Atari 2600 - Asterix Prototype

[atarimind]

Hi - I bought this more than 15 years ago. Never opened until today.

 

The only thing that I new that it was a PAL version since when I plugged it, the screen rolled (and works great in PAL/NTSC TVs).

 

So, I went ahead and open it to find out if it was a true prototype or not. Below are the pics, and some questions:

 

(1) Is these a real prototype

(2) Anyone has more background on this release bits. Anyone is keeping record of this?

(3) How rare is this cart? And what is the price given that is a PAL version?

 

Thanks

 

[Shawn]

I have no clue what monetary value it would have but it's a real proto that much is for sure.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

It nicely fits into the gap of the protos already known (see AtariProtos).

[Rom Hunter]

That´s a genuine prototype.

Would be nice to know if there are any differences between this one and the final release.

 

The value also depends on the differences.

[Mayhem]

Yep, that's real, matches the one I own (albeit mine is NTSC).

[vcsrocks]

Nice

[atarimind]

Thanks. I think I have some good news (hopefully).

 

First let me give you some background. In the early 2000, I was an active Atari collector. I got this through a flea market seller. At one point on my life, I put everything in boxes, and re-opened these some months ago. I always thought that this was a PAL version but now I have some real doubts.

 

This is what i found out:

(1) I have TVs that have several input input options: AUTO, PAL-N, PAL-M, and NTSC

(2) I have my TV set as "AUTO"

(3) When I insert ANY Atari NTSC cart in AUTO it works. It also works under NTSC. Under PAL-N and PAL-M it shows the typical issue.

(4) When I insert this prototype cart in AUTO it does not detect it as NTSC. But when I manually put this as NTSC in the TV, it works. It does not when it put it as PAL. I tried this in TWO different TVs. Same thing.

 

I have uploaded this to youtube.

 

See the following videos:

and

 

So I guess that this is NTSC, right? Why is the TV under "Auto" does not detect this but it works under "NTSC". Thoughts?

 

Now the fun part. I tried the Easter egg under Taz. And I got the "Woita Wave". I went to Atari protos and it said that it was not coded in the Asterix.

 

See here:

 

Thoughts?

[atarimind]

BTW - Anyone knows can can dump this? I am from South America but will be in the Bay Area in a couple of months.

[Rom Hunter]

Now the fun part. I tried the Easter egg under Taz. And I got the "Woita Wave". I went to Atari protos and it said that it was not coded in the Asterix.

 

See here:

 

Thoughts?

 

 

It was programmed in some prototype versions of Asterix (it appeared instead of the CRAZED WAVE messages).

 

Edited May 5, 2018 by Rom Hunter

[Tempest]

I was finally able to review this and found three interesting things:

 

1. It's PAL

2. It's missing the Goscinny-Uderzo copyright on the title screen

3.  The Woita Wave easter egg is present and changes the apples into apple cores!

 

http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/asterix/8183.htm