Diablo II For How Much? [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

Griking

07-25-2012, 04:41 PM

I'd imagine that this has to be close to some sort of record for a PC game

Link (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Diablo-II-2-VGA-95-NEW-RARE-Factory-Sealed-Collectable-PC-3-III-/290744793818?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item43b1bd7ada)

Edit:

and here's a copy of the original Diablo. Not nearly as much but still a lot more than I would have imagined it going for.

Link (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Diablo-VGA-85-NEW-RARE-UNCIRCULATED-PC-GAME-COLLECTABLE-2-II-3-III-/290746469955?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item43b1d70e43)

Damaniel

07-25-2012, 05:22 PM

WTF was the buyer thinking? It's not even a collector's edition -- not that spending over 12k for a collector's edition would be any better.

I suppose that if somebody has enough cash to throw around to buy VGA 'certified' games, they can do whatever they want. I still think it's a really stupid thing to do. Honestly, I hate the whole concept of the VGA, but we've beaten that dead horse around here plenty already.

Porksta

07-25-2012, 05:51 PM

Diablo II had a collector's edition?

Damaniel

07-25-2012, 05:58 PM

Diablo II had a collector's edition?

I don't honestly know whether it does or not. :) I was thinking in terms of the later Blizzard collector's editions (like the early World of Warcraft releases) which sell for exorbitant amounts in factory sealed condition, though not in the same league as this one!

Regardless, $12.5k for *any* game as common as Diablo II, regardless of how good the box looks, is ridiculous.

Gameguy

07-25-2012, 06:43 PM

Diablo II had a collector's edition?
It did, it's different from the Battle Chest that was later released.

http://item.ebay.com/230780341379

xelement5x

07-26-2012, 01:01 PM

Also, from what I heard about the early World of Warcraft sealed collectors edition releases, is that most people pay big money just for the keys that are contained. Those early keys were exclusive for certain items or pets I think, and there is essentially no way to get those items unless you've got the unused key.

Kitsune Sniper

07-26-2012, 01:15 PM

Diablo II had a collector's edition?

Yes it did, I have the box and some of the extras. It included a Dungeons & Dragons campaign and pre-made class templates, a soundtrack, and I forget what else.

I don't like to say this sort of stuff, but my god, THAT BUYER IS A FUCKING RETARD. He paid twelve grand for a game that's worth TWELVE DOLLARS.

Fucking VGA, GODDAMNIT PINCHES TARADOS MALDITOS ARRUINAN NUESTRO PASATIEMPO AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH

Jimmy Yakapucci

07-26-2012, 02:19 PM

Kitsune Sniper

07-26-2012, 02:26 PM

When did VGA begin grading PC stuff? Is there anything that they won't grade? On a more serious note, I saw in the listings that these were the NTSC-US versions of the games. I thought all PC games were the same. Since it is being displayed on a monitor vs. a television, I thought that there was only 1 format. Am I wrong?

eBay's always had the NTSC-U/J/PAL/whatever thing on PC games. I just leave it blank.

And technically, you do have to mention the region because some Asian games (particularly those that use Asian filenames) don't like non-Asian computer filesystems.

The 1 2 P

07-26-2012, 06:30 PM

Although not sealed I see Diablo II alot at Goodwill. Anyway, I think I need to get some more of my stuff graded. You never know who's looking for what.

Bojay1997

07-26-2012, 06:37 PM

When did VGA begin grading PC stuff? Is there anything that they won't grade? On a more serious note, I saw in the listings that these were the NTSC-US versions of the games. I thought all PC games were the same. Since it is being displayed on a monitor vs. a television, I thought that there was only 1 format. Am I wrong?

With PC games, many collectors only collect US versions as opposed to European/Japanese/Canadian/Asian versions which may work on a stock US PC, but which often have different boxes, manuals and disc labels or art. You'll see a lot of sellers list PC games as NTSC-US or just US versions for that reason.

theclaw

07-26-2012, 07:09 PM

When did VGA begin grading PC stuff? Is there anything that they won't grade? On a more serious note, I saw in the listings that these were the NTSC-US versions of the games. I thought all PC games were the same. Since it is being displayed on a monitor vs. a television, I thought that there was only 1 format. Am I wrong?

