YOURTURN

Update: See graded photos.

EDIT: Sold. It was suggested that I do not submit it.

My situation is similar to @RH's. If I was starting to map out my collecting goals in 2011, I might have looked into this at some point in 2012. But since I don't have any real luck, don't really have others in my life that know more about this, and blah blah blah... I am currently focusing on select variants of any PS3 game that still interests me. Granted that it's not Nintendo. But in my last pick-up's case, I don't really think I would have any additional chances to find a 2012 "Walmart" variant copy of any games for the price I paid. Something I think will go up once those variant hunters develop an interest in terms of what the PS3 has to offer! Either way, I'd pass. Because knowing my luck, I'd probably miss out on a chance to get a sealed copy of either Afrika or NBA Elite 11 for cheap if I ever changed my mind! (And FYI, NBA Elite 11 is the PS3's answer to Stadium Events.)

UPDATE: Wata has announced that starting April 24, 2023, all submissions will be returned in the new cases. And that their current/old cases will be a "Legacy Case" option (as seen on the order form). You can read more about this here: https://blog.watagames.com/2023/04/04/the-new-wata-holder-faq/ Personally speaking, I am fine with this. It curbs my need to submit to VGA, with reasons being that it is a whole lot cheaper to go with their polycarbonate cases than go with VGA's Archival upgrade service. Especially since my current goal is to collect a few PS3 titles (and maybe complete any series when/if that is possible) that are holding my interest. Even if there is no current "general interest" in that console.

My lone Naruto 3DS title. There were two made for this console, but the one that TOMY had made first saw the NA release be cancelled. (Possibly due to a license change.) This was the first, and only, Naruto game that Namco Bandai Games had published on the 3DS. With them announcing a printing error (see photo #2) prior to it being released. So while there is no telling if they printed corrected copies prior to the first shipment, I have found that sealed copies have been tricky to find. (Thus my first trip to Wata as of May 1st.)

Video Game Sage. When things escalate, it doesn't happen quickly. It doesn't happen light speed. Heck, it does not happen ridiculous speed. It escalates... Ludicrous speed.

I found two Naruto games like this, and was debating if I should get them even if I was leaning towards a NA PS3 collection for the time being. But I pictured Chris Christmas Rodriguez's theme song playing while @Gloves stood at my doorway, shaking his head.

Nope. But here are two links for you! LINK #1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square's_Tom_Sawyer LINK #2: https://www.jp.square-enix.com/game/detail/square_ts/ I should note that this game was on my "to buy" list when I was planning to collect Famicom exclusive RPGs.

I second this! When I had friends that were into PS3 and Xbox 360 games, I had a small list of 360 games I wanted to try out. Including Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon. Plus, I also bought the gothic castle space on PlayStation Home because of Lord of Shadows. It was, by far, so much nicer than Konami's Silent Hill space (which did disappoint me, TBH). Then again... Rumble Roses XX is my guilty pleasure, even if Rumble Roses on PS2 was a bit better in terms of content (championships and the like).

Deleted.

EDIT: Sold even though it might have been a re-seal. There was signs that it might not have been tampered with. It was weird seeing what looked like a finger print, but it was there.

And the double packs, the store exclusives, the first/benefits prints, and the promo/UPC punched stuff, right? In all cases I am glad you are doing the sane thing. And I say that because I have developed an interest in the PS3 line-up again. Only to remember that there are rare/scarce print variants for that as well.

I was not talking about "The Neverending Collection". Legend has it that no living being is capable of completing it. And that once the "Chosen One" does, they get as many wishes as they want. With each wish bringing back the people and land the Nothing has taken away.

Just checking your sanity levels. But by "full set" you mean "one copy of each game" variety and not the "You might as well be listening to Hotel California because I found another print variant of a shovelware game." variety, right?

Thanks for the contribution. Mine was a "Triforce of Irony" in response to the digital coding of Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork and Davy Jones entered the topic while claiming that there was nothing wrong. But yeah... I tend to feel like you guys give me that response. With thanks that my PUNishment was what came in the mail today (which is not a Chinese bootleg, BTW).

It might be humid that day. (Which is something I had experienced while I hunted down TakaraTomy's office in 2016. And trust me, those photos might have me sport some weird sweat marks.) Or there is always the possibility that I might get stuck in the middle of a video game forum war. <-(Anchorman 2 joke.) But more importantly... I might get it stained before I could represent VGS during a potential visit Nintendo's Kyoto branch. (Which has been on my bucket wish list, even though I wasted my effort visiting KyoAni in 2012.)

I'm still deciding if it would be safe to wear a VGS t-shirt at Tokyo Game Show. So I'm good for now. [EDIT for @Link and anybody else wondering what I mean: I'm going to be attending Tokyo Game Show 2023 during one (or both) of their "open to the public" days. And I am trying to ponder if representing VGS would be a good idea. Thus buying a t-shirt instead of the pins. ]

Is it safe to say that @Code Monkey is having a Randall moment, and that @Gloves has become Dante? In all cases this situation, for some reason, reminds me of Kinky Kelly and The Sexy Stud scene.

You really need to re-watch the video. And I say that because I was using both Square's Tom Sawyer and Custer's Revenge as counterpoints to your claims. With those who either know, or even look up, the former know that the depictions of the black characters (both on package and in game) are racist. Even by NES/Famicom era standards. Which is why it was not ported outside Japan. With my point being that games are not sexualized or racist if you are not paying attention. Especially when the video has that content blurred out for those reasons.

We need to get you one of these. Then you'll see what you are ignoring. I mean, for example, seeing a blurred image could even make Square's Tom Sawyer not be considered racist. Just like the same could be said about Custer's Revenge not looking sexualized because the scenes were blurred out. Plus, I should point out that the Ronald McDonald game did show the playable character to be naked. So I guess that is not child pornography simply because they blurred that out.

True. And maybe. But if you have seen my backlog on that, you would know why I have been procrastinating here.

I know. Which is great from a gamer standpoint. But as a collector (or just one that has bad luck being one), this should have been a swan song title. (As in one of those titles people should buy before Capcom stops publishing PS4 titles.) Thus the reason why I am shaking my fist at Sony while I ponder if I should wait to get this digitally.

Speaking of PlayStation 3, I am finding it weird that Wata does not have a population report section for that console. I mean that after I found out that one title I was interested in had more than four print variants (as this one database claims). But they have one for the Xbox 360. (Plus it appears that their Wii listing is not 100% complete.) Hopefully what I am itching to add to my collection does not turn out to be a more common submission than I am hoping it is.

As a gamer this is in my "maybe" list. I already have a long list of RPGs and other games I have bought but never completed. But as a collector, this was something I'd definitely have pre-ordered if Sony did not goof up when it comes to the PS5. Simply because as much as I still like Nintendo, this would have been the best "End of an era" game for me! Ugh! Now I wish I took this game series a bit more seriously when it was new.