8bitarcheologist

No one has explained this dumping procedure to me so I have no idea what you are talking about or how this could benefit anyone- I have no idea what ebay's policies are on prototypes - I did not even know I had one until a few days ago and - now it appears that I do not - so I guess it does not matter what their policies are. I would not fraudulently list it as a prototype as you are suggesting - you obviously do not know me. I am not into intentionally ripping people off - In fact if you look at what has transpired here -I have been more than open about the game where it came from, what I paid, my ignorance about its worth monetary or otherwise, and have even jumped hoops like taken the game apart and posted pics - I suppose none of this sharing accounts for anything. When I used the term archeologist in my name it was because I like to go out there and find the stuff it has nothing to do with what your personal beliefs are - Indiana Jones sold the relic's he brought back and most real archeologists get PAID to do what they love- no difference here. I bought these games to play and enjoy - if they turn out to be an investment opportunity for me well then that is great for me. I would not donate an original picasso if I could get 2.3 million for it, would you? Your assumption or should I say prodding to get me to dump it or else you won't consider me kind - whoever you are is a laugh and a joke. Maybe I will keep sitting on it like I have for four years.

Couldn't someone have removed the sticker from the cart and from the Eproms? Or just taken the board from the lab without the stickers and put it in a generic box for their own personal use? Is it possible that the stickers on the EPROM could have gotten brittle from heat and come off, with that in mind maybe the original case got damaged and someone put the chip minus the stickers that had fallen off the EPROMs in the original case in this case. I mean all we are talking about as far as a difference between a genuine prototype and a copy are stickers. Are there no other giveaways that separate the two? Someone else told me if it was a true prototype it could sell for as much as $500 that is a pretty significant difference from $100 when we are talking about whether or not some stickers are present. There are many scenarios that could explain how this game could be a genuine prototype without its stickers. Is there anyway to know for sure outside of the wheter or not the stickers are present? Thank you... 932360[/snapback] The EPROM's are 100% clean, no residue, sorry but I have seen too many. 932364[/snapback] Thanks I know you are more knowledgeable than me in this area - and probably right. There just appears to be a window for error in a situation like this. And you did say earlier if you could view the chip you could be only 99% sure. Besides knowing that you and Mr. Reichert have confirmed that it is a true proto board, I still do not feel any better or less off than I did before when I did not want to open it. All in all it matters not, like I said originally: I am auctioning it off on ebay Saturday (9/17/05). Hopefully I will get the $2.00 I paid for it back. It is still a rarity no matter what it is, it is not like it is a pac-man or Q*bert's Qubes that anyone could have gone out and purchased at the store. From what I have heard and read over the last few days this game was never for sale in that capacity. I am sure it will make a nice centerpiece or edition to someone's collection, or if for nothing else it will give its new owner bragging rights over thier gaming buddies. I am confident that it will be the first Atari 2600 Sinistar to grace Ebay's auction boards. I have owned, played, and enjoyed the game - how many can say that? Best Regards and again thank you for all of your time, efforts, and insight...You are most certainly a credit to the gaming community. With much admiration and respect, Jason

Couldn't someone have removed the sticker from the cart and from the Eproms? Or just taken the board from the lab without the stickers and put it in a generic box for their own personal use? Is it possible that the stickers on the EPROM could have gotten brittle from heat and come off, with that in mind maybe the original case got damaged and someone put the chip minus the stickers that had fallen off the EPROMs in the original case in this case. I mean all we are talking about as far as a difference between a genuine prototype and a copy are stickers. Are there no other giveaways that separate the two? Someone else told me if it was a true prototype it could sell for as much as $500 that is a pretty significant difference from $100 when we are talking about whether or not some stickers are present. There are many scenarios that could explain how this game could be a genuine prototype without its stickers. Is there anyway to know for sure outside of the wheter or not the stickers are present? Thank you...

I got a supercharger one time in a box full of atari stuff. What is it for? What does the cable go to? These may be a stupid questions but I am a novice collector, actually more of a player than collector. I just held on to it because it obviously fit into the cartridge slot. I figured I would find out what it was someday. Please enlighten me.

All I can say is, open that cart before you do so, it looks like a copy to me and not a lab-loaner. If it has a hacked up production PCB with a bunch of wires and a small "floating" chip in it, it's a Hozer copy. If it has a t-shaped PCB, with a bunch of small chips and 2 socketed EPROM's inside, it may be a proto or a Best Electronics copy. If you'd be willing to take a picture of the inside and post it here, I can probably tell you with 99% certainty, what kind it is. 932042[/snapback] Greetings CPUWIZ, Against my better judgement I opened the cart took pics and got it back together and it still works fine. - I have just had my doubts of wheter or not to do this - I just did not want to damage the game or shoot myself in the leg over it - no one will probaly want it if it's a copy and everyone will if its a lab version - I figured let the winner have his hay day or fall - with nothing on my conscious either way as I really do not know - I have decided to make a decision that I will feel good about and hopefully not regret. It fits your second description as it has a T-shaped board and it 5 chips (inscriptions below). This is how they appear in the pic: Top Left: B8330 (Note there are two wavy line one atop the other prior to the B) NMC2532Q Middle: Same as above Bottom Left: 74LSOON 8238 SB (Note the S is a weird variation of a normal S, kind of squared) Top Right: SP235*A+ (Note there are two wavy lines one atop the other prior to the S) DMZ74LS30N Bottom Right: SN74LS138NDS M K8238 (Note the M is enclosed in a circle) On the board itself: (on top) it has an inscription: CO17782 REV 4 (note I am calling the top what you see in the first pic with the chips) On its reverse/bottom (2nd pic) are three inscrpitions: 1) CO17782 REV 4 2) ADL - 1 94VO 3) 07103 (note this number is enclosed in a rectangle) Also note that the way I have set up the inscriptions some number sets below the others on the same chip: this is how they appear. On a side note this cart. is noticeably heavier than most my other carts. the only one that feels close in weight is Burgertime. I hope this does not end up to be disheartening. Thank you again for you time and efforts - you opinion is greatly appreciated, Jason Also I added some other pics to a previous comment on this feed. The color was off on my TV when I took the original pics - the new ones are much more colorful and probably more represenative of its true graphics. The TV is however close to 20 years old, so bare that in mind.

