Re: For Auction: Original Edition Akalabeth for Apple II

[fortrandragon@hotmail.com (Fortran)]

"Frank Townsend" <ftownsen@iamdigex.net> wrote in message news:<DtTD7.680$t%4.61632@typhoon2.gnilink.net>...
> But this one at
> 
> http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1271671137
> 
> has no indication that it is being assembled by Garriott, and no indicia of
> authenticity.  It would certainly be easy to forge such a disk using a laser
> copier and a blank DS-DD floppy.  However, it appears that original games
> also came with 2 disk labels. See:
> 
> http://www.netassoc.net/ultima/images/akalrgmisc.JPG
> 
> So in addition to the twelve numbered copies, there may be another 12-24
> fresh copies labeled with the labels enclosed with the original games.
> 
> Caveat emptor.

     Do you realize that both images are from the same person?  ;-)

     I happen to know Jason and indirectly connected him with Richard
Garriott and thus set up the chain of events leading to Jason getting
that copy of Akalabeth.  Jason's particular copy was assembled by RG
from the 200 or so sets he created when he was selling at Computerland
20+ years ago.  The disk may be new, but everything else is vintage
Akalabeth and quite authentic.

     So in this case I know it is genuine RG Akalabeth and isn't
something whipped up on laser printer.



     But to move from a specific case to a general one, yes, there can
fakes out there, but since the group that chases these things *and* is
willing to pay a premium price for them is small and talks with each
other, the chance of a fake ripping something off is small.

     Also, when you are dealing with these prices (which is too high
in my opinion -- the only known RG copy auctioned off went for $250)
people take a much closer look at what is being sold.  You are much
more likely to be ripped off for a $10 item than a $1,000 simply
because because of that fact (attention spent on an item).

-- 

Fortran
  EDL