On Dec 4, 2003, at 7:33 AM, Dan Chisarick wrote:
Yeah, and a fine discussion it was. But just a few more logs for that particular fire:
- Would you fix a damaged box (say with a magic marker or even meticulous work with paper and adhesive) and regain its value? Even if the materials were from another original box?
I think you can _improve_ the value of a damaged box by meticulous work, but I'm not sure you can _regain_ its value. (This depends on its scarcity, of course. High demand/extremely low supply will distort fair market value.)
- For the 'still in original shrink' fans, is a perfect game that's reshrunk still as valuable? Even if it was reshrunk w/the identical wrap and identical machine?
- If Richard Garriot had original disks, original labels, (ok, just original everything) and pieced together another dozen original Akalbeth's, are they as valuable as the first set? (Discount the fact that additional copies devalue the existing ones as there are now more of them.)
My currently thinking is, no. The ones sold at Computerland have a higher value. They are the ones that got him where he is today. An Akalabeth that hung on the racks in Computerland is the holy grail of Ultima collectibles. (As a side topic, I know these Akalabeths as among the scarcest gaming collectible. Just what would be considered the scarcest (not necessarily the most valuable) collectible? Would it be hardware or software? What would be your top ten scarcest gaming collectible? ;-))
That said, RG's modern compilations are still quite collectible. They are lovely thank-yous he has given out and should be prized as RG originals, made from vintage parts, but just not in the same collectible realm as the original 12 sold at Computerland.
- If you piece a truly rare game together from multiple copies (manual from here, lid from there, disk from somewhere else, etc.) is it as good as a complete set from the factory? (This is a tough one.)
From a purely pragmatic standpoint I have to say yes. Unless someone tells you that this has been done you simply aren't going to know! I know this will drive the purists up the wall, but if they don't let this one slide they are going to have to argue *every* game that crosses their hands.
--
Edward Franks
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