down. Ingenious, and probably a lot cheaper than the real thing!
Despite the traffic jams, I'm keeping it cool. After all, what could be better than a road trip that's not too far from home
I'll spare you the details of the drive, the crossing into Belgium, and all the usual landmarks I pass whenever I take this route through the country...
...before finally reaching my destination!
And here she is at last. The reason for this entire trip: a licensed Zaxxon cabinet built by NSM, the German arcade manufacturer.
What makes it special is that this isn't Sega's dedicated American cabinet, but rather a European licensed version. As my interest increasingly focuses on local and European arcade history, this machine is in many ways an even more fascinating find than the original dedicated cabinet I once owned
But before we take a closer look at the Zaxxon, something else caught my attention. Sitting nearby was a Galaxian cabinet... and there was something quite special about it
The seller recognized me straight away. And for good reason: a few years ago, I had sold him this Galaxian control panel
It's funny how things come full circle. Years later, I find myself standing in front of it again, completely by chance, during a road trip that was supposed to be all about Zaxxon!
After that came a tour of his game room, plenty of stories and anecdotes, and a genuinely great meeting with a fellow enthusiast. As is often the case in the arcade world, we could probably have talked for hours more.
And of course, no such visit would be complete without the mandatory selfie to mark the occasion
One last photo before loading the cabinet into the van.
Artwork-wise, things are looking very promising. The original NSM Zaxxon marquee is still there, as are both original side arts, all in really good condition for a machine of this age.
The only major pieces missing are the control panel overlay and the bezel. Given how much of the original artwork has survived, completing the restoration should be a realistic go
The Zaxxon is now loaded, and so are a few additional goodies
As if this road trip couldn't get any more Zaxxon-themed, I stumbled upon a roundabout featuring a jet that looked remarkably like the Zaxxon ship!
The traditional selfie of a guy who's clearly thrilled to be bringing home his new toy
It's time to make the final stretch. I've never been a fan of night driving, and after all these years, my eyes definitely let me know when they've had enough. Fortunately, home isn't far away now...
At last, I'm back in my village.
And there it is, that special bench where I've shared so many expeditions with my children. Countless walks, treasure hunts, imaginary quests, and little family adventures have started or ended right here.
Somehow, spotting it again tells me that the road trip is truly over and that it's time to come home...^
This road trip is officially over.
And now for the statistics
Luxembourg ->
Belgium ROADTRIP TIME ELAPSED :
7h50minDISTANCE :
393 KM
