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List of All North American Zelda Game Variants


0xDEAFC0DE

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On 11/3/2019 at 11:57 PM, 0xDEAFC0DE said:

Looks like there are at least four variants of Game & Watches that came in blister packs. See these two links.

https://www.link-tothepast.com/arrivage-game-watch-zelda-sous-blister/

http://www.intheattic.co.uk/carded_games.htm

In blister pack PLUS box, damn! So maybe all of them came in a blister pack? haha

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On 11/3/2019 at 10:47 PM, 0xDEAFC0DE said:

You have the no Rev-A, new screenshot box start with the first three screw cart. Do you have a reason for this? I only saw the that box with MiJ carts and on last time I looked at ebay.

Rondy: After checking this again, I must have overlooked this detail. I'm still not 100% because I've seen it come with either box... but after checking more recent ebay listings, yes, it should be the first screenshot, I have updated the list. I will keep checking though.

Zelda 1 #06 on your table has a no Rev-A box with a Rev-A cart. Why do you think this is the case?

Rondy: I'm pretty positive on this one. I've seen this exact variant 3 times complete in box, all 3 times it came with a no Rev-A box with new screenshot.

Similarly, #08 has the last no code box with the first coded cart. I'm also interested in knowing why for this too.

Rondy: This was a typo. I don't think there is a Rev-A, no-code box with GP on the back. Code box should match code cart and code manual.

I've never seen the "Code -1, oval SOQ TM, 9-digit zip" box do you happen to have a picture?

Rondy: Code -1 is on the manual, not sure about the box. I believe the box didn't have the star (*). I will check this again. Pics coming at the end of December.

Hadn't noticed the glossiness. I would love to see a picture when you get the chance.

Rondy: End of December.

I actually have all three prints for LA DX, I've just named them differently. The unlabeled is the second print, the [U/ Box and Manual] is the first print, the [SOQ] is the third print.

Rondy: Correct, I remember it now.

 

I have updated the list again as I found out that there are at least 3 different "no code" manuals. I will check all the no code manuals I have again in December. A 4th variant (3rd actually, and the 4th one would be below) could exist if anything changed in the manual with the first release of MiJ cart, but looking at the differences between the original manual and the one with the precautions note, most probably only 3 variants exist.

1st print manual has NES^TM

2nd print manual has NES^R

3rd print manual adds the precaution notes that were originally in the back of the carts to page 2 of the manual. This came with the Rev-A no code box/cart and logic tells me it should have come with the first Rev-A cart too as this is when they removed those notes from the back of the cart.

It went from this:

IMG_8097.JPG.ffbee1e7a76d3085d2291d9cc0299e04.JPG

IMG_8107.JPG.8b9c5976b82cf310e70bd2c5c647fe9b.JPG

To this:

IMG_8125.JPG.b935a5e0deff9381307f9244c06c6859.JPG

IMG_8121.JPG.2bfd4b5c8df8d8d6c16285f6b70453cb.JPG

Edited by rondy
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1 hour ago, rondy said:

In blister pack PLUS box, damn! So maybe all of them came in a blister pack? haha

I don't think I've seen a shrink wrapped or sticker sealed box, so maybe. It makes sense that no one kept the opened blister packs.

23 minutes ago, rondy said:

I have updated the list again as I found out that there are at least 3 different "no code" manuals. I will check all the no code manuals I have again in December. A 4th variant (3rd actually, and the 4th one would be below) could exist if anything changed in the manual with the first release of MiJ cart, but looking at the differences between the original manual and the one with the precautions note, most probably only 3 variants exist.

1st print manual has NES^TM

2nd print manual has NES^R

3rd print manual adds the precaution notes that were originally in the back of the carts to page 2 of the manual. This came with the Rev-A no code box/cart and logic tells me it should have come with the first Rev-A cart too as this is when they removed those notes from the back of the cart.

