Rowsdower70

I haven't been very active in the forums for a while, so here's some of my better finds over the last few months:
 

 
It's a synth! No, it's a boom box! Wait, it's sort of both! I found this rather unusual Casio CK-500 synth over at a Goodwill in Kennewick, WA. Not in perfect condition (missing the radio antenna, power cable, and battery cover. Also, the right cassette player warbles a little). Helpfully, it did come with the manual. The sound is what you'd expect from a not-too-expensive Casio, but you can record what you play, switch tapes, and record with that as accompaniment.
 

 
A couple rare books from Goodwill Outlet in Pasco, WA. A first U.S. edition of C. S. Lewis' That Hideous Strength. And the book that was very loosely the basis for Who Framed Roger Rabbit... Gary Wolf's Who Censored Roger Rabbit.
 

 
I found this yesterday during a trip to Packwood, WA at a small thrift shop, For me, this one's a doozy: A Suzuki Omnichord System 2, complete and entirely functional! Still even has the disposable plastic overlay. A great deal at $25! You select a chord with the buttons, then strum the long panel on the side with one or two fingers. (Essentially, an electronic autoharp.) The buttons can also be used as a keyboard while you switch pre-recorded chords with a foot pedal.
 
They also had boxed NES and Genesis games that were way over-priced (sports games that were more than what I paid for the Omnichord) and some unpriced but intriguing educational laser disc with 3.5" floppy disk sets that came from a library.

I rarely find anything noteworthy in our local thrift store.  Yesterday was different!
 

 

 
Waddingtons Wizard, from 1979!  The box is in reasonably good shape, and I'm pretty certain all the contents are there.  I'll need to pick up some C batteries to see if it works, but the thing looks like it was never used.  But I'm not sure how that's possible given that "You can never be bored when you own the Wizard. . ."
 

I think the pong console is luck to be with me. Ill make sure it lives on for as long as i do

here's to another 40+ years 
 
 Live long a pong-star

This thing is in such good shape. It looks like it just came off the shelf.

It came today guys. Thanks

I love that these are becoming a thing now.   When we do Retropalooza in Arlington, I'll be visiting their new Free Play location.  

https://www.facebook.com/freeplayarlington/

Looks to be a killer retrocade, lots of beers, and tasty pub foods.

I love that these are becoming a thing now.   When we do Retropalooza in Arlington, I'll be visiting their new Free Play location.  

https://www.facebook.com/freeplayarlington/

Looks to be a killer retrocade, lots of beers, and tasty pub foods.

Thanks! Much better
 
On my PC, they were right side up, but posted sideways. Did you have to do something other than a rotate?

Good looking out MaximumRD 

Very cool trip Rick! Thanks for taking pictures, isharing and posting! 
 

Rick, I downloaded then reuploaded the images properly (four were sideways) rotated because I am fussy like that .  

This is great! Im always happy to see up and running arcade shops still going. Looks like alot of fun

My son and I visited Quarterworld, an arcade here in Portland today.  Their web site:  http://quarterworldarcade.com/
 
Here's how it works.  You pay a cover to get in.  It's normally $3, but we lucked in to "Happy Hour", which made the admission $1 each.  All of the games operate on quarters.  No tokens.  Most games are $0.50.  Fancier ones are $0.75 or $1.  There are change machines and ATM's there.  Also, if you're over 21, they give you a bracelet so you can get an adult beverage. 
 
As far as games go, they have a LOT.  From classics to new stuff.  Pinball too.  The building used to be a theater, so there is a lot of space.  I played some classics (Tron, Donkey Kong, Punch Out, Tempest) and some newer games too.  Probably the coolest thing I played was a Star Wars game that involves sitting in a little sphere with the screen wrapping around you and encompassing your whole field of vision.  Very immersive.  That one was $1.  I also played several pinball games.  They also had a big screen Pac Man / Galaxian. 
 
Overall, we probably spent 90 minutes there, and about $20 for the two of us, which is a pretty good deal for so much fun. 
 
The only complaint we have is that the games are too quiet -- the volumes are set too low.  On Tron, you could barely hear any of the music or sounds, and that's really a shame. 
 
And finally, here are a few pics I took.  Sorry, I really suck at using a smart-phone camera. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

You've never played Devil May Cry on PS2 Rick?? You are in for a treat, great game!

I've never even heard of it.  I'm all for making the devil cry, so it should be fun. 

Yea i beat the devil may cry on the PC a while ago and its been sitting doing nothing so i thought it was good junk. Good game though

Adam Ward, Executive Producer of the forthcoming The Power of Glove documentary, has provided us with a nice (never before seen) image of Keith Robinson sitting at his desk at Intellivision Productions. I've assisted in the making of The Power of Glove and helped to arrange an interview with Keith that will appear in their film. The Power of Glove tells the history of Mattel's Power Glove for the NES, and Keith's participation provided a key backstory to Mattel's involvement in the video game industry - and their trepidation of getting back into it after the collapse. Intellivision was fortunate to have Keith, he was a wonderful "keeper of the flame" for Intellivision's legacy and represented Intellivision well wherever he went. I'm sad he's gone.
 

I don't care anything about the F4 PnP, thanks though!
 
Watch Hannah Montana with pride, sir!

I don't care anything about the F4 PnP, thanks though!
 
Watch Hannah Montana with pride, sir!

I kind of feel like every junk box should have a token combat cart, but it should only be placed there by the host.   (Knowing full well it will most likely come back to you.)

Having some tanks guarding the box keeps it safe.

I kind of feel like every junk box should have a token combat cart, but it should only be placed there by the host.   (Knowing full well it will most likely come back to you.)

Having some tanks guarding the box keeps it safe.

Really dig the Tomy game. Those are so cool!
New rule: No more Combats in the box...unless Rick hasn't got it yet

Wow, great selections Rick!, especially that super Mario booklet, cool item you picked up!????

Here's what I took:
 

PSP games Killzone and Need For Speed Underground -- these made me say "oooooh!" as noted above.  I am super pumped to try these games out.  PSP Hannah Montana movies.  Humor - I traded Rowsdower for most of his PSP stuff a while ago and said "I'll take it all EXCEPT Hannah Montana."  Well dang, I guess I have to take em now.  Now that I think about it...I need to take these on my next plane trip.  Imagine...a middle aged man watching Hannah Montana on a PSP.  Nothing creepy about that at all.  SegaCD Mortal Kombat - comment from my son:  "I'll bet it takes an hour to load".  We shall see, son.  We shall see. Devil May Cry for PS2 and Devil May Cry 3 for PC -- I have no idea what these are.  But the "M" rating appeals to me.  Since I'm so mature.  And also, I needed space for more junk in the box.  Homer Simpson figure.  He's obviously doing a "WooHoo!" Donald Duck slidey puzzle.  I may lose my temper trying to solve this. "How to Win at Super Mario Bros" booklet.  I won't lie...this is probably my favorite item from the junk box.  Combat cart.  Because that throne made out of Combat carts ain't gonna build itself.  I think I'm legally obligated to take any and all combat carts in junk boxes.  Fantastic 4 plug and play.  I won't lie.  I didn't want this, but I couldn't fit it back in the box.  Rowsdower...if you wanted it, I'll send it separately or in our next trade.  I may just put it in Junk Box 10 And finally, Tomy handheld kissing game.  I think I know who put this in, and I'll bet he knew who would take it.  Frankly, I love these little Tomy mechanical games.  On my first try, it pretty much summed up my lifetime love life:
 
This was one sweet junk box.  Thank you guys very much.  I've packed it up with what I think is good junk and it will be off to Texas and home tomorrow.