YOURTURN

If we are talking about today... I'll simplify by saying that it depends on what I am interested in.

I can make a long speech about my history with both anime and manga. Including brief explanations that would help those who knew that I had a breakdown understand what caused it to be that bad. And so on, and so forth.

But right now?

Anime = Detective Conan while I am living where I am. My paternal genetic cousin is Arthur Conan Doyle. Which is not the reason why I watch it. I just do because it is a good anime adaptation. Even if they create a few episodes that he would have criticized in the end. If I was where I wanted to be, and almost ended up being at, my list would have definitely been longer. With the original Bubblegum Crisis being on top of that list.

Manga = ??? as I'm still looking. But until then I am doing a soft return for the Naruto franchise. But I am nearly sure that I'll find a definitive series when I return to Tokyo later this year. With hopes What's Michael? will be reprinted around the time I return back from Tokyo. Otherwise I'll be looking at how I sought series out during my pre-2012 days. With me adding that, like anime as well, I will not get into Sanrio Boys.

So long story short... I just go where my interests take me.

Out of boredom I asked an AI more about the Game Boy Color.

Both the facts and opinion this particular AI said sounds about right.

Cursed Branding (the AI)

The Cursed Handheld known as Game Boy Color

Damned to forever wander the cursed land, damned to forever be cursed by the dark gods and the power of the elder lord to endlessly spread suffering and misery among all those who cross his path.  May they all be damned for all eternity for this cursed device that will never know peace, or redemption.

I gave it an 8/10. It would have been a 6/10, but that +2 is there because I had fun trying to be good at it... And... It was one of my fun non-RPG moments when I had my used Dreamcast.

Ah yes, the legendary @JamesRobot. As told by Cursed Branding (an AI I have found):

JamesRobot of Video Game Sage

The JamesRobot will guide any video game developers to create a video game that will be loved by millions, for the JamesRobot is a sage and knows the secrets of game development. All is not well though, for this sage cannot be controlled, for it is sentient! If you try to control it you will be cursed by the JamesRobot, and your video games will be doomed forever!

All hail the JamesRobot!

[In other words: The curse has your video game collection become part of the Carolina Collection. For all of eternity.]

59 minutes ago, Hammerfestus said:

Careful with those eye rolls buddy.  Do you want a stalker?  Because that’s how you get a stalker.

Hmmm...  I should do that if I ever meet a cute female yandere that proclaimed me as her "Senpai" in Japan! 

Which is happening later this year. But knowing my luck, I might end up doing that to a cosplayer at Tokyo Game Show 2023 and she'll turn out to be a normal stalker. 

3 hours ago, Nintendopower4ever said:

Yeah crazy like I expected lol

I just asked you what you meant about not being "shocked" about that a game being overgraded or damaged post grade here in Colorado has to do with anything because "you lived here"
I've collected sealed games for over 20 years and cards, coins, etc before that and can do a pretty good a  job just eyeballing things as to what grade something should get and of course you should have pregrading photos. lol

It's not rocket science.

Sensitive much? 

I mean it does not take basic psychology to know why I gave you the eyeroll. It's your opening response about my writing, dood! 

Plus, when I past my 20 year mark as a collector I was living in Colorado Springs. Which was in 2004, with the start of 2005 being when I was diagnosed with Asperger's (which was absorbed into ASD from 2013 onward). Stuff you would have known if you skipped the need to insult me and just ask your questions.

But yeah, I resided there in 2004. I dealt with a video game seller that was willing to reseal a Xbox copy of Marvel Vs Capcom 2 for me. The game had a tear, he had the means of resealing it, and was fine charging me the full price. And yet, he got pissed that I returned it. As opposed to him charging me a second time after he accepted said return.

There was also the chain of comic book stores. One was a prime example on how you do not display comic books. And despite that, they were willing to ask full price while doing just that. While the other one had a manager that told me how he got to see Army of Darkness on VHS in 1988, while having a fit when I said Evil Dead 2 debuted in 1987.

Plus I do agree that it doesn't take rocket science to take photos of anything that would be submitted. But it also does not take rocket science to realize that the sellers are selling the grade, not the game, in cases like that one. 

