FS: NINTENDO PROTOTYPES

[drgrafix]

For the discriminating NES Collector who would like to add one or more PROTOTYPE EEPROM CARTRIDGES to their collection, I have a few items that might be of interest. You can see pictures of these items online at nesplayer.com by looking at the news section and clicking on various links to the games. You can also PM me and I could email you pictures. I’ve sold several prototypes recently through nesplayer, and someone suggested that there is a good-sized group of collectors that are involved in digital press so I thought it might be worthwhile to post these here:

ATARI/TEGEN AIRBALL (NES Prototype) – Developed by Tengen and never released. One of three (3) known examples, this appears to be one of the two later ones with a full Tengen black housing and no EEPROM cutouts. I had a standing offer of $1000.00 from a Euro collector, but he appears to have run into money problems... so I'm open to offers. This is probably the rarest of all NES unreleased games.

SOLD - NATSUME - BACKGAMMON (white cart prototype) – Developed by NATSUME, this is a demo closed case EEPROM. Appears to be a SNES PROTOTYPE EEPROM. Have done some research and it's looking like a one of a kind so unfortunately, the price is going to go up via the highest bidder method as I have had some inquiries. I have pix of the cart and EEPROMS inside, no screen shots. SOLD [/b][/color]

Flight of the Intruder (NES prototype) – Developed by Absolute and Microprose, this is a CES demo closed case EEPROMs. Screen shots available, price is $200.00 plus shipping & insurance.

Videomation (NES prototype) – Developed by Western Technologies, this is a demo cartridge with two exposed EEPROMS. One is socketed and one is soldered. Screen shots available, a and the price is $200.00 plus shipping and handling (I have two (2) of these).

Digger T. Rock’s Adventure (NES prototype) – Developed by RARE, this is a CES demo closed case EEPROMs. Screen shots available, price is $200.00 plus shipping & insurance. (I have two (2) of these)

Super Scrabble (Gameboy prototype) – Developed by Absolute and Imagineering, this is a very rare pre-release open-case socketed EEPROM complete with game ROM. I have not seen any other Game Boy EEPROM games like this with a socketed EEPROM. A clever person could dump the code and learn an awful lot about how the game was written. Price is $275.00 plus shipping & insurance.

NES EEPROM Prototype PCB – This is a genuine Nintendo PCB, brand-new, never used in pristine condition. A bare board… the price is $50.00 plus shipping. 2 SOLD

ABADOX EEPROMs – These are actual PROGRAM and CHARACTER EEPROMS with the CES full Natsume ABADOX game demo code that are loose (no cartridge). Price for the two (2) EEPROMs is $100.00 plus shipping & insurance.

MARBLE MADNESS EEPROMS – These are genuine and developed by RARE, but I am not sure as to whether they are Game Boy or NES EEPROMs. There are four (4) ROM chips and the price for all four (4) ROMs is $150.00 plus shipping & handling.

JORDAN vs BIRD EEPROMS – These are genuine and developed by RARE, but I am not sure as to whether they are Game Boy or NES EEPROMs. There are four (4) ROM chips and the price for all four (4) ROMs is $150.00 plus shipping & handling.

I’ve sold three (3) NES prototypes for $200.00 each, and also sold a Tengen XYBOTS for a good deal more, so I’m holding the price on the basic NES prototypes at $200.00 for the above-marked NES items (unless otherwise noted). Everything is on a first-come, first-served basis.

BUY IT ALL!While I doubt that any one individual would have the resources, I would bundle all the below listed items (minimal cumulative value $2375.00-$2700.00) for $1995.00 shipped and insured (coverage for $3000.00). All prices reflect shipping to the lower 48, and beyond that would be a premium. Items shipped out of the USA would probably have to be declared as "Samples - No Commercial Value" to keep customs surcharges down. This is what I've done with overseas buyers previously.

