RCA Studio II bingo

[swlovinist]

So I am going after this totally bizarre system...if you want to call it that. I was wondering who on the DP forums has a copy of bingo. Is is a proto? Was it actually released? Anyone have the packaging? Just curious who around here is the RCA Studio expert.

[President Shinron]

http://www.classicgaming.com/studio2/faq.htm apparently bingo was never even anounced for it.

[rbudrick]

I'd certainly like to hear some more deails on ths!

-Rob

[s1lence]

http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?r=2&a=5

It is part of the TV casino series if that means anything. It comes with bingo cards and chips for marking the bingo cards. I will say that I have never seen one in person and that it is the rarest cart/set for the "wonderful" studio II. It was a US release too btw, not a proto only.

[swlovinist]

I challenge that if nobody has seen it complete in person it was part of the set. If you personally have not seen it, how do you know it was released ? If nobody has one, or has one with a label, then I question its release. Several other websites do include it in the set. The outdated DP guide states that 2 or 3 DP members have one...I wonder in what condition(label or written label). I know that others have questioned it release, and I am at a point in my collecting to question it too. I am a historian as much as a collector. I like to get to the bottom of rumors and misinformation.

[s1lence]

I challenge that if nobody has seen it complete in person it was part of the set. If you personally have not seen it, how do you know it was released ? If nobody has one, or has one with a label, then I question its release. Several other websites do include it in the set. The outdated DP guide states that 2 or 3 DP members have one...I wonder in what condition(label or written label). I know that others have questioned it release, and I am at a point in my collecting to question it too. I am a historian as much as a collector. I like to get to the bottom of rumors and misinformation.

I would agree, I have only seen a picture of it. If only 2 or 3 people have it, that makes it sound more like a proto. Also any info I find on line has a question mark behind the bingo listing which puts further doubt in my mind. Somebody has to know or have it "complete".

[y-bot]

I'm also very interested in finding out more about this game. From what I've heard nobody knew anything about it until one copy showed up somewhere and then it got added to every list. I've never seen a pic or heard who exactly it is that has it. Companies like RCA do not make only a few of a game. If there is some story about it being pulled from the shelves, only available via mail-order, most copies destroyed for some reason I'll buy that. Otherwise if just a few have turned up in my opinion they are sales samples or demos even if the packaging is complete and retail ready.
y-bot

[swlovinist]

I challenge anyone who has Bingo for the RCA Studio complete to prove it with pics of a complete copy. Many collectors on this site are challenging the release of this game. No stores, or "I once saw" will count. Can we please remove it from the US release list?

[Tony Uniopolis]

I can confirm that I have seen a copy when I attended PhillyClassic 2! As a longtime RCA Sudio II owner (it was my first system) I could not believe that it existed. The box was oversized, contained bingo cards, and the cartridge. I spoke to the owner, who's name eludes me..(but i could tell you where his booth was in the room if that would help) and he said that the cartridge simply called bingo numbers and that you would need to use the enclosed cards to play.

What I remember was that the box was oversized (to hold the bingo cards) but had the same graphic style as other RCA carts. The primary color of the box was red.

i never got to play it...but I would have loved to have purchased it...the owner was not selling.

[swlovinist]

no name, no pics, and still no info really. Thanks but no thanks. It still does not solve anything or answer anything. "I want proof, not leads!" It still could be a sample copy and may still be unreleased. Either way, we may never know. I am sure you saw it, but you have no proof, or additional info. Did anyone else see it and be take a pic? x_x

[swlovinist]

Another "I once saw" story strikes again!

[mezrabad]

I challenge anyone who has Bingo for the RCA Studio complete to prove it with pics of a complete copy. Many collectors on this site are challenging the release of this game. No stores, or "I once saw" will count. Can we please remove it from the US release list?

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/weblog_entry.php?e=1050

or more specifically, this usenet post by somebody named Dan who went to Philly Classic (the first one in 2000) and actually had a table set up to display his RCA Studio II

This (http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video.classic/browse_thread/thread/183bb18317bfdeb4/454253f28d02636f?lnk=st&q=%22rca+studio+ii%22+bingo+phillyclassic&rnum=1#454253f28d02636f)

The pertinent quote, if you don't follow the link is this:


I stopped to poke around in an open box with some portable phone stuff on top. I thought I recognized a familiar looking item about the size of a deck of cards. It was a Studio II cart. I poked around some more and realized the boxed was packed with Studio II carts (all boxed complete) and a console plus.......the TV/power box. Got the lot for $10.

