Arcadia VI Unreleased NES Game

Wow, didn't see this coming here. I'll bullet off some responses.

- No, I don't think the game is worth anywhere near $100k. It has a best offer for a reason, the high price is to stir up some interest in the game.
- Yes, the game has been dumped. I bought it for $1,500 then dumped and released it to the public, for free. I'm nearing 200 unique NES protos, all of which have been dumped, some public, some privately. Rest assured, they are all backed up safely.
- I specifically asked VGA to not give a numerical grade to the game. I don't want people 5 years from now comparing the value of an 85+ Arcadia VI to a 80 Hoppin' Mad. I asked instead to do what they have done in the past with prototype action figures; give it an NG designation with a certificate of authenticity.
- As forme being more qualified to authenticate this game, I'd like to agree with that. Problem is, that creates a conflict of interest. I can't authenticate my own games and then sell them. Besides, 99% of casual collectors don't know who I am and how many protos have come through my hands. With a third party putting their mark on it who have a history of grading collectibles (though not much with prototypes), it could give buyers who don't know me peace of mind.
- As for not offering a return if it didn't work, read the question as I posted it publicly. I won't give a refund to a buyer who smashes the case. Who the fuck knows what else they've done to it, that would be like asking to return an egg after you smash it.

It is what it is. I've released plenty of shit over the years and I'll continue to do so. If I decide after I dump and release something for free that it might be worth seeing if a buyer would make an offer that would make me part with it, I don't see the harm.

 

This game simply can't be really bad unless there's severe bugs in code which make game unplayble - it's pong, too simple to be screwed up badly.

 

I think lots of collectors similar to yourself will just stay away and not come out, I think especially the ones that can really help you because they don't want to be associated with this kind of thing. Lots of people will not look past the auction and just only see what is there and not see the other/real reason why you might have listed it like that.

I know you have done/still do great things, but I just feel auctions like this will only go on to hurt everybody in the future.

 

You saw the zelda sale and now your also looking for a big payday AND thats fine.
I hope you sell it for a lot of cash.
But please stop talking BS.
Its so painfull to read comments like..Its 100k to stir up some interest..or im doing this to get other unknown protos on ebay etc.
You just want to sell this for as much as possible nothing more .

BTW you do have time for trying to cash out and defending yourself on a lot of forums but you have no time to do something with chuck yeager.
Im glad you showed your true colors.

 

Bump

 

Actually, it was more my point that nobody in their right mind would ever stick a proto in a case that they didn't dump.

I'd say the biggest issue with VGA themselves is their complete lack of qualifications (although their cases do look nice). I'd compare it to the way ice skaters were rated back in cold war. Russia gives the russian skater a 10 and the US a 5, and the US gives their skater a 10 and Russia a 4.5 to make a point, while everyone else scratches their heads wondering where they get this from.
In fact, they only know it is an authentic proto because you told them so and the story sounds plausible. We know that you're spot on about the history of the cart, but in actual fact somebody could weave an interesting fable about the origins of any given cart down to whose hands it passed through and how many different games were flashed over it, and to be honest it would be very difficult to trace most of the legend even if you cared enough to try.

Still, great scheme for getting some money back for a proto. I don't know why people pay fantastically more for a game in a plastic box, but I never understood why having that little styrofoam insert at the bottom of NES boxes immediately tripled the price either.

 

The problem is is that nobody can authenticate a prototype. The best bet would be someone on the original production team, but even then, they will hardly know the exact numbers (and they whether or not it's been duplicated or not). Difficult w/ a cartridge but not impossible.

For an example of this, go to neogeo.com and search for "AF3". A perfect model of authenticating protos gone wrong.

 

I wonder if VGAs grading process included a testing stage? If so, I wonder how they would get on with say... A GDR?!

 

It is worth what anyone will pay. It is a self-appointed body that evaluates anything that I laugh at. Extra hard for a proto.