A story of collecting, luck and bizzare fate

[DragonmasterDan]

Hello everyone, it's my first time posting here on Digital Press, though I am part of a number of other classic gaming communities online.

Anyway, I made an incredibly lucky find today, all because of an AWFUL day yesterday.

As part of my habit of retro collecting I've been regularly visiting a number of nearby stores that carry vintage games near my place of employment. a game, CD, and music store, a bookstore that sells old games, a franchise used game store, a thirft store among other places.

Normally I go during my lunch (half)hour or after work as I try to check the places regularly to find any good deals.

Yesterday my intention was to visit one of the scheduled stops on my way home from work. Unfortunately, I had to stay several hours late and wound up being incredibly frusturated, tired and at the end of the day ready to drive home and postpone my weekly trip to one of the shops in question.

During my lunch break, I made haste to the store I had missed the previous day. I visit frequently enough to be able to quickly identify new product that comes in. I own around 500 NES cartridges, and can usually identify ones that are missing from the collection. But this is one I thought I would never see. As I peered into the glass case, I was shocked at what I saw. As I removed it from the case (and two other games I happened to be missing) I noticed a rather nasty sticker over the label and several rental stickers on the back (this was not the only game from this same rental place now in the case) as I walked out of the store with my purchase I was in absolute shock. I purchased a US copy of Stadium Events for 3.99.

As I am a regular customer I asked when the set of new NES games had come in. I was told, sometime right before close last night. Had I left work on time and come in the previous day, the game would not have been there and I would have missed it as by my next visit it surely would have been gone.

[fcw3]

Congratulations ! That is quite a find ! Pictures ?

[DragonmasterDan]

Congratulations ! That is quite a find ! Pictures ?

I snapped these. Not great but the best I could quickly take.

[Tupin]

Amazing. Use some rubbing alcohol to get those stickers off and you'll have a perfect cart.

[DragonmasterDan]

Amazing. Use some rubbing alcohol to get those stickers off and you'll have a perfect cart.

I'm afraid the one has those metal circle things on it, if you look at the one on the cover. The ones on the back might be removable though.

[vivaeljason]

Stickers or not, man, to find Stadium Events for $4 is nothing short of amazing. Do the people who sold it to you know how much it can go for, or did they just assume it was a random garbage cart?

[DragonmasterDan]

Stickers or not, man, to find Stadium Events for $4 is nothing short of amazing. Do the people who sold it to you know how much it can go for, or did they just assume it was a random garbage cart?

All NES carts are usually priced at 3.99.

Occasionally something like Zelda will come in or a boxed NES game will come in and it's 9.99.

[vivaeljason]

All NES carts are usually priced at 3.99.

Occasionally something like Zelda will come in or a boxed NES game will come in and it's 9.99.

Dude...where the hell do you live? I want to go to this store!

[DragonmasterDan]

Dude...where the hell do you live? I want to go to this store!

Chicagoland

[swlovinist]

Congrats on your find of stadium events US. What a find!

[BetaWolf47]

Epic win, dude. Congrats on owning the most sought-after commercially released NES game.

[Penguin]

Wow that is an amazing find! Congrats!

[BetaWolf47]

Post this in the November 2009 Finds (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137742) thread. People will be envious!

[DragonmasterDan]

Post this in the November 2009 Finds (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137742) thread. People will be envious!

Haha, thanks. I'm new and didn't even know there was a finds thread.

And I'm still in shock that I actually have it.

Added in edit: I apparently can't view the thread either

DragonmasterDan, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

1. Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
2. If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

[jcalder8]

That's an awesome score man.
I'd love to find something like that in the wild one day.

[TonyTheTiger]

You know, this kind of stuff always makes me happy because it proves something I've believed for a long time.

Everybody deserves at least one big score, one chance to beat the system.

Congratulations. I know what it's like to land somewhere by accident and realize that a series of unrelated coincidences led to a completely unexpected win. The prize itself isn't nearly as psychologically pleasing as the knowledge that you beat the trend and "scored."

And though I think everybody deserves one big score in life, believe it or not, I hope this doesn't qualify as yours since there are so many better ways to "win" in life than finding a video game, however valuable it may be.

[Ze_ro]

Do the people who sold it to you know how much it can go for, or did they just assume it was a random garbage cart?
God, whatever you do, do NOT tell them they just sold you a $1200 game for $4!!

Before you know it, every copy of SMB/DH would be priced at $50.

--Zero

[Arkhan]

man I remember seeing that in the dollar bin about 10 years ago and I never bought it because I dont like those kinda games.