Included in the above bundle eight (8) prototypes, one (1) PCB, and twelve (12) loose EEPROMs as follows;
1 PIECE - AIRBALL NES
1 PIECE - BACKGAMMON ?
1 PIECE - FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER NES
2 PIECES - DIGGER'S ADVENTURE NES
2 PIECES - VIDEOMATION NES
1 PIECE - SUPER SCRABBLE GAMEBOY
4 PIECES - ABADOX EEPROMS NES
4 PIECES - MARBLE MADNESS ?
4 PIECES - JORDAN VS BIRD EEPROMS ?

Mike at nesworld.com can vouch for my credibility. Considering AIRBALL could be worth $1000.00 getting all the other Prototypes and PCBs might be a bargain.[/b]

Doc

[Flack]

Copied to Prototyle Central for double coverage.

[drgrafix]

Flack...

Thanks :) for the help. I didn't think double-posting was allowed.

Doc x_x

[TheRedEye]

I thought you sold the first two?

[Flack]

Flack...

Thanks :) for the help. I didn't think double-posting was allowed.

Doc x_x

It's really not. I just feel like TheRedEye gets lonely from time to time so I thought I'd shake off his cobwebs. ;)

Technically this isn't a double post, it's just a thread that got moved from one place to the other with a "ghost topic" left, so it appears in both forums. :)

[drgrafix]

Sorry, didn't mean to confuse you. No, in the past month I sold a ZR1, Xybots, and a Star Trek which I had two of. However long it takes, I'm going to get out of the prototype collection gig. And eBay won't let you sell prototypes anymore, even things like the PCBs! So there are all levels of collectors in these gamer forums, some are hard into prototypes, most are just into released games. Others want to play with the ROMs inside and look at the code, so they just want any prototype. And then there's those collectors that relaize a genuine prototype is still something that was never sold and there's an infinite number of these floating around and there can never be any increase in the number. Whatever floats your boat.

Still have what I listed plus some other Nintendo oddities (non-game stuff) and a basic collection of selected released games and controllers plus a modified NES deck. Sold my Super Famicom w/Disk drive last year.

BTW, who/what is The RedEye? Dead link?

Doc

[DreamTR]

drgrafix, I'd be interested in some of them, but you would have to come down on the prices.

Also, who did you sell this Airball to, and where did you get it? Same with Xybots. I myself have an Airball and Xybots already, so I am curious to know the history of yours.

[drgrafix]

Dream...

I'd rather not get into how I acquired them, but I can say with a completely straight face that it was on the up and up, and several years ago.

I sold the Xybots... didn't realize there was another one out there... and the collector has asked that I keep his name and the price confidential.

As for the prices... I can't go down any further unless it was a bundle deal, and even then... it would depend. In your case, you'd obviously not want another Airball. I've been told/advised by others that I have to always remember that there is not an unlimited supply of NES prototypes floating around, and the supply will only decrease rather than increase because people sometimes pack these things away and somebody else throws them away without knowing their value. We've seen enough stories about tag sales and flea market finds. I had a Prince of Persia NES prototype and for some reason I didn't have the cart stored with my others. I can't find it so I don't know if it is lost or was thrown out. I'd hate to think a friend or relative "borrowed" it, but thats a possibility too. I'm still looking :)

Doc

[TheRedEye]

It's really not. I just feel like TheRedEye gets lonely from time to time so I thought I'd shake off his cobwebs. ;)

It's true, as evidenced by such topics as "post here and I will edit your posts" and "let's play forums kickball!"

[rbudrick]

You've gotta have your lady do something about all those cobwebs, Red.

-Rob

[DreamTR]

drgrafix, I have a little over 350 NES protos, so they can be acquired in some sort, which is why I think your prices may be a bit on the high end and about 6 years too late. I would like to trade for some if you were interested in any other stuff for other systems....

[portnoyd]

PMs sent.

[TheRedEye]

You've gotta have your lady do something about all those cobwebs, Red.

-Rob

Actually, I'm single now, and both of those threads were made while I wasn't. It's my theory that girls cause cobwebs with their spidery genitals, but I haven't gotten the necessary funding to do proper research yet.

[qbertandernie]

whats the non game stuff you have for sale?

