How often do prototypes show up in the wild?

[Ed Oscuro]

As opposed to being bought directly from the source (or on eBay, collectors, whatever).

By prototypes I mean true prototype items, not first-run rarities. Yes, this is inspired by William's thread, and don't mean that first line to be a slam on his find, as we aren't quite sure what it is yet :)

I'd like to see what people think to be the case.

Up to you do decide what's "wild," though we all should agree that thrifts are wild.

[Queen Of The Felines]

Goodwill Hunter has found a couple at local garage sales.

He is also a complete bastard. LOL

Kristine

[Famidrive-16]

There was that California Raisins proto which a woman sold to a game store, but that doesn't count really, but close enough

[ClubNinja]

A local EB Games produced two for me about a year ago mixed in with the other used games.

[GamerTheGreek]

A local EB Games produced two for me about a year ago mixed in with the other used games.

thusly the reason i got hired ( was glad to be hired by them hehe)


to date : 1 prototype (or how DP calls it one of a kind item ) my Mogul Maniac 8 bit cart. ( i wont get into the boring story) but thats all i found. and STILL NO VALUE on the cart. im thiking 200$ +

[evg2000]

2 Atari 2600 Protos at 2 different flea markets:
centipede
last starfighter aka solaris
1 Atari 5200 Proto at a thrift
XARI Arena 6-4
And 1 Atari 5200 Proto Paddle at a flea market.

Later,
Charles

[dj898]

I found, well my relative in Japan, found Prototype Saturn console thru some contact early this year. This is one of handful pre-production Saturn toured around the trade show in Japan before it's official debut there.

From memory she didn't pay much for it and I haven't seen it before or after since then - even in Japan...

one of my pride and joy... :)

[Ed Oscuro]

That doesn't count, but thanks for the story!

[icbrkr]

I've found 1 lab loaner ("Journey Escape") at a Game Exchange, and 2 Astrocade prototypes (Cosmic Raiders, Soccer/Dribbling) at a Vintage Stock.

[NESaholic]

I think nowadays it's not that easy to find any proto in the wild, or someone really doesn't know what he/she is selling at a flea or so.
I never saw any proto in the wild yet, doubt i'll ever see one here in Holland. :(

[TRM]

Jay Tilton had found several NES protos in the wild, at a pawn shop, years ago. Some other dude found a NES Crystalis prototype and a Mechanized Attack proto for NES at a flea market. Last but not least, one of the board members had found a Robocop prototype for NES a few years back, at a yardsale I think.

[Nicola]

I think nowadays it's not that easy to find any proto in the wild, or someone really doesn't know what he/she is selling at a flea or so.
I never saw any proto in the wild yet, doubt i'll ever see one here in Holland. :(

..and here in Italy...

[TRM]

Some dude found a NES Mega Man 2 prototype at a flea market in Norway or Finland or some place.

[vintagegamecrazy]

And I found Xenophobe in a thrift for $2 just a few months ago.

[DreamTR]

I found 2 Game Boy Color protos at one flea market, and a SNES proto at another. I also found an NR Reader at a game store sitting in a case! HE still wanted good money for it, but there it was!

[leorange]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/orangest/fastfood.jpg

found this in a box of atari stuff at a thrift a few years ago...it's exactly the same as the released version.

[TheSmirk]

Ice Man (Frostbite) I found at a flea market for $2 or so, but then again that was about 6 years ago

[rbudrick]

My first proto was an NES Terminator 2 proto. I got it for 33 cents at a flea market.

Well, actually I bought 9 NES games for $3, it was one of em. They even came with a really cool homemade-looking wooden case that held about 15 games. So in a way, it was less than 33 cents if you count the case as something I payed for. :-)

-Rob

[Kejoriv]

You guys are friggin lucky. This summer, Im gonna find something big, I can feel it <crosses fingers>

[XxMe2NiKxX]

I have found at least thirty Genesis prototypes. Among them is BZT, Sonic 2 "beta", Lobo (might be a pirate, but still), Waterworld (Also might be a pirate), Sonic 1 late beta (only known difference is the cheats, the game plays in the order of the level select, and there are a few debug oddities), and a Sonic and Knuckles that can be locked on with another sonic and knuckles, but nothing else.

[TheRedEye]

Please elaborate on Sonic 2.

[Balloon Fight]

I have found at least thirty Genesis prototypes. Among them is BZT, Sonic 2 "beta", Lobo (might be a pirate, but still), Waterworld (Also might be a pirate), Sonic 1 late beta (only known difference is the cheats, the game plays in the order of the level select, and there are a few debug oddities), and a Sonic and Knuckles that can be locked on with another sonic and knuckles, but nothing else.

Like red said, explain some more on the sonic. Do you have any pictures?

Jason: Which snes proto did you find?

[Famidrive-16]

I think this stuff might be close to Me2's beta sonic 2 game

http://sws2b.dyndns.org:1124/

[Chronodriftersx]

I think so too considering I don't know something about either

[TheRedEye]

I think this stuff might be close to Me2's beta sonic 2 game

http://sws2b.dyndns.org:1124/

Yes, I'm well aware of that particular build, and have been obsessively following it for years. I want to know about this other one, though.

[Damon Plus]

Anyone knows about the Command and Conquer Genesis proto?

[MattG/Snyper2099]

In 1999 I found an Enduro prototype for the 2600 on vacation at Panama City Beach. In 2000, I found a keystone kapers proto for atari 8-bit computers at a Goodwill in Cincy.

[Roagie]

Atari 2600:
Hangman - flea market
Computer Chess - nolan bushnell
Human Cannonball - nolan bushnell (traded to JerryG)
another one, title I forget - bushnell (traded to JerryG)
Dishaster - goodwill
Bunch of "Best protos" from Best Electronics back in '96(??)
Sorcerer's Apprentice - atari dumpster
Realsports Basketball proto boxes - atari dumpster
Atari 7800 Joust '84 boxes - atari dumpster

Atari 5200:
Goofy - atari dumpster

C64:
Jungle Hunt - atari dumpster
Galaxian - atari dumpster

NES:
MC Kids - flea market
World Championships '90 (I know, but it's hella rare) - flea market
North Vs South - flea market (found with the NWC cart above)

SNES:
Hunt for Red October - gift from ex employee

Genesis:
RBI Baseball '94 - flea market
RBI Baseball 32x - flea market

TG-16:
A ton of proto cd games - gift from ex employee

All of this is over a 10 year period
I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting, but they're out there! I found the genny protos just last year.

[NESaholic]

Damn dude, that's alot of finds,mega nice finds.I always visit the fleas too here but nothing really special turns up, ah well guess i have to keep my eyes open and go all the time to check.