Factory vs. reseal?

[briwayjones]

How can you tell a factory sealed game vs. a resealed game for Atari 2600/7800 games?

[spacecadet]

For games that were originally shrinkwrapped (they weren't all), the original shrinkwrap is going to be hard and brittle. I own several still shrinkwrapped 7800 games and I don't think any of them have undamaged shrinkwrap, because by now it's just hardened and ripped. A reseal is going to be soft and pliable.

 

I'm not sure if there are obvious differences in the actual manufacturing process; I could take a few pics later of original shrinkwrap when I get home if it'd help.

[+-^CrossBow^-]

Yes my understanding (though I don't actually remember from bitd), was that originally 2600 games and I think 5200 games weren't factory shrink wrapped as they were shipped in bulk in boxes. So any that were shrinked back in the day were done so by the distributor or merchant selling the game to you. Same with the hang tabs. Wasn't until the 7800 that I believe they started to actually shrink wrap the games at the factory. And as was stated, that shrink wrap is much more stiff and brittle as compared to newer. However, my recent pick ups of Xenophobe, Road Runner, and Moto Rodeo for the 2600 were factory shrink wrapped. But they were later released games so that makes sense. Also that shrink wrap was in pristine condition without a tear in it. Until I slowly used an x-acto blade to open them along the seams of the box flap.

[+slx]

How can you tell a factory sealed game vs. a resealed game for Atari 2600/7800 games?

 

The air inside the original factory sealed ones smells much more pre-2000 than in the resealed ones.

 

A factory sealed game doesn't play any better than a resealed, unsealed or loose copy....

[DrSidneyZweibel]

 

The air inside the original factory sealed ones smells much more pre-2000 than in the resealed ones.

 

A factory sealed game doesn't play any better than a resealed, unsealed or loose copy....

factory sealed at least rules out past abusive behavior by previous owners. Children, smokers, and pet owners are invariably bad caretakers of classic gaming equipment, and apparently the vast majority of eBay sellers of these games and consoles have some combination of these things, if not all 3.

[Keatah]

A gas chromatograph can tell if there are fresh polys in the cardboard. Old shrink wrap wont have them - they'll have long since dissipated.

[+Trebor]

A reliable source is required to make the determination...

 

 

http://www.ask8ball.net/

[briwayjones]

I asked because I recently got a boxed copy of Dig Dug for the 7800 from Best. I didn't realize it was going to be sealed. If it's factory sealed I'm not sure I want to open it. To me it looks factory sealed. At least it's not an obvious ghetto reseal I've seen on some things. It also has a plastic hang tag on it. The plastic is soft and pliable though.

 

Actually I'm looking at it more as I write this, the box underneath looks too dirty to be a factory seal.

[spacecadet]

Dig Dug was one of the titles O'Shea had as well. My attachments are pics of an O'Shea copy that I've never opened. I'm quite sure this is a factory seal. The shrinkwrap on all of my factory sealed games has further shrunken and gone brittle, so there are rips and tears in all of them, the cardboard box itself has been crushed a bit by the plastic and in this one, you can see the giant hole that's opened up in the middle.

 

I'm showing the side too so you can see the seam; that's present and looks the same on all my sealed games. Even if yours has no rips, run your finger over the corners of the seam; on mine it feels very hard in that area, almost like dried glue. On a new piece of shrinkwrap, that corner would still be pretty soft.

 

[briwayjones]

I would say the corner of the seems aren't that hard on mine. It does have a similar but small hole on the bottom right on the front. The top flap of the box is damaged in such a way like it was pried open. So it must be a reseal. I don't know if it means anything, but the tag instead of sticking up like yours is perfectly bent/creased over the top of the box and lays flat on the top of the box. I'll see if I can get some pictures of it tomorrow. What's an O'Shea copy? Somebody named O'Shea had a bunch of unopened copies to sell?

[toiletunes]

Those were the days...

For years, O'Shea used to sell games for $2 ea, it went up to $5 iirc, then they scrapped the remainders for the gold a couple few years ago.

[+slx]

factory sealed at least rules out past abusive behavior by previous owners. Children, smokers, and pet owners are invariably bad caretakers of classic gaming equipment, and apparently the vast majority of eBay sellers of these games and consoles have some combination of these things, if not all 3.

 

Admittedly you have a point there. That's if you want to actually play the games and rip the sealing. I am afraid there are too many people chasing after old video games who just treat them like any other collecting good and have determined "factory sealed - mint box" to be the ultimate level of collectability rather than "awesome gameplay"... and of course there's a shady "industry" providing them with "undeclared replicas" of what they seek.

 

What is funny about "mint box collecting" is that many people (including me) discarded or folded away their boxes back in the day when these games were used the first time as it was too tedious to open and close the boxes all the time rather than sticking the loose carts in a shoebox (basic) or some sort of cart organizer (high level, but hardly seen in Europe).

 

But as always, to each his own

Edited June 2, 2017 by slx

[spacecadet]

When I bought my O'Shea's games, they were 80 cents! And I didn't even buy all of them!

