Thunderground White Label?

[gamme]

I noticed this on Ebay. I've only ever seen the colored label. Has anyone else seen this?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Atari-2600-lot-5-ALL-V...1QQcmdZViewItem

[Tempest]

Not only is it B&W, but it's upside down! It could be a homemade replacement label (glued on upside down). I thought it might be a prototype label at first, but I don't think so. I'd have to take a closer look at it, that picture is too blurry.

 

Tempest

[gamme]

Not only is it B&W, but it's upside down! It could be a homemade replacement label (glued on upside down). I thought it might be a prototype label at first, but I don't think so. I'd have to take a closer look at it, that picture is too blurry.

 

Tempest

 

All the other Sega labels are upsidedown - this one is going the right way! In his description the guys says its the "rarest white label" - though I haven't noticed mention of a white label in any rarity lists I've seen.

[Crazy Climber]

Looks like it was left out in the sun too long.

The pic sucks though, somone should ask him for a better one.

[gamme]

The dude was able to send me pics of the white label Thunderground. He said his camera isn't the best. He also said the labels are genuine and that he gets his rarity ratings from atariage - I've seen no mention of the white label here though.

[Rom Hunter]

This one is indeed genuine.

 

I've seen it before.

 

AFAIK it's the only b&w label variation from SEGA.

 

Edited September 28, 2006 by Rom Hunter

[Godzilla]

the yellowing on the top makes it look sunfaded, even if the bw label does exist, this could still be a sun sucked one.

[Rom Hunter]

the yellowing on the top makes it look sunfaded, even if the bw label does exist, this could still be a sun sucked one.

Yes indeed.

 

In fact the whole title is sunfaded from black to white.

 

Come on.

 

[Crazy Climber]

Looks like it was left out in the sun too long.

The pic sucks though, somone should ask him for a better one.

That's what I said from the beginning

[A.J. Franzman]

the yellowing on the top makes it look sunfaded, even if the bw label does exist, this could still be a sun sucked one.

Yes indeed.

 

In fact the whole title is sunfaded from black to white.

 

Come on.

Looks like it was left out in the sun too long.

For those who didn't "get" Rom's post: look at the AA scan of the regular Thunderground label. Notice that the "Thunderground" title is in black in one location (on red artwork) and white in the other. Now look at the label from this eBay listing -- although somewhat confusing since the label is oriented the opposite way, putting the "top" title on the end of the cartridge, both titles are white-on-black. Simple sun-fading or a photocopy could not account for this difference. If the label is homemade, it's been altered significantly.

Edited September 29, 2006 by A.J. Franzman

[Crazy Climber]

Whoops,

I've had finer hours

[Philflound]

I'm leaving this off the list until someone can get me a better scan from a legitimate collector. I've never heard or seen this. From the photo of the seller, it looks like this could be manufactured. It's very grainy, and what's up with the cracks in the title. So I'm not believing it until I get something more substantial.

 

Phil

[BrianC]

I'm leaving this off the list until someone can get me a better scan from a legitimate collector. I've never heard or seen this. From the photo of the seller, it looks like this could be manufactured. It's very grainy, and what's up with the cracks in the title. So I'm not believing it until I get something more substantial.

 

Phil

 

The "cracks" in the title are also on the box art.

[phitter]

It looks like this topic was also discussed previously in 2003 adding an air of legitimacy to the potential LVAR.

 

Thundergound B&W Label

 

Too bad the eBay auction linked in that thread is long gone.

 

-phitter

[Philflound]

Maybe it's the same exact copy surfacing 3 years later. I can't see how something like this is not owned by any of the major collectors out there. Granted this game is not common, but I would think CPU or Marco or someone with tons and tons of games have this in their collection. And for the fact that the variation list has been around for 10 years and it wasn't on it. If this is a true variation, then it must be extremely rare. But like I said, until I can get a reputable collector to verify this, I'm not adding it.

 

The big thing with technology nowadays is that it is extremely easy to make your own labels. Look at all the homebrews or releases of prototypes in collector form over the past few years. We've seen some high quality items come out. It wouldn't be hard to make a label that looks like this. Especially one of lower quality. That is why I like it when I've purchased Atari games from garage sales or in a batch. I know they are legitimate from an old collection. These people dig out this stuff from their basements and attics. And selling them for real cheap, they have nothing to gain by wasting time trying to produce their own labels.

 

Phil

[A.J. Franzman]

But, why would anyone make changes in a B&W copy of a color label, other than to scam some unfortunate collector out of as much money as possible? Since there's no mention of that happening in the 2003 thread, I'd say there was no such intent. Without that motive, I can't understand why someone would go to the trouble of customizing the label design, but not bother to print it in color.

[gamme]

But, why would anyone make changes in a B&W copy of a color label, other than to scam some unfortunate collector out of as much money as possible? Since there's no mention of that happening in the 2003 thread, I'd say there was no such intent. Without that motive, I can't understand why someone would go to the trouble of customizing the label design, but not bother to print it in color.

 

The black and white Thunderground comes around once every three years I guess...must be an omen.

[CPUWIZ]

Maybe it's the same exact copy surfacing 3 years later. I can't see how something like this is not owned by any of the major collectors out there. Granted this game is not common, but I would think CPU or Marco or someone with tons and tons of games have this in their collection. And for the fact that the variation list has been around for 10 years and it wasn't on it. If this is a true variation, then it must be extremely rare. But like I said, until I can get a reputable collector to verify this, I'm not adding it.

 

The big thing with technology nowadays is that it is extremely easy to make your own labels. Look at all the homebrews or releases of prototypes in collector form over the past few years. We've seen some high quality items come out. It wouldn't be hard to make a label that looks like this. Especially one of lower quality. That is why I like it when I've purchased Atari games from garage sales or in a batch. I know they are legitimate from an old collection. These people dig out this stuff from their basements and attics. And selling them for real cheap, they have nothing to gain by wasting time trying to produce their own labels.

 

Phil

 

I believe it is legit, however, I do not believe this is a label variation but rather a sample/review copy.

[Rom Hunter]

I believe it is legit, however, I do not believe this is a label variation but rather a sample/review copy.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

[Philflound]

Now that is acceptable. But to date, I don't believe there are any review copies listed on the label variation list short of the diagnostic cart of Atari that I believe had many made. If it's legit, then it is an interesting piece, and I'm sure Rom will somehow fit it in to his database.

 

Phil

[gamme]

I believe it is legit, however, I do not believe this is a label variation but rather a sample/review copy.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

 

Sega has the black and white sample copy games for the Genesis system, I know that much, I have one of those.

[Philflound]

Then this is most likely a preview copy. I love when these things get out.

 

Phil

[+Omegamatrix]

I'll provide you all some scans when it arrives. I have no idea whether it's a sample copy, straight up label variation, etc. This is not the first time I've seen this particular cart on eBay though, and it wasn't three years ago as I've been collecting less then two.

 

 

Cheers,

Omega

[gamme]

I'll provide you all some scans when it arrives. I have no idea whether it's a sample copy, straight up label variation, etc. This is not the first time I've seen this particular cart on eBay though, and it wasn't three years ago as I've been collecting less then two.

 

 

Cheers,

Omega

 

Great, maybe there's more of them out there.

[+Omegamatrix]

As promised.