[drgrafix]

DreamTR...

I respect your opinion, however the prices are pretty firm. Just sold another one 5 minutes ago. Since you have so mant protos, they are not as precious to you, but to someone who has one or two... or none, this is a start.


drgrafix, I have a little over 350 NES protos, so they can be acquired in some sort, which is why I think your prices may be a bit on the high end and about 6 years too late. I would like to trade for some if you were interested in any other stuff for other systems....

And I'm not open to bartering as I don't really need anything. I'm happy with my Vectrex collection, my small NES collection, and three arcade pieces. Although they do take up a lot of room... especially the race drivin! :)

Doc

[drgrafix]

Portnoyd & QbertandErnie...

PMs sent, check your boxes. Pix will be in emails.

Doc

[qbertandernie]

checked my box, no PM?

[drgrafix]

qbertandernie...

Sorry... late night. Check your PM box.

Doc

[DreamTR]

drgraffix, it's not that, I just find it surprising that all of a sudden you are selling NES games at 200 a pop when myself and others have been putting up threads lately selling em for far less and we aren't getting much action with the games.

[drgrafix]

DreamTR...

The last proto that sold on eBay was about three weeks ago. A GI Joe prototype that eBay didn't catch. It went for a little over $200.00 plus shipping.

IIIRC, one of the Airball games went for a grand, don't know if you paid that or the other guy, but if you had to sell yours now... would you ask less than what the last highest price was for that item?

Doc

[DreamTR]

That GI Joe proto HAD to be a fluke. Either that, or it was just because it was GI Joe. Before that was Tetris at $187, then before that was Bard's Tale which was mine at a paltry $71. I did not pay $1000 for Airball, I paid $700 for mine. If I was to sell mine, I would ask probably for the same amount, but I do not think we are talking about what I purchased the games for compared to what you purchased them for. Then we would have a much bigger price gouge I suppose. Frankly I am extremely surprised as well at your asking price of the GB game. I have a bunch that look thw way you describe, and they are worth around 35-60$ max.

I still don't have a response to that question I asked, these protos you are selling, was that GI Joe yours? Who on earth is buying $200 games from you? Especially knowing I sell them much cheaper, that is what baffles me.

[TheRedEye]

Just for the record:


This is probably the rarest of all NES unreleased games.

That's like the fourth copy to surface. Most of the stuff that has passed through even MY hands were one-of-a-kinds, so that statement isn't entirely accurate.

As far as your prices, I predict that you won't get offers on the rest of these unless you start dropping the prices a little. $1,000 for Airball is a pretty good price, I wouldn't hesitate on that offer too much. But by all means, wait it out for a little while!

And I am also of the belief that G.I. Joe was a fluke, that had to have gone to some crazy G.I. Joe collector or something.

[drgrafix]

I guess timing is everything. The GI Joe wasn't mine, but the guy bought one of mine a week later... go figure x_x . And people on this board and nesplayer both have bought protos from me. I _am_ surprised that nobody is interested in Digger, which is a RARE developed piece. Small dual EEPROM board with a few jumper wires on it.

Selling the NES stuff is only fueling my other buys... recently got a mint Williams Black Knight pinball, which supposedly was the first talkie. VERY Addictive. I like the big machines because they are more tactile. Plus I'm also dabbling in woodworking as a hobby, and you can never have enough tools... so said Tim the Toolman.

Doc -_-

[DreamTR]

I have Black Knight 2000. I sense an age difference here.

[TheRedEye]

I have Black Knight 2000. I sense an age difference here.

You have that now??

...I'll be right over.

[DreamTR]

Yeah, it's right next to Elvira. I'm surprised I have room in here anymore.

[TheRedEye]

I'm tempted to skip GDC and just live underneath your Black Knight 2000 machine for a week.

[DreamTR]

Well, you'll be roommates with Game Boy systems in boxes, A Pikachu N64, a Neo Geo CDZ, and some other boxxed oddities. Hope you fit.