You still have to use common sense. PC games can have small regional changes. DRM method, censorship, etc. Expansion packs of different releases not working together.
While intentional lockout is very rare, AFAIK many PC games don't specify in their documentation if they've actually been tested on import systems.

Besides CD keys redeemable for digital download vary. Dishonest sellers may try to pull stunts like sell you cheap Russian language versions.

Jimmy Yakapucci

07-26-2012, 07:49 PM

Thanks to everyone with their replies about the various versions of computer software. I already figured the thing about the languages but was wondering about the NTSC aspect.

theclaw

07-26-2012, 10:23 PM

Kitsune Sniper

07-27-2012, 02:06 AM

Well I've never heard of a PC game that officially supported interlaced video, NTSC color, PAL color, or 50hz. Though I haven't asked either! PC monitor standards were for years much different from TV, compared to today.

A lot of DOS and Windows 3.x games used interlaced video of a sort to make games run faster. ;)

Jmagic87

07-27-2012, 11:45 AM

seeing this almost makes me wonder if it would be worth while to grade a factory sealed copy of D3 or D3 collectors edition and put it up for something crazy like $1000 might sell

Flashback2012

07-28-2012, 01:44 AM

seeing this almost makes me wonder if it would be worth while to grade a factory sealed copy of D3 or D3 collectors edition and put it up for something crazy like $1000 might sell

And here I am opening and enjoying my CE copies like a fool! :ass:

I do love the angel wings I can put on my character in D3 though the Shaman Fetish pet in WoW can be downright annoying.

Jmagic87

07-28-2012, 11:18 AM

And here I am opening and enjoying my CE copies like a fool! :ass:

I do love the angel wings I can put on my character in D3 though the Shaman Fetish pet in WoW can be downright annoying.
i missed out on the CE but i got the normal one on release and love my level 60 monk so i understand what you mean but hell cant hurt to grab a 2nd copy in mint and grade it if its getting these prices lol

Flashback2012

07-28-2012, 01:04 PM

i missed out on the CE but i got the normal one on release and love my level 60 monk so i understand what you mean but hell cant hurt to grab a 2nd copy in mint and grade it if its getting these prices lol

In regards to the D3 CE, I had to jump through some fire hoops to obtain a 2nd copy for my cousin. I imagine if he had a pre-ordered copy like I did, it wouldn't have been much trouble at all but it was insane trying to find a non-preordered copy around here. I got lucky and thanks to having quite a few friends left in the GS system, I was able to find a pre-ordered copy that was never picked up. I had to wait a week before they'd let me buy it but they honestly tried to get the guy to pick it up and he never did. His loss. :D

I've pondered the idea of buying stuff like that to hold onto and sell down the road but usually it's the price of them that keeps me from doing so. The last thing I want to do is buy in on something like that and either break even or take a loss. I never have been keen to the whole "gaming as investments" even though I've had some success with items I've picked up and resold in the past.

skaar

07-28-2012, 01:26 PM

None of this shit actually sells for listed price. People BIN and talk them down.

Griking

07-28-2012, 03:05 PM

None of this shit actually sells for listed price. People BIN and talk them down.

Sounds like a non paying bidder strike to me.

Bojay1997

07-28-2012, 03:34 PM

Sounds like a non paying bidder strike to me.

Very unlikely. The prices people list stuff for are so far above market that most of those resellers are happy if the bidder offers 50%+ of the price and will gladly take it.

Kitsune Sniper

07-28-2012, 03:48 PM

Very unlikely. The prices people list stuff for are so far above market that most of those resellers are happy if the bidder offers 50%+ of the price and will gladly take it.

He still loses a lot of money because of the excess fees.

This is why we have "best offer" options available... if the seller isn't using it, and is instead accepting a lower price while being charged a higher final value fee, it's his own damn fault for being stupid.

