Astro Wars Circa 80's game retail pricing

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hairy1

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#150434 22-Jul-2014 17:33

Hi,

My son is doing a speech about Astro Wars which we have here. Can anyone remember how much they cost to buy in the early 80's?

Thanks in advance. Matt.

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#1093830 22-Jul-2014 18:10

My memory says a retail price of NZD$40 which coincides approximately with this ebay listing with an original price sticker of GPB21.95 in the UK., but in reality might have been a bit higher given the exchange rate at the time. I did not own one, but did covet them and played them now and then at school when the opportunity arose ; ). You will need to adjust that for inflation also to get some idea of the real cost.

Edit: An NZ retail price of $60-75 would match better with the evidence and exchange rates of the time. Await more responses : ) .

hairy1

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#1093970 22-Jul-2014 23:46

Thanks. We had an advert for it a couple of years ago but threw it out and can't remember the pricing. We think it might have been about $80 NZ

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sen8or

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#1093997 23-Jul-2014 07:42

Don't know the pricing as I was given one as a Xmas present, but I do remember it was quite a cool game. Can't imagine the folks spending more than $60-80 back in the day, that would have been an expensive present back then

xpd

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#1094000 23-Jul-2014 08:05

I had Firefox... http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Grandstand/Firefox.htm

The noise that thing put out was amazing, drove my folks up the wall :D

Cousin had Astro Wars - was a lot of fun....

XPD / Gavin

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johnr

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#1094002 23-Jul-2014 08:11

OMG I remember getting one and price was $80 I remember mum and Dad buying it for me after I got back from a Peter Snell camp

hairy1

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#1094003 23-Jul-2014 08:17

Awesome. Thanks JohnR. You must have done some good running at the Peter Snell Camp. That is $300 in todays money so is the equivalent of buying a PS3 today. It is funny as so many people got them for Christmas and had no idea of the cost.

Cheers.

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LennonNZ

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#1094008 23-Jul-2014 08:41

I had one and quite easily clocked it.

If people don't know what we are all talking about... here is a great video about it from the master of tat.

Fo0L

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#1094028 23-Jul-2014 09:30

My cousin had Astro Wars, I recollect them being $70/$80 mark as I was saving for one from my paper-round - then my parents got me Firefox instead. As mentioned above, the noise from Firefox was awesome - kinda like the Tardis on speed crossed up with Buck Rogers.
Astro Wars was damn cool though.

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#1094040 23-Jul-2014 09:43

The price may have decreased a bit in later years. I don't recall seeing one until '83, but release date was 1980.

johnr

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#1094063 23-Jul-2014 10:18

I got one when they launched

josephhinvest

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#1094110 23-Jul-2014 11:09

I have one of these downstairs, I get it out every few years to have a play :)

Cheers,
Joseph

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wellygary

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#1094113 23-Jul-2014 11:17

Your Google-fu is weak, young padawans

try the National Library, (who think a Toy world Catalouge is worthy of keeping)

"Shows a photograph of two computer games. "Invaders from Space" cost $89.95 and is described as "exciting, fast, arcade-like action. Transformer included. Adaptor included". "Astro Wars" cost $99.95 and is described as "ultra modern arcade excitement. Defend your spaceship from alien craft. Adaptor included"."

Part of: Toyworld (Firm) :Toyworld Christmas catalogue [1982]
http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23231712?search%5Bdirection%5D=asc&search%5Bi%5D%5Bcategory%5D=Images&search%5Bi%5D%5Bsubject%5D=Computer+games&search%5Bpath%5D=items&search%5Bsort%5D=sort_date

MurrayM

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#1094190 23-Jul-2014 13:39

I had both "Invaders from Space" and "Astro Wars". My grandmother gave them to me for Christmas one year, but they were bought second-hand.

xpd

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#1094223 23-Jul-2014 14:26

Firefox was 1983 going by the manual - https://archive.org/details/manuals-handheld-games-Grandstand-FirefoxF7
Astro Wars was 1981 - https://archive.org/details/manuals-handheld-games-Grandstand-AstroWars

XPD / Gavin

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Satch

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#1094897 24-Jul-2014 12:45

wellygary: Your Google-fu is weak, young padawans

try the National Library, (who think a Toy world Catalouge is worthy of keeping)

"Shows a photograph of two computer games. "Invaders from Space" cost $89.95 and is described as "exciting, fast, arcade-like action. Transformer included. Adaptor included". "Astro Wars" cost $99.95 and is described as "ultra modern arcade excitement. Defend your spaceship from alien craft. Adaptor included"."

Part of: Toyworld (Firm) :Toyworld Christmas catalogue [1982]
http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23231712?search%5Bdirection%5D=asc&search%5Bi%5D%5Bcategory%5D=Images&search%5Bi%5D%5Bsubject%5D=Computer+games&search%5Bpath%5D=items&search%5Bsort%5D=sort_date

Is there a way to see said catalogue online?

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