View Full Version : Atari 2600 Air Raid box found
orangest
03-30-2010, 11:22 PM
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/160607-my-air-raid-auction-update/page__view__findpost__p__1976342
Amazement and April Fool's speculation ahead.
Shadow Kisuragi
03-31-2010, 12:01 AM
!!!
That looks too real for April Fools, considering the age of the stickers and everything matching his previous story. That box is epic.
Snappaccino
03-31-2010, 12:04 AM
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f336/markdjones82/animated%20gifs/shocked.gif
Snapple
03-31-2010, 12:06 AM
I remember a couple years ago there was this hoax where a guy said he found like ten Air Raid carts then posted a picture of them all lined up next to each other. I think it was shopped.
This looks real to me, even though there are typos on the box ("loan" command post). Probably just poor production values by Men-A-Vision.
I like how he included the dated lottery ticket. Reminds me of how they use daily newspapers to prove hostages are alive.
In any case, this is a huge find, considering how legendary Air Raid has already become without the box.
PingvinBlueJeans
03-31-2010, 12:11 AM
!!!
That looks too real for April Fools, considering the age of the stickers and everything matching his previous story. That box is epic.
Indeed.
It takes quite a bit of time and effort to come up with an original design like that. It could be a fake, but if so, it's a pretty elaborate hoax. With Air Raid, the market is very small for someone like CPUWIZ, Marc Oberhauser, etc. to make a repro box of some kind, so it seems like an awful lot of effort just for a hoax. And as you said, that box certainly does not look fake...it's aged and has what appears to be an original price sticker.
ShinobiMan
03-31-2010, 12:19 AM
Looks to be legit. Can someone provide a little history on this game? Is it a prototype or just an EXTREMELY rare game where no one has seen the box before?
PingvinBlueJeans
03-31-2010, 12:20 AM
Is it a prototype or just an EXTREMELY rare game where no one has seen the box before?
The latter.
Steve W
03-31-2010, 12:41 AM
It's a rarely seen game that's essentially a partial hack of Space Jockey (it shares something like 60% of Space Jockey's code someone once said) and there's a handful of copies out there. But so far, with those few copies, nobody has seen a box for it. Until now, if it's real. It was speculated for the longest time that it might be a Mexican pirate game, and that there were supposed to be EPROMS inside rather than real ROMs. I haven't kept up with the saga of this game's history, so I don't know much more about it.
MrRoboto19XX
03-31-2010, 01:39 AM
Wow, this is incredible. Anyone else hoping that this goes for more than that Stadium Events? I mean, I love the NES, but this has just always seemed like more of an "Ultimate Grail" to me.
PingvinBlueJeans
03-31-2010, 01:40 AM
It was speculated for the longest time that it might be a Mexican pirate game, and that there were supposed to be EPROMS inside rather than real ROMs.
Yes, Air Raid cartridges contain EPROMs as opposed to production (masked) ROM chips, although there's nothing particularly unusual about that...lots of games used them.
Snapple
03-31-2010, 01:48 AM
Wow, this is incredible. Anyone else hoping that this goes for more than that Stadium Events? I mean, I love the NES, but this has just always seemed like more of an "Ultimate Grail" to me.
Even though this might be the only boxed Air Raid we see in our lifetimes, I'm not sure it'll sell for that much. Stadium Events sells because people are very passionate about the NES and collecting for it. I mean, Atari has its fans, but there were just so many games, so many of them forgettable shovelware. I don't think there are as many people willing to rabidly bid for a rare Atari game as for a rare NES game.
How much did the last unboxed Air Raid sell for? Does anyone remember?
PingvinBlueJeans
03-31-2010, 01:54 AM
How much did the last unboxed Air Raid sell for? Does anyone remember?
$2850 (on 11/23/2009)
Ze_ro
03-31-2010, 02:16 AM
Someone really needs to print up some posters of that box art. That shit is classic. It's almost as good as this (http://www.atarimania.com/2600/boxes/hi_res/spider_maze_cart_3.jpg).
--Zero
DefaultGen
03-31-2010, 02:24 AM
.....
otoko
03-31-2010, 03:09 AM
More than $13k or more than $40k? My mind hurts just thinking about it. Considering it's the only box known to exist if it's real, it's not in half bad condition!
You know if employees had known what we future people know now....
Shit.. You know I'd hate to think I worked to create something so futurely valuable and had it pass through my hands and daily as gruntwork..
Leo_A
03-31-2010, 03:10 AM
Has to be a fake, I'm sure the account belongs to a AtariAge regular that was created for this purpose who owns one of the handful of known copies of this game or is friends with someone that owns one.
