I collect these games but modestly and slowly but I am always checking local classifieds- I think the market is actually increasing for many EM titles.

Two things Drive this but I will start with an observation so we will call it three.

1) As these games age out the average condition continues to drop- and the feasibility of a repair that does not take hundreds of hours goes down- so the value of a beat up basket case is not moving much- but I do see them at prices I feel are unreasonable yet the listings go away and don’t come back. So the market is going up. I just don’t agree with it.

2) Restored EM titles are going up in value rather quickly- I suppose this is good for me as I restore games but I don’t sell them (never have sold a game- I have 5 and buy carefully). As the availability of good games goes down the price of anything in decent shape continues to rise. The fact is these games are old enough that I truly believe we have two markets- a junk yard of shit that will take you insane time and effort to resurrect- and the remaining good game (I mean not trashed) the value of these increases even as unrestored examples.

3) They are pinball games- and no one can argue that’s not more popular than it was 10 yrs ago or 5 or 2.... as the DMD market goes up these become the entry point and demand is increasing. I see a LOT of EM threads with new buyers- a Lot more than 2 or 5 years ago. So more people are buying them that were not previously collectors. That raises prices.

I disagree with the entire premise. I also know that this is true (see below) and thus the market is all over the place right now. People who know are raising prices on good games- people who don’t are throwing them away.

One thing that will always be true- some view these games as garbage in grandmas basement and they get sold dirt cheap. So its always possible to find really cheap cheap examples.

I suppose it’s possible we drive prices up-I know for a fact many will google for pricing and more than one person I have purchased from found pinside and have even used a thread I started (they didn’t know) asking for pricing information to set prices!!!! But- I am willing to pay a lot more today for a good quality EM than I was 5+ years ago- so there’s your answer from me- The market went up.

I am finding it super hard to untangle me and the market. I was to young in the 70’s to make it to an arcade unattended and for sure grew up playing video games and not pinball. I literally have no recollection of ever really playing a pinball game- I know I did, but I have distinct memories of Joust and Defender and PacMan and Robotron etc... yet I have no interest in owning one of them. If I am a normal collector- of pinball- then I am not so sure that price goes with age of collectors. For SURE you need to be old enough to have disposable income, but I know more than a few collectors buying EM games that are younger than I.

I think there is an emphasis on analog tech lately thats in part a response to the sterility of digital. So Pinball- Vinyl- Cars- some how are all collected together and I actually think this connection is what really counts. My question is- will my kids see this as interesting or just stupid- and I suspect it will remain interesting.

We went to Universal Studios and went on some (most) of the rides and everyone- liked the real roller coasters (analog tech) a lot more than the virtual reality 3D rides. Don’t get me wrong- I love tech- but the real deal is so much more interesting. That’s why I like pinball- if that continues to translate to even a fraction of the kids today these games are not going down in price over the long term. In this case when I say Analog- I refer to an actual metal ball and solid objects with flippers- not to SS vs EM.

Pinball is not an investment for me and I really don’t care what the value does- any more than I care how much my current pedal bike will be worth in 5 years- just saying that I think it goes beyond what you grew up playing.

Totally agree with everyone else saying they are cool for more than 1 reason.

I do however wonder what the art will be thought of. I cannot find a single game from the 60’s or earlier I have any interest in owning- just cannot do the art. So if younger kids start to feel the same way about the 70s games... then I am totally wrong and in 25 years none of these games are worth jack. Who cares.

I get that, for sure there are plenty of collectors who find the early games amazing art wise- that speaks to this not being a “dude over 55 market” which is a good thing for the longevity of all these fun toyz! To each his own- I vote brunette

I am 5 years in (ish?) still have every game I purchased still have only 5. I am not super interested in turning the crank. I buy only games I think I would like playing and that fit the vibe I like. To be honest- it’s all about look and fit so there are not so many games I want to own. Then I work on them slowly as I have time. I try to keep it a relaxing affair and just don’t have the time to put many hours into it at once. That’s the cool part about this hobby- there are SO MANY ways to enjoy it.

Do tell... I’m out of the loop!