Atari Karts for the Atari Jaguar (Sealed)

It might not be the best Jaguar game around, it might not be (favorably) comparable to Mario Kart, but Atari Karts is a very rare game indeed and thus a prized collector's item. What's more, a sealed copy of Atari Karts has hit eBay and the seller is shipping worldwide, so if you care for one here's your chance. To find out more about the game try its AtariAge entry, its Game Rankings entry or even this lovely and quite related GameSetWatch article.

Pretty excellent Atari ST games collection sighted

Try your luck over at this UK only Atari ST games collection eBay auction and you might just manage to secure 47 mostly classic, much loved and impressively boxed 16-bit computer games for (much) less than a pound each. Among the astonishingly good selection of included games you'll find such classic gems as The Secret of Monkey Island, Sensible Soccer, Elite II, Stunt Car Racer, Kick Off 2, Zak McKracken, IK+, Utopia and Smash TV. The lot is easily worth over 60£.

Sega Mega Drive, Mega CD & Games

Ah, another brilliant collection just hit eBay. Lovely and a bargain too, considering the same lot usually costs around 70-75£. So off to the Sega Mega Drive II, Mega CD II, 2 pads and 6 games auction you go. Seller ships to the UK only.

A carry case, a PAL SNES, 2 controllers & 8 games

I'm quite fond of those well-organized, well-priced, delicious little packages that almost feel like professionally designed starter-packs and this Nintendo SNES (PAL), 8 games, 2 contollers & carry case bundle appearing on eBay seems like a prime example of what I mean. It's got everything you need to enter the world of 16-bit gaming and offers a great mix of classic, yet varied, games. Oh, yes, and the seller ships worldwide too.

The games included are Killer Instinct, Kick Off, Starwing, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter II, Super Tennis, Street Racer and the apparently not fully operational Yoshi's Island. Grabbing this bundle for anything less than 25£, 48$ or 33 euros should be considered a bargain.

Finally, a glorious SAM Coupé!

Can't say that those SAM Coupé computers are a common eBay sight, so I guess you should probably find this SAM Coupé auction rather intriguing. Mind you, it's a UK only thing and these computers have been known to sell for anything from 60£ to 150£. To find out more about the turbo-charged 8-bit machine on offer (that can even emulate the ZX Spectrum) have a look over at Wikipedia.

bargain.bin retro review: Berzerk (Atari 2600/VCS)

I really can't be absolutely sure about this, but I do think Berzerk on the Atari 2600 was the first video game I ever played. No matter how hard I try, you see, I just can't remember anything remotely video game-y before it. Thankfully, it was -still is actually- a great action game and I wasn't scarred for life.

Berzerk, a 1980 arcade game that was eventually ported to the Atari 2600, the Vectrex and the ill-fated Atari 5200, also happened to be one of the first multi-directional shooters. A proper run-and-gun game, really, complete with stylized colourful graphics that have aged remarkably well, an intriguing bleep and blop soundtrack, a few computerized voices and excellent gameplay. Rumour has it, the Berzerk arcade even inspired Eugene Jarvis to create Robotron: 2084.
The Atari 2600 version of the game, the only one I've properly played and the one I know I can heartily recommend, is surprisingly on par with its arcade predecessor. Besides the shoddy AI and suicidal robots, that is. Oh, yes, and the fact that Evil Otto (the smiley face we oddly used to call mpampoulas; go figure) isn't especially indestructible. Still, the graphics are some of the best the console has to offer, the animation -for lack of a better word- is impressively expressive, the sounds lack the voice of the arcade but help create a convincing atmosphere and the gameplay is as addictive and rewarding as ever. What's more, a Berzerk cartridge will rarely set you back more than a few euro, pounds, dollars or whatever you use to pay for your games.

As for the way the game plays, well, it couldn't be simpler. All the player has to do is use the one-button joystick to shoot some robots (all of them actually), avoid being shot at, avoid touching the deadly electrified walls and exit each slightly maze-like room. Being fast at it can come in handy too, as, after a set period of time, the aforementioned Otto appears and he's a tough to avoid, very lethal, bouncing smiley face. Nasty!
Where to get it:
Berzerk (Atari 2600/VCS): eBay.com, eBay.co.uk, Amazon.com
Berzerk (Vectrex): eBay.com, eBay.co.uk
Remakes & ROMs: Berzerk 3D, BerzerkerBotz, ROM, online remake

More info on Berzerk:

• Wikipedia page
• MobyGames entry
• Atari Age entry
• A Dot Eaters History

More bargain.bin retro reviews:
Sensible Soccer (Commodore Amiga)
Target; Renegade (8-bits)

The Weird Computer Games Book

It's oddities like the aptly named Weird Computer Games book, that make randomly searching through eBay such a pleasure. The book, the same small thing pictured above mind you, is a type-in games compilation for the C64, ZX Spectrum, Apple II, TRS 80, Electron and Vic-20 (or so it claims) and was published back in the early 80s by Usborne.

For a chance at flicking through it, do try this Weird Computer Games Book eBay auction. Seller ships worldwide. More info on the games included can be found here, provided you scroll down.

17 SEGA Game Gear Games

Actually, make that 17 Game Gear games for less than a pound each, and all you have to do to grab them is try this very Sega, very portable auction. Seller ships to UK only, mind you. All the games are boxed and four of them actually sealed. Gems such as GG Shinobi, Streets of Rage, Marble Madness, Tazmania, Ninja Gaiden and Aladdin are also included.

eBay Rampage: Sega Dreamcast

Ahh, the innovative Sega Dreamcast. Sega's final and admittedly finest console. A sleek gaming machine that can still offer hours of top-quality entertainment and one you absolutely have to own both as gamers and as collector. Find out more here and know that the average unboxed (non-rare) Dreamcast console usually costs around 25£, 49$ or 33 euros.

Japanese limited edition Silver Dreamcast. UK, US, S. America, France, Ireland, Germany, ends 16 Feb. 2008.

Samba De Amigo complete. Worldwide, ends 14 Feb. 2008.

Dreamcast with 4 controllers, lightgun, 14 games and stuff. Worldwide, ends 11 Feb. 2008.

Two DC Arcade Sticks. Worldwide, ends 13 Feb. 2008.

Dreamcast R7 (Regulation # 7). Worldwide, ends 10 Feb. 2008.

Mr. Driller (Sealed). Worldwide, ends 13. Feb. 2008.

Dreamcast with mouse, Shenmue II and other games. UK, ends 15 Feb. 2008.

The Commodore 64 Robot Arm Kit

Not sure what the point is, but you could have a look at this eBay C64 oddity, and probably acquire a rather obscure Robot Arm Kit for your Commodore 64 or 128. Seller ships worldwide and provides with this quite informational paragraph too:

The ROBOTIC ARM TRAINER teaches the basic robotic sensing and locomotion principles, testing your motor skills, as you build and control the Arm. You can command this unit with it's five-switch, wired controller with corresponding lights to grab, release, lift, lower, rotate wrist and pilot sideways 350 degrees. After assembly, observe the dynamics of gear mechanisms through the transperent Arm. Five motors and five joints allow flexibility and fun! For educators and home schoolers.