To Label Repro or not to label Repro...

[hex65000]

Here's a bit of a dilema for you...

 

I recently won an auction with a decent amount of good stuff. Not great, but there were some nice games in the lot. Among them a 'mystery' cart. Which in the 2600 arena is assumed to be frogger. It was definately not. In fact, the copyright text (all 3 letters) looked like it was a Sega cart. It turned out to be a copy of Up 'N Down. An okay game and a glorious R7 on the AA list.

 

Now, The label has been completely destroyed by the previous owner and I already own a copy of this game so I see no point in keeping it. Without any label it's clearly not worth loads, but you also don't know what it is. So my plan is to create a B&W reproduction label (based on my original sticker) to apply to the cart. The goal is simple:

-- try to retain as much of the spirit of the original art as possible

-- be clear that only the label is new, everything else is original

-- make it hard for a less scrupulous reseller to mislead someone in the future.

 

What I'm planning is to clean the cart scan of my copy up and print it in B&W only. I only have a laser, so you get the idea. Also I'll add text around the main label art that states that the label is a repro and the contents are original. I'll also be addding a 'repro' marking to the front label.

 

Now I know purists will hate this idea, but the sticker is gone. It's now just a black cart with no useful markings. While this my not be for that crowd, it should -- in theory -- be appealing to the more casual collector who wants something to play.

 

Thoughts?

 

Hex.

[ And now I must write software... ]

[glitch]

I've repro'ed labels for a few games that I have that had no label at all. For someone who just wants the game I think they would prefer to have a label, even if not original. Purists and someone who only wants to collect it probably wouldn't want it for that reason but I don't see anything wrong w/ doing it. You also seem to be going out of your way to make sure any buyer knows it's a repro label so I'd say go for it.

[Mindfield]

Actually, I feel that if the label is gone (or so destroyed that it's not even worth considering) then it's fair game for a repro.

 

Personally, what I'd do is scan the original label in high resolution into Photoshop, clean it up a bit, and then watermark the main label with "Repro Label" or something -- maybe write it along the side in the margin. Possibly put something similar on the end label, too -- just in case some reseller gets ahold of it and thinks he's smart by putting it in a pile shown end-label only.

[carlsson]

Why don't you draw your own interpretation of Up'n'Down?

 

One of my VIC-20 cartridges is Avenger, a rather common one. It came with the computer when I bought it second-hand in the late 90'ties. The cartridge label is long gone, and the previous owner has made his own label, writing the name of the game and a simple drawing of Space Invaders (which it is a clone of). I have also added the serial number to the fake label afterwards.

[Cobra Commander]

I've thought of customizing some labels for fun on some dupes with crappy labels. I'm not very good with computer art though. Its like someone putting a cool, new, custom paintjob on a classic car. Some people will like it and some will say you ruined it.

[christianscott27]

i'd just sell as is with an honest description and let the buyer decide what they want to do with it

[Clock]

Yes it sounds like a good idea in theory, but if someone was to post that UPnDown on ebay then some buyers may think its a unknown super rare label variation. Remember ebay photos are not often very clear to see small text.

 

You could in fact be doing the opposite of your very noble intentions of stopping genuine collectors from being ripped off in any future sales of this cart.

 

Anyway I admire your honesty and think it is a good idea overall, but you may want to bear in mind the above point.

[Cobra Commander]

True if your gona sell it, keep it genuine.

[Trade-N-Games]

If your going to sell it still make the label and dont put it on and in the auction have it sitting next to it and offer it for free if the buyer wants it.

[Classic Pac]

I posted something similiar in the 2600 section. But this is something we all must face wheither it is the glue from the original label simply turning into dust or the the glue has made the label spotted or if there is simply no label at all. But right now there is no standard, and reproductions can be so good and unless your an expert in labels it is very hard to tell from a repro label from the original.

[TuzenTCA]

If you can easily make a repro label to be honest about the true condition of the cart, then the buyer can just as easily make a fake label to try and rook someone. I say do what you want to. I would rather have a cart with a repro label then no label, because carts that I don't know what they are bug the hell out of me. If you wish to make a label so be it, cause someone could counterfeit a label and this discussion wouldn't even matter. If someone wants to rip somebody off that bad, they will think of more devious ways to do it then rely on your label.

 

In my opinion collectors will not believe the ultra rare label variation because most collectors have a great amount of knowledge in the cart department. I know that I ask, and other collectors ask questions about stuff that might seem obvious to other, but what I'm saying is that I really don't think a legitimate collector would be fooled by a repo label unless the label looked enough like the variations that are actually out there.

 

Also if a fake were to go threw sale on ebay, then they could get their money back because of improper listings and fraud.

 

So all in all my answer is make the label.

[Classic Pac]

I make it a point in all my dealings that if something is a repro I tell them it is a repro. Wheither it's here or Ebay your as only good as your word. Like most of us I like to see my games look nice. In fact I believe most of us are into that actual games and not the paper. I have had things gaming related or not simply fall apart on me. That is why when I bought a scanner last year I have been scanning all that I could just so it could be saved in one form or another.