a prototype nes test cart?

[Nes Freak 559]

ive never seen anything like this before.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Unreleased-NES-test-cartridge-Nintendo/193192918354?hash=item2cfb31fd52:g:9ZsAAOSwJkVdwHcv

[Lincoln 230]

The label is similar to the clu clu land samples. The board is a mystery. He says test cart, does he mean literally testing something? 

It's interesting. It's not $20k interesting. An unreleased game would be pretty amazing but that doesn't appear to be the case.

[fcgamer 3,713]

Surely the guy can post an enticing screenshot from the software, otherwise it's obvious it's nothing too special and he's just baiting for a sucker. I wouldn't be surprised if this belongs to a community member, too.

[0xDEAFC0DE 1,270]

I'm pretty sure it doesn't work. The board pictures show that there are a lot of unpopulated components. With enough work, it should be possible to dump the ROM though. The chips from left to right are the CIC chip, SRAM, and EPROM (which may or may not have data on it). All are dated from early 1990. 

[Ice Man 14]

http://kevtris.org/mappers/nes_custom/NES_21G_CPU_72P.html

 

This is what I found.  Looks like an NROM board except with a RAM instead of CHR-ROM plus many other components (diodes, resistors, 7404, 74138, 7432, 74374), perhaps for PRG banking?

Edited December 22, 2019 by Ice Man

[Lincoln 230]

3 hours ago, 0xDEAFC0DE said:

I'm pretty sure it doesn't work. The board pictures show that there are a lot of unpopulated components. With enough work, it should be possible to dump the ROM though. The chips from left to right are the CIC chip, SRAM, and EPROM (which may or may not have data on it). All are dated from early 1990. 

proto/development/not for retail boards are more flexible than production issue boards. you can build one out to function without populating every space on the board. i wouldn't assume the worst based on the photo.

[0xDEAFC0DE 1,270]

27 minutes ago, Lincoln said:

proto/development/not for retail boards are more flexible than production issue boards. you can build one out to function without populating every space on the board. i wouldn't assume the worst based on the photo.

I guess you're right. I didn't realize NROM boards were so simple, but looking at the traces and cart pinout I didn't notice anything necessarily missing. 

[Tyree_Cooper 395]

Why's the label so shiny, like covered in tape or a film? All the protos/samples I've seen on NES or Famicom had paper non-glossy labels on them. It smells of fake?

 

Also, yeah, not showing the cart running is a big no-no. If you want that kind of money or general attention, show a screenshot of the software, that will make people flock to the auction

Edited December 26, 2019 by Tyree_Cooper

[Lincoln 230]

Maybe just laminated? Not really an issue at this point- the board alone is enough to know this is unusual. 

Not showing it running is a primary concern.