Actually, one more little nagging change?  Could we eliminate the hyphen
altogether, making it "FP"?  (Just so there's no chance of mix-up with "F".)
Either way works for me, though, LMK your thoughts.

----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Leonard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 12:42 AM
Subject: [SWCollect] MobyScale 0.25


> Factory Sealed is gone -- Sealed has been added as a modifier, and Mint
Sealed
> is now the top grade possible.
>
> Please review the changes, in particular the actual wording used for Mint
> Sealed, the Sealed modifier, and the examples.  Any comments, criticisms,
> suggestions, etc. welcome.  I think I got everything we talked about in
here
> this time :-)
>
>
> --
> http://www.MobyGames.com/
> The world's most comprehensive historical PC gaming database project.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----


> The Official MobyGames Software Collectables Condition Grading Scale
> Version 0.2.5
>
> The inevitable legal notice: This document and its contents is Copyright
2000,
> MobyGames.com.  It was authored by Jim Leonard ([EMAIL PROTECTED]),
based
> on a scale created by Hugh Falk, which in turn was based on a record album
> grading scale of unknown origin.  Any questions, comments, or suggestions
> should be directed to the author.  You are free to copy, translate,
reformat,
> and retransmit this text as long as these notices are included and the
content
> is left unchanged.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Background:
>
> The world of software collectables is an emerging hobby that is slowly
easing
> into the mainstream.  However, being so new, there is no standard scale
for
> grading the condition of an item, which can lead to misrepresentation of
an
> item's value.  For example, in dealing with other collectors, a multitude
of
> grading notations have already been found: One list used a single rating
for
> the entire item, another used a numerical rating for quality grades, yet
> another wildly overused the term "MINT!", etc.  This lack of
standardization
> can lead to confusion when trying to assess an item's value based solely
> on a textual description of the item.  Which grading scale is the right
one?
>
> MobyGames.com believes there's a better way to do this, and has created a
> standard grading scale and specification for cataloging software for
> collection lists.  This system is officially in place at MobyGames.com,
but it
> is our hope that it is embraced by the collector community and used
> universally to describe item condition.  Through widespread acceptance of
this
> scale, we hope to eliminate misconceptions and confusion in the software
> collectable community.
>
> This document describes The Official MobyGames Software Collectables
Condition
> Grading Scale and its use and application.  For brevity, the condition
grading
> scale will be abbreviated as "MobyGames Grading Scale" throughout the
> remainder of this text.  Also included at the end of the document are some
> frequently-asked questions, and an example collector's list to illustrate
the
> system in use.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Item Breakdown:
>
> Before describing the actual scale, it is important to define how the
scale
> itself is used.  A common mistake for new collectors is to assess the
overall
> quality of an item and give it a singular value.  This may save the
collector
> time, but creates confusion for other collectors attempting to view his
list.
> This is because not everyone values certain aspects of an item the same.
For
> example, one collector may value the condition of the box above all else,
> while another may value the manual and included trinkets/props/feelies
higher
> than the box.  Because of differing opinions of value, it is usually
> inappropriate to give items one overall grade.
>
> The solution to this is to apply a grade to as many pieces of the item
that
> are relevant.  This creates more work, but is the only way to ensure
accuracy
> and avoid unintentionally misleading people who read your lists.  For
example,
> the most common pieces of a software collectable are:
>
> - Box/Packaging
> - Original Media
> - Manual
> - Reference Sheet
> - Catalog
> - Registration Card
> - Additional Items (listed individually)
>
> The more pieces that are graded, the better the representation of the
item.
> So while you can get away with a single grade for the entire item, a
suggested
> minimum would be two grades:  One for the Box/Packaging, and another for
all
> other materials contained in that item.
>
> Also note that if an item is incomplete, it is appropriate to label it as
> such.  The notation used for a missing piece is Item Missing (IM).
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Condition Grades:
>
> The following are the official condition grades of the MobyGames Grading
> Scale.  The possible conditions an item can be in are:
>
> - Mint Sealed (MS): No noticable defects and sealed in original factory or
>   store shrinkwrap or sticker.  The best grade possible.
>
> - Near Mint (NM): No noticable defects, but not sealed.
>
> - Fine (F):  One or two slight defects (small scratch, slight
>   worn corner on box, etc.) that prevent a Near Mint rating.
>
> - Very Good (VG):  More than one or two slight defects (slight crease in
manual, all
>   corners slightly worn, etc.).  Still in acceptable condition.
>
