Romarqable

Bump- edited to adjust for recent pick ups.

Bump

I had a seller had it for offer a few years ago at 40 bucks. After I paid they canceled, said it was out of stock, and the following day relisted for a lot more. I've seen maybe one listing since that was legitimate, but none since..

Bump- still looking for the following items

Bump- edited with new items

Been a few years since I last updated this post. Figured for anyone interested, an image of the Sharp NES TV has since surfaced so there is at least one floating around. I've only seen 3 Dr Mario Pill Challenge Set variant so I've come to believe it's likely the rarest of the NES console variations. Still don't have any information as to where it mightve been sold, rumors I've heard were KB Toys and a retailer possibly in Canada. Again, rumors only.

This is a mix of some I own and some from another collector I speak to on Facebook who is similarly tracking down the console sets, the Dr. Mario Pill label variant was from yet another collector who had that. Ive been trying to track down that Dr Mario pill variant for awhile. I took some of his and my pics so that way I had the best example of the system and thats included in the images above. The only missing one is a picture of the Sharp NES TV box which from what research I've gathered there doesn't seem to a be a single instance of anyone currently having an example of the box.

I plan to at some later date. I posted this entirely from my phone (wrote and dropped the pictures in) so I do plan to update this down the road when I have a computer again. I hope for this to be an ongoing document where I can add additional details including manuals and any potential revisions or future discoveries.

I only just discovered its existence in the last month or so. I always thought every site really didn't have a complete picture of what was available in the wild. I'm certain there are probably even more box variants out there I still don't know about. Store exclusives and what have you.

Just created the thread over in General Collecting.

Just created the thread in General Collecting forum with images.

I spoke recently in a different thread about my desire to collect all the NES Us retail release system sets. In my few years of research, I've discovered 24 system variants in total. I'll break them down by system type and what variations there are. I will update this post as I gain more information in the future. Control Deck Systems 1. Standard Control Deck This came with two controllers and the system. No additional pack ins. 2. Control Deck With Super Mario Bros This one came with Super Mario Bros. Packed in, system and two controllers. 3. Control Deck with Official Players Guide The third in the control deck series came with a black cover Official Nintendo Players Guide. Note there are two variants of this guide but from what I've seen only one box variant. Basic system and two controllers included. 4. Control Deck Redesign Sometime later in the NES life span they went with a Gold font for the system and a top header in read with black lettering saying "Nintendo Entertainment System." Outside of the new box same contents as the rest of the released systems. Top Loader Control Deck 5. Control Deck Top Loader Basic Top Loader system with one dog bone style controller included. The "stars" in the boxes background have a different pattern than a later release. 6. Control Deck Top Loader Same exact as above, however the box has slightly different star placement. 7. Control Deck Top Loader Target Special Offer Same as previous Top Loaders, only this was sold exclusively at Target and came with a copy of Dr Mario. (Need verification as to whether this was a cart and manual combo or a CIB copy) Sports Set 8. Sports Set "New" Sports Set with "new" on the front of the box. Came with 4 controllers, system, 4 player satellite and Super Spike V Ball/World Cup game and manual. 9. Sports Set Non New Same as previous sports set, box does not have "new" on the front. Action Set 10. Grey Zapper Action Set Action set included Grey zapper inside system as well as the front cover; included two controllers, system and Mario/Duck Hunt cart. 11. Orange Zapper Action Set Same as above contents, but due to toy gun law changes in the late 80s the guns were colored orange and the box was updated to reflect the orange zapper. 12. Action Set Redesign As mentioned above, had the new redesigned packing but had same contents as Orange Zapper action sets. Power Set 13. Grey Zapper Power Set Contents included system, two controllers, Grey zapper, power pad and Mario/Duck Hunt/World Class Track Meet pack in cart. 14. Orange Zapper Powet Set Same contents as Grey power set except with orange zapper included and changed on the front the box. Deluxe Set 15. Test Market System These were the early release versions if the system. They came with the base console, two controllers, ROB accessory, parts for Gyromitw, Gyromite and Duck Hunt CIB. The front of the box does not say "Deluxe Set." I also believe these really early test market systems also came with power cords that were longer than later release systems. 16. Deluxe Set Same contents as Test Market system, says "Deluxe Set" on front of the box. 17. Deluxe Set With Stack Up A later release of the deluxe set that also included Stack Up. The Styrofoam as cut to fit the Stack Up inside the box, and a yellow sticker saying "Contains 3 game packs" is usually affixed to the top left corner. Its been speculated that these system bundles were created to sell off unsold Stack Up stock and the 3 screw Gyromites that pop up came from these sets, but that is unconfirmed and simply conjecture. Sharp NES TV 18. If you know what this is, then you know how rare they are. I couldn't even find a picture of the system box to share here so if anyone has one feel free to send it my way and I'll add it to this post. Challenge Sets 19. Challenge Set Mario 3 Cart This challenge set box has a Cart copy of the game on the convert. Includes Mario 3. System and two controllers. 20. Challenge Set Mario 3 Box Same as above challenge set, but instead has a Mario 3 box on the system box. 21. Challenge Set Extra Sticker Same as above, shows a boxed copy of Mario 3, but on the left side has an additional sticker saying "the complete system for the first time player." 22. Challenge Set Walmart Special Offer Mario 3 Cart Same contents as Mario 3 Cart Challenge set, only this one has a Walmart sticker on the front, and included the Nintendo Power strategy guide for Mario 3 as well as Dr. Mario cart as well. 23. Challenge Set Walmart Special Offer Mario 3 Box Exact same contents as 22, but has a Mario 3 box on the cover instead of the Mario 3 cart. 24. Challenge Set Dr Mario Pill Sticker This one I have the least information on as I do not currently own one. Picture was provided to be by another collector who has one. I'm actively looking for this variant still. Sorry if this is a bit choppy, I plan to expand and rewrite this with more specifics at a future date. If you know of any variants (US releases) please share i will add them to the list here.

I'm probably going to end up making a topic about it, but I collect system box variants and the Challenge set out of all US NES console boxes had the most variants. There's a total of 24 system box variants that I know of, if you include the Sharp NES TV, 23 without. There were a total of 6 Challenge Set variants, of which two showed only the cart on the front. That leads me to believe they likely packed in with just the cart and manual at some point before switching to boxed copies or they switched to cart only to save on having to pack in the game boxes. Truly interesting stuff if you ask me.

Bumped, edited, added items to the list. Still looking for many of these items.

I'd like to add it as 1x Donkey Kong CIB and 1x Donkey Kong cart only Also like to add Super Mario Bros 3 Sideways taped Challenge Set 1x.