That Tobias f--k went after Xak III and SO II as pressed CD-ROM releases!

[Emerald Rocker]

Do you guys not see the similarities between these situations? 

Situation A: I want to play Dungeon Explorer II.  I don't have $400 (or don't want to spend it) so I skirt the law and buy a bootleg for $40.

Situation B: You guys want to play Xak III, but you don't know how to read Japanese (and don't want to spend the time to learn.)  So you download a patch that someone made..........

Both situations are showing a lack of respect to the IP owners.  Petition the IP owners to get it translated and released here, on the Virtual Console or something.

I disagree with the "lack of respect" comment.  Fan translations are an expression of love for the game, whereas selling illegal bootlegs for profit is an expression of love for money.  The part about petitioning the IP owners is irrelevant.  We don't show respect to an artist by imposing on them to alter or further commodify their work; we show respect by appreciating their work.

Japan has very tolerant attitudes regarding unauthorized derivative works, to the extent that there are actually enormous conventions to showcase those unauthorized derivative works.  This is important because it demonstrates an understanding of how people -- for better or worse -- naturally display their love, admiration, and respect towards artistic works.

[CGQuarterly]

Zeta: Some of us give money to Tobias because no one else is stepping up and filling the void.  You guys constantly talk about how cheap and easy it is to get pressed CDs made.  So why does it take a "sleaze" like him to get it done?

I TOTALLY get what you're saying, although I don't think that the fact that I've bought stuff from Tobias and am not apologizing for it now makes me less of an adult.  My thing is that at least he just saw the desire and demand for something and just fucking did it.  Here, we have some long ass thread about "hey maybe we should press some games" and nothing to show for it.  But if anyone followed through with it, then you'd be stealing business from Tobias.  Same thing goes for the translations.  People want to buy copies of the translations, but guys like SamIAm don't want to go down that road.  I already made what I thought was a good suggestion for handling that, but it would take organization and the fronting of money, and it would never happen.  So in the absence of an option that pays the proper respect to the guys who made the translation, people will buy what's available.*

Emerald, I also get what you're saying but it kind of sounds like you're using a cultural loophole.  And a translation does not in my opinion count as a "derivative work".  You are directly altering the original work. Again, I don't care.  I'm just saying that both scenarios involve using unauthorized and morally questionable means to knock down the barriers stopping us from playing certain games.

I guess to a certain extent I am just playing Devil's Advocate here, but I am just trying to point out that really we are just talking about different levels of "morally questionable activity" based on what we wrongly perceive as our "right" to play whatever game we want.

* Just on a personal note I will go on record as saying that I will NEVER buy one of these translations from Tobias or anyone else unless they are sanctioned by the people who did the translation.

[esteban]

INTERMISSION:

I honestly do not understand anyone who equates "non-profit fan translation project" with "selling reproductions for significant profit"...for an IP that has little to no chance of ever being translated.

WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT MAKES DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN MAJOR AND MINOR ETHICAL TRANSGRESSIONS.

You can guess where I would categorize (1) a non-profit fan-translation of a dead IP that will never be localized VS. (2) a business that sells reproductions for maximum profit.

Just to be clear: I EVALUATE BOTH THE (a) GREED AND THE (b) HARM OF A ONE'S DEEDS before I support or condemn his/her actions.

Others have already spoken eloquently on the moral/ethical distinctions between #1 and #2, so I won't rehash what has already been said.

[IvanBeavkov]

So, is having a physical manual and image-printed disc a necessary component of the "experience" I want to share? Maybe it is. For me, it isn't, and that probably makes me biased.

I'm new here but I feel I can offer a reason that some people would have for having a manual and nice packaging as an important part of the experience. Not a justification just a reason.

Now I'm not really a fan of repos but, I was really tempted by the Dungeon Explorer II repo. Though due to the fact that it was only part of a 4 disc package, and the shadyness of the seller, that I discovered as I looked into it more, turned me off of it.

Here is why I would like to have a nice manufactured version over a burned cd.

When I got my turbo the first Dungeon Explorer wes the third game I got for the system. Loved the game and played it to death. Beat it with I think 5 of the characters got stuck on the 10th boss with most of the rest. Really just a great game. So when I heard that a sequal was comming I was super excited. Well I didn't get it but a friend of mine did. We were the only 2 people I knew of that had turbos. I remember borrowing it off him over Christmas break. I beat it in one sitting, started after dinner finished between 3 & 4 in the morning. I then proceeded to beat it with as many other characters as I could before I returned it.

Well I didn't get my own copy then because my friend had it and we didn't have a lot of overlap of games. Well the game has since shot up in price and my buddy has sold his turbo games, not to me the bastard, and it looks like I won't be able to ever get a copy of that game. Now I've played a burned copy but its not quite the same. I mean the game is the same and still fun but the memories are not attached to a cdr. Sometimes I like to pick up some of my old games and look at the art and flip through the book just for the memories. So seeing a nice looking repro, even if not exactly the same, for a good enough price was very tempting.

Well that is my 2 cents on why some people would be interested in a nice version over a cdr or a flash drive. This reason also dosen't directly apply to translations but hopefully gives a tiny bit of insight into some of the demand.

If you made it this far thanks for reading.

[DildoKKKobold]

Arrived, by pceworks.

Congrats on your purchase from a known lying scam artist who perpetrated fraud against the public by claiming his Sapphire bootlegs were authentic when he first starting doing this, even going as far as fabricating a document by Hudson Soft to back his claims up, and who slapped my Xak III fan translation on to these CDs without permission, not because he feared I would say no, but because of greed and the desire to pocket 100% of whatever net profit he would make minus cost of production per CD, etc. Also add Tru/John and his SO II translation who also was not contacted (I have yet to report this to Tru, but I will time permitting), etc. So yes, congrats! Supporting scam artists is brag worthy!

