d8thstar Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 i just submitted news... i have found a Thwocker prototype at a thrift store... more news and digital pics to come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindfield Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 It's just amazing what some people will give away without any thought as to its real worth. The conspiracy theorist in me is inclined to think that somewhere out there, an eccentric ex-Atari employee with a closet full of rare prototypes, unreleased games and other such goodies is travelling around the US randomly seeding thrift stores with items that, to the untrained eye, look completely innoccuous and even worthless, but for those that know what to look for, are as good as bars of gold. Call him Fuji Claus... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 No offense but I'll believe it when I see it. I've seen more than my fair share of prototype hoaxes lately. Here's to hoping it's real... Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atari70s Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 Hi, I hope its true you found a real copy would be nice but im waiting on the pics and seeing what they look like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d8thstar Posted August 7, 2001 Author Share Posted August 7, 2001 hi all, i can understand the hesitation. i have just emailed a screen shot and albeight blurry label pic (i am recharging the digital camera today at work, batteries were weak last night) to tempest.... suffice it to say, the "unknown game #2" under activision listing with the comment "could this be thwocker?". well, it isn't.... if anyone would like to IM me, my screen name is also "d8thstar". i'll be on all day while at work.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 Hmm... I wonder what Unknown Prototype #2 is then? I didn't mean to make it sound like your trying to lie to us or anything, it's just that there have been a few ***** out there lately who have been posting hoaxes to screw with peoples heads. I've become weary of anyone posting new prototype finds. Of course no one believed me at first when I said that Crack'ed for the 2600 had been found either. So how do you know it's Thwocker? Does it have a title screen? Can you describe it a bit? Are you planning to have it dumped? And the msot important question of all: How much do you want for it (I can dream can't I)? Tempest [ 08-07-2001: Message edited by: Tempest ] [ 08-07-2001: Message edited by: Tempest ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d8thstar Posted August 7, 2001 Author Share Posted August 7, 2001 the only reason why i say its thwocker is because of the handwritten label ""C 1983 Activision Inc. Thwocker TM Confidential 1/19/84 PR #001" The label is intact (no screw holes) so i would assume that the chip inside is what was put in it originally.... i am headed to work. tonight, i will take a small movie of it with the digital camera and would be happy to submit to you tempest and to this site. unfortunately, there is NO title screen. again, i am going by what the label says.... if this is truly thwocker, any ideas what this might be worth? please email me at work, tonys@remedy.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 If the label says it's Thwocker than I don't see any reason to doubt it. I'm really curious to see what the game is like. I wonder who the programmer was? As for value, I'd say it's worth $5 and you should sell it to me . No dice? The real value is hard to say since tZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d8thstar Posted August 7, 2001 Author Share Posted August 7, 2001 hi all, thanks to everyone for the kind words so far! i am at work at the moment but i would like to submit a short QT movie of the gameplay tonight so that everyone can see! i only played for about a minute or two last night and didn't really get a feel for the game, more to come tonight (promise!). i'm still realing from this find and don't quite know what to do at this point! i will be selling this cart off and would love to release a dump to the community but i also dont want to degrade the value by doing so. i really dont want to sound greedy with that comment but i am financing a trip to europe and if the potential buyer doesn't want a dump released, i will abide by their wishes (i certainly hope that will not be the case, i would love to be remembered as the guy who released this to the community!). so, ANY feedback is most certainly appreciated as to what i should do next! once agin, thanks all for the feedback so far... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco(2) Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 Hi Tony, Here's what you could do: only sell it to someone that promises to release the ROM. That way, there's no worries about decreasing the value (even though I don't think there's actually any sane collector out there that actually believes that a dump will reduce the value of the actual prototype). As for its value, carts like these will most likely fetch $1k+ Cheers, Marco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klove Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 Tony, We'd like to see the ROM if at all possible. Needless to say, we will return it to you as well. Please email me at KLOVE@ACTIVISION.COM Many Thanks, Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted August 7, 2001 Share Posted August 7, 2001 Any idea who the programmer is? Would any of the ex-Activision guys at the CGE know? Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Stilphen Posted August 8, 2001 Share Posted August 8, 2001 The programmer was Charlie Heath. Tim Duarte interviewed him for the 2600 Connection (this was first mentioned in ish #34). According to Heath, the game was about 80% complete, sometime in 1984, and is best described as Joust with musical instruments. Tim has been trying to get permission from him to release the ROM for some time, as he has the only known copy (until now?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted August 8, 2001 Share Posted August 8, 2001 Really? So it's not one of a kind after all (two of a kind?). Well if Mr. Heath won't release his rom maybe the owner of this prototype will? But is that against his wishes or does he simply not have time to dump it himself? Any other unknown prototypes we should know about? Do you know what that other mystery Activision prototype is? Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d8thstar Posted August 8, 2001 Author Share Posted August 8, 2001 hi all, no worries. being the fan that i am of classic gaming, i will be releasing this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
videotwit Posted August 8, 2001 Share Posted August 8, 2001 All I have to say is "Congrats!" That's the find of a lifetime, and I can't wait to see the pics! (I've gotta move to California) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atari70s Posted August 8, 2001 Share Posted August 8, 2001 you know all wheni get fed up with my thrift shop ( told me they might stop carrying atari ) somethign liek this happens well a question to all where do you go when the only thrift shop in NJ closes its doors from atari. besides going to Howell NJ 1hr away any other ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JL Posted August 9, 2001 Share Posted August 9, 2001 d8thstar, Great find. From California? I have always been of the opinion that the better know something is, the higher price it will fetch. Without a dump out there, few will remember the proto after this month.... Best of luck for you sale, JL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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