Are these prototypes?

[R.Cade]

I have collected carts from thrift stores and other places for a couple decades now. As I am getting older, kids growing up, and wanting to move to smaller home, I have started to go through all of it.

 

Are these prototype Donkey Kong cartridges? Promotional copies? Just an odd label variation? They don't look like anything I have found on eBay searches...

Edited November 9, 2013 by R.Cade

[Crimefighter]

I'd say promo copies.

[Bruce Tomlin]

Looks like they both used cut-up mailing labels. It's even possible they were cut from the same label, though the top of the left one was cut off to center it better.

[Tempest]

They're actually test cartridges. These labels were used on cartridges that were used to test Atari systems in the service centers. There's also a Pac-Man version.

[R.Cade]

Thanks Tempest. I did open them and they appear to be mask ROMs on a purple circuit board, and are identical. Fortunately it's one screw and the metal part slides off, so no damage to the labels or anything.

 

Not sure how I ended up with them... I guess a dealer dumped their stuff in a thrift store sometime in the 90's.

[Tempest]

Thanks Tempest. I did open them and they appear to be mask ROMs on a purple circuit board, and are identical. Fortunately it's one screw and the metal part slides off, so no damage to the labels or anything.

 

Not sure how I ended up with them... I guess a dealer dumped their stuff in a thrift store sometime in the 90's.

I have one or two myself. I think Best or B&C might have been selling them at one point because they seem too common to have only come from service centers.