View Full Version : NES Zelda control Deck test cart 4 auction
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3058419217&category=11030&rd=1
chadtower
11-11-2003, 03:09 PM
That label looks SO like it was taken off of another cart and badly glued on there.
Bratwurst
11-11-2003, 03:15 PM
The mind literally boggles at what happened here. I like to believe rather than deface a real test cartridge he just spray painted one orange.
sniperCCJVQ
11-11-2003, 03:16 PM
That label looks SO like it was taken off of another cart and badly glued on there.
That was i think too.
Ed Oscuro
11-11-2003, 03:16 PM
...wtf
sniperCCJVQ
11-11-2003, 03:20 PM
still...it's look strangely like this one
http://www.planetnintendo.com/thewarpzone/proto/zeldat.jpg
Ed Oscuro
11-11-2003, 03:29 PM
Yeah, better photo too.
Checking through eBay (never owned a NES Zelda game, only Famicom) it looks to me that all the regular Zelda carts had the seal in the center, not the right side:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3057176872&category=27226
Also looking at the auction picture, check out the code on it:
"NES-[triangle?]-USA"
Achika
11-11-2003, 03:49 PM
Yeah, better photo too.
Checking through eBay (never owned a NES Zelda game, only Famicom) it looks to me that all the regular Zelda carts had the seal in the center, not the right side:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3057176872&category=27226
Also looking at the auction picture, check out the code on it:
"NES-[triangle?]-USA"
Nope, the grey Zelda carts had the seal on the right side.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3057225239&category=3608
(but no NES + Nintendo logo up top...curious)
MarioAllStar2600
11-11-2003, 04:03 PM
So is this real or not/ Planet Nintendo seems reliable. It seems like something stupid, why would nintendo do this. True or not?
Ed Oscuro
11-11-2003, 04:14 PM
Well, the only question is about the NES + Nintendo logo up top.
Looking again at the seller's picture, and this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3058369498&category=3608
It seems to me now that the code on the bottom right side is actually NES-21-USA on both the "test center Zelda" and this one. Can't tell with the actual NES Zelda test center cart's picture, but it looks like it could be the same thing.
Strange.
Balloon Fight
11-11-2003, 04:14 PM
It does look like a fake to me..., but it probably, most likely is real. I still wouldnt buy that thing for fear someone just changed the grey cart a bit.
AlanD
11-11-2003, 04:56 PM
Yup that is a real 'test' cart. I have an identical one to it. I got it from a television repair shop. It is molded in yellow instead of gold but it does look orange in that picture. Last few times I have seen them sold they have hit $3-400 but admittedly that was over 18 months ago. It is byte for byte identical to the original Zelda cart.
AlanD
Darth Vader
11-11-2003, 05:42 PM
It is byte for byte identical to the original Zelda cart.
AlanD
If it's the same as a normal Zelda cart, why would it be a test cart? :hmm:
Here is the link to the pic to save everyone some time:
http://www.members.aol.com/liqwit800/myhomepage/Zeldafront.JPG
Looks very suspicious to me. The label looks like it was glued on from another cart and judging from pic it looks like the top label is gone. Sorry, I'll steer clear of this one.
Danny
The mind literally boggles at what happened here. I like to believe rather than deface a real test cartridge he just spray painted one orange.
First off i dont sell "fakes". Check my feedback i also have trades on gametz.com username is edeeek. I know I've actually traded with a few of the people on here. I would not go through the trouble of pasting labels or any bullshit like that. I got this cart through a trade i made a while ago, at first i didnt even know what it was. Guy said he found zelda in a pawn shop but it was banana yellow not gold or grey. When i got the cart I noticed was that it had 5 screws on the back instead of 3 like regular zeldas. Also on the back label there was no number or letter imprint like on regular zedas (example 12 A) .I didnt find out this was a real test cart till last year when i seen one on ebay that was just like mine. If you think this is a "fake" or that im pasting labels then dont bid, im just letting you know im not a shady seller.
It is byte for byte identical to the original Zelda cart.
