Video Game Prototypes (images)

[gamingpalooza]

It is always interesting seeing prototype old school gaming consoles and there is a hand full of images on the internet containing prototype images of various consoles. I found this one of the NES console and it is interesting to see the differences from the real product. The NES was originally designed to be a top loader as seen in the image and then Nintendo decided to go a different route. I think the NES design was based off of the Back to the Future Delorean. (call me crazy for saying this) Here is the prototype image.

If possible, you guys should try to hunt down more prototype images and post them here. These images are gaming treasures.
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[gamingpalooza]

I found another prototype image of the Super Nintendo console, with an article included which is pretty cool

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[gamingpalooza]

This is a rare prototype of a portable SEGA console from 1990, called Porta Drive. Some kind of hand-held.

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[gamingpalooza]

Did you know that Sega Mega Drive actually had a prototype Banking Machine?? Check this out...

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[markusman64ds]

The Mega Drive bank thingy actually came out in Japan. It wasn't cheap.

http://segaretro.org/Mega_Anser

With the printer it cost around $890 in US dollars. Without it, it was still around $415. Cartridge only was around $60.

[wiggyx]

I found another prototype image of the Super Nintendo console, with an article included which is pretty cool

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There are tons of images for NES and SNES protos out there!

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/33ux2km.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/superfamicomprotoclear2nm.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/superfamicomproto36fb.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/snes_us.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/snes_cd-rom.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/PS1concepts001.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/prototypefamicomsuperfamicom6g.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/earlysfc20pa.jpg

[Bojay1997]

It is always interesting seeing prototype old school gaming consoles and there is a hand full of images on the internet containing prototype images of various consoles. I found this one of the NES console and it is interesting to see the differences from the real product. The NES was originally designed to be a top loader as seen in the image and then Nintendo decided to go a different route. I think the NES design was based off of the Back to the Future Delorean. (call me crazy for saying this) Here is the prototype image.

If possible, you guys should try to hunt down more prototype images and post them here. These images are gaming treasures.
5978

I'm sorry, but why are we posting them here? There are already dedicated sites like Assembler that cater to this sort of thing. If you had something unique to share or some new information, that might be useful, but just reposting what's already readily available using a Google search isn't productive or very interesting.

[Collector_Gaming]

I'm sorry, but why are we posting them here? There are already dedicated sites like Assembler that cater to this sort of thing. If you had something unique to share or some new information, that might be useful, but just reposting what's already readily available using a Google search isn't productive or very interesting.

I'm sorry but why are we posting just about anything on this whole forum when you can find those said things with a simple google search.

Because its called socializing.
I for one like this thread already. Some pictures I never seen before! Keep em coming! I love seeing what people thought of before releasing the final product!

[mailman187666]

Yeah this thread is pretty interesting. I would have never thought to do a google search for prototype game systems in the first place and I read these forums all the time. This is the first time I'm seeing these and its all pretty cool to me. I like that Playstation one that was posted.

[ccovell]

But actually what you are doing is removing the original context from all the pictures. Things like explanations, sources, and proof. Out the window.

This one, for example:

This is a rare prototype of a portable SEGA console from 1990, called Porta Drive. Some kind of hand-held.

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It's not a prototype of a Sega console; it's a magazine artist's concept of what the then-recently-announced Game Gear might look like. It was drawn in Beep! Megadrive magazine in Japan.

And, how could a prototype *picture* be rare, anyway? This pencil sketch can be had easily if you buy said Megadrive magazine from a shop or collector.

You're not doing anybody a service by removing important contextual information from alongside scans.

[Bojay1997]

But actually what you are doing is removing the original context from all the pictures. Things like explanations, sources, and proof. Out the window.

This one, for example:


It's not a prototype of a Sega console; it's a magazine artist's concept of what the then-recently-announced Game Gear might look like. It was drawn in Beep! Megadrive magazine in Japan.

And, how could a prototype *picture* be rare, anyway? This pencil sketch can be had easily if you buy said Megadrive magazine from a shop or collector.

