Author Topic: I Purchased Sapphire! (Read 7527 times)

Keranu · « **Reply #135 on:** October 04, 2005, 08:13:09 AM »

I still have to give the hand to Michael mainly because he has listed more facts than Rocker overall and with lots of good facts, even though Rocker's single fact was a very good one. The thing is, we can't believe if Hudson would do this ir not BUT we can't also just be ignorant and post "The game is a f*cking fake that Hudson was not involved with in any way, DEAL WITH IT." because we still don't have evidence proving that it's not related with Hudson in anyway or have the officially bootlegger(s) openly admit it.

I should also post I have a very open mind and have fairly strong belief in such things as aliens (yes in the way they are described among most abudctees, like with the "greys") and ghosts (My house is haunted and I actually believed I saw one once

). I'm not a psycho believer though, I make sure there are enough facts for me to believe in cases such as these because I do a lot of research on them, but I'm clearly not a skeptic because skeptics generally tend to be a$$holes and I still leave my mind very open.

GUTS · « **Reply #136 on:** October 04, 2005, 09:23:21 AM »

The only person arguing in favor of these being "second runs" is a guy who can't even put a space after his periods or sum his thoughts up in one post. Rocker is coming out on top in this arguement since his points actually make sense in the real world and not fantasy land where huge video games companies make teensy second prints of 6 year old games for miniscule profits and not tell anybody in the entire world.

The simplest explanation is usually always right (that these are pirated copies), theories like Mr NoSpaceAfteraPeriod's only exist in entertainment, not in reality. People have been watching too much X-Files and shit like that, they'll believe any hackneyed bullshit that comes along if it seems cool instead of looking at stuff realistically.

pixeljunkie · « **Reply #137 on:** October 04, 2005, 09:28:02 AM »

Haven't been here in a while...can't believe this is still a topic of discussion. I can't fathom anyone believing these are anything other than bootlegs.

I bought one, its so obvious looking at it its not even funny.

esteban · « **Reply #138 on:** October 04, 2005, 10:54:14 AM »

Rocker has said this already, but it bears repeating:

In the real world, we must assume that this is a bootleg.

The burden of proof rests upon those who insist that this isn't a bootleg.
---------------

Here's a great question (or two) to ask yourself:

Do we have any concrete examples of official second (or "alternate" "throw-away") pressings using non-standard materials?

Of these, how many were done by Hudson Soft of Japan?
---------------

The historical record provides overwhelming evidence that piracy -- not official pressings -- account for "curiousities" such as Sapphire.

This thread has gone from "hopeful wishing" to "utter absurdity" ... logic and reason require us to ASSUME that these are bootlegs, until proven otherwise. That is the most prudent course of action.

BONUS: The Turbo community dealt with piracy before (TurboList!), and they alerted folks about the bootleg to minimize the number of Turbo fans who would be ripped off.

Fudoh · « **Reply #139 on:** October 04, 2005, 12:59:10 PM »

Quote

In the real world, we must assume that this is a bootleg.

of course we should assume this !

Besides this I wonder if there's a point to the discussion going on here for the past week ? I guess not...

About contacting Hudson. Of course I tried to contact them. Below is my attempt from 2001 (in which I forwarded the game to them). And I tried again in 2004 by email with about the same "interest" shown by them (which is none).

And concerning their availability in stores in Tokyo: in early august this year Trader and Medialand in Akihabara had these in stock. Trader only had this version (50.000yen used) and Medialand had both - actually on the same shelf (original used for 45.000, this version new for 60.000yen).

They simply don't care about it.

PS: I've gotten ahold of another (most obvious bootlegged) version of Sapphire. Maybe I'll post some images sometime soon.

Keranu · « **Reply #140 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:53:41 PM »

Thanks for the post Fudoh! This certainly adds more to the discussion! However even though I am a believer of your story and Michael's facts, I have to be a damn skeptic here and comment that the image of the letter you posted almost looks like it was faked. I don't really know what it is, I think it might have to do with how the text and images look like they were added to a scan of a old, somewhat worn paper used with a computer program like Photoshop. It could possibly be because there are lightness and darkness differences on the paper, but not quite with the text and the images , also the creasing on the paper doesn't seem to effect the text or pictures really. I'm not saying this is a fake, but I'm just bringing points up to how it could be. Hopefully I can take your word on this. Looks like we need the detectives to solve this by doing tests on that piece of paper to see how old it is and where it came from

.

