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Prototypes are pre-release videopacs that were made before the full release, for things like magazine reviews. Below are examples from the videopac.com collection. Apologies for the terrible flash reflections in some of the pictures :-(

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What is a prototype?
 

There is a difference between:
- an original prototype
- an original pre-release
- an original pirated copy

For example, I have a videopac with a printed label. I know this went to a game reviewer before the game was released, but I bet if I checked the ROM it would be the same as the released game. I would call this 'an original pre-release'.

I believe a true prototype should be something that was not released, or differs from what was finally released.

Of course you could then have a pre-release prototype... It may be that the US videopacs that come with proper labels but just say 'prototype' across them fall into this category, as I suspect they were produced for shows before the final release date.

It would probably be impossible to tell the difference between a pre-release and a pirated copy. Only the label stuck to the videopac might give an indication of this.

 
Below are two prototype cartridges. The label seen on the left one seems to be the usual style seen in Europe. Unfortunately it fell off the right videopac, although the mark can still be seen:
 
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NORSEMAN
 
It appears this prototypes software is exactly the same as the released version of Norseman, it came from the superstijl collection.
 
The case:
 
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The PCB:
 
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Screen shot:
 
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This screen shot is from when the screen scrolls on game restart, and shows a credit to the authors:
 
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BLOBBERS (no label)
 
It appears this prototypes software is exactly the same as the released version of Blobbers, it came from the superstijl collection.
 
The case:
 
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The PCB:
 
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You can move all the way around the screen. Those green boxes are moving up and down all the time, and sometimes they pick you up and drop you on the other side.

 
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EVIL DEATH!
 
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OPEN FIRE! Ammunition seems to be limitless. You score points by shooting that red blob that also goes around the edges, whilst giving birth to other reb blobs! It's not as easy as it sounds, as your gun doesn't go close enough to a wall to shoot up it, you have to shoot from the other side to hit anything, and then the darn green boxes get in the way all the time.
 
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POWERLORDS
 

The cartridge below is the label style more commonly produced in North America, I speculate that such a smart label was done for reviewers or shows. The fact that this one displays the release reference code (AC 9448) suggests that its release had already been decided.

The picture below is for the Powerlords prototype cartridge, or which there appear to be at least 3 in existance:

 
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A peek at the PCB shows the path of the connections:

 
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There appears to be something on the board not seen in released PCBs (a black blob in front of the pins of the chip):
 
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Unfortunately the label is probably what makes this 'proto' so valuable, and so taking a screw driver to it is not an option as that requires major damage to the label.
 
Screen shot:
 
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Acrobats
 

This proto came from the chicagoattic sale, and has a plain typed label:

 
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The insides:
 
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In action, this seems to be the same as the released version :
 
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Freedom Fighters
 

This proto came from the chicagoattic sale, and has a printed graphic label:

 
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As the label covers the screws, I'm unable to open it, but it seems to play exactly the same as the released version:
 
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Freedom Fighters even came with the original proto instructions!:
 
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Pick Axe Pete
 

This proto came from the chicagoattic sale, and has a printed graphic label:
 
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The insides:
 
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It appears to play exactly as the released version:
 
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Pick Axe Pete even came with original prototype instructions:
 
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Smithereens
 

This proto came from the chicagoattic sale, and has a plain typed label:

 
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The insides:
 
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It appears to play exactly as the released version:
 
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Type & Tell
 

This proto came from the chicagoattic sale, and has a plain typed label:

 
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The insides:
 
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It appears to work exactly as the released version, although letters when types did get cut off on screen:
 
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C7010 Chess module
 

This proto came from Nico Sapins collection, although it says 'basic' on the front of the cartridge, it is actually the C7010 Chess module:

 
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The rear of the board has a protective plate:
 
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The ribbon cable entry point:
 
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The inside of the cartridge:
 
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In action, this seems to work exactly the same as the released version:
 
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Eproms
 

These Eproms came from the collection of Nico Sapin:
 
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The Norseman Eprom is on an adapter, not sure why:
 
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This is the cartridge for using the Eproms:
 
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