AlanD
If it's the same as a normal Zelda cart, why would it be a test cart? :hmm:
Here is the link to the pic to save everyone some time:
]
Looks very suspicious to me. The label looks like it was glued on from another cart and judging from pic it looks like the top label is gone. Sorry, I'll steer clear of this one.
Danny
This is the condition i got the cart in. The top end label is gone. If you think im sitting around plastering labels on nes carts, really i have better things to do. Ive dealed with many games before and out of all things i want to forge a nes cart
Yup that is a real 'test' cart. I have an identical one to it. I got it from a television repair shop. It is molded in yellow instead of gold but it does look orange in that picture. Last few times I have seen them sold they have hit $3-400 but admittedly that was over 18 months ago. It is byte for byte identical to the original Zelda cart.
AlanD
AlanD if you could please post a pic of your cart to compare id appreciate it.
Heres a pic of the back of the cart for auction, i dont have the greatest of cameras so this is why its a little off color but in person the cart is yellow.
http://www.members.aol.com/liqwit800/homepage/Zeldaback.JPG
AlanD
11-11-2003, 06:24 PM
The story I got is that the toploader for some reason doesn't like the regular test carts so they sent out Zelda as a tool to check the system. I assume it is much like the Intellivision test carts that have Baseball in them since it really pushes the system. Also if you check around you will see that most test carts are in molded yellow cases. The label on the ebay'ed one is the same as the label on mine. Mine is in a little better shape but it is curling up on the end also.
AlanD
11-11-2003, 06:33 PM
Hopefully the link works
Back of cart
http://aland.roarvgm.com/pictures/zelda1.jpg
Front of cart
http://aland.roarvgm.com/pictures/zelda2.jpg
Bah I give up. It may work if you cut & paste the link into your browser. Anybody see what I am doing wrong or a way to get around my web server not allowing off-site linking?
Alan
Ed Oscuro
11-11-2003, 06:44 PM
I got them to work by cutting off the filename so you've got the directory; then I put the filename back on :P
I wonder about the story of it being for the toploaders, though--the back of the cart sez 1985...could just be that they reused the original copyright date, odd though.
Anybody mind if I upload these pics to my personal webspace so they're easier to find? (I credit people who donate pics by the link on my page, of course.)
AlanD
11-11-2003, 06:46 PM
If you post a link here so they can get to them and look at it you are more than welcome to the photos. Need any other pictures while I have the camera out? :)
Ed Oscuro
11-11-2003, 06:52 PM
Well if you could get a bit better resolution...otherwise, it's ok.
I'm convinced that this auction is of a real item now--I'd just never heard of it before. eze's selling a really clean one, too.
http://home.comcast.net/~edoscuro/nes_testcart_zelda_front.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~edoscuro/nes_testcart_zelda_back.jpg
Also going to update my site with the links (and another bugfix I noticed earlier) really quick.
AlanD
11-11-2003, 07:00 PM
Took them again and they are at the same link. Sorry that is as high as my old digicam goes. Well after I cropped off all the woodgrain surrounding the cart :)
AlanD thanks for putting up the pics To the people that are interested i have a low reserve on a REAL zelda control deck test cart. If you still think this is a fake then dont bid. Thanks for all your replies.
Darth Vader
11-11-2003, 07:57 PM
This is the condition i got the cart in. The top end label is gone. If you think im sitting around plastering labels on nes carts, really i have better things to do. Ive dealed with many games before and out of all things i want to forge a nes cart
I am not suggesting you are making up zelda to look like test carts, but considering the condition and how the label appears to be ripped off and glued back on, it looks like a fake. I have not ever seen one of these carts before and I have never heard anyone here ever mention them before. Plus, why would nintendo make a test cart that has the entire zelda game on it?? What would it test if it is just a game that has no testing features to it?? Maybe I'm wrong and if so, I sincerely apologize, but it just seems fishy to me.
Danny
digitalpress
11-11-2003, 08:40 PM
Except for the "unstuck" label in the picture, there's nothing suspicious at all. I've seen this cart before and I'm sure there are lots of NES people who have as well.