AtariAge gets something like this every year at this time.
Gameguy
03-31-2010, 03:30 AM
I don't see any instructions with it, maybe another copy will turn up with that too.
I lean toward fake. The timing (right near April 1st) is a hoax or a major coincidence. Also, every collector knows Men-A-Vision supposedly made only one game, Air Raid. Right on the box it says "Debut" game by Men-A-Vision. That screams overt to me, like an over-done hoax. I hope I'm wrong, I really do.
portnoyd
03-31-2010, 07:15 AM
The timing is bad but that is one convincing fake if it's a fake.
Icarus Moonsight
03-31-2010, 08:12 AM
What I keep coming back to is; If he took those pictures over a week ago... Why, just now, put it out there? At the very point that throws the most skepticism onto the find? If he waited 10 days or so already, what would be 10 more when he'd be in the clear of the obvious doubt?
Honest bonehead, or evil genius? We'll find out soon.
Callin
03-31-2010, 08:14 AM
Yeah, this would be one hell of a fake if it's real.
The ebay description seems to contradict the photos which were posted a few days later however.
I only recognized that it was a 2600 game because of the cartridge. That would mean the cartridge was visible in the box. The box swung open or it might have had a clear window that showed the cartridge.
Second, the cartridge is pretty different from a typical Atari cartridge right? Would it have been that easy to distinguish? Dunno, I find that part of the story odd.
megasdkirby
03-31-2010, 08:47 AM
I say fake.
1)The box is in good condition. Although this is relative, I would believe a more "used" box thand a "minty" one. Never before seen box and it's in that good of a condition?
2)Mega Millions ticket. Really? Is there any actual purpose to post a lotto ticket together with the so called "box"? And a lotterly ticket? Is the OP trying to imply that he "hit the jackpot"?
I'm leaning towards fake. The timing is just right to post something like this.
pseudonym
03-31-2010, 08:49 AM
It looks real enough to me. I guess we'll all have to wait and see what happens.
chrisbid
03-31-2010, 09:38 AM
fake
after the turbo prototype april fools joke a few years ago, nothing is too elaborate for them
swlovinist
03-31-2010, 09:49 AM
April Fools or not, still on the fence on this one. If it is a fake then it is an awsome one.
guitargary75
03-31-2010, 09:57 AM
Fake! Has to be! I want it to be real, but until someone examines it, I cry foul.
Callin
03-31-2010, 10:48 AM
Is it just me, or does the plastic box with the game seem a little too small for that cardboard box?
On top of that, the cartridge looks a little too loose in that plastic.
InsaneDavid
03-31-2010, 11:10 AM
2)Mega Millions ticket. Really? Is there any actual purpose to post a lotto ticket together with the so called "box"? And a lotterly ticket? Is the OP trying to imply that he "hit the jackpot"?
That's to show the date.
Bratwurst
03-31-2010, 11:22 AM
The box looks like it was offset printed rather than inkjet or laser. Pretty convincing.
chrisbid
03-31-2010, 11:40 AM
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/23555-coleco-turbo-prototype-released/page__hl__turbo%20prototype
a refresher demonstrating how far AA will go for a good april fools stunt
ProgrammingAce
03-31-2010, 12:47 PM
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/23555-coleco-turbo-prototype-released/page__hl__turbo%20prototype
a refresher demonstrating how far AA will go for a good april fools stunt
a refresher demonstrating how far Bratwurst will go for a good april fools stunt
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71891
Sanriostar
03-31-2010, 03:06 PM
Can somebody cue up the TNG Romulan pic? Thanks oh so much,
Bratwurst
03-31-2010, 03:18 PM
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/23555-coleco-turbo-prototype-released/page__hl__turbo%20prototype
a refresher demonstrating how far AA will go for a good april fools stunt
The box certainly could be a fake, but it's really well done. One of the potential tip offs to me is in the AA thread Albert says the box shows 'more' of the artwork than the label does, and that's not true if you look at the edges of the art that's been cropped compared to the cartridge.
mezrabad
03-31-2010, 03:31 PM
Wow, and it's here in Austin, too? Part of me wants to meet with the guy as a local "expert" but I really can't claim qualification. :( It looks really good, though, and the engrish on the box is a nice touch - if it -is- fake then A+ for effort.
Gameguy
03-31-2010, 03:50 PM
It's the price tag I'm curious about, it looks old and faded and I'm not sure how that can be faked as well as that. Has anybody heard of that store where it's supposedly from?