Something that gives my dismissed opinions about VGA a valid sense of irony. With me saying that because some have said that buyers can see the difference. While also complaining when that is not the case. 

57 minutes ago, ThePhleo said:

Personally,

I just don't see the Game Boy Color as a unique system in the same way that I don't see the PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 4 Pro as unique systems.

Let's just take a look at the launch titles of the Game Boy Color.

1. Centipede
2. Game & Watch Gallery 2
3. Tetris DX
4. Pocket Bomberman

...

...

Yeah, that's NOT a new console.

From my personal opinion is that the Game Boy is parallel to the PlayStation 4 Pro, while the Game Boy Color is parallel to the PlayStation 5. With most of the games getting an uptick being parallel to Crisis Core Reunion. Maybe even both Remake and Remake Intergrade for those who do not own a 4K or 8K TV.

Because by the end of the day, the PS5 is just an upgraded PS4 Pro. Just like the 3DS is an upgraded DS, and the GBC is an upgraded GB. Versus @Gloves tolerating me is different from how he tolerated EastAsiaSoft's inability to cut tabs so he could open their products is new, and not an upgrade or downgrade.

2 hours ago, Nintendopower4ever said:

Not much of what you post ever makes sense, but I was curious what you mean when you say you aren't "shocked" that the damaged overgraded games were graded here in Colorado compared to somewhere else because you used to live here? lol

Please do me a major favor and try to sound you know what you are talking about before you decide to respond to anything. I have a low tolerance for freshmen year responses these days. Okay? Thank you! 

Oh, and take note that my last submission to CAS resulted in a post-grading situation that did change my then "80+" graded Nucleon Quest Super Convoy to a possible 80.

 However, seeing that you need to be educated... The entire process goes like this:

1. Preparation of submission.
2. Acknowledgement of submission.
3. Any additional requests (if it is part of the grading company's policy).
4. Preparation of grading process.
5. Grading process.
6. Preparation of casing (as the labels are not finalized before it was graded).
7. Casing.
8. Preparation of return shipment.
9. Shipment.

Number 3 specifically is tied to Collector Archive Services. And probably UK Graders since I was prepared to try them out prior to having my inquiries be ghosted. As well as CGC and CBCS when it comes to pressings, etc.

And yes, my experiences in this portion of the hobby has me know the difference between a grading error and a post-grading error. With me also relying on those who have helped fill in the gaps I never got to experience.

Then again, I make a point of listening to those who know what they are talking about. With one prime example being @Code Monkey's experiences with Wata being why I tried CAS (a year after I talked to Ross Barr).

So thank you for playing and good luck not realizing how little it takes to find out why you should always take photos of your pre-graded games before you have them graded. 

3 hours ago, Tanooki said:

I do not think the GBC was under-appreciated but more so underrated.  Nintendo didnt help much though given the weird way they handled it internally. Translucent carts were the only ones they counted yet marketing wise it was hypocrisy as the black carts were GBC but not.   It created this weird thing of, are these GB or GBC games to many.  Black carts weren’t that limited exactly as you could get the full color scale more or less, but it stopped there as some games needed more than added shades into video, better audio, more going on that needed that double ram, speed, and DMA too.

I 100% completely agree with this.

Going back to my talks of being a Dragon Quest fan back then, there is a huge difference between knowing the game series and being a fan. With one example being the time @Sumez used the manga as an explanation for somebody to "geek out." When the actual fanbase actually knows that the majority of the manga for the franchise is simply filler. And to truly 'geek out' one would have to be prepared to spend a lot of money doing any of the events Yuji Horii (aka the main creator who is in charge of both production and development) was involved in. Atop of buying clothing, home-based products (e.g. furniture and silverware), among other options that do not involve playing the games.

With the GBC, as I recall just because I am old, the whole thing is no different than how Nintendo chose to transition from the GBA to the DS, and from the DS to the 3DS. The problem is that it becomes far more confusing to those who do not live in Japan, or simply make it an actual focus, than it is for those who do. Mostly because the focus are the games have become the focus, and not much else. But it is like you are implying... Because this system is the earliest known case of backwards compatibility, it is more of a blur between the two than simply somebody both buying and playing PS1 games on a PS2 console. With me feeling that this is more of a "PS4 to PS5" upgrade kind of scenario.

