Just found a box of NES games while taking the dog for a walk.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I've always be skeptical of all of those "Penthouse Forum" style stories where game collectors come across rare or valuable spoils in the most unlikely of non-retail, non-auction, non-flea market, non-consignment, non-personal collection places.

Most specifically, clearly exposed to the general public and sticking out of the trash.

This morning while taking the dog for his daily walk, game collecting karma smiled upon me and made me a skosh less skeptical of those stories.

As I passed by my condo complex dumpsters I spied a sparkle of gold sticking out from under a giant black garbage bag ... while half of my brain said "ignore it, it's in the garbage" my sub conscious knew what that familiar shape was ... a Legend of Zelda NES cart.

As I walked over I discovered an old NES game display case full of carts from the no-lock-tab black label line, and a loose cardboard box full of a bunch of others.

Nothing along the lines of a Nintendo World Championship cart or anything supremely valuable, but some highly enjoyable gems in there for sure:

Zelda
Contra
Mega Man 1
Duck Tales
RC Pro Am

and others...

I had to do a bit of a one-handed dance to get my dog to sit still while I held him and fumbled for a suitable cardboard box to snag the found treasures, but I did.

http://photobucket.com/albums/b328/FrankieViturello/Uploads via Pixelpipe/2010-05-09085957.jpg

This garbage shall return from whence it came.

http://photobucket.com/albums/b328/FrankieViturello/Uploads via Pixelpipe/2010-05-09085809.jpg

Dog walking spoils! (I normally only return with a bag of poop.)

http://photobucket.com/albums/b328/FrankieViturello/Uploads via Pixelpipe/2010-05-09085854.jpg

All of them had very good condition chip strips, no signs of corrosion.

[Enigmus]

Did the garbage tank (since they're so damn huge) go by yet? If they haven't, I'd nab the display case if I were you, especially one pre-locktab, you lucky SOB. :)

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Did the garbage tank (since they're so damn huge) go by yet? If they haven't, I'd nab the display case if I were you, especially one pre-locktab, you lucky SOB. :)

Sorry if that was confusing, not an in-store or retail type display case. One of those personal ones, featured above. That was damaged and I have a ton of my own to transfer these into.

[exit]

Damn man nice find, you just saved some poor games from extinction.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Damn man nice find, you just saved some poor games from extinction.

Yeah. I was tempted to dig a bit deeper in the trash ... if a whole personal collection of NES games was in there, there was probably a front-loader console and accessories too ... but these were (thankfully) sitting on the top layer of garbage ... and there was some real stinky-type household garbage in there under the carts.

[skaar]

There's a finds thread for this - still, neat story man :)

I saw a bunch of VHS pull-drawer units at the side of the road the other day outside a jobsite. Nothing in them though :(

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

There's a finds thread for this - still, neat story man :)

I saw a bunch of VHS pull-drawer units at the side of the road the other day outside a jobsite. Nothing in them though :(

Whoops! I guess since I've never found anything like this I've never seen or sought out that thread.

A mod can merge it if they'd like.

[BetaWolf47]

This is more of a find than buying something at a game store or flea market. You literally found it, like one finds a treasure. This exemplifies the saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

[swlovinist]

nice find, congrats!

[Greg2600]

Damn man nice find, you just saved some poor games from extinction.
That really is the most important thing here! Frankie, do you feel like one of those vets who nurse a rare turtle back to health? Were any of these games ones you don't have?

The other part is, we can play archaeologist a bit. What can we infer about this NES collection about the original gamer? 8-) Also, the resale is probably $200 I'd say.

[PentiumMMX]

I've never had a find of this caliber, although I felt pretty damn good when I found the Master Chief helmet from the Halo 3 Legendary Edition in the trash a few weeks ago (It's currently on display in my gaming room with the first two Halo games inside it, since I don't have the 3rd yet).

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

That really is the most important thing here! Frankie, do you feel like one of those vets who nurse a rare turtle back to health? Were any of these games ones you don't have?

The other part is, we can play archaeologist a bit. What can we infer about this NES collection about the original gamer? 8-)

Based on the similarity of condition of all of the games (all were pretty much pristine - no physical damage, no corrosion on the chip strips, and only minimal instances of minor label damage) along with the fact that the collection has a decent amount of 1st run black label no lock-tab games, including a no-lock-tab Castlevania 1 ... this was, if I had to guess, a personal collection that was purchased game by game, likely brand new at retail and then played lightly and kept in storage. Since it has so many early era games ... I doubt the original owner ever broke up or sold off any of his collection, as the earliest games probably would have gone with a trade-in or sale.

Also, I can speculate that the owner may have also been a teen or young adult ... or even an adult or senior, OR a household where these games were primarily monitored/handled by non-children ... as games that came from households where kids have full access to handle the games the games tend to be a lot more beat up, and these are all in matching excellent condition.

