Rare? Define rare! Your submissions please... [Archive]

Mayhem

12-13-2004, 01:12 PM

Next article I'm writing about is rare games. We're talking rare games here. Ultra rare. Not your poncy R7s. So, I've got 10 slots to fill and looking to see what you people out there think. I've got plenty of ideas myself, but there could be something I've missed.

Simple as, just name the game and the system it's for and why (if there's a particular reason) it is so hard to find. Can be any system, no holds barred there.

Gemini-Phoenix

12-13-2004, 01:21 PM

In my opinion, rare should mean just that. Rare.

There are three types of games which people class as rare.

1) You have your fairly common, but popular and sought after games. As demand is higher than supply, this boosts the cost of particular games. These games are usually so good, people tend to hold on to them, therefore not many seem to appear very often.

2) Games which were released in limited numbers. Konami for example. They tend to release games in limited numbers. Some games, not all. You look at a list of rare games for nearly any mainstream console and you will find Konami games up near the top.

3) Games which are old. Neo Geo games spring to mind. They are rare because not many have stood the test of time.

You also have regional rares - Ie, Japanese games are classed as rare in the UK.

And you also have games which may not be rare in themselves, but are in rare condition - Ie, factory sealed.

qbertandernie

12-13-2004, 01:21 PM

released? unreleased demo type games? any game? protos?

my nominee would be outback joey for the genesis. came with the heartbeat personal trainer system. not formally released i guess, but ass rare.

darth vader has one he bought recently...might be able to supply a photo..

i gather this item was sent out for review by tv and radio stations, but for reasons unlnown to me was never formally released. darth vaders has a letter from the president of the company, mine does not...

gamergary

12-13-2004, 03:01 PM

You should have Video Life (Atari 2600 only 20 copies made) in the article.

ClubNinja

12-13-2004, 03:21 PM

The usual Neo Geo AES suspects... Euro Kizuna Encounter and Ultimate 11?

Ed Oscuro

12-13-2004, 04:15 PM

Rare means "I'm not going to find this in the wild," as far as coins go anyhow (I've sorted through hundreds and probably thousands of pennies and nickels in the last year or so, and I can tell you that the ones you find are NOT going to be rare - at best you'll find stuff with ~20M-40M minted).

For games, hey, I've found uncommon ones and good stuff, but RARE? It's wierd how folks find really RARE stuff - and I do believe it, such as O^2 William's Inty find a month or so ago - in all the most unlikely places.

As far as money is concerned, this is a very demanding hobby. But in terms of finding truly rare items, it's very easy. At worst, you can always hop on ye ole Bay and shell out the big bucks :)

imanerd0011

12-13-2004, 04:48 PM

Ok, I don't know too much about all the systems , but out of the ones I do know about, these are the rarest games:

Air Raid (Atari 2600) = who knows how many were actually made, but there are only 4 in the hands of collectors (correct me if I'm wrong)
NWC Cart (NES) = 26 were made and given out to contest winners in the pages of Nintendo Power.
Video Life (Atari 2600) = as someone already said, this game is ULTRA RARE! One of the rarest games ever made (I would think)
Pepsi Invaders (Atari 2600) = Only 125 copies were produced , seroiusly rare game.
Cheetahmen 2 (NES) = Very rare game for the NES, I've heard that 1,000 copies were produced, but who knows how many are still around.
Myraid 6 in 1 (NES) = Cart is serialed, and the highest number found to date is number 888. Extremely rare.
Stadium Events (NES) = Game was recalled, and turned into World Class Track Meet. I've heard it was only sold in the Wolworth's in NYC for the Christmas of 1987.

Those are the rarest games I know of. If you couldn't tell, most of the R10's are for the Atari 2600.

anagrama

12-13-2004, 04:59 PM

Mayhem

12-13-2004, 05:02 PM

neschampion

12-13-2004, 05:09 PM

1) Video Life Atari 2600
2) Magicard Atari 2600
3) Eli's Ladder Atari 2600
4) Karate Atari 2600
5) Out of Control Atari 2600
6) Lochjaw Atari 2600
7) Pepsi Invaders Atari 2600
8) Motorodeo/BMX Airmaster/Ikari Warriors Red Labels Atari 2600
9) Gauntlet Atari 2600
10) NWC Cart NES

Of the systems that I am extremely familiar with I would say that these would be the rarest. Of course, I didn't include Air Raid for the 2600 because it is still undecided whether or not that is a pirate cart and I didn't include Mangia for the 2600 because I only know of two people who claim to have NTSC carts and I haven't seen either with my own eyes. Although, I did include Gauntlet even though I have only seen the chip version of this game so it may not count as I am not sure if it was actually "released", may be more of a Off Your Rocker type situation.

