TG16 Protos and Value

[megamindx4]

Hi! Someone here suggested that I ask for suggestions as to how to value
some TG16 prototypes. These may be available for sale, but for now I am
primarily interested in how to value these for insurance purposes.

Here is a short list of recently re-uncovered (OK, safely stored away for my
future gaming room) prototypes and premasters for the TurboGrafx 16, which
is my second most favorite platform. (First being the PCEngine, so there.)

Premaster and Prototypes US TurboGrafx CDs

These are all burned. They are the original and legitimate programmers'
proto/beta/premaster, and all have various "Sharpie" markings on them.
Some Jewel cases have stickers on them. What's the difference between
a prototype and a premaster and a beta? I have no idea. These were all
purchased from employees at Viacom, and are on very obviously old single
to quad speed green or blue media. To my knowledge, I am the original
owner of these prototypes, following Viacom, and they have NOT been
duped or archived, so no other known copies of these versions exist.

Addams Family Premaster 11/11/91
Beyond Shadowgate Beta#7 9/17/93
Beyond Shadowgate Premaster 10/17/93
Camp California Premaster 1/15/93
Camp California Premaster 2/1/93
Camp California Prototype 5/3/93
Dungeon Explorer II Prototype 9/9/93
Dungeon Master Prototype 6/7/93
Loom Premaster 3/11/92
Riot Zone Prototype 2/10/93
Shape Shifter Premaster 3/26/92
Shape Shifter Prototype 7/7/92
SimEarth Premaster 11/4/92

Prototype Hucard - These are long green diving boards with EPROMs
erupting from the tops. They are all official NEC boards, with the
appropriate logos and silkscreen artwork for the PCB.

I've noted the date markings on the top of the EPROMs for reference.

Magical Chase Engineering Proto 1/29/93
Bomberman 93 Engineering Proto unknown date
New Adventure Island Engineering Proto 4/10
Neutopia II Engineering Proto unknown date

Thanks!

Keith (yeah, I was on the TurboList, for you oldtimers.....)

[hellfire]

I would say at least 5 thousand dollars, but im not an expert on the subject

[Borman]

I cant comment on monetary values, but the best insurance is to back them up, and store them somewhere, preferably multiple places. Both over the internet cloud, and someplace safe that is at least 100 miles away. No money will bring them back if they are lost.

[ottojello]

I would go for a million dollars, pay one premium and then burn the house down!

[otoko]

I would go for a million dollars, pay one premium and then burn the house down!

GREAT IDEA!

[TheRedEye]

I would say at least 50 thousand dollars, but im not an expert on the subject

Are you serious or is that a hilarious exaggeration?

[tubeway]

Nevermind.

[Tempest]

I don't know the pricing on TG protos anymore but they're rare. Rarer than protos for most other systems for some reason. This lot could easily go for $5000-$8000 depending on the buyer. It might even go for more (I don't know how rabid TG collectors are with protos), but I'd say $5000 min.

Tempest

[Bojay1997]

I don't know the pricing on TG protos anymore but they're rare. Rarer than protos for most other systems for some reason. This lot could easily go for $5000-$8000 depending on the buyer. It might even go for more (I don't know how rabid TG collectors are with protos), but I'd say $5000 min.

Tempest

For CDRs with sharpie on them? I'll agree that the eproms are valueable and maybe even some of the CDRs if they have material differences from the released games, but I think your estimate is way high. I also question the designations used on some of the discs. It doesn't make sense that a premaster for some of the games was done before a prototype. Premaster is usually the final step before sending the game off to replication and is often used for final QC before the master is pressed. The eproms as a lot of four could probably get $2,000 - $2,500 and the CDRs are maybe another $500-$600 for the lot, possibly more if they actually have material differences.

