Cartridge Repros - Request for interest

[Mux]

Hi everyone!

So I had a company draw up a quote about creating reproduction cartridges. While the cartridges themselves are dirt cheap (about 50 cents/piece), the mould and shipping is what makes it come to (roughly) $5k for 1000 pieces. Is there any interest in me going forward with this? Ideally, I'd increase the run to 2000 or more but I would really need to be sure I can sell them :-)

Thoughts?

-Mux

[+Gemintronic]

Are there enough O2 fans, repro makers and new game publishers to support a $5k purchase?

 

I wonder if you could have a new cart design that has a bottom end separate from the main shell. The bottom end would come in different forms for each classic system: Coleco, Atari, O2, etc.. The bottom end would snap onto the main body.

 

With niche markets like retro gaming the more potential customers (and systems) the better.

[Mux]

The O2 is a niche system for sure. There are quite a few home-brews though but all devs tend to canibalize carts which is a bit unfortunate IMO. As for your idea, you'd need to make sure that it would accommodate different size PCB's as well.. The 7800 PCB *just* about manages to fit into a standard 2600 by utilizing the original plastic tab cutouts..

 

-Mux

[Mux]

Anyone? Anyone interested? If not, recommendations for cross-posting on other forums (already posted on videopac.nl) would be appreciated. I really would like to get this off the ground but can't spot the entire amount up front...

[LS_Dracon]

Would be great if you have a way to produce brand new cart shells.

The problem, 5k is like sell 100 carts at $70 ($20 for the production costs, $50 for pay the injection mould).

It is difficult to sell that much in a short period of time.

But you can sell the empty carts for homebrew producers, which helps a bit.

[Mux]

Actually, it'd be $5/cart and, if there's enough demand, the price goes down to about $3/cart. Most of the cost is in shipping and the upfront cost of the mould. If you wanted to go all-out, you'd probably (again, in volume although a lot lower) come to about $10 for COG's (cart, pub, eprom, inlay and printed box).

[bah]

Actually, it'd be $5/cart and, if there's enough demand, the price goes down to about $3/cart. Most of the cost is in shipping and the upfront cost of the mould. If you wanted to go all-out, you'd probably (again, in volume although a lot lower) come to about $10 for COG's (cart, pub, eprom, inlay and printed box).

The supply of carts in the wild has dwindled for me but I still find groups of commons for around $4 each or under and I re-use the game pcb and metal dust cover. At this price it is hard to justify the new shell which will require a new pcb too.

I also followed your path and drew up a new case in CAD and approached a local molder that had connections with Chinese tool makers. The costs were similar so I chose to not do it.

Have you contacted 2600connection, (timdu on these forums)?

[ozyr]

Nice thing about repro carts:

- no need to cannibalize older carts (these are for collectors).

- biggest thing (as I see it), no need to remove labels from old carts (this is a pain in the ass, period).

- at $3-5, the price is just fine.

 

- if this is a true repro, there are already PCBs designed for this.

 

 

I would be curious as to how this would be done? Mr. Mux, PM me if you'd like. I need more details.

[timdu]

I don't think I would be interested. I am fine with utilizing existing Odyssey² cartridges just as I have been doing since 2012.

 

Also, the market is very, very small. I do not think there is justification to make the new cartridges. This is just my opinion.

[Mux]

Judging by the lack of demand I've told the manufacturer to put the project on hold. I've got a tentative order of around 200 units but that would leave me with 800 carts, which isn't great..

 

@ozyr - I contacted a manufacturer in China and sent them a cartridge shell to get a quote. Most of the cost goes to the initial mold (which you'd get send as well if there's ever more demand) and shipping, which comes in at around $500. The carts themselves are about 50 cents. *IF* there was a lot of demand the price would go down to about $2.50/cart or so but at this point, there is.. err, no point...

 

-Mux

[ozyr]

How long is the quote for this? Plus I'm curious if a 'new' cart was used for the mold. I am still interested, as destroying games is something I'm tired of doing (plus cleaning them up is a pain too). I used new PCBs, as the cost is low, and the product more reliable.

 

I only ask about using a 'new' cart for the mold, as I would possible increase my amount. Plus I wonder what guarantee there is on this?

[+grips03]

I wonder if there would be more interest in new Videopac cases (the ones that hold the games and manual).