It begins.... Video game grading

[Jorpho]

It occurs to me: there's no way of telling just from looking at the box of SMB3 whether it's the original release or the second revision (i.e. with the corrected grammar in the spade house bonus game and the different world names at the end), is there?

But then, since no one will play this sealed SMB3 anyway, I guess it doesn't matter!

[Cornelius]

But then, since no one will play this sealed SMB3 anyway, I guess it doesn't matter!

...as if it mattered to begin with!

So if it costs $20 to get something graded, it better be worth on the order of >$100, assuming it will be worth 25% more after grading. Otherwise shipping and the risk involved make it pointless. Well, more pointless. As I've never spent that much on a game, and never plan to, I can't see how this would ever affect me.

[Ed Oscuro]

The ironic thing is that unlike coins, slabbing a game doesn't protect it much. Batteries can still leak, and covers can still fade from sun.

[98PaceCar]

The whole point would be that i would break the slab myself, or send it to a neutral 3rd party to break to show that they can't distinguish fakes.

I think it would put a pretty quick stop to this nonsense.

I'll provide the SMB/DH carts.. All that you need!

[cyberfluxor]

Here's a good example of a graded versus non-graded baseball card...

Both of the auctions you showed look to be in similar conditions. I can be picky when digging for games and find it annoying when two similar conditioned games are priced so far off because some retailer feels the game is rare and out of print as a reasoning to make it expensive. I can only imagine what would begin spewing out of the local "rare" seller's mouth about a graded game.

[PapaStu]

Stop looking at these auctions! I plan to bid and win them all. I shall be the master of slabbed games! Get away! Shoo! There's nothing to see here!

Now to send off my DS and PS and PS2 games for grading.

[bangtango]

Two threads on the topic for anyone who cares:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/show...ghlight=graded

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/show...ghlight=graded

[boatofcar]

The ironic thing is that unlike coins, slabbing a game doesn't protect it much. Batteries can still leak, and covers can still fade from sun.

I think that comic slabs use special UV protectant (protectant is not a word?) plastic to help prevent fading, I assume the same would be true with video games.

[Blitzwing256]

It occurs to me: there's no way of telling just from looking at the box of SMB3 whether it's the original release or the second revision (i.e. with the corrected grammar in the spade house bonus game and the different world names at the end), is there?

But then, since no one will play this sealed SMB3 anyway, I guess it doesn't matter!

If I recall the fixed version says rev-a or rev-b on the box itself (like the zelda revisions do)

[Rob2600]

That neo_gamer a-hole doesn't have anything to do with this right? This is a horrible idea, and I hope at least he doesn't gain monetarily from this.

Two threads on the topic for anyone who cares:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/show...ghlight=graded

Yes, neogamer was right. D'oh! He warned us this would happen, remember?

So if it costs $20 to get something graded, it better be worth on the order of >$100, assuming it will be worth 25% more after grading. Otherwise shipping and the risk involved make it pointless.

Exactly. As I wrote in the above thread, it'd only make sense to grade valuable games like Stadium Events, if at all. Grading a loose copy of Madden NFL '99 for the PlayStation would be a waste of money for the collector/seller.

[Ze_ro]

So, how long is it going to be before we see Room of Doom pictures with a shelf-full of slabbed games? Anyone else think it would end up looking a lot less impressive?

--Zero

[ProgrammingAce]

To take my idea a step further, if we can get some people with known reseals who are willing to pony up the $25, we can send them a bunch of fakes.

Websites like Kotaku and Joystiq and Consumerist would eat that shit up.

[DefaultGen]

.....

[Push Upstairs]

Meh.

This doesn't really affect buy buying habits.

Games is for playing!

[Famidrive-16]

Who will be the first to complete a Sealed "10.0 Rated" NES Archive?

What a life goal!

________________________

10.0 Rated Collection so far: 34 (out of 38)

*CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE*
- Balloon Fight
- Kid Icarus
- MC Kids
- Urban Champion

[GarrettCRW]

I just realized something: since the "slabs" in question are plastic, and oil prices are going a bit crazy, doesn't this mean that CGC is eventually going to be forced to increase the price of their "service" leading to even more increases on the prices of high-value games (because we all know where eBay sellers will put that $25 slabbing fee)? Also, how much of the post-slab price increases can be blamed on sellers trying to pass the fee off to the buyer?

[PapaStu]

________________________

10.0 Rated Collection so far: 34 (out of 38)

*CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE*
- Balloon Fight
- Kid Icarus
- MC Kids
- Urban Champion

Pics or it didn't happen

[y-bot]

Yeah... that's sorta my question.



I know I can look at ebay right now, and see a big difference in prices. That was not my original question, so let me explain it better.

When grading was 1st introduced to these hobbies- and the 1st few years of the practice being in place, what happened to the value of non graded items? Did a standard, non-graded item increase in price or did it decrease? I'm not talking about relative value (to a graded item). Does anyone know the answer to this? What did a non graded item fetch before grading was introduced, and what did it fetch a year or two later?

Sorry my example wasn't that great. At least in the area of comics and cards, non-graded "mint" items are worth far less than they were before grading became popular. I think you are going to see the most astronomical prices you've ever imagined for high grade sealed NES and SNES games soon. One other thing I was trying to bring up in another post is that the market for AFA graded toys is very manipulated. Most of the high end stuff is never sold at auction, only at fixed prices in Ebay stores by a few big dealers. I've sold a bunch of sealed 80's GI Joe figures on Ebay for a friend. Some we had AFA graded and some we did not. The really good stuff sold for around $500-$800 each whether they were graded or not but if you look in people's Ebay stores the same figures are $2000-$3000. I see that coming soon with videogames. Especially since it's the same dealers who are selling them. I'm really curious who the videogame graders are and I won't be at all surprised to find out it's someone from here who's keeping there mouth shut.

y-bot

[Ed Oscuro]

I think that comic slabs use special UV protectant (protectant is not a word?) plastic to help prevent fading, I assume the same would be true with video games.

Oh, you're right.

Somebody should ask this seller! ...or look it up on the site. Will do it tomorrow when I have some time.

[boatofcar]

I'm really curious who the videogame graders are and I won't be at all surprised to find out it's someone from here who's keeping there mouth shut.

y-bot

I doubt it. The parent company of VGA is AFA, the largest action figure grading company. They probably use the same guys to grade video games.

As far as detecting reseals, You can buy an x-ray machine that can see right through the cardboard. I wouldn't be surprised if they have one ready to go. I'm pretty sure Beckett grading services use them to grade unopened packs of cards.

I'm going to take the unpopular position on this one folks. I see this as a win-win for collectors and gamers. Collectors who collect sealed games can buy them on ebay without worrying that they're reseals, and gamers can still buy the games that they want to play. The only people who lose out here are gamers who only buy sealed games to open them. But hey, you can't please everybody.