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View Full Version : SMS American Sonic a hoax.


Sunnyvale
08-16-2011, 02:00 PM
OK, not 100% on that. But I have issues with this story. I've searched the wild for years; I've found 2 complete copies of Buster Douglas for the SMS. Never seen a Sonic in the wild, sticker or none. The only pics I ever see of it are beautiful, immaculate stickers, no peeling, fading, smoke-stains, etc. Do any of you have a beat up copy? I would love to see a pic, it would make a believer of me, and then tell me I have a lot more money to spend to complete my SMS collection!

A sticker with damage like this, for example:

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n629/ConneticutLeatherCompany/Picture069.jpg

Any help would be appreciated!
Baloo
08-16-2011, 02:10 PM
Sonic 1 was the last game for the SMS, there's a reason why it's hard to find in the wild. The problem is that there could be copies out there that are US but no UPC means no way to verify it.
Sunnyvale
08-16-2011, 02:25 PM
Sonic 1 was the last game for the SMS, there's a reason why it's hard to find in the wild. The problem is that there could be copies out there that are US but no UPC means no way to verify it.

I agree. That's why not finding even a stickerless copy makes me skeptical. I understand it's supposed to be super-rare. I live in an area that sees a lot of limited releases in video games, toys, electronics, etc. A 'test market town', some of us scroungers call it. I've got a few things that are pretty rare, but never even online seeing a beat up sticker on the Sonic? ALL of them are perfect?!? Sounds like the work of charlatans to me.
theclaw
08-16-2011, 02:41 PM
Could be. The biggest issue is it's impossible to prove a copy is US in its entirety, unless sealed. Barring the sticker (if real) all other aspects of the cart, box, and booklet, are in fact identical. There's no way to tell if somehow a PAL cart and/or booklet has been swapped into the box of an opened one, or a US box is really US after complete sticker removal.
Sunnyvale
08-16-2011, 03:12 PM
Could be. The biggest issue is it's impossible to prove a copy is US in its entirety, unless sealed. Barring the sticker (if real) all other aspects of the cart, box, and booklet, are in fact identical. There's no way to tell if somehow a PAL cart and/or booklet has been swapped into the box of an opened one, or a US box is really US after complete sticker removal.

Thank you, that's exactly my point. It also seems a bit strange that they would take games from Europe and ship them to the US (the SMS went a bit longer in Europe, didn't it?) as opposed to South America (where it went forever!). If I found a copy in a box with no sticker at a yard sale or flea market, with no other non-US games in the box, I would be inclined to believe it. Even if it was loose. Or if someone can show me a messed-up copy of it. But these minty-fresh stickers on 25 year old game boxes with no crappy copies around... Yeah right. Find a seller on Ebay who is trully cleaning his closet with a copy of Sonic and no other foreign games, even loose. I never have.
theclaw
08-16-2011, 03:26 PM
Wouldn't Spider-Man be the same way though? And what about Golden Axe Warrior?
megasdkirby
08-16-2011, 04:30 PM
Wouldn't Spider-Man be the same way though? And what about Golden Axe Warrior?

Those I remember seeing at retail, WITH the sticker. There has yet not been a sighting, as far as I know, of Sonic US sealed with the UPC.

Until a legit copy surfaces, there will be doubt.
Sunnyvale
08-16-2011, 04:38 PM
If I hadn't seen beat copies of those stickers, and if they didn't sell for a fraction of the price, I'd agree it was the same. But you sometmes see beat stickers on them, and occasionally I see them loose in yard sales. But Sonic...
Sunnyvale
08-16-2011, 04:40 PM
Those I remember seeing at retail, WITH the sticker. There has yet not been a sighting, as far as I know, of Sonic US sealed with the UPC.

Until a legit copy surfaces, there will be doubt.

The sealed copy won't convince me of anything. The H-seam on NES NIB's is hard to duplicate, not so with SMS shrink wrap. Until I see a thrashed sticker, or find it in the wild, I'm an atheist on this one.
TurboGenesis
08-16-2011, 06:09 PM
I purchased mine new in 1992 at the now defunct Game Masters in Canton, Michigan - which they had used Ingram Distribution for their game titles.
(I had since sold it a couple years ago)

Here are pics I had took…

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa231/Sonic__R/SANY1691.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa231/Sonic__R/SANY1692.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa231/Sonic__R/smssonic.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa231/Sonic__R/SANY1693.jpg

yes, the lable had shown some slight signs of yellowing and wear, and I mentioned to the buyer of these things, and even commented that this could help with its authenticity!
Sunnyvale
08-16-2011, 06:14 PM
Awesome! Thank you! Finally a degree of confirmation.
GameNinja
08-16-2011, 06:15 PM
Sorry, I am a bit late to the party here, is the situation that the foreign releases are exactly like the supposed US release, and the sticker on the back is the only way to possibly ID it as a US release?
theclaw
08-16-2011, 06:22 PM
Yes. However as I'd said earlier that also means there's no way to confirm the CONTENTS of the box are really US. It'd be easy to switch in a PAL cart/manual.
Gameguy
08-16-2011, 06:29 PM
Yes. However as I'd said earlier that also means there's no way to confirm the CONTENTS of the box are really US. It'd be easy to switch in a PAL cart/manual.
It doesn't matter if the contents are switched, there's no such thing as a US cart or manual as all copies are PAL. The value is the sticker on the box alone.
Sunnyvale
08-16-2011, 06:32 PM
It doesn't matter if the contents are switched, there's no such thing as a US cart or manual as all copies are PAL. The value is the sticker on the box alone.

Yup. Throw away the game, manual, hell, even pull out the artwork, if you can. That sticker is the money. If only the Xbox junkies would go that nuts for the Microsoft Employee Store Stickers...
SparTonberry
08-16-2011, 06:35 PM
If we're talking about super-rare games, I have yet to see a beat up Surprise At Dinosaur Peak. Especially if most if not all copies were rentals, I'd expect marker and/or sticker residue.
TurboGenesis
08-16-2011, 06:38 PM
off topic, but I like your avatar, Sunnyvale420! I just recently picked up an Arcadia 2001!

their is no difference in USA and PAL contents inside the case, the manual is multi-language and in a landscape format… the only difference is that a USA SMS barcode had to be applied for sale in the USA…

I sometimes regret selling mine, but I found closure with just accepting a PAL case for my use… I had to sell some things at Christmas time to raise funds for my children, and I figured I could "replace" Sonic the Hedgehog with a PAL copy for my play…
Sunnyvale
08-16-2011, 07:06 PM
Thanks! My Arcadia is a recent addition as well, still has that new car smell :) Have you gotten many games for it yet? I only have a few, but Spiders is one of them, so I'm a little hot to finish this one.
TurboGenesis
08-17-2011, 09:52 AM
Thanks! My Arcadia is a recent addition as well, still has that new car smell :) Have you gotten many games for it yet? I only have a few, but Spiders is one of them, so I'm a little hot to finish this one.

I have only 6 loose carts… I am fond of Jungler and Cat Trax.

The place where I bought my SMS Sonic the Hedgehog also sold another copy, so there is a slim possibility that there is another in the southeast Michigan area floating about…
Sunnyvale
08-17-2011, 01:30 PM
I have only 6 loose carts… I am fond of Jungler and Cat Trax.

The place where I bought my SMS Sonic the Hedgehog also sold another copy, so there is a slim possibility that there is another in the southeast Michigan area floating about…

Don't have Jungler, but I do like Cat Trax. All mine are loose as well.

Hmm... I still am skeptical, to be honest, although you have provided me the first pic without a bright shiny sticker, and I thank you for that. I'm hoping to see a few more...