Factory Sealed Shenmue / Shenmue II for DC PAL

[laagi]

Hi everyone,

I know this topic has been discussed countless times on here. However, I still haven't found the ultimate sealed thread, so I'm starting a new one. Bare this in mind before you start calling me names

I'd just like to know your opinion regarding these two seals up on ebay :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHENMUE-1-new-factory-sealed-original-SEGA-DREAMCAST-Dreamcast-Game-PAL-/121215271913
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHENMUE-2-new-factory-sealed-original-SEGA-DREAMCAST-Dreamcast-Game-PAL-/121215277129

Two things which make me curious though...

Shenmue I has both disc cases with the title side facing out. However I've seen several "sealed" copies with the blank side facing out ? Check some other copies currently on ebay for confirmation.

Shenmue II seems to have the disc case titles upside down. Or is just me ?

To me they look genuine, especially with the store tags on them. Anyhow an additional opinion would be more than welcome. Also maybe we could make this thread a standard reference for future sealed copies questions, with detailed photos etc. YES, I already have scavenged google!

Thanks and Take Care

[BlueMue]

My sealed copy of Shenmue has the blank side facing out. I have no real idea why there are some that have the game cases put in another way. Maybe some were packed wrong during production or they are of a later/earlier batch and they changed it for all of them?

[south carmain]

I find it weird that the hmv sticker is in such a good condition after over a decade of storage, he must have really well preserved it in a sterile environment

[Peter]

The first one looks like a re-seal. But it does have the stickers, which as SC says look in a bit too good of a condition. I live in a world where any things possible, and who knows, perhaps the seller works for HMV and printed off labels.

[laagi]

Thanks for the quick replies guys

You've all got your points there...

@SpinDash My word. I always wondered if it came from production or the stores which sold them.

@South Carmain They both rather look fresh of the press. Which certainly makes you wonder!

@Peter That's a true and at the same time sad fact. People will do anything for money! Not saying he is though.

That kind of puts me right back to the start. In the end it's also just a matter of opinion I guess and the matter of choice whom you trust. I'll just keep an eye on these two, as they are still way too pricey for my taste.

BTW, what's the worth nowadays for sealed copies of either one ?

Take Care

[south carmain]

BTW, what's the worth nowadays for sealed copies of either one ?

whatever you're willing to pay really, there's not set price for shenmue goods

[BlueMue]

BTW, what's the worth nowadays for sealed copies of either one ?

Not as much as they want on eBay. You'd have to look for auctions instead of buy now auctions.
I got my sealed Shenmue for 50€ and missed a sealed Shenmue II for 80€ just days ago. Though that had a little rip in the foil on the side where the game cases are seen. Those might be lucky ones, Shenmue stuff tends to go for a lot of money most of the time. (An exception, I got a very good Shenmue II Xbox USK Ver 2 for just 6,61€ yesterday)

I'd say a sealed Shenmue has a value of around it's release price a and sealed Shenmue II should be valued twice that of it's release price.

[laagi]

Generally speaking Shenmue merchandise seems to go for big bucks these days. Just thinking about my Shenmue Timex Watch and Art Book I bought on ebay a while ago... Just to find out they sell for almost half the price on Yahoo auctions Japan

Not that I regret it but still. Guess it's just the sentimental value and love for this game which sometimes makes you turn a blind eye on these things.

BTW, I know this is Off Topic but those anybody have experience with buyee (http://buyee.jp/)... There's always and advert on Yahoo auctions Japan for Overseas buyers

Have a nice weekend guys!

