447 replies to this topic

[high voltage]

Don't tease me to open it :-)

Here ya go:




Although I see many Activsion games with different coloured boxes, eg Chopper Command, Dragster...etc

[Philflound]

Thanks.

[Rom Hunter]

Added.

Thanks!

[Philflound]

Added Spider Fighter purple box. It's weird that when I open this in Roxio Photosuite, it's coming out strange dimensions. I just took Rom's copy off his site. That copy does it too. It's wide and flat. I have no idea, but at least it looks normal on the site. I just can't modify the photo with Roxio.

Phil

[krypton85]

I found a variation of hangman. Let me know what you think.

Version 1:



Version 2:



And here are the differences I see:

[Philflound]

I think you have a good eye. This is the type of variation like the Centipede, which is a picture shift, in this case either it went left or right. I actually hate this type of variation and here is why. If you look at the Centipede description, I put 3 versions of the picture shift, which technically there are more. Sometimes I come across an inbetween version, which I usually make a call and categorize it as I see fit. For example, if you look at Centipede, I have the arrows on the segments. The right two, which mention a bit of green showing and no green showing sometime have an inbetween version where there is a tiny fraction of green showing. If I measured each and every fraction of a millimeter, I can probably come up with 6 or more versions of just this alone.

I'm in strong favor of putting your Hangman as a variation, though I may try and see what I own to compare with yours and each other if I have more than one. Here is what points I would actually make, two of these you didn't point out.

1. Strongest argument for a variations: top photo - monkey's thumb under "r" in controllers, bottom photo - monkey's thumb under "t" in controllers
2. The tree branch above and to the right of the "Y" in monkey: top photo - branch touches edge of picture, bottom photo - branch doesn't touch edge of picture
3. Product number covering the "T" in Beast - top photo you can see left side of "T", bottom photo "C" in "CX" covers left side of "T"

Those are probably the strongest point you need to make and should be sufficient. My problem is are there other variations where there is an inbetween version to these two, or one even more drastic moved to the right or left? Let me see what I have and we'll put something up.

Phil

[krypton85]

I think most of the PicBl games have some sort of picture shift, it's less common in the PicSil games. Some are more noticeable than others I think because of reference points in the image. The less reference to the logo and CX numbers and border, the less you're going to spot it. Space Invaders is prime because of the moon in the upper right corner, None of mine match the website, there must be 20 slight variations. I would love to see some error labels, where something went seriously wrong and it slipped past QC.

[krypton85]

Here is another for the list:



The left hand one seems shifted down, belt buckle touches the bottom, and the rainbow bar ends in green on the right hand side. Same uppercase orange end label.

The date code on the left is 19 4, the one on the right is 17 4. It looks like the one on your site is 17 4, and matches with the right hand one I have. The left hand one is the variation.

Edited by krypton85, Fri Feb 24, 2012 3:41 PM.

[Philflound]

krypton85, on Fri Feb 24, 2012 3:40 PM, said:

Here is another for the list:
rotl.jpg


The left hand one seems shifted down, belt buckle touches the bottom, and the rainbow bar ends in green on the right hand side. Same uppercase orange end label.

The date code on the left is 19 4, the one on the right is 17 4. It looks like the one on your site is 17 4, and matches with the right hand one I have. The left hand one is the variation.

This is a simple version of the buckle touching the bottom of the picture. Again, I hate this particular variation because all you need to do is take a large lettered end label and glue it to the main label of one with the belt buckle touching. Not to say that you did this, but it's easily manufacturered. Sometimes you'll see in my listings, "this can be made" with the variation. That's why I'm cautious when adding variations like these because unless you find it from a personal collector, you'll never really know someone just didn't take an extra end label and just pop it on any Raiders cart that was missing its end label.

I take 3 things into consideration when making the decision on adding a new variation.

1. I have multiples of the variation, so most likely these are factory made.
2. Other collectors also have the variation, so it lends credibility.
3. I get a collection from an original owner, with original boxes, and there are no duplicates. Chances are the cart is original.

