Does anyone know why TENGEN games come in different NES cart

[alec]

I decided to play Ms. Pacman on the NES today and was wondering to myself, "Why do these games come on different carts than all the others?" I've never wondered this before in all the years I've played these games, I don't know why I'm curious now. Would someone knowledgable be so kind as to enighten me? I would be very greatful.

[Snapple]

Because Tengen games weren't officially licensed by Nintendo.

Hence also why you won't find the Nintendo "Seal of Quality" on any Tengen games.

[retroman]

Because they were not licensed by Nintendo...and Atari,,i mean Tengen made them.

[alec]

thanks, that makes sense.

[Moo Cow]

I always figured it was to look cool.

[InsaneDavid]

For all the Tengen information you'll ever need, click the link in my signature and read my "Titles of Tengen" column in Retrogaming Times Monthly - every title has been covered as the final game, Gauntlet, will be next month. Go back through the archives and check them out.

As has been said, the cases are different because they were unlicensed - some Tengen games were licensed in addition to the unlicensed versions however and they were revised into the normal NES cartridge shape. Tengen games don't seem unlicensed because they work like a normal NES cartridge, without the override switch on the back, or the resetting and load delays that Wisdom Tree games for example have. This is because Tengen reverse engineered and cloned Nintendo's 10NES lockout chip, creating their "rabbit" chip.

[Speedy_NES]

some Tengen games were licensed in addition to the unlicensed versions however and they were revised into the normal NES cartridge shape.

Weren't the licensed games revised into unlicensed carts rather than the other way around? That's what I always understood since the licensed carts are some of Tengen's first releases.

[Perkar]

For all the Tengen information you'll ever need, click the link in my signature and read my "Titles of Tengen" column in Retrogaming Times Monthly - every title has been covered as the final game, Gauntlet, will be next month. Go back through the archives and check them out.

As has been said, the cases are different because they were unlicensed - some Tengen games were licensed in addition to the unlicensed versions however and they were revised into the normal NES cartridge shape. Tengen games don't seem unlicensed because they work like a normal NES cartridge, without the override switch on the back, or the resetting and load delays that Wisdom Tree games for example have. This is because Tengen reverse engineered and cloned Nintendo's 10NES lockout chip, creating their "rabbit" chip.

InsaneDavid: the list of tengen reviews only has 13 games... 14 with Gauntlet. but i know there's at least 20 games... off the top of my head i can think of Skull & Crossbones, and the 3 RBI Baseball titles...

[Blitzwing256]

InsaneDavid: the list of tengen reviews only has 13 games... 14 with Gauntlet. but i know there's at least 20 games... off the top of my head i can think of Skull & Crossbones, and the 3 RBI Baseball titles...

don't forget zybots

[InsaneDavid]

some Tengen games were licensed in addition to the unlicensed versions however and they were revised into the normal NES cartridge shape.

Weren't the licensed games revised into unlicensed carts rather than the other way around? That's what I always understood since the licensed carts are some of Tengen's first releases.

It went both ways. Some games began their life as licensed titles and for a few games other publishers licensed the content from Tengen and then were able to publish the games legally under Nintendo.

InsaneDavid: the list of tengen reviews only has 13 games... 14 with Gauntlet. but i know there's at least 20 games... off the top of my head i can think of Skull & Crossbones, and the 3 RBI Baseball titles...

Just noticed that the archives page isn't up to date, I'll let Adam and Alan know, here are some direct links...

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was looked at in issue #21.

Skull & Crossbones was looked at in issue #22.

RBI Baseball (and mention of the later games, but since they aren't direct ports of an arcade game they weren't fully revied) was looked at in issue #23.

NES Tengen games...

After Burner ----------------------------------------DONE (#02)
Alien Syndrome---------------------------------------DONE (#12)
Fantasy Zone-----------------------------------------DONE (#17)
Gauntlet (Licensed)-------------------------------PENDING (#18)
Gauntlet (Unlicensed)-----------------------------PENDING (#18)
Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom (Licensed)--------DONE (#14)
Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom (Unlicensed)------DONE (#14)
Klax-------------------------------------------------DONE (#04)
Ms. Pac Man------------------------------------------DONE (#03)
Pac Man (Licensed)-----------------------------------DONE (#06)
Pac Man (Unlicensed)---------------------------------DONE (#06)
Pac Mania--------------------------------------------DONE (#07)
RBI Baseball (Licensed)------------------------------DONE (#16)
RBI Baseball (Unlicensed)----------------------------DONE (#16)
RBI Baseball 2---------------------------------------DONE (#16)
RBI Baseball 3---------------------------------------DONE (#16)
Road Runner------------------------------------------DONE (#09)
Rolling Thunder--------------------------------------DONE (#13)
Shinobi----------------------------------------------DONE (#08)
Skull & Crossbones-----------------------------------DONE (#15)
Super Sprint-----------------------------------------DONE (#01)
Tetris-----------------------------------------------DONE (#05)
Toobin-----------------------------------------------DONE (#10)
Vindicators------------------------------------------DONE (#11)

don't forget zybots

Xybots was never officially released so it will not be part of the series.

[Cambot]

I just realized that this would be a neat little sub-collection:

To own each of the Tengen games.

[InsaneDavid]

I just realized that this would be a neat little sub-collection:

To own each of the Tengen games.

Someone around here did it, all complete copies.

[idrougge]

Exactly what was the relation between Sunsoft and Tengen? Several games have been released or programmed by both parties (especially Sega titles), yet the games look different. I haven't had time to look into that myself, yet.

[CRV]

Exactly what was the relation between Sunsoft and Tengen? Several games have been released or programmed by both parties (especially Sega titles), yet the games look different. I haven't had time to look into that myself, yet.

There obviously was some deal going.

Japanese After Burner II (though the packaging says After Burner) and US After Burner are essentially the same, but the JP version has improved graphics and sound (i.e. voices and better title screen music).

Both Fantasy Zones are pretty different.

Alien Syndrome (programmed by Sanritsu) is the same on both sides of the Pacific, minus the opening on the US version.

[InsaneDavid]

Japanese After Burner II (though the packaging says After Burner) and US After Burner are essentially the same, but the JP version has improved graphics and sound (i.e. voices and better title screen music).

Yeah, the Tengen After Burner NES game is an odd middle ground between After Burner and After Burner II.

[CRV]

Yeah, the Tengen After Burner NES game is an odd middle ground between After Burner and After Burner II.

It seems like it's a beta of JP After Burner (II).

[Jumpman Jr.]

I just realized that this would be a neat little sub-collection:

To own each of the Tengen games.

Someone around here did it, all complete copies.

I have all of them. But not complete, They're all loose in my collection .
And to asnwer your question of why the Tengen carts are in different casings than ordinary lisenced Nintendo ones, well that's easy: Specifically so you can destroy the tips of your fingers trying to pull the damn things out of your toaster NES.