[Chronodriftersx]

That GI Joe proto HAD to be a fluke. Either that, or it was just because it was GI Joe. Before that was Tetris at $187, then before that was Bard's Tale which was mine at a paltry $71. I did not pay $1000 for Airball, I paid $700 for mine. If I was to sell mine, I would ask probably for the same amount, but I do not think we are talking about what I purchased the games for compared to what you purchased them for. Then we would have a much bigger price gouge I suppose. Frankly I am extremely surprised as well at your asking price of the GB game. I have a bunch that look thw way you describe, and they are worth around 35-60$ max.

I still don't have a response to that question I asked, these protos you are selling, was that GI Joe yours? Who on earth is buying $200 games from you? Especially knowing I sell them much cheaper, that is what baffles me.

Gi joe was a fluke? How do you figure, do you mean the person who bought it sure is a "fluke" compared to us. Well... noted then, it takes many kinds to make the world go round, only from Gi joe freeks to obsessed cool but cliquy cart collector give or take.

person making thread: do not cross these two guys I repeat, unless you like unsafe feelings, they appear to know shit and Do have connections to the interworkings of the industry. They are no Donald Trumps but even so you should trust them and feel safer because of it, even if what you do works, above all else you must comply. Also beware before baffling them /end sarcasm, please don't hit me again.

[TRM]

@drgrafix: Keep your prices the same...if no one buys in a few weeks/months and you still want to get rid of them, then slowly lower the prices.

I had a prototype I was trying to sell on the forum, and I had gotten a really low offer from someone on this board (I won't mention names). Anyway, I took it outside of the forum and got around $200 more for it, which seemed to be a fair offer in my opinion.

Truth be told, I think that many of the people at Digital Press are sort of chearp. No offense to anyone imparticular, but I had received several "insulting" offers over the months, so this has to be the reason.

Good luck with your sales!
Dave

[NESaholic]

I think it's because everyone wants to get it as cheap as possible,corse if you want it badly then it's better to buy it here i can't argue with that.
Most people wait until it gets Ebayed cause there maybe a way to get it cheaper,i can understand that $200 is alot of money though alot of proto's are worth that money or even more.
And there's always the difference between licenced proto's and unlicenced proto's and unreleased proto's,unlicenced are worth less imo.

[TheRedEye]

person making thread: do not cross these two guys I repeat, unless you like unsafe feelings, they appear to know shit and Do have connections to the interworkings of the industry. They are no Donald Trumps but even so you should trust them and feel safer because of it, even if what you do works, above all else you must comply. Also beware before baffling them /end sarcasm, please don't hit me again.

I really hope you're not talking about me. Because not only did I tell him to keep the prices where they were for a while, I also have no interest in what he's selling.

EDIT: Oh yeah, before I forget: based on an email sent to one of our members who did buy something, this is a great seller and a really classy guy. Please, do let us know if you're selling anything else, you impressed the hell out of me.

[DreamTR]

TRE: Don't worry, chronodrifter is talking about me. He's sticking his two cents where it does not belong because of some squabble I had with him months ago that I don't even recall what it was about that he obviously can not get over.

[mickoz]

I will throw my 2 cents. Anyone can say something worth X, but it is the market value. What I liked about video games collecting (aside from liking the items), is that it was not entirely like "sports" card with all those guide. (yes there is digitpress, some mag, etc.), but it feel more like "you give the price you think it worth". We all know this but I'm just saying the obvious! ;-)

If there is 1,2,5 or even under 1000 copy of an item. And that item is in demand... eventually no real price guide can reallly asses its real value. Unless it is not in demand and nobody want to hold them up.

However, if you get something you can sell cheap to me and that I want it, I will take it ;-) ;-)

[Sprout]

....Selling the NES stuff is only fueling my other buys... recently got a mint Williams Black Knight pinball, which supposedly was the first talkie. ....

Doc -_-

They lied - Gorgar was the first talking pinball commercially released; there were several more released prior to Black Knight. Xenon was the first talking Bally pinball.

