Good catch on the 5-screw Zanac, it's tough and one of the last five or so I got. I had to search for it specifically. Check my article when the new e-Zine comes out soon!
What is the signifacance of the 3 screw to 5 screw? i was just curious. and does it only matter for certian games? the only one i could find that is a five screw i have is araknoid.
What is the signifacance of the 3 screw to 5 screw? i was just curious. and does it only matter for certian games? the only one i could find that is a five screw i have is araknoid.
Just like sealed games vs loose cartridges, some people prefer to focus on little production differences that show the progression of the manufacturing processes of the games.
Five-screw games are generally the oldest versions of a particular game. To cut costs and production time, a couple years into production Nintendo remolded the cartridge case to eliminate the top two screws, replacing them with molded tabs that worked just as effectively.
The game inside is generally the same, but depending on when the game was released, one version might be particularly rare compared to the other. Arkanoid's production life straddled the changeover almost perfectly - one will find that 5-screw and 3-screw Arkanoids appear with almost even frequency.
Some games are extraordinarily rare to find in a particular screw variant, though...ones that just barely went into production when the factory was using up the last of the "old" cases.
Some don't exist at all in the later form, like Stack-Up which was well out of production by the time the changeover happened.
Is this rare? I believe it's the matching box too. sorry the pic is a bit dark (atleast on my monitor it is). But it's definitely a 5-screw Spy Hunter.
So next month you have an article on the screw variants? I'm very interested in them since I have several that are waiting to be sold. Zannac and Mario Bros. are two that come to mind right away.
So next month you have an article on the screw variants? I'm very interested in them since I have several that are waiting to be sold. Zannac and Mario Bros. are two that come to mind right away.
In fact, Dangevin has just made an article about screw variants in this month's e-Zine
Hate to bump and old thread, but I recently had a guy offer me a 3 screw Gyromite with converter. 1) I thought all the ones with converters were 5 screw. 2) is it worth $20?
^ I thought it smelled fishy as well. I passed initally, but i figured i should have asked here beforehard. Hopefully Braveheart will chime in soon, i figure he'd know.
I've never heard of a 3-screw converter Gyromite? Logically by the time the 3-screw was around they wouldn't be using the converter. I call BS but stranger things have happened right? 5-Screw Super Contra and Track & Field II to name 2 of them.
With the theories behind the 5 screw Super Contra and Track and Field II i'd say that they aren't too strange. It would be VERY strange, however, to find a famicom converter in a three screw cart. Just wouldn't make much sense.
^Jason knows there was at least one. The MTPO with famicom adapter inside.
Although my theory with that was it was so popular that Xmas, they needed to import some spare JP boards to fill demand. Didn't have to worry about that problem with Gyro, unless they just plain ran out of US boards and towards the end of Gyro's shelf-life the reorders were so minimal, it was cheaper to gank fami boards than make a new run.
But as always, pure conjecture about something that isn't even confirmed yet
Comments
3-screw Tennis is a bit tougher to find, but I don't think so much so that people might pay a premium.
I think I'd be happy with Tennis prices on those 2.
What is the signifacance of the 3 screw to 5 screw? i was just curious. and does it only matter for certian games? the only one i could find that is a five screw i have is araknoid.
Just like sealed games vs loose cartridges, some people prefer to focus on little production differences that show the progression of the manufacturing processes of the games.
Five-screw games are generally the oldest versions of a particular game. To cut costs and production time, a couple years into production Nintendo remolded the cartridge case to eliminate the top two screws, replacing them with molded tabs that worked just as effectively.
The game inside is generally the same, but depending on when the game was released, one version might be particularly rare compared to the other. Arkanoid's production life straddled the changeover almost perfectly - one will find that 5-screw and 3-screw Arkanoids appear with almost even frequency.
Some games are extraordinarily rare to find in a particular screw variant, though...ones that just barely went into production when the factory was using up the last of the "old" cases.
Some don't exist at all in the later form, like Stack-Up which was well out of production by the time the changeover happened.
So next month you have an article on the screw variants? I'm very interested in them since I have several that are waiting to be sold. Zannac and Mario Bros. are two that come to mind right away.
In fact, Dangevin has just made an article about screw variants in this month's e-Zine
Although my theory with that was it was so popular that Xmas, they needed to import some spare JP boards to fill demand. Didn't have to worry about that problem with Gyro, unless they just plain ran out of US boards and towards the end of Gyro's shelf-life the reorders were so minimal, it was cheaper to gank fami boards than make a new run.
But as always, pure conjecture about something that isn't even confirmed yet