ShinobiMan
03-31-2010, 03:57 PM
Wow, and it's here in Austin, too? Part of me wants to meet with the guy as a local "expert" but I really can't claim qualification. :( It looks really good, though, and the engrish on the box is a nice touch - if it -is- fake then A+ for effort.
If you read through the message board it was posted on, a trustworthy forum member is going to visit the guys house for some hands on time.
It's the price tag I'm curious about, it looks old and faded and I'm not sure how that can be faked as well as that. Has anybody heard of that store where it's supposedly from?
Yes, I've heard of Tuesday Morning stores. Apparently they originated in Dallas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuesday_Morning
Orion Pimpdaddy
03-31-2010, 03:58 PM
Can somebody cue up the TNG Romulan pic? Thanks oh so much,
http://www.jamietrinca.co.uk/uploads/vreenak.jpg
Vectorman0
03-31-2010, 03:59 PM
It's the price tag I'm curious about, it looks old and faded and I'm not sure how that can be faked as well as that. Has anybody heard of that store where it's supposedly from?
Use steam or some gentle solvent to take it from something else, and re-glue it to your new box.
ProgrammingAce
03-31-2010, 04:55 PM
I think the most intersting point i've heard brought up, if this isn't AA's hoax this year, what is?
Callin
03-31-2010, 05:19 PM
It's the price tag I'm curious about, it looks old and faded and I'm not sure how that can be faked as well as that. Has anybody heard of that store where it's supposedly from?
Yes. When well-known retailers can't sell all the copies of an item they've got, they send them to places like Tuesday Morning, where they're sold for less. They call themselves a "closeout gift chain."
I've been to one once but I don't recall any video games. The closest things were ipod cases.
Why are people bidding on this thing already? That just drives the price up. If they really wanted it, they would simply use a sniper service and get it for probably half of what the final bid will end up being.
jeffg
03-31-2010, 11:00 PM
i think the Tuesday morning sticker cries for fake.
Tuesday morning did not every carry cd's, movies, video games.
They have some toys but that is very limited.
I would have believed an Ames/Hills sticker though as I remember seeing big wire baskets full of Atari games in those stores for $1 each in probably 85-88 when i was a kid. All my parents bought me was Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET, and a few other peices of crap
JohnnyBlaze
03-31-2010, 11:05 PM
I doubt this is fake. If it is, since it's on eBay, he could get in MAJOR trouble for it. Why would that person risk that kind of attention and trouble for all of that?
PingvinBlueJeans
03-31-2010, 11:17 PM
Why are people bidding on this thing already? That just drives the price up. If they really wanted it, they would simply use a sniper service and get it for probably half of what the final bid will end up being.
That strategy doesn't work with big ticket, one-of-a-kind items where no one has any idea what the auction will end at. Regardless, you probably will see some major action near the end.
swlovinist
03-31-2010, 11:20 PM
This item, if real, is going to maybe set a record for $$$
Callin
03-31-2010, 11:22 PM
i think the Tuesday morning sticker cries for fake.
Tuesday morning did not every carry cd's, movies, video games.
They have some toys but that is very limited.
I would have believed an Ames/Hills sticker though as I remember seeing big wire baskets full of Atari games in those stores for $1 each in probably 85-88 when i was a kid. All my parents bought me was Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET, and a few other peices of crap
They do carry CDs. Music CDs anyway. I got some Beethoven ones from there.
Videogames though, I'm having an equally hard time believing. I'm torn between that and the great-looking box and fact that it's on ebay.
JohnnyBlaze
03-31-2010, 11:28 PM
i think the Tuesday morning sticker cries for fake.
Tuesday morning did not every carry cd's, movies, video games.
They have some toys but that is very limited.
I would have believed an Ames/Hills sticker though as I remember seeing big wire baskets full of Atari games in those stores for $1 each in probably 85-88 when i was a kid. All my parents bought me was Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET, and a few other peices of crap
I wasn't alive back then, but here's a thought:
He said he bought it at Tuesday Morning back in 1985. That was around the time that liquidators started selling off these unsold carts. Maybe realizing that people still bought these(after all they only went for $1-5), maybe the store bought a couple of boxes of liquidated games to sell for dirt cheap?
vxkens
04-01-2010, 09:08 AM
This is almost certainly fake. The ebay auction is meaningless. Notice how the account's name is "aa" plus a number, and also has no seller feedback. Considering the lengths to which they've gone to do these pranks in the past, a dummy ebay account is nothing.
Also a big tip off is how the seller "just happens" to live in the same city as the board owner, so the box could very quickly be authenticated.
The text on the box about it being Menavision's "debut" game is also a giveaway.