Like Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Halloween?

That sucks - I used to love going there every weekend and to the other one just up the road about another 15 minutes on the left (I got Xonox singles: Robin Hood and Sir Lancelot there as well as Tax Avoiders) that one might still yeild some finds. My wife hated that one you say burned, she will probably be happy to hear that. I got a lot of good stuff there - Once I picked up two table tops Q*bert and Atari Football for $75 each and they worked mint. I think that place used to be an old drive-inn theater back in the day. I will miss it.

Nice score!! Would you be willing to let someone dump the ROM so it can be determined how complete it is? 931901[/snapback] Sorry I do not know what that means - All I can say is it is exactly like the 1/4/84 version on atariprotos.com - see my response to the Sinistar article on the home page - I was going to auction it off this weekend on ebay. 932035[/snapback] Are you sure it is? Because I played it extensively (got 745k on it, cuttle cart 2), and the colors are different. So, unless you are using a PAL tv, I suggest getting it dumped by Tempest. 932044[/snapback] I am sure that the graphics and the description matches - all the ships and the set up of the game looks the same as the 1/4/84 version and the description is the same: firing left while the ship is pointed right - being bombarded right off the bat by enemy ships that are practically right on top of you but cannot seem to hit you, no title screen - you are thrown right into the action. I do not think the colors are a arguable issue, TVs just appear different sometimes - The one the pics were taken on I got in the mid 80s when I was still in high school - now its just used for my games. I can assure you if I put the system on the flat screen TV in the family room it would definently appear different -Technology changes. I do not know what a PAL TV is, I think that is some European deal, but I am fairly sure mine is not. I will consider your "dumping" idea once I have more information about what it is and how it is done. Thank you for your interests.....Jason I took another look at my TV and all the color knobs were over to oneside - I am sure my 15 month old son is the culprit - I took a couple extra shots with the color adjusted. This is still the old TV so it may not be quite as stimulating as the one on atariprotos. Is this more acceptable?

That is hillarious, I do that too -buy extra carts so the good one does not stand out- Nice grabs on Glib, crazy climber, and pirate harbor rescue - all great finds!!!!

that's the same guy i got coke wins from...lol...i saw the sinistar and didnt pick it up...glad it made it into someone's hands who aprreciates it...d.m. 931923[/snapback] Awesome - small world - you must have been there just before me - good thing you were cause' I would have picked that one up too - Glad to hear it went into a true collector's stash.

I love it!!!! Nice score!!!!

Nice score!! Would you be willing to let someone dump the ROM so it can be determined how complete it is? 931901[/snapback] Sorry I do not know what that means - All I can say is it is exactly like the 1/4/84 version on atariprotos.com - see my response to the Sinistar article on the home page - I was going to auction it off this weekend on ebay.

It is on the left hand-side of Cobb parkway on the outskirts of Marietta heading towards Kennesaw. I think it is called the 41 flea market after Cobb Pkwy - Hgwy 41. Nice grab on the Q*bert's Qubes - I got mine in trade at a flea market for two commodore vic 20 games that I paid a dollar for about 20 minutes earlier. I am currently auctioning off my Q*bert's qubes on ebay - but it has not sold yet.

I know everyone out there enjoys the hunt for those elusive games and accessories. What is your great find? What did you pay? Where did you find it? I love to hear how someone got over on a seller who had no idea what they were selling or just happened upon a great find. I am hoping these stories will generate momentum to push us all out there to find and dig up more. They are out there. -Here is mine: I was recently introduced to atariage.com by someone on ebay. I was thinking of selling some of my games and was monitoring the sales of several titles: I saw Q*bert's Qubes sell for $212.50 and that made me want to sell mine, which is in auction right now, anyway this guy wrote to me and said I should go to atriage.com to get an idea of rarity. Well I started reading some of the articles and almost fell out when I came across the one about Sinistar. Here is where the story really begins: I was at a flea market in Marietta, Georgia about 4 years ago and came across this guy selling a bunch of atari games for $2 each. He had about 20 that I didn't so I decided to buy them - I got some great games like crazy climber but will not go off topic- He had a small box of games that were missing their labels one had a makeshift label on the side that said Sinistar - I figured it was not for real and almost did not buy it. I literally walked away - but then started thinking: so what for $2 I try it - Guess what it was Sinistar. Well I was happy to get the game and played it quite a bit but it has been boxed up for quite sometime - I have moved since then. Man when I saw that article and it was like I just found it all over again but my joy was like 50 fold. I was so siked that I decided to reply to the article even though it was a month old. What is your great find?????

I agree with most of the comments - I too remember seeing atari memorbilia everywhere but now it is just absent. I never had much luck at pawn shops, but even the flea markets and thrift stores are drying up. There are probably a few pack-rats out there with their systems still in their closets from like 15 years ago whose kids will probably find them when they die and put it out in a yard sale but that will no dount be a low percentage. Unless you get outright lucky, you will most likely be at the mercy of other collectors to fill the holes in your collections. I have seen several lots on ebay that were worth it but you have to take on like 99% duplicates to get the one you want and the single games - at least the ones I am looking for are a far shout from the 1 and 2 dollar yard sale carts of the past.