how do they do it?

Either they are lucky and find them at a yard sale,
or you do lots of legwork, making contacts, mostly with older people from the industry.

Their is always somebody selling prototypes, but nes protos are more sought after.

One way is by starting a want to buy thread. I've personally got 3 doubles at the very least that I'm willing to sell, Dreamtr is also very good to work with if you're interested in buying NES protos. No one likes a tire kicker though, so just make sure you offer something fair if you're interested in buying a proto.

Sometimes they're easier to get than others, it's just a matter of being patient and having more cash on hand then the next guy when they do come up .

They buy them, next question

No really --- I think someone from the original company that were working at the time usually has them, or maybe an editor from a magazine that got an early copy to test out, they either give them away and sell them, which is how they get into the market so the Nolan brothers can buy them.

But the Nolans are definitely the experts at hunting them down. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

With the 4 or 5 I've had pass through my hands, I've been a lucky son-of-a-gun at getting them. DreamTR sold me a couple (Darkman and Ninja Gaiden III, one via a WTB thread I'd made and the other via eBay; both of those are now in the Nolan brothers' hands), and a user at another forum (who, btw, claimed to have bought out a development house) sold me a pair of Super Turrican NTSC protos (one is in Dream's hands now, the other in the Nolan brothers' hands). Still waiting for the day when I turn up one at a flea market here (yeah, right, lol ).

sometimes they are found by knowing people in the industry who just happen to have it lying around. or garage sales (a real stretch but they do pop up unknowingly to someone who doesn't know the diff between a real release n a proto w an old system)

One word: Money.

If you have the desire and the disposable income, they're out there to be had.

we just ask!

ebay or the nolans lol

You find them by research and patience, when there's a will there's a way.

I have found 4 protos in the wild on two seperate occasions. I was at the OCC swap meet in Costa Mesa CA when I saw a lot of 3 of them sticking out from under some junk. Guy wanted 5.00 each. I ended up talking him down to 1.00 each for them as I told him them were broken.. lol as the games were cut out and the EPROMS were sticking out. Turns out this particular lot had some games that were property of VIRGIN GAMES and used to be owned by famous video game composer Tommy Tallarico "Didn't know this at the time"! One of the games in the lot was a sound editor written by Tommy during the early 90's "A one of the kind gem!" The other rare proto was Color a dinosaur, as it is the only known proto in existence of its kind. I wouldn't have known any of this if I had not talked to The Nolan's " & DreamTR" here on NA. The Nolan's expressed their passion to preserve this part of history and I totally respected this. Great Guys!

But to answer your question, you probably won't find them in the wild! I just got lucky to tell the truth. You probably would need a nice bank account to pull together most of the stuff available today!

i would love a color a dinosaur proto

Talk to the Nolan bros., or DreamTR. They seem to be the bounty hunters for Prototypes around these here parts.

As far as flea markets go, if you live outside of an area where game developer studios thrive, you are at a stark disadvantage from the get-go.

I am new to these forums so forgive my ignorance, but who are 'the nolan brothers'?

the nolans are prototype collectors and other wierd shit and they r sum kickass dudes

The Nolan brothers = MrMark0673 and BeaglePuss.  Great dudes, they are...in fact, I even sold them a few NES protos I had lying around.

Total douches. 

agreed 

that reminds me of something. if someone still lives in the area i would just love to send them to that flea market with a big shopping list.