This week, we hit the road for another arcade hunting adventure—traveling about an hour north of Bedford to Denton, Texas, for an arcade auction hosted by Ernie Jolly of Ad Astra Auctions. If you’ve never been to one of these events, you’re seriously missing out. Walking into an arcade auction is like stepping into a treasure hunt. You never know what kind of gems you’re going to find—classic cabinets, modern hits, spare parts, claw machines, and sometimes even total oddities.
Watch the Auction Video!
Right away, we spotted a ton of exciting games. There was Guitar Hero, Fruit Ninja, and Deadstorm Pirates—a swashbuckling shooter that would look incredible at the Electric Starship. We also saw Zombie Raid, Phoenix, Injustice, and a solid lineup of classics like Neo Geo, Lethal Enforcers II, and Golden Tee Live.
Of course, I had my eye on a few machines for Time Rift Arcade. We don’t have a Frogger yet, and there was a Killer Instinct II that looked like a great pickup. But my favorite surprise? A talking parrot that lays eggs. No, really.
One standout was a Midway multigame VR cabinet running Beach Head, sitting right next to a Nintendo Super System loaded with Super Mario Bros., F-Zero, and Mario Kart. We actually already have a restored Super System at Time Rift, so seeing another one in the wild was awesome.
At the far end of the auction was Virtual Rabbids, a massive ride-style arcade that, while super cool, is just too big for our space. But right near it? Terminator Salvation—a personal favorite of mine—and some pinball titles like NASCAR, Striker Xtreme, and Terminator 3. And of course, no auction would be complete without a Ms. Pac-Man. They made over 115,000 of them, so they’re a staple at just about every event.
Also spotted: a claw machine from an old Cici’s Pizza and a mountain of multicades—those generic cabinets running 60-in-1s or Raspberry Pi setups. They’re cheap and everywhere.
But the crown jewel of the auction? A massive Walking Dead environmental cabinet—exactly what I came for. This game is a monster (literally) and an absolute fan favorite. I knew I had to bring it home to Time Rift Arcade.
Auction Day Drama: Did We Win?
Bidding works like this: the auctioneer rolls around the building with a speaker and TV setup, calling out each lot in order. If you want to bid, you flash your number. When nobody else bites at the next price, it’s yours.
First up, Mike Woods snagged Deadstorm Pirates for Electric Starship—huge win! Then it was my turn for The Walking Dead.
And… I won it! $4,500 was the hammer price, and with the 15% buyer’s premium, the total came to $5,175. A steal, considering these machines go for $12K–$15K new.
Since the cabinet is massive, the auction company agreed to deliver it—minus the giant topper, which we had to remove ourselves and haul back separately. That way, they could actually fit it through our front doors.
Delivery Day at Time Rift Arcade
The next morning, a 26-foot Penske truck pulled up to Time Rift Arcade. After a little maneuvering, we got the cabinet through the doors. Mike grabbed a ladder and started reattaching the topper. And let me tell you—there were so many screws. But the topper absolutely completes the look.
Once we powered it on, Mike had to take it for a test run. And wow—this game is non-stop, zombie-blasting mayhem. It’s already a hit, and we can’t wait for you to try it next time you visit Time Rift Arcade in Bedford, Texas!
