New 2600 prototype...or not?

[Snider-man]

Howdy gang!

 

Just stumbled across this on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?V...item=1310133884

 

For those who don't follow the link, the seller claims that this is a prototype of Xevious for the Atari 2600. Now, I know it was released for the 7800 and it was being worked upon for the 2600, but no 2600 proto of this game has ever surfaced. So, anyone want to speculate that this is only a 7800 proto? (If it's a 2600 proto, here's yet another one for the "thought we'd never see" pile...)

 

Snider-man

[liquid_sky]

Its a proto alright. I have played the game before, its not a pretty proto tho (almost as bad as tempest for 2600)

[Marco(2)]

I think the seller's story and the appearance of the proto do not match. This is probably a prototype from Best Electronics that put the Atari boards they got into Moon Patrol and PPII cases. The person that got them from Best most likely put his own label on the carts. I haven't seen those white boxes before.

 

Cheers,

 

Marco

[Scott Stilphen]

At best it's an original proto board in a blank case, but chances are it's a copy.

[Tempest]

Xevious was started for the 2600 some time in 1983 and work was stopped around June/July when James Morgan took over Atari. He had lost all faith in Atari's internal programmers and stopped most internal projects and out-sourced all future projects. This is why many games from the late 83-84 time frame were by GCC. Xevious was about 60% done when work was stopped, but what's there is pretty impressive since getting any kind of scrolling background on the 2600 is damn impressive. Given enough time I think Xevious would have rocked.

 

As for the "prototype" on Ebay, I have some major doubts about it's authenticity. First of all it's in a 1984 Atari 7800 Pole Position II case, why would a game stopped in 83 be in a 84 case? Second the label look seriously fishy to me, it's not a normal Atari lab label. Also the "prototype" box is questionable, all that's shown here is a plain white box. I don't recall Atari ever putting prototype games in white boxes.

 

There's a small chance this prototype could be genuine, but I doubt it. Until I see some pictures of the EPROM's themselves I remain highly suspicious. Anyone bidding on this be careful...

 

Tempest

[ubersaurus]

Actually, a prototype Xevious did surface. It really isn't anything special, a graphically weaker version of the 7800 one.

[Paul Slocum]

It's probably a prototype, but personally, I wouldn't spend a lot of money on anything like that unless I saw the board inside the cartridge. Xevious is a standard 8k ROM which can easily be put on a modern Chris Wilkson bankswitching board. So you could build the same thing that's in that auction for about $10.

 

Most prototype auctions appear to be legitimate, but I've seen a few that look really fishy.

 

-Paul

[Albert]

We have an entry for 2600 Xevious here on AtariAge, including some screenshots. I am also skeptical that this is a real prototype for the reasons Tempest stated. But you never know, there's certainly a chance that it is authentic. I'd really like to see what the actual board looks like.

 

..Al

[Paul Slocum]

The Xevious "prototype" went for $305!

 

-Paul

[beattheindierock]

Holy cow. That would really stink if it actually wasn't a proto.

[Albert]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Smart Patrol:

The Xevious "prototype" went for $305!

---

 

I noticed the high bidder is someone named xevious. Judging from other auctions this person has one, it looks like he/she is a big-time Xevious collector. Almost every single auction that's still up on eBay that this person has one is related to Xevious. This individual may not really be aware that the prototype is potentially not legitimate.

 

..Al

[beattheindierock]

That may be true but there were at least 4 or 5 other bidders willing to pay serious money for the "proto (?)", including some members of this board. I have to admit it did make me curious as well but I most certainly would not have paid over $50 for this. I e-mailed the seller and recieved a somewhat disorganized response.

[Tempest]

I recognize the high bidder, he outbid me on a 5200 Xevious prototype (which was legit) a half year ago. As I remember he bid $500 or so for it.

 

Just because some big name people bid on it doesn't make it any more real, big time collectors get fooled by fake protos too (well, not me).

 

Tempest

[atari70s]

how true ive seen ones and thought i owned protos when they were not a proto.

 

When in Doubt if i found a proto or located a proto i turn to TEMPEST. Master of Protos. him and Crossbow

[Adrian]

It's probably a real proto... I, too, have purchased a Xevious prototype from Best Electronics, back in '93 or something... they had all the boards, but no cases, so they put the EPROMs in whatever cartridge cases they could find...

 

Of course, back then I paid less than $30 for it, not $305!