That's odd.. [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

Blackjax

01-21-2003, 04:05 AM

Ya know, Tempest, now that I think about it, I've heard of far more NES protos being destroyed by bit-rot than any level of Atari protos... odd... maybe they used a higher level of manufacturing with them... or better chips...

NES Protos either lost or rotting and were fixable:

a copy of the Power Pad Test Cart
a Solomon's Key proto
a Crystalis proto
... and at least three others that aren't clicking off the t op of my head...

this may be a good case to have ALL NES protos dumped, at least privately...

Ballz

01-21-2003, 09:01 AM

Ya know, Tempest, now that I think about it, I've heard of far more NES protos being destroyed by bit-rot than any level of Atari protos... odd... maybe they used a higher level of manufacturing with them... or better chips...

NES Protos either lost or rotting and were fixable:

a copy of the Power Pad Test Cart
a Solomon's Key proto
a Crystalis proto
... and at least three others that aren't clicking off the t op of my head...

this may be a good case to have ALL NES protos dumped, at least privately...

The Tecmo Bowl proto couldn't even be played when Jason Wilson first got it.

But once again some dumping and restoration saved the day. I'm surprised you forgot the "poster child" example, BJ. ;)

Tempest

01-21-2003, 09:37 AM

Hmm... I never thought of that. I suppose there are probably more dead 2600 protos out there than me think, but no one has taken the time to report them. I know I own one dead proto, but it was like that when I got it and I have no idea if it's bit rot or something else (like a broken contact).

Maybe Atari used better EPROMs? Or maybe it's because they had to store less information?

Tempest

samuraiX

01-21-2003, 10:44 AM

I've got a Ballblazer "test/loaner cart" for the 5200 (I think that's what it's called). It hasn't worked for the past couple years. I assume that it died due to bit rot. Not sure if it can be saved or if it's even worth the time or effort. Anyone have any more info on this?

Tempest

01-21-2003, 12:32 PM

I have two Ballblazer protos (one is the final version, and one is a WIP). If you want I can take a look at it and see if the EPROMs can be dumped. If you give me a date I might even be able to reprogram the EPROMs from one of my copies (assuming they're the same date).

Tempest

samuraiX

01-21-2003, 01:11 PM

Sounds cool to me. Just drop me an e-mail or pm with your info and I'll send it out.
ncarr@auto-plaza.com

thanks!