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View Full Version : The Firemen USA - Prototype or something more?


Omnigamer
03-12-2012, 11:56 PM
Hello all, I've become curious about an ebay auction (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Firemen-Super-Nintendo-SNES-RARE-RPG-ENGLISH-TRANSLATION-CIB-NTSC-HUMAN-/250983881710?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item3a6fce1bee)I came across the other day. As I'm sure a number of you know, The Firemen never made it stateside although several prototypes have been found. Beyond that I haven't been able to find any further information, so I figured I'd ask and see what other people know.

The above auction features the game with box, manual, and full NTSC-US style cart. I have no idea how most prototypes turn out, but I get the feeling in general that having a prototype be this complete is pretty uncommon. So I figured I'd ask to see if anybody else can confirm whether or not other Firemen prototypes were in this form or not. Also curious is the ESRB rating on the manual. ESRB started in 94 and that rating scheme is consistent with the time period, so it seems authentic enough in that regard.

I contacted the seller to get some more information and try to source it, and this was my reply:


HI,
Got your message. The code on the cartridge says SNS-CLT-USA. There is no code on the front of the box, or anywhere else on the box. I bought this game a little over a year ago from the United Kingdom. Hope this helps? Thanks for your interest. Justin


So if anybody could shed some more light on this, to either confirm it as a prototype or otherwise, that would help a lot. Thanks,

~Omnigamer
Vectorman0
03-13-2012, 12:07 AM
It's a reproduction.
Omnigamer
03-13-2012, 12:16 AM
I considered that but I thought it would be strange for somebody to go through the additional effort of making a box and manual for a game that technically doesn't exist. Then again, I have no experience dealing with that sort of market, so I don't know if that happens a lot.
PapaStu
03-13-2012, 12:24 AM
It's not too surprising to see someone going the distance with the repro box/manual. It's become much more common the last few years, and a number of sites do sell this stuff CIB.
theclaw
03-13-2012, 12:24 AM
I thought Human didn't have a USA publishing arm?
Omnigamer
03-13-2012, 12:29 AM
I thought Human didn't have a USA publishing arm?

They didn't. Which is why I'm confused on this piece in particular. A manual and box should not exist anywhere for the USA version of the game, which was never released and never made it out of prototype phase. Any box and manual would have to have been made from scratch, or by selectively copying portions of the EU manual to get what would be close enough to a US version. The ESRB tag is another confusing point. AFAIK, there is no game ID noted for any of the prototype versions out there either, but that would be easy enough to just make up.
Griking
03-13-2012, 12:36 AM
I considered that but I thought it would be strange for somebody to go through the additional effort of making a box and manual for a game that technically doesn't exist. Then again, I have no experience dealing with that sort of market, so I don't know if that happens a lot.

A box and manual can triple (or more) the selling price of a game. If a person has the means (and maybe somewhat lack of morals) to be able to make realistic boxes and manuals they can possibly make a lot of money.
Parodius Duh!
03-13-2012, 01:53 AM
its a reproduction. All of it. Even the box. Theres a huge market for these. People toss them up on ebay from time to time at a super inflated price, hoping some sucker will fall for it cause its "UB3R RAREZ"
badinsults
03-13-2012, 07:44 AM
Matthew Callis dumped the prototype a few years ago.

http://eludevisibility.org/the-firemen-usa-beta/

Of course it is a reproduction. This is what I hate about reproductions, people are suckered out of their money.
Shulamana
03-13-2012, 09:12 AM
Is there any point trying to report these listings to eBay for misrepresentation? I have reported blatantly obvious GBC bootlegs before and nothing seemed to happen.
Parodius Duh!
03-13-2012, 02:03 PM
Is there any point trying to report these listings to eBay for misrepresentation? I have reported blatantly obvious GBC bootlegs before and nothing seemed to happen.

Yeah report it. I already have. The more people do the better chances it will actually get pulled.