+madman Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 I just recently completed my complete Lynx retail collection, I know there is a lot of debate about the Telegames releases and if they count or not. I've also seen debates about certain PCBs not being legit and being homemade burns. First off, sorry for the garbage pic, it was taken in low light with a point and shoot, but these were all purchased from the original owner in the UK. I also got Bubble Trouble from him that is on a Telegames branded PCB. I've seen the version of Raiden I have as being called out as fake, but it uses the exact same PCB as Hyperdrome which came in a bag with a Telegames sticker and with my CIB Krazy Ace. The Raiden version also comes in the exact same Made in the UK case as my Fat Bobby. Just wanted to throw this out there as I have no reason to believe these are not original releases, though the quality of the Raiden cover art is garbage. Now it's on to tracking down the remaining "big box" versions I need as well as cart variants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Oh, c'mon. Uncertainty and debate is one of the best things about Lynx collecting! The only people who could tell you if you have 'complete' retail Telegames titles work at Telegames, and they don't like to talk (or probably don't know themselves). Seriously, I've bought the same title from both the U.S. and UK stores and have received different boards and packaging. I'm pretty sure that the US store started slapping together random parts at the end, and there are probably lots of neat variants out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+madman Posted February 8, 2014 Author Share Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) Even though I now own all these games, I still debate if they should count as official retail releases. I find it hard to believe retail stores sold Hyperdome in baggies. IMO if it's not in cardboard Atari box, it's not official. This is the only reason I tracked down Krazy Ace. But I'm open to discussion! Edited February 8, 2014 by madman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
108 Stars Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Well, Telegames sells the games, they were official Atari licensees. What they sell is official. Sure they are cheap and sell stuff in cheap packaging and on PCBs, but that doesn't change that it's official. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GadgetUK Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 What still hasn't been answered is:- Is the Telegames Raiden any more complete than the version you can download (or buy off EBAY like I did). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high voltage Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) Even though I now own all these games, I still debate if they should count as official retail releases. I find it hard to believe retail stores sold Hyperdome in baggies. IMO if it's not in cardboard Atari box, it's not official. This is the only reason I tracked down Krazy Ace. But I'm open to discussion! Telegames Atari's 32 in 1 cart for VCS, Atari 32 in1 cart for VCS, Telegames version official. 1st version of Bubble Trouble came in the Telegames clamshell too. Edited February 8, 2014 by high voltage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
108 Stars Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 What still hasn't been answered is:- Is the Telegames Raiden any more complete than the version you can download (or buy off EBAY like I did). As I heard: YES. The version you can download is full of glitches and crashed when I played it in level 1. The Telegames version works, though I don't know if it is 100% complete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 It's missing the in-game music. The game is also quite difficult on the Lynx, so I don't know if any of the higher levels are missing. Most of Telegames releases seem to be games that Atari had basically completed in '92 or '93, but had shelved (probably due to poor quality and/or entertainment value). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
108 Stars Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) I wouldn't say that. Atari never shied away from publishing low quality stuff. If Atari cancelled stuff it was more likely due to manufacturing cost (EotB) or the shrinking demand. And Double Dragon, Desert Strike and Raiden all belong to the better Lynx games and probably were promising from a sales perspective, much more so than Super Asteroids & Missile Command, Gordo or other stuff they did release. Had those games been Atari's work, I think they would have released those rather than other games. With Telegames having been around as developer and publisher since the 80ies I believe that at least some of the good games could very well have been developed by Telegames in the Lynx' lifespan. But they were late to the party and Atari pretty much stopped the Lynx business altogether in 94. My guess is Telegames just had bad timing. They could still get some stuff produced in authentic curved lip style (remaining stock?), but had to switch to PCBs and cheap packaging soon when they realized how small demand was. Maybe they did pick up some lackluster unfinished games to sell, but there is little doubt in my mind that they simply continued with what they planned while the Lynx was still alive. They may be cheap, but they were a legitimate 3rd party publisher who probably just continued to serve a small niche. Edited February 9, 2014 by 108 Stars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX.NET Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) After some searching I came up with the following images for Telegames variants (part 1): This includes double pictures, to get a better overview. Desert Strike: Fat Bobby: Raiden: Krazy Ace Minature Golf: Bubble Trouble: I'll do the rest tomorrow Edited February 9, 2014 by LX.NET 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
108 Stars Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) So, there actually is an original style Lynx card of Desert Strike... interesting. Fits my theory that they produced those as long as stock of parts lasted. I guess I should order Double Dragon soon if I want an original style card. Edited February 9, 2014 by 108 Stars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael David Morsette Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Nice pics, that info is really nice to haven on hand. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmillortoni Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Really interesting topic, and very nice pics. I've got the Telegames' variation of Warbirds, here you are! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
