Please Help. Think I have just found a rare gem?.

[justfoundagem]

Hi All

Any help would be much appreciated. 

I was selling some games I'd had in my loft for a while and long story short I've come to realise I have the original Sonic the Hedgehog for the Master System 2, all complete with booklet and with complete UPC Barcode covering the original barcode with the numbers reading 

0 10086 07076 7

What do I do? Is this a real thing? Hopefully the photo attachment has worked.

Many thanks in advance

Steve

[korax]

Hi Steve,

I'm no expert like many of the older members here, but yes, it seems to be the rare US version. Why exactly it demands such a high price compared to other Sonic 1 releases is still a mystery to me though, as I am to understand that, apart from the barcode, the game and everything else is exactly the same - Rare or not, it shouldn't be that hard to fake.

However the game and the barcode look a bit worn out. Might work in your favor - perhaps the sign of age will make its authenticity more clear.

Best Regards,
Danny

[justfoundagem]

Hi

Thanks for the info, excuse my total ignorance, but is this something that would be sold on this site or am i better off with Ebay?

Thanks

[lambrettadave]

If you decided to sell on eBay make sure it's available to the whole world.

[gallos_11]

Jul 16, 2014 10:36:56 GMT lambrettadave said:

If you decided to sell on eBay make sure it's available to the whole world.

Why??? Only US people are interested in this thing...

Here are some opinions about it:
shinobiman.proboards.com/thread/8504/sonic-upc-version

[justfoundagem]

So im getting a general vibe its only going to be people in the U.S who care about this game?

[SpeedStarTMQ]

Potentially. It depends on the collector. There might be people here who collect US stuff, but it may very well be people in the US who want it, given that it's a product that was originally sold in America, and thus would possibly have more value to collectors there.

What you find is that people often collect items based on their own or nearby regions. It's much less frequent you'll find a collector who will collect things from other countries, as that is much more difficult to do to complete a set or collection.

I've done a bit of research, and this web page pretty much sums up why it's sought after;

"On the back of the outer box lies a small UPC barcode sticker which US shops used to sell the game with (as opposed to using the European one on the box inlay). This disposable and hard to locate sticker is the only feature differentiating the two region releases apart. Given this sticker could have easily been removed (even on the copy sat in your collection!) or lost once the game was rehoused in a different outer case, it's safe to say so few of these complete sets remain and only those in the know tend to be aware they own them.

Knowing that the European version of Sonic The Hedgehog for the Master System tends to sell for no more than a couple of pounds, the current value (AS OF DECEMBER 2011 - TIME OF WRITING) of that UPC barcode sticker is hovering in the three digit range."

Racketboy also gives the price range within £300-£500. You may be looking at a maximum figure of £290 if you can find the right seller, but how many people in the world are THAT interested in this label? A handful maybe. Be patient, be careful, and you might find someone buys it for a similar price.

Also, is this you on eBay?

EDIT: Can't be, the sticker's slanted a different way. Well, at least it gives you an idea of the price.

[justfoundagem]

Thanks for that. Nah I'm not selling that, I've come across it though. Probably do the same.

Cheers guys.

[soera]

Im from the US and hate the fact that people consider this the "US" version of Sonic. Its absolutely no damned different other than a stupid sticker on the back of the case thats only put there to recognize the game in a computer based inventory system. It seriously serves no other purpose. There was one for sale a few months back that I linked here that had one with the name Babbages on it (Used to be a game chain here in the states that eventually became part of Gamestop). That sticker should honestly not add one measly cent of value to the game and anyone who thinks so is delusional.

[SpeedStarTMQ]

It's not that people think of it as the US version, just that it's easier to type when trying to explain it. Personally I don't see why ti adds THAT much value, I can certainly understand it adding a couple of quids worth more, as there's other items out there with similarly minor changes which add to the value.

All in all, it's the people that make the value, not the item itself. If people didn't want it so badly, it wouldn't be so expensive.

[SpeedStarTMQ]

ignore, double post.

[justfoundagem]

Yes but surely collectors are aware, as you so calmly are, of the points you make. So the sticker is the distinguishing factor, not the fact its claimed to be the US version.

So you dont fancy making me an offer?...

London, England to collect.

Let me know x

[SpeedStarTMQ]

Unfortunately not... not me anyway. A US sticker isn't what gets me going As long as the game, box, manual and additional are in good condition, I'm not personally interested in the rarity of items. I just buy games if I like them and they're in good nick!

Shame really, as I'm in Herts myself, it would probably take me half hour to reach where ever you are to collect!

Stick it on eBay with a high reserve price and see what that gets you. That's what I'd do anyway.

That or someone else here would take an interest.

[justfoundagem]

Strange I jump between hatfield and clapham. Nevermind.

Thanks for the help either way!..

[SpeedStarTMQ]

Aww man, I'm only down the road from Hatfield. Small world!

Funny actually, recently I created a thread about people's locations, and I was under the impression not a lot of people knew about the SMS in the UK, and here you come, being local.

No worries, good luck!