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Coming Soon from from Atari2600.com
Publishing
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August 2008
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A new Atari 2600 video game
titled ATARI ARENA™ will be published by Atari2600.com during
the 4th quarter of 2008. This all-new video game will include seven
different video games in one video game cartridge. Each of
the seven games will entertain with fun competitive or
cooperative game play. And we have included a
nice balance of game types to include maze, racing, dancing,
combat and other fun challenges.
ATARI ARENA™ will be packaged with an instruction manual inside a full color box. The estimated selling price for ATARI ARENA™ is $40.00 plus shipping.
ATARI ARENA™ screenshots
Cave Race®
Screenshot Block
In® Screenshot
 
Death Flag®
Screenshot
Go-B® Screenshot
 
Copter Commander®
Screenshot Quackman vs Growl® Screenshot
 
Top
Rock®
Have you joined our mail
list for ATARI ARENA™? Receive game release updates via e-mail. Sign
up
here.
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Atari 2600 Market
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The Atari 2600 market is ever growing and
expanding. Certain video games rise and fall in popularity creating
opportunities for your video game collection to increase in value.
The following is our monthly recommendations of Atari 2600 video
games that we feel have upward price potential. |
| July
2008 |
| Buy
today what will become popular tomorrow. This is true with most
markets including Atari 2600 video games. A general preference
exists for Activision games packed inside boxes with the diagonal
New Game banner. The banner signifies the game is the original
release which drives collector demand. With few exception, the
banner boxes are harder to locate, perhaps reflecting a relatively
small initial production run. One of my favorites is Dragster in the
New Game banner box. Dragster was the
first Activision game. With the banner box it’s the original release
of the first title, a good combination! Market prices don’t show a
strong preference for Dragster box variations. An exceptional
quality New Game example sold for $15.00 on eBay last year and we’ve
also sold this game for similar amounts when quality warrants. Buy
top grade examples of Dragster in the New Game box when available at
a reasonable price. |
| June
2008 |
| Crackpots was
one of the six Atari 2600 games released by Activision in the Fall
of 1983. With a strong lineup of games including Enduro,
Plaque
Attack,
Robot
Tank,
Decathlon
and
Frostbite,
Crackpots was
likely the least anticipated title in the Fall lineup. Today, 25
years later, Crackpots is
still an obscure title. Loose game cartridges typically show fading
and mottling. Cartridges in this average condition trade between
$5-$6. Exceptional condition deep purple label cartridges sell
for a 50% premium. Of greater interest are complete in box or new in
box examples. These games are rare yet still
inexpensive. Consider that Crackpots
complete in box auction frequency is only 5/year yet averages only
$22.00. I think $22.00 for a Very Fine condition example is a good
value with a strong opportunity for future price
appreciation. |
| May
2008 |
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One of
the hottest Atari 2600 games this year is Halloween.
Auction prices have been climbing upward every time the game
cartridge is offered for sale. Back in Vol. 2, Issue 12, I commented
that Halloween was
offered at auction less frequently than Quadrun,
Q*Bert’s
Qubes,
Waterworld and
many other rarities. Seems the market has now recognized the
scarcity of Halloween. All
auction sales this year have exceeded $100 with the most recent
closing at $137.49. These recent results have driven the two year
average auction price up to an amazing $96.00. In my
opinion the market for Halloween is
overheated and prices will fall, but it is unlikely to return to the
mid-$70’s price range seen last year. This Market Tip is therefore a
sell recommendation. Now is a great time to sell your Halloween
cartridge for maximum profit. I’d price reserve at $100.00 with a
low opening bid. |
| April
2008 |
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The
sequel to Defender was
released in 1984 under the name Stargate. For
such a late release, this original 1984 Atari Inc. release doesn’t
have much of a market following. Cart prices range from $5.00-$9.00.
The Jack Trammiel owned Atari Corp re-released Stargate in
1987. This grey label cartridge has fancy end label text. The
re-release is most often encountered in shrinkwrapped box due to
overstock held by some dealers. The loose Atari Corp. cartridge
tends to sell for less than the 1984 release. In 1988 Atari Corp
again re-released Stargate as
Defender
II. Why?
It’s unclear why Atari changed the game’s title. My opinion is
Defender
II was
largely an export title and Atari didn’t have the legal right to
export the Stargate name.
Regardless, Defender
II is the
most popular of the three. Cart prices run from $8-$10 and
shrinkwrapped games bring
$13.00-$18.00. |
| February
2008 |
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A
signature title for Atari 2600 collectors is Q*Bert’s
Qubes. The
rarity and value of this title makes it a key addition to most
collections. The value of Qubes
cartridges has been rising steadily since finding a market bottom
about one year ago. During 2006 fifteen Qubes carts
sold on eBay for an average of $71.00ea. In 2007 the average eBay
closing price increased to $79.00ea. If we restrict the average to
the 2nd half of 2007, representing 8 auctions, the average rises
further to $85.50ea. These are impressive gains which seem to
reflect increased demand from buyers. We’ve increased our buy price
on Q*Bert’s
Qubes from
$50.00 to $65.00 due to the difficulty experienced in replacing
depleted inventory. I think you would make a fine purchase at $75.00
and below for Grade 7 and up cartridges. We’ve only recorded one
boxed example sold since 2005 at $593.00 in July
2007. |
| December
2007 |
|
The
rarest and most expensive Atari 2600 cartridge label variation is
the Sears Superman
cartridge with illustrated label. Demand from well funded advanced
collectors, and the extreme rarity of this label variation, are a
powerful mix for steadily increasing prices. I’m only aware of three
auctions for illustrated label Superman: Apr.
2003 $113.00, Sep. 2005 $711.00, and Dec. 2005 $417.07. The auction
average is $414.00. I think a good buy would be anything below
$500.00 and $600.00 complete in box. |
| November
2007 |
|
When I
purchased Demon
Attack in
1982 it cemented by belief that Imagic had the Atari magic. I
studied their game catalog strategically planning my next purchase.
This fondness for Imagic likely fuels demand for the rarest Imagic
release Subterranea. I’ve
noticed loose Subterranea game
cartridges have been rising in price and now consistently sell for
over $20.00 at auction. The long term average auction price for a
loose cartridge is $18.75. If you limit your average to the past 12
months then Subterranea
climbs to $22.80 with the most recent sale at $26.00. Subterranea sells
frequently enough with cartridge and manual to report this pair
average $31.00. Complete in box the long average is $145.00 with the
most recent sale at $178.00. I believe a Subterranea
cartridge in Very Fine condition is a good buy at the long term
average auction price of
$18.75. |
