NES Action 52 Prototype Cart?

Cheetahmen, Questions, Rare Game Showcase Add comments

Jun 032010

I was recently contacted by a gentleman named Greg wondering if I had any more information on Action 52 prototype cartridges for the original 8-bit Nintendo. Since my knowledge is quite limited on these, I figured I’d open this one up to the gaming community to try to get him some feedback on them that way. (Post updated here)

From Greg Pabich:

In 1990-1991 I owned a large used movie and game distributorship. I was referred to Vince Perri to see about buying a new game called ACTION 52. I went to Miami to meet him and see the game. Long story short, I did not buy the game, but I did wind up with a prototype copy. It came with the usual box, a plastic sleeve (that did not have the Active logo embossed on it) and the instructional manual, game list and Cheetahmen comicbook. This is the only one like it I have ever seen.

The differences in the production games and this one are :

PROTOTYPE: blue motherboard, paper label (like your Variation 1) and the motherboard DOES NOT have the usual two blue capacitors?? in the upper right hand corner.

My copy has a clear plastic case and has metal screws that hold the cartridge together. The plastic cartridge body is slightly different and the motherboard is entirely different in electronic configuration. It is stamped “MADE IN AMERICA” in small white letters at the top of the motherboard

I have a second further variation. It has a clear case similar to the production style cart, black motherboard, no “capacitors” and has a painted label(decals?) like the standard production carts. I am not certain how similar this is to your Variation 1 motherboard as your noted Variation has the paper label and mine has the more “see through” decal like label. This cart is stamped “MADE IN THE USA” in large white letters that are upside down on the bottom of the motherboard

PRODUCTION: green motherboard, painted label(decals?) and the motherboard has the two blue capacitors?? in the upper right hand corner of the motherboard.

Has anyone else seen these two early versions or do I have something unique?

I think the prototype IS unique, but I don’t know how the second variation (black motherboard)I have fits into the timeline?

While I can’t say I know much about the differences between these models, it seems that Mike Sanders at Cheetahmen Corner has been able to shine some light on these unique cartridges in his thread.

If you have any knowledge that would be helpful for Greg regarding these games, feel free to comment below. Best of luck Greg!

UPDATE: Feel free to read my followup articles: “What’s Rarer: A Prototype Action 52 Cart or a Person Who’s Met Vince Perri?” and “The Evolution of the Action 52”

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GREG PABICH

In 1990-1991 I owned a large used movie and game distributorship. I was referred to Vince Perri to see about buying a new game called ACTION 52. I went to Miami to meet him and see the game. Long story short, I did not buy the game, but I did wind up with a prototype copy. It came with the usual box, a plastic sleeve (that did not have the Active logo embossed on it) and the instructional manual, game list and Cheetahmen comicbook. This is the only one like it I have ever seen.

The differences in the production games and this one are :

PROTOTYPE: blue motherboard, paper label (like your Variation 1) and the motherboard DOES NOT have the usual two blue capacitors?? in the upper right hand corner.
My copy has a clear plastic case and has metal screws that hold the cartridge together. The plastic cartridge body is slightly different and the motherboard is entirely different in electronic configuration. It is stamped “MADE IN AMERICA” in small white letters at the top of the motherboard

I have a second further variation. It has a clear case similiar to the production style cart, black motherboard, no “capacitors” and has a painted label(decals?) like the standard production carts. I am not certain how similiar this is to your Variation 1 motherboard as your noted Variation has the paper label and mine has the more “see through” decal like label. This cart is stamped “MADE IN THE USA” in large white letters that are upside down on the bottom of the motherboard

PRODUCTION: green motherboard, painted label(decals?) and the motherboard has the two blue capacitors?? in the upper right hand corner of the motherboard.

Has anyone else seen these two early versions or do I have something unique?

I think the prototype IS unique, but I don’t know how the second variation (black motherboard)I have fits into the timeline?
I am interested in selling these items as well as a copy of cheetahmen II and a sega version of Action 52
greg pabich

I will now refer you to the Cheetahmen Corner website forum “Action 52 Prototype” for more info and questions answered by the Action 52/Cheetahmen expert MIKE SANDERS. What is now determined to be:(1) My Blue PCB (and other differences) cart appears to be a unique Test copy of Action 52. (2)The black PCB version I have( without capacitors) appears to likewise be another unique and also a heretofore undiscovered Test copy version.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me @ gpabich@live.com
http://www.videogamemuseum.com gamesogre

