U.S. Sonic with UPC sells for $981.33

[TonyTheTiger]

Well, it would seem a sticker is the necessary step that needed to be taken. Not just intention, but a physical representation of this intention.

Well, yeah, that was everybody's point from the start, mine included. We've gone back and forth over whether or not a sticker is substantial enough a step. If it is, then we're talking literally the smallest, most haphazard bottom of the barrel act works. I'm not sure what action could be smaller than a single sticker. A "U.S." written in pencil?

Again, does Radiant Silvergun have anything to distinguish it from other releases? Then how exactly is it even remotely the same? The sticker proves that the game was intended for release in the US at some point. Find me a Radiant Silvergun sticker, and I'll agree with you. Until then...

I'm sure Radiant Silvergun has GameStop receipt paper supporting it, if that's something. Either way we get to the same problem of the authenticity of the individual item (rather than the general intent on the part of the publisher) since for all we know a bunch of Sonic stickers could be forged (certainly an easy prospect). At this point, even if Sonic is hands down no ifs ands or buts about it an American game we're back at square one. How the fuck is anybody supposed to authenticate if they got the real deal?

It probably wasn't much of an issue before since Sonic wasn't exactly a super high profile game. But if word of this recent sale starts spreading? If the shock of the $1,000 UPC sticker starts getting out there? Sure, Sonic is an American game. But good luck picking a copy out of a lineup.

It's like having an autograph with no paperwork vs one with paperwork. No contest.

That's not true. It's definitely easier to authenticate an autograph than a UPC sticker. The paperwork is a marvelous help and value, sure, but it's not the absolute exclusive gatekeeper.

Interesting on Shenmue II. Not surprising. Let's face it, if you have a trained eye, SMS games will make your head hurt trying to find all the variants. Sega for the 90's stickers. 'Made in Canada' stickers put over the 'Made in ?'. And the Sonic we're all babbling about. Sega does shit weird, always did. A collector's worst nightmare (cept C64 or 2600).

No, a collector's worst nightmare is probably ending up in a situation where he can't distinguish between the real deal and good forgeries, which has been the unfortunate implication of this thread the entire time.