Video Game Grading: Stupid or The Stupest Thing Ever?

I don't recall if we've covered this here...but does anybody have any thoughts on the concept of video game grading?

I consider it to be a huge waste of money and a giant scam.

Thoughts?

 

Thank god, the japanese market isn't stupidized.

 

I dunno...good for the incredibly serious collectors I guess.

Personally I'd rather spend my money on more games, condition is neither here nor there, as long as its not loose (Bar Nintendo stuff, but I don't have any Nintendo stuff so that don't matter..)

 

In principle, it's the next logical step once there's an established market for sealed games. If you're never going to open or play the game, why not go all the way and seal it in a plastic shell, and apply some sort of standardized measure of quality?

In practice, of course, it'll be saddled with the same problems as graded coins and comics: attempts to game the system by re-grading; questionable "restoration" techniques; counterfeits, etc. But one must understand that what you're really paying for here is bragging rights, so on some level none of that matters.

Personally this doesn't affect me much either way, as I usually don't bother with sealed games (esp. since I play all the games I buy). A game with box and manual, in nice condition, is good enough for me.

 

As far as I care, as long as the game is still playable (and not falling apart) I'm cool with buying it.

But paying 5 times the regular price just because its sealed? riiiiight...

Anyways, it was bound to happen, with game collectors becoming more commonplace that comic collectors these days.

 

I dunno, some of these games that are sealed like this will yield tons of money in the future. Think of a sealed copy of Valkyrie Profile or some Working Designs game in there. Now THAT would be a good investment.

And you know someone will want it.

 

Quick question, can the batteries in these games leak like other batteries? If so, then we might have some problems with sealed games

 

I don't know, but these cartridges tend to contain the same lithium ion batterys which are used in the Sega Saturn and DreamCast VMUs. If they leak when they expire, then yes you'll have that issue with NES carts.

 

Just about anything you buy when it's old is graded in some way based on it's condition. Why? Nobody wants to buy something beaten up. Even manga, which are somewhat worthless in Japan as a collectible, are marked down when they're in bad condition.

Or am I missing something here completely?

 

Yes, very stupid.

It's a business. Made by opportunists.
I think people should boycott it...

u.u

 

I would be all for it if they had some kind of standards orginization for it.
Who says that these people are the last word? Who trained them, what
credentials do they hold -- How do we know they aren't some $9/hr 19
yr old with 3 months experience? What guarentee do we have that they
are consistent?

 

What are you referring to by 'Video Game Grading?'
When I read the thread title I thought you meant 'video game ratings', IE: 9/10 Gameplay.etc.

 

I wrote an article once, pointing out that video games are not a great form of investment compared to other things. If say you bought say an original Atari 2600 on day of release and kept it in mint condition and sold it for $2000, it would still be worth much less then putting the money in a long term bond for the last 30 years... and take inflation into account you would still need to see about a 4% increase on what you paid every year to make any money, ie a game you paid $100 10 years ago selling for $160 would not make you any money in real terms.

 

Wow.

 

I think it's a shame to see perfectly good games (or anything like that) sealed away like that, never to do the only thing they were created for. On the other hand, if you're of the sealed/collectable persuasion I can imagine this will be good for two reasons - bigger bragging rights and potentially increased value.

 

Yeah, I understand that as buyers we grade things ourselves when we buy them. We determine how much we'll pay based on the shape the item is in.

What bothers me is when some know nothing opportunist asshole charges X amount of dollars to tell you what sort of condition your game is in. The market should determine a games value, not some guy.

And just a note...the guy (the grader) does not take any of the risk out of a purchase. A game graded a 95 or whatever still might not meet your standards for what a 95 is or some other persons. Really, no two people can grade the same not even ZOMGsuperawesomecoolpowerful graders.

 

The only people who will really gain from this are people who have tons of sealed games they want to sell, and the game graders themselves.
Poeple who collect sealed games are likely to find prices will increase if grading takes off. because sellers who have their games graded will want more money for them, to cover the cost of grading, and you'll get lots of speculators buying up sealed games to grade as an investment, show off about or to resell.

If you want a game in mint condition, just ask whoever you want to buy from for lots of detalied photos. Much better than relying on some grader who's opinion on condition could be totally different to yours anyway.

 

I guess I'm not following the thread. There are people that will appraise your games for you? Do people that use these services not know of the internet?

 

I think collectors are the children of Satan so Yeah I think it's dumb too.