Having said that, most insurance companies won't cover them unless you buy some kind of liquidated damages policy (i.e. you pay for a certain amount of coverage in the event the items are stolen or destroyed which isn't necessarily based on their market or replacement value, but on an amount you decide they are worth and therefore your premiums are set based on the amount). You may also be able to get a media rider, but the insurance company will require that you practice standard backup techniques and off site copies at an approved media storage facility like Iron Mountain which makes buying insurance on them kinda pointless.

[badinsults]

Are you serious or is that a hilarious exaggeration?

No, hellfire is just a moron. I'm sure he was serious.



Certainly, the best way to protect the information on the prototypes is to dump them yourself. If they are of high value, the cost of something to dump them should be low in comparison. The value of prototypes plummet if the EPROMs go bad (which they eventually will), so really that is the best investment. I don't know if an insurance company will insure games with EPROMs, because they have a shelf life.

[BeaglePuss]

No, hellfire is just a moron. I'm sure he was serious.



Certainly, the best way to protect the information on the prototypes is to dump them yourself. If they are of high value, the cost of something to dump them should be low in comparison. The value of prototypes plummet if the EPROMs go bad (which they eventually will), so really that is the best investment. I don't know if an insurance company will insure games with EPROMs, because they have a shelf life.

He has the ability to dump the games, and he very well may have already.

Also, this is a price check thread not a dumping/preserving/ethics thread. Try and stay on topic.

As others have stated, TG16 prototypes are not only insanely hard to come by but tend to demand far more money than other prototypes from the same era. I agree with Tempest assessment in the sense that these protos could potentially bring $8,000+.

Dream has had some luck with selling TG16 prototypes in the past, and he could probably shed more light on potential buyers and expected sales prices. Hopefully he chime in soon with his 2 cents.

[Borman]

No, Evan_G makes an excellent point (sort of) : You usually need to prove actual, market value, which is something that is near impossible with these, especially due to the media they are on. Dumping them is insurance really, and the best way to protect the investment.

[hellfire]

No, hellfire is just a moron. I'm sure he was serious.



Certainly, the best way to protect the information on the prototypes is to dump them yourself. If they are of high value, the cost of something to dump them should be low in comparison. The value of prototypes plummet if the EPROMs go bad (which they eventually will), so really that is the best investment. I don't know if an insurance company will insure games with EPROMs, because they have a shelf life.

people like you are the reason I dont post on digital press anymore

[DreamTR]

Turbo Grafx protos range wildly in prices.

I have sold HuCard ones from $150-350 for released games and $1000-1500 for crazy stuff like Bonk 3 and Magical Chase. There are NUMEROUS Bomberman 93 protos out there at the moment...

I had a PC Engine prototype of Legendary Axe that was different that I sold for $1000, but the thing is you are talking ONE collector that pays this money for the things, no one else really pays that high. The value of the games he has are probably between $600-800 for the 3 minus Magical Chase, which can go for $1000-1500.

The disk protos...they fetch about $60-100 each if you know where to purchase them (and they don't have sharpee), but can get as high as $150 apiece with the right buyer.

The best CD he has there is Beyond Shadowgate, which should fetch $250-350 apiece even as they are....


It's really a decision of whether or not said collector wants these items. If he does, he will pay the most, if not, then the values decrease to normal levels, but the market value ranges wildly because of the one collector that is high into TG stuff.

[hellfire]

No, hellfire is just a moron. I'm sure he was serious.



Certainly, the best way to protect the information on the prototypes is to dump them yourself. If they are of high value, the cost of something to dump them should be low in comparison. The value of prototypes plummet if the EPROMs go bad (which they eventually will), so really that is the best investment. I don't know if an insurance company will insure games with EPROMs, because they have a shelf life.

Do you have anything better to do besides insulting people all day?

[skaar]

Do you have anything better to do besides insulting people all day?

I'm sure he's got over 50 THOUSAND better things to do.

Seriously man. Why did you just throw in a high random arbitrary figure? How did that contribute?

Back on topic... yeah I figured the only way things would be insured was with a declared value and premiums based on that... much pricier than something with a determined value. I wonder how it works with comics...