What is it about japanese collectors...

Why do collectors in japan go to such great lengths to keep undumped games (arcade boards for example or console protos) undumped?

e.g. ebay/yahoo auctions where some collector has paid far more than he would normally pay for something just because word has gotten out that one of the other bidders for it intends to dump the game and publish the dumps.

 

it's not a japanese-only trend. It's a collector's hording instinct that some of us posess. I wouldn't act in such a manner for all titles, but I m pretty sure I'd like to keep something like Super Mario 64 II material in limited circulaion - and eventually release.

 

Basically if you dump something that isn't available (and is something unlikely to be available) then the proto you have does become less vaulable. Simple reality...

I have two games which are currently unavailable the chances of me making ISOs of them are currently nil.

 

Perhaps the original copyright owner is buying the board/game to keep it out of circulation.

 

Where'd you hear about someone bidding up so the game wouldn't be dumped?

 

I think a proto/beta does not become less valuable for me, I still would like to collect them if there was an original disc/cartridge I could buy, even if they was released because I don't like ISOs very much.

 

It is a proven fact that protos do indeed lose value when they become dumped/released. There have been many examples of that in history, when protos plummeted in values soon after they were dumped (California Raisins comes to mind)

 

dumping games also opens up the market for bootleggers.

 

Dumping is also why the prototypes are worth so much to begin with. A large group of people want to see these things dumped and thus can pool together money so they can spend thousands on it. Without those people, no one is going to get as much for selling a prototype or unreleased game.

 

not true at all, there are plenty of collectors with deep pockets that would and could pay a premium for one-of-a-kind games if only they had the opportunity.

but i guess if were talking five figure ammounts the potential buyers are quite few...

 

Well the internet full stop has helped the value of prototypes go sky high. Normally the 'dumpers' are bidding against collectors anyway.

A lot of the holy grails turn out to be fairly rubbish anyway, as a ROM Sonic Crackers is shite and full of disappointment, as a prototype rom and a video it had a lot more value as you wanted it as it wasn't released.

 

Its a simple matter of money in certain cases. They just spent 2 grand on the game, why should everyone else get it for free? Of course, that isnt always the case, but 2 grand is still a lot of cash, no matter what way you look at it.

 

saying that they bid high in order for the game to not get dumped is putting the carriage before the horse.

In reality the fact that they have paid such a high price in 99% of cases makes them/us unwilling to share and lose a future investment.

 

But I think I haven't bought anything as a future investment, that loss of money if the price comes down if it is released does not matter to me because I did not buy it as a future investment, but just out of likeness for the game or series.

I think other people might have the same beta/protos and if maybe you released something it will bring down the price for them people too, it makes me worry because they might not feel the same as yourself, and afterall they might of bought something as a future investment. I guess everyone buys stuff for different reasons.

 

How many games have you bought at $2000+?

 

Why do you say that? It does not matter what I pay, I only said I haven't bought anything as a future investment.

 

jonwil: I can sympathize with you, though. That's the feeling I got when trying to win the auction for Famicom Strider... I bet that game's never going to show up again.

 

I think that if you have something that's unreleased you've prolly paid a decent amount of money to get it in most cases we tend to opverpay, if you have the funds With that said dumping it and making it public is not that easy to do. I think a place like assembler may warm up enough to some to make a dump possible for alot less than an open market.

 

Such a concept does not exist. I'm telling you from experience. A "closed release" just means "delayed release to the everyone else". Anyone w/ a prototype knows that.

 

GP is absolutely right. Short of releasing only to 2 or 3 close friends, there is no way to release anything for free and have it stay secretive. It just starts a count down clock and we all place bets on how long it will take before it leaks.

I agree with Juste's thoughts on protos as investments though. I haven't ever bought a high dollar game related item with the intent to resell for a profit. I buy what strikes my interest and I could care very little about what it is worth to anyone else.

As for the Japanese collectors theory, I've never seen anyone bid something up just to stop a dump. I would imagine that a collector would pay what they thought the title in question was worth and that may be a great deal more than those who wish to dump it.

I don't quite agree with the hoarding mentality though. I understand and respect that those who purchase a high dollar item have every right to do with it as they please. Personally I would not wish anything rare to suffer from the horrors that time may impress upon it. With proper backup capabilities and great care, hoard til your hearts content. Just don't get careless and allow a piece of our history to be lost due to careless and shameless ego stroking.