The great "Prototype trade-off" thread!

Prototypes offered so far:

#1 Panorama Cotton(see this post)
#2 Gauntlet(NDS)
#3 and #4 XOP(Dreamcast)



I've been contemplating what to do with some of the things I've come into possession of, and after thinking it over have decided to try an expiriment.

How this works:
I have a prototype. I'm offering the ROM of this to anyone that will trade me a prototype ROM that they have. We both agree not to share anything publicly that we have traded. Now I have two prototype ROMs. Now my deal doubles: give me one prototype ROM, and I'll give you the two that I have. This keeps snowballing until I have a huge list of prototypes that I will continuously give out to anyone who trades me one thing of value.

As for what I will accept, I'm not going to try to be picky. There isn't a want list I'm going off of, the only thing required is it has to be something that really qualifies as a prototype. No "final" prototypes or something with only bytes difference.


Issues:
Of course, I know this has some problems. For one, a lot of people are generally secretive about prototypes in general. I don't know what that means for my chances of getting anything unique in the long run. We'll see, I guess. Another problem is I'm sure many would look at this as public teasing, since in order to give anyone any incentive to do any trading, none of these ROMs will be publicly shared. I'm sure there's more, but I don't feel like going too negative here. Suffice it to say only anyone willing to share, join on in!


In closing:
Anyone that shares anything will remain anonymous. PM me if interested. Any more info needed, just ask.



And now to our first offering...

Prototype #1: Panorama Cotton(1993 prototype) for Sega MD/Genesis



This is a very early prototype of Success' game, which as we all know does a good job of utilizing the system's hardware. The final game came out in August of 1994, while this is dated 1993. That means it is likely to be at least 9 months before the final. And it shows. Only the first three levels are playable normally. Hacking reveals the rest of the levels, though very incomplete. In general, differences include:

• Incomplete intro
• Incomplete levels(any bosses after the first three can't be beat)
• Different palettes
• Different graphics
• Different music mixes(most of all the tracks from the retail are here, surprisingly for something this early)
• Missing sound effects, some different I think
• Missing cutscenes

It's basically what you'd expect from an early prototype. Funnily enough, I once had a different cart of this I couldn't get to work right, and it was also dated 1993. I also heard there's another one out there, too. Whether they all contain the same build is anyone's guess. In any case, if anyone wants to start us off here and enjoy this great prototype, be my guest!

Also if any mods think this should go elsewhere, or have any general issues, I'm listening. I honestly don't know what kind of response to expect here.

 

I love the text in thr 2nd screen shot. I'd also love to try this one out but I've nothing to share. I did have a great early prototype of FZ Axis for the Mega Drive but I sold the cart to a member here. If he can dump it he may trade with you.

 

Seriously, if you're willing to share, share with the public... If you're going to be secretive, go be secretive somewhere else.

 

This isn't being secretive, it's right in public view

Tons of proto deals go down in secret and you never hear about it. This is just being more open about it since it's really not easy to always know how to get into contact with the right people. Stuff that's out there that you never would have known about has the chance to possibly become known in the public if this goes how I hope it does. Really wishful thinking, but this an experiment, after all. I know it looks like a tease, but this way some neat stuff has more of a chance of switching hands between people rather than just staying with just one person.

What can I say, it is what it is.

 

These things stay with the people they stay, because they want it that way. They're not gonna trade their prototype rom, because the other guy might be a douche a put it online. _In my opinion_ even considering someone would share OVER THE INTERNETS their rare prototype (that probably only they have, and is worth some decent money) is just plain stupid.

 

That's why you have the right to turn down people if you aren't comfortable. It's all a matter of who you trust.

 

The great "bullshit" thread. If you have something - just release it, that's what I would do. For collectors real value is cartridge prototype, not just ROM.

 

As history has show, that is not the case. I can guarantee that Sonic Crackers, for instance, is likely worth less now than it was prior to it being released. Sure, some games hold their value quite well, but those are the exceptions to the rule. The number one thing I get asked when I sell something : Is it dumped/released? So don't make those assumptions. If you can do that, wonderful, I'd love to do that as much as the next guy because it is less of a headache, release everything, but realistically, most people run out of money at some point.

 

Bramsworth I like your idea.
If I had anything to trade I would with you. No matter what people post here your message has been delivered to people who actually care for your deal.

 

Thanks

I should point out I have released stuff before. That Toejam and Earl 2 proto for Genesis, "leaking" those two Croc protos for PSX, have had several of my rare pirates dumped like Tiny Toons 3 on Genesis... I just have had this one proto here and thought rather than releasing it outright, why not try something unique and just see what happens?

Now if any of you are diehard Cotton fans and feel so outraged that I'm not just outright giving you this ROM, maybe then I could understand your pain a bit better

 

People don't care about what you have done in the past. All they care about is the fact that you are, in their eyes, withholding what is "rightfully the community's." (Yes, I've gotten that before, along with plenty of other variations).

 

I think he used the wrong words. His point is if you are only going to ever give this to someone who trades something that isn't available publicly then the majority of people don't want to hear about it. There is a long history of people showing off rare stuff they have and it never has a positive effect.

I don't care whether you release it or not. It's true that the value will be diminished if everyone has it, so if you want it to retain it's value then history shows us that you shouldn't let anyone else have it. It's also a good idea not to even talk about it, in case someone decides to pwn your machine and steal it (which happens more often than you'd think).

 

Sadly, this seems all too true. I see people still pestering some of the biggest contributors in this community as if they have never done anything for the rest of us. I bet if someone like drx got another beta of Sonic & refused to upload it, people would convince themselves that all his previous releases were meaningless and hold contempt for him.

I hate the self-entitlement of some people. Unless you were a developer of said prototype, go complain elsewhere.

Good luck, Brams, hopefully you can get this train rolling.

Never? Well we can dismiss that right now as I have seen videos and pictures of things I never thought I would, that still haven't been released, and it yielded a positive effect on me.

 

ゲームでもやってみて。。。みて。。。みてててててててててててててててててててて Lol

 

x

 

I don't know, I thought something rare and unique like this would actually be more preferred and be more enticing to people than, say, a proto of Ken Griffey Jr. on SNES or something

 

x

 

Well, I guess I should have been more clear when I said I wasn't picky with what I'll take. I'm not looking for people to give me stuff of equivalent value, just so long as it's something that is a prototype of some sort, I'll likely take it. Again though, nothing that's practically final. But I imagine there's some good protos people have out there and might be willing to share to check out this proto.

We'll see.

 

Would you take undumped chinese / Korean originals as a trade? Not that I have anything at the moment but I would like to know if it's an option.

 

I might, since I've always held a special place for pirate shit. Let me know what you're thinking about if you ever have anything.