After a very dry year in 2016 as far as collecting goes, I started getting the itch to get a few new games added to the lineup. The only specific thing that popped into my mind was a Track and Field–I’ve wanted one for years. So, after the random Missile Command pickup a few weeks prior, I was still on the prowl for anything that caught my eye.
Late one night before bed I happened to pull up the eBay app on my phone. I did a generic search in the Video Arcade Machines category, sorted by distance closest to me, brought up the usual culprits. The same cabinets have languished untouched for years on eBay, so my eyes automatically skimmed over them, my brain humming “seen it… nope… no thanks…” for white noise. Not too far down the list, however, something caught my eye. An auction for Exidy’s Bandido, a game I have never played, but knew was uncommon. Something in the back of my brain itched and I knew there was some reason I was aware of this game that I’d never played. From the photos it looked to be in great shape. eBay images below:
To Google I went. It took all of five seconds to remember why I knew about this game. It was licensed to Exidy from Nintendo, and is a licensed version of their first original arcade game, Sheriff! The first game Shigeru Miyamoto worked on. Scolding the “Nintendo nerd” compartment of my brain for not putting two and two together quick enough, I swapped tabs back to eBay.
The auction looked to have been listed no more than 15 minutes before I checked. I figured, hey, I might have time to jump on this before many other folks see it (if anyone was even looking). The buyer had it listed as Buy it Now $995.00, but with the option to make an offer. I did another quick google search of “KLOV bandido” and saw a few old for sale threads on the forum to get a general price idea. The first one I saw said sold for $600, so I figured, hey, this one is in nice shape, let’s throw an offer out of $600 and I’ll get some sleep and wake up to the counter offer and decide if I really want it THAT bad.
Well, the decision was made for me by the time I woke up. The seller accepted the offer! He had sent me his number so I called and we made plans for me to meet and have it picked up that evening. Turns out he runs a local pinball restoration company so while we had never met, I was familiar with his work at least by name. Unfortunately, his brother and partner had passed away so they were cleaning out the garage.
I stopped by home to pick up my dolly, and called my dad to tell him I was heading over. The seller’s house was near his, so I figured I’d hang with my dad until the seller was ready for me to come by. My dad ended up wanting to tag along, so off we went. The seller was a very nice man and was happy to let me roam around the garage a bit while we picked up the game and investigate all of his goodies. I would rather have been offered the game under less sad circumstances, but am happy anyway that the game is going to a good home and will be cared for and enjoyed. We wheeled it out and loaded it up and made the drive back home. My wife helped me unload, as she always does, and we wheeled it into the extra room at the back of the house.
Did a quick wash down and scrub with some water and magic erasers just to get a little dust off and the Bandido is looking very fresh! Coined up and played my first ever game. This little piece of Nintendo history will definitely be making the trip to the basement to stay, very glad to have it!
Arcade '88 