Id love to go beat my 11 year old self up right now for doing that. >_<

[Balloon Fight]

Really amazing find as well as probably the find of the year. I've been looking for the same game for 8 years now. :(

[grolt]

Epic for sure. Congrats, it's great to hear those stories, especially for all us guys who have come out empty handed from thrift stores hundreds of times, each time saying "this will be the last..." but still holding on to that shred of hope that great finds still do exist in the wild.

Welcome to the site, too. You can't view the Buying/Selling sub-forum yet (where the November 2009 Finds thread is) until you've been a member for a little while. A week or two weeks, I can't remember. It felt like two months when I first joined, at any rate.

[vivaeljason]

Welcome to the site, too. You can't view the Buying/Selling sub-forum yet (where the November 2009 Finds thread is) until you've been a member for a little while. A week or two weeks, I can't remember. It felt like two months when I first joined, at any rate.

I want to say it's ten days, but I might be wrong.

Whatever the case, yeah...to walk out of a place with a game that regularly goes for $1000 for $4...still can't get over it.

[nationgamesdepot]

Amazing find! Huge congrats sir!
~~NGD

[DragonmasterDan]

Thanks, anyone have any idea what a good method of removing metal infrared type stickers would be. I've been half considering attempting to remove the one on the label. But I do worry about damaging the label at the same time.

It's one of these layer of resonator stickers

http://www.madehow.com/images/hpm_0000_0003_0_img0011.jpg

[BetaWolf47]

It sucks that there's a sticker like that on it. The things that they made intentionally difficult to remove are a pain in the ***. The fact that it's right on the label makes me cringe even more. I'm not sure what you can do without damaging the label.

Reminds me of about a year back when I found three rare (well, not rare compared to your find of course!!!), decently valuable games at a PnT for about $3 apiece. The store owner apparently knew their value, and had the decency to not place any kind of labels on them. IMMD

[wingzrow]

I live in skokie which is right next to chicago and ive never seen a copy.

[Ye0ldmario]

God, whatever you do, do NOT tell them they just sold you a $1200 game for $4!!

Before you know it, every copy of SMB/DH would be priced at $50.

--Zero

1200? that's weird, the guide on here has it at 550.

[DragonmasterDan]

I live in skokie which is right next to chicago and ive never seen a copy.

It's the only copy I've ever seen in over a decade of collecting.

[jb143]

Thanks, anyone have any idea what a good method of removing metal infrared type stickers would be. I've been half considering attempting to remove the one on the label. But I do worry about damaging the label at the same time.

I'd be very careful with trying to remove the label and don't just go experementing. Alcohol could fade the image. Just be patient and do some research and the right advice will eventually come up.

[smork]

I'd be very careful with trying to remove the label and don't just go experementing. Alcohol could fade the image. Just be patient and do some research and the right advice will eventually come up.

I would buy another few games with similar stickers on them and test removing them first. Don't wanna screw up the rare one!

I think this beats the heck out of my free 64DD that I found last year - congrats!!!

[Red Warrior]

I thought I was cool when I found NES Panic Restaurant for $10. I was wrong. You win, DragonmasterDan.

I agree with the above. Practice removing similar stickers on other less valuable carts first. And have you ever tried Goo Gone? With enough work and patience, I've never come across a sticker of any kind (even ones with metal strips in them) that I couldn't get rid of with Goo Gone. It's worth a try... just practice on cheap NES games first.

[Mr. Gimmick]

Wow, that is insane! Amazing find, congrats!

[portnoyd]

1200? that's weird, the guide on here has it at 550.

The NES section of the guide hasn't been touched in a bit, I think.

Nice score. Shit like this always gives me hope that good stuff is still out there.

[jetblue]

cool find dragonmasta :cheers:

[Cornelius]

Wow, amazing, and a good little story to boot!

I'm thinking hair dryer as your first option. It is too bad the sticker goes all the way to the edge... that's going to be the real problem spot. Goo Gone would work to get it off, but on that edge it will soak underneath and discolor the label. Yep, hair dryer and lots of patience and scorched fingers would be my first approach.

[Ed Oscuro]

I vote for leaving the sticker. Free protection for what's underneath, unless the adhesive is acidic or something (I doubt it, and the damage should be done by now anyway).

[RASK1904]

I am willing to double your initail investmest. 8$.

Fanfuckingtastic find!

I think this actually beats the Magical Chase I found acouple months ago. Sold that mf for 802$! Man that was a good month.
4$=1200$ :)

[BetaWolf47]

I vote for leaving the sticker. Free protection for what's underneath, unless the adhesive is acidic or something (I doubt it, and the damage should be done by now anyway).

