Common Variants, Game Listings, and Condition?

[Aamp]

Hey, I don't know much about games and variations, learning as I go but I have Super Breakout ©1978, sliding cartridge C2 with 264 indented on the end label (26th week, last week of June '84?) and couldn't find this style of cart for this game on any list - saw C1 and C3. It's actually my only C2 cart so far. Is this one listed anywhere?

 

Also, I picked up 4 games before I even got a console to play them with at a thrift store, all commons (R2) in like-new condition, with manuals, but no box. Should I be playing these? They're probably not interesting or worth anything but they've been so well preserved for some reason

 

Anyway, these are my noob questions for today. Thanks!

[Mirage]

Should you be playing these? Yes. That's what they were made for! You won't do any harm to them just playing them, if you're not careless with how you handle them.

[Aamp]

I wanted to play with them in the sandbox . Cool, thanks. I'm careful with my games, plus I have the Harmony cart now which I wasn't even thinking about. Arrived today

[Mirage]

Yeah, I usually just use the Harmony, but occasionally I'll pull out a real cart, just... well, just because I guess... for that same feeling as I had when I was a kid!

 

Sorry, can't answer your variant question, I have no idea what those are specifically (now if you had pictures, maybe). I usually keep significant variants when I come across them, but don't get all hung up on them. There's enough unique carts and other items to collect without worrying about trying to get each variant of something!

[shadow460]

Philfound is the go to guy for label variants. Atari made games with three styles of carts. IMO, the first style is the best, as it keeps the contacts uber clean even to this day. I've never seen date codes make a big difference in the game's value; they just kinda help us determine how long or how many productions runs a particular game had.

Oh, I'd think that more damage would be done to a game by NOT playing it. We're still not talking about a lot of damage, but if it's left unplayed in a hot area or in direct sunlight, it'll develop actiplaque over time. If it gets played regularly, it'll get moved around and any plaque will be caught before it covers the whole label.

Edited February 2, 2013 by shadow460

[accousticguitar]

There was a thread a while back where date codes were used to determine the approximate date that Atari changed Asteroids to a different version.

[Aamp]

I like the locking style best too . Didn't see it here, or anywhere, and just wondered if it was maybe a limited run before Jack or something:

 

http://www.atariage....variations.html

 

Super Breakout CX2608

 

Black ©1978, C1

Black ©1987, C3

Black ©1988, C3, orange letters, M: "use with paddle controllers"

line missing

Black ©1988, C3, E: light pink letters, M: "use with paddle

controllers" line missing

 

No C2, that's all. But I learned some neat stuff