Re: [SWCollect] Introducing myself
"C.E. Forman" wrote: That sounds like a re-release (the original was a folder, much like Activision's Hacker folder, which in turn were copies of EA's folders). But I still want it. I'll email you a private bid. Alter Ego in a folder? I've never heard of such a thing. The only ones I've ever seen are square, flattish boxes (same length and width as the EA/Activision folders, but a bit thicker). I've had aobut 5 of them come through the Shoppe in my time, and if they were repackagings they gave absolutely no indication of it. Are you positive you've seen this in a folder, Jim? I could be mistaken. I still have the manual; it's definitely a folder-like square manual like most EA folders. If your boxes were square, then those must be the real deal. Jim offerred $55, but if he really wants to let me have it I'll take it. I'm not going higher than $35 though, as I only need it for a PC copy of the code... assuming the disks work. You're the seller, Lee, you decide who gets it. I have the completely cracked PC code, if that's all you want... In case people didn't realize, I have cracked versions of practically any PC game. And for those I don't have, I can crack them myself. Just a note to people who want to play their booters off a hard drive... :-) -- http://www.MobyGames.com/ The world's most comprehensive historical PC gaming database project. -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
Re: [SWCollect] Other Collector Question
"Lee K. Seitz" wrote: Sorry, I forgot to include my other question in my last post. Most (but not all) classic video game collectors are trying to get as complete a collection as possible for each console they own. Whether that includes cartridge label, box, and manual variations depends on the collector. I assume you guys have more defined goals that "get it all." Do you collect based on: a) Type of game (adventure, driving/racing, interactive fiction, etc.) b) Publisher (Activision, EA, Infocom, etc.) c) Series (Ultima, Wizardry, Leisure Suit Larry, etc.) d) Games you've enjoyed/heard good things about e) Other I collect for all of these reasons. Some collectors collect f) Rare or hard-to-find items because of their collectable or "marketplace" value. Others have been listing a "breakdown" of the above, so here's mine: a) Racing/Driving is my #1 favorite, with coin-op conversions to the PC my second favorite genre to collect (I have a complete suite of Atarisoft PC converstions. Trivia: Joust, Battlezone, and Robotron are astonishingly close to the original games, even on an original 4.7MHz gPC!). b) Activision, EA, Accolade, Polarware/Pengiun Software, Mindscape, titles developed by Interplay (multiple publishers), early Origin (no Ultimas though), and of course Cinemaware. c) Ancient Art of War series, F-15 Stike Eagle series, Sierra Game Arts series, "Construction Set" series, Wing Commander series. d) Anything from my youth. Any action games that achieve technical wizardry by running on an original PC *AND* being fast and fun to play. There's not many action/racing/3D/etc. games that run well on a 4.77MHz 8088 PC, and those that do get my respect from a programming/technical standpoint. I believe I once read in an article that Hugh wrote that he and/or others collect the "album-type" EA packages. Maybe I should have just submitted this as a poll question at MobyGames. :-) I also collect all the folder-style packages. Activision, Mindscape, EA (of course), and Accolade are the few that I've found in the 8"x8" ratio. Other folders I have include Telarium releases, although they aren't square. I should note that I collect PC titles exclusively, simply because that's what I'm most familiar with and what MobyGames supports right now. MobyGames will open up to all platforms next year; at that point, I might start collecting for Apple II, Mac (classic), C64, and Amiga, as I have working models of those computers. I'm not the typical collector, as illustrated by my collecting preferences (most people collect adventure games, I'd guess). I am also not a typical collector in that I have no problem breaking original shrinkwrap if I really want to play the game and I don't have a cracked version (or need to refer to the manual, or something). This revelation makes C. E. Forman and others shudder, but I'm in it for the nostalgia first and collectability second. And since I mentioned it, do you collect box variations? How many people are on this list, anyway? I do collect box variations as well, although I don't have very many. The box variations I have include Music Construction Set, Tunnels of Armageddon, Gunship, and F-15 Strike Eagle. I may have more. As for the number of people on the list, I'll check when I get off this train. -- http://www.MobyGames.com/ The world's most comprehensive historical PC gaming database project. -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
[SWCollect] MobyScale, version 0.2
Here's an updated version of the Scale document, still a work in progress. The most significant change was based on a suggestion from Tom Hlavendy and Lee and others on the mailing list, which was to change "VG+" to a more specific grade. I agreed with him, so Very Good Plus (VG+) has been changed to Fine (FI). This should be even more clearer and eliminate possible confusion. (Note that the NUMBER of grades is still the same -- the meaning of VG+ didn't change, just the name of it.) I also added some example list entries; just free-form stuff off of the top of my head. If anyone can't read the ASCII text attachment, let me know. PS: MobyGames is still referring to "VG+", but I will fix this tonight as it's a simple database change. -- 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 - 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. 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: - Factory Sealed (FS): No noticable defects and sealed in original factory or store shrinkwrap or sticker. (Not to be confused with a re-wrapped previously-opened box.) The best grade possible. - Near Mint (NM): No noticable defects, but not sealed. - Fine (FI): 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
Re: [SWCollect] Correct term for record albums?
