And why was this cart made if it is no different than the regular Zelda release?

A quik game to see if someone's nes was broken. Why zelda? who knows (probably because it kicks ass)
but I guess they made this cart cause then they wouldn't have to take one out of stock. And made it yellow so it wouldn't be sold on accident.

Actually I think the yellow carts were probably to give an air of secrecy to the service they provide. Sure, you could test broken stuff with normal means, but they had all kinds of special techie-looking equipment to make it seem like the magical service center gurus (read: retail lackeys) would perform major surgery to resurrect your ailing toaster/cart/accessory. Part of this shroud was the yellow carts, and still mystery persists for newer retrofans who erroneously think the Zelda has some special diagnostic version of the ROM inside.

And that came out looking very well Kev, good crisp work. Although now that the temperature is changing I looked earlier this week and the tape on my test cart came loose and now it's leaning up against the front of the glass Prolly because I got hand oils all over it while I was cradling it lovingly before relegating it to its shadowbox sarcophagus. Humidity did the rest.

the owner of the cart emailed me back, and said he doesn,t have tools too take it apart, and it is real.......quote

taking it apart won't really help at all anyways.

If the Zelda cart looked like this, I think it would be cooler =P

http://thewarpzone.classicgaming....

...I nearly had a heart attack and died when I saw that.  Whose limbs (or rather, how many people's limbs) did you have to break to get a hold of *that*?  Something like that I'd want more than an NWC.

^I agree! I hadn't ever heard of the actual Zelda proto....who currently owns one? How many confirmed?

Insane.

I think just one is confirmed.

The page says Dreamtr owns it, and I REALLY REALLY doubt he would sell this one.
~~NGD

Yep, there's only one and I've had it for years...One thing this site is missing is info on these protos...I've got around 400 or so NES, and only "some" are on WarP Zone.

Dream,

You could always let me "borrow" all your protos to document for NintendoAge...

Just Kidding... I never knew about the Zelda proto.. How in the world did Nintendo let that one slip?

I thought Nintendo tried very hard to keep their protos at HQ.

How did you ever get a hold of that one Dream ???! O_O

You must have the most protos outta any of us here. Does the proto differ at all from the general release?

I had my ways Actually, it was a total random luck trade. Someone found it in Los Angeles about 7 years ago at a flea market, posted it on Neo-Geo.com, and everyone thought it was a Zelda test cart (the NES people). I traded a Metal Slug MVS Arcade cart for it, opened it up when I was at the guy's place and voila!

But yeah, we really need some prototype stuff and documentation on this site because it's sorely lacking right now.

I totally agree Jason....but how can we get the info in there? I know you don't have the time to scan all those carts and play them for differences, and it would take way more than a weekend trip down you way for me to do it. If Paul is game to do it, maybe come to some kind of arrangement with him. Open to ideas.
~~NGD

I agree, that'd be awsome if we could get more proto information doccumented on the site.

NGD: The differences can be added as we go along, as a "work in progress" sort of thing that gets updated. Some of the beginning information does not have to be gameplay differences necessarily, but something like: "Rollergames" , from the old archives of Video Games & COmputer Entertainment Magazine, unknown if different than the released version. Current owner: joeblah, previous owners: crapboy12

I don't think they all need scans, because some are going to have pics of the game opened as well, and besides that, I don't have a scanner =P

A good beginning source is the stuff from Warp Zone which I can add on to.

In all seriousness, Dream... If you ever need help with documenting your protos.. Let me know.. I live pretty close and would be glad to help.. Although I do understand if you don't want anyone else touching your protos..

Pserge: You can come by and deal with them, I'm fine with that, just plan on spending a lot of time with them, they never seem to end, LOL

I'm a bit late in the game on this thread but I can confirm that this was my personal cartridge at Nintendo and that is my handwriting on the label; my initials "HP", Nintendo of America "NOA" copy and the date "2-23-87". This cart was my first chance to play The Legend of Zelda in cartridge form with battery back-up. I had previously played and completed the game on FCD (Famicom Disc System) format (in Japanese with no English translation help! Fun!!) and so I really welcomed the "invisible loads" that the cartridge version afforded. Great memories there!

We're not worthy! We're not worthy!

A update to this thread here:

http://www.nintendoage.com/forum/...