[mue 26]

If I was sipping a drink, I would have spat it out after clicking those links. £250 for a game with a fucking £29.99 sticker on it! What a cheeky bastard. I know we all have weird interests and hobbies and stuff and that's cool, but honestly laagi, I'd advise you not waste your money on a "sealed" game. It's pure insanity, your buying something that has (supposedly) never been opened just so you can continue to never open it and keep it tucked away in the recesses of some draw somewhere, you're probably not even going to look at it again after you buy it. Also the paradox is, you'll never know if it is a real sealed Shenmue or not (it is absolutely and completely impossible to tell if it's authentic from the outside, no matter how hard you scrutinise the wrinkles in the shrink wrap, chances are though, it is scam if it's on ebay for hundreds of £ ) unless you crack that mofo open. So in the back of your mind you'll always have this slight and infuriating nagging doubt that you got gypped.

Collect bottle caps, baseball cards, stolen car ornaments, old porn, Gary Numan ticket stubs, whatever, but don't go down this "sealed game" route, man.

[laagi]

Hi mue 26,

Thanks for the very amusing and honest answer. I 100% agree with you and therefore have decided to rather go for a Mint copy!

However, your words made me wonder... Isn't that the problem of any collection ? Spending your hard earned cash on something which most likely will just end up on a shelf or behind some display or whatsoever. Occasionally you're gonna look at it, appreciate it and watch it sooner or later just collect dust!

I mean I have a huge collection of things myself, namely Martial Arts and some Gaming related merchandise but I can honestly say after all these years of collecting I've also come to the point of asking myself "What the f*** for" ? I mean, it does give you a certain amount of happiness but eventually just falls flat. I could go on about society and our materialistic oriented life and so on.

Anyhow, I don't want to offend any collector. As said earlier I'm one myself but deep down inside I think all collectors have been down that road and back again. Well you see it isn't a easy topic

Just to finish this off I'd like to quote shengoro86 :"The experience that Shenmue gives you is worth much more than money"

Take Care my friend

[mue 26]

Thanks for the reply laagi.

Isn't that the problem of any collection ? Spending your hard earned cash on something which most likely will just end up on a shelf or behind some display or whatsoever. Occasionally you're gonna look at it, appreciate it and watch it sooner or later just collect dust!

I mean I have a huge collection of things myself, namely Martial Arts and some Gaming related merchandise but I can honestly say after all these years of collecting I've also come to the point of asking myself "What the f*** for" ? I mean, it does give you a certain amount of happiness but eventually just falls flat. I could go on about society and our materialistic oriented life and so on.

Anyhow, I don't want to offend any collector. As said earlier I'm one myself but deep down inside I think all collectors have been down that road and back again. Well you see it isn't a easy topic

Just to finish this off I'd like to quote shengoro86 :"The experience that Shenmue gives you is worth much more than money"

I completely agree with all of this 100%. That's why I'm not a collector of anything. I know people do enjoy it, but I think the collector mentality is usually one of people who are trying to fill a void so to speak, but collecting will never fill it of course. As you said, the purchase gives you an initial high, but after you have the item it'll soon wear off and you'll realise it makes little difference to your life and don't even really care all that much about it. So personally, I try not to buy/own anything that I won't actively use, or really appreciate (like some beautiful artwork that makes me feel good, and that I actually display, and not hide away).

[mrslig100]

£249.99!!!?
Fuck that!!!
I can get one for £29.99 at HMV!

[laagi]

Just a short heads up...

I'm parting with some of my Shenmue collection on eBay. You can check it out here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321257807584

Thank you and Happy bidding!

Have a nice sunday

[mue 26]

wow, you went from considering spending silly money on a sealed copy of Shenmue, to selling off the most desirable Shenmue collectable one could possibly own ( Yu signed Shenmue 2), in just over a week! I feel you though man, I went through a similar thing a couple years back and got rid of my own singed Shenmue and a whole bunch of other stuff, and I don't regret it at all.

[laagi]

Believe me this was a tough one. Even so I still kept some things, which eventually will end up on eBay sooner or later

Guess the years of collecting are coming to an end. It's been a fun ride but I had about enough of it! The love for this game and the incredible joy it gave me are forever. And that's the only thing which counts.

Cheers