But that's not the brag. I suspected that this might give me a complete Studio II collection. When I got home I pulled out the DP guide and checked them off: Baseball...needed that; Biorhythem...needed that, BlackJack...needed that, Gunfighter/Monship Battle...needed that, Space War...needed that, Tennis/Squash...I just got this one this morning, TV Schoolhouse...don't need that, Fun with Numbers...don't need that, Bingo...don't see that one in the guide. Then it slowly sinks in. I FOUND A TITLE NOT LISTED IN THE GUIDE!!! WOHOO! Sure its no proto, but a dream of mine none the less.

And that's all we got. I've emailed the guy with no response. The link further up in the thread pointing to "old-computers.com" used to have pics of bingo, or at least I remembered it having them, but the webmaster running the site told me he had no information about it.

While it IS vexing, there had to be some reason (other than the post on Usenet) that they put it in the guide. What is annoying is the fact that whenever this request (for Bingo info) is put forward, the world is very silent. If this guy went to a Philly Classic, I'd be shocked if he didn't hang around here or Atari Age. I just don't understand how some people just don't want to share details about interesting finds especially the really rare ones.

I feel your pain, swlovinist, yes I do.

[mezrabad]

Correction, I emailed the guy and found out the email address he used in usenet is now defunct. That's different from getting no response, so I thought I'd make the correction.

[swlovinist]

Thanks for the support and info, as I still would want to get to the bottom. If anything, we have enough evidence that the dam game is at least a ? more than an offical release. Is there anyone who actually worked on the RCA Studio II who we could contact?

[mezrabad]

Here is a link that talks about Bingo being shown at Philly Classic the following year (2001)

Here (http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video.classic/browse_thread/thread/4fb85afd491814da/eebd1a4465f3800d?lnk=st&q=%22rca+studio+ii%22+bingo&rnum=1#eebd1a4465f3800d)



Don't forget Bingo. It was shown at the Philly Classic. It was in a large blue box and was part of the TV Casino series.

Tempest

I think Tempest is the handle of a regular over at Atari Age.

[y-bot]

While it IS vexing, there had to be some reason (other than the post on Usenet) that they put it in the guide.

There have been questionable things listed in the guide before. Conversational French for Intellivision listed as a cartridge, white label INTV Frogger & Defender, wrong information about white label Intellivision games being from Sears. I think Bingo is a salesman sample or something. If it was sold in stores more would have turned up. Most games that there are 10-20 known of have a story behind them like they were only available via mail order to people who requested them or the company wnet out of business before many were produced, etc.

y-bot

[swlovinist]

Well I got contacted Tempest over at AA and he replied back with this to say. He gave me permission to post it here as he is interested to get to the bottom of this as well:

[quote]Well you have the right person, I am indeed that Tempest. Unfortunately I really don't remember much, IIRC that was at PhillyClassic 2 back in 2001.

I did indeed see the game, but not being played. It came a big blue box with white lettering (it looked like the TV Schoolhouse box). I can't be 100% sure but I think it was was part of the TV Casino series (like Blackjack). The box had several bingo sheets, marker tokens, and the cart (I'm sure the instructions were in there as well, but I don't remember seeing them). I asked the guy where he got it and he said he got it at some thrift store on the way back from the convention last year.

I don't remember who the guy was unfortunately. I do remember asking him if he wanted to sell it and he wouldn't. It was definetly a production cart and not a prototype. I'm guessing it had a very limited release and was the last cart released for the system.

Hope this helps, I wish I could remember more but it has been a long time.

TempestWell you have the right person, I am indeed that Tempest. Unfortunately I really don't remember much, IIRC that was at PhillyClassic 2 back in 2001.

