Serial numbers of PAL Atari 2600 SEGA games

[Dionoid]

Hi,

 

I noticed that for my PAL version of Buck Rogers (by SEGA), there are slightly different serial numbers printed on the box and the cartridge label (see photo below).

The box says serial number 005-10, while the cart label shows 005-01. According to AtariMania, the PAL version of Buck Rogers should have serial number 005-10 (see http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-buck-rogers-planet-of-zoom_12084.html).

 

 

However I can confirm that the game is indeed the PAL version.

 

Are there any PAL collectors out there that can confirm that the serial numbers on the labels differ from those on the box, for Atari 2600 PAL SEGA games?

Edited January 27, 2020 by Dionoid

[Cambouis de l'Atari]

I'll try to check this evening.

[high voltage]

My PAL:

 

Congo Bongo:   Box 006-10    Cart 006-01

Star Trek:         Box 004-10    Cart 004-01

 

[Rom Hunter]

Thanks for clearing this up.

I'll check all SEGA PAL and NTSC end labels and fix this.

Edited January 28, 2020 by Rom Hunter

[Mikebloke]

Maybe this is a weird pairing code when manufacturing, like the -10 is the box and the -01 is the instructions... then you make sure you have one of each? (not sure how you could mix them up, but hey!) Very odd. Sega used a lot of codes generally on their boxes, but unlike Playstation 2 where there is some logic to it, Sega did a mix and even switched them for regions too, so it gets a tad confusing.

[Cambouis de l'Atari]

A bit late, I confirm the same codes on my Buck Rogers cart and box !

Edited January 29, 2020 by Cambouis de l'Atari

[Dionoid]

On 1/28/2020 at 10:30 AM, Mikebloke said:

Maybe this is a weird pairing code when manufacturing, like the -10 is the box and the -01 is the instructions... then you make sure you have one of each? (not sure how you could mix them up, but hey!) Very odd. Sega used a lot of codes generally on their boxes, but unlike Playstation 2 where there is some logic to it, Sega did a mix and even switched them for regions too, so it gets a tad confusing.

The boxes of the NTSC/US '2600 SEGA games use the "-01" serial numbers (so matching the serial numbers on the cartridge labels).

So it appears that the "-10" numbers are used to indicate the PAL/EU versions of the box, but I think they forgot to also use these numbers on the cartridge labels.

 

I guess the only way to determinate if a box-less '2600 SEGA game is PAL or NTSC, is by actually playing it and checking the colors 🙂

 

[NTSC/US box for Buck Rogers, showing "005-01"]

Edited January 29, 2020 by Dionoid