4 hours ago, final fight cd said:

How does a game get damage either during the slabbing process or while the game is slabbed? It isn’t like they are being jostled inside the case like a marble inside of a spray can. They are secured.  I agree that based on the grade the only logical explanation, minus WATA just being incompetent graders, is that the damage occurred post grading, but I don’t see how it would or could occur.  

Since we are talking about companies like Wata and CGC, they use pre-made cases. Which itself has the issue become both who was inserting the game into the case and if they are trying to meet a quota. And seeing that a lot of their mistakes were tied to the Colorado location (which is a state I used to live in, thus not being shocked by this), it sounds like at least one of the people in charge of casing these games chose to put quantity over quality. Which tells me that the new owners included this in part of their post-move shake-up.

However... If we were talking about CGA, UKG, or CAS... I would have said it was probably more of a miscalculation on the fabricator's end. Just because I had that happen when I used both CGA and CAS for two different submissions. With the last one being tied to the fact I paid a 7-day turnaround, and it was getting close to a major holiday.

22 hours ago, cartman said:

Nobody seems to have picked up any GBC either on their gamehunting trip etc.

I did. In 2017.

Atop of the time I got to experience Dragon Quest the Real at Universal Studios Japan and eating at Luida's Bar (which is a Dragon Quest themed place)... I managed to complete the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and nearly all of the Game Boy Advance portions of the Dragon Quest library. All CIB, with one instance where I used eBay to purchase a CIB-based upgrade for one of the two Dragon Quest Monsters boxes I bought at Mandarake.

But my experience here is that people who have a genuine interest in either a console or franchise tend to be either overlooked or ignored. Which is why I am going the PS5 route this time around.

1 hour ago, retro.magnus said:

Here’s a other from the seller that just ended that clearly isn’t worthy of its grade. https://www.ebay.com/itm/266162768705?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=OkwYNr9CQ4i&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=Gzl19y7eQrK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

That damage appears to be post-grading. I had a number of CGC graded comic books that could have been 9.8s, but ended up looking like 9.6s after they were slabbed. The bigger problem is that people tend to put more focus on the pre-slab grade before any post-slab issues. Especially when their intent is to make a potentially quick profit.

It's kind of those "Let's ignore the rarity or obvious because the grade is so high!" scenario. One that'll explain why I only allow my insanity to be borrowed when a set is close to be completed, and that is not a risk factor. 

On 3/6/2023 at 5:00 AM, CIB_Wholesale_no_split said:

thanks for the info i'll check them out and try a test run. since the 007 grade is the highest available condition i'd seek out a different service to grade the vga 80-100 scale

right now i'm mostly stick to VGA slide outs along with an excel sheet of all the damage. A new grading company would do well with 4-8 subgrades ----- 2 is not enough to get a feel by the numbers only

 

Not a problemo.

Just note the following about Collector Archive Services:

• If the game is not on their list, you have to do a submission. This means that if you want to include any upgrades, you need to submit said request the moment you get a confirmation that they received the item.
• If you want the label on top, which is not an option with them, you need to contact them first about it. Chances are they will treat this request as a custom order, but not a complex custom order.
• Unless you pay for their standard premium, or they offered you a cheaper premium, turnaround times with CAS is, at the longest, around 8 months. Complex customs tend to be longer.
• Use their email address, and not their "contact us" button for any responses. I found out that I get a response within 24-48 hours by doing this. With no response with their "contact us" form.
• Their secondary grade system involves decimal points. Meaning that if you need a reason why your game got an 80+ and not an 85, that will say what the grader determined was the game's overall condition.

And above all else, please note that CAS promotes themselves more as a grading company for collectors than anything else. Which is another reason why I stuck with them back then. And not the reason why I am going to try Wata now.

21 hours ago, Super Nintendo Chalmers said:

Yeah it's an urban myth, especially coming from Reddit where many people on the gaming subs wouldn't know their arse from their elbow. Would've made perfect sense to have a golden cart. though!

Yeah. The last time I even heard of said cart, some were claiming that said carts were limited to competitions. Or something like that. But even then my findings went from being a logical conclusion to being an urban myth-style dead end.

