I like to keep the stuff that I collect in perfect condition, the problem is that many shmups are impossible to find new. I have noticed that people really seem to have different views about what is "mint/like new". Trying to hunt down some of the older games in good condition can be a total nightmare.
Am I the only one here that ended up buying several copies of a game, just trying to get one in good condition?. I have ended up buying Raiden two times, and X2 No relief three times. Worst of all has been the Shikigami No Shiro (Ps2) Limited Edition I bought a few months ago, the box was in totally awful condition, and also reeking of smoke.. And it was listed "mint as new", so I paid way too much for it believing it actually would be in that condition.
Buying used games is a hit or a miss (rant inside :P)
Nope, I always get games in a condition I expected for the price I paid. I check feedback to make sure and look carefully at the images. Only time I've ever got something a bit worse than expected was from a US seller where I got a manual with the first half folded but considering I still got the item for 50% the normal Ebay price (using BIN a few minutes after the start of an auction I happened upon), I don't really have a right to complain.
Ultimately, if you're not sure, you have to ask the seller to make sure if you really care about condition that much. If the seller doesn't respond, you probably shouldn't trust him period.
Anyway, most people on these forums tend to judge and explain the condition very well, even worse than you'd expect. More reliable than Ebay methinks.
Ultimately, if you're not sure, you have to ask the seller to make sure if you really care about condition that much. If the seller doesn't respond, you probably shouldn't trust him period.
Anyway, most people on these forums tend to judge and explain the condition very well, even worse than you'd expect. More reliable than Ebay methinks.
I totally quit buying used games at Gamestop/EB because of the piss poor quality of their used games. Hell, I quit buying new games there as well.
Buying used games from their online outlets is even worse since according to their little small print, whatever you get is what you get. Don't get a case or manual? Too bad, you're fucked. I had ONE positive experience with them in the past, and that's when they sent me Valkyrie Profile and Final Fantasy IX discs but no cases. Emailed them, complained, sent the shit back, and got some damn fine codition merchendise in return.
Didn't have the same luck with Zone of Enders, Zone of Enders 2, or Everything or Nothing
At Game Exchange, they are kind enough to let me pick the best condition copy of a used game they have, which is pretty rad of them.
Buying used games from their online outlets is even worse since according to their little small print, whatever you get is what you get. Don't get a case or manual? Too bad, you're fucked. I had ONE positive experience with them in the past, and that's when they sent me Valkyrie Profile and Final Fantasy IX discs but no cases. Emailed them, complained, sent the shit back, and got some damn fine codition merchendise in return.
Didn't have the same luck with Zone of Enders, Zone of Enders 2, or Everything or Nothing
At Game Exchange, they are kind enough to let me pick the best condition copy of a used game they have, which is pretty rad of them.
Well I usually get all my used games from Ebay, maybe I'm just more picky about the condition than most people.. Anyway there is a bunch of sellers that I know and trust. But then when you start looking for the rarer games, you often end up having to buy from some fairly unreliable or new seller.
Anyway I tend to trust what people write in their auction descriptions, for example a "..and flawless CD" , for me flawless does not mean that the CD is full of scratches
Anyway I have noticed that one good way to spot a crappy seller is just to see how they take the photo of the disc. The crappy sellers usually put the disc with the data side right on the floor/table, and then describe it as "mint".. they probably already caused a bunch a scratches putting it on the table
Anyway I tend to trust what people write in their auction descriptions, for example a "..and flawless CD" , for me flawless does not mean that the CD is full of scratches
Anyway I have noticed that one good way to spot a crappy seller is just to see how they take the photo of the disc. The crappy sellers usually put the disc with the data side right on the floor/table, and then describe it as "mint".. they probably already caused a bunch a scratches putting it on the table
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MovingTarget
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UnscathedFlyingObject
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@roushimsx: Don't give up on Gamestop(s) yet. They have stuff that's in very good condition from time to time. A few weeks back, I picked up MGS, RE3, and Shinobi, and I hadn't much to complain about the conditions (there were only very mild scratches on the cases). The games were priced at 8, 10, and 12 respectively to boot. Even farther back, I was looking for DMC and the lady working there let me choose which one I wanted. I picked a very good copy for 8. Score.
Last edited by UnscathedFlyingObject on Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Sooo, what was it that you consider a 'good salary' for a man to make?"
"They should at least make 100K to have a good life"
...
"They should at least make 100K to have a good life"
...
Especially when they wrapped the suckers(used PS1 games) up with tape, around and around. So damn tight you can't even squeeze scissors in. Using a blade scratches up the already scratched up case even more, and afterwards you get the sticky case from the tape. I have to change CD cases for a few of their used games.roushimsx wrote:I totally quit buying used games at Gamestop/EB because of the piss poor quality of their used games. Hell, I quit buying new games there as well.
