Original Williams Defender Arcade Machine

[Shagga]

Well, I have finally been to see one which is completely original (22 Years Old) and is working. It's a bit rough looking but not that bad. It has some screen burn, the base is a bit tired where it has been kicked to hell. The control panel has been replaced and the Artwork to the side of the case has been repainted. (Looks ok but not brilliant).

The point is, is it worth £1600. I'd love the machine but my wife is adament that she doesn't want it. These don't come along that often so I just dunno what to do. I love my wife but "It's an original Williams Defender". I used to get kicke out of arcades cos I was on it too long and others could nver get a game. I used to get crowds of people watching me all dinner hour....Ahhhh they were the days.

Wadda I do?.......

 

[Dreadogg]

buy it now! Tell your wife I said it was Ok!

 

[HiveMaster]

Jebus! 1600 for Defender?!?!?!?!?

I have the original version on my pc for free!

Get the MAME emulator then find the ROMS for the game.

When I was in the arcade business, we used to buy Defender for about 250 us and sell it for 650 us.

If you get the arcade version on your pc you will be much happier--unless you are a techie you will NOT keep the game running yourself.

 

[billw]

Originally posted by: HiveMaster
Jebus! 1600 for Defender?!?!?!?!?

That's in pounds. In US dollars, that'll be over $2000 :Q

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Get together some old crappy computer components and put together a pc. Load it up with dos or something, write some batch files, and load MAME and a gillion ROMS on it. Then, get a crappy but large monitor or a tv or something. Next build an arcade looking case to house everything and buy some spare joystick and button parts from an arcade supply place. You could probably rip up a cheap gravis game pad and wire the large buttons into that. There you go! Instant arcade. Paint it up nice and make a little marquee for various games you can put on it and you're set! Yes, this is completely possible and I have seen it done before.

 

[Heretik]

You mean something like this?

 

[Aquaman]

Tell you wife that you will pass on this one but if you find another one your getting it........... then buy this one & put it in storeage ......... then when sh buys something that is over the top ($300 shoes or bag) ............ you find another Defender game & buy it Everyone is happy

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Shagga]

Thanx for the suggestions guyz. LOL. I have MAME and the Defender ROMS but it just isn't the same. Those that think it is, is too young to have experienced the original Defender or has never played it in the Arcade. It is the Daddy most will agree.

I just dunno what to do.

 

[mastertech01]

I have had 40-45 year old pinball machines in excellent condition that werent worth 100.00. I would pass on it personally.

 

[RamIt]

Dont forget that Joust can run on the same machine.

 

[apoppin]

Looks like someone else in your neck of the woods has one in prime condition for £1495

Do an Internet search. It looks like there is a "premium" for old classic arcade machines in the UK.

 

[Natej]

Oh those memories. Stargate

 

[Shagga]

apoppin - Thanx for that. I have seen that website and that pic of the machine seems to have been used all over the net so it isn't necessarily the one you'll get. There is a premium for the 1980's originals your right. The Original Space Invaders goes for about £1700!!!!

My wife is adament she doesn't want it in the house. I can understand what she is saying as it's a brand new house with all the mod cons so having a piece of Retro Gaming in one of the spare rooms wrecking our £40 Yd² carpet is just not cricket! :frown:

 

[risen]

Do not buy it. Your wife is more important than a video game.

 

[Thor86]

Who cares about Defender? You'd get so bored quick. Now if only you can find a 2 person, table top version of Tron, I'd definately get it.