Space Fantasy Zone REPRINT - Takin' one for the team...

[geepee16]

nat, excellent post and thanks for the pix.  i admit that this is one game i have never even seen.  toshi at dream stars (whatever it's called) japan had it once but the price was through the roof.  there are definitely a couple of other games i'd like to get before this but it's on my list.  how is it that so many of you have played it? 

[Turbo D]

how is it that so many of you have played it? 

The iso has been circulating around the internet for awhile.

[kitkit.com]

Thank you for the pics and the infor Nat.

I am just wondering if you are willing to post pic of the Space Fantasy Zone CD (underside) .  The reason I am asking is because Anime4ever uses "Care4data CD disc" for their Sapphire "reprint".  Do you happen to own the Sapphire "reprint" as well?

[SignOfZeta]

Thank you for the pics and the infor Nat.

I am just wondering if you are willing to post pic of the Space Fantasy Zone CD (underside) .  The reason I am asking is because Anime4ever uses "Care4data CD disc" for their Sapphire "reprint".  Do you happen to own the Sapphire "reprint" as well?

This is a CD-R, it won't say Care4data on it like Sapphire because that was an actual pressed CD.

[SignOfZeta]

nat, excellent post and thanks for the pix.  i admit that this is one game i have never even seen.  toshi at dream stars (whatever it's called) japan had it once but the price was through the roof.  there are definitely a couple of other games i'd like to get before this but it's on my list.  how is it that so many of you have played it? 

The reason you've never see it is because this game is a fabrication. Its not real. It was never released.

I guess it could be said that rather than a fabrication it is a compilation of various legit resources like the beta ISO, magazine/art book scans, etc. The obi is certainly a fabrication. This disc is almost certainly manufactured in Europe, and certainly years after NEC Avenue ceased to exist.

I think its fine that people are making these (price aside, which is ridiculous) I'd just hate to think that people think this is real or rare. Since its a CD-R there will be as many copies as this guy feels like cranking out.

[nat]

I added some shots of the underside of the disc to the first post. When the disc is viewed by itself it's not quite as apparent that it's a CD-R, held up against a "real" pressed game (Splash Lake in this case), the difference is pretty apparent.

[kitkit.com]

I added some shots of the underside of the disc to the first post. When the disc is viewed by itself it's not quite as apparent that it's a CD-R, held up against a "real" pressed game (Splash Lake in this case), the difference is pretty apparent.

Thanks for the additional pics Nat.  I would not pay $160 for a CD-R....

How do you like the gameplay? 

[Joe Redifer]

Thanks for the extra pics, nat.  I am assuming that Space Fantasy Zone is the darker one.

[nat]

It's a fine game, definitely should have gotten a widespread release. The scrolling is about as smooth as the TurboGrafx version of Space Harrier, but the graphics look a little crisper and everything (sprites, etc) is a little bigger. Also, the soundtrack mix of Space Harrier and Fantasy Zone themes is a must-listen. I almost prefer the medleys here over the original tunes.

This reprint/reproduction is definitely worth picking up....... if you can score it for less than $100. The nice packaging alone gives it some value in my eyes, CD-R or not.

Thanks for the extra pics, nat.  I am assuming that Space Fantasy Zone is the darker one.

Correct, good sir.

[Green Card]

Does playing CD-Rs damage the Duo laser? I have heard this happening with Dreamcasts.

[vestcoat]

http://www.videogameimports.com/get_game.php?product=8395&new=4&side=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/Turbo-Duo-PC-Engine-SPACE-FANTASY-ZONE-new_W0QQitemZ320249141904QQihZ011QQcategoryZ54982QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[nat]

Ehh, that's way too expensive. Way more than I paid, and even *I* feel I paid a little too much.

[Black Tiger]

If you take a look at the "misprints" in the last 2 photos on this page-

http://sapphire.anime4ever.de/

-it looks like buddy coincidentally happens to own an original copy of Sapphire that he's made that cover inlay from.

Since these look more like real deal from the front, I'd be (even more) extra cautious when considering a purchase of a copy that looks legit in a photo. Although it should go without saying, I recommend contacting a seller to clear up any details that aren't clear in a description or photos.


One other thing I'd like to point out, the remaining "new" sealed bootlegs that aren't "way overpriced" like the eBay auction listed, are still 2/3 to 3/4 the price that legit copies often sell for nowadays.



Lastly, I recently contacted the seller of this bootleg-

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEC-PC-ENGINE-ARCADE-CD-ROM-SAPPHIRE_W0QQitemZ260247849323QQihZ016QQcategoryZ139973QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

to let them know that it was counterfeit and included a link to my Sapphire bootleg page. They responded with this-

hi

i dont think so ,i live in japan and i baught this game in the shop mandarake so i dont think that its a counterfeit

[nat]

One other thing I'd like to point out, the remaining "new" sealed bootlegs that aren't "way overpriced" like the eBay auction listed, are still 2/3 to 3/4 the price that legit copies often sell for nowadays.

Yeah, dude has gotten really greedy with these reprints. He used to sell them for $40, now he's straight raping people up the butt.

Lastly, I recently contacted the seller of this bootleg-

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEC-PC-ENGINE-ARCADE-CD-ROM-SAPPHIRE_W0QQitemZ260247849323QQihZ016QQcategoryZ139973QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

to let them know that it was counterfeit and included a link to my Sapphire bootleg page. They responded with this-

hi

i dont think so ,i live in japan and i baught this game in the shop mandarake so i dont think that its a counterfeit

What a numbskull.

That same seller ("akiba-connect") had something else up that was ridiculous recently but I can't for the life of me remember what it was. I just remembering wanting to kick him.

[geepee16]

without even looking at whether something is a bootleg or not, $180.00 for a sapphire is proof enough that it's a fake.  the only way it couldn't be is if some kid's mom were selling it without knowing the value of it and we know this game doesn't fall into this category.  i have been visiting/living in japan off and on for 9 1/2 years and have seen it going for less than $275 only once that i can recall.  these days, it's going for $340+ ($330 the other day without spine card). 

that akiba-connect guy is either a victim or a liar or just plain silly...and perhaps all three.  if anyone wants to buy his copy of sapphire, i might be able to meet up with him for you (if he is in tokyo) and examine the product but i am sure he's full of it.  there is NO WAY he could even hope to break even on a $180 sale of sapphire.