+sixersfan105 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Looking for some info on the little-discussed Midnite Mason. Based on the little info I have come across, it would appear that Software Specialties originally released it in 1984, and then DataBiotics re-released it via mail order in 1987. I am discussing the purchase of what appears to be cart + manual of the 1984 version. Neither the seller nor I have much to work with, but I'm curious if anyone here has any insight. Here are pics he provided to me. Is this the original version? Are carts from this run harder to find than the DataBiotics version three years later? Is this even an "official" version? The cart label looks like paper. Thanks for any info you can offer! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+adamantyr Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Wow it had a manual? That looks sweet, honestly! Databiotics did nothing but simple cheap colored cardstock manuals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 If you get it, I for one would appreciate a nice scan of that manual. As @adamantyr said, the Databiotics one is just terrible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+adamantyr Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Yeah, that is definitely a rare find. I imagine the seller wants a chunk for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelpedant Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Ooh, indeed, I'd love to see this manual as well. First of all, because I love manual art in general. But more principally, because the mail order Databiotics Midnight Mason (so spelt on my 1987 cart) was one of my childhood favourites, and I practically never hear it mentioned. Got it via mail order as mentioned, along with QMAZE, Black Hole and Barrage (all from Databiotics), at the time. All of course with the trash quality Databiotics physical production values. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 Thanks for the replies. So we think this is legit? So far the seller hasn't given a price, just that he can't find out any info on it. It came in a TI lot that he picked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 @Ksarul would likely be best to answer the question of authenticity. I have little reason to doubt it but I am also not an expert. This is by far one of my favorite games, which I mowed yards to buy in its DataBioTics form from Triton. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toucan Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 17 hours ago, OLD CS1 said: @Ksarul would likely be best to answer the question of authenticity. I have little reason to doubt it but I am also not an expert. This is by far one of my favorite games, which I mowed yards to buy in its DataBioTics form from Triton. I also will step in to confirm the authenticity of this cartridge. I have one, and the manual and label all look correct. It most certainly is a rare find, harder to find than the DBT version, which in itself is not that easy to find. So you have a pretty good one here! 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 Thank you. This is all very helpful! Hard to put a value on it but I will let you know how negotiations go and will report back if I get it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 17 hours ago, OLD CS1 said: If you get it, I for one would appreciate a nice scan of that manual. As @adamantyr said, the Databiotics one is just terrible. Agreed, I've never seen that one, and some people would rather have a copy of the original than the << homebrew manual >>, myself included. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 15 minutes ago, --- Ω --- said: Agreed, I've never seen that one, and some people would rather have a copy of the original than the << homebrew manual >>, myself included. I'd be happy to scan the manual if and when I get it, but it sounds like @Toucan already has it, so perhaps he wouldn't mind uploading? Cheers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ti99iuc Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 check here, you can find Game, Manual and Label for this cartridge: http://www.ti99iuc.it/web/index.php?pageid=database_cerca&archivioid=298 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 This is definitely an original, as I have one of these too. IIRC, Software Specialties only did a small test run of the cartridges before they abandoned the effort to release it on their own. The one being sold here is the fifth one I have ever seen. Definitely a major score for a hardcore collector--but for those just looking for an original copy of the game, the DataBioTics release is much more reasonable/attainable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 2 hours ago, Toucan said: I also will step in to confirm the authenticity of this cartridge. I have one, and the manual and label all look correct. It most certainly is a rare find, harder to find than the DBT version, which in itself is not that easy to find. So you have a pretty good one here! You lurk so much sometimes I forget you are 'round these here parts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted November 27, 2019 Author Share Posted November 27, 2019 I wound up getting it for $60 shipped, including a TI Frogger manual, too. Certainly not cheap but seemed fair. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opry99er Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 1 hour ago, sixersfan105 said: I wound up getting it for $60 shipped, including a TI Frogger manual, too. Certainly not cheap but seemed fair. I'd have paid that in a heartbeat. Well done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 A definite score at that price. That's at the low end of what I would have expected to pay for it--but definitely in the expected price range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted November 27, 2019 Author Share Posted November 27, 2019 4 hours ago, Ksarul said: A definite score at that price. That's at the low end of what I would have expected to pay for it--but definitely in the expected price range. Thanks. You mentioned this being the fifth one you've seen. Any idea how small of a run Software Specialties did? And what happened after that? They just sat on it until they reached a distribution deal with DataBioTics three years later in 1987? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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