I posted this in another thread already, but while it's likely possible to definitely confirm that a box has not been opened once folded, it cannot be confirmed that the contents are actually new. While uncommon, there are unused boxes out there, and one of those could be assembled with fake/used contents that resemble the weight of a new copy and claim it's a new unopened copy. In such a scenario it would be graded as above, which I think is a major grey area. I realize that a line has to be drawn somewhere, and grading based on unopened box is especially suitable for the PAL market, too, but it cannot be definitively determined that contents are new IMO unless factory sealed.

I probably should clear that statement up I’ve seen exactly what bronty is talking about on a different situation that was a reseal with someone trying magic market over the crease line that is left behind from opening. 
 

Very interesting. Speedy makes a good point though. I literally just saw a brand new, flat, official, never-folded box sell on eBay. It wasn't a crazy expensive title and that is a rare occurrence, so the chance of a game sneaking through in that manner has to be exceedingly low. But not truly zero either.

Please don't take what I said as gospel. I don't know what process Wata uses. It was pure speculation on my part.

 

That's an actual consideration when purchasing a high end Neo Geo home game.  Community talks about "insertion marks" when talking about the condition of the game.

Not relevant to what we're talking about here, but pretty bananas in its own right.

To 1upped's point, I agree with her on items that we never sealed (I had a non-hangtab Gyromite and Duck Hunt from a Stack Up Deluxe set that I believe could have possibly been new before I opened to confirm a 3 screw Gyromite).  I also agree that it's entirely different from a sealed game that is no longer sealed.

How much did Cronos Trigger go for?

What did Cronos Trigger go for? I missed it.

They’re not creating anything, they are providing information for consumers to use and create their own market. The submitter has the option to grade as NS or CIB, and the potential buyer always has the option to not buy or bid. While your opinion is such that NS does not add value, I think it’s fairly clear from the bids already placed that other buyers do. If you really wanted a high CIB grade or minty cart, you could always just bid or buy NS and have WATA open and grade the contents.

 

The issue here would be far less about NS and CIB, but fake boxes being graded as authentic...

I’m quite confident fake boxes are easily identifiable to the trained eye and would not get through.

 

I was referring to genuine unused boxes, not fake boxes. Genuine boxes are out there and look identical to a brand new unopened copy when assembled.

As far as fake boxes, I agree that they should be identifiable, at least the fakes that I have seen to date.
 

Right, that's true, but genuine unused boxes are incredibly scarce . It's a risk but not a huge one because the inventory of boxes like that is super low. I have a few that were the artist's personal proof copies of their work. To have access to a box that left the factory but was never folded you have to have received it from someone working in the industry at the time and they need to have kept them for 30 years. It's a tall ask

Agree risk is low of an unfolded box, and I'm sure Wata is smart enough to check that the bottom hasn't been opened too. Still though, a sealed game that came with a seal that has been removed isn't sealed, by literal definition. I get the exception of Earthbound and others that are legitimately new since they never came in shrinkwrap but I just don't like the fit here.

Also, by literal definition, "NS" means "No Seal." It's really not a big deal, if you don't like it, don't submit that way or buy them.

This one’s already up over $850, so clearly at least two people value it quite a bit. It will be interesting to see how the market develops. If you own an unopened reseal that has like an 8.5 box, but mint contents, tough call on whether to go for 8.5/NS or 9.2 CIB. My guess is NS will win out, but we shall see.

I think the threat of something like factory accurate Y-folds on resealed DVD cases is a lot scarier than the threat of folding up a new box and submitting it as an NS game. It's just another set of letters you can avoid like IMP and is probably very rare.

if a 5.5 gloss Mario Arcade (1st print) goes for 3300 (with buyer fees) what does a 9.2 go for?

I can do tree fiddy.
 

Man I could go on for days about condition sensitivity. Prob best to leave this alone. 

 

I could see that Duck Hunt going nuts also.  Hard to find decent condition even in gloss
 

Hopefully it keeps climbing! 
 

Excellent activity thus far this week. The notion this is a momentary bubble should be starting to evaporate for those with doubts.

This is an example of an NES game, that came with a sticker seal, cellophane, and no sticker or cellophane (see this version) and is simple to verify as never being opened and very mint. I have never seen boxes unused to most games outside of more than a handful. Just an interesting variant, and definitely different than a game that had the wrap removed at some point during its lifetime. Hopefully the image works :/

https://i.imgur.com/cTD5rbR.jpg... https://i.imgur.com/veA2sEb.jpg...

Did that come as a pack in with big box Gyromite or Deluxe Set?

Am,
I don't believe that smallbox gyro ever came with wrap. Do you have any info to the contrary?

I believe the small box version was pack-in only and the big box was the separate retail version that would have come wrapped.

Tracking this one for sure. Contra 9.6 A++.................Any guesses now?

https://comics.ha.com/itm/video-g...

Does anyone on this site actually buy or bid on these ridiculously expensive items at Heritage? Or are these some unknown millionaire collectors that don't really participate in this community? Maybe game store owners? I'm so intrigued.

Even as someone who is deep into collecting and can afford big ticket items, everything just seems way overvalued (I know, I know, it's worth whatever people will pay... basic economics... Yada yada yada). Or maybe I'm just a grumpy old man and this is a bad case of "Get off my lawn!"