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Hello all,

it has been years since I have logged in here or posted. I found this cart and thought it was interesting, been wanting a copy of ALF. It looks like it has never had a sticker applied, so I opened it up and see that there is an eprom board inside. What do you think? could it be a prototype?

I will dump it, but that could be months away.

IMG_0592.jpeg (2.73 MB)

It certainly could be, or it could be a final version for review. I guess we can only hope to find a copy of ALF that is less complete and polished…

Maxim wrote

It certainly could be, or it could be a final version for review. I guess we can only hope to find a copy of ALF that is less complete and polished…

Ha, if only we could be blessed with that..

But I guess it is for sure not a production cart with a missing label? I found this cart in Europe, I just realized that there was only an American release looking at the database.

Only thing that jumps out as maybe different is cut off text on title screen. Not sure if that could just be a modern tv issue, or side effect of running an NTSC game on a PAL console.

IMG_0593.jpeg (2.57 MB)

Nice find.

Let me know if you need help dumping it (or I would also offer to buy it and dump/release).

The cut out column suggest a VDP bit is set which is normally used for scrolling, so I would guess this is not exactly a final build, but unfortunately it doesn't have the "other" title screen sometimes seen in catalogs!

Dumping and comparing dumps would be easier to find out any differences :)

I have all the tools for the dump, only issue is that I am currently in Germany for work, will not be back home in USA for some time. Trying to gather some PAL stuff while I am here :)

I dont have any other Sega protos, but have been collecting Atari prototypes, you can see some of my collection at this link. Dont really want to part with it, think it is cool that I found it in the wild.

https://forums.atariage.com/topic/282721-dumbos-flying-circus-4483-wip/?do=findC...

Bock wrote

The cut out column suggest a VDP bit is set which is normally used for scrolling, so I would guess this is not exactly a final build, but unfortunately it doesn't have the "other" title screen sometimes seen in catalogs!

Only a part of the first column seems to be cut out, which probably means it's the TV screen cutting out that part, not the 'hide first column' VDP bit...

Hey guys, wanted to update you all on this. I was able to dump this cart today, unfortunately it is a 100% match to the released version. Oh well..

At least it motivated me to build this cool cart dumper, so I didn't have to desolder the EPROM.

IMG_3296.jpeg (3.11 MB)

Neat, where did you find the plans for the dumper?

dink wrote

Neat, where did you find the plans for the dumper?

The dumper is my own design, maybe I can document it some time if I het the chance

I applaud the care you took with the eeprom! I dont think many people would do that. Very cool :)

Author	Message
Wickeycolumbus Joined: 20 Feb 2011 Posts: 15	Could this be an ALF prototype? Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 2:39 pm
Wickeycolumbus Joined: 20 Feb 2011 Posts: 15	Hello all, it has been years since I have logged in here or posted. I found this cart and thought it was interesting, been wanting a copy of ALF. It looks like it has never had a sticker applied, so I opened it up and see that there is an eprom board inside. What do you think? could it be a prototype? I will dump it, but that could be months away. IMG_0592.jpeg (2.73 MB)

Maxim Site Admin Joined: 19 Oct 1999 Posts: 14745 Location: London	Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 2:57 pm
	It certainly could be, or it could be a final version for review. I guess we can only hope to find a copy of ALF that is less complete and polished…

Wickeycolumbus Joined: 20 Feb 2011 Posts: 15	Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 3:26 pm
Wickeycolumbus Joined: 20 Feb 2011 Posts: 15	Maxim wrote It certainly could be, or it could be a final version for review. I guess we can only hope to find a copy of ALF that is less complete and polished… Ha, if only we could be blessed with that.. But I guess it is for sure not a production cart with a missing label? I found this cart in Europe, I just realized that there was only an American release looking at the database. Only thing that jumps out as maybe different is cut off text on title screen. Not sure if that could just be a modern tv issue, or side effect of running an NTSC game on a PAL console. IMG_0593.jpeg (2.57 MB)

Bock Site Admin Joined: 08 Jul 2001 Posts: 8652 Location: Paris, France	Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 4:20 pm
	Nice find. Let me know if you need help dumping it (or I would also offer to buy it and dump/release). The cut out column suggest a VDP bit is set which is normally used for scrolling, so I would guess this is not exactly a final build, but unfortunately it doesn't have the "other" title screen sometimes seen in catalogs!

Akomander Joined: 09 Mar 2022 Posts: 20	Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 4:37 pm
Akomander Joined: 09 Mar 2022 Posts: 20	Dumping and comparing dumps would be easier to find out any differences :)

Wickeycolumbus Joined: 20 Feb 2011 Posts: 15	Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 6:06 pm
Wickeycolumbus Joined: 20 Feb 2011 Posts: 15	I have all the tools for the dump, only issue is that I am currently in Germany for work, will not be back home in USA for some time. Trying to gather some PAL stuff while I am here :) I dont have any other Sega protos, but have been collecting Atari prototypes, you can see some of my collection at this link. Dont really want to part with it, think it is cool that I found it in the wild. https://forums.atariage.com/topic/282721-dumbos-flying-circus-4483-wip/?do=findC...

sverx Joined: 05 Sep 2013 Posts: 3828 Location: Stockholm, Sweden	Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2023 1:54 pm
	Bock wrote The cut out column suggest a VDP bit is set which is normally used for scrolling, so I would guess this is not exactly a final build, but unfortunately it doesn't have the "other" title screen sometimes seen in catalogs! Only a part of the first column seems to be cut out, which probably means it's the TV screen cutting out that part, not the 'hide first column' VDP bit...

Wickeycolumbus Joined: 20 Feb 2011 Posts: 15	Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2024 10:07 pm
Wickeycolumbus Joined: 20 Feb 2011 Posts: 15	Hey guys, wanted to update you all on this. I was able to dump this cart today, unfortunately it is a 100% match to the released version. Oh well.. At least it motivated me to build this cool cart dumper, so I didn't have to desolder the EPROM. IMG_3296.jpeg (3.11 MB)

dink Joined: 09 Dec 2013 Posts: 228 Location: detroit	Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2024 2:36 pm
dink Joined: 09 Dec 2013 Posts: 228 Location: detroit	Neat, where did you find the plans for the dumper?

Wickeycolumbus Joined: 20 Feb 2011 Posts: 15	Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:18 pm
Wickeycolumbus Joined: 20 Feb 2011 Posts: 15	dink wrote Neat, where did you find the plans for the dumper? The dumper is my own design, maybe I can document it some time if I het the chance

segasonicfan Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 374 Location: USA	Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2024 7:21 am
	I applaud the care you took with the eeprom! I dont think many people would do that. Very cool :)

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