I also included Karate, Out of Control, and Lochjaw which even though the DP guide puts them at 9's anyone who has actively looked for these games knows they are impossible to find. Especially Karate which I have never personally seen.

portnoyd

12-13-2004, 05:17 PM

Blockbuster Championship II Cart for Genesis. One known copy?

dave

anagrama

12-13-2004, 05:17 PM

Ah nice Anagrama... something I wouldn't have a clue about knowing about! You'll have to point me to some more info about it though ;)

SG-1000 rings a bell however... would I know it by a different name?

'twas Sega's first Japanese console, debuting in (I think) '83:

http://membres.lycos.fr/museumelectronic/Micros_et_consoles/Sega/SMS/SMSPicts/sg1000.gif

Later remodelled as the SG1000 II, and followed by the Mark III (which is the Japanese equivalent of the Master System, and is backward-compatible with SG1000 games).

All I know about Pachinko is what I've heard from Bock - there's only been 2 or 3 copies sold on YAJ, all for $1500+. There's also a more common sequel, Pachinko II.
The best bet for solid info probably by asking on SMS Power (smspower.org).

Emily

12-13-2004, 05:20 PM

qbertandernie

12-13-2004, 05:26 PM

there was a guy in toledo that had a video life cart...

if someones counting.

wberdan

12-13-2004, 06:07 PM

You should have Video Life (Atari 2600 only 20 copies made) in the article.

No Way!?! You gotta be shittin me! I thought at least a cuople hundred had been made....Anyone have an exact number or a serial # to vouch for this?

There is an article in the DP archives regarding this.
Apparently it is true there were 20 or less made.

The 3 Bit Corp games for the ColecoVision would be the rarest games for that system. Especially strange is the only authentic copies have come from the Netherlands.
The DP Guide rates them as R9's, but I would say they should have R10 status, definetely. I have only confirmed (doesn't mean there arn't more out there): 1 Tank Wars, 2 Cosmic Crisis, and 3 Meteoric Shower's.
They may not seem so rare at first. Most people remember seeing at least one of each, but most of the ones that pop up are copies that have been made by Adam's House or Telegames. Adam's House makes labels for them that look quite a lot like the original labels (although tank wars and cosmic crisis are *usually* not exact duplications). It makes life far more difficult for someone trying to track down one of the originals.

willie

XxMe2NiKxX

12-13-2004, 08:30 PM

The rare list and no one mentioned the world champion nintendo power cart (sorry if I got the name wrong) for NES?! There was only, like, three of them! Pacman II for SAG is another one that comes to mind, complete miracle piano system for sega genesis, as well as the red game facory and BCII cart. If they count, Outback Joey Personal Trainer is damn rare, as is Time Trax; to my recollection, there's only five or six of those floating around.

Promophile

12-13-2004, 08:40 PM

How about the NWC 92 cart? If it does in fact still exist.

imanerd0011

12-13-2004, 08:45 PM

Promophile,

I have heard that it does exist, and that it doesn't. Supposedly it a cart that had Super Mario Bros 3, and two other games on it. They had a nationwide contest on college campuses and they used it as the cart. I bet they do exist, but there hasn't been a single one to show up anywhere as of yet.

vulcanjedi

12-13-2004, 09:20 PM

Does it count as rare if it took me 15 months of searching to find a Demon Attack cartridge for my IBM PC JR?

VJ

boatofcar

12-13-2004, 09:27 PM

not formally released i guess, but ass rare.

Does anyone else find the term "ass rare" to be extremely hilarious?

Vroomfunkel

12-14-2004, 04:47 AM

I humbly submit the PAL version of Primal Rage for the 32X. The only one copy that I have ever seen is the one the Arr. here had. It is to Darxide as Rodland is to SMB/DH ...

It is also an interesting title as it has been completely eclipsed in the rumour / hype stakes by Darxide. Which is understandable, given all the other factors that Darxide has going for it (last 32X game ever released, cult status of being developed by David Braben, no US / Jap release etc. etc.) - but the net result is that even most 32X collectors don't even know it exists, let alone that it is so hard to find ..

Vroomfunkel

Dimitri

12-14-2004, 04:56 AM

Aside from the well-known ones, how about Pachinko for the SG-1000?
It's probably the rarest game for any Sega console with only a handful of copies known, and has sold for Y300000 (~$2,850) on Yahoo Japan in the past.

Tetris for the Megadrive (the real Sega version, not the pirate version that's fairly easy to obtain) is in the same boat. I've heard that there's only four known copies... Prolly has something to do with the fact that Sega had the arcade rights in Japan but not the home rights. It's a regularly ignored part of the infamous Tetris incedent. :)

Mayhem

12-14-2004, 06:33 AM

I've seen, what I presume to be, a pirate copy of Japanese Megadrive Tetris actually. Only four copies? Hmmm... that could well be a nice contender. Keep them coming folks! :)

qbertandernie

12-14-2004, 08:29 AM

i know someone with the megadrive tetris...

offered it to me for $80, but i dont go for imports...maybe i should reconsider...

Vroomfunkel

12-14-2004, 09:16 AM

i know someone with the megadrive tetris...

offered it to me for $80, but i dont go for imports...maybe i should reconsider...

