Crazy Taxi 3 Arcade Unit Hits eBay for $2,500
A Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller arcade unit is up for sale, priced at $2,500, sparking debate among collectors about condition versus rarity.
An arcade unit for Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller just hit eBay, listed at $2,500. This isn't a pristine, museum-quality piece; the photos show a machine with clear exterior wear, even a potentially swapped gear shift panel. But the real story here isn't the scuffs, it's the Sega Chihiro board inside, the same tech that powered OutRun 2 and House of the Dead III.
ComicBook Gaming reports the unit's listing, noting its "tatty" appearance despite the significant asking price. The timing is no accident. Sega's announcement of Crazy Taxi: World Tour for 2027 has reignited interest in the franchise. This always happens; a new release can drive up prices on older, related items, even for console ports on the Dreamcast or PlayStation 2.
The Price Tag vs. The Scratches
The $2,500 price point for a machine with visible wear raises eyebrows. The listing images show exterior scratches and general use, suggesting a life spent in an arcade, not a climate-controlled collection. The gear shift panel, for example, appears to be a replacement, displaying "Low" and "High" instead of the expected "Forward" and "Reverse" for a Crazy Taxi unit. This kind of detail matters to serious collectors.
However, the seller states the machine is working and set for free play. Crucially, the electronics were recently serviced by the Sega service department. This is a major factor. For arcade cabinets, internal functionality often outweighs cosmetic flaws, especially when dealing with complex, proprietary hardware. A non-working unit, even with a perfect cabinet, can be a money pit.
Inside the Cabinet: Sega Chihiro Power
The core of this unit's value lies in its Sega Chihiro board. This arcade system board, released in 2002, was built on architecture similar to the original Xbox. It was Sega's answer to arcade hardware after they exited the console market with the Dreamcast. The Chihiro powered some truly great games, not just Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller, but also House of the Dead III and OutRun 2.
The fact that the home console version, Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller, actually launched on the original Xbox before the arcade machine is a fascinating historical footnote. It shows Sega's shifting priorities and their move away from proprietary console hardware. The Chihiro board itself is a piece of Sega's post-Dreamcast legacy, and its presence here is what justifies the asking price, despite the exterior condition. A mint cabinet with a dead board would be a much tougher sell.
Market Shifts and Sega's Legacy
What this hints at, for the scene, is how market interest can quickly shift. A new game announcement, even years out, creates a ripple effect. Collectors start looking for original hardware, driving up demand for items like this arcade unit or even the console versions. We saw similar spikes when the Genesis Mini was announced, with original Genesis (or Mega Drive, as it was known in Europe) consoles and games seeing renewed attention.
This Crazy Taxi unit is a restoration project waiting to happen. The working Chihiro board provides a solid foundation. While $2,500 might seem steep for a "tatty" machine, the internal components and the recent service history make it a viable, if challenging, acquisition for a dedicated arcade enthusiast. It’s a chance to own a piece of Sega's arcade history, even if it needs some elbow grease to bring it back to showroom quality. The market always finds a way to value rarity, even when condition isn't perfect.
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Originally published by ComicBook Gaming. Read original article.