Greg,

Congrats on those finds! You’ve certainly come across something extremely rare!
greg pabich

thanks for the post!
Any info you have about Action 52 and Cheetahmen 2 is appreciated.
So far I have been unable to find anyone who has ever seen either the BLUE PCB( no capacitors-no E-Proms) version or the BLACK PCB (no capacitors) version. Mike at Cheetahmen Corner(thanks for his great help too) suggests these were probably the earliest “TEST” versions of the game. Makes sense as I received them B4 there was a production model being sold to the public.
greg pabich

thanks for the post!
Any info you have about Action 52 and Cheetahmen 2 is appreciated.
So far I have been unable to find anyone who has ever seen either the BLUE PCB( no capacitors-no E-Proms) version or the BLACK PCB (no capacitors) version. Mike at Cheetahmen Corner(thanks for his great help too) suggests these were probably the earliest “TEST” versions of the game. Makes sense as I received them B4 there was a production model being sold to the public.
http://thepunkeffect.com Pat the NES Punk

That blue version looks like it’s the real deal. The black one, I’m not sure if that’s just a variation of the production model… we’d have to play and see the horrific differences!
http://www.videogamemuseum.com gamesogre

Good point Pat. Greg, have you played through each of the cartridges enough to notice a difference in game play, title screen, menus, etc?
http://www.videogamemuseum.com gamesogre

Funny enough a black Action 52 cartridge just popped up on eBay today. It has a starting bid of $100 and a BIN of $200. It sounds like that one is simply a production variant that may be less common.

Plus, here’s some feedback on this mystery from the folks at Nintendo Age.
greg pabich

When I got home today, I found the same posting on Ebay. Seems like someone from the Netherlands was selling a complete in box Action 52 and then this BLACK PCB cart only version. I examined the posted photos in detail and it appears that it does in fact match the one I have (no capacitors) which is evident in the photo of the cart back. This seems to indicate that there are at least two of these although I still don’t know why they would be so different from the Standard green PCB production model(rev A)?
I think the jury is still out on exactly where it falls in the sequence of the development. The thing that supports production is the presence of the EPROMS, the thing that suggests test is the complete absence of the capacitors that Mike at Cheetahmen Corner suggests were used to somehow defeat the NES lockout chip
greg pabich

Many thanks to Jason at National Game Depot for the FANTASTIK info available on his most comprehensive list . This info really helps clear the picture on the various versions of Action 52.

It does appear that the Black PCB version I have, although rare, is likely an early production cart.

It also appears that the BLUE PCB version with the BLUE label, screws( to provide access to the Board), a different cartridge molded body and the “MADE IN AMERICA” lettering on the Board appears to be a prototype/test model previously undiscovered.

Much closer examination shows that there are in fact EPROMS on the board hidden under the BLUE label, but they are unlike any of the production models. Mike at CHEETAHMEN CORNER asked that I open and photograph the board which I will do and share.

I
dearon

Hey!

just letting you know its my action 52 cart on Ebay

if someone should have any more info , or knows its value? id love to read that

JW, but when i compare the green and black board, they are totally different.. are there any more black ones known to be out there ?
greg pabich

the all knowing list @ national game depot says there are two BLACK PCB variations. One with the BLUE label; one with the CLEAR decal label.

I HAVE ONE OF THE CLEAR LABEL MODELS, YOU DO, OBVIOUSLY JASON @ NGD HAS ONE OF EACH AND I HAVE SEEN A PICTURE OF AN EARLIER SALE ON EBAY THAT HAD A CLEAR LABEL BLACK PCB THAT WAS SOLD AS COMPLETE IN BOX (WITH AN ENTRY BLANK FOR THE $104,000 “CONTEST”) WHICH WOULD SUGGEST THAT IT WAS LIKELY A PRODUCTION MODEL

It seems like the BLACK PCB model was a production model but was very limited in the number produced before they switched to the GREEN boards. I cannot pin down the numbers, but because they lacked real distribution, but I don’t think many were made of either – period.
greg pabich

Oh, I also should mention that the CIB picture of that EBAY BLACK PCB sale shows the blue label as one of the items contained in the box
http://www.videogamemuseum.com gamesogre

Here’s the link to dearon’s eBay listing for that Action 52 cart with the black board:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ACTION-52-ultra-rare-BLACK-cart-NES-game-/120581617338?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item1c133976ba
dearon

perhaps a stupid question… but could i change the 2 carts i own to have the black one complete in box ?
and would that increase its value alot ?

i just really dont know about these action 52s :p as i live in the netherlands i know more about pal games

i just want to sell it for the right price, not that i sell it for way less or somethin

