9 replies to this topic

[LevitasVeneficas]

I've got a possibility of buying a decent collection of Atari 2600 cartridges and one of them is called Music Maker. Now I checked the rarity guide and it comes up as "P" or as we all know prototype. Now does anyone know how much a prototype is worth? Specifically Music Maker NOTE: rarity guide says the full name is Grovers Music Maker, but the seller just notes it as Music Maker. I was really hoping it was a typo and it's really MUSIC MACHINE!!! but I have yet to check the cartridges out for myself as the buyer lives a bit of a distance away (can't waste gas unless it's REALLY worth it)So any information on prototype rarity worth, or specifically Grovers Music Maker would be GREATLY appreciated!!! I will continue my search and will let the forum know if I've come to a conclusion, thank you all!

[horseboy]

Being an unreleased prototype it might be worth a couple of hundred or more to the right person. However a more likely scenario is that it is in fact a Best Electronics reproduction version. That version is worth about $20-30.

[nathanallan]

If the price is right for the collection I would say go for it. Heck, you'd be getting a collection not just a console or a couple of carts. What's the asking price?

[CPUWIZ]

nathanallan, on Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:41 PM, said:

If the price is right for the collection I would say go for it. Heck, you'd be getting a collection not just a console or a couple of carts. What's the asking price?

Sounds more like a free appraisal to buy, then sell to me.

[LevitasVeneficas]

horseboy, on Wed Aug 25, 2010 2:41 PM, said:

Being an unreleased prototype it might be worth a couple of hundred or more to the right person. However a more likely scenario is that it is in fact a Best Electronics reproduction version. That version is worth about $20-30.

How would I be able to tell the difference?

nathanallan, on Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:41 PM, said:

If the price is right for the collection I would say go for it. Heck, you'd be getting a collection not just a console or a couple of carts. What's the asking price?

$100 for a decent amount of games, this one however stuck out the most to me.

CPUWIZ, on Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:46 PM, said:

nathanallan, on Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:41 PM, said:

If the price is right for the collection I would say go for it. Heck, you'd be getting a collection not just a console or a couple of carts. What's the asking price?

Sounds more like a free appraisal to buy, then sell to me.

What does it matter why I am asking for the information? This is a community of people that like to discuss Atari games and products, trying to "call" me out on my motives is irrevant. If I want to buy and sell whatever I want what do you care?

[A.J. Franzman]

I think the easiest way to tell the fake Best Electronics Lab Loaner "prototype" cartridges from the real thing are: A) the labels have square corners, and B) Best only used two different dates in the white area. Note that some of the Best cartridges are a real original Atari EPROM circuit board in a new or used case with a new bogus label, so "sort of" authentic. But AFAIK, all of the ROM binaries of those versions are publicly available anyway, so you'd be paying a premium just to get that circuit board.

[LevitasVeneficas]

Well it turns out that the Music Machine/Music maker was actually a cartridge for the texas instruments commodore gaming machine...bummer. Thanks for the replies though guys, I really appreciate it!

[nathanallan]

LevitasVeneficas, on Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:41 PM, said:

Well it turns out that the Music Machine/Music maker was actually a cartridge for the texas instruments commodore gaming machine...bummer. Thanks for the replies though guys, I really appreciate it!

Are you kidding? That's still a great thing! So it isn't rare and sought after, I'd still consider it. Anything from the 1980's or before is worthy of due consideration, even TI!

Also, could you please elaborate on what exactly is a Texas Instruments Commodore Gaming Machine?

Edited by nathanallan, Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:21 AM.

[LevitasVeneficas]

nathanallan, on Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:20 AM, said:

LevitasVeneficas, on Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:41 PM, said:

Well it turns out that the Music Machine/Music maker was actually a cartridge for the texas instruments commodore gaming machine...bummer. Thanks for the replies though guys, I really appreciate it!

Are you kidding? That's still a great thing! So it isn't rare and sought after, I'd still consider it. Anything from the 1980's or before is worthy of due consideration, even TI!

Also, could you please elaborate on what exactly is a Texas Instruments Commodore Gaming Machine?

Sorry I misread the carts, TI COMMAND MODULE is what they are. Plus they're only the games I don't have the console so why would I want them if not to play them? I understand to collect them but unless they're rare what's the point of collecting it (in my opinion)

[nathanallan]

You could always trade them away for the things you do want, or outright sell them.

If it's in the lot, why not?

Feel free to quote me