That's my guess if I were to play "Antiques Road Show" appraisal on this set of NES games.

[izarate]

Wow, those are in really good shape. Most things I find in the trash are battered up, although I manage to restore most of them. Usually a couple of solder spots and a nice cleaning do the job :)

[Greg2600]

I agree, probably was a teenager, kept the games nice, who gave up on gaming in the early 90's. Newest game is SMB 3, which was 1990? May have left the games at his/her parents' house, who finally got around to spring clean.

On a personal note, I sometimes find stuff, including game-related while riding my bicycle around town. I remember as a kid, I stayed with my grandparents during the day, while my parents were at work, during the summer. My sister and I would walk all over the place with my grandmother, who couldn't see to drive. I'd spot stuff all the time, usually she wouldn't let me touch it. Sometimes I'd tell my grandfather, and he'd fire up the old Caddy and drive past and get it.

Once there was a Colecovision with tons of games, around 1990 I think, in the garbage pile at their condo. I had no idea what the CV was, and I took it. I couldn't find the ac adapter anywhere, without digging in the actual garbage, so I couldn't work it. I was 11 probably, but I understood my 2600 or NES adapters weren't going to fit in the back of it. So my mother made me put it back, because I couldn't prove that it worked! :grumble:

[Cauterize]

Wow, nice find :) Congrats!

Any chance of a list of those games, some of us aren't too familiar with some of those NTSC NES Cart Spines ;)

[Bloodreign]

Thank goodness you found them before they went to the scrap heap, you saved the life of a few nice titles there. Can't believe people would throw this kind of stuff away, but that's human nature sometimes.

[Kiddo]

This reminds me of when someone gave me a PS2 BBA Network Adapter that was literally salvaged from the trash. Not quite classic retro material, but a sign of the things people are quick to just "Throw out".

[Slate]

Nice find, What are all the games in the lot? I can see wall street kid.


Thank goodness you found them before they went to the scrap heap, you saved the life of a few nice titles there. Can't believe people would throw this kind of stuff away, but that's human nature sometimes.

People can throw anything away and sometimes they do. I heard of someone finding a 70s fender stratocaster guitar in the trash, Minus the electronics and paint job. Someone was going to modify it but still, The body and neck are at least worth $200. I can't remember if the tuners or vibrato were on it or not...

Austin

[carlcarlson]

Any chance of a list of those games, some of us aren't too familiar with some of those NTSC NES Cart Spines ;)

From what I can tell, from left to right:

legend of zelda
mike tyson's punch out
rc pro am
mario 3
mario 2
super mario bros
mario/duck hunt
gyromite
donkey kong
hogan's alley
kung fu

castlevania
casltevania 2 or 3
contra
the goonies 2
mega man 2
mega man
ducktales

bubble bobble (the best in the lot imo)
commando
tiger heli
karate champ
burgertime
paperboy
double dragon
marble madness
rampage
ice hockey
??? one of the wheel of fortune games perhaps

wall street kid
wheel of fortune
monopoly?

tmnt
tmnt 2
jaws

There really aren't many stinkers in that whole lot. Excellent find.

[retroman]

Wow...one hell of a find.

[mobiusclimber]

Very nice find! Mega Man 1, MTPO and Bubble Bobble are the money games in here, but the whole thing is mostly solid titles. I'd disagree tho that it had to be a teenager or an adult or something. I've actually purchased NES games CIB that were in near mint condition from a kid of about 10 or 11 years old (accompanied by his parent, of course). Mind, he was told he had to keep them in good shape if he wanted more of them, but it wasn't a situation where the parent kept the games under lock and key (at least that's what I could discern from the rambling that the parent was doing while I drooled and purchased said CIB games).

[Seaquest]

ROFL You are so lucky!! Wish I could find something like that! Enjoy the games.

[kupomogli]

That's a lot of good games. You sure did hit the jackpot.

[c0ldb33r]

Uggh, I can't stand it anymore. Stop keeping us wondering.

DID THE DOG POOP OR NOT?!?!?

Also, nice find :)

[UnpluggedClone]

google 4 gaga

[retro junkie]

sitting on the top layer of garbage ... and there was some real stinky-type household garbage in there under the carts.

Eeeeeww! :puke:

Great find!! I'm trying very hard not to be jealous. :grumble:
It's so unbelieveable that someone actually threw that away.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Here's the list for those who were interested.

Zelda
Mike Tyson's Punch Out
RC Pro Am
Super Mario 3
Super Mario 2
Super Mario 1
Super Mario Duck Hunt
Gyromite (no converter) :(
Donkey Kong (no lock tabs)
Hogan's Alley (no lock tabs)
Kung Fu (no lock tabs)
Castlevania 1 (no lock tabs)
(another) Castlevania 1
Contra
Goonies II
Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Duck Tales
Bubble Bobble
Commando (no lock tabs)
Tiger Heli
Karate Champ (no lock tabs)
Burgertime
Paperboy
Double Dragon
Marble Madness
Rampage
Ice Hockey
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Wall Street Kid
Wheel of Fortune standard edition
Monopoly
TMNT
TMNT II
Jaws

[Rickstilwell1]

For free? That's what I call a jackpot.I don't even have Mega Man 2 or some of those other games.

[Kevincal]

About the same as finding a 100 dollar bill (or more), nice. What dumbass would throw these away... They must not be very intelligent.

[calistarwind]

You are one lucky person. All I ever see near my dumpster is furniture and cats. I refuse to go anywhere near it for fear of catching something. Congrats!!

[Videogamerdaryll]

Man that's awesome...Great Find..Great Save..

[DONNIemo]

Very nice find, The best thing i ever found was a Commodore 64 many years ago near a donation bin.

[Red Baron]

Fifty bucks say "Young man's parents threw out his collection while he was at college because they thought it was junk" or something, since that's a (tragically) common story.

I've only made _one_ abandoned game find ever, myself, and that was a Game Boy Killer Instinct cart.

[Xian042]

Sick find!
Since they are in such good shape, I wouldn't think the owner would just toss them out.
I'm going with the theory that it belongs to some collage kid and the 'rents threw them out while he was away, thinking they were as worthless as his stack of kids board games.

I"d say in about two years or so he'll call over and ask his mom;

"Hey, do you know where those Nintendo games are? This guy wants to give me $25 bucks for that Bubble Bobble one."

"Uh..um..you'll have to ask your father, he saw them last, I mean, he mighthavethrownthemout when we moved your room, but I don't know, they might still be there, you'd have to ask him whe..."

"THROWN THEM OUT? Why would you do that??"

"WELLLLLLL they just SIT there! I mean, you havn't PLAYED them in what, 10 years?"

"SO?? You havn't looked at grandmas China set in 10 years, I wouldn't throw that out on you!"

"UUUGHH, well...whatever if they are so important then maybe you shouldn't have left them in a box in the closet"

"UNBELIEVABLE, well you didn't throw out my Magic Cards, right?"

[Famidrive-16]

man, i can barely find games at thrifts/flea markets here and someone found games in a garbage can

this area sucks

[cyberfluxor]

Dude, cool find! I've been holding off buying Castlevania games for the NES, they're usually several bucks and in not the best of shape, but man you nailed it! Even if there are some duplicates now you could unload a few for something else, at least it wasn't a bunch of Madden games for the Genesis (or NCAA GameBreaker '98 on the PS).


This is more of a find than buying something at a game store or flea market. You literally found it, like one finds a treasure. This exemplifies the saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

Heh, yeah that's one way of putting it.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Dude, cool find! I've been holding off buying Castlevania games for the NES, they're usually several bucks and in not the best of shape, but man you nailed it! Even if there are some duplicates now you could unload a few for something else, at least it wasn't a bunch of Madden games for the Genesis (or NCAA GameBreaker '98 on the PS).

Yeah, I've thought about it and I don't think I'm going to sell any of these off, even the duplicates ... the fact that they were all found, rescued even is just too much fun ... I'd like to always have the complete lot in my collection as "those 32 very decent NES games that I found in the trash."

The story would suck to tell if it ended with "And I sold a bunch of them off."

[BetaWolf47]

Here's the list for those who were interested.

...

Good idea hanging onto them. That sounds like fallout from an argument.

Check to see if that Mega Man is 5-screwed.

[jonebone]

Good idea hanging onto them. That sounds like fallout from an argument.

Check to see if that Mega Man is 5-screwed.

Locktabs = 3 screw so the Mega Man is not 5-screw.

Awesome find man, can't beat a story like this.

[Emperor Megas]

I'll parrot what everyone else is saying, because that's a FANTASTIC find, and an awesome story. Great idea keeping the lot, too. I definitely would. If anything, I'd sell me original is some of them were dupes (unless they have sentimental value of some sort).

My theory, like many others here, is that it was the property of someone who might have moved out for college or something to that effect. Either that, or someone got into a fight with their s/o and they just tossed their shit when they were out. Things like video games are usually the first thing to go because people (I'll just say it, 'girls') know how important they are to gamers, and the idea that they're so trivial but matter so much to the people who play them makes it that much better when a distraught lover tosses them out. It's the same with vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, or toys of any kind.

In any event, one person's loss is your gain.

[Jehusephat]

I once was walking with a friend of mine when the two of us spotted a Genesis sitting on top of a garbage can. Inside the can were about 15 boxed Genesis games, and a fair number of them were pretty decent. I didn't even know Landstalker existed until I found it in this garbage can, and now it's one of my favorite Genesis games. I'm jealous of your NES find, though. I'd take Mega Man over pretty much any Genesis game.