Urgent Help Needed: Was this a PAL Release?

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10-03-2008, 06:30 PM
Cauterize

Urgent Help Needed: Was this a PAL Release? Laker Vs Celtics!

Im currently looking for one more box for my collection, however im beginning to wonder if it actually exists...

The one is question is the PAL Version of 'Lakers Vs Celtics & the NBA Playoffs'

Up until this point ive stuck to the release guides found on the net and theyve been fantastic, but this game is puzzling me!

As we all know, EA Released their games worldwide on the exact same carts. Look at any EA Game and it will say in small print 'For play on the Sega Genesis'. However obviously the boxes are branded up as Sega Megadrive. Im guessing it saved printing costs, so they could fund putting a useless yellow block on their ugly carts...

I own the cartridge for LVsC and it too is branded up as being for the Genesis in small print.
Now if you look across the net, youll find various copies of this game for sale in the US. Ive noticed eBay Germany has one for sale too, however that one in Germany too is cart only.

Also, if you check Guardiana, youll find that the entry for LVsC is very vague.
There is no proper scan for the PAL Box and the drop down list of people owning the game is 1. And once again, this one person only owns the cartridge.
(Source: http://www.guardiana.net/MDG-Databas...BA%20Playoffs/)

Now putting together those facts, along with the fact ive been hunting for MD games for nearly a decade, it really does seem fishy that it hasnt surfaced, nor has any information or scans...
On these release lists for PAL MD Games, where did the info for this game come from? How was its existance confirmed?

So my final few requests are this:
1) Does anybody own it? If so, please please please can you photograph it for me so i can sleep again!
or 2) Please provide info to prove it definately exists

Also, it might be worth looking at a few of the Genny versions you guys own if possible please!

Anything will be a fantastic help and I appreciate any reply that ill get :D

Thank you!
10-03-2008, 07:50 PM
Mr Smith

I believe Lakers Vs Celtics did get a PAL release, although I don't own a copy personally.
10-04-2008, 10:46 AM
Cauterize

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Smith

I believe Lakers Vs Celtics did get a PAL release, although I don't own a copy personally.

Unless I see some hard evidence it exists, this statement is not gonna help unfortunately. I need scans, pics, barcodes, etc!

Surely one of you owns the US version...
10-04-2008, 11:14 AM
108 Stars

I am pretty sre it was released here....if my memory serves me right at least it was advertised in Sega´s German available-games-booklet. If I find it I´ll scan it....
10-04-2008, 03:33 PM
ninjabearhug

HHmmm, the cover on Guardiana looks a bit dodgy to me.

Generally EA PAL releases have quite different artwork from the Genesis versions, and as far as i can remember all of them have the words Mega Drive printed on the front cover.

It's staying on my rumoured list i think :)
10-04-2008, 04:07 PM
Zebbe

That PAL box on Guardiana is quite different. It doesn't have the Genesis seal for example. I think most early EA releases were like that in the EU, just slightly changed US boxes.
10-04-2008, 04:31 PM
ninjabearhug

I'm pretty sure that ALL the EA PAL releases bar this one have the word Mega Drive printed on the cover. The only other release from around the same time that springs to mind is John Madden, which has a re-vamped cover too.
10-04-2008, 04:50 PM
playgen

Unless anyone can show a copy, as far as I'm concerned it doesn't exist. Online release lists aren't 100% reliable, especially Megadrive lists, many of which have unreleased games on them.

That Guardiana scan is tiny, and could quite easily be an unfinished US cover design from a US catalogue or magazine advert etc.
10-04-2008, 05:22 PM
Zebbe

This would make a brilliant contest. Find proof that PAL "Lakers Vs Celtics & the NBA Playoffs" exists or not. Whoever wins gets a FREE "'Lakers Vs Celtics & the NBA Playoffs" PAL repro by playgen. Or maybe that blue stripe football game ninjabearpig has. ;)
10-06-2008, 02:48 AM
Dirt Ball Gamer

I'll get started on this right away. (Buys plane ticket to Romania)
10-07-2008, 03:39 AM
Cauterize

Cheers for all the replies and help guys! Its appreciated :)

More evidence to suggest it didnt exist...
Another well known UK Collector also needs the box and manual

Quote:

Lakers Vs Celtics & The NBA Playoffs (need box & manual)

Source: http://www.freewebs.com/northern-gooner/

Im really starting to think it was US only release...
10-31-2008, 09:27 AM
Cauterize

My hunt still shows no sign of this game ever being released in PAL territories...