> - Good (G): More severe defects (box slightly torn or crushed; noticable
wear
>   on media, manual, or other materials).  Acceptable only if the item is
hard
>   to find or highly desired by the collector.
>
> - Fair to Poor (F-P): Unusable defects (crushed, ripped, sheared, or
missing box;
>   diskette media bad; etc.).  Acceptable only if the item is wanted for
>   non-collectable purposes (like actually playing the game) or wants it
for
>   "parts".
>
> Each grade can also have a modifier associated with it.  Currently the
only
> modifier is:
>
> - Sealed: Sealed with original factory (or store) shrinkwrap or sticker.
Not
>   to be confused with a re-wrapped previously-opened box.
>
> For example:  An unopened copy of a title in Fine condition would be
called
> Fine Sealed.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Examples:
>
>                                   --------
>
> Long form: Ultima Underworld, open and used item in good condition:
>
> Title: Ultima Underworld
> Year: 1993
> Platform: DOS
> Box/Packaging: Very Good
> Original Media: Fine
> Manual: Very Good
> Catalog: Near Mint
> Reference Sheet: Very Good
> Registration Card: Item Missing
> Additional Items: Near Mint
> Comments: Has "Best RPG of 1993" sticker on front box.  Additional items
are a
> cloth bag with metal "runes".
>
>                                   --------
>
> Short form, multiple items:
>
> Tass Times in Tonetown (PC): Box G, Media F, Manual G, Registration Card
F-P (handwriting), "Newspaper" prop F
> X-Car Experimental Racing (PC): Box MS
> Ancient Land of Ys (PC): Box G, Media F, Manual G, Registration Card IM
> Archon (C64): Box NM, Media NM, Manual VG, Registration Card NM
>
>                                   --------
>
> Abbreviated form, multiple items: (Legend is Box/Inside Materials)
>
> Ancient Land of Ys: G/VG
> Under a Killing Moon: VG/F
> Pinball Construction Set: VG/G
> Music Construction Set: VG/G
> Dr. J and Larry Bird go One on One: NM/NM
> Daemonsgate: MS
>
>                                   --------
>
> These are just suggested list templates; you are free to use whatever
format
> you choose.  The MobyGames Grading Scale is a specification, but you can
> implement that specification any way you like.  Note that, for all forms
> suggested above, there was only one grade listed for Mint Sealed items.
> This is because all pieces of a sealed item must also be in the same
> condition, since the item was never opened.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Frequently-Asked Questions:
>
> Q: Will the number of grades change?
> A: No.  Many hours of thought were put into what appreciable differing
grades
> of condition could be (as related to software items).  Unless an extremely
> strong and convincing argument is made, they will never change.
>
> Q: Why only six grades?
> A: More (or less) grades wouldn't describe an item's condition any better
> than the grades provided.  We deliberately created granular grades for the
> best conditions and coarse grades (only two) for poor conditions.  This
was
> done to best serve the needs of collectors without overwhelming them.
Also,
> the more grades you have, the more their implementation is subject to
debate
> -- which is precisely what the MobyGames Grading Scale is meant to
eliminate.
>
> Q: Why isn't "Rare" on the grading scale?
> A: "Rare" isn't an indication of condition; it's an indication of value.
(The
> harder it is to find an item, the more value it has to most collectors.)
> While an item's condition is a large part of what an item's value is, the
> topic of value/worth is unrelated to the technical act of grading an
item's
> condition.
>
> Q: Can I add my own grades using this system?  I've been using "Pristine"
and
> "Good Plus" in my own lists and want to keep doing so.
> A: No!  That goes against the whole idea of standardizing condition
grades;
> the purpose of the system is to map conditions to terms that everyone can
> universally use and agree upon.  Adding your own terms deviates from the
> scale, and just confuses other collectors.  If you add your own terms, you
> cannot advertise that you're utilizing the MobyGames Grading Scale.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Acknowledgements and Addendum:
>
> This grading scale is officially released to the software collectables
> community.  Its use is highly encouraged, as long as it's not altered.
Strict
> adherence to the scale is what makes it strong and useful; please don't
> deviate from or otherwise modify it.
>
> Want to discuss software collectable issues with other collectors?  Join
the
> Software Collectables Mailing List!  To subscribe, send email to
> "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" with a subject line of "subscribe swcollect".
After
> joining, you can send email to the list by emailing
"[EMAIL PROTECTED]".
> Replying to list messages also sends your reply to everyone on the list.
> Mailing list archives are kept on the web; the URL will be provided to you
> after you receive your first message from the list.
>
> "The Official MobyGames Software Collectables Condition Grading Scale" is
a
> mouthful, isn't it?  :-)  It's suggested that you merely tell other
> collectors, "I'm using the MobyScale."
>
> Many thanks to Hugh Falk, Tom Hlavendy, C. E. Forman, Lee Seitz, and
others
> who provided suggestions that helped shape this scale.
>


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