If it is the original official Sega version, then definitely .. it is worth somewhere in the thousands of dollars. If it is the pirate version, it's not worth 80 bucks though .. I have had a copy of the pirate version.

Vroomfunkel

Avatard

12-14-2004, 11:17 AM

There seems to be sooo much rare stuff that its not rare for everyone to have many rare items. LOL

Dimitri

12-14-2004, 08:01 PM

i know someone with the megadrive tetris...

offered it to me for $80, but i dont go for imports...maybe i should reconsider...

The real version looks like THIS (http://members.lycos.co.uk/bsakamoto/tetris/)...the pirate version I've seen has a similar cover but only has Chinese writing on it...

Suddenly I'm glad I archived that auction when I saw it. :D

dbiersdorf

12-14-2004, 08:15 PM

What about like all those Japanese Virtual Boy games?

- Virtual Bowling
- SD Gundam
- Space Invaders

pseudonym

12-14-2004, 08:54 PM

vic 20 boone cyclon and crater raider. i think the last ones appeared in 2002, almost 3 years ago now.

the original akalabeth before california pacific picked it up. how many of these have been found? even the cp version is rather scarce.

ultimate 11 i've read somewhere is almost as rare as kizuna encounter.

msx final fantasy is pretty rare. probably not as some of the games mentioned here though. i'd like to get my hands on one but not for the prices it goes for...

Mayhem

12-15-2004, 05:35 AM

Suddenly I'm glad I archived that auction when I saw it. :D

Nice one... I'll have those images cheers ;)

So the final price was 320,000 Yen?

(or nearly $3000 for you Americans)

anagrama

12-15-2004, 05:46 AM

I've just been Googling for more info on MD Tetris, and found this NTSC-UK thread which mentions another copy selling for an unbelievable Y925,000!

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/archive/index.php/t-26288.html

It was also released for the Mega-Tech (MD-based arcade cabinet).

Mayhem

12-15-2004, 08:41 AM

Oh yeah I remember the topic about it on NTSC-UK, just the picture MD posted has got "watermark" on it. The pics above are fresh and unblemished :)

MD is one son of a... well Megadrive collector LOL

Vroomfunkel

12-15-2004, 10:03 AM

Interesting indeed. I have never seen that before .. the pirate version that I had looked nothing like that!

There was no text on the box at all, just a big picture of some Tetris shaped blocks flying through the air.

I notice that neither the cart, box or manual carry the Japanese "MD" logo .. I thought all official Japanese Megadrive releases had this on. Obviously not!

Vroomfunkel

Vroomfunkel

12-15-2004, 10:12 AM

Hmm .. having had second look, perhaps it does have it on the spine, it's just out of the picture so I can't see. But it doesn't appear to be on the cart & manual.

Vroomfunkel

anagrama

12-15-2004, 03:04 PM

My Japanese copy of Dynamite Duke also doesn't have the MD logo on the cart or manual, so I guess not all games do.

Dimitri

12-15-2004, 03:39 PM

It was also released for the Mega-Tech (MD-based arcade cabinet).

Arcade versions also exist on Sega's System 16A/16B and System-E hardware systems. The System 16 version is identical to the MD version in just about every way, from what I've seen, and is pretty common as suicide-battery arcade boards go. ;) It's a pretty poor version of Tetris, anyways. Doesn't hold a candle to The New Tetris, or even Tetris DX.

Mayhem

12-17-2004, 05:36 AM

Anyone got pics of Pachinko or Space Slalom for SG1000? If not, I might have to sub it for something else I can get a shot of...

Also any other suggestions? I'm currently looking at these nine:

Kizuna Encounter (NeoGeo)
Pocket Reversi (NGPC)
Ultima: Mount Drash (Vic20)
Video Life (2600)
Rodland (NES)
DarXide (32X)
Tetris (Megadrive)
Space Invaders (Virtual Boy)
Protector (Vectrex)

anagrama

12-17-2004, 06:27 AM

I'll have a dig around - I think I've seen a pic of Pachinko, but I'm not sure. Could always Photoshop a copy of Pachinko II ;)

Vroomfunkel

12-17-2004, 07:09 AM

As mentioned before .. Primal Rage (PAL version) for the 32X is rarer than Darxide. I am sure that Arrrhalomynn has kept a photo somewhere.

I know someone who has a cart only Darxide, and I have a box scan. I'm sure there are a couple of people here (well, at least one) who has a complete Darxide though.

Vroomfunkel

Mayhem

12-17-2004, 07:55 AM

I've got a pic of complete DarXide so no need to go look for me there :)

I will mention Primal Rage in the DarXide writeup... but as it's Europe only (as opposed to the US version of PR being not hard to find) and by David Braben then it gets the nod for being "more interesting".

Any suggestions on a format not currently above?

Tempted to possibly put in Double Dragon cart for C64 (only 3 copies currently known of in the scene).