Yeah I know probably no one is ever going to respond to this topic since I'm sure you would all like to keep your rare games, but I'm still taking a chance here. I always wanted to have some kind of a NES/Famicom prototype ever since I started collecting NES games, but (and not surprisingly) I have never found one. I'm just curious about prototypes and how they look like to real carts and how they are made and all. So My question is; is there a prototype collector on this forum that has any prototypes they would like to get rid of or sell for not too high of a price? I would accept anykind of prototype really, but the ones I'm really digging for are the ones in NES carts with big large boards inside them made by Nintendo, like the Earthbound prototype for example. Thanks :)
I know someone on Nintendoage who sells a ton of protos, DreamTR. He has one of the most impressive prototype collections out there!
I know DreamTR from DigitalPress... not only is his proto collection huge, his anything collection is huge! :D
That, and the dude is easily the best english-speaking street fighter player I've played against. ... bastich :)
He sounds pretty cool maybe I should try to send him a message. But do you guys know if he sells them at really high prices or not? :)
Yes, DreamTR has an AMAZING prototype collection, but from previous experience, he usually doesn't sell them for cheap (and why would he). You should definitely get up with him.
Quote from: keiffer01 on June 19, 2008, 08:37:13 pm
Yeah I know probably no one is ever going to respond to this topic since I'm sure you would all like to keep your rare games, but I'm still taking a chance here. I always wanted to have some kind of a NES/Famicom prototype ever since I started collecting NES games, but (and not surprisingly) I have never found one. I'm just curious about prototypes and how they look like to real carts and how they are made and all.
Well they can look like real carts and they can look different. Prototypes and samples are both called prototypes in collecting circles even though samples could be final code and prototypes would seem to imply a work in progress. Fancy labels and soldered chips lean you toward samples. Holes in the nes cart shell and chips in sockets lean toward prototypes.
A lot of nes prototypes are on nintendo prototype boards, but some are not. It's easy to fake ones that aren't on prototype boards, so it's nice to know it's history. It's good to buy from someone like DreamTR, because you're buying from a trusted proto collector. Do know when you're buying from him, he's usually only selling his doubles.
Famicom protos can be in normal carts, strange carts, and circuit boards in ram adapter shells. In Japan, samples can often be final everything! No eproms even! It's hard to know what to buy sometimes if it's a sample. Even in a strange cart shell, it could be a final product. If it's in a ram adapter shell, you at least know it's on a prototype circuit board with eproms.
Quote from: keiffer01 on June 19, 2008, 08:37:13 pm
So My question is; is there a prototype collector on this forum that has any prototypes they would like to get rid of or sell for not too high of a price? I would accept anykind of prototype really, but the ones I'm really digging for are the ones in NES carts with big large boards inside them made by Nintendo, like the Earthbound prototype for example. Thanks :)
Selling? Yeah, I'd like to find ones for a good price myself. I personally collect the proto circuit board more than the prototype games. I only buy the games to get new boards. I started out buy looking for protos, and I bought a few before I realized that I wasn't being true to what I really wanted. The best advice I could give is to find out what really excites you. Don't just jump on a bandwagon.
What I'd rather really want is a proto with the huge nintendo boards often found in games like Earthbound for example. These are really the things I'd like from a proto, but I'd also like an incomplete game or a game that wasn't released or differs alot from the final version.
A good place to look would be www.assemblergames.com (http://www.assemblergames.com). It's a forum for high-level videogames collecting i.e. dev kits, unreleased games, prototypes, beta versions etc etc.
I'm not sure about right now but I know not too long back they were starting to get very picky about how joins and also a lot of members won't trade with you if you haven't 'paid your dues' by contributing new info, data, pics etc to the community. Can't hurt to try I guess.
I actually have 3 prototype NES games right now. 1 I thought I had sold, but the guy has stopped replying to my messages. That is Blaster Master. Next I would consider selling is Sky Kid, also confirmed prototype NES. Lastly, which is probably not for sale is my Ninja Gaiden I Prototype. I have yet to find anyone on NA that has ever seen another copy/version of this game. Check out my threads on their forum for lots of pics.
http://www.nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=35&threadid=64382
Prototype collecting is pointless to me unless its an unreleased title or a drastically altered version of the released game. Anyway, I doubt DreamTR has famicom protos and if he does expect to pay thousands. Famicom prototypes come in normal famicom carts with written or typed labels, for example the Japanese proto of Monster Party (Unreleased super bloody version) was on yahoo japan and went for the equivalent of $5500. Some protos also come housed in FDS Adapters and some other weird shit, like the bio force ape proto came in a famicom shell Ive never seen used for anything but protos.
He has actually sold some protos for $150~200 range, and I would consider them decent titles. The thing is, it really all comes down to rarity, title and how complete the game is. I think changes from the released game is what proto collectors pay good money for, and if it's a collectible game. It's why that Ninja Gaiden would fetch more than Sky Kid.
What makes me laugh is the irony. The changes are made to pre-beta games because they're changes for the better.
I have some 'protos' of current games and though interesting, they're never as good or as playable of course.
Prototype games to me are great to begin with, but some of the fun of gaming/collecting is taken out since most betas lack the fun element and the games don't display too well with terrible label art (if there is even any at all). I had a few SMS/NES protos pass through my hands before I took a long break from collecting years ago. Regardless, I'd be interested in getting ahold or even seeing any Famicom protos!
If you just want to see what a famicom proto looks like, theres some on the main page:
http://famicomworld.com/workshop/protos/
Well the Sky Kid is up for auction if y'all are interested in owning a piece of Nintendo NES history:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130650586246?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_500wt_1077
I have never been interested in prototypes, as a collector. But I can see why people want them.
There must be a lot of prototypes in and around Nintendo facilities. Test carts and so on.
Found this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120973892633&item=120973892633&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466
this guy is selling a few protos can anyone with a good knowledge of japanese look over them and see if they can workout what they are
he just has them listed as unknown even though he says he has tested them