So, I have this Castlevania Famicom Prototype...

[zcichy]

I have no idea who to ask, and no idea where to look. I am curious as to what the value of this is. It's a prototype cartridge of the original Castlevania for the Famicom (Japanese Nes). I know that things of this nature are extremely rare, so it's difficult to appraise. Anyone have any good guesses, or perhaps can point me in the right direction?

I don't have any pictures of it right at the moment, but I'll post some after I get home. I also can't find any pictures online of *any* famicom prototype cartridges, only nes. It fits into the Famicom so that the board itself lays flat over the top of the famicom, with a connector on the bottom. The top is completely exposed with various chips, with labels that appear to be hand written. The only way you'd know it's Castlevania, is by popping it into a Famicom and booting it up.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone here might be able to offer me!

Zac

[Hobie-wan]

Nintendoage.com is probably a better place to ask.

[Rurouni_Fencer]

could be a pirated copy as well..

[zcichy]

It's possible, but doubtful... This is from an old box that came straight from the Nintendo Redmond building over a decade ago (which had been sitting in in an office for many many years before that). The box had a famicom, and all manner of games. I've held onto it for quite some time, but never inquired to anybody how much any of it might be worth. The mysterious Castlevania cartridge has always stirred up curiosity for me, but I was always too lazy to try and verify what exactly it is.

Zac

[benderx]

I do remember another Castlevania game after the first one came, it was called Vampire Killer.

[Para]

I suggest reading this guide if you need more info on protos.
I knew a little bit about them but this guide certainly helps. Maybe it can answer some questions, or verify whether if is a real prototype or not.

http://nesplayer.com/protos/index.htm

Post pics soon. If you plan on selling it I would be interested but it really depends how much money you're looking to get out of it.

[Flake]

What's with all the new folk creating accounts just to ask what stuff is worth lately?

[Rurouni_Fencer]

I do remember another Castlevania game after the first one came, it was called Vampire Killer.

Vampire Killer was released for the MSX2 home computer in Japan the same year as Castlevania for the NES..

And also, if it's a Castlevania game for the Japanese Famicom, it goes under the title "Akumajou Dracula" (or 'Demon Castle Dracula'.) It wouldn't be called Castlevania in Japan.

Hope this clears up some stuff for your research! Good luck - and PLEASE post pics when you get them, as well as what you find! I'm a huge Castlevania nut, and there quite a few other Castlevaniacs on this site looking forward to hearing about what you find out!

[k.vlaros]

Take big, clear pictures

Write in complete sentences (unlike the post I'm composing)

Have an ebay account with perfect feedback

Detail the pedigree of the proto to the best of your knowledge

Post auction on ebay, ending on a weekend, using other game proto listings as a guide for success

^ These steps are your surest route to determining the proto's value.

Alternate approach is to to all the above replacing the last step with a long term 'buy it now / make an offer' style listing. Nintendoage has a long thread discussing pros and cons of auction vs. bin/obo listings.

PS, you may or may not get more interest and cash from a listing on Yahoo Japan. But you'd need a trusted partner for that route....