so besides the title screen, is this any different than the normal game?

Hey you might want to change the title to something like Dr. Mario Virus Proto or something. I almost started a thread because it wasn't very obvious.

Well, yeah, this is very interesting because dr. mario is MMC1 where this is nrom (no mapper). So either it changed in development, this is a pirate version (many multicarts are just a collection of simple mapperless games like nrom), or ???

And what's it doing on a US board when I would think the game was developed in Japan? Was it developed over here? Did Nintendo actually buy the game from a US developer and not develop it in house? Did it just have a complete name change/turn before release? Did they make it as virus but then decide it wouldn't sell as virus?

The idea that it's a fake because it's on a non proto nrom cart--well I don't think there is a proto version of nrom. And Nrom was alway eprom compatible so there isn't a need for an e-nrom.

How interesting! Can't wait to see how this plays out!

iD Software (those who made Wolfenstein 3D and Doom etc.) made Super Mario Bros 3 (or at least some parts of it) for the PC back in the days, hoping that Nintendo would license that game. But Nintendo didnt license it.

Could there be a similar story with Virus, that some 3rd party developer made the game in hope that Nintendo would license it?

EDIT: I see now that the Virus title screen says "(c) Nintendo", so i guess not. Seems like an internal made Nintendo game then, or?

i cant believe he spent $7 at a flea market on a dr mario that was dirty and missing the label

When you see the end price of this auction, you may think that was a great investment

I hear you on that though, that thing is a mess!

haha yeah no kidding

whats funny about the auction is that the guy sent a question to the seller asking him to stop it for 300. The person who asked it, just looks like a horses ass, and didnt realize that everyone can see it.

Unfortunately, someone who is currently VERY actively making repros has a copy of the ROM from the last copy that went on sale.

If the last ROM is owned by a few members, especially a repro maker, I can't justify spending several thousand on it only for that person to release the copy they have.

^ what if we say pretty please, haha. So basically it's not confirmed that it's unreleased you're saying? Makes sense.

It's definitely unreleased, it's just a matter of who has the rom (and what they plan on doing with it). The only way Mark and I can spend the big bucks is if we can get a kick-back in the end from reproductions.  As a result, this isn't looking like a possible candidate.

I. Want. That. ROM!

I know where you can find it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI....=

Ok, who wanted it shipped to the moon?

not my thing so it wasn't this Canuck

Quotes from the Assembler forums (from Assembler himself):
"Hong Kong rom sent to eprom"
and
"I have this game on a famiclone. Someone had a shit game and reflashed to cash in."

Any truth to this? Can anyone verify one way or the other? I know that another copy of this game was found on a Tetris prototype PCB. That copy had to have been legit, and I still believe that this copy is legit as well (although the above quotes have me worried).

Unless he has a pict, I don't believe him. Of course there are copies of Dr Mario on pirate multicarts but they wouldn't bother changing so much. Also very unlikely they would happen to choose the name that Nintendo used for their prototype. Just in that one screenshot there are TONS of graphics changes, completely different animations, and speed is replaced with pill count. Along with a completely different title screen with an earlier year (and Nintendo copyright left in place) I would think there is no way its a pirate.

I basically just said the same thing to Assembler, it just doesn't add up.

- Licensing info still intact
- Simpler mapper with an earlier copyright
- Too much changed for no real pay off

I say pics or GTFO as well, thanks for info Bunny!

Maybe he's trying to scare away potential bidders so he could get it cheaper?

Definitely a possibility, but I assume he is just misinformed or his memory isn't serving him well.

Also, if it were on a pirate cart, it wouldn't be the first time it happened before an actual proto surfaced.  The most complete version of Time Diver Eon man for the a very long time was found on a pirate, and the Ninja Gaiden Genesis port can only be found on pirate carts as far as I know.

I know there are others, just can't think of them off the top of my head.  With that all being said, I still think he's just mistaken.

I have a prototype Ninja Gaiden game from old old old GameFan Magazine archives, so there is at least one of those that exists...

Codename for VS Unisystem Dr. Mario is VU (i.e Virus)


There is only one other Virus proto I have seen but I have never heard of this game on any multicart because wouldn't this be dumped already somewhere if it was on a multi?

Very cool, didn't realize a legit one was accounted for.  At the same time, I'm far from surprised that you have a copy .


Wow, never heard this one before.  Again, points toward this one being legit.


Even if it wasn't dumped, you'd have to figure at least ONE member of the most active NES forum around would have owned/recalled/mentioned the hack previously, right?

Couldn't agree with you more, I think Assembler is mistaken.

The only things that make it a littlw wtf is the cover on the EPROM. The writing looks too current and a little similar to the cover with some lettering style...biggest thing is no one has heard/seen a ROM of this on any multi...

damn, someone wanted this bad, lol

Worse than Matt and I this time too, we were number 2.  Would have loved to have gotten this one.

Eh, can't win them all, right?  Congrats to the winner!