Thnx!
GREG PABICH

LET ME COPY A POST I MADE IN THE CHEETAHMEN CORNER EARLIER:
MIKE:

I RECEIVED THE GAME FROM AUSTRALIA AND IT IS A “REV B” VERSION. WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT THE REV B LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE CHEETAHMEN ll GAME. IT HAS THE EXACT SAME PINS MISSING, THE WARNING DECAL ON THE REVERSE OF THE CART IS NOT IN PLACE AND IT HAS TWO ORANGE CAPACITORS. THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE CHEETAHMEN HAS IS THAT IT HAS LESS PRODUCTION PROMS AND OF COURSE, THE CHEETAHMEN ‘S PROMS SAY “CHEETAHMEN”.
IT LOOKS LIKE CHEETAHMEN WAS MADE OF LEFT OVER REV B CARTS WITH A CHANGE IN A VERY FEW PROMS.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE MISSING PINS ON REV B (SAME AS ON CHEETAHMEN)??? THERE HAD TO BE A REASON FOR THIS DELIBERATE CHANGE. DID REV B HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE OVERSEAS MARKET?( I BOUGHT THIS IN FROM A GAMER IN AUSTRALIA) DO YOU KNOW IF REVISION B IS MORE OR LESS SCARCE THAN
REV A??
GREG PABICH

I opened the BLUE PCB version up as Mike suggested.
This is what i found:

THE PCB
*The PCB has EPROMS and no production PROMS that are labeled “ACTION 52″ as all other production carts do
* It does not utilize capacitors as do the other versions
* The board has a white hand lettered “MADE IN AMERICA” across the top of the board just below the pins
* The board is a deep BLUE color
THE CART
* Both pieces(top and bottom) come from different molds than the production carts. The arrow and the word “TOP” are missing on the front; all reference to “ACTIVE ENTERPRISES, PAT PENDING AND MADE IN U.S.A” are missing from the reverse.
* The side flanges on the top piece are FLAT instead of curved
* The cart is designed to accomodate three metal screws to allow access to the PCB
* The cart utilizes the BLUE label instead of the clear decal label
I took some good photos of the cart and the PCB which I will share with you tonight.
.
greg pabich

POSTED ON CHEETAHMEN CORNER

PROBABLE PRODUCTION SEQUENCE:

• PROTOTYPE BLUE PCB BLUE LABEL
• EARLY PRODUCTION BLACK PCB BLUE LABEL
• EARLY PRODUCTION BLACK PCB CLEAR DECAL LABEL
• PRODUCTION (REV A) GREEN PCB BLUE LABEL
• PRODUCTION (REV A) GREEN PCB CLEAR DECAL LABEL
• PRODUCTION ( REV B) GREEN PCB CLEAR DECAL LABEL
NO WARNING LABEL ON REVERSE TWO ORANGE CAPACITORS.
MANY PINS REMOVED

• CHEETAHMEN ll (REV O) GREEN PCB CLEAR DECAL LABEL
NO WARNING LABEL ON REVERSE MOST HAD GOLD CHEETAHMEN
LABELS TWO ORANGE CAPACITORS EXACTLY THE SAME PINS
HAVE BEEN REMOVED

NOTE: THE CARTS USED ON REV B AND CHEETAHMEN ll ARE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL IN THEIR DIFFERENCES FROM THE OTHER STANDARD PRODUCTION VERSIONS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT CHEETAHMEN ll CARTS WERE PRODUCED FROM INVENTORY THAT ORIGINALLY WAS USED TO PRODUCE REV B GIVING RISE TO THE QUESTION OF WHO WAS PRODUCING THE GAME THEN? I WOULD OFFER THAT IT WAS THE SAME COMPANY THAT ULTIMATELY HAD THE CHEETAHMEN IN STORAGE.
greg pabich

ONE LAST POST B/4 I SEND PICTURES. AS I WAS PUTTING ALL SIX CARTS TOGETHER FOR A GROUP PHOTO, I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE PROTOTYPE. IS 3/4″ SHORTER THAN ALL THE OTHER CARTS. AT THE BASE, THERE ARE THREE RIDGES INSTEAD OF FOUR IN THE PRODUCTION CARTS
greg pabich

Mark:
back in town and hope to spend the week on gameplay so we can report on the Protototype, especially the new Cheetahmen game.
Greg
nes_pimp

I have a black PCB version of the game. After playing it for a few minutes scan lines appear on the TV, and the game heats up a bit. Ive played it on multiple systems and and TV’s so I know it the game. Have you played your black version Greg how does it work for you?