Thunderground White Label?

[Rom Hunter]

I want to thank you, Omegamatrix.

 

I'll add this one to the database immediately.

 

[+Omegamatrix]

After a close examination I can tell you the label is very old, and it's not a photcopy. Whether it's a demo copy or label variation is trivial. It is real is the point. Glad I could help Rom.

[Rom Hunter]

It's NTSC, right?

 

[+Omegamatrix]

Give me five minutes. I got to pull out my other TV

[+Omegamatrix]

Bonafide NTSC.

 

 

Cheers,

Omega

[Rom Hunter]

Thanks.

 

Added:

http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?...VERSION_ID=8044

 

[+Omegamatrix]

That was quick Rom. You are indeed a miracle worker.

[Dougmanct]

So, another one of these has been discovered- I found it at an estate sale. I posted it in the Marketplace forum, but the question was asked and I'll also ask it here: if I wanted to open the cart to photograph the inside and discover whether it has eproms or roms, how would I do this safely? I'm terrifed of ruining a ridiculously rare artifact.

[Supergun]

...if I wanted to open the cart to photograph the inside and discover whether it has eproms or roms, how would I do this safely? I'm terrifed of ruining a ridiculously rare artifact.

You don't need to open the cart at all to confirm what I want to know

 

Just read my pic

 

[Dougmanct]

Well this makes the plot thickened:

 

 

It has absolutely sharp edges, but plastic port separators. Also, I was able to VERY, VERY carefully apply enough pressure to peek a tiny bit into the cart and I can say there are at least 2 chips on the board.

[atari181]

I don't believe it's anything more than a label variant. Mine is from a boxed copy.

 

The orange "Underground" is the proto/Loaner cart.

 

 

The boards are top to bottom

Proto

Color label

BW

Edited August 5, 2014 by atari181

[Crazy Climber]

Huh, was originally called "Underground" Never knew that... Dont see sega proto's very often. Any cool story as to how you aquired that one atari181?

[Supergun]

Well, even I'm baffled by this one.

 

Granted, non-production carts can indeed have roms, and production carts can indeed have eproms.

It is usually the exact opposite, as a general rule of course, but I have seen examples of both scenarios.

 

The reality is that the Thuderground label itself is kind of a hybrid or mix of both the Sega sample labels (which are b/w) and the Sega released labels (which have artwork). So it could indeed have been a label variation. I look to the early 1984 Atari 7800 label variations. Extremely rare and hardly ever turn up, but they are out there. So this could perhaps be just that. I mean, we now know of at least two confirmed, and we have "sightings" of others as well, so there are at the very least "several" out there.

[Rom Hunter]

Interesting proto title.

 

By looking at the game, the title Underground makes sense.

 

Marketing probably thought: 'Let's spice it up a little by adding Th.'

 

[Dougmanct]

Well, even I'm baffled by this one.

 

Granted, non-production carts can indeed have roms, and production carts can indeed have eproms.

It is usually the exact opposite, as a general rule of course, but I have seen examples of both scenarios.

 

The reality is that the Thuderground label itself is kind of a hybrid or mix of both the Sega sample labels (which are b/w) and the Sega released labels (which have artwork). So it could indeed have been a label variation. I look to the early 1984 Atari 7800 label variations. Extremely rare and hardly ever turn up, but they are out there. So this could perhaps be just that. I mean, we now know of at least two confirmed, and we have "sightings" of others as well, so there are at the very least "several" out there.

After sleeping on it, I decided that since there are various opinions, some passionate, but no 100% consensus on the exact backstory of this cart, and I don't seem to see any consensus on the actual rarity or number that exist, that rather than offer this for sale I'm going to keep it for now until such time the above is more established (more are discovered, or somehow new information comes to light that clears this up a bit). It may well be a label variant, but not knowing how rare exactly it is still seems undecided.

 

Thanks so much to all the great replies and information from everyone here!

[atari181]

Huh, was originally called "Underground" Never knew that... Dont see sega proto's very often. Any cool story as to how you aquired that one atari181?

Not really that interesting. I got Underground and Star Trek loaner carts in a lot of loose carts off Ebay for $20.

[Tempest]

I'm guessing the B&W label was a cost cutting move for a late run. Telesys did the same thing on a few of their games.

 

That loaner is very interesting. Have you had it dumped?

[Chris Leach]

this variant is the same as a black n white ramit or dmeolition herby...nice label variant but not a superman sears by all means.... nice find...

[atari181]

After sleeping on it, I decided that since there are various opinions, some passionate, but no 100% consensus on the exact backstory of this cart, and I don't seem to see any consensus on the actual rarity or number that exist, that rather than offer this for sale I'm going to keep it for now until such time the above is more established (more are discovered, or somehow new information comes to light that clears this up a bit). It may well be a label variant, but not knowing how rare exactly it is still seems undecided.

 

Thanks so much to all the great replies and information from everyone here!

Without a doubt, it is a label variant. Of course you are free to do what you want with it. I have purchased 1000's of Atari games, IMO it is worth $10 or so.

[+Omegamatrix]

It's a label variant for sure. Whether it was a sample copy of just a cheaper label I don't know.

 

 

I've always liked this variant though. I wouldn't want to give up mine.

[Crazy Climber]

Cost cutting label variant has a lot of merit. Color prints were not as cheap/accessible as they are these days.

Magazine review copy? Possible I guess, from what I have seen though they tend to get more proto style cases.

I am going to agree as others have stated that it was a late run cost cutting measure, or by the small number of them out there maybe even a complete accident at the print shop.

[Supergun]

...Telesys did the same thing on a few of their games...

Excellent point.

I completely forgot about the b/w Telesys labels and it is literally the exact same thing.

Heck I also forgot Atari themselves with those ridiculous plain grey boxes they used for re-releases towards the final years.

[Zwackery]

I love those wacky grey box re-releases! Hopefully one day I will have collected them all.