Creating Labels and boxes for ATARI 2600 games ?

[Lord-Chaos]

I´ve seen that some guys made own labels and own boxes that look really good.

 

My question is : how difficult is this and how can you make cartridge labels that look like originals ?

 

I mean I have and old inkjet printer and labels and boxes would never look "original".

 

Do you use color laser printers (which are incredibly expensive) for it ?

 

Thimo

[moycon]

I just use my Epson Stylus Photo 785EPX printer to make lables.

They run about $100-$150.

The results look pretty darn good.

I've never made a box though.

[ATARI TROLL]

Nice work!

[Lord-Chaos]

I just use my Epson Stylus Photo 785EPX printer to make lables.

They run about $100-$150.

The results look pretty darn good.

I've never made a box though.

 

I have an Epson Stylus Color 800 , this is a 6-year old inkjet printer , but I use it because it works with every system I have (even the ATARI 800 XL).

 

Do you need special paper to get this results and what can you do to protect the ink ? If you touch it on normal paper , it may be damaged.

 

Thimo

[sku_u]

I've heard from many people who make boxes that doing so is extremely time consuming.

[Marco]

I find the idea that someone could make a rare cart from scratch very worrying. Replacing dead chips, torn labels or boxes and adding lost manuals all appears to be very do-able, if you just have the equipment, time and mindset to do it.

 

How about a run of ultra rare Beagle Bros carts? Bring a dead Bomb cart back to life? Create an Atari brand BMX Airmaster box? I have no idea if this is already happening, but I know it's alll possible.

 

I must say I'm glad I got most of my games, especially the rare ones, a couple of years ago, when the knowledge and equipment to manufacture all this wasn't available to the general public yet...

 

Cheers,

Marco

[charin]

Hi Marco,

 

Unfortunately, I already found in a local flea market a Brazilian Imagic cart with a very unusual label... When I come back to home I checked it and the label was actually printed by someone with a laser printer, over a red paper. The glue side of the label was very white and clean for a 18-year old cart... And the cart was not working too.

 

Best regards,

 

Sergio

 

 

I find the idea that someone could make a rare cart from scratch very worrying. Replacing dead chips, torn labels or boxes and adding lost manuals all appears to be very do-able, if you just have the equipment, time and mindset to do it.  

 

How about a run of ultra rare Beagle Bros carts? Bring a dead Bomb cart back to life? Create an Atari brand BMX Airmaster box? I have no idea if this is already happening, but I know it's alll possible.  

 

I must say I'm glad I got most of my games, especially the rare ones, a couple of years ago, when the knowledge and equipment to manufacture all this wasn't available to the general public yet...    

 

Cheers,

Marco

[MegaManFan]

In my mind, Beagle Bros. carts are phony to begin with, so a reproduction of one is virtually the same thing. In fact, wherever those carts came from, they probably had an EPROM burner no different from what the cart makers right here on AA use.

 

And so, we've come to the point where the naysayers are going to boo and hoo and go "Poor me! My one-of-a-kind ultra-rare mail-order-only obscure cart manufactured by XXX that I paid $2,000 for isn't going to be worth anything any more because anybody can make one for $20!" So? Nobody held a gun to your head and made you pay $2,000 for it, and nobody said that investing in Atari carts was a sure thing either - if you got into it to make money or get a return on your investment, you better talk to Bad Azz and Snoop Dogg cause I think you got the "Wrong Idea."

 

I think it's just damn selfish to think that other people wouldn't want to play Quadrun on their Atari 2600 given a chance to, without having to spend $400 on ePay to get one. I'm not ashamed of the fact I own a reproduction, I'm proud of it. That $380 I saved bought me a lot of other enjoyable games: Wall Ball, Beamrider, Cosmic Commuter, Thrust+, This Planet Sucks, et cetera. Would I like to own an authentic Quadrun? Some day, perhaps. But since I'm a collector +and+ a gamer, I'll settle for being able to game on a copy if I can't afford the real thing.

 

Personally, I'm guessing that the market for reproduction carts is just like the market for big ticket rarity carts - really small. As such I don't think the five or ten people who own a reproduction Quadrun can make an impact on the other 10,000 copies that exist. Furthermore, it doesn't change the fact that anybody who has one knows it's the real deal with the real chip inside, and that's still worth 90% of what you paid for it to a collector who wants one; maybe even 120% if you're lucky and the eBay Gods are smiling down on you the day it closes if you decide to sell. If you don't sell though, then it has only one true value - the value it has being plugged into your 2600.

[sku_u]

 

I must say I'm glad I got most of my games, especially the rare ones, a couple of years ago, when the knowledge and equipment to manufacture all this wasn't available to the general public yet...    

 

Cheers,

Marco

 

When I was in HIGH SCHOOL some 15 years ago, I had the equipment to make an exact replica of a driver's license if I wanted to. It was available in the technology room. The technology's been there from the get go. Don't kid yourself. There are all sorts of tricks to age items enough to fool even the experts.

