Cartridge shell demand

[Zonie]

Folks,

 

I have had some discussions with a few users here privately. There seems to be a demand for cart shells. The AA store appears to be running low on stock of 2600 units as well.

 

I am in the plastics fabrication business, and was thinking of throwing my hat in the ring and making a run of shells.

 

I would like to hear from you all to guage interest. The three in the poll are what appear to be what are desired. This started in the 5200 thread.

 

If there is enough interest, I'll poll for color choices next. The idea is to keep costs down, and high quantities and basic black shells will do that.

 

When I get some costing put together, I'll start another poll for price point. I am not looking to make any money at this, just cover my costs and help the hobby along.

 

thanks

[Shawn]

All the above but in colors not black.

 

My order of preference is: 2600 then 5200 then NES.

Edited August 17, 2006 by Shawn Sr.

[supercat]

I happen to like translucent shells myself (2600).

[shadow460]

Which kind of 2600 shells are you planning to make? Is it possible to make the second or third run shells that are also compatible with the 7800?

[jbanes]

I wasn't aware that anyone was actually selling homebrew NES games?

[Zonie]

I wasn't aware that anyone was actually selling homebrew NES games?

I wasn't either. Some one asked about them.

 

As for the 2600 - 7800 thing, I would make the shells like latest standard 2600 carts, or similar to activision cart shells, but with more rounded corners to fit the later consoles.

 

Also, I have had inquiry about 8-bit shells too.

[video game addict]

I wasn't aware that anyone was actually selling homebrew NES games?

 

 

 

 

http://www.nesreproductions.com/

 

 

Granted no one is currently making circut boards yet, but new cases would be nicer than scrapping old labels off originals. And no funky faded colors either.

Edited August 18, 2006 by video game addict

[8bitclassics]

I would have to say 5200 shells since nobody currently makes them yet. I don't think anybody makes the NES ones either, but Super Mario Bros right now are easy to come by. Which by the way brings up my next label coming out (sometime in the future). I will be making self-stick/print labels for ColecoVision carts and NES carts. I will probably take a poll sometime in the near future myself wihch one first as tooling is a killer.

 

Corey

[Shawn]

I happen to like translucent shells myself (2600).

 

 

Them too. ohh,a 5200 clear shell would be the bomb

 

And it was me that asked about NES cases cause grey is boring and there is already 800+ grey NES games. There is about 10 homebrews for the NES and I dunno how many hacks but there is alot. IT would be fun to have new shells to put them in just to get away from that flat grey monotany.

Edited August 18, 2006 by Shawn Sr.

[CPUWIZ]

I happen to like translucent shells myself (2600).

 

 

Them too. ohh,a 5200 clear shell would be the bomb

 

Must have!

[Buyatari]

How much does it cost to make a mold?

10K?

[Shawn]

How much does it cost to make a mold?

10K?

 

Much less.

[Zonie]

How much does it cost to make a mold?

10K?

 

Much less.

 

Waay less when I make the mold in my shop.

 

I was thinking of clear 5200 carts being the first run, with a mod to the end for a *label*.

[8bitclassics]

Make it the normal label size

[Zonie]

Make it the normal label size

Normal label size on the side, with a slot for an end label.

[Shawn]

Make it the normal label size

Normal label size on the side, with a slot for an end label.

 

Sounds awesome. I think the end label should go on the end though. Make it routed out like the 2600 shells are for the end label, I think the long end labels look too cool not to have a sport to use them. Heck do both on the same mold so its user preferance!!

 

5200 clear shells :drool:

[Bruce Tomlin]

If you're going to make 5200 shells, I think you ought to talk with Bill Hogue / Big Five Software to see what he's looking for so that he can make a BBSB re-release already.

[CPUWIZ]

If you're going to make 5200 shells, I think you ought to talk with Bill Hogue / Big Five Software to see what he's looking for so that he can make a BBSB re-release already.

 

We (3 people) approached Bill about 2 years ago, in order to re-release BBSB, he stated loud and clearly that he had no intention of ever doing that.

[classics]

5200 commons are easy enough to get and demand for 5200 shells will never be very high.

 

There are plenty of new and used 2600 shells available too.

 

If nobody is making NES shells then from a business or even a break even perspective, i would say hit that first.

 

Steve

[8bitclassics]

I would have to say the same for NES carts, go into a used video game store or thrift shop, and usually a ton of Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt carts lying around and usually at a $1.

 

I usually find it harder to find the 5200 carts at a good price.

 

Corey

[+Allan]

If you're going to make 5200 shells, I think you ought to talk with Bill Hogue / Big Five Software to see what he's looking for so that he can make a BBSB re-release already.

 

We (3 people) approached Bill about 2 years ago, in order to re-release BBSB, he stated loud and clearly that he had no intention of ever doing that.

 

Didn't Bill later say he wanted to make the carts himself? Someone did an interview with him last year where he mentioned this I thought.

 

Allan

[+Allan]

5200 commons are easy enough to get and demand for 5200 shells will never be very high.

 

 

It would be nice to see a 5200 shell with an end label spot. Hopefully in a way that you don't have to disturb the end label to open the shell.

 

Allan

[raskar42]

I'd like to be able to put my Mattel games into a Standard Atari Shaped Case. I dislike the long case with the tiny end label.

 

Multicolored or translucent would be cool.

[Almost Rice]

How much does it cost to make a mold?

10K?

 

Much less.

 

Is this an injection mold and in what country would this be made? I had one done in Vietnam for $15,000 for 2 cavity molds, but the item was much more complex than a cart. It had 5 distinct parts. The quote I got in Texas was about $130,000 for a 2+2 cavity mold. I would say making a mold to produce carts is a hard proposition. You will never make enough units to justify the outlay for the mold.

 

On the other hand, if you could find out who has Atari's old molds, you could get them produced, shipped and pay the import fees for probably under $1 a unit. To get that unit price you may have to buy a container load. Much more doable, but who will put down enough for a container and hold all that inventory? If the mold is in the US, lower quantities may be cheaper since we would not have to buy a container full.

 

Zonie, what unit price were you shooting for?

[Shawn]

Unless you know someone who owns a tool and dye shop.