 

I honestly think it would be a little weird if Best was resealing Atari games, though I guess it's possible. But he bought out like an entire Atari warehouse and all its contents, so there's no reason stuff he advertises as new wouldn't be. Everything I've gotten from him has been obviously actually new.

 

The little hole in your shrinkwrap, what do the edges feel like? The edges of the hole on mine feel almost like paper, they're so stiff. I think even if a new hole opened up on old shrinkwrap, the edges would probably still feel like that because the shrinkwrap itself has stiffened.

[+sixersfan105]

I asked because I recently got a boxed copy of Dig Dug for the 7800 from Best. I didn't realize it was going to be sealed. If it's factory sealed I'm not sure I want to open it. To me it looks factory sealed. At least it's not an obvious ghetto reseal I've seen on some things. It also has a plastic hang tag on it. The plastic is soft and pliable though.

 

Actually I'm looking at it more as I write this, the box underneath looks too dirty to be a factory seal.

From a value standpoint, I wouldn't be afraid to break the factory seal. There are a bunch of $10 factory-sealed copies on eBay.

[+Trebor]

When I bought my O'Shea's games, they were 80 cents! And I didn't even buy all of them!

 

I had to get them all (2600 titles too). I was shocked at the extremely low price back in the mid-late 90's and of course regretted, years later, only picking up one copy of each at the time:

 

 

Blast to the past and scroll down for those curious/interested.

[Andromeda Stardust]

Set those puppies free! Haters gonna hate...

 

I wish O'Shea had at least held onto all those BallBlazers though. Oh, won't soeone think of the Pokeys!

 

Still available here btw:

http://www.atari2600.com/ccp7/ecom-prodshow/Ballblazer-PROD1820.html

 

There appears to be 17 left in stock...

[DrSidneyZweibel]

 

Admittedly you have a point there. That's if you want to actually play the games and rip the sealing. I am afraid there are too many people chasing after old video games who just treat them like any other collecting good and have determined "factory sealed - mint box" to be the ultimate level of collectability rather than "awesome gameplay"... and of course there's a shady "industry" providing them with "undeclared replicas" of what they seek.

 

What is funny about "mint box collecting" is that many people (including me) discarded or folded away their boxes back in the day when these games were used the first time as it was too tedious to open and close the boxes all the time rather than sticking the loose carts in a shoebox (basic) or some sort of cart organizer (high level, but hardly seen in Europe).

 

But as always, to each his own

yeah - I don't give a Shit about collecting anything. I buy stuff to use it. I prefer to buy factory sealed stuff when it's reasonably affordable, because it means all the fart smells associates with it will be my own.

[Deteacher]

Set those puppies free! Haters gonna hate...

 

I wish O'Shea had at least held onto all those BallBlazers though. Oh, won't soeone think of the Pokeys!

 

Still available here btw:

http://www.atari2600.com/ccp7/ecom-prodshow/Ballblazer-PROD1820.html

 

There appears to be 17 left in stock...

 

Mmmm....how did that 1980's air smell when you cracked that open? I bet it was heavenly!

[Andromeda Stardust]

 

Mmmm....how did that 1980's air smell when you cracked that open? I bet it was heavenly!

Mostly what I could smell was the "fresh ink" of the printed manuals.

[briwayjones]

I honestly think it would be a little weird if Best was resealing Atari games, though I guess it's possible. But he bought out like an entire Atari warehouse and all its contents, so there's no reason stuff he advertises as new wouldn't be. Everything I've gotten from him has been obviously actually new.

 

The little hole in your shrinkwrap, what do the edges feel like? The edges of the hole on mine feel almost like paper, they're so stiff. I think even if a new hole opened up on old shrinkwrap, the edges would probably still feel like that because the shrinkwrap itself has stiffened.

 

 

They weren't advertising it as new, just CIB. So I was figuring it would be a used one in the box with the manual. I can't even hardly feel the edges of the hole. The edges around the hole look thinner than the rest of the plastic from being stretched before it was torn.

 

I'm not a collector that has to have everything in pristine condition, or a CIB for every game. I'm more about playing them and the nostalgia. But I guess my thinking is in regards to opening a factory sealed one is, that at some point there won't be any left. And it would be like losing a bit of history.

 

 

Is having a "My Media" media library section only for subscribers? I can't find that section. It doesn't look like there is anyway to attach images to a post unless you link it from an outside site?

Edited June 3, 2017 by briwayjones

[RamrodHare]

I've got a sealed copy of Warlords for the 2600. The shrinkwrap on mine is in good condition and it's original. The box is bent and mashed though. I already had a copy of Warlords, but the label was rough, so now I have a nice one to display if I don't trade or sell it.

 

When I buy games, I buy them loose, since I buy them to play. However, if I really like a game, I'm not against buying a nice sealed copy as a "back-up".

[+sixersfan105]

Is having a "My Media" media library section only for subscribers? I can't find that section. It doesn't look like there is anyway to attach images to a post unless you link it from an outside site?

Anybody can add pics to a post. If you're on your phone, I recommend tapping "full version" at the bottom and then you should be presented with uploading options, etc.

[briwayjones]

Here's some pictures, I don't know if they'll help.

[briwayjones]

.

Edited June 4, 2017 by briwayjones