Bojay1997

07-29-2012, 03:35 PM

He still loses a lot of money because of the excess fees.

This is why we have "best offer" options available... if the seller isn't using it, and is instead accepting a lower price while being charged a higher final value fee, it's his own damn fault for being stupid.

I have a feeling once a price is agreed upon, the seller cancels the original transaction, so no fees other than Paypal end up getting paid anyway. At least, that's my understanding on the NES games where that same guy hits the crazy BIN and then comes back to negotiate the real price.

Kitsune Sniper

07-29-2012, 07:21 PM

I have a feeling once a price is agreed upon, the seller cancels the original transaction, so no fees other than Paypal end up getting paid anyway. At least, that's my understanding on the NES games where that same guy hits the crazy BIN and then comes back to negotiate the real price.

eBay monitors all communications between buyer and seller. Maybe not actively but they keep records of everything, so if something fishy happens, like a seller doing lots and lots of canceled transactions, they can suspend the accounts of those involved.

kai123

07-29-2012, 08:12 PM

Wow, I never thought VGA was going to amount to anything. It's as if people lose their minds when they see it. I need to come up with an alternative to make some cash. Competition is always a good thing right?

skaar

07-30-2012, 04:42 PM

I'd be willing to bet a group is working to boost perceived values of games for profit. VGA would be a logical entity to exploit or even include in such an exercise.

Tin foil hat time.

Bojay1997

07-30-2012, 05:30 PM

I'd be willing to bet a group is working to boost perceived values of games for profit. VGA would be a logical entity to exploit or even include in such an exercise.

Tin foil hat time.

I agree and I don't think it's some far-out theory. Even on boards like Sealed Game Heaven, there are plenty of people who believe the $10K+ NES games aren't real sales. I find it hard to believe a relatively common PC game, even from Blizzard and even graded a 90, was sold for $12,500.

kai123

07-30-2012, 06:26 PM

Glad I am not the only one with the tin foil hat. It has gotten to crazy levels for some of this stuff. It feels like overnight even though I know that is not true.

Kitsune Sniper

07-30-2012, 09:33 PM

kai123

07-30-2012, 11:39 PM

Yeah... I'm inclined to agree with you guys now.

No collector would pay so much for something you can buy for ten fucking dollars from Blizzard themselves. (http://us.blizzard.com/store/details.xml?id=110000047)

Now that is a fantastic find. I am going to be rich when all the copies I ordered get graded! ;)

Bojay1997

07-31-2012, 12:47 AM

Now that is a fantastic find. I am going to be rich when all the copies I ordered get graded! ;)

Pretty sure that's not the original release version. It's likely the smaller box version that Best Buy and other retailers have been selling for years.

The 1 2 P

07-31-2012, 11:00 PM

I suppose we won't even know if this sale was legit until the guy receives feedback for it. Unless he happens to be a member of DP.

kai123

08-01-2012, 12:15 AM

Pretty sure that's not the original release version. It's likely the smaller box version that Best Buy and other retailers have been selling for years.

I have no idea what version they ship. Hence my ;).

Griking

08-12-2012, 03:29 AM

I suppose we won't even know if this sale was legit until the guy receives feedback for it. Unless he happens to be a member of DP.

The seller received positive feedback for the auction though I supposed that doesn't mean that he received the full amount.

Of course it would be silly for a seller to pay eBay fees on that much if he didn't really get that much.

Bojay1997

08-12-2012, 08:49 PM

The seller received positive feedback for the auction though I supposed that doesn't mean that he received the full amount.

Of course it would be silly for a seller to pay eBay fees on that much if he didn't really get that much.

I'm pretty sure you can leave feedback even if the auction later is cancelled. I've gotten complete refunds on damaged or misrepresented goods and even after the transaction is cancelled it offers the option of leaving feedback, although I never would do it. In any event, if it was just a fraudulent bidding scheme and the buyer and seller were in collaboration, there's no reason to think the feedback is legit.