The damage is the fact that it's on there, period.

[hellfire]

And I thought my 20 dollar copy of flinstones at dinosaur peak was kickass.....

[jb143]

I would buy another few games with similar stickers on them and test removing them first. Don't wanna screw up the rare one!


Oh yes, by don't experement, I meant with Stadium Events...as in "hmmm, I wonder if peanut butter would get it off" ;). Don't just try something because someone said it would work is what I was getting at.

[TonyTheTiger]

God, whatever you do, do NOT tell them they just sold you a $1200 game for $4!!

Before you know it, every copy of SMB/DH would be priced at $50.

--Zero

I'd recommend against doing it as well but not just because of that. Really there's no reason to essentially brag about a steal like that to the person. It's best to be gracious about it. Anything else accomplishes nothing other than making the guy behind the counter feel like shit.

[norkusa]

Circuit City used to put those same security stickers on their games. I've successfully removed a few but they were on the shrinkwrap of new PS2 & Gamecube games. They were still a pain to get off though.

I'd do the hairdryer method like Cornelius said. Loosen the glue up and start from the bottom left corner and see if you can get it peeled up safely. Then get underneath it and crank the hair dryer up to full blast and start working the label from that side.

[cityside75]

Somehow I recall a thread from a while back where Joe had mentioned he had come up with a technique for removing just about every type of sticker.

DragonMasterDan, you might want to try sending a PM to Joe/DigitalPress - the owner of this site. He has a great game store and a lot of experience with this stuff. He might have a few ideas for you to consider for getting that sticker off of there.

Congrats from another Chicagoland collector!

[DragonmasterDan]

Somehow I recall a thread from a while back where Joe had mentioned he had come up with a technique for removing just about every type of sticker.

DragonMasterDan, you might want to try sending a PM to Joe/DigitalPress - the owner of this site. He has a great game store and a lot of experience with this stuff. He might have a few ideas for you to consider for getting that sticker off of there.

Congrats from another Chicagoland collector!

It's too late for me to ask Joe, the nice thing is the hairdryer worked beautifully. I applied it to several test carts (read games I have doubles of that are worthless) I had lying around that were stickered.

Here is the final result

[NESMASTER14]

nice find!

[8-bitNesMan]

Incredible man! Allow me to join the above posters in saying congratulations, I tip my hat to you on what I think is find of the year material. Bravo on the sticker removal as well :)

[Sosage]

For Christ's sake don't go and tell the store about this. Just enjoy your good luck and leave it at that. These are the sorts of stories that lead store owners to jack up their prices on everything because they don't know what is worth something and what isn't.

Really good find though and good story.

[SegaAges]

God, whatever you do, do NOT tell them they just sold you a $1200 game for $4!!

Before you know it, every copy of SMB/DH would be priced at $50.

--Zero

This is the statement to hold tried and true.

Enjoy your awesome find and take it as that. Yes, it is very exciting to come across that stuff, so share with us and not the store you bought it from

[PutUrQuarterUp]

Congratulations on both the incredible find and the successful sticker removal..

Makes you wonder how many copies are still out there waiting to be found in the wild..

[BetaWolf47]

It's too late for me to ask Joe, the nice thing is the hairdryer worked beautifully. I applied it to several test carts (read games I have doubles of that are worthless) I had lying around that were stickered.

Here is the final result

Fucking beautiful. Looks about mint now. Another epic win.

[DragonmasterDan]

Fucking beautiful. Looks about mint now. Another epic win.

Initially I didn't think that sticker was going to come off. I was pretty surprised at how easily the stickers on the test carts came off with the hair dryer. At that point I thought it might be possible. The stickers on the back came off easily. The front label I still worried about, I was shocked at how well that turned out.

[BetaWolf47]

Hair dryers then... I need to try that. I've got so much preowned stuff from Gamestop...

[sixwayshot]

Wow! That is amazing. Now try and find the Family Fun Fitness pad so you can play it!

You did buy the game so you could play it for hours on-end, right? ;)

[DragonmasterDan]

Wow! That is amazing. Now try and find the Family Fun Fitness pad so you can play it!

You did buy the game so you could play it for hours on-end, right? ;)

I don't have the Bandai variation of the pad, it's on my list now though.

[misfits859]

Find of the year! Kickass! :eek 2:

[Breetai]

Wow, what a great find! You are so lucky! Have you been back to the same shop since?

[Genesaturn]

That is epic man - this is like your collecting swan song lol. If I found this it wouldn't even matter if I never had a good find again as long as I lived.