Off-Topic Forum

I'm in the process of cleaning out an estate and selling off a bunch of stuff (ebay user ID lildog7 - lots of sports related stuff and a TON of toys)

Anyway, as I was going through some old computer software I discovered that some of the card grading companies also grade old video games, sealing the game and the box in plastic with the grade.  This raises two questions for me... What other things do these companies grade?  And why on earth would someone want a video game graded if it means sealing it away in plastic where you can no longer access it?

At least when you grade a card, you can still see both sides of the card.  I've even seen action figures graded, and again, they are displayed in a way you can see the entire figure.  The video game box has everything inside of it making it a display for the box and that's it.

Sorry for the off topic rant, just wondering is all.

well…  a 9.8 graded Super Mario Bros. game in the box & unopened plastic wrapping from 1985 for Nintendo sold for for $2 million a couple years ago… 

& the answer is “just ‘cause” 

You can get almost anything graded these days. VCR and audio cassettes, hot wheels cars, action figures, comic books, legos both sets and minifigs, money (but that's been around for a long time) both paper and coins. 

You could argue the collecting of pieces of paper with sports people on them is kinda ridiculous too.  I personally have no desire to own something that is to be sealed away forever (plenty of stuff I've yet to open) such as figures, video games, or packs of cards.  Comic books are a big one in which a graded copy you only get to enjoy the cover of them.

it is all about those investment dollars. Anything graded is simply about insuring/protecting the monetary value. I think most of us here are either strictly collector's or a hybrid of collector/investor. But out in the real world a lot of investors/speculators only look at the monetary value of a given item. Same as with art collectors, car collectors etc. you have a small pure collector base surrounded by the money crowd.

With modding gaming systems, you can usually find a way to play without the physical game any longer.  That ability makes the game more of a collector's item than a functional item.  I don't even play my original NES or SNES anymore.  I have a Playstation Classic that is modded and plays every PS1, NES, SNES, N64, Atari, and arcade game from a thumb drive. 

My friend at the LCS said the PSA also grades ticket stubs.  Other than that nothing really peaked my interest in getting something graded. Except for some cards that I want to preserve.  For example I got an old Duane Rupp card graded and it came back as a PSA 2, didn't matter.  I obtained that card as a kid and I wanted it preserved.

At least in my opinion, old video games is better suited as a great memory and experience rather then playing it today.

Learned recently that people are getting vinyl records graded and slabbed. Cards I can kind of understand, because yes, you still see them and that's the point. But you can't even see the vinyl record, let alone put it on a turntable to play, so what's the point of grading it? (""Investment"" is the reason, of course, but the concept of slabbing a record still boggles my mind).

I have over 100 vintage star wars figures loose graded. It makes it easy to display, keeps the authenticated correct weapons with the figures too. I also have a half dozen vintage sealed star wars video game cartridges graded plus some other vintage sealed star wars items. I never planned on opening any of them so having them graded/sealed in a case preserves them. I did this quite a few years ago when the cost was not near as high as it is today.

Funny thing is, I have NO desire to have a baseball card slabbed/graded in my collection.