The best of VGM and other great soundtracks
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Boyblunder,
Check out my posts on vgmdb (link in OP). I opened mine and did some pretty thorough tests. Most notable was the red-laser test, which is a visual test you do in the dark to see if the CD is burnt (CD-R) or properly pressed. And, indeed, it was pressed.
I also put up complete packaging scans of the one I received, also up on vgmdb, and you can compare them with your copy.
Alley -- what were the bootleg albums you got from this ebay seller?
According to eBay, 79 copies have been sold, and the seller has "at least 10" left. It'll be interesting to see how many copies the seller has here (it could be hundreds).
Boyblunder,
Check out my posts on vgmdb (link in OP). I opened mine and did some pretty thorough tests. Most notable was the red-laser test, which is a visual test you do in the dark to see if the CD is burnt (CD-R) or properly pressed. And, indeed, it was pressed.
I also put up complete packaging scans of the one I received, also up on vgmdb, and you can compare them with your copy.
Alley -- what were the bootleg albums you got from this ebay seller?
I don't think it was this seller - but since at one point ebay allowed users to change their profile names, one can never be sure.
Maybe they are legit and I'm just being overcautious...
I did email the seller so I'm waiting to hear what he says.
Bump for anyone who missed this. The seller has sold 126 sealed copies of this album, and still has at least 10 left:
His sales have pretty much maxed out I think, since it's been months since I last saw and he was just over 100 then, but I think we all have to wonder just how many more the guy has...
Buy one, unwrap the plastic in your hands, and tell me it doesn't leave a distinct impression.
The red laser test was the most important thing, to determine it was pressed and not burnt. The odds of a PRESSED bootleg, of THIS album, is so close to zero ... yeah. It's legit.
How would you perform a test like that? And are there any other ways you'd recommend to determine authenticity?
Ramza wrote:Buy one, unwrap the plastic in your hands, and tell me it doesn't leave a distinct impression.
The red laser test was the most important thing, to determine it was pressed and not burnt. The odds of a PRESSED bootleg, of THIS album, is so close to zero ... yeah. It's legit.
How would you perform a test like that? And are there any other ways you'd recommend to determine authenticity?
So technically all the laser test does, ever, is help you determine if a CD is a burnt CD or a pressed CD. There's a difference in the scale and intensity of the red reflection. Here's what you'd want:
1) one CD you know is pressed (just any old CD you bought, maybe a Best of Duran Duran or something)
2) one CD you know is burnt (and it doesn't even matter whether or not it's been written to yet ... a blank CD-R would work too!)
3) the CD you want to test for authenticity (in this case, SoE)
4) a red laser pointer
5) a very, very dark room (no sunlight, dark as you can get).
Then all you do is shine the laser one at a time on each of the three CDs. You'll obviously notice with your own eye, the distinction between the known-pressed CD and the known-burnt CD. Then you shine on your questioned CD, and whichever one it appears more like with the nature of the reflection, there's your answer (and again ... I don't know how to describe it, but it's totally observable to the naked eye ... it's like, the width around the reflection point, and how strong the reflection of the laser is).
Now, what this does NOT do is confirm that this wasn't some secret second pressing done recently in an attempt to mimic the original press. After all, the SM/EA bootlegs were pressed CDs as well, from Taiwan. The question then would be, why the heck would anyone bother to re-press it? At the quantity sold, and the quantity cost to run a CD pressing of 1000 or less, the person would've lost big bucks.
No ... everything about these albums, from my perspective, suggests these were just an old stock salvaged from a warehouse and being sold off. And, as the other commenters said, he's probably just about saturated the (American) market. He should try to get some on Y!J, honestly. It'd probably do okay for awhile.
Ramza
This item has been on my watch list since the creation of this topic in 2015 and it has never run out of stock. Funny how a single source can destroy the perceived rarity of the album. At this rate, the quantity of albums probably outnumber Secret of Evermore fans (and SOE fans that are yet to be born). With the benefit of hindsight, if their goal was to clear stock, then even $25 is too expensive. Did the seller ever specify how they managed to obtain their stock? I can only conclude they raided Squaresoft USA's offices.
Now if somebody can hit upon a stash of Super Donkey Kong Country series albums...
Also Secret of Evermore remake when? That should also help clear stock.
I'd buy one if int'l shipping wasn't 20$...........
