A listing for a Rockman 4 prototype has appeared on Yahoo Auctions Japan. It is one of few protos developed in a Famicom Disk System RAM adapter. No telling just how different it is from the final retail version, but it's not every day we come across something quite like this.
If you're interested on bidding, you'll need to go through a proxy service (Rinkya, for example). Bidding starts at 30,000 Yen (roughly $293.43 US).
Source: Yahoo Auctions
That, with the proxy service fees, I can see this going for about $350-400+, and that's not even including bid wars. I'm gonna bookmark that link to see how high it goes for.
ReplyDeleteHere's a rough translation of the item's description:
ReplyDeleteUsed.
The details are uncertain. On the outside it appears to be a developer's version of a ROM, but I think it could have been used as a storefront demo or sales promotion sample version.
I remember the contents being the normal version of Rockman 4, but it hasn't been played in more than 10 years, and I don't have the equipment necessary to run it, so I can't confirm it works.
How about we call it a "collector's item?"
Shipping will be done by secure You Pack. (Translation note: You Pack = Japan Post's parcel delivery service.)
"No claim, no return" please.
That's the best I can translate it. Neat find!
Hopefully it's this build.
ReplyDeleteAnd let's hope whoever wins it has the means to dump it.
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming it'll reach over 100,000 Yen and much higher if it's anything like that Monster Party prototype auction.
ReplyDeleteEspecially with how popular these games were back then.
Yeah, I think that is a legit prediction for ending price. This has a wide collector appeal because many Rockman fans seek prototype carts and also hardcore Famicom collectors in general also going to want it just because it's an Disk System proto.
DeleteAgreed! The prospect of a radically different Rockman 4 excites me! Of course, all prototypes do.
ReplyDeleteEnded for 101,001JPY, as Nigoli and I speculated.
ReplyDeleteIs this still going on?
ReplyDelete