Michael Helgeson · « **Reply #141 on:** October 04, 2005, 05:55:34 PM »

I know it seems silly Fudoh,but can you do a larger scan of this letter?I understand some scanners and copiers will focus on the text and printed image and pick that up really good if the laser is great,and give a funny effect in the process not caring about creases,but in order to show this thing better it needs to be inlarged,maybe it can be on a link to your webpage if you have one or something so that we can get a closer look?I know its hard to get large size shoing here real well.Esp for XP users who can only go as large as 800-600.

Michael Helgeson · « **Reply #142 on:** October 04, 2005, 06:00:06 PM »

And maybe Ill give Guts period breaks too,maybe,and maybe Ill find religion.Well,n/m,thats doubtful.Seems not many had too hard a time reading any of my post anyway,seems your just doing a$$hole nitpicking to keep a arguement going,breaking from one arguement to another.

Fudoh · « **Reply #143 on:** October 05, 2005, 02:21:12 AM »

Here's a larger version:

http://pms.hazard-city.de/hudson.jpg

The paper actually doesn't look very old, it's just a weird yellow tone which my scanner tries to eliminate in the first place...

Maybe it looks better in b/w...

http://pms.hazard-city.de/letter_top.jpg

Or like this:

http://pms.hazard-city.de/letter.jpg

lol, any particular photo you'd like

? Maybe today's paper alongside with it ? (don't you dare....)

zborgerd · « **Reply #144 on:** October 05, 2005, 04:04:28 AM »

Quote from: "pixeljunkie"

Haven't been here in a while...can't believe this is still a topic of discussion. I can't fathom anyone believing these are anything other than bootlegs.

I bought one, its so obvious looking at it its not even funny.

Heh. I've been away for a month or two as well. Hard to believe that a topic I started *months* ago is still going on.

Hey. I'm just happy that I am able to play a game I'd likely not otherwise be able to play (downloading pirated copies with inferior lossy audio aside).

zborgerd · « **Reply #145 on:** October 05, 2005, 04:11:27 AM »

Quote from: "Fudoh"

Here's a larger version:

http://pms.hazard-city.de/hudson.jpg

The paper actually doesn't look very old, it's just a weird yellow tone which my scanner tries to eliminate in the first place...

Maybe it looks better in b/w...

http://pms.hazard-city.de/letter_top.jpg

Or like this:

http://pms.hazard-city.de/letter.jpg

lol, any particular photo you'd like ? Maybe today's paper alongside with it ? (don't you dare....)

Wow. Very interesting!

Nice to see that you're still following this thread. By the way... I'm still very happy about my Sapphire purchase.

Fudoh · « **Reply #146 on:** October 05, 2005, 04:32:46 AM »

Quote

Nice to see that you're still following this thread.

I actually wasn't, but somebody inquired about a game and mentioned that the thread was quite active, so I checked it again.

There are some people on the board with a lot a free-time and no hobbies I guess

Michael Helgeson · « **Reply #147 on:** October 05, 2005, 07:26:56 AM »

I sent a email to Hudson Japan today,including the scan of the letter you supplied.Hopefully they will reply back and give comment on this whole thing,but if not its no real loss either way.

Michael Helgeson · « **Reply #148 on:** October 05, 2005, 07:32:17 AM »

The last pic looks pretty real to me.Im satisified,but Im sure others like Guts wont be.So maybe Ill get a email back from Hudson,and well see.
Thanks!
BTW I do have hobbies,laserdisc collecting,ranting on here,and being with my kids,and gaming.If I didnt have hobbies,I wouldnt rant on pcenginefx.

Michael Helgeson · « **Reply #149 on:** October 05, 2005, 07:40:50 AM »

Actually thinking about it,can you place the letter upright,and stack hucards around it ,and add some US soldiers posing with big stupid grins?
That would be great and probably prove to Guts its real.

Author Topic: I Purchased Sapphire! (Read 7527 times)

GUTS

Michael Helgeson

Michael Helgeson

Michael Helgeson

Michael Helgeson

Michael Helgeson