Back in middle of 2015.
Got the opportunity to buy a game I used to love a play like a crazy back in the days.
What a great game! What great memories... I remember playing it with my old friends, like if it was yesterday!
I discovered that game in a local pub in my native village, where there was only one arcade cabinet and one pinball.
They regularly changed the games... I discovered many games for the very first time at that place (I can remember Mag Max, Crazy Kong, Bionic Commando, Tutankham, Space Panic,...)
...and that game :
Circus Charlie!
Of course, I played it on a generic cabinet, because the dedicated cabinet was never imported in Europe back then...like all the games I played at that specific pub!
Sooo... when I saw this game for sale at COW, I had to jump on that opportunity.
As usual when buying games from COW, you must react fast and so, no time for questions unfortunately, otherwise someone else take it in less than hours(even minutes!)
.
So I had to make a quick decision, based on the two only pictures available :
I have already purchased games from COW, I didn't have any bad surprise so far...and ordering game over Valentin's container is so easy (thanks Valentin to make this possible), and so... yeah, that game doesn't look too bad on the pictures... so let's take it!
OK that game was supposed to be shipped from USA into container #8 in september 2015, but it's eventually inside the container #9 that this one came in Europe, and more precisely at Paris!
January 2016.
Container #9 just arrived, and games must be collected in Paris a precise day in January... but due to snow/horrible waiter condition, impossible for me to drive to Paris that day! And all the cabinet MUST be removed from the warehouse that day!
A nice view of the Nuno's Lair during these snowing days...Thanks to Olisan/Zamoth from COL but also Spectroman (and his 'wingman' that day?), the Circus Charlie will be moved & stored in the most famous Arcade in Paris : Coin-Op Legacy!
You all rulez, guys!
February 2016.
Friday 6:32pm...
It's time for me to bring back the Circus Charlie from Paris to Belgium!
...and this time, that road trip to come will be an opportunity to bring wife & daughter with me, for a small trip to Paris!
First stop on the road... one of our favorite location on the way to Paris.... " Chez Michel' ...Belgium's favorite!
...late arrival...
Saturday, late in the morning... got an appointment...
...at the COIN-OP LEGACY headquarters!
A nice welcome from Olisan himself
And the Circus Charlie, standing among so many beautiful cabinets, inside this awesome place!
So, for the first time I can see for real the Circus Charlie, purchased more than 7 months earlier.... and well... worst condition than expected
This side is 'pretty' ok...it's the side I've seen on the initial pictures ...
... but the other one is not nice at all
...sure, it is repairable but I didn't expect so much work (mostly water damage on the bottom).
Pictures I got from COW showed only one 1 side! OK lesson learned... no more 'blind' purchase like this...
Something is writing on the bezel?
JE SUIS CHARLIEOf course, it's a Circus Charlie, we are in Paris... it matches!
Let's load the cabinet :
...and enjoy that beautiful city
L'Aquarium de Paris :
(picture courtesy of my daughter
)
By night...but for kids
Sunday, on the 'way back' road, a short break at Disney Village to eat in a jungle, among the elephants
Got the opportunity to see & try this 'low budget' Star Wars "battle Pod" version... which is not great to play outside the real 'pod' IMHO
Family picture
...and as you can see, there's enough space in the car for me, my wife, my daughter...and a full size cabinet!
I love this car!
Finally at home, what a nice week end!
Belgium -> France -> Belgium
831 km driven / 48 hours on ‘road trip / trip city’ time
Next step ...close examination of the cabinet... and first power on!
