All variants of Super Mario Bros. 3

[Code Monkey | 2,005]

I missed this manual in the previous photo. 

[Code Monkey | 2,005]

And this bag came on the game when I bought it from a pawn store but I don't know if it's right. It's huge. 

[austin532 | 467]

That looks like the bag for the system. Could also be the bag for the paperwork.

[hyrulevyse | 151]

On 12/21/2019 at 1:35 AM, 0xDEAFC0DE said:

I tried to search for NA threads, but I wasn't really able to find anything. I'm getting the feeling that all the old threads are being removed from Google. Looking on bootgod, the earliest right bros I saw had the latest date code of 9013 which was the last week of March 1990. The earliest ROM chips on bootgod are from December 1989. With the time period established, the codes actually do look like dates in the format YMMDD.

91208 = 1989 December 8th
91219 = 1989 December 19th
00119 = 1990 January 19th

Most of my variant experience comes from Zelda variants. Unfortunately, none of the NES zeldas have these codes, but I remembered that Link's Awakening (original and DX) have similar codes. My LA DX box has the code 991028 (1999 October 28th), this matches the date code on the cart (9943, 1999 October 17-23) and the manual (the -1 manual was the first with the solid E esrb rating that was introduced around September 1999, the -1 manual is also pretty uncommon meaning it was quickly replaced by the -2 manual). The code of the LA DX was 6 long but this ebay auction of the original LA (https://www.ebay.com/itm/264552165499) has the code 30607 (1993 June 7th) which is 5 digit code a bit before the release date. And then I found this site (http://www.game-boy-database.com/game-ML-3206-USA.html) that calls the code the "box date" along with hundreds of scans that, from what I've seen, prove this to be true.

I'm pretty sure at this point that these codes are the date that a print run was started. It's a bit strange when comparing to chip date codes as those change weekly, but I assume that the box printing process has a reason why this was changed less often. So, returning to the SMB 3 codes, it seems that 00119 is the third print run and not the first. I went and found ebay links for the three codes (see below). The Wata post mentions that the 00119 code has "a very subtle white hue around the nintendo logo on the back of the box." I don't really see this in the first link for 00119 but I see a bit of white below the logo in the second. This appears to be more like an offset during printing instead of a design error across an entire print run. In fact looking at the back of the box in the 91208 link, the seal and the blue text also look a little offset as well. While looking through ebay, I found a half-dozen 91219 boxes, two 00119 boxes, and I stopped when I found a 91208 box. I trust Wata when they say 00119 is the rarest (I only have a small sample size after all), but it doesn't look like 91208 is the most common either.

91208: https://www.ebay.com/itm/133221972723
91219: https://www.ebay.com/itm/133256610069
00119: https://www.ebay.com/itm/333445412714 and https://www.ebay.com/itm/264542760640

So, I guess it's up to @austin532 whether he wants to add them to the list. Personally, I don't think I'll be adding these print run date codes to my Zelda variant list. I already don't differentiate when it comes to cart date codes, and there are other outwardly visible production marks that I am also ignoring (stamped codes on cart labels, mold codes on cart shells, etc.)

Check it @DefaultGen 

[DoctorEncore | 3,690]

On 12/21/2019 at 1:35 AM, 0xDEAFC0DE said:

I tried to search for NA threads, but I wasn't really able to find anything. I'm getting the feeling that all the old threads are being removed from Google. Looking on bootgod, the earliest right bros I saw had the latest date code of 9013 which was the last week of March 1990. The earliest ROM chips on bootgod are from December 1989. With the time period established, the codes actually do look like dates in the format YMMDD.

91208 = 1989 December 8th
91219 = 1989 December 19th
00119 = 1990 January 19th

 

On 12/22/2019 at 10:35 AM, ThePhleo said:

The date theory may be correct and I’m gonna have to say that’s the most solid theory so far. The manuals for most games also have a code printed on the last page of content and is usually only a single digit or two off.

My theory for the codes was that they were catalog codes. Meaning every time they went to press they would designate a number to a particular aluminum litho plate.

If these are date codes then holy crap these codes matter. If they aren’t, well then they still matter but they’re less fun.

I'm fairly certain they are date codes. Two more examples to drive the point home. Blades of Steel Circle SOQ (1989-02-23) vs Konami Classic Oval SOQ version (1993-07-22).

 

Hollywood Squares Blue version (1990-01-06) vs Black version (1990-04-09).

I suspect all -1 revisions will hold up to the same scrutiny.

As for SMB3, the stupid Indieboxes I'm trying to sell are blocking them in at the moment. When I clear those out, I'll have a look at the dates.

Edited December 24, 2019 by DoctorEncore

[ThePhleo | 2,184]

12 hours ago, DoctorEncore said:

 

I'm fairly certain they are date codes. Two more examples to drive the point home. Blades of Steel Circle SOQ (1989-02-23) vs Konami Classic Oval SOQ version (1993-07-22).

 

Hollywood Squares Blue version (1990-01-06) vs Black version (1990-04-09).

I suspect all -1 revisions will hold up to the same scrutiny.

As for SMB3, the stupid Indieboxes I'm trying to sell are blocking them in at the moment. When I clear those out, I'll have a look at the dates.

This is legitimately a huge deal for me.

I believe the current way people go about “print runs” are completely wrong. “Left Bros” Mario 3 alone is proof enough that what people consider “first print” is actually first, second, and third.

Having actual date codes on all three components of a standard CIB is HUGE. Most boxes have a code on the flap...most manuals have a five digit code on the last page of content...and most cartridges have chips with print dates.

An easy way to identify if your contents are matching is great! This just made archiving fun again :)

[austin532 | 467]

I think for most collectors, a left bros. is good enough. People who worry about print dates on the boxes and chips are too far down the rabbit hole.

[DoctorEncore | 3,690]

23 hours ago, ThePhleo said:

This is legitimately a huge deal for me.

I believe the current way people go about “print runs” are completely wrong. “Left Bros” Mario 3 alone is proof enough that what people consider “first print” is actually first, second, and third.

Having actual date codes on all three components of a standard CIB is HUGE. Most boxes have a code on the flap...most manuals have a five digit code on the last page of content...and most cartridges have chips with print dates.

An easy way to identify if your contents are matching is great! This just made archiving fun again

I feel like this is rediscovered knowledge that the NA vets probably already knew, but I also think it's pretty cool. It will make confirming production orders way easier.

[0xDEAFC0DE | 1,277]

If only all NES games had these dates codes. It would help so much with my Zelda variants thread, but unfortunately none of the boxes seem to have codes and only late manuals had them. 

[ThePhleo | 2,184]

13 hours ago, DoctorEncore said:

I feel like this is rediscovered knowledge that the NA vets probably already knew, but I also think it's pretty cool. It will make confirming production orders way easier.

Maybe a couple people did, but it sure as hell wasn’t a well known thing.

Like the inner cartridge shell codes, and more similarly, the bottom flap box codes...no one I knew even gave a crap about the numbers on the top flap.