Inside the Collection: Meet Doc Mack
Doc is taking the high score with his massive collection of rare and vintage arcade games! Take a look.
Aug. 11, 2024
Doc Mack is the owner of Galloping Ghost Arcade, one of the world's largest video game arcades. It's a place so massive and filled with so many vintage games, that it generates 19 separate electric bills.
Lisa Whelchel gets a private tour of the arcade's vintage treasures and rarities while also learning the meaning and value of "shmup" games such as Turkey Shooter and Blaster.
Doc's collection features arcade games that are only available to the public at Galloping Ghost Arcade. He's not hoarding these games; he's sharing them with video game lovers across the entire country.
He started playing video games at the age of five, and today he has over 1,000 games in his collection! He's living every kid's dream.
Doc is taking the high score with his massive collection of rare and vintage arcade games! Take a look.
1. Narc Arcade Game
This arcade game served two purposes in the 1990s: It was a fun game to play for arcade fans, and it was an anti-drug game during the "Just Say No" era.
It was good for gaming and good for spreading a meaningful message.
There was the game that was actually released, and then there was this one. This version of Narc includes a level that was removed from the final release, making it the only one released with the missing level.
Fans of arcade games travel from all over the country for a chance to play this unreleased level, which is an important piece of gaming history.
This is also the first arcade game Doc ever purchased, making it even more special. In fact, it's one of the reasons he's on Collector's Call! It's the type of game that brings everyone together.
Our expert valued this vintage video game at $20,000, but Doc will never sell it.
Want a chance to play this ultra-rare version of Narc? Check out Galloping Ghost Arcade, located in Brookfield, IL.
2. Sega R360
This huge, action-packed game is a flight simulator from 1991 called Sega R360. Never seen something like it? Neither has most people across the country!
According to Doc, it's every gaming collector's holy grail item, and he's lucky enough to own one.
This flight simulator game was mostly seen in Japan, but a few made it to the United States for those daring enough to try.
Today, very few are left for the public to play. It took Doc years to negotiate a deal to get one for himself. Like most of his rare games, people travel from all over the country for a chance to play.
Our expert had been trying to track a Sega R360 for almost 12 years but failed to find one. He said even modern games that work with motion lack the immersive experience and physical sensation that the Sega R360 provides.
Our expert valued this game at $200,000.
3. Blaster Arcade Game
Doc is beating his own high score with this one!
Blaster is a vintage first-person shooter game set in outer space. It has cool effects and is as rare as they come.
This game is rare because it's the wooden cabinet version, which our expert had never seen before. Doc found this game through a friend who had planned to convert it, which would have destroyed a piece of history.
Luckily, Doc was able to save it, and it now has a home in his arcade. Doc's arcade is like the Smithsonian of rare and extinct games.
Originally, he paid around $1,000 for this piece, and today it would be worth around $15,000.
This game is more like a museum piece with a hefty price tag. For a chance to play this classic game, check out Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, IL.
4. Turkey Shoot Arcade Game
"Winner, winner, turkey dinner?"
Turkey shoot is a shooter game that some arcade fans may recognize. It's a hard to forget piece!
In Turkey Shooter, the goal is to shoot as many mutant turkeys as you can. After a level is cleared, real feathers blow onto the player from around the screen.
The feathers aren't part of the onscreen graphics; it's a gimmick that blows people's minds every time they play.
Turkey Shooter is a rare, one-of-a-kind game that would make just about anyone hungry for a turkey dinner.
He got this game for a great deal about eight years ago. It fits in perfectly with his collection of vintage games.
Our expert said that around Thanksgiving, this piece would be worth around $10,000. Any other time of the year it would be priced at $8,000.
5. Primal Rage 2
Primal Rage 2 is considered one of the holy grails of arcade collecting. It only makes sense that it has found a home in Doc's arcade.
The game started its development in 1996 when it was slated for release, but the release was canceled along with several other Atari games at the time.
This game had all but disappeared, but luckily, Doc found it through a collector who wanted it to go to a good home.
The original Primal Rage had a strong following, and many wanted to see Primal Rage 2 released. As soon as it was put on the floor at Doc's arcade, people started traveling from all over the country just to play it.
Doc said he has received all sorts of offers for the game because, as far as he knows, it’s one of the only playable versions left in the country. A private collector even offered him $60,000 in cash to buy this rare piece that everyone wants to get their hands on.
Everyone can be a player, but not everyone is a collector. And Doc is one of the best collectors there is!
Our expert valued this game at $60,000.
6. Major Havoc
This final game features a major player who wreaks havoc while leading a brave band of clones fighting for humanity. Do you recognize it?
Many Atari games were highly sought after, and Major Havoc is one game with a major fan base.
Doc's version is extremely rare because it's the original version of the game with a very unique controller that no arcade games use today.
There were very few of these games made, and it was so expensive it was almost unattainable. But Doc has his ways.
Our expert valued this piece at $18,000!