Where are the sealed games?

[vwlssknght]

Hello, folks.

 

Like this Ivan fellow whose collection I've been drooling over, I collect Atari 2600 games of the sealed persuasion, but there was a pause in my collecting activity for the past seven or eight years. Now that I'm getting back into it, I'm having a very hard time finding uncommon to rare games in said condition now compared to then. My first approach is eBay, though I've bought a few things from atari2600.com. I've also perused the chasethechuckwagon site, but it seems that's mostly good for loose cartridges.

 

Is it just me, or has it become more difficult to find sealed games? I can't help but wonder if they've been absorbed and are now being hoarded. Is there somewhere else I should be looking?

[pinball22]

Your answer is right there in your post... Iwan has them all.

[Crazy Climber]

www.atari2600.com usually has some good sealed rarity's

[Crazy Climber]

Just do a search (atari2600.com) and type shrinkwrapped, he currently has 277 different sealed games for sale

Edited June 5, 2009 by Crazy Climber

[Cassidy Nolen]

I think the issue is the supply. In the late 90's and early 00's you saw people selling the Zellers and Zayre's supplies. These were retailers that sold a giant lot of sealed games. Think about the Espial boxed games at that time. 40 bucks brand new in box. Try that today

 

The answer is yes, its harder today. I think things like the grading system for sealed games makes them more desirable than a few years ago and possibly a financial incentive to get them. I think there is less high-end activity (Digital Press buying CommaVid, giant shows like Philly Classic, CGExpo, etc) to swap the rares around and so collections are sitting idle that would otherwise be for sale.

 

CN

[Chickybaby]

Here is where they all are but I am not so sure you will want them after that...

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1707735

[Crazy Climber]

Here is where they all are but I am not so sure you will want them after that...

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1707735

lol

Classic Iwan

[vwlssknght]

Here is where they all are but I am not so sure you will want them after that...

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1707735

 

I've never had a bath like that . . .

 

Thanks for the replied. I'll have to dig a bit deeper at atari2600.com.

 

As for the whole grading thing, I have to admit, I like the idea of it. I've collected graded cards and comics, so I was quite pleased to see VGA come along. Thus far, I've only submitted two games, neither of which is rare: one came back 85, the other 90. The grading seems spot on, and I really like the look of the game sealed in a labeled case.

 

I'm hijacking my own thread, but where might I buy those plastic slipcases (like the ones in Iwan's bath) to protect the boxes? I know VGA sells acrylic cases, but they seem a bit pricey.

[+Psionic]

I'm hijacking my own thread, but where might I buy those plastic slipcases (like the ones in Iwan's bath) to protect the boxes? I know VGA sells acrylic cases, but they seem a bit pricey.

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=129982

[vwlssknght]

I'm hijacking my own thread, but where might I buy those plastic slipcases (like the ones in Iwan's bath) to protect the boxes? I know VGA sells acrylic cases, but they seem a bit pricey.

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=129982

 

Perfect, thanks so much!

[Crazy Climber]

Thus far, I've only submitted two games, neither of which is rare: one came back 85, the other 90. The grading seems spot on, and I really like the look of the game sealed in a labeled case.

How much did they charge you per game for the grading service?

[Godzilla]

wow someone loves his games just a little too much

[vwlssknght]

Thus far, I've only submitted two games, neither of which is rare: one came back 85, the other 90. The grading seems spot on, and I really like the look of the game sealed in a labeled case.

How much did they charge you per game for the grading service?

 

Edit:

 

Rather than pull the numbers from memory, here's the breakdown from their site:

 

Standard Tier

$25 / 30-40 bus. day turnaround

 

Express Tier

$37 / 10-15 bus. day turnaround

 

Premium Tier

$50 / 4-6 bus. day turnaround

 

Archival Tier

$70 / 2-4 bus. day turnaround

 

It's expensive, I know, but I really like the idea of having a professionally-graded game, sealed in a hard, acrylic case. I've only had two games graded (Commando and Killer Satellites), but they seem to be dead-on accurate with their grading.

 

As for why I sent those two games, well, they were in "case fresh" condition and I was hoping for 90s. Commando came back an 85, Killer Satellites a 90. I wouldn't send a game that I didn't think had a chance of scoring a 90, unless of course it was an insanely rare title that's a prize in any condition.

Edited June 5, 2009 by vwlssknght

[iwan-iwanowitsch-goratschin]

At the moment the market for sealed games is dry like a dead dingo´s donger!

 

I am so bored that I have bought 20-25 used boxed games on ebay recently.................

[iwan-iwanowitsch-goratschin]

Here is where they all are but I am not so sure you will want them after that...

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1707735

lol

Classic Iwan

 

I still have a couple of pics with my bum on the surface.........

[pangasinan]

Here is where they all are but I am not so sure you will want them after that...

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1707735

lol

Classic Iwan

 

I still have a couple of pics with my bum on the surface.........

Edited June 6, 2009 by pangasinan

[moycon]

Here is where they all are but I am not so sure you will want them after that...

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1707735

 

Haha Those pics are GREAT!! I missed them the first time around. thanks for linking to it Chicky!!

[Impaler_26]

I still have a couple of pics with my bum on the surface.........

Blech!!!

[homerwannabee]

I still have a couple of pics with my bum on the surface.........

Blech!!!

As a famous person once said. "If you prick a bum doth it not bleed? If you tickle a bum doth it not fart?"

[yuppicide]

That's nothing. I use all the cardboard from my sealed R9's to wipe my ass with.

 

Here is where they all are but I am not so sure you will want them after that...

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1707735

[phaxda]

Oh my... i though these pics were kinda funny, but my wife is in the bathroom where she is having a coughing/crying fit after laughing too much. She just died at these. "What... is... this..."

 

That will teach her to peek over my shoulder when I am looking at AA. I still have to explain the concept of sealed games to her when she recovers.

 

 

 

Here is where they all are but I am not so sure you will want them after that...

ehttp://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1707735

 

Haha Those pics are GREAT!! I missed them the first time around. thanks for linking to it Chicky!!

[carmel_andrews]

Surely the boxed game is just as good as a sealed game (less the sheet plastic wrapping) or are you wanting 2 pay more $ for a sheet of placcy wrapping

 

Now, if you were talking new in box games vs loose games, that i can understand

Edited June 8, 2009 by carmel_andrews

[+Omegamatrix]

I still have a couple of pics with my bum on the surface.........

 

Iwan recently sent me some new pictures of his sealed collection...

 

[Chickybaby]

That looks more like Wonder's collection to me.

Oh crud, I wasn't supposed to tell...

[iwan-iwanowitsch-goratschin]

I still have a couple of pics with my bum on the surface.........

 

Iwan recently sent me some new pictures of his sealed collection...