Phil

Edited by Philflound, Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:15 PM.

[Schizophretard]

I agree that he has a good eye and I consider those types of shifts as legit variations. The inbetween variations you talk about I find sometimes. I definitely see them in my Air-Sea-Battles. I like the inbetweens and shifts because you see more of the art. When you line them up it gives the appearence of frames in a film and makes it look like a video camera is moving. That makes the pictures feel more real.

[Philflound]

I'm not sure of the printing process, but it probably makes sense that the interior picture was printed first on the label, and then the black or silver was put around it. That would explain why it could be shifted. If you could remove the black or silver exterior, you probably would see a bigger picture. Just a guess. The Space Invaders is a good example of how many variations could exist on the moon itself. But most of what I've seen fit close to what has been described.

Phil

[krypton85]

Sometimes it's a zoom factor, as with raiders of the lost ark. The one where his belt touches the bottom, his hat also touches the top. It's zoomed a little more than the other one.

[Philflound]

I'm not talking about the zoomed in versions, those are obvious. I'm talking about the regular picture that looks shifted.
Phil

[krypton85]

Found this glaring Sears Pac-Man variation:





And a Stellar Track with double main and end labels: (large image)

[krypton85]

Here are more detailed pictures of the cartridge mold variation:
Both pole positions have the labels of version g) on your list, but have different cartridge molds.

Also, I have a pole position version e) that is a cart2





The 7800 games I have that also have this variation are:
(linked to my 7800 variation list)

Hat Trick (ver b)
Ms. Pac-Man (ver b)
Pole Position II (ver b)
Xevious (ver b)

Edited by krypton85, Sun Feb 26, 2012 11:09 PM.

[Rom Hunter]

krypton85, on Sun Feb 26, 2012 10:51 PM, said:

And a Stellar Track with double main and end labels: (large image)

stellartrackdbl-m.jpg

stellartrackdbl-e.jpg

Interesting.

I wonder what label is underneath.

[Philflound]

Rom Hunter, on Mon Feb 27, 2012 3:05 AM, said:

krypton85, on Sun Feb 26, 2012 10:51 PM, said:

And a Stellar Track with double main and end labels: (large image)

stellartrackdbl-m.jpg

stellartrackdbl-e.jpg

Interesting.

I wonder what label is underneath.

My guess is that they just double labeled this. It is uncommon to see, but it does turn up from time to time.
Phil

[krypton85]

I broke down and purchased a purple box spider fighter. Hell $9.99 +$4 for shipping isn't bad. Also picked up Motorodeo for $15... Glad I didn't jump on them earlier. I'll take spider fighter out of the box and check it's label when it arrives. (could take up to 4 months!)

[Philflound]

Cool. The Spider Fighter becomes especially important for Rom since he puts the exact cartridge with the box. He'll ask you for scans of the cart and then also let him know NTSC or PAL.

Phil

[Rom Hunter]

Thanks, Krypton.

4 months?

[krypton85]

Quoting the auction:
"America
Surface: $4. Takes 3-4 months."
for $30 it was 3-5 days, but I'm a patient guy and screw paying an extra $30..

[krypton85]

I thought I was getting a breakout with a green end label, but it turns out it was blue marker over the yellow end label.

I decided to take a chance on this one too:



Hopefully it's not blacked out with marker and is an actual error label with no white text... I'll know in a week or so.

[krypton85]

A couple manuals to add to the list.

Football: ©1979, black, C011402-25 on back, 6 pages (folds out), 4" x 6.5”, Printed in USA, Rev 2


Combat: ©1986, black, C019741-01/A on back, 8 pages, B&W, 4.1" x 6.75”, Printed in Taiwan, Rev 3 (K. I. 3. 1988 on back)


Basic Programming: ©1986, black, C019741-20/A on back, 24 pages, B&W, 4.1" x 6.75”, Printed in Taiwan, Rev 2 (K. I. 8. 1986 on back)


The first section of the football manual is the only thing different between Rev 2 and Rev 3: