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Surf Ninjas PAL (was: GG Pal release number 197 found)
Post Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 1:32 pm
I just received a package today with Surf Ninjas. Is's a complete European game. Feels really strange, but seems to be the real thing, complete with 8 language manual. So think this the right place to share the news for the discovery of almost 24 year old release.

so there are not 196 but 197 European Game Gear games.
sf.jpg (77.02 KB)
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Post Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 2:51 pm
Super interesting. Which is the origin country you bought it from?

Could you post a picture of the back, the product number on the side, and a picture of what the cartridge looks like?
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Post Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 5:47 pm
I've seen some more photos of this find. It seems to be legit, I'm just wondering about the box feeling 'really strange'...

I remember the boxes for fake Mortal Kombat 3 and The Smurfs had a slightly different feel and finish to them.
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Post Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 5:50 pm
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Post Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 6:42 pm
We don't know if it is an official game, we must ask to Sega, can we saw it in a video magazine ? or somewhere ? For me to the moment Fullset is always 196
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Post Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 6:58 pm
It wasn't released in australia at least

http://www.classification.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?q=surf+ninja&t=lfc
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Post Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 7:58 pm
I would love to hear a little about how you came to find this game. There must be a story behind it?
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Post Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 8:15 pm
Thanks Reg for saving me the time making the photos cropped.

The fact that it's not on the Australian site doesn't say a thing, the first game they rated was Mortal Kombat on 22 april 1994 and Surf Ninjas is from 1993.
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Post Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 8:34 pm
darthsylly wrote
I would love to hear a little about how you came to find this game. There must be a story behind it?


Long story, the game was for quite long time for sale on a website from Hong Kong. I was always fascinated by it, and suspected it being bootleg. As I decided I wanted to buy a new Neo Geo cart there anyway I decided to buy it.

First I received a pdf which already gave me the feeling it maybe the real thing, the pic posted Reg are from pdf. Today I received the game. This was my first chance to check te manual, and it is complete and in all 8 European languages. Which makes me believe it is authentic.

About the history there can be lots of speculation. Anagrama posted about the same cart on 03-08-2008, 06:48 PM on bordersdown.net and that copy was from Taiwan according to the post. I think a possible explanation is that the carts were made, but never shipped to Europe. As all Game Gear games were printed in Japan, including the manuals it's possible these ended up being sold in Hong Kong and Taiwan. But that is speculation from my side.

I add the pic I send reg from the inside from the manual. Which shows that it's multi language. Also I would like to mention that the price I paid is lower then reproduction sms games sold on eBay. So I don't think anyone would take the time to translate box and manual in 7 different languages, let a box be printed and sell only 1 copy.
sf2.jpg (60.75 KB)
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Post Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 9:48 pm
Quite interesting. I do think it would be a step too far for the all the translations to be done by a bootlegger. Are you going to scan the manual and artworks for the community?

And could you share the Hong Kong website you bought it from?
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Post Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 10:02 pm
The barcode seems legit, it's in the range for Sega published Game Gear games and the checksum is correct.
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Post Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 7:31 am
One thing that I always found odd, is that loose TecToy cartridges of Surf Ninjas appeared on worldwide websites quite more often than anything else would. I wonder if there is a relation.
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Post Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 8:22 am
darthsylly wrote
Quite interesting. I do think it would be a step too far for the all the translations to be done by a bootlegger. Are you going to scan the manual and artworks for the community?

And could you share the Hong Kong website you bought it from?


I bought the game from http://www.skywaypro.bravehost.com, I am willing to share most of the manual with the community, will keep one set of pages out, due to concerns of bootlegs. Is there a prefered format to make the scans.

Here's already another photo and shows both pages
IMG_1489.jpg (1.15 MB)
IMG_1489.jpg

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Post Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 8:22 am
Sharp is it possible to you to open cartridge ?
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Post Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 9:06 am
rg010803 wrote
Sharp is it possible to you to open cartridge ?


don't have the right screwdriver at the moment, asked someone if he has one and otherwise will order one my self this friday.
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Post Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 9:40 am
If you need help dumping the cartridge, count me in :)
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Post Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 3:22 pm
The Dutch text in the manual is very much in the style of other games. (and a solid translation). Very interesting find!
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Post Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 2:58 pm
Thanks for sharing. Interesting looking site!
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Post Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 6:09 pm
Made pictures of the inside at a friends place today.
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Post Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 7:52 pm
The MPR number is a good sign, we don't seem to have the US version's number to compare though.
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Post Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 2:08 am
Chip date 9328 (approximately July 1993) sounds plausible.
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Post Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:17 am
On US all is similar expect number and you have YG on the top of this one
MPR-15586 J08
9318E 9005
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Post Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 10:05 am
OK, so the ROM is identical.
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Post Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 10:36 am
A pic as post by rg on facebook from the us cart
IMG_0022.JPG (75.7 KB)
IMG_0022.JPG

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Post Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 10:48 am
Last edited by dyer60 on Fri Aug 25, 2017 5:28 pm; edited 1 time in total
Just to add some weight to the argument that this is a genuine release, I received this today.

It has all the same features as yours sharp.

Multi language manual, same PCB and ROM as well as the slight strange feel to the cardboard box.

This one has an epilepsy warning card and the inner tray has discoloured a bit over time. Sadly there is some crush to the top of the box.

I found this in an eBay store whilst searching for PAL Asian Mega Drive games, the seller is based in Singapore which supports the theory of it being produced there but never distributed in Europe.

The seller tells me he used to own a retail shop there and is clearing his old stock, this is one of two copies he had and both I picked up.

I'm confident it is the real deal and it looks like there are potentially others out there.
IMG_7159.JPG (2.45 MB)
IMG_7159.JPG

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Post Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:01 am
Last edited by rg010803 on Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:09 am; edited 1 time in total
Okay but game never commercialized in Europe, for me it is not part of the PAL set, but it remains a beautiful collector's item
But if I understand you have 2 copies ?
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Post Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:07 am
Wow, well done dyer60.

I scoured eBay to try and find one but no luck. Could you give me some tips on how you found these?

Any chance the second is for sale to help another SMS collector?
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Post Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:09 am
rg010803 wrote
Okay but game never commercialized in Europe, for me it is not part of the PAL set, but it remains a beautiful collector's item


Yeh I would agree, without a "proper" commercial release I wouldn't consider part of the full set, just a great piece of history!
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Post Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:11 am
You have 2 Surf Ninjas ?
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Post Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:13 am
My tip would be to try eBay.com or ebay.com.hk most Asian based sellers use these and their store contents usually can't be viewed on international searches.

It was blind luck I was looking for Mega Drive games.

I have no plans to move either of them on, should that change then yes I would want it to go to someone here or Segaage.
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Post Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:14 am
Well if you do want to move one do let us know :)

And thanks for the tip, I'll keep looking.
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Post Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:15 am
rg010803 wrote
You have 2 Surf Ninjas ?


Yes, he had 2 I bought both.
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Post Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 11:35 am
dyer60 wrote
Just to add some weight to the argument that this is a genuine release, I received this today.

It has all the same features as yours sharp.

Multi language manual, same PCB and ROM as well as the slight strange feel to the cardboard box.

This one has an epilepsy warning card and the inner tray has discoloured a bit over time. Sadly there is some crush to the top of the box.

I found this in an eBay store whilst searching for PAL Asian Mega Drive games, the seller is based in Singapore which supports the theory of it being produced there but never distributed in Europe.

The seller tells me he used to own a retail shop there and is clearing his old stock, this is one of two copies he had and both I picked up.

I'm confident it is the real deal and it looks like there are potentially others out there.


mine as well had the epileprisy card and a discoulered tray and was mint. seems that my conclusion that the copies ended up in asia was right
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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 5:22 pm
My Surf Ninjas cartridge

Yellow spot in the center of the picture, printing fault ???
Inverted colors printed circuit board

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Post Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 3:50 pm
Mine has the same yellow patch just not as big, maybe a print error but I think more likely the glue reacting with the sticker over time.
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 10:35 am
I didn't pay attention to it until today but if you look closely:
http://www.smspower.org/forums/files/image2_116.jpeg

The images _behind_ the text are from The Dragon's Trap and Devilish.
It's definitively a mistake here :)
I wonder if they could have canned it because of that mistake?
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 9:23 pm
Bock wrote
I didn't pay attention to it until today but if you look closely:
http://www.smspower.org/forums/files/image2_116.jpeg

The images _behind_ the text are from The Dragon's Trap and Devilish.
It's definitively a mistake here :)
I wonder if they could have canned it because of that mistake?


That is one heck of a spot Bock!

Never noticed it. It may be a very good reason as to why it never saw an official release.
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Post Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 11:05 pm
Sounds silly to produce a game and then not release it due to a box printing error.
Isn't the box a relatively cheap thing to reprint, especially compared to the cart?
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Post Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2017 1:25 am
Still gotta repack those boxes.

I work at a warehouse, where we fix these sort of cockups all the time. I'll make it clear, fixing this sort of thing isn't the cheapest thing in the world.
Especially if it's a large batch, and you need a lot of workers to fix it.

I wouldn't be surprised if the publishers involved just didn't think it wasn't worth the effort.
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Post Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 4:51 pm
UPDATE: Surf Ninjas PAL cart is sold already. A member of this board bought it. I will leave it up to them if they would like to comment. All other GG carts are still available on eBay.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

Ugh, didn't let me post links yet, I'm too new. Take out the spaces in the links I posted please.

I just joined so that I could let people interested in this game know I have one for sale on eBay. It's priced pretty high because I don't know how to price it. If somebody here is interested let me know and we can try to work something out.

It is the PAL version, but cart only. No box or manual. I obtained it from a neighbor who lived in Hong Kong while their son was GG age. They gave me all the GG stuff. The console does work, but the screen is dim (as is known to happen without upgrades). I've listed all of the games on eBay. Some have manuals, some do not. Many are the Japan releases, a few US releases and the one PAL release.

I priced them pretty high simply because it was hard to price. I'm willing to work with the community to get these to good homes, but I'm selling because I need the money. It's not charity. :)

The GG unit itself isn't listed yet. If anybody is interested let me know. I will work out a discount if somebody wants to buy multiple items, which will also save on shipping.

Here's a link to Surf Ninjas PAL:
ebay. com/itm/283036114875

Looks like a piece of tape was on the cart at some point. I didn't try to remove it for fear of ripping the label.

Here's a link to everything I'm selling (more than just GG stuff, but you'll find it all there):
ebay. com/sch/m.html?_ssn=navinman&_sop=10

I'm selling from Pennsylvania, so cheap shipping is available to all US locations. I have 100% perfect ratings as an eBay buyer and seller and have been an eBay member since 2000. I am not a professional seller and just sell what I don't need anymore.

Look forward to working with all of you to get these games into good homes and make some money along the way. Thank you. :)
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Post Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 10:14 pm
Hello what was your price on Ebay ?
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Post Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 1:44 am
rg010803 wrote
Hello what was your price on Ebay ?


The games are listed at the website address I put in my prior email. I'm too new of a member to be allow to post links, so you'll have to cut and paste the link and remove the space in it.

I actually realized there are about 4 or 5 more games I forgot to list. I'll do those soon. I have not listed the GG console itself yet.

The games are individually priced on eBay, it's not being sold as a lot.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
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Post Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 1:46 am
rg010803 wrote
Hello what was your price on Ebay ?


Sorry, Surf Ninja's PAL sold for $50 plus shipping to the UK. It was cart only. Hard to tell if that was correctly priced or not.
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Post Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 7:55 pm
Surf Ninjas was mentioned in UK magazines.

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Post Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 8:06 pm
The question now....is it a part of the full set or not ? We have 5 CIB copy known and 2 / 3 loose
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Post Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 8:18 pm
Make what you want out of it.. everyone has a different definition for things. I would say yes because it looks like a game ready to be sold.
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Post Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 8:28 pm
Before I wasn't agree but now I have same opinion of you Bock
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Post Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 12:15 am
It was hard to read the second ad Bock posted beyond "Black Hole Ass" for the Mega CD. :P
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Post Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 10:35 am
Speaking as someone who owns a copy... I would say no.

The magazine scans show it was planned for release, but we know it was cancelled.

Do we know if it was commercially released in Hong Kong? No we don't.

Do we know if it was old stock found in a warehouse that was sold on? We don't know that either.

I think the incorrect artwork on the back shows this is not a game ready to be sold in stores.

It's a lovely game to own, and one I am proud to have a copy of, but I don't believe it's correct to consider it a part of a full set.
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Post Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 1:02 pm
Bock wrote
I didn't pay attention to it until today but if you look closely:
http://www.smspower.org/forums/files/image2_116.jpeg

The images _behind_ the text are from The Dragon's Trap and Devilish.
It's definitively a mistake here :)
I wonder if they could have canned it because of that mistake?


Actually.... I hadn't paid attention before but this is the case for many European Game Gear games. See those three in the picture. All of them are showing pictures from _other_ games behind the text. And I only looked at those three fairly randomly, I assume many more are the same way.

So that theory I made before is not really applicable (at least this wasn't the reason why Surf Ninjas wasn't properly sold in Europe).

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