I did indeed see the game, but not being played. It came a big blue box with white lettering (it looked like the TV Schoolhouse box). I can't be 100% sure but I think it was was part of the TV Casino series (like Blackjack). The box had several bingo sheets, marker tokens, and the cart (I'm sure the instructions were in there as well, but I don't remember seeing them). I asked the guy where he got it and he said he got it at some thrift store on the way back from the convention last year.

I don't remember who the guy was unfortunately. I do remember asking him if he wanted to sell it and he wouldn't. It was definetly a production cart and not a prototype. I'm guessing it had a very limited release and was the last cart released for the system.

Hope this helps, I wish I could remember more but it has been a long time.

Tempest[/quote

I still think it could be a sample, but at this point, who knows?

[ianoid]

Again, my story is that the vendor in question at PC2 is Al Backiel, and he had a complete RCA set with a loose console that he was selling for $100. I didn't want to spend that much on the set, coz all I needed was Bingo and a complete in box unit, and clearly I didn't realize it's rarity. We can ask Al who he sold it to. Al is still active in the scene, editing 2600 connection.

This wouldn't be the first instance of an item that is supposedly released or not released having extremely limited distribution. And it would be hard to say it's only released here. There are several Aquarius cartridges that seem to be released but unseen aside from pix. Now, to get those pix.

And what a shame it would be if it is confirmed! It will make completing the collection so tough. But then, does anyone have the Tester or Demo carts? I've never seen those offered.

[kitty]

I can confirm that I have seen a copy when I attended PhillyClassic 2! As a longtime RCA Sudio II owner (it was my first system) I could not believe that it existed. The box was oversized, contained bingo cards, and the cartridge. I spoke to the owner, who's name eludes me..(but i could tell you where his booth was in the room if that would help) and he said that the cartridge simply called bingo numbers and that you would need to use the enclosed cards to play.

What I remember was that the box was oversized (to hold the bingo cards) but had the same graphic style as other RCA carts. The primary color of the box was red.

i never got to play it...but I would have loved to have purchased it...the owner was not selling.

[mezrabad]

He gave me permission to post it here as he is interested to get to the bottom of this as well:

I appreciated the idea of you wanting purely to "get to the bottom of this" but before the phosphor had faded from the post I made earlier in this thread you sent me a PM asking if I was interested in selling my copy of Bingo.

Obviously, you misread my post (if you read it at all) but it also became obvious that your main goal in starting this thread was your acquisition of Bingo and not merely confirmation of its existence.

However noble your eventual intentions may be (photographing it for your book, you wrote) your approach here has been insincere and calculating.

Yeah, it's been over a month since then, but while going through my inbox I read your note again and thought I should mention it to the larger audience interested in Bingo. All six of them.

[swlovinist]

First of all mezrabad, I find your post insulting and incorrect. You obviously dont know what type of collector I am, nor my intention of collecting. I dont need to defend this to you, but for the fact that you came on a post that I created and started bashing me, here I go. Yes, I like so many others here would like to get my hands on RCA Studio II. I would love to have the whole set and know it was complete. Unlike many other collectors, I am a writer who has in person helped many other newbie collectors get their feet wet. I am also a historian who likes to document games and video game systems. This information is going to be shared in a book that I am currently writing, although it is taking alot longer than I intended. I am also part of NWCGE, which puts a tremendous amount of effort into putting on gaming events that make -$. To say that my intention is focused primarly on just getting Bingo just goes to show you how ignorant you are on my primary purpose. Anyone who knows me here knows that I collect sets of games to not only play them, but for historical reasons as well.

[mezrabad]

First of all mezrabad, I find your post insulting and incorrect.

10:49 I post everything I know about this cart (no, it wasn't much)

10:51 I post that I emailed one guy I thought had seen it.

10:58 You post and thank me for support and info.

11:01 You pm me and ask me if I'm interested in selling.

Why would you post thanking me for support and info and three minutes later pm me to ask if I was interested in selling? Why thank me for a post you hadn't read? You just cut right to PM'ing me to find out if I would sell.


You obviously dont know what type of collector I am, nor my intention of collecting.

You are absolutely right, I don't know you, I don't know your motivations or goals. I have read your lore contributions to the DPG and I've enjoyed them. I do not doubt that you contribute to the hobby and that the book you're working on would be a huge contribution.