I'll definitely go over the NES lists again. My original intent was to only count manual variants that had differences on the covers (mostly because I knew I never would get pictures on ebay), but you've convinced me to consider all manual variants.

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I removed the "NES-GP, no box code" box since I can no longer find picture evidence. When I was originally looking on ebay, I could have sworn I had a couple examples of that box, but after going through pretty much every Zelda 1 CIB (for sale and completed) on ebay and haven't found one. I'll keep on the look out in case one surfaces.

Rondy's list has an "Oval SOQ TM, 9-digit zip, no star (*) in code" box variant. I have not been able to find a picture of this, so I'm not including it for now. However, because of the unique manual revision, this doesn't reduce the number of CIB combinations.

Another issue is I don't think the the star manual necessarily started with the star box. Here's some discussion on the topic (https://www.videogamesage.com/topic/851-the-meaning-of-nes-star-code-boxes/), but the general conclusion is that they mean different things. 

I also discovered the ROM change to 1.1 seemed to happened with the addition of the code to the cart. But, it may be possible it overlapped with the first code variant or the last without. I did also notice the manual has a screen shot that changes with the ROM revision (the Game over screen), so that's a way of paring manuals to carts. As far as I'm aware this change also happened with addition of the code to the manual. I also found scans online of 7 different versions (surprisingly no duplicates). This includes two from nintendoage that I have archived on archive.org.

Manual Scan Link
NES R, No Precaution https://web.archive.org/web/20191112053204/http://74.86.217.179/index.cfm?FuseAction=Element.View&etID=3&egID=1304&eID=1306
No code, Precaution https://www.nesfiles.com/NES/Zelda/Zelda.pdf
Circle SOQ, Code https://zeldadungeon.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=52
Oval TM SOQ, 5-zip http://zs.ffshrine.org/legend-of-zelda/english-instruction-manual-scans.php
-1, 9-zip https://legendsoflocalization.com/media/the-legend-of-zelda/manuals/ZeldaNESManual.pdf
-1*, Oval R https://archive.org/details/LegendOfZeldaTheNESHiResScans
Classic Series https://web.archive.org/web/20191112053152/http://74.86.217.179/index.cfm?FuseAction=Element.View&etID=3&egID=1304&eID=3214

I've updated all the Zelda 1 info now. My list is almost the same as Rondy's the only difference is I don't have the "Oval SOQ TM, 9-digit zip, no star (*) in code" box variant. I also removed the Majora's Mask standard edition with the -0 manual. I was only able to find 1 out of 12 on ebay, so I think it's likely a mismatch. I will be updating Zelda 2 and more soon.

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Another update.

Found a couple more Canadian Zelda 1 boxes. This resulted in two more variants.

I updated the Zelda 2 CIB info. No new variants

Updated Game & Watch to the four variants. Doing a bit more research, it seems like it's posible the boxed version in the yellow blister pack may not be a US release. According to this rarity guide I found (see below), there is only one known copy of the yellow blister version (Source with photobucket blur: http://mpanayiotakis.proboards.com/thread/2607/carded-blisterpack-rarity-chart). I also found this page that has some info on Game & Watch distribution in the US https://www.gameandwatch.ch/en/faq-questions-answers/nintendo-of-america.html.

Carded_Blister_ChartMAR7_2012.jpg.4656b1e712939bb24e48a1922508f8bc.jpg

Rondy realized his SNES "Free!" pack-in uses the SNS-S-HA-USA-1 box. So, I added another variant.

I discovered there are at least three variants of the big box packaging for four swords adventures. The only change I see is the UPC and product code (even the UPC 5 part is the same). Here are links to the three I found: https://www.ebay.com/itm/293067729098 (54345A), https://www.ebay.com/itm/333335719354 (54703A), https://www.ebay.com/itm/132655987414 (54704A).

As I said in my last post I removed the Majora's Mask standard edition with the -0 manual. But, I kept the collector's edition with the -1 manual because I found a video of someone opening a sealed one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuqefDtV1NQ.