Now about that seemingly stuck-and-unstuck label. Well... what other NES cart has a YELLOW cartridge case? And if the game is Zelda, that's an awful lot of trouble to go through: find a yellow NES cart case, open it with the special bit tool, ruin your perfectly good Zelda cart to remove its circuit board, swap them, then unpeel and re-peel/paste the label on the new cart. And for what?
I understand being suspiciouis but consider what you'd have to go through to get this to happen. It would be easier to just buy a Zelda test cart!
portnoyd
11-11-2003, 08:46 PM
AlanD is 100% correct. I've seen these before, and I've even seen his copy as well.
dave
Darth Vader
11-11-2003, 08:51 PM
Except for the "unstuck" label in the picture, there's nothing suspicious at all. I've seen this cart before and I'm sure there are lots of NES people who have as well.
Now about that seemingly stuck-and-unstuck label. Well... what other NES cart has a YELLOW cartridge case? And if the game is Zelda, that's an awful lot of trouble to go through: find a yellow NES cart case, open it with the special bit tool, ruin your perfectly good Zelda cart to remove its circuit board, swap them, then unpeel and re-peel/paste the label on the new cart. And for what?
I understand being suspiciouis but consider what you'd have to go through to get this to happen. It would be easier to just buy a Zelda test cart!
I was hoping you could shed some light on this, I just never saw one before and it seemed weird that Nintendo would make a test cartridge that has an entire game on it, with no true testing features, other than the game.
Thanks for the clarification, Joe! My apologies to you, eze and I wish you good luck in selling it!
Danny
Balloon Fight
11-11-2003, 09:06 PM
This is only the second one that i have seen, and i must say that it seems like Nintendo wasted time having the exact same game in a different color case, and call it a "test" cartridge.
Too bad it isnt a proto Zelda though...
Unbelievable! Ebay has suspended my account due to piracy!?!? WTF! I cannot beliveve someone reported this as a pirated game and ebay bought it. ughhhh
digitalpress
11-11-2003, 09:51 PM
Unbelievable! Ebay has suspended my account due to piracy!?!? WTF! I cannot beliveve someone reported this as a pirated game and ebay bought it. ughhhh
Well THAT sucks. If you need to plead your case, I've got your six. I believe your product is perfectly legit.
Qixmaster
11-11-2003, 10:03 PM
Unbelievable! Ebay has suspended my account due to piracy!?!? WTF! I cannot beliveve someone reported this as a pirated game and ebay bought it. ughhhh
ridiculous! Ebay is a cockmaster most of the time concerning stuff like this.
Balloon Fight
11-11-2003, 10:12 PM
Unbelievable! Ebay has suspended my account due to piracy!?!? WTF! I cannot beliveve someone reported this as a pirated game and ebay bought it. ughhhh
That freaking sucks. :angry: Stupid ebay. Definitely try to plead your case, since we all have your back.
Darth Vader
11-11-2003, 10:33 PM
That is total BS! I'd definitely contact them and give em hell!
Danny
As others have mentioned already, it is real. I've seen auctions/pictures of several of these over the years though I haven't been fortunate to own one myself.
richard
11-13-2003, 12:14 AM
and the person who must of reported that must of been someone here...from the forums :hmm:
Ed Oscuro
11-13-2003, 02:51 PM
I wouldn't be too sure of that...
richard
11-13-2003, 07:35 PM
dont be so sure about that..
Darth Vader
11-13-2003, 07:46 PM
dont be so sure about that..
Do you know something we don't?? :hmm: Why would someone do that without having all of the facts. I thought the game was suspicious at first, but I didn't know for sure, I am glad Joe could verify this item. If someone from this website did that, well then shame on them, but don't assume that is what happened. Ebay can be a real pain in the ass on some items. Mention the word "prototype" and I believe that sends off a red flag to them. Maybe the word "test" does the same?
Danny
Balloon Fight
11-13-2003, 09:02 PM
and the person who must of reported that must of been someone here...from the forums :hmm:
I dont think someone would do that here, because they would at least read the whole thread first without thinking about doing something.
leonk
11-13-2003, 11:20 PM
I don't think someone did it from here...
a) If it was, they would offer to buy out the guy before reporting to eBay
b) We gotta remember that as much as we love this place, there are a lot of hard core NES collectors out there that don't visit the board.