Sunday, December 29, 2019

More Additions to the 32X Collection!

I have been back in the 32X Collecting groove as of late. It is the one collection I want to complete, but compared to the other collecting tangents I get on, one of the more expensive.

First up is one I picked up early this year, January or February and just didn't get around to sharing

RBI Baseball '95 - No Manual

And another item I picked up the cartridge only for a few months back

NBA Jam Tournament Edition
I have had the case and manual for several years, yes years.

Then I originally bought this along with the Original Xbox game in this Blog just for the 32X specific case, but I am actually going to be using the cartridge itself as well for a future project.

 Another copy of NFL Quarterback Club
Complete 

Last week I came across an auction for these empty cases, the seller wanted $30.00 plus shipping for, I shot him an offer for $20.00 for just the 32X stuff, but he countered with $20.00 for all, I agreed.

 Extra cases are always good
The Wrestlemania game generally sells for $100.00+ complete, so having a case already means I can find a cheap Cartridge & Manual to put inside. I can sell off the Virtua racing box and manual as well as the Mortal Kombat manual, and another extra manual and artwork for NBA Jam to sell as well.

Next up, I pieced together this game from two different auctions

Afterburner
Back of Cartridge - A little sticker removal and cleaning don't scare me

I used to love playing Afterburner in the arcade, especially the sit down cabinet

I got the box and Cartridge from one seller for $25.00 shipped and the Manual for $10.00 shipped

Game usually sells around $60.00 complete. I am guessing the missing manual and sticker littered cartridge shied some buyers away, so giving me the opportunity for a deal!


Now onto a reproduction I bought from a guy on Etsy

 Darxide
Complete with Manual

This game is a European exclusive, that generally sells for over $1,000.00! Obviously I would not pay that, the guy I bought it from makes reproductions of this game, in U.S. style boxes for $60.00.

Original European copy pic I pulled off Google

and while going down the 32X region exclusive rabbit hole......

FIFA Soccer 96

This was the only other Europeon exclusive title for 32X. I bought this reproduction for $30.00. It is on a regular Genesis cart (which play on the 32X just fine) But I am planning to try my hand at making artwork and a label for the extra copy of Quarterback club I got above, so it will be on a proper 32X cart, to match the rest.

Original European coy pic off Google


And my mommy got me this for X-mas

Haven't had a chance to read it yet 




That's all for now, already have more coming, see ya soon!






Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Playstation Game Pickups to add to the collection

I know I focus more on the Xbox side of collecting, and I am more of an Xbox fan than Playstation, and I would say I am an Xbox fan in general, but Given that I just recently got a PS4, I do have some Playstation on my mind.


First up at the Thrift store for $2.99

 ATV Off Road Fury 2
Nice Condition Complete Not for Resale copy

I was ordering x-mas gifts for the family from Amazon, I figured might as well treat myself as well

Deceptiopn IV Blood Ties

and

Deception IV The Nightmare Princess

I remember playing the original Tecmo's Deceptipon on the Original Playstation

And I got a great deal on this, Another Limited Run Games release of a Sega CD Classic

 Night Trap
Complete with Poster for $20.38

Should I frame it?

Limited Run released this with a reversible cover, the original Red Sega CD cardboard box art and if you were to use a Playstation 4 Hits Red case, would get that look nicely.

Like so

But, I myself prefer the Sega CD jewel case look

Dana Plato on the cover

And then, I found out that there was a cover variant sold exclusively at a "pop up" event

Yeah, the 32X cover art, I HAD to have it!

Got a brand new copy off eBay for $45.00 shipped.

Here they are together, a play copy and a stay sealed copy


More to come soon!








Sunday, December 22, 2019

More Xbox games for the collection

An eBay pickup and a few Thrift store scores this weekend

First up, off eBay for $8.00
I bought this along with another item from the same seller, but that will be featured in a future blog

 Operation Flashpoint Elite
Complete and in Great Shape

Next up, stopped at a Goodwill where they price all their games @$2.99ea

 ATV Quad Power Racing 2
Complete in Good Shape

 Outlaw Golf 2
Complete and in Good Shape


 Starsky & Hutch
Complete and in Good Shape


Then I headed over to my favorite Salvation Army, Where I found

 AND1 Streetball
Missing the bonus disc and manual $1.99

I only bought this for the Original Xbox Double Disc case. These are a lot harder to find than their Xbox 360 counterparts. And I will just sell the artwork and disc in a regular DVD case for $2.00.

and

 Call of Duty Black Ops III
$2.99

This was a Multiplayer only game on the Xbox 360, there was no Campaign. 
I only bought it to complete the Call of Duty Games that were released on the 360 in my collection.



That's it for today, I do have some more stuff to take pictures of, Stay Tuned!











Sunday, December 15, 2019

Couple of Xbox 360 Additions to the collection

I was in the neighborhood of a Salvation Army I go to occasionally, and of course I can't just drive by and NOT stop in, plus it had been along day at work (9 hours) and I was already tired and just ready to go home since I had made a couple other life necessity stops, and I really was just ready to go home. However, as I was coming to the stop light where I would turn right to go home, or go straight across the street to go the the Salvation Army, just as I was starting to apply the brakes to slow down and stop, the lights for going straight turned green. I of course decided to take it as a sign, and went across the street to go to the Salvation Army, Where I was able to pickup a couple more things for my Xbox 360 collection.

 Full Auto
Complete and in Great Shape

A combat racing game I have never owned or played, and it's by Sega! Yes Please.

And

The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim: Legendary Edition

Cool, I had been looking for the Legendary Edition, I of course bought it originally when it came out.

No Game Disc 

But, it does have disc 2

The Legendary Edition of Skyrim, includes all the DLC (Dawnstar, Dragonborn & Hearthfire expansions) on disc 2. So I had been wanting to get a hold of a disc 2 from the Legendary Edition, so that eventually when the DLC is no longer able to be downloaded from the Xbox Live marketplace (our Digital Media Future, you don't own anything, only pay full price to rent it for a few years ..... UGH), I would still have it on a Physical Disc to install it, should I need it. Plus, I it had the double disc case, so all I had to do was put in my Game disc and:

Viola!


While playing flippy flop I noticed the manual between the 2 editions were very different.

This picture doesn't do the size/thickness difference justice.

Like I said, I had originally bought this game when it was released (11.11.11) so my original manual is full color and 24 pages thick. The Legendary Editions manual, Black & White and only 2 pages...

Legendary Edition Manual

Middle of Manual

Last Page

The Notes page, #24


Just a little something I found interesting, and of course since both manuals are vastly different, AND I am a hoarder of video game items, I am keeping both manuals with my copy.









Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Storytime: My 1982 Ford Mustang LX

I have owned and driven a lot of cars over the last 30 years of having a license (as well as a few Camaro's before I even had a license), Some of which were just boring bland econoboxes, family haulers, even a minivan... Some were fun sports cars and even funner beaters. This is a story about one of those beaters.

In the early 90's, I think it was 1992 or 1993 I was offered a 1982 Ford Mustang LX for $400.00. It had a 2.3L 4 Cylinder engine and a 4 Speed Manual Transmission, And it ran and drove.

It looked just like this random one I found on Google. 

Mine was the exact same Color with the exact same Wheel covers.

I didn't buy it to be a pavement pounding fire breathing muscle car, or a drag race track beast. I already had my 1983 Pontiac Trans Am for that at the time, Which I autocrossed the hell out of. I bought it because even though it was only a 4 cylinder, it was still a fun daily driver with the 4 speed manual, and it was a Mustang. I had grown up around Mustangs as my dad was a ford guy who had a Cobra he would drag race and autocross with, and his daily driver was a 1976 Ford Mustang II Ghia.

 I ended up only be able to drive it for a week or two, before I managed to seize the transmission in 3rd gear. That was a fun drive back to the house........

Luckily for me, when I bought the 82, the guy I had bought it from also happened to have a silver 79 Mustang Ghia also equipped with the same 4 Cylinder engine and 4 Speed manual transmission that was just sitting in his yard with a blown engine (You could see the hole in the oil pan where the connecting rod had made it's escape) but a good transmission. So I ended up buying that whole car from him as well for $100.00 and drug it home.

Over a weekend my father, brother and I all pulled the transmission out of both cars, chucked the bad transmission into the trunk of the 79, and swapped the good transmission (with a decent clutch) into the LX. I also liked the steering wheel in the 79 better than the 82's, so I swapped them as well.

The (Fugly looking) one on the left was originally in my LX in the same light blue as the interior
The (cooler looking) one on the right was from the 79 Ghia, that I swapped into my 82 LX

As a side note, the Ghia's steering wheel also came with a hidden bonus. On these (or at least the 79-82's I can't speak for the newer ones, as I have never owned one, or looked over one long enough to notice) Mustangs, the horn button is not the center of the steering wheel as one would assume, and like every other car I had owned or driven at the time. But it was on the left of the steering column on it's own stalk, like the wipers? 
Best Picture I could Google - Same Ghia Steering wheel I had too

You had to push it into the column to blow the horn. Weird, but it meant that under the cover for the center of the steering wheel was empty, an open space. So a person could theoretically use it to keep things you wouldn't necessarily want someone in law enforcement to find if you were pulled over for say racing, such as *cough* a 1/2 oz. of weed and a pipe *cough* OR so I have heard............😉

Speaking of racing, A friend of ours also had a 1983 Mustang GLX convertible equipped with a V6 and an Automatic Transmission. He had a hot girlfriend I wanted to "hang out with" Hey I was young, cocky, full of myself and great looking at that age. So I took any chance I could to make him look bad, by whooping his ass in stoplight races. Sure he had the bigger engine, but I was the better driver, that and I didn't give a shit about the car, anything I broke I had spare parts for sitting in my dads garage. Oh and yes, I did eventually get to "hang out" with her!

One day my old roommate and I were on our way home from work (we worked at the same car wash) doing a little "spirited" driving and apparently at some point, the battery hold down had never got reinstalled on the battery in the engine compartment. So as we went around a corner rather briskly, the battery slid off the tray and right into the metal fan blade...... DOH! Although as luck would have it, the 79 was still sitting around at my dads house, so for the next few days, with the car being a stick, we just parked it on the hill in the parking lot at our apartment, and pop started it in the morning to get to work, then at 4:30, we would have 3-4 of the part time teenage kids push the car for us, so we could pop start it to get home. Then on Saturday we went over to my dads and swapped over the battery AND battery hold down into my LX. As it turned out I ended up picking parts off of the 79 for the next year as they broke or wore out on my 82, so buying the 79 had turned out to be a very nice investment.



Another fun thing I did with my Mustang was with the emblems. Originally these Mustangs came with a Ford emblem on the left side of the trunk lid and a Mustang emblem on the right side of the trunk lid. So my buddy and I were perusing a junkyard one day, probably looking for parts for his Oldsmobile Starfire or Toyota Starlet (ahhh I miss the 80's), when we came across an 80's Buick Riviera. I looked at the emblems with the giant R on the fender and a wicked thought crossed my wicked mind. I was also able to pickup another Mustang emblem while we were there as well.

+

=

I put the R from the Riviera emblem and ustang from the Mustang and voila Rustang!


Even though the only rust I had on my car were rust holes at the top of both A-Pillars, the rest of the body was just faded paint, one softball sized dent in the passenger rear quarter panel under the quarter glass, along with lots of misc nicks, scratches and dings. I thought it was funny, I put one on each side above the trim on the front fenders with emblem adhesive. I loved it!

I eventually ended up doing the redneck spray bomb paint job on it, with Primer Gray and Black
same apint scheme as Thunderhead289's Rotstang

I drove the hell out of my Mustang LX, I drove it all over the place, and I really miss it. 

I have really been craving another Fox body Mustang lately, even though I have my Firebird Formula in the garage, I really think I am going to pick up either a 79 Pace Car, 80-81 Cobra or 82 GT but it absolutely has to be a stick with T-Tops. Engine doesn't matter, as I think I want to swap in a GM Supercharged Series II 3.8L V6.

Beautiful car!! 
The only change I would make is to get a set of 87-93 GT "Turbine" wheels

And as I come to a close of reminiscing over one of my favorite old cars I owned, I will leave you with one last story. Something I did while driving this car, that to this day makes me smile and laugh, but also makes me realize how lucky I was to get away with it.

There came a time when the clutch eventually needed to be replaced, I can't imagine why, I mean all those 6000 RPM Clutch Popping Burnouts couldn't possibly have had anything to do with that? So for a good week or so after we replaced the clutch, I drove the car around like a normal person, it wasn't easy not for me, not at that time. Anyway after a week or so as I was turning off the main road onto a back road 5-6 blocks from my apartment to avoid the stoplights at the intersection, I figured, well it's been a few hundred miles, clutch has got to be worn in properly by now right? So I come down the road to the 90 degree corner and stop just before the turn. I look around and give the motor a couple high revs, still sounds pretty good. So I run the little 2.3 up to 5500 RPM and Pop the clutch. All of a sudden there is lots of noises as the engine revs and the tires start squealing, with smoke billowing out of the back of the car and I steer the car as the back end comes out and around the corner. So I point the nose back straight down the road again and give it some more. Then I glance over to the side of the road and I see a guy on a mountain bike excitedly strapping his helmet on as he stares hard at me. Then I also see the badge and the ******* Police Department logo on his jacket...... In the same moment I both laugh (I mean a cop on a mountain bike 😂 ) and yell "Oh Shit!" So I let off the gas, upshift to 3rd to kill the tires momentum and wait for the car to get some traction, then downshift back into 2nd as I take off up the street power shifting through the gears. I honestly must have hit 60 MPH on this residential street. Again, at my current age I know this was fucking stupid, but at the time couldn't have given a shit. Between it being dusk out, the tinted license plate cover (remember those?) I had on the car and all that tire smoke, I knew there was no way he would have been able to read my license plate, so I just flew into my apartment parking lot, around the garages and put the Mustang into my garage. Then I jumped out, ran out of the garage and pulled the door closed, and walked over to my Trans Am that was parked a few spaces over from the garages, and opened the door. As I looked up to the main road I saw the cop  come pedaling around the corner and down the sidewalk at top speed. I chuckled, waved and closed the door to my Trans Am, and went into my apartment to have a small panic attack, and a beer



Thanks for reading an old mans reminiscing