Another piece of evidence to back my theory that it doesnt exist as a PAL release;
Alot of the US Versions came in a cardboard box release (unusual for EA?)
My guess is that all the cart only copies that have appear in Europe are infact carts from these boxes.

Is it time to remove it from the rarity lists? :o
10-31-2008, 04:00 PM
ninjabearhug

Stick it in the maybe list.

I've got loads of stuff in my 'might exist' list, mainly SMS stuff though.
01-31-2009, 01:40 PM
ninjabearhug

So i was looking through some copies of Sega Pro and Sega Power this morning and in the review sections at the back of the mags both have Lakers Vs celtics listed as an import game....

More evidence pointing towards this not being a PAL release.
01-31-2009, 05:23 PM
Seingalt

I'm fairly certain that no PAL version exists. This German website, which features the most reliable Mega Drive/Genesis game register I know lists only a US release.
04-04-2012, 04:15 PM
goldenband

Revive to ask: what's the latest word on this? In particular, does this Australian Ebay auction confirm the rumors, or is it just a cardboard cutout?

LAKERS VS CELTICS artwork insert for Sega GENESIS

EDIT: Attaching the image from the auction for posterity.

http://i42.tinypic.com/wqvuc6.jpg
04-04-2012, 04:38 PM
GameMaster600

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_Wgw00k1CA

I saw this video a long time ago, I'm honestly surprised no one here saw it.
04-04-2012, 07:03 PM
goldenband

Huh, interesting! Well, there we have it -- thanks for clearing that up. Another elusive rabbit to chase for our PAL-collecting friends. :D
04-04-2012, 07:48 PM
Olls

Lol, a rare sports title. Who would've thought?
04-04-2012, 08:04 PM
Smii

Lakers vs Celtics, ugh... I can't bring myself to try and finish my PAL Megadrive collection. I still need 36 games (if my list is accurate) all but three of them are sports games :P
04-05-2012, 07:39 AM
KillerBean2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smii

Lakers vs Celtics, ugh... I can't bring myself to try and finish my PAL Megadrive collection.

I still need more than 150 games, but I'm starting to think the same thing. Screw Lakers vs. Celtics, and screw Mega Games 6 Vol. 2. There's no way I'm paying several hundred dollars for a compilation of games, I already own. I also think I'll skip the Australian PAL exclusives. Daze Before Christmas is a shitty game and the Genny version of Fatal Fury 2 will do just fine for me. And f¤¤k Ecco Jr., seriously. Also, I don't speak either French or Portuguese, so I'd might as weel go for the Japanese version of Dragon Ball Z.

Then again, games like The Death and Return of Superman will still keep me from ever finishing my collection.
04-05-2012, 10:48 PM
GameMaster600

If you're trying to collect all the PAL Mega Drive or US Genesis games, look at the bright side...

There's no Tetris.
04-05-2012, 11:36 PM
KnightWarrior

Is the PAL game, just a Genesis Cart??

Does it say Mega Drive on the Cart??
04-06-2012, 12:05 AM
Smii

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerBean2

I still need more than 150 games, but I'm starting to think the same thing. Screw Lakers vs. Celtics, and screw Mega Games 6 Vol. 2. There's no way I'm paying several hundred dollars for a compilation of games, I already own. I also think I'll skip the Australian PAL exclusives. Daze Before Christmas is a shitty game and the Genny version of Fatal Fury 2 will do just fine for me. And f¤¤k Ecco Jr., seriously. Also, I don't speak either French or Portuguese, so I'd might as weel go for the Japanese version of Dragon Ball Z.

Then again, games like The Death and Return of Superman will still keep me from ever finishing my collection.