Seriously, what kind of idiot would unleash something like this around April Fool's day and risk having it called a prank, etc. Why not just wait a few more days when everyone will take it more seriously? No way this is real.
RangerG
04-01-2010, 09:51 AM
This is the best thread. I have always thought of Air Raid as a Latin American pirate cart (and I still do). I think the cart is a legit find and the box one of the best hoaxes ever. We'll see - seeing that box is like catching a glimpse of the Carolina Parakeet. Great topic, hoax, auction, find ?
TheDomesticInstitution
04-01-2010, 10:41 AM
I say bullshit too. Too many people in this hobby have access to excellent printing methods. Look at all the repro artwork you can get for arcade games. It's a fantastic job. There'll be a non-paying bidder on eBay or it'll be pulled at the last minute. The price sticker doesn't make it any more convincing. You could have pulled that label off any old product and reattached it to the box.
Shadow Kisuragi
04-01-2010, 10:45 AM
Thinking about the history of the game too, I'm pretty sure it's a hoax. I thought the game never had an "official" name, yet the name on the box mysteriously matches the given name?
chrisbid
04-01-2010, 12:22 PM
Yes. When well-known retailers can't sell all the copies of an item they've got, they send them to places like Tuesday Morning, where they're sold for less. They call themselves a "closeout gift chain."
I've been to one once but I don't recall any video games. The closest things were ipod cases.
Big Lots/Odd Lots have carried video games every now and then. they had a ton of 7800 games, and i recall them carrying PS1 games when stores were having trouble getting rid of them
that said, i am on record believing it is a fake
ProgrammingAce
04-01-2010, 12:45 PM
Big Lots used to carry a ton of 2600 games. An ex-girlfriend's parents had several hundred sealed atari games they bought from there, including Quadrun.
AcePuppy
04-01-2010, 08:01 PM
This is real. Albert from AA has confirmed this by visiting the seller.. He lives in the same city. That and a portion of the profits will go to AA.
Follow the thread here: http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/160607-my-air-raid-auction-update/
evg2000
04-01-2010, 08:18 PM
Actually I have bought game wave games from them, they also sold the system. They also used to have the flashback 1 and 2. Hand held games systems, nintendo 8 bit knock offs, edutainment systems, etc.
They do carry CDs. Music CDs anyway. I got some Beethoven ones from there.
Videogames though, I'm having an equally hard time believing. I'm torn between that and the great-looking box and fact that it's on ebay.
ProgrammingAce
04-01-2010, 09:48 PM
God, if that's a fake it's one hell of a good job. If it is fake, i'd have to believe that the cart is fake too and someone's making CIB repros.
This is real. Albert from AA has confirmed this by visiting the seller.. He lives in the same city. That and a portion of the profits will go to AA.
So, a person who is going to get a cut of the final cash amount is "independently" verifying that it is legit? You should be more skeptic because of this, not less.
Gameguy
04-02-2010, 02:32 AM
There was another april fools thread on Atari Age. Have there ever been two threads in the same year?
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/160653-my-craigslist-find-d
So, a person who is going to get a cut of the final cash amount is "independently" verifying that it is legit? You should be more skeptic because of this, not less.
If it's not legit, nobody's getting any money.
otoko
04-02-2010, 04:29 AM
Question: If nobody that knows where the game is from and everyone who owns it bought it second hand used... then, assuming there is a box anyway... who would be able to actually say it's genuine? Wouldn't you need a second known legit copy of the box?
vxkens
04-02-2010, 07:48 AM
Well if it's still a prank at this point, it certainly isn't funny anymore. Some are suggesting it's a reverse april fools joke. I don't think it's a coincidence this showed up when it did.
I still have a hard time believing the box would say it's the "debut" game by menavision. When has any box ever said something like that?
megasdkirby
04-02-2010, 10:15 AM
Well if it's still a prank at this point, it certainly isn't funny anymore. Some are suggesting it's a reverse april fools joke. I don't think it's a coincidence this showed up when it did.
I still have a hard time believing the box would say it's the "debut" game by menavision. When has any box ever said something like that?
I agree.
It just doesn't make sense how the box says "Air Raid" when I thought no one knew the exact name for the game, as there was no mention of it in the game itself.
It would be nice if it was real, though. If it is, I bet a certain member would DREAM to have such Terrific Rare boxed version of the game. :) I wonder who might win it in the end? :D
megamaniaman
04-02-2010, 10:21 AM
I agree.
It just doesn't make sense how the box says "Air Raid" when I thought no one knew the exact name for the game, as there was no mention of it in the game itself.