4 hours ago, CIB_Wholesale_no_split said:

with the mario 64 comparing to the 007 nightfire in condition

Both were given their grades prior to being cased. This is one of the reasons why I chose to try out CAS when I found that both CGA and WATA were unable to meet my standards. With the only difference is that the majority of Wata's mistakes were made during their time in Colorado. While the mistakes CGA have made are being ignored.

4 hours ago, CIB_Wholesale_no_split said:

something isnt right between the condition

Again, my first submission to CGA was before they expanded their "+" system to their AFA department. If what I had submitted went to UKG (or CAS after they were open for business), the box portion itself would have been graded an 80. However, both graders had agreed that it was an 85. And the damage I am talking about is not a casing-related issue.

4 hours ago, CIB_Wholesale_no_split said:

or grading system

CGA, UKG, and CAS use the same grading system. I would have more information on the three, but UKG had chosen to ghost me due to the fact that I reside in NA. That level of unprofessionalism is why Wata is now third on my "test" list. With me looking at my time dealing with graded comic books as a way to understand their system. While I also wish CAS gave people the same label options that both CGA and UKG offer.

The point being is that CAS offers a secondary grade that explains why a game might have received an 85+, when the person submitting it thinks it would have graded a 90. While Wata's reason for grading the wrap separately is meant to help give a better understanding how far from mint the box is. While going with a separate grade for the wrap making sense when it was previously shown that VGA made mistakes doing it differently.

4 hours ago, CIB_Wholesale_no_split said:

or prices being sold

That was something promoted by CGA long before they updated their long-outdated website. I believe it goes as far back as their Tom Derby era, which pre-dates the beginning of any company that was willing to grade video games.

Again, reasons why I made an effort to try out CAS while others hyper-focused on finding the next VGA or Wata.

4 hours ago, darkchylde28 said:

...where?  ...when?

This has quickly become the worst "Who's of first?" parody skit I have ever read. 

10 hours ago, GPX said:

I feel like I could write a whole thesis on why I enjoy owning graded games and the pros and cons associated with them. 
BUT…I won’t bore you guys with such intricate details of my inner subconsciousness. 

I don't blame you. I was going to do the same thing, but what I was going to write would have appealed to the most minute of members here. 

8 hours ago, a3quit4s said:

I feel like I need to buy a graded game or have one graded so I can be in the cool kid club

Good luck. I personally found out years ago that Mandarake graded games do not count because they can be unwrapped and played. And that you have to have a sealed 95+ graded SNES copy of A Link to the Past to join the "Dollar High Club."

6 hours ago, darkchylde28 said:

To date, I don't know that I've ever seen any response(s) from a grading company after such an issue was reported save the ultimate "fallout" over the fake Rondo of Blood.

I have with AFA. Again with the Toy Toni fiasco, where even C.I.B.'s very own Tom Derby did not bother to look for any grading irregularities when he bought some of Toni's sealed Star Wars toys. 

On 2/28/2023 at 8:34 PM, Link said:

I wouldnt blame the individual people doing the grading, just the company as an entity. By whatever reason things fall through the cracks. It is interesting to hear what goes on though. Thanks for your acquaintance's story.

I'm not familiar with what Sotheby's-level detail would mean, but when stakes are high I would want attention to detail and not ratings that are clearly inaccurate. Fortunately I'm not interested in grading or putting that kind of money into this, so my opinion is immaterial anyway  

You are welcome. But to be frank, graders are not allowed to overlook anything. They are limited to soft grading when the quota compromises their ability to determine if the item is a 9.6 or a 9.8. Stuff like cracks in the case and tears in the wrap cannot be overlooked by the grader. Which tends to mean that it was mishandled by a different department.

Which also has me blame those who force graders to compromise to that point in their careers. As well as those who act like experts over things they never study. Because a grading company does not charge a large sum for the grading process. And yet, those who grade get flak for any mistakes the other departments make.

Which is why I brought up the action house Sotheby's, as they do not have such clientele. Instead they have the ability to grade an item "1-10" with added notes on any irregularities found on non-graded items. And probably do just that if they were a grading company. Simply because they would be a "under the radar" company.

Just like CAS... Which I am not going to use again. For reasons tied to the fabrication department and not the graders. 