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BulletMagnet
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If you use a little bit of savvy you can usually get a decent condition game, I've found...at the Gamestop type places around here, usually when I buy a used game from them I'll ask to take a look at the disc before I buy it, and every time I've done that the guy behind the counter has let me do so without a fuss. On eBay it can sometimes be tough to tell, but I'm never completely confident in sellers unless I see them specifically say "no scratches or marks on disc" or something specific like that..."good condition" could be just about anything, though it's been observed that Japanese sellers tend to be much pickier about what they label "good" condition. Once I actually got a nice surprise from a US seller though: I bought Cotton 2 from him, and even though it hadn't been advertised as having it, the thing included the spine card and mini-calendar. Other occasions haven't been quite so pleasant, but the vast majority of my used game purchases have gone very well...just keep your wits about you.
I love it when sellers do this too. Its usually a good indication not to bid on the game. Sure put the so-called "mint condition" disc data side down on the carpet for your auction photo pal...genius.visuatrox wrote:Anyway I have noticed that one good way to spot a crappy seller is just to see how they take the photo of the disc. The crappy sellers usually put the disc with the data side right on the floor/table, and then describe it as "mint".. they probably already caused a bunch a scratches putting it on the table
I am glad to see I am not the only anal retentive crazy person here. I will not buy used games from the local stores at all and when I buy new games at a local retailer and see them going for that dreaded display copy I will stop them right there and tell them not to bother. "No I don't want to look at the disc, if I am going to pay the MSRP for a new game it's going to be factory sealed thank you!"
The opposite problem also applies, though, and I'm sure anybody who sells/trades a lot of games can relate.
Sometimes you run across people who are so incredibly anal about the condition of cheapo, mainstream games, it's absurd. People who look at the bottoms of CDs/DVDs with a magnifying glass. People who handle their games with gloves or a cloth. People examine whether or not a manual meets laboratory conditions of sterility.
This kind of behavior is idiotic and a waste of time. Games are made to be played - there's nothing wrong with keeping your stuff in good condition and not tossing it around, but fetishizing the tiniest naturally occurring marks and flipping out over obsessive condition scales is the hallmark of someone with a disorder.
Sometimes you run across people who are so incredibly anal about the condition of cheapo, mainstream games, it's absurd. People who look at the bottoms of CDs/DVDs with a magnifying glass. People who handle their games with gloves or a cloth. People examine whether or not a manual meets laboratory conditions of sterility.
This kind of behavior is idiotic and a waste of time. Games are made to be played - there's nothing wrong with keeping your stuff in good condition and not tossing it around, but fetishizing the tiniest naturally occurring marks and flipping out over obsessive condition scales is the hallmark of someone with a disorder.
Yeah, my store-bought games would be considered mint, excellent, immaculate condition, V, unblemished, SS, perfect, good, like new, superb, you named it. When previously, I had thought they were simply near mint condition (near mint given that I was sure something was a little weird, like having my finger prints on the backs of manuals, even though you wouldn't be able to see them with a microscope). Then again, I had experience with the 'ol comic book grading system where a mint condition is practically impossible to find.
Also, if you have a PS2, here's a checklist I've put together to help you know whether you're already truly a perfectionist on immaculate condition yourself or not.
Opening the game:
1. You do not peel off the security sticker where it says "Peel." If you do peel it this way, you're damaging the plastic cover.
2. Instead, you peel at the part where the sticker meets the top of the case. You carefully peel off the rest (ask if you need a more elaborate explanation; the sticker is not designed so that it can be easily removed without marks or residue of any sort).
3. If there's any residue remaining on the case (since some games' security stickers do not have strong adhesives for some reason), either use anti-stick formulas or carefully use that sticker or tape to jerk off the residue (warning: the latter way may leave marks if residue is tightly stuck to the plastic).
4. The Amaray case may at most be opened to a 90 degree angle or else the plastic may be bent out permanently.
Playing the game:
1. You push the button in the Amaray case and take the disc solely by the sides and/or center hole. You do not touch or graze the disc in any way (since under a strong enough microscope, any graze is easily visible, much less a minor scratch that can only be seen under the sun's rays or a major one that can be seen under normal light).
2. If you decide to look at the manual at all, you make sure your hands are washed with anti-bacterial soap yet are not watery (say, after showering) so as to not add grease or excess water to the manual that would leave a mark or accentuation respectively.
3. You do not bend the manual past a 60 degree angle and you definitely do not hold the manual in such a tight fashion that you produce bends on the covers.
