Blurry lines: The Difference between a 10 and a prototype

[sku_u]

I was wondering how it's determined what should be considered a 10 and what should be considered a prototype?

 

For example:

 

Off Your Rocker was sold commercially in small numbers, yet it's considered a prototype, whereas Pepsi Invaders was never actually sold, but it is considered a 10.

[Tempest]

Pepsi Invaders, Dukes of Hazzard, and Off Your Rocker are all special cases. They were all available in some for or another but not officially released. None of them should be considered prototypes; Pepsi Invaders is a marketing promotional item, Dukes and OYR are unreleased games that were later sold to the public through unofficial channels.

 

Perhaps there should be a special category for these games?

 

Tempest

[Megamaniac]

I too have wondered that. I also am curious as to some indication as to the rarity of protoypes. I have to assume some are more rare than others. I'm an old-time player but new enthusiast (well, resurrected). I just paid $30 for Alligator People on a whim. Did I get a deal, ripped, or neither.

 

I'll search the forums elsewhere, perhaps this question has already come up!

[CincYnoTi]

i asked a similar question six months ago:

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24262

 

but the thread drifted off topic. i think a game should only get the P-prototype rarity if it only existed in prototype form (eprom) and has only been found in extremely limited quantities (less than five?). more than one surf's up has been found, but only a couple. however, i'm guessing there are a couple dozen bugs bunny out there that were assembled by best electronics...without the lab loaner label. and there must have been quite a few dukes of hazard assembled by best electronics, since that seemed to be the one they had in stock for the longest time.

 

and i think atariage should have example photos of the "prototypes" assembled by best electronics in the rarity guide, so that someone doesn't feel like a dumbo when they realize they have bought something that isn't really a one-of-a-kind "prototype":

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=426133

[MegaManFan]

My own definition is pretty simple:

 

Masked ROM = rarity 10.

EPROM = prototype.

 

That's not counting homebrews, of course, since they're _all_ EPROM.

[sku_u]

My own definition is pretty simple:

 

Masked ROM = rarity 10.

EPROM = prototype.

 

That's not counting homebrews, of course, since they're _all_ EPROM.

 

I thought some standard releases had Eproms.

[MegaManFan]

Maybe, but I doubt any of the 10's do.

[CPUWIZ]

Maybe, but I doubt any of the 10's do.

 

Actually, that's not true, both Video Life and Magicard were made with EPROM's. I can think of a few more that are quite rare, like Chuckwagon and a few other ones like Lochjaw etc. !

[MegaManFan]

Chuckwagon and a few other ones like Lochjaw etc. !  

 

But Chuckwagon and Lochjaw aren't 10's.

[CPUWIZ]

Chuckwagon and a few other ones like Lochjaw etc. !  

 

But Chuckwagon and Lochjaw aren't 10's.

 

I didn't say that.

[MegaManFan]

But the thread is the difference between a 10 and a prototype.

[CPUWIZ]

Well, how is this then, all Xante carts, ECPC, Copy Cart and Karate by Ultravision have EPROM's too.

[MegaManFan]

The only one I'd agree with you about is Karate. The rest I don't even consider to be real 10's.