View Full Version : What's the deal with the California Raisins game for the NES?
11killer11
11-05-2009, 11:27 AM
I just recently discovered this odd game and i have noticed on the online rarity guide on digitpress, it says that it's one of a kind prototype. It has a scarcity of 10 and worth $999 (obviously not true.) I saw on one Ebay yesterday for $24.98. So i picked it up. Was that wise? Did it ever make it? What's the deal with this game?
Red Warrior
11-05-2009, 11:36 AM
I'm pretty sure you bought a reproduction cart... which is not rare. The prototype, however, is quite rare.
The game itself was never released commercially.
portnoyd
11-05-2009, 11:54 AM
It's definitely a repro. Good price for it though.
DragonmasterDan
11-05-2009, 11:55 AM
It's definitely a repro. Good price for it though.
I've seen repros for sale a few times, along with copies of NES Earthbound, Dracs Night Out and others.
The game was not a commercial release.
11killer11
11-05-2009, 11:59 AM
Crap. Do you think it was worth it? How much could i get for it if i sold it?
$25-30 is probably about what it's worth.
Red Warrior
11-05-2009, 01:14 PM
Crap. Do you think it was worth it? How much could i get for it if i sold it?
You paid a standard price for a NES repro, so there are no problems there. It's only not worth it if you don't like the game.
See for yourself:
http://www.nesreproductions.com/
BetaWolf47
11-05-2009, 01:16 PM
A repro is a repro when it comes to value. Since they are typically only made if someone orders them, supply is always equal to demand.
Gentlegamer
11-05-2009, 03:21 PM
Didn't the person who discovered the proto here at digitalpress meet a tragic end?
portnoyd
11-05-2009, 03:24 PM
Yeah, Brandver3 aka Brandon Murphy was killed by his roommates, or something to that effect. 100% messed up.
BetaWolf47
11-05-2009, 03:40 PM
Yeah, Brandver3 aka Brandon Murphy was killed by his roommates, or something to that effect. 100% messed up.
Out of curiosity, was this him?
http://brandon-christopher-murphy.memory-of.com/About.aspx
mobiusclimber
11-05-2009, 03:57 PM
This sounds like it's probably the guy: http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/071506/met_22335790.shtml
Fuckin horrible. :(
Agressivadue
11-05-2009, 04:30 PM
Yeah, Brandver3 aka Brandon Murphy was killed by his roommates, or something to that effect. 100% messed up.
It's terrible what happened to this person, but getting back on subject...
I thought the Raisins proto (or at least 1 of them) was found at a Funcoland in California. I read that story some time ago, and it wasn't here. The guy mentioned that he witnessed a mom and kid trying to trade in some NES carts that didn't have regular labels, and one was Raisins. The store wouldn't accept carts with no labels and the guy made an offer in the parking lot.
portnoyd
11-05-2009, 05:05 PM
That's the story, for the most part. Pretty sure he's always lived in Florida though.
The links above are the ones about his murder.
Enigmus
11-05-2009, 05:36 PM
This sounds like it's probably the guy: http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/071506/met_22335790.shtml
Fuckin horrible. :(
What's weird for me is I have a friend in real life with the same name, hair color, and interest in gaming. Creepy. :eek 2:
Sosage
11-05-2009, 05:55 PM
Crap. Do you think it was worth it? How much could i get for it if i sold it?
Just a small tidbit of advice: don't look at your games as serious investments. You made a bad purchase if all your concerned about is flipping it. A good purchase if you were hoping to fill a hole in your collection.
IIRC there is also some drama not just around the original owner's death, but that it was leaked at all (something along the lines of, "OMG, now the proto is worthless").
Agressivadue
11-05-2009, 06:47 PM
I am obviously mistaken about the place the proto was found. I thought it was Funcoland in California. Here's the story:
http://www.nesplayer.com/features/californiaraisins/proto.htm
Now that I think about it, if Brandon Murpy's murderers burned his apartment, the proto was probably destroyed unless he sold it. Ultimately we do know it got dumped one way or another because I've seen the ROM around for download, and it's being put on repros.
mobiusclimber
11-06-2009, 01:44 PM
The killers stole his NES games, according to the article I linked to. No idea if he still had the proto at the time tho.
Agressivadue
11-06-2009, 05:30 PM
The killers stole his NES games, according to the article I linked to. No idea if he still had the proto at the time tho.
Ah. It could be anywhere then.
Richter Belmount
11-06-2009, 05:35 PM
Yes what is the deal with california raisins?
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/smith0009/jerry_seinfeld__1_.jpg
Who are these raisins? And where did they come from?
A C64 version was released though:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/thomasholzer/The_California_Raisins_and_the_Cere.jpg