Since when is video game "slabbed grading" a thing?

[DemonoidTentacle]

Did I miss the memo on this one?

 

http://www.vggrader.com/

 

Now grading isn't alien to me, as I collect comics, but this?

 

Has anyone on these boards bought into this?

[AtariLeaf]

Did I miss the memo on this one?

 

http://www.vggrader.com/

 

Now grading isn't alien to me, as I collect comics, but this?

 

Has anyone on these boards bought into this?

I have suffered neither a stroke or a severe blow to the head, so no.

[+bennybingo]

Thanks for the link! You see, even us long time collectors can learn something new once and a while. To think...all this while I thought VGA was short for "Very Greedy Assholes". I appreciate the clarification.

[Necron99]

I've said it before. VGA grading is a waste of money.

 

maybe not so much for really rare items but 99% of the items you see on places like eBay are dirt common things with a BIN of $500+

 

I've never understood the appeal of sealed games either, you can't play the game!

[+FujiSkunk]

"Sealed Game Heaven"? I think there's an oxymoron in there somewhere...

[NE146]

Did I miss the memo on this one?

 

http://www.vggrader.com/

 

Now grading isn't alien to me, as I collect comics, but this?

 

Has anyone on these boards bought into this?

You'd be stupid to follow VGA, when every collector knows VAG (Vain Authority of Graders) is the de-facto grading authority! http://vectorman.net/classicgames/vag/vagmissile.html

 

And yeah this stuff has been debated about for a while.. e.g.

 

 

Edited September 22, 2013 by NE146

[Lentzquest]

Game grading is fine if there's a specific piece of cover art or two that you adore, and the display cases they seal them in are fantastic. Or if a game is just particularly special to you. It especially makes sense for the earlier 2600 games that have the wonderful hand-drawn artwork. I have a super-mint sealed copy of Home Run graded and on my shelf because that game is especially nostalgic for me and I love the artwork. There's a couple others too that I'd do the same with once I get my hands on worthy enough copies.

 

That being said, I'm well aware that my Home Run is still worth less then ten bucks at best. Getting it in the display case is only for my own satisfaction, plus I have at least three loose copies for playing. My problem with grading are the fools on Ebay that get a sealed dirt common graded and then attempt to sell it for thousands of dollars. Honestly there are over seven graded copies of NES Super Mario Bros on Ebay right now ranging from $1400 to $15,000. Who the hell would fall for that crap? I also have a problem with people getting games graded and entombed that contain save batteries. Even the best batteries won't last forever.

[Tales from the Game Room]

Wow, this is news to me...thanks for sharing it...I think...lol...

 

- Ash

TALES FROM THE GAME ROOM

[mkiker2089]

Most of the people who are getting the grading as far as I've seen are doing it on new items. NintendoAge has a few people sending in new Wii U bundles to be sealed and preserved.

 

It's a fad and the sad thing is when people can't see fads. We all knew past fads had their time limit. VGA does as well. Give them a year and they'll be niche at best.

[Seob]

Most of the people who are getting the grading as far as I've seen are doing it on new items. NintendoAge has a few people sending in new Wii U bundles to be sealed and preserved.

 

It's a fad and the sad thing is when people can't see fads. We all knew past fads had their time limit. VGA does as well. Give them a year and they'll be niche at best.

We'll they have arround a few years already so i don't think they will be closing anytime soon.

For me vga grading is a company that has come to life because of ebay.

It's just for sellers so they can try to demand abnormal prices for games. Nothing else.

It's not clear how they grade items or put a price on them. What rarity guide do they use? Are they aware that some titles may be 'rare' in the us. But common else where. How does that affect the pricing? Seeing common stuff graded at insane prices i have my thought about the people behind this company.

[ls650]

Games are for playing.

[Eltigro]

I've seen graded video games like this before, but never really looked into it or done any research. What is "slabbed grading"? Is that just that they put it in those acrylic protective cases?

 

And like others, I'm not one to buy unopened games and set them on a shelf. I buy the games to play. Most of my cartridges don't have boxes, cases, instructions or anything. Just the cartridge. (And some of them aren't even in that great of shape... stickers, random names... I think my copy of Truxton for Genesis has a crack in it where it looks like it was hit with a hammer or something... still plays, though.) I want to play them, not look at them. But people collect in different ways and they can spend their money how they like.

Edited September 22, 2013 by Eltigro

[AtariLeaf]

Game grading is fine if there's a specific piece of cover art or two that you adore, and the display cases they seal them in are fantastic. Or if a game is just particularly special to you. It especially makes sense for the earlier 2600 games that have the wonderful hand-drawn artwork. I have a super-mint sealed copy of Home Run graded and on my shelf because that game is especially nostalgic for me and I love the artwork. There's a couple others too that I'd do the same with once I get my hands on worthy enough copies.

 

This is the first logical reason I've seen for doing this.

[Seethransom]

You'd be stupid to follow VGA, when every collector knows VAG (Vain Authority of Graders) is the de-facto grading authority! http://vectorman.net/classicgames/vag/vagmissile.html

 

And yeah this stuff has been debated about for a while.. e.g.

 

Very informative. Thanks. Though I'd probably not use anything like this, it makes me a smarter shopper.

[high voltage]

Most of the people who are getting the grading as far as I've seen are doing it on new items. NintendoAge has a few people sending in new Wii U bundles to be sealed and preserved.

 

It's a fad and the sad thing is when people can't see fads. We all knew past fads had their time limit. VGA does as well. Give them a year and they'll be niche at best.

So let me get this straight, NA are sending Wii's to VGA for grading (preserving) and they are paying for it, when you can just lock it up in a wooden box or something simular?

[Skarrj]

This vga shit is helping artificially inflate prices. They can g.f.t.s as far as im concerned.

Edited September 22, 2013 by Skarrj

[Austin]

You'd be stupid to follow VGA, when every collector knows VAG (Vain Authority of Graders) is the de-facto grading authority! http://vectorman.net/classicgames/vag/vagmissile.html

 

And yeah this stuff has been debated about for a while.. e.g.

 

 

 

That's funny.. I came here to post this exact video, haha!

[DemonoidTentacle]

You'd be stupid to follow VGA, when every collector knows VAG (Vain Authority of Graders) is the de-facto grading authority! http://vectorman.net/classicgames/vag/vagmissile.html

 

And yeah this stuff has been debated about for a while.. e.g.

 

 

 

 

Great vid! I sure as hell am not drinking that Kool-Aid!

[godslabrat]

This is the first logical reason I've seen for doing this.

 

Indeed. I do wonder if a custom case or frame might be more suitable for a display than a slab, though.

[AtariLeaf]

 

Indeed. I do wonder if a custom case or frame might be more suitable for a display than a slab, though.

Almost certainly, yes. I could think of other ways to display sentimental parts of a collection, but if someone were hell bent on VGA to do it, fine. Probably the only half way sensible reason to use the service at all IMO.

[Seethransom]

I have a Copy of The Rocky Horror video game. I keep it in a picture frame. I doubt it still works. If I gave it to them, I doubt it would still work, with that air hole.