Now you’ve done it....Champion Pub will now be 10K by Christmas.

Hard to say it’s any one reason. It seems people get bored with CP as they come up for sale regularly if you ask. CC has numbered plaques....maybe some feel it was limited by design. The western theme maybe? Hard to say why it has remained so popular among collectors.

rarity does not = desirability or demand. People obviously dont like it much as you can find multiples available at almost any given time and typically in nice shape (the novelty of the toys wears off very quickly). 10 on pinside alone in the past 8 months. when a game from 20 years ago with barely over 1k made is always available, that tells you pretty much all you need to know.

To put it simply, Pub is kind of a turd. They are already inflated when priced at 5k cause they typically only move at 4500 for nice/ HUO examples. 3500 will get you a solid players condition game if you wait around for a bit. I honestly suggest just go playing one at a show and get your fix for the next year.

I am not sure of the exact history, but lots of HUO ones out there also.

I think this one is awareness of the title, I mean really if you look at the market place the rate of listing it is a little higher for cactus canyon than champion pub if you account for number produced cactus canyon is sitting at 69 listed vs 87 for champion pub and with the total number of CP's out there it should be around 50% higher.

I've actually only seen in person or played one champions pub ever and I've owned it for around 9 years, I've played several cactus canyons. There are actually less ratings for this cactus canyon than champion pub on the top 100 so maybe it's not just me.

Usually every high priced old Bally title gets there from a hype thread or 2 going on pinside and they sky rocket in price. Champion pub just hasn't ridden the price pump train yet for some reason, are you hordeing a pile of CP's and planning to price pump till Christmas?

Champions pubs here get'em while they're hot!!!

The CP playfield is very different than most pins. Polarizing playfield designs don't fare as well. Also, I think the old-time bare knuckle boxing theme is way less popular than a Western theme.
Botyom line, big money only comes when rarity and desirability meet.

I think CP suffers from the “it’s not my favorite easy shots so I hate it!” Disease. This is the same reason people don’t seem to like Houdini or Hobbit (or WOZ in some cases). I have never owned CP but really found it unique and the mini games are really inspired. CC I’ve played a bunch of times but never really liked or got into. I like the theme but it just didn’t click

I enjoy both games. But--it took me a while to finally start appreciating CP. There's actually a lot of interesting stuff in that game.

Although, at $5k, I don't usually feel motivated to buy one. $4k range, maybe. I usually see nice ones pop up for $5300. For a bit less, I could get a TSPP.

I think it's because CP is terrible.

CP's toys are too gimmicky and it takes you out of true pinball action for too long. Sure these toys are innovative, but the lasting fun appeal is not there. Reliability especially on location has also been a problem. Too bad because the theme and sound are fantastic.
CC is the last WPC B/W game, so that along with the small production run makes it collectible. Western theme is awesome and it has a similar fan layout as all time greats and earners MM/AFM. I am not a fan of either game, but I think this is why they are priced so differently.

They were giving CP playfields away for free at Expo that year if that tells you anything.

The issue is really that it's not really a pinball game. There's a lot of "shoot this then do something not involving flippers" or "shoot something and wait a long time". It's boring.

The bash guy with the ramps might make for a good toy now with cheap screens so you can really have different things to beat on. The jump rope and punching bag, bleh.