Colecovision homebrew availability list

[nanochess]

Hi everybody.

 

Just I've finished most of the Colecovision Homebrew Availability list, currently covering only CIB releases.

 

I'm surprised by the length of the list (I though there were a lot less games) and that some cartridges that looked like sold-out are in fact available.

 

Enjoy it!

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/206287-colecovision-homebrew-availability-list/

 

P.D: I'd appreciate errata advisement, info and updates.

[+Ransom]

Do the various CV homebrew publishers generally only offer each title only once, and when it's sold out it's gone forever? Or are some of them republished from time to time?

 

There are some games that I missed that I would buy down the road if they were offered again, but I'm reluctant to buy them on the secondary market.

[Pixelboy]

Do the various CV homebrew publishers generally only offer each title only once, and when it's sold out it's gone forever? Or are some of them republished from time to time?

 

There are some games that I missed that I would buy down the road if they were offered again, but I'm reluctant to buy them on the secondary market.

 

I'll be offering some additional new copies of several of my past games between December 25th 2012 and January 31st 2013. Then in February I will manufacture enough copies of each game to satisfy this short-term demand, and afterwards, all my past games will be truly and permanently sold out. Perhaps I'll produce a couple of extra copies of each game during the February run, just in case I get some requests from late-comers afterwards, but we're talking very small quantities.

[+Ransom]

I'm glad you'll be offering them one more time!

 

Not being familiar with the process for publishing a cartridge -- what makes it impractical to offer all your titles, all the time (or at least regularly/periodically)?

[nanochess]

Luc, I think I could put a label 'BATCH' for your selected games in my list and link to the thread were you will offer your games.

[Pixelboy]

Luc, I think I could put a label 'BATCH' for your selected games in my list and link to the thread were you will offer your games.

 

The "BATCH" idea is good. The thread you're talking about will be created on December 25th.

 

To be offered between December 25th 2012 and January 31st 2013 (same prices as already listed):

 

- Gulkave

- Pitfall II Arcade

- Track & Field

- Destructor SCE

- Circus Charlie

- Star Force

- Golgo 13

- Ninja Princess

- Bank Panic

- Konami's Ping-Pong

[Pixelboy]

I'm glad you'll be offering them one more time!

 

Not being familiar with the process for publishing a cartridge -- what makes it impractical to offer all your titles, all the time (or at least regularly/periodically)?

 

There's actually a variety of factors to consider, and it would take me a long time to explain it all, but suffice it to say that making limited-run batches is a lot easier to manage than making copies on demand.

[+Ransom]

There's actually a variety of factors to consider, and it would take me a long time to explain it all, but suffice it to say that making limited-run batches is a lot easier to manage than making copies on demand.

 

Fair enough.

[+5-11under]

I'm glad you'll be offering them one more time!

 

Not being familiar with the process for publishing a cartridge -- what makes it impractical to offer all your titles, all the time (or at least regularly/periodically)?

 

I think a lot of it has to do with economies of scale (http://en.wikipedia....nomies_of_scale)...

 

Assembling one unit at a time is very slow, because of set-up time, re-learning, and clean-up. If you can make 20+ units in one "batch", for instance, those tasks only need to be done once, and efficiently goes up.

 

The printing of labels, instructions and especially boxes is also done in batch mode. You order a batch, and that's what you have to work with, until you order another batch. The key is to order the correct number, which isn't easy. Order too many, and you have leftover expensive inventory. Too few, and you may need more... but then if you just need one or two more, the economies of scale come into effect again, and you'll be paying a lot of money.

 

As an example, I just ordered some PCBs for a non-videogame related product... Ordering 2 units would cost about $100. Ordering 20 units would cost about $200. Ordering 100 units would cost about $300.

Edited December 10, 2012 by 5-11under

[Pixelboy]

5-11under summed it up very well. There are things I would like to add:

 

- All my games up until this point have been outsourced, software-wise. When I negotiate a publishing deal with the guy who handles the software, the deal is usually for a specific number of copies. This simplifies negotiations, and it also encourages a single-batch production.

 

- Glueing boxes, having manuals and cart labels printed by a local print shop, ordering electronics, assembling carts, etc. is all very time-consuming work. If I do this on demand, then these activities will take up most of my free time throughout the year! And then I won't have time to work on the next lineup of games!

 

- Printing a single manual at a time (at my local print shop) can be rather expensive. I get better per-unit prices if I order a large batch of manuals. Economy of scale, as 5-11under said.

 

- I have to order a minimum of 150 boxes (from the printer company in Germany) for each game. If I order this minimum, then I'm limited to 150 copies of the game afterwards. If I want to make more, I have to order another 150 boxes with the same box template. There's not always enough demand for a game to warrant another print order of this magnitude. This is another factor that limits the number of copies and discourages on-demand production.

[retroillucid]

I would say both 5-11under and pixelboy summed it up

 

 

 

[+Ransom]

- I have to order a minimum of 150 boxes (from the printer company in Germany) for each game. If I order this minimum, then I'm limited to 150 copies of the game afterwards. If I want to make more, I have to order another 150 boxes with the same box template. There's not always enough demand for a game to warrant another print order of this magnitude. This is another factor that limits the number of copies and discourages on-demand production.

 

This would probably be the biggest stumbling block for anyone. Not knowing how popular a given item will be over time, you can't, say, assemble 2 or 3 years' worth of a given game all at once to save time (assuming one's willing to invest in the inventory and someplace to store it). But if you later print a second run, you're betting another 150 people will purchase it. Not a good bet most of the time, I'd guess. So you're stuck between a rock and a hard place.

 

Makes sense.

[sqoon]

Will Pac Man Collection ever be available again?

[+grips03]

Will Pac Man Collection ever be available again?

 

there is one on ebay right now, but I think Eduardo will release again, else the rom can be played on the Atarimax SD cart

[nanochess]

The "BATCH" idea is good. The thread you're talking about will be created on December 25th.

 

To be offered between December 25th 2012 and January 31st 2013 (same prices as already listed):

Ok! I'll be checking to get it ready at most by night of Christmas

[ColecoDan]

there is one on ebay right now, but I think Eduardo will release again, else the rom can be played on the Atarimax SD cart

 

I am pretty sure that was why he finally gave the rom out because he is never going to make them again. He has had them available forever. Your best bet is buying from ebay or using the rom. The link to the one on ebay it is that expensive because it is a yellow cart. If you wait until a regular black cart shows up it will be much cheaper.

[NIAD]

As ColecoDan stated the Yellow Cart variation, which was the original release color of the cartridge shell, is a lot rarer and more valued amongst collectors... hence the higher asking price by the seller. There were a total of 80 of these yellow cart shell versions made while there are about 220 of the less expensive black cart shell version.

 

Everything else about the two variations (box, manual, label, etc.) is identical.