14 hours ago, Link said:

Just generally... why are there so many problems? Is this the kind of thing where every single issue gets a lot of attention due to the nature bearing high expectations, or is the whole service sector really so totally unreliable in its sole purpose?

I am going to partially agree with @jonebone by saying that the issues might not be limited to the graders, but rather have me shift the blame onto those who are in charge of quotas. Something I started to read up on as a means to determine if CBCS was the better option compared to CGC and PGX.

For example, you can go to a Levi store both in a mall and a factory outlet. At the mall you will find how the jeans are supposed to both look and be, while the outlet tends to have the irregulars. This is because those in charge of making those jeans are expected to meet a daily quota. Which has even the best be prone to slip up if the quota is too high.

In the case of graded comic books and cards, people send these in bulk. And many expect them to be done by a set amount of time. Which can put pressure on those who are hired to deal with those types of quotas. And like the case of what I was told by a former CGC grader, graders will be told to "soften up" just so they can help complete their share of said daily quotas.

Because of that, people often do not get the Sotheby's-level of grading detail. Something that people who do not know how tough the profession is tend to expect. Which is why I tend to look at other grading companies that others here will overlook, try them out, and see if they are worth both the time and money needed for their services.

Then again, my first freelance work for Beckett was better than my second/last. The difference was that the second/last one was part of their "Best of DBZ" publication, which meant that I had around a week to do the same work I gave the first time around. Which I spent weeks on just to make sure that everything was correct.

(I wish I kept my congratulatory email I got from Kyle Hebert when it came to my first article... )

On 2/25/2023 at 10:27 AM, inasuma said:

VGA still has dogpoop turnarounds, and CGC is too new and has had allegations of authenticating and doubling + tripling down on reseals.

To be honest, CGA is a shadow of its former self since their Tom Darby days. And that does not say much seeing how they are still here is only tied to the fact their own controversies continue to be ignored. And as for CGC, I was once told by a former comic book grader that the grading department often follows a "quota before accuracy" protocol. Which is why both situations do not surprise me. Especially when the original VGA page announced they decided to grade sealed VHS tapes, as opposed to doing what was needed to be done (e.g. catching up on their grading) first. 

Redacted for the hope doing so @Gloves, @OptOut, @fcgamer, and others will not send a Thai kicker as a response to what I had previously posted.

As of right now, I have my flight book and loft reserved for six weeks. So I am planning to just play Final Fantasy VII between now and the time I have to respond to anything here. Or post something. Or whatever.

Pretty much every Squaresoft RPG I got my hands on for the SNES. Games like the Persona series overwhelm me with the "dating" system, but these games have me wonder if there is a combination of things I am not doing correctly. 

12 minutes ago, FireHazard51 said:

What are people's thoughts on Minecraft for PS4.

I think the game shames people who do not have the ability to have a block-like physique. Especially with the way they promote it on the PS4. Which is why I asked my therapist if getting an Xbox Series S would help end the body shame they had put me through.

16 minutes ago, FireHazard51 said:

Do you include a game if there was no physical disc but a physical game case with a download code inside?

Yes. And that is why I shall never forgive Square Enix for putting Dragon Quest X on the 3DS. Because in 2017 I was afraid, I was petrified. Kept thinking I could not live without it by my side. But then I spent so many nights thinking how those sellers did me wrong. And I grew strong. And my budget learned how to move along.

21 minutes ago, FireHazard51 said:

Do you include a game it's only purchased via online store?

I buy my import games from online stores. So that is a conundrum for me. But in most cases I consider them to be a sub-set. With top priority being tied to any games that either Square Enix or VGS has to sell.

24 minutes ago, FireHazard51 said:

What if it's a foreign company with ESRB rating and region free.

I say "Sure." simply because there are cases where some regions have region-free exclusives, and others are sold via retail in said area. With the Shantae series being the latter of the two examples.

26 minutes ago, FireHazard51 said:

What if it's not ESRB rated but region free.

Up to the collector, but I still say "Sure." for the same reason. Especially since Square Enix released a few Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy games that were digital here in a physical format elsewhere.

1 hour ago, fcgamer said:

Who told you about Greg?!?

I think it was that one guy who threw a chair at me after I said "Graded CIB games are technically sealed games."