You're not doing anybody a service by removing important contextual information from alongside scans.

Strongly agree. There is no point in just grabbing a bunch of random images from other sources. If there was some context or narrative thread or analysis being applied, this thread would make sense. As it stands, this is just like getting in a room full of people and throwing a bunch of random pictures in a pile on the floor. It doesn't stimulate conversation because nobody can really add much to it other than to say "oh, that looks cool".

[gamingpalooza]

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I found this, supposedly it is an Atari 2600 prototype which is a great find, and for those who complain about this... what good is it search for this stuff by your self when you can do it with all your gaming forum buddies right here on a forum? Its fun and entertaining and that is the whole point of it.

[gamingpalooza]

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Here is a rare Atari 2600. Atari was going to counter all of the 2600 clones by creating a second brand called "Kee", in which they attempted to create their own clones. This was a prototype.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

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Here is a rare Atari 2600. Atari was going to counter all of the 2600 clones by creating a second brand called "Kee", in which they attempted to create their own clones. This was a prototype.

That photo is clearly from a Classic Gaming Expo museum table. I recognize the white pipe & drape tablecloth.

I bet you didn't know that the proprietor of this website has the exact system featured in that photo in his museum collection! (Actually I'm pretty sure it's John Hardie's, but since all of the collections have pretty much been consolidated under one banner at this point, same difference.)

http://www.vghmuseum.org/

[ccovell]

what good is it search for this stuff by your self when you can do it with all your gaming forum buddies right here on a forum? Its fun and entertaining and that is the whole point of it.

Entertainment is one thing, spreading (or inventing) misinformation is another. That's how fanzines (and lesser commercial magazines too) operate: "We make up facts, but at least they're entertaining!" which leads to lies about consoles/games that spread around the internet and become impossible to quash.

Post pictures, sure. Post their original links too. The original websites are usually good sources of fun and discussion as well...

[gamingpalooza]

Entertainment is one thing, spreading (or inventing) misinformation is another. That's how fanzines (and lesser commercial magazines too) operate: "We make up facts, but at least they're entertaining!" which leads to lies about consoles/games that spread around the internet and become impossible to quash.

Post pictures, sure. Post their original links too. The original websites are usually good sources of fun and discussion as well...

Relax dude, we are not doing any harm here or misinforming anyone. We are just looking at prototype consoles for fun and entertainment... thats it... why take the fun out of it?

[ccovell]

You've already posted 2 things which were NOT prototypes, and said that they were. See?

[gamingpalooza]

You've already posted 2 things which were NOT prototypes, and said that they were. See?

Whether it is a concept sketch or a fully functional machine prototype, they both fall into the same categories, and there shouldn't be no issues with discussing them and looking at the images here. The Kee 2600 is a prototype secondary Atari brand console.

[ccovell]

The Kee is a prototype, OK. I wasn't referring to that. I was referring to the "Porta Drive" and the Mega Anser. The Anser was released, so that pic is not a prototype. The Porta Drive concept sketch was drawn by a magazine artist with no connection to Sega, in other words: daydreaming.

The "Porta Drive" could fall under a "Boy, did that magazine get their prediction wrong" thread, but putting it up as an actual Sega proto is stretching things. If you disagree with me, then I have a proto drawing of the rare Wii UVWXYZ-128 to show you. ;-D

[buzz_n64]

Concept art? :D

http://www.gnn.ch/videogames/Playstation/hardware/pics/psx2a.jpg
http://www.forevergeek.com/wp-content/media/2012/06/xbox-720-concept.jpg

[xelement5x]

Concept art? :D

http://www.gnn.ch/videogames/Playstation/hardware/pics/psx2a.jpg


That PS2 concept picture looks a lot like a Wondermega IMHO.

[dementia_]

Those prototype Super Famicoms depress me because we never got that headphone jack on the unit.

[ccovell]

Don't get too depressed, as that proto Super Famicom came with only 32KB of system RAM, as opposed to the 128KB of the final system.

[wiggyx]

Woulda been cool to have controllers that were interchangeable between a redesigned NES and the SNES though.