 

Rondy discovered some OOT standard edition boxes, have a text inside that reads "gray cart version", so I added that.

That's it for tonight. I'm planning to revisit Link's Awakening and OOT in the future.

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On 11/12/2019 at 12:52 AM, 0xDEAFC0DE said:

I removed the "NES-GP, no box code" box since I can no longer find picture evidence. When I was originally looking on ebay, I could have sworn I had a couple examples of that box, but after going through pretty much every Zelda 1 CIB (for sale and completed) on ebay and haven't found one. I'll keep on the look out in case one surfaces.

@rondy

I found one of these boxes on my saved search. So, the "NES-GP, no box code" box does exist. I'll update my list when I get home from work. Here's a link to the listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/274095953545

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 I finally added the "NES-GP, no box code" box I mentioned in my last post. This added another CIB variant.

While looking up Zelda 2 manual scans for this thread (https://www.videogamesage.com/topic/851-nes-star-code-boxes-circle-t-manuals-and-star-code-manuals/) I discovered another manual. This was an Oval R SOQ with no star code. This also added another CIB variant. Here's the rest of the manual scans I was able to find.

Manual Scan Link
Circle SOQ No scan found, ebay link https://www.ebay.com/...
Oval TM SOQ, 5-zip https://www.retrogames.cz/...
Oval TM SOQ, 9-zip, no star No scan found
Oval R SOQ, 9-zip, no star http://www.thegameisafootarcade.com/...
Oval R SOQ, 9-zip, star No scan found, ebay link https://www.ebay.com/...
Classic Series https://www.gamingalexandria.com/...

I added all the cart revisions to OoT. @rondy do you know what revision(s) the "gray cart version" on inside of box came with? Did that revision(s) come without the "gray cart version" text?

I knew for a little while that SS had three ROM versions (1.0, 1.1, and 1.2), but I was too lazy to find disc codes since it's a PITA. I went threw >1000 listings on ebay and only 2-3% had a legible disc code. Of those, I found the music bundle with all revisions, the sword bundle with 1.0 and 1.2, and the no foil with 1.2 (only one sort of readable example).

@Jaxsbox was able to confirm that the aLBW E3 demo NFR exists. The back label is different from the standard NFR. They also identified my mystery OoT 3D boxes as store displays.

In my second post in this thread, I asked if any refurbished variants existed for any Zeldas. I finally came across one when looking for disc codes for SS. Unfortunately it was in the completed section (https://www.ebay.com/itm/264535437352). I'm hesitant to add this though because it looks like it's just a sticker.

I found the Nelsonic watch in another packaging (https://www.ebay.com/itm/233400029596). I asked the seller about this and here's what he said.

Quote

Hi, I bought out the contents of the Nelsonic warehouse in Long Island City, Queens in 1999. I was told by the vendor who sold me all the Nelsonic watches that the clear boxes with the white cardboard covers were never sold in stores but used as display in the Nelsonic showroom.

I get the feeling that this shouldn't count for this list. It is somewhere between a prototype and an NFR. The intent behind counting NFR and not prototypes was that NFRs were more widely distributed. From what the seller said these were only used in one showroom, so I probably won't add this either.

Here's pictures of the last two things for posterity:

Spoiler

SS Refurbished

SSRefurbished.thumb.jpg.b07704c7c80144043a056ed12a145bd0.jpg

Nelsonic watch in Factory Box

NelsonicFactoryRight.thumb.jpg.25ed9ec32268af41ff3abb34a9a0c47a.jpgNelsonicFactoryLeft.thumb.jpg.4df7b02db896a14354ab2c137c592e42.jpg

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I don't have time to update the list today, but I figured I'd post a couple things I've come across. 

@VGCollectaholic gave me confirmation that WW HD came with the refurbished label embedded into the cover art. See their post for the photo.

I mentioned in my second post that I had never seen evidence of the DMG-AZLE-USA-1 manual for LA DX. After months of searching, I finally came across a blurry photo on ebay that looked like it might be the -1. I didn't have LA DX CIB anyway, so I bought it. After waiting two weeks for the seller to ship the damn thing, it's finally arrived. 

IMG_20191122_083304__01.thumb.jpg.3ee468c8ba9421e037ee646dffe62aca.jpg

Yay! It does exist. The listing came with the non holo box and the SOQ cart which seems like a reasonable pairing. But now that I have it in person I can do one better. 

IMG_20191122_083544.thumb.jpg.15aace748c01e069d8924f6a31d67335.jpg

The first two box prints and first cart print had the spray paint E rating, while the non holo box and SOQ cart have the solid black E. As seen in the photo, the first page of the -1 manual also has the solid E. So, it looks like they will match.

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  • 3 months later...
1 hour ago, DoctorEncore said:

Does anyone know if there were ever any noticeable revisions to the pack-in map for the original LoZ on NES?

My rule of sticking to only keeping track of Cart, Box, and Manual revisions have meant that I haven't payed much attention to map revisions. Maybe I should since it is a bit different than a "normal" insert. Anyway, Rondy noted in this post (https://www.videogamesage.com/topic/121-list-of-all-north-american-zelda-game-variants/?do=findComment&comment=6985) under row 15 that the classic series map has a "smaller sticker seal". I'll check my four or so maps when I get to see if I notice this or any other differences. 

In other news, I have found a couple more assorted Zelda variants and will update this thread when I get the time. 

 

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@DoctorEncore Yep, looks like Rondy is right. I did have four maps from a circle seal+box code box, a star code box, and two classic series boxes. All of which I bought CIB with all parts properly married with the exception of one of the classic series boxes that came without a cart. Both classic series maps had smaller sticker seals as Rondy suggested. After comparing one of the classic series map with the circle seal map, I did not notice any other difference. So, it's likely that the change to the smaller sticker is the only known map revision. Here's a picture with the classic series map on the left and the star code map on the right.

IMG_20200303_182626__01.thumb.jpg.2290db5013f10ceaa2a66597ee1cb026.jpg

Edited by 0xDEAFC0DE
Fixing image
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37 minutes ago, 0xDEAFC0DE said:

@DoctorEncore Yep, looks like Rondy is right. I did have four manuals from a circle seal+box code box, a star code box, and two classic series boxes. All of which I bought CIB with all parts properly married with the exception of one of the classic series boxes that came without a cart. Both classic series manuals had smaller sticker seals as Rondy suggested. After comparing one of the classic series map with the circle seal map, I did not notice any other difference. So, it's likely that the change to the smaller sticker is the only known map revision. Here's a picture with the classic series map on the left and the star code map on the right.

IMG_20200303_182626__01.thumb.jpg.2290db5013f10ceaa2a66597ee1cb026.jpg

You are awesome. Thank you!

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1 hour ago, DeuceGamer said:

To make sure I understand, there are no Majoras Mask cartridge without the (-1) for either the Holo or regular release and there are no known differences in the boxes?

Neither cart has a -1 but the other notable difference between the carts is the regular one has an N64 logo on the right and the lenticular one doesn't. The boxes are also different. The collector's edition says "Collector's Edition" towards the bottom of the front of the box, while the regular edition doesn't. 

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3 hours ago, 0xDEAFC0DE said:

Neither cart has a -1 but the other notable difference between the carts is the regular one has an N64 logo on the right and the lenticular one doesn't. The boxes are also different. The collector's edition says "Collector's Edition" towards the bottom of the front of the box, while the regular edition doesn't. 

Good to know there is no (-1) carts. The boxes I knew were different, but breaking them down by the Collectord Edition and Standard, each of those do not have any additional differences, correct? Sorry, that was really poorly worded upon re-reading it. Was the Collectors Edition the First Print or we’re both originally available?

