Retro Megabit

Wow, A&C Games is really expensive. I am opening with that comment despite the fact that I did buy something from this retro video game store that I feel was over priced. Which technically implies that they priced it right… but never you mind such logic. I’m sticking to my guns. A&C Games is really expensive.

I was in their neighborhood and I had time to kill so I went into A&C Games to have a look around. To their credit their inventory of retro video games is huge… but like I said; they’re expensive.

While browsing a shelf of boxed retro consoles and accessories I found a boxed Sega Control Stick for $55 CAD plus tax (no manual). I actually have a boxed Sega Control stick but mine is missing the Styrofoam packaging from inside the box. This one from A&C Games (pictured below) still had it’s Styrofoam.

I’m sure you know where I’m going with this. I spent a total of $62 CAD (~$51 USD) just to get the Styrofoam packaging. Even if I turn around and sell the spare box with the actual Control Stick for a more realistic price of $20 CAD I’ll still have spent $42 on Styrofoam. Plus whatever my original boxed Control Stick cost me all those many years ago.

“You FOOL! Oh why?! Why did you do it?!”

It’s a fair comment. Here’s how I was able to justify it to myself. I’ve been in the hobby for a long time now and from visiting local game shops and retro video game conventions over the years I know that finding something like this with any amount of it’s original packing is hard to come by. I’m also a bit of a sucker when I’ve already got something in my collection that’s not 100%; either not in good enough condition or not complete. I’ll sometimes feel compelled to go that extra mile to make that something whole whereas if I didn’t have it at all I might just be content to forget it entirely.

So, while leaving sound financial judgment far behind check out my now boxed and complete Sega Control Stick with it’s amazing Styrofoam packaging material!

Before I try to sell my double (and slightly crunched) boxed Control Stick I went to the forums on Sega-16.com and posted it for trade. I was hoping to swap this box and joystick for an original Sega Master System Model 1 power supply. Nothing has come of this yet and if after some time no trade materializes I’m sure I’ll sell it for cash. But at the moment I’m more interested in trading.

Now that I’m talking about my Sega Control Stick accessory I might as well show off my other boxed Sega peripherals and consoles.

The Sega Light Phaser. Totally cooler looking than Nintendo NES Zapper!

This boxed Light Phaser I purchased from ebay a very long time ago. I don’t remember what I paid but it wasn’t expensive and it’s in really great condition.

My boxed Sega 3-D Glasses were one of the first things I found when I got into collecting for the Master System. I found it in a Hock Shop for $20 CAD in 1998.

I also have two boxed Sega Master System Consoles to go with these peripherals. The first being an early Master System release:

And this second one being a later release. I still need a manual for the included Hang On & Safari Hunt and a power supply before this second Sega Master System is complete.

There are quite a few accessories for Sega Master System such as the rapid fire unit and sport pad controller; which I have loose. And there a bunch more that I don’t have at all. The accessories pictured above are likely the most common and I don’t expect to find any others boxed and complete.