 

I'm with Megamanfan on this one. Even if I could afford to pay $2000.00 for a video game, I wouldn't kid myself into believing that it is a meaningful investment. Reproduction carts can be spotted from a mile away. Most forgers are not going to invest the time needed to put together a forgery good enough to fool the so called experts because it's not cost effective.

 

As for Beagle Bros. carts, they are as valuable as any other reproduction cart, including modern reproductions. If someone gets tricked on one of those, they get what they deserve.

 

As for the notion that reproductions diminish value, it's very doubtful. Having more ORIGINAL carts available then there are collectors interested in them affects value. The average collector who wants to actually play the games will not pay $400 for one game even if they can't play it as a reproduction or emulation because they simply don't have the money/interest to spend that kind of money.

[Marco]

And so, we've come to the point where the naysayers are going to boo and hoo and go "Poor me!  My one-of-a-kind ultra-rare mail-order-only obscure cart manufactured by XXX that I paid $2,000 for isn't going to be worth anything any more because anybody can make one for $20!"  So?  Nobody held a gun to your head and made you pay $2,000 for it, and nobody said that investing in Atari carts was a sure thing either - if you got into it to make money or get a return on your investment, you better talk to Bad Azz and Snoop Dogg cause I think you got the "Wrong Idea."

 

I think it's just damn selfish to think that other people wouldn't want to play Quadrun on their Atari 2600 given a chance to, without having to spend $400 on ePay to get one.  I'm not ashamed of the fact I own a reproduction, I'm proud of it.  That $380 I saved bought me a lot of other enjoyable games: Wall Ball, Beamrider, Cosmic Commuter, Thrust+, This Planet Sucks, et cetera.  Would I like to own an authentic Quadrun?  Some day, perhaps.  But since I'm a collector +and+ a gamer, I'll settle for being able to game on a copy if I can't afford the real thing.

 

I'm not sure if this came as a reaction to my post, but if it did, I'd like to say sorry for the apparent negative feelings that resulted from my post, and point out two things.

 

I never mentioned anything about value. I don't collect to invest, I collect because it's fun. But I defenitely want to get the real thing, not because they are more valuable, but because it's more fun and a bigger challenge. Note that getting the ultra-unusual goodies isn't just about spending money.

 

I also never mentioned anything about reproductions. I was talking about the possibiltity that nowadays it's all too possible to produce something that looks like the real thing, but isn't. Reproductions are made for a completely different reason and have nothing to do with this issue, if you ask me.

 

Cheers,

Marco

[Marco]

Most forgers are not going to invest the time needed to put together a forgery good enough to fool the so called experts because it's not cost effective.

 

It has happened in the past and it's still happening. Wonder why we so often discuss the authenticity of prototypes on these boards? Apparently, for some it is worth the investment, and even if they cannot fool the experts, fooling the not-so-well-informed might be less of a problem.

 

Anyway, perhaps I'm too pessimistic and we have nothing to worry about. I sure hope so

 

Cheers,

Marco

[sku_u]

 

Anyway, perhaps I'm too pessimistic and we have nothing to worry about. I sure hope so  

 

 

As do I!

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Anyway, perhaps I'm too pessimistic and we have nothing to worry about. I sure hope so  

In such a large collection as you have, I would bet there is at least one unrecognized fake.

 

But which one?

[Marco]

Must be Thrust+!

 

... oh wait, I don't even have that one yet

 

Cheers,

Marco

[ATARIPITBULL]

Don't worry Marco, neither do I!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

On the idea of making fake 2600 games, I have been wondering for a while now how long it will be before some piece of dirt start's doing this? Game like Quadrun, Glib and others, I for one am very afraid.

 

[minorleagueguy]

Be real people, Don't kick yourself in the pants, I would think that if someone were to start selling so called "rare" games, everyone here would pick up on it right away...... we are better than that...

 

 

 

minorleagueguy

[MegaManFan]

True, if anybody suddenly tried to unload five or ten Glibs, Waterworlds, and Eli Ladders on ePay, I think we'd all get pretty suspicious. There have been cases of people trying to "sneak one in" though, such as a Glib reproduction that was pictured in a lot of mostly common carts being sold with a 2600. CPUWIZ caught it and warned everyone though. I'm not saying it can't happen, but that's always a risk when you buy big ticket items. How many fake Warhols and bogus Mickey Mantle signatures have been sold over the years? I'd hate to even think about it.

 

Marco, just so you know, I didn't mean that to sound like a personal attack on you. I'm more attacking the idea that reproductions (which you may not have specifically mentioned but certainly implied with the words "making fake carts") harm the hobby. If they are sold as reproductions to people who keep them in their private collections and don't attempt to pass them off as the real thing, they harm nobody. Some repro makers don't even put labels on their carts for this reason, although anybody with a decent printer can still make one of their own. If a label is too perfect though, that's automatically suspicious. To make a fake look authentic you'd have to scuff it up a little and artificially age the paper, maybe even have the glue on a corner peel up. Even so, there are enough people on this site who know what the inside of an authentic rare cart looks like that if you were ever really worried, you could send it to them to have it "appraised" and any fakes would eventually in this manner be discovered.