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34 minutes ago, DeuceGamer said:

Good to know there is no (-1) carts. The boxes I knew were different, but breaking them down by the Collectord Edition and Standard, each of those do not have any additional differences, correct? Sorry, that was really poorly worded upon re-reading it. Was the Collectors Edition the First Print or we’re both originally available?

I don't know any box variants besides the Collector's Edition and Standard boxes. That said I haven't spent as much time going through Majora's Mask listings compared to some of the other Zelda games, so it's definitely possible that I'm missing something. I know that the collector's edition was definitely available at release, and given that the standard edition only comes with the -1 manual, it was probably released a bit later. 

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1 minute ago, 0xDEAFC0DE said:

I don't know any box variants besides the Collector's Edition and Standard boxes. That said I haven't spent as much time going through Majora's Mask listings compared to some of the other Zelda games, so it's definitely possible that I'm missing something. I know that the collector's edition was definitely available at release, and given that the standard edition only comes with the -1 manual, it was probably released a bit later. 

Makes sense! Thanks for all your effort! 

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On 11/14/2019 at 5:49 AM, 0xDEAFC0DE said:

@rondy

I found one of these boxes on my saved search. So, the "NES-GP, no box code" box does exist. I'll update my list when I get home from work. Here's a link to the listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/274095953545

I did look at that one before it expired, but I don't think you could tell it was a "no code" box, it was just the angle the picture was taken from. Did you save the pictures from that listing? I tried getting more pictures or just a reply from that seller, multiple times, but they just refused to do any communication and I would have bought it, but no response. It was too expensive just to buy without knowing if there was no code. It was similar to this one where there could be no code if the angle was slightly different https://www.ebay.com/itm/184196783805

On 11/17/2019 at 11:57 PM, 0xDEAFC0DE said:

While looking up Zelda 2 manual scans for this thread (https://www.videogamesage.com/topic/851-nes-star-code-boxes-circle-t-manuals-and-star-code-manuals/) I discovered another manual. This was an Oval R SOQ with no star code. This also added another CIB variant. Here's the rest of the manual scans I was able to find.

Rondy: Shit, I'm missing that one!


I added all the cart revisions to OoT. @rondy do you know what revision(s) the "gray cart version" on inside of box came with? Did that revision(s) come without the "gray cart version" text?

Rondy: I would think v1.0, maybe the text "gray cart version" was added when both, the collector's and the standard edition, came out and they needed to know what goes with the gray and what goes with the gold carts.

 

Edited by rondy
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I finally updated my list with the additions from my 11/22 post (WW HD Refurbished, and the LADX DMG-AZLE-USA-1 manual). I also found a couple more variants:

  • I missed a non Player's choice aLttP cart variant. One has SNS-USA-1 on the cart back and one has SNS-USA/CAN. Both came with the -0 manual
  • Twilight Princess Nintendo Selects has two manual variants. The have codes 61603C and 61603D on the back of the manual.
  • OoT 3D with the UPC 5 of 00001 had a ROM revision, v1.0 and v1.1
1 hour ago, rondy said:

I did look at that one before it expired, but I don't think you could tell it was a "no code" box, it was just the angle the picture was taken from. Did you save the pictures from that listing? I tried getting more pictures or just a reply from that seller, multiple times, but they just refused to do any communication and I would have bought it, but no response. It was too expensive just to buy without knowing if there was no code. It was similar to this one where there could be no code if the angle was slightly different https://www.ebay.com/itm/184196783805

I could have sworn I saved pictures, but I can't seem to find them (sigh...). I'll keep looking out for more pictures.

Besides this case, I've been pretty good about collecting pictures. I eventually want to make a picture guide, but that's going to take a lot of work a will probably be a while off.

1 hour ago, rondy said:

I would think v1.0, maybe the text "gray cart version" was added when both, the collector's and the standard edition, came out and they needed to know what goes with the gray and what goes with the gold carts.

Yeah, that's what I figured. I had already put that on the list.

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