If my perception that you were trying to get to the bottom of this only so you could draw the owner out and try to buy it was incorrect then I apologize, sincerely, for my remarks. My remarks would not have been posted at all had you responded to that question when I originally asked you in PM.


This information is going to be shared in a book that I am currently writing, although it is taking alot longer than I intended.

I offer nothing but my best wishes for your success in this and I look forward to reading it.


I am also part of NWCGE, which puts a tremendous amount of effort into putting on gaming events that make -$.

Just to clarify, that's a minus sign, right? You're saying the effort is put into events that make "negative cash" and not "cash." I don't want anyone else to misunderstand and think that you're saying that there are gaming events that make money.


To say that my intention is focused primarly on just getting Bingo just goes to show you how ignorant you are on my primary purpose. Anyone who knows me here knows that I collect sets of games to not only play them, but for historical reasons as well.

I AM ignorant of your primary purpose. One minute you're thanking me for information about an item and the next third minute you're asking to buy the item from me. It made me very confused about your primary purpose. I was happy to share all I knew about it, but from my perspective you've shared nothing about what you know about Bingo in this thread (other than Tempest's response which I would've shared anyway since I was sent the same response), you apparently initially ignored what I could tell you and then asked to buy it from me. My disillusionment over this is not your problem, but it's put me in quite a funk (witness my lack of blogging) and I had to address it. Thank you for your response.

[y-bot]

I think there is some kind of misunderstanding going on here. mezrabad and swlovinist are two of the nicest people I've ever dealt with in the classic gaming community. I can't imagine either of you having bad intentions. I hope you can work out your differences soon.

y-bot

[swlovinist]

I agree with the misunderstanding, I am over it and over arguing about it. I am willing to totally forgive, not to mention add that I think that y-bot is nicer than both of us :D. More than anything, I would love for SOMEBODY on this site to score this cart. Not only that, to actually post pics so the whole RCA Studio gaming community can finally see the "Holy Grail of totally forgettable Systems".

[mezrabad]

Y-bot, thanks for that. You're nice, too. :)

swlovinist, I accept your forgiveness.

I've been informed that among the hardcore collectors/historians that what I perceived to be a transgression is no big deal. I've also noticed that you even said in your opening post that you were chasing this system. That should have been a clue for me that your collector side was equally active in this inquiry. I guess you just got excited when you thought I had it and went all carpe diem.

My reaction was uncalled for.

Like many people, I've got a few things that will stick in my craw. I guess my craw's just been getting stickier with age (gross!).

[swlovinist]

mezrabad, Apology more than accepted, we all make mistakes. I have made many on this forum. You seem like a very genuine gamer and I look forward to getting to know you better. Any friend of Y-bot can be a friend of mine anytime. I see alot of myself in your posts and that is not a bad thing. Being passonate about what you believe in and standing up for it is not a bad thing usually. I consider this forum my home, where I feel most welcome. I look forward to discussing future topics with you and many more on my many journies of obscure gaming items. I dont know what is next, but I am sure it will be bizarre!

[mikesides]

So, 5 years later I'm going to dig this thread up and ask if Bingo has yet to turn up. I finally dug out my RCA Studio II games, checked the Online Rarity Guide here and Bingo is still listed. Has anyone seen it yet (besides at the Philly Classic)?

:cheers: Cheers from the Pacific Northwest.

[General Catastrophe]

While I generally frown upon thread necromancy, I've just gotta know, does anyone have ANY new info on this game, or has somebody seen/purchased/sold/ect a copy within the past decade? Does it actually exist, and where is something, anything that proves it exists? While I am personally looking to complete my Studio II collection, I have long had an interest in this particular game, and whatever the details/story behind it are, if it does indeed exist. I'll never be able to afford a copy if it is real and know it, so please, if anyone here can provide anything beyond a claim of seeing it once please do so. My interest is purely as a fan of older systems in general and as somebody who is genuinely curious about this particular title. The mystery surrounding this game should be cleared up, or it should not be considered an official release.

[slapdash]

Meant to follow up earlier... I checked with Al, but it's not him, and he can't recall who it was, though he said it was the guy in the booth next to him. He also says Joe was there and might recall, or possibly David Newman (the organizer) might recall.