 

It all comes down to caveat emptor in the end (let the buyer beware). If you think a deal is too good to be true, don't take it. If you don't know the seller well and don't think they're reputable, don't take it. Never be afraid to read someone's feedback profile or ask around from trustworthy sources (on or off AtariAge) about their credibility. And if you spend more than $300 on a cart, fake or not, you're rolling the dice anyway.

[Marco]

Steve,

 

I want to assure you that I had not thought about reproductions for a second when I was posting what I did. I was talking about the possibility of fake carts being sold off as the real thing. To me, reproductions are not fake carts. They aren't made to be sold as the real thing. I wasn't stating or implying anything else.

 

Please don't think I consider anyone who does not own a real Quadrun game to be a lesser person. I would consider his collection to be less complete, but a collection does in no way make the man.

 

Cheers,

Marco

[MrRetroGamer]

Be real people, Don't kick yourself in the pants, I would think that if someone were to start selling so called "rare" games, everyone here would pick up on it right away......   we are better than that...

 

That may be true, but what about the people who DON'T know any better, those that are not AtariAge members and who do not read these boards. A perfect example was pointed out in the eBay forum right now - a seller has listed some 5200 reproduction carts that were from his own collection that he is now liquidating. WE ALL know better, but the seller is intentionally vague in his description and will most likely take advantage of an unsuspecting buyer, selling his "Rare 5200 Game. This would make a great addition to any 5200 Collection." That's all he says! That's the same as lying in my book.

[Marco]

Even so, there are enough people on this site who know what the inside of an authentic rare cart looks like that if you were ever really worried, you could send it to them to have it "appraised" and any fakes would eventually in this manner be discovered.

 

Absolutely, yet that's unfortunately not always how it works. At least, not right away. Best "protos" are still being sold, prices are still substantial. Are they real or fakes? Also, not every buyer comes here, knows where to find information, not every game is sold through eBay etc. And I can imagine it's not just games, it could also be rare boxes, manuals and replaced dead chips.

 

It all comes down to caveat emptor in the end (let the buyer beware).

I guess that's all I wanted to say

 

Cheers,

Marco

[Thomas Jentzsch]

And if you spend more than $300 on a cart, fake or not, you're rolling the dice anyway.

IMHO that's the point! The more money is involved, the more likely you will attrackt people who just want that money.

[MegaManFan]

Steve,

 

I want to assure you that I had not thought about reproductions for a second when I was posting what I did. I was talking about the possibility of fake carts being sold off as the real thing. To me, reproductions are not fake carts. They aren't made to be sold as the real thing. I wasn't stating or implying anything else.

 

Understood. Again, if it came off like I was personally offended at you or ripping you a good one, I apologize - that's not my intent then or now. In fact truth be told, I like you a lot, and I think you're a very reputable collector - you're one of the few people I'd trust to buy a big ticket item like Tooth Protectors from.

 

Please don't think I consider anyone who does not own a real Quadrun game to be a lesser person. I would consider his collection to be less complete, but a collection does in no way make the man.

 

Cheers,

Marco

 

I agree, but I think some people (perhaps not you) who have invested big amounts of money in their games might be touchy about other people owning reproduction carts of the same game at a tenth the price. Personally though I take no offense to anybody who wants a cheap Waterworld, Glib, or Crazy Climber, since I think what I spent on the real thing in each case was +slightly+ insane. If I ever had to sell them, I'd pray to break even, but I'm not counting on it; and since I don't plan to sell unless I'm in really dire straights, I'm not worried about it.

[Marco]

/me gives Steve a hug

 

Cheers,

Marco

[Lord-Chaos]

Reproductions of games are nothing new.

 

In the 80s/early 90s Salu reproduced many of the Activision carts , like Pitfall or Hero.They also did CBS carts.

 

But these carts were no identical copies.Usually white or blue label carts , the manual is "cheaper" than the original.But they did it officially , had the licence.

 

HES made some games with color labels,but looking different from the originals AND they used plastic boxes.

 

It was always easy to say that the games were not the original early-80s version :

 

Activision carts look not the same,are lighter,white or blue label.

CBS carts have another color and usually black and white label

Imagic carts were in 1-color boxes instead of silver (green Laser Gates box for example) and carts are white label

Most games by HES were in plastic boxes

 

There were no reproductions of really rare games.I have Beamrider and Private Eye , but both cannot be called rare as PAL versions.

 

And it never was a problem - Salu/HES had bought the copyrights.

 

Selling 1:1 reproductions of rare games as the original games is criminal.

 

Thimo