It would be nice if it was real, though. If it is, I bet a certain member would dream to have such terrific rare boxed version of the game. :) I Wonder007who might win it in the end? :D
Fixed your quote for you!;)
megasdkirby
04-02-2010, 10:24 AM
Hahahaha, who knows! LOL
AcePuppy
04-02-2010, 10:41 AM
So, a person who is going to get a cut of the final cash amount is "independently" verifying that it is legit? You should be more skeptic because of this, not less.
The proceeds go to the site, not Albert who verified although he pretty much runs the whole site. If it were not legit then no one would get the money. I'm not at all skeptic, as the pictures are pretty clear cut and not some blurry pictures that are taken from far away.
swlovinist
04-02-2010, 10:50 AM
Looks to me that this thing is very legit. Looks like the April Fools joke is that the box is real and everyone wanted to NOT believe. There will be SEVERAL collectors going after this, forum members and lurkers.
megasdkirby
04-02-2010, 11:06 AM
Looks to me that this thing is very legit. Looks like the April Fools joke is that the box is real and everyone wanted to NOT believe. There will be SEVERAL collectors going after this, forum members and lurkers.
But the thing is, how can they know the game is called "Air Raid" if the name was unknown? From what I recall, the game was independently called that, as there was no indication of the name anywhere on the cart. For all we know, the game could have been called "UFO Attack" or "Aliens Go Boom" for all we know.
Unless there was a mention anywhere that actually confirms the name to be "Air World", I will remain skeptical.
Callin
04-02-2010, 12:16 PM
But the thing is, how can they know the game is called "Air Raid" if the name was unknown? From what I recall, the game was independently called that, as there was no indication of the name anywhere on the cart. For all we know, the game could have been called "UFO Attack" or "Aliens Go Boom" for all we know.
Unless there was a mention anywhere that actually confirms the name to be "Air World", I will remain skeptical.
Air Raid = Air World!
It's all coming together now. LOL
PingvinBlueJeans
04-02-2010, 12:30 PM
But the thing is, how can they know the game is called "Air Raid" if the name was unknown? From what I recall, the game was independently called that, as there was no indication of the name anywhere on the cart. For all we know, the game could have been called "UFO Attack" or "Aliens Go Boom" for all we know.
Unless there was a mention anywhere that actually confirms the name to be "Air World", I will remain skeptical.
The name came from the box...
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/146312-is-there-a-2600-holy-grail/page__st__25__p__1784393#entry1784393
AcePuppy
04-02-2010, 01:09 PM
But the thing is, how can they know the game is called "Air Raid" if the name was unknown? From what I recall, the game was independently called that, as there was no indication of the name anywhere on the cart. For all we know, the game could have been called "UFO Attack" or "Aliens Go Boom" for all we know.
Unless there was a mention anywhere that actually confirms the name to be "Air World", I will remain skeptical.
In the official thread on AA regarding the auction, I believe someone mentioned that the creator of the game confirmed the game was actually called Air Raid. It's somewhere in the 20-30 pages of the thread.
megasdkirby
04-02-2010, 01:36 PM
Air Raid = Air World!
It's all coming together now. LOL
For some reason, I was thinking Swordquest instead of Air Raid. LOL
The name came from the box...
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/146312-is-there-a-2600-holy-grail/page__st__25__p__1784393#entry1784393
For the time being, I will accept it with a grain of salt. Until another box surfaces, doubt will linger as if this box is legit or not.
Hell, maybe one day I will find a CIB copy of the game, as I did (with my brother) many years ago with Condor Attack. :D
Just in case it is real and gets heavy media attention, I'm taking advantage of Capatalism to it's fullest. :)
http://men-a-vision.com/
Kitsune Sniper
04-02-2010, 04:50 PM
you might want to flood that page with Google ads. :p
PingvinBlueJeans
04-02-2010, 04:51 PM
For the time being, I will accept it with a grain of salt. Until another box surfaces, doubt will linger as if this box is legit or not.
Huh?
If this box is fake (according to you), what's to stop someone from making another fake? How does another similar box popping up change anything one way or the other? Your reasoning defies logic and makes no sense whatsoever.
TonyTheTiger
04-02-2010, 06:51 PM
There's a certain point where whether something is fake stops mattering. If a fake is so flawless that everybody believes it's real then from both a philosophical and economic standpoint it becomes real by virtue of the fact that everybody will value it as such.
A little disheartening, sure. But I wouldn't worry about it too much. The odds of a fake being so absurdly good that everybody is fooled are exceedingly slim. Possible, but slim.