Rumble Fish Proto? (strange AW pcb)

I got this in the post today. I refrained from posting any info on this until it was in my hands.

these are not my pictures but those taken by the person who sent it to me (he didn't know what it was but thought it was a boot).
I will take pictures of it myself just that my camera skills are shit (I took some they came out fuzzy).
http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?loc=img104&image=dsc000181xp.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?loc=img104&image=dsc000160sm.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?loc=img104&image=dsc000177qm.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?loc=img104&image=dsc000192nt.jpg

as you can see, the bit that fits into the AW is extractable. the underside has rubber/thick foam 'cover'

I tried it out - works perfectly. this is the only copy of Rumble Fish I have and have only played it at the arcades a couple of times so I can't say if it's at all different (probably final release build but I can't be sure).

cool little thing. but what is it?

edit: here's a picture that came out alright to show how the 'top bit' fits onto the 'bottom bit':

so erm.. no one? if it's a boot why is it the only one to surface thus far and was found quite a while ago?

DevilRedeemed said:

http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?loc=img104&image=dsc000192nt.jpg

Click to expand...

Exactly the same picture was already posted on ArcadeRick's forum back in July. And nobody there had a clue what it is either.

LINKY

Greywolf said:

Exactly the same picture was already posted on ArcadeRick's forum back in July. And nobody there had a clue what it is either.

LINKY

Click to expand...

oh right! that was the guy I got it from that took that picture. I contacted him privately and traded with him for it.
is there anything interesting being said in that thread? I don't understand much german

DevilRedeemed said:

is there anything interesting being said in that thread?

Click to expand...

Nope, they are only ranting about how bootlegs are bad, romz are teh suck, blablabla ...

Edit: I wish I could help you on your "truth-finding-mission" but alas, I'm a clueless fool myself.

Billy Pitt maybe interested.

xtoo_short20x said:

Billy Pitt maybe interested.

Click to expand...

Jorge

relax

Billy just wants to know the cartridge number

I mean, that's what 99.9% of us want to know (or so he says)

So it doesnt mention 'Sammy' on the pcbs at all?????

Even proto boards usually have some manufacturers stamp..

beh3moth said:

So it doesnt mention 'Sammy' on the pcbs at all?????

Even proto boards usually have some manufacturers stamp..

Click to expand...

nout. unless it's on the underside, which is covered by a rubber or foam pad, and I'd rather not pull it off. weird little thing this.

edit: UPDATE
alright:
I took the rubber pad from the bottom of the pcb and there was no writing or anything present.

here's a picture of the pins from the main pcb that connects to the small bit that plugs into the AW. is this not an isp connector? I have no clue.
http://img345.imageshack.us/img345/7048/s30112371yw.jpg

the part that connects the pcb to the AW looks identical to the ones found in AW carts, so this caught my attention.
I opened up a Dolphin Blue cart and snapped a crappy picture (I don't know how to take better pictures ):
http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/5324/s30112385ds.jpg

as you can (or cannot) see - this cart holds 2 chips found in the PCB:
a Xilinx one and another (I maybe there was 2 of the same) that sais Malaysia on it.
so, what can we draw from this? sammy uses some of the same chips found on the PCB, how likely a coincidence is this?
and there is a connector that connects from the pcb to the bit that plugs into the MoBo - what is this connector? no chance this could be a flash cart?

btw, I'm juggling this between here and assembler, to see if I can get some decent info on this so if you see my exact same posts there, don't be alarmed.

roker said:

Jorge

relax

Billy just wants to know the cartridge number

I mean, that's what 99.9% of us want to know (or so he says)

Click to expand...

No need for that, we already know, it's 14

Anyway my guess is that that cart is just a proto, I don't think it's a bootleg. Pity that's a released game, a proto of the unknown ones like Sushi Bar, Kenju or Force Five would be really nice.

Amano Jacu said:

Pity that's a released game, a proto of the unknown ones like Sushi Bar, Kenju or Force Five would be really nice.

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True dat. I really hope those games are floating around somewhere, waiting to be bought by some lucky soul, instead of being locked away in some cupboard at Sammy HQ.

Amano Jacu said:

No need for that, we already know, it's 14

Anyway my guess is that that cart is just a proto, I don't think it's a bootleg. Pity that's a released game, a proto of the unknown ones like Sushi Bar, Kenju or Force Five would be really nice.

Click to expand...

that would have be amazing.

I have also seen that proto in person a member here had it and sent it to someome else. That is how I got to see it. The member here never got it back. Oh and it wasn't me that never gave it back.

lill-c said:

I have also seen that proto in person a member here had it and sent it to someome else. That is how I got to see it. The member here never got it back. Oh and it wasn't me that never gave it back.

Click to expand...

eh? you're trying to say this was stolen?
edit: no offence but unless you clarify I'm not sure how I'm supposed to react. I traded this for a neowave and the deal was struck about 2 months ago - the guy who traded with me bought in on ebay. here's the thread where I found the item in question:
http://www.neo-arcadia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3295

PM sent! I don't know if it is the same one. I just was saying I seen a Rumble fish proto a few years ago before it came out. Maybe the one that sent it will say something about it but I didn't want to say who it was just incase he doesn't want to talk about it.

lill-c said:

PM sent! I don't know if it is the same one. I just was saying I seen a Rumble fish proto a few years ago before it came out. Maybe the one that sent it will say something about it but I didn't want to say who it was just incase he doesn't want to talk about it.

Click to expand...

right. thanks then.

I just played through it and it's the complete game. as I said I hadn't played it much previously - the last stage, the music and the boss - marvelous. especially the music.
is it possible to determine a price for this pcb? it might be a question of throwing it on ebay and seeing how much it sells for (not counting on too much interest though).