Bally Videocade DEMO game cartridge (1977)

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Does anyone have any information on this? I picked up one for $12.

[Darryl B.]

Holy freakin' CRAP!

And it's UNOPENED too?!

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Yes it is. And the really cool part? I just picked up a second one (from the same guy) for another $12. Both are new in box!

[Rob]

I'll trade you a loose one for a carded one.

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I'll trade you a loose one for a carded one.

Ahh, you have one too? What exactly does this do? Apparently, they are not that rare after all, just uncommon.

[Rob]

LOL, that was me over at the DP thread (Astrocade is my name over there). I don't have a working Astrocade anymore (how ironic huh?) but as I recall it's the two games built into the Astrocade (Gunfight and I think an Asteroids clone) on an endless demo loop. Each game gets like two minutes of play and then it goes to the other game.

It was meant as an in-store demo that the store could put in and not worry about burning in the picture tube on the display TV. My brother once bought a TV at the flea market that was apparently used as a store demo, because the negative of the following image was burned onto the screen permanently:

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Just received the other sealed one in the mail today for another $12. I would love to know the exact rarity level. I still don't think it's crazy rare.