4. If you decide to look at the manual and enlarge it by the sole nature of opening the manual (as opposed to its previously closed state), you must flatten the manual again somehow (a clean heavy object on top of it for instance) before reasserting the manual into the case. By this discretion, the clips will inflict minimal pressure and damage to where they touch the manual cover surface.
3. Warranty cards and any excess items inside the case must be left as is in the exact same position. Nothing may be torn out or tampered with.
4. The PS2 trap ought to be frequently airsprayed and always checked so that residual dust does not scratch the disc.
5. The Amaray case must be left closed or opened as slightly as possible so that a minimal amount of dust gets into the case.
6. When closing the case, the front cover must be on the bottom so that the center righthand side of the manual does not fall and jam itself into the CD holding imprint, which would create a slight fold in that area.
Storing the game:
1. The Amaray case must be stored out of the way of sunlight to avoid color fading.
2. The storage area must be in a appropriate temperature that remains constant so that the disc will not react to the changes and warp itself.
3. The cases may not be stored directly adjacent to a rough surface in case a minor scratch to the outside plastic cover occurs.
3. The cases may not be crushed tightly together.
If you follow these tips, your Amaray cased games will remain as perfectly mint as they were when they were bought new. Admittedly however, many games are not in mint condition even out of the box due to issues such as:
-warping plastic on the outside
-incorrectly positioned outside cover inside the plastic
-manual production paper residue
-a disc having not been properly placed into its imprint in the case
-very slight bends on the manual corners
-a bend on the center righthand part of the manual cover from the disc imprint
However, the greatest thing you can take away is what it truly means to be a perfectionist and the knowledge that you are or aren't one. If there's any omissions, questionable content, or errors, please let me know.
Opening the game:
1. You do not peel off the security sticker where it says "Peel." If you do peel it this way, you're damaging the plastic cover.
2. Instead, you peel at the part where the sticker meets the top of the case. You carefully peel off the rest (ask if you need a more elaborate explanation; the sticker is not designed so that it can be easily removed without marks or residue of any sort).
3. If there's any residue remaining on the case (since some games' security stickers do not have strong adhesives for some reason), either use anti-stick formulas or carefully use that sticker or tape to jerk off the residue (warning: the latter way may leave marks if residue is tightly stuck to the plastic).
4. The Amaray case may at most be opened to a 90 degree angle or else the plastic may be bent out permanently.
Playing the game:
1. You push the button in the Amaray case and take the disc solely by the sides and/or center hole. You do not touch or graze the disc in any way (since under a strong enough microscope, any graze is easily visible, much less a minor scratch that can only be seen under the sun's rays or a major one that can be seen under normal light).
2. If you decide to look at the manual at all, you make sure your hands are washed with anti-bacterial soap yet are not watery (say, after showering) so as to not add grease or excess water to the manual that would leave a mark or accentuation respectively.
3. You do not bend the manual past a 60 degree angle and you definitely do not hold the manual in such a tight fashion that you produce bends on the covers.
4. If you decide to look at the manual and enlarge it by the sole nature of opening the manual (as opposed to its previously closed state), you must flatten the manual again somehow (a clean heavy object on top of it for instance) before reasserting the manual into the case. By this discretion, the clips will inflict minimal pressure and damage to where they touch the manual cover surface.
3. Warranty cards and any excess items inside the case must be left as is in the exact same position. Nothing may be torn out or tampered with.
4. The PS2 trap ought to be frequently airsprayed and always checked so that residual dust does not scratch the disc.
5. The Amaray case must be left closed or opened as slightly as possible so that a minimal amount of dust gets into the case.
6. When closing the case, the front cover must be on the bottom so that the center righthand side of the manual does not fall and jam itself into the CD holding imprint, which would create a slight fold in that area.
Storing the game:
1. The Amaray case must be stored out of the way of sunlight to avoid color fading.
2. The storage area must be in a appropriate temperature that remains constant so that the disc will not react to the changes and warp itself.
3. The cases may not be stored directly adjacent to a rough surface in case a minor scratch to the outside plastic cover occurs.
3. The cases may not be crushed tightly together.
If you follow these tips, your Amaray cased games will remain as perfectly mint as they were when they were bought new. Admittedly however, many games are not in mint condition even out of the box due to issues such as:
-warping plastic on the outside
-incorrectly positioned outside cover inside the plastic
-manual production paper residue
-a disc having not been properly placed into its imprint in the case
-very slight bends on the manual corners
-a bend on the center righthand part of the manual cover from the disc imprint
However, the greatest thing you can take away is what it truly means to be a perfectionist and the knowledge that you are or aren't one. If there's any omissions, questionable content, or errors, please let me know.
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UnscathedFlyingObject
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Do0d, there's even an easier way. Throw the unopened* game in a safe box, close it, and never play it.