Gorgar: http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=1062
Xenon: http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2821

Having said that - Black Knight is a decent enough game; I certainly played it enough when it came out, but I question it's staying power...

On the topic - if you can get those prices, great. If eBay or a comparable equivalent auction site allowed you to post them, you just might - however, prices have come down considerably.

If I thought I could get $50 for a bare NES proto board, I'd be selling a few I have laying around. If I thought I could get that price for a proto Gameboy cartridge, or TG16 proto board, ditto.

No harm in asking whatever price you desire; I think they're just trying to warn you that you may be waiting a while - you've indicated you're in no hurry, so we'll leave it at that.

[drgrafix]

Sprout...

Thanks for the info on Black Knight. Its still an oldie and goody. Maybe it was the first two-layer playfield with speech? Whatever. I do remember Gogar too, and it was pretty neat. Coolest thing ever was meeting Roger Sharpe at on of the coin industry shows in Vegas. Probably the father of the modern pinball era.

Price-wise, I'm still holiding my basic numbers but like anyone else, I'm always open to offers. I have to add a Natsume backgammon prototype to that group as well. Forgot I even had that. Still digging for the Prince of Persia prototype, and I did find final EEPROMs for Jordan vs Bird. If you ever move, you have to really organize things and mark them in code because even movers snoop around in boxes marked "video games".

To "TheRedEye" Thank you very much for the kind words. I've tried to be as accomodating as possible, even to the point of subsitutiing one item for another when a buyer decided to change which item he actually wanted. Luckily I caught it a couple of hours before I was going to ship. He's happy, I'm happy. It all worked out.

Generally speaking, I still think the most valuable item I have is the Atari/Tengen Airball because as far as I can determine very few finished ROMs were ever available. My Euro-buyer is still on the fence, so I may look for other venues to sell it and the other protos. With that thought in mind, is there anyone who would recommend another site where I might post the list of what is left?

Thanks in advance for all the help, and a special thanks to those who have bought some items.

Doc

[AlanD]

Black Knight was one of the first multi-level machines, first to use System 7 boards, first to give Bonus Ball for the player with the highest score and also first to have Magna-Save. Magna-Save is one of the coolest features on the machine.


Can you tell I love owning a Black Knight pinball? :)

[drgrafix]

Al....

My other coin machines are a Cabal (two-player trackball), and a sit-down compact original Race-Drivin'. Plus an old 45 jukebox :) but everything works and is in tip-top shape.

BK is a fun game and provides hours of enjoyment during the holidays when adults are around. It almost seems that you have to be 30 or older to enjoy a good pinball game. And it's the physicality of it all, banging on the end panel and trying to will a ball into a particular spot so you can whack it up to the bonus areas. And Magna-Save is great... try to time when it lets go... your eyes have to be in four places!

Although I like the driving game, I prefer pinball. And its funny how Cabal is now so trendy with our military in Desert Storm and Iraq.

Doc

[portnoyd]

I said this in the feedback forum, but drgrafx is probably the best seller I've ever encountered. Don't hestitate to make a purchase from him!

dave

[drgrafix]

Portnoyd...

That's very nice of you Port... wherever you are. Lessee...@_@ draw a radius of 650 miles from... oh jeeze... where is the center? Ahhhhhh fogedaboudit!

Thanks again! ;)

Doc

[drgrafix]

A shameless bump just to keep everyone aware of what's available.

Doc

[James]

Just out of curiosity, how many prototypes on average were made for each game that we know of? I assume lots and lots of prototypes were either thrown out after the final version of the game was released or are still locked in some developers/distributors vault. The fact that these carts are even available in the open market is kind of odd considering where they came from. Too expensive for most people, although understandably so.

[leonk]

I think some game houses sent preproduction copies to reviewers and a lot of those got out into the wild as well.

I'm not sure how common it was to have customers help you debug prerelease versions (as it is today with PC software), but you never know.

[DreamTR]

drgraffx, I pmed you.

[drgrafix]

DreamTR...

Check you mailbox... finally got the pix ready to go.

Doc

[DreamTR]

Sent you email again .