I call 'em either "flat folders" or "square folders", sometimes clarifying with "EA" as a prefix. - Original Message - From: Jim Leonard [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, August 25, 2000 10:10 AM Subject: [SWCollect] Correct term for record albums? Just what is the correct term for the 8"x8" folder-style packaging made popular by Electronic Arts in the early 1980s? I'll use Pinball Construction Set as an example; do you guys call them: - Record Albums? - Flatboxes? - Folders? - Folios? What's the correct term for these? I've called them by all the above names and was wondering if there was an official term for the packaging. Maybe I should give Nancy Fong a call ;-) -- http://www.MobyGames.com/ The world's most comprehensive historical PC gaming database project. -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/ -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
Re: [SWCollect] Correct term for record albums?
[EMAIL PROTECTED] boldly stated: Well according to my GM, GM? Sadly EA isn't big on history as a company and has thrown away all of it's older games and lore. That seems to be true of most companies, doesn't it? (The ones that are still around, that is.) I know when Activision did it's Atari 2600 Action Packs, they had to go to video game collectors and dealers to get copies of their old boxes for the packaging. These are the very games that Activision was founded on! (I'm sure everyone here knows, but just in case, Activision was founded in 1980 by a group of Atari 2600 programmers who were fed up (in large part) with not getting any credit for the games they created.) -- Lee K. Seitz * [EMAIL PROTECTED] * http://home.hiwaay.net/~lkseitz/ Wanted: | Visit the Classic Video Games Nexus Vintage Pac-M*n necktie| for all your classic link news needs! Lib*rator T-shirt |http://start.at/cvgnexus -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
Re: Re: [SWCollect] Correct term for record albums?
Folio can describe many different types of boxes: early Infocoms, SSG games, etc. I like Square Folders better. Or we could use an acromym: EASF8X8F :-) FYI, I also include some games in the flatbox line that aren't really flat: Bard's Tale 2, Robot Rascals and Radio Baseball are examples. The dimensions are the same except for the depth, which is about 1/2" thick. These aren't "folders" but they fall in the right timeframe to be considered flat boxes. For example, Bard's Tale 1 and 3 are folders, but #2 is the thicker box variety. Hugh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: "C.E. Forman" wrote: I call 'em either "flat folders" or "square folders", sometimes clarifying with "EA" as a prefix. So far, "square folders" seems to be the best one (most accurate and least goofy-sounding). But it's not as cool as "flatbox", so I guess I'm still searching. I think folio is a nice compromise, but folio is an unverified term. So we're back to square one, pun intended. :) -- http://www.MobyGames.com/ The world's most comprehensive historical PC gaming database project. -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/ -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
[SWCollect] Game request: Ace of Aces EGA version
Yes, there was an EGA version of this game released for the PC. Many Accolade games of the mid to late 80s were released in two separate versions -- CGA and EGA. I don't know if it was a ploy to get gamers to pay for an "upgrade" or if Accolade was merely following the consumer installation base (CGA systems far outweighing EGA rigs). My guess is the former because it costs nothing to ship the EGA version and perform a video card test on bootup and run the correct version. If anyone has it I'd sure appreciate a zipfile of the game. You might also post it on Home of the Underdogs as Sarinee does not have this version -- very unusual but true! Thanks, Chris -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