108 Stars Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Wow! I hope DerLuchs is reading this, we really need a competent source for this stuff, and his (sadly only German atm) website would be a good place. So Telegames even rereleased games that were originally published by Atari? I never knew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmillortoni Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Yes, I remember that Telegames has re-released not only Warbirds but also at least one or two more games formerly published by Atari. Sadly, I can't remember which of them. Anyone has the answer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Harlow Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 (edited) I got some Warbirds in baggies direct from Telegames (trade) a couple of years ago... even had one returned to me as not original ... Then I picked some up in proper boxes... Raiden, Warbirds, Krazy ace all came originally in proper boxes, whether you can find them now.... another story Good Luck with your hunting Edited February 10, 2014 by Nick Harlow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX.NET Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Yes, I remember that Telegames has re-released not only Warbirds but also at least one or two more games formerly published by Atari. Sadly, I can't remember which of them. Anyone has the answer? That must be Checkered Flag and Casino. See next post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+madman Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 I've never seen a Raiden in a cardboard box, does anyone have a photo of that? I was also unaware that Warbirds was re-released in a jewel case. My Bubble Trouble is the clamshell like the first one pictured, I can take a pic of it this week with the cart to add to this list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX.NET Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 As promised some more pictures: Hyperdrome: Checkered Flag: Casino: Warbirds: Regular curved releases: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX.NET Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 (edited) I also found some more variations of previous ones. One Desert Strike variation in my own collection (black TSOP PCB) and a green PCB Raiden. Carefully pealed off the sticker to show the TSOP EPROM. It is like a floating EPROM that only has a sticker protecting it at both sides (front/back). No PCB to protect it. PCBs like these seem cheap copies to me: Edited February 10, 2014 by LX.NET Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX.NET Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I've never seen a Raiden in a cardboard box, does anyone have a photo of that? I was also unaware that Warbirds was re-released in a jewel case. My Bubble Trouble is the clamshell like the first one pictured, I can take a pic of it this week with the cart to add to this list. EricDeLee has been a creative boy one day: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/176422-my-raiden-box/ Some goes for Tempest2K: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/173030-raiden-cover/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX.NET Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 (edited) Going from this post:http://atariage.com/forums/topic/141573-the-definitive-lynx-cart-variation-list/ I made the following list. Green is verified from the pictures above. Orange is not proven. Check the post above to see which PCB version is which. If that is unclear I can explain. If you think that a variation is missing or incorrectly listed as verified (from the pictures in this post) feel free to show evidence. Please point out mistakes as well. Edited February 10, 2014 by LX.NET 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Harlow Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 nice work. LX.Net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
108 Stars Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 (edited) LX.NET, I never imagined you had such a collection. This is definitely beyond what my friend means by a complete collection: Every game released in one version.^^ Seriously, we should think about cataloging all those variants. There is no comprehensive collector's guide for the Lynx, with its relative obscurity so much seems to be forgotten. Maybe DerLuchs could really add a collectors-section to his website where all the games and variants can be listed with photographs. I am always for something like that, especially if it is not my work. I am surprised they rereleased Lynx Casino. Seriously, that game sold so well it warranted a second run? Also, the games you believe are bootlegs probably are. The AvP cart is a dead giveaway. There is no way on earth anyone got the permission to publish that, especially not with the limited sales you can expect from a Lynx demo. Hollywood studios don't give permissions for 1000 $ or something in that league. And with the Alien and Predator franchises both involved you would need permission for both, and the original developer can't just give that. I don't believe there are any official AvP cards out there, and neither do I believe that a company like Telegames, which is not a giant but large enough to have been publishing games for more modern systems would sell anything unlicensed. Small shops can do that, but when you deal with Nintendo & co you watch for your reputatio. Edited February 10, 2014 by 108 Stars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX.NET Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 LX.NET, I never imagined you had such a collection. This is definitely beyond what my friend means by a complete collection: Every game released in one version.^^ I hope I didn't give the wrong impressions. I do not own each cartridge as depicted. I merely looked through my picture archive and also did a fresh search across the internet and the AA forums. You can see which ones are mine: it is the 1+ MB photographs taken on a whitish plastic cover with a lot of boxed games underneath (like the Desert Strike pictures I reported last). I did a whole photoshoot the past couple of days to capture the interesting stuff from my collection and will post those soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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