How Much Would YOU Pay?

[Tempest]

Assuming you had the oppertunity to purchase a one-of-a-kind unreleased Atari 2600 prototype, how much would you pay?

 

Tempest

[Albert]

Depends on the game, but I have paid over $1,000 for unreleased prototypes in the past. It gets more interesting if it's a game you have not personally had the opportunity to inspect and you don't even know if the game works. But if there's a good chance it's a legitimate prototype, I think it's worth taking the risk to release the game to the community so everyone can enjoy it.

 

I can certainly understand that some people think paying that much for prototypes is insane. But we're in a unique position to make unreleased prototypess widely available so people can enjoy them, and we've done that many times in the past over the years. So far I haven't ended up with any dud protos.

 

..Al

[~llama]

Does this have any connection to the meltdown thread in the 2600 forum?

 

kinda seems like it

[Tempest]

Does this have any connection to the meltdown thread in the 2600 forum?  

 

kinda seems like it

 

Inspired by, but not directly related.

 

Tempest

[~llama]

ah just wondering

[Marco]

I have five one-of-a-kind protos for sale people, so let's have it

 

Cheers,

Marco

[MattG/Snyper2099]

I voted for $700 but that is a certainly a maximum. There are only a few "unreleased" games I'd be willing to pay this much for.

 

I also wanted to add that once a game is released by either atariage or DP or whoever, it isn't worth much more than a couple (or few) hundred dollars in my eyes. So, I'm assuming when you ask this question you meant unreleased in the sense of either "lost" or "hoarded".

 

I really can't see anyone paying over $300 for a proto that has seen any type of "release" but I may be crazy.

[Breakpack]

Where's the $10 option?

[Brad2600]

I'd pay up to $300 for a prototype.

 

That is, if I had a job.

[MegaManFan]

Where's the $10 option?

 

And the $50 option.

[keilbaca]

If i had a job that paid more, i'd pay over a grand... but i don't and i'm stuck in the military for another 2 years... so until then my cap is 500.

[Albert]

I also wanted to add that once a game is released by either atariage or DP or whoever, it isn't worth much more than a couple (or few) hundred dollars in my eyes.  So, I'm assuming when you ask this question you meant unreleased in the sense of either "lost" or "hoarded".

 

I really can't see anyone paying over $300 for a proto that has seen any type of "release" but I may be crazy.

 

I think this comes down to individual collectors' tastes. For me personally, the rather unique nature of prototype hardware, *especially* games for which only a handful of prototypes exist (or just one!), makes them pretty valuable in my eyes. Even after a proto is dumped and copies are made and sold, that original hardware is still one-of-a-kind and quite valuable in the eyes of someone who enjoys collecting prototypes.

 

Granted, I know there are people who will pay less for a prototype once it has been dumped and released (such as yourself), but there are still plenty of individuals who'll sink large sums of money into getting those unique, *original* copies of the prototypes, and that competition will often cause the prices to skyrocket.

 

..Al

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Where's the $10 option?

 

And the $50 option.

I suppose $100 means: more than the usual few $$$ and <=$100

[MegaManFan]

Okay then, that's what I voted for.

[nesman85]

I can't believe so many people voted for $100 or less. It's an unreleased, one of a kind proto. I can't imagine anyone passing it up for a few hundred if they have even the slightest knowledge of prototypes. there's only ONE of these in the entire world and you wouldn't pay more than $100 for it (or not even $100 for some people)... oh well, I just can't understand it.

[+Nathan Strum]

For me it would depend entirely on what the prototype was. Is it playable? Is it interesting? Is it from a mainstream company?

 

If it was something like the McDonald's prototype, I wouldn't waste any money on it. That's completely useless.

 

If it was a prototype for a completely unreleased game, and it was nearly complete and playable (ie. a real game vs. just a technology demo), then I'd probably be willing to shell out some money for it. But again, it would depend on who I was buying it from, where I was buying it, etc.

 

For example, if it was Pink Panther, Charlie Brown or Rocky & Bullwinkle, I'd clean out my bank account for it.

 

If it was for Data Age's unreleased "Craplock" prototype (the little-known third game in their "games that end with 'lock'" trilogy), I'd go as high as $50. Maybe $100.

 

I'm not one to part with money lightly.

[Tempest]

I'm actually amazed at the two people who said $3000+. Assuming these people were serious, that's a heckuva lot of money! I can't see myself shelling out that kind of dough unless it was for one of those holy grail games like Cloak & Dagger or SQ: Airworld.

 

Tempest

[atari70s]

if it was something really one of a kind and if i really liked it maybe 500$ but i voted 300$ cause thats all id be willing to spend. but if it was somethign REALLY good then maybe up to 500

[Atarinvader]

It's all kind of dependent on what a collectors budget can afford, I know I'd really love a nice unreleased proto in my collection, if not only for Kudos - and let's be honest it's the main reason why people want them - but also for the thrill of having something that was never intended to be played by the masses.

 

If money was no object then $1,000 + easy, but as things stand; money for food for me is enough right now.

[birdie3]

How about $8.50 for the PCB and $1.50 for the EPROM. Maybe $10 or $15 for the person's time and troubles to burn me a copy of the original. That's about it..

[Lemmi]

well atleast i voted for the leading vote getter

 

you all are CRAZY

[Philflound]

My friend paid the $1000 for the Ewok Adventure. I don't think I'd go higher than $500 on a one of kind. I'm poor though. If I hit the lotto, I'd pay anything.

 

Phil

[Radio F Software]

I picked 100 because that is the lowest denomination of money my mum would let me spend on a one of a kind game.

[mynameistom22000]

I said 300$ because, well, I would rather not have a proto, I would rather have a dozen or so completed games to play. Even if it was one-of-a-kind, I wouldnt want to spend too much. If I did get one,I would have no means to dump it or what not, so i would probably trade or put it up for auction.

[atari70s]

i retract my 500 limit and would like to change that to 1000 alex.