Exactly. When it reaches the point where all you're looking for is ridiculously expensive games, sports games, and variants of games you already own (or can be bought cheaply from other regions) it's easy to wonder what the point is.

Oh yeah, Mega Games, vol 3 - I couldn't believe it when not one, but two of the things sold for £280 on evilbay this week. I had no idea it was worth so much, can't even remember where I got mine (some "job lot" or other probably). Mine remains on a shelf. For now :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by GameMaster600

If you're trying to collect all the PAL Mega Drive or US Genesis games, look at the bright side...

There's no Tetris.

Heh. The rarest Jp games are shoddy Tetris port and completely useless modem only / banking games, the rarest PAL games are sports games (Lakers vs blah blah, blue insert WCS2). The rarest games often seem to be the crappiest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnightWarrior

Is the PAL game, just a Genesis Cart??

Does it say Mega Drive on the Cart??

The YT video is quite bad, can't tell - but the manual looks to have several different languages (like the majority of EU games do), which I'm guessing the US version doesn't have. Meh, like any of these things, it still boils down to searching ages (and possibly parting with hundreds of units of your currency) for just a piece of paper. :)
04-06-2012, 02:56 AM
KnightWarrior

All EA cart from the UK is just Genesis with Mega Drive Insert & Manual, I got and email from him
04-06-2012, 03:55 AM
SEGA.GENESIS1989

£280 for a EA title? Dumb! Even dumber after doing the conversion and realizing that the game sold for $420 CAD!

Maybe the bloke was partaking in some "420" when he placed that bid! :p
04-06-2012, 04:19 AM
lumclaw

That's right. EA often didn't bother to update the game labels. Mentioning Genesis by name yet not Megadrive!
04-06-2012, 07:09 AM
KillerBean2

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEGA.GENESIS1989

£280 for a EA title? Dumb!

The £280 was for Mega Games 6, vol. 3. It's not an EA title, just a compilation of 6 extremely common Sega titles. It's beyond dumb...

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumclaw

EA often didn't bother to update the game labels.

Often? Did they ever bother? I've never seen a Megadrive EA title that didn't say "Genesis" on the cartridge label.
04-06-2012, 10:47 AM
lumclaw

Yes. Japanese versions, or games not released in US. (EA Sports Double Header)
04-06-2012, 01:27 PM
Crackdown

I actually used to have this game in PAL when I was a kid so it definately does exist.

I am just annoyed I know longer have it :(
04-06-2012, 01:33 PM
SEGA.GENESIS1989

KillerBean2, in my time researching a number of titles I vaguely remember someone mentioning the "Mega Games 6, vol. 3". Do you have a picture or possibly a (Ebay) listing of the game? I just want to see what a mediocre game that commands a pricetag of £280.00 looks like! :p
04-06-2012, 01:48 PM
KillerBean2

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mega-Games...-/280851574997

But I'm a little confused. Isn't Vol. 2 the really rare one?
04-06-2012, 02:08 PM
SEGA.GENESIS1989

I am not too sure what volume is considered more rare than others but considering this is just a compilation of games (whether it is volume 1, volume 2, or volume 3), but personally I would never consider dropping that amount of cash for a single cart when the each of the games listed are readily available via it's original cartridge (and cheaply too)! Thanks for posting the link to the ebay listing KillerBean2!
04-06-2012, 05:41 PM
Smii

Vol 3 is "rarer". I don't have Vol 2 yet, but then I've never gone out of my way to look for any of them, being as though they are just compilations - I've always had an "if I get it in a lot, I'll keep it" attitude to such things.

The really stupid thing is that none of the "Mega Games" carts are truly rare - I think they were just console pack-in games. If you look at evilbay you can easily get hold of all the loose carts right now for a few £s. It's the box insert and manual that make Vol 3 "rare", and apparently worth loads of money. Same goes for World Championship Soccer 2, which has a very easy to find non blue-insert version ("classics" iirc). But if you're going for a "proper" full set of PAL games, you need the packaging variants - hence my "crazy collectors pay £££ for piece of paper" comment. ;)