Edit: Open the game so as to be in accord with the thread.
Edit: Open the game so as to be in accord with the thread.
Last edited by UnscathedFlyingObject on Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Sooo, what was it that you consider a 'good salary' for a man to make?"
"They should at least make 100K to have a good life"
...
"They should at least make 100K to have a good life"
...
Indeed, but the subject is on used games and I was just asking if people actually kept games in mint condition themselves. Sealed games are sealed and hence don't really need any guidelines for proper handling. Well, unless some people care about whether the outside plastic sealing has a scratch on it...
It is pretty funny how "mint" and "perfect" are subjective standards on Ebay. I've gotten my fair share of items in less than promised condition, but I've accepted that if you don't allow some leeway you shouldn't even buy used games or use Ebay. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. What's really sad is how many people don't know how to ship items properly which often leads to an item's condition deteriorating drastically. The best advice is don't take anything for granted.
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Shatterhand
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I can. I had a friend who had lots of videogames, and completely no care of them.MovingTarget wrote:Its all down to luck really, all my ebay purchases have been in better condition than stated.
It's in games stores that they'll sell a game in pretty much any condition. I cant understand how games get in such states.
I remember once he borrowed from my my copy of NHL 2k for the PC... 2 weeks later, I went to his place to get it back, and he couldn't find where the game was. I got pissed... then he found the case but NOT THE CD, which made me even more pissed off. Then we went to play a PSX game, and he asked me to get the joypads behind the TV... and then behind his TV I find dozens of joypads just thrown there, and a few cartridges and CDs.. and what I find there? My NHL 2K CD, THROWN BEHIND THE TV WITHOUT ANY CASE....
I remember once we were playing with his Sega-CD , and he had borrowed a few games from a friend of mine... and when we went to play Lethal Enforcers 2, the game just wasn't loading. I got the CD to check it out, and it had a piece of BREAD sticked to the data side of the CD.
How the hell does someone manages to stick a PIECE of BREAD to a CD?
There are lots of stories like this from that guy..... I remember when I was going to buy a Sega Saturn, I thought about buying his one... until I saw how completely fucked up the system was....
And of course they do. As a seasoned ebay seller, I can vouch. I don't understand why unless they think they're investing in something. Different strokes I guess...Ganelon wrote: Sealed games are sealed and hence don't really need any guidelines for proper handling. Well, unless some people care about whether the outside plastic sealing has a scratch on it...
I'm a condition fiend. It doesn't take any more time and a mere microbutthair more effort to keep them in absolute perfect condition like the day they was made. For years on end. The hard thing is keeping my friends from fucking them up.
Pa
Well, many really picky buyers care about tears or sticker residue on the plastic but have anybody asked you about scratches? I don't sell games myself so I wouldn't know.PaCrappa wrote: And of course they do. As a seasoned ebay seller, I can vouch. I don't understand why unless they think they're investing in something. Different strokes I guess...
And yeah, all it takes is 1 careless person on a game and the condition is permanently ruined.
As for collecting sealed games and not opening them, it's fine for the sake of fun or a mental disorder but pure idiocy if that's solely for investment.
Shatterhand wrote:
I can. I had a friend who had lots of videogames, and completely no care of them.
I remember once he borrowed from my my copy of NHL 2k for the PC... 2 weeks later, I went to his place to get it back, and he couldn't find where the game was. I got pissed... then he found the case but NOT THE CD, which made me even more pissed off. Then we went to play a PSX game, and he asked me to get the joypads behind the TV... and then behind his TV I find dozens of joypads just thrown there, and a few cartridges and CDs.. and what I find there? My NHL 2K CD, THROWN BEHIND THE TV WITHOUT ANY CASE....
I remember once we were playing with his Sega-CD , and he had borrowed a few games from a friend of mine... and when we went to play Lethal Enforcers 2, the game just wasn't loading. I got the CD to check it out, and it had a piece of BREAD sticked to the data side of the CD.
How the hell does someone manages to stick a PIECE of BREAD to a CD?
There are lots of stories like this from that guy..... I remember when I was going to buy a Sega Saturn, I thought about buying his one... until I saw how completely fucked up the system was....
Grrr. Must.. resist.. urge... to bash people's heads... with a PS2....
Don't hold grudges. GET EVEN.
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captain ahar
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i feel you pain shatterhand. in high school there was an underclassman i was sometimes friends with. i borrowed Brave Fencer Musashi from him (and some other piece of shit) and loaned him my precious Ape Escape and Duke Nukem GBC. Ape Escape cam back disc only (because i he lost the manual and case, the loser) and i never heard back about Duke Nukem (which rocked hard too... frigga loser ).
).I have no sig whatsoever.