Oh come on.... What did you really hope to achieve with this post?

[esadajr]

...

If you made it this far thanks for reading.

No problem, anytime

[Psycho Punch]

Lightscribe + decent printer > Tobias.

[NightWolve]

Oh come on.... What did you really hope to achieve with this post?

What do you hope to achieve with your perpetual troll presence here ? You let me name your description ("The Defiant") and your choice of avatar is also in response to my situation with Xseed Games which shares similar behavior actually with Tobias. And you want what now, a serious debate ? Is that even a serious question of yours ? Weird that you quoted my post from the other thread, pasted it here and now demand an answer to one particular sarcastic post in a sea of them that occur here on a regular damn basis...

Your creepy lurking ass isn't worth the time of day for anything serious so my response to you is the NecroPhile approved one of go f--k yourself. There's your answer. Can't figure out what I "hoped to achieve" with that or any other post of mine, I guess I'll just have to leave you wondering, won't I ??

[PCEngineHell]

Arrived, by pceworks.

Congrats on your purchase from a known lying scam artist who perpetrated fraud against the public by claiming his Sapphire bootlegs were authentic when he first starting doing this, even going as far as fabricating a document by Hudson Soft to back his claims up, and who slapped my Xak III fan translation on to these CDs without permission, not because he feared I would say no, but because of greed and the desire to pocket 100% of whatever net profit he would make minus cost of production per CD, etc. Also add Tru/John and his SO II translation who also was not contacted (I have yet to report this to Tru, but I will time permitting), etc. So yes, congrats! Supporting scam artists is brag worthy!

Oh come on.... What did you really hope to achieve with this post?

/fed_zpsjdls6197.jpg

[DildoKKKobold]

Oh come on.... What did you really hope to achieve with this post?

What do you hope to achieve with your perpetual troll presence here ? You let me name your description ("The Defiant") and your choice of avatar is also in response to my situation with Xseed Games which shares similar behavior actually with Tobias. And you want what now, a serious debate ? Is that even a serious question of yours ? Weird that you quoted my post from the other thread, pasted it here and now demand an answer to one particular sarcastic post in a sea of them that occur here on a regular damn basis...

Your creepy lurking ass isn't worth the time of day for anything serious so my response to you is the NecroPhile approved one of go f--k yourself. There's your answer. Can't figure out what I "hoped to achieve" with that or any other post of mine, I guess I'll just have to leave you wondering, won't I ??

Creep is my name for you. Do we really need to bring that thread back?

Also, I brought it here, as it is more relevant.

I ask again, what did you hope to achieve?

[PCEngineHell]

Oh come on.... What did you really hope to achieve with this post?

What do you hope to achieve with your perpetual troll presence here ? You let me name your description ("The Defiant") and your choice of avatar is also in response to my situation with Xseed Games which shares similar behavior actually with Tobias. And you want what now, a serious debate ? Is that even a serious question of yours ? Weird that you quoted my post from the other thread, pasted it here and now demand an answer to one particular sarcastic post in a sea of them that occur here on a regular damn basis...

Your creepy lurking ass isn't worth the time of day for anything serious so my response to you is the NecroPhile approved one of go f--k yourself. There's your answer. Can't figure out what I "hoped to achieve" with that or any other post of mine, I guess I'll just have to leave you wondering, won't I ??

Creep is my name for you. Do we really need to bring that thread back?

Also, I brought it here, as it is more relevant.

I ask again, what did you hope to achieve?

A better question is, what do you hope to achieve? Outside of Nintega, I cant think of many others being so unwanted on this forum as much as you are.

[Arkhan Asylum]

I ask again, what did you hope to achieve?

If you really have to ask what he hoped to achieve, you might be retarded.

It's obvious the point was to drive the point into the person that they inadvertently supported a fuckup. 

They will likely feel bad about this, and seeing their purchase will now be a constant reminder to be more informed about purchasing decisions like this in the future.


You're the worst defiant ever.

[NecroPhile]

Also, I brought it here, as it is more relevant.

I ask again, what did you hope to achieve?

N.W. was obviously using sarcasm to admonish kisaku for buying from Tobias.

You now have your answer.  Move on or risk banishment.

[VestCunt]

Zeta: Some of us give money to Tobias because no one else is stepping up and filling the void.  You guys constantly talk about how cheap and easy it is to get pressed CDs made.  So why does it take a "sleaze" like him to get it done?

I TOTALLY get what you're saying, although I don't think that the fact that I've bought stuff from Tobias and am not apologizing for it now makes me less of an adult.  My thing is that at least he just saw the desire and demand for something and just fucking did it.  Here, we have some long ass thread about "hey maybe we should press some games" and nothing to show for it.  But if anyone followed through with it, then you'd be stealing business from Tobias.  Same thing goes for the translations.  People want to buy copies of the translations, but guys like SamIAm don't want to go down that road.  I already made what I thought was a good suggestion for handling that, but it would take organization and the fronting of money, and it would never happen.  So in the absence of an option that pays the proper respect to the guys who made the translation, people will buy what's available.*

* Just on a personal note I will go on record as saying that I will NEVER buy one of these translations from Tobias or anyone else unless they are sanctioned by the people who did the translation.

Good points.

First order of business: ruin Tobias.

Next on agenda: find a translator, hacker, or forum member willing to grow a pair and meet demand by pressing some nice facsimiles without gouging anyone. (This will never happen.)

Solution: chill out. Let the urge for shiny collectable things die... along with hopes for happiness, true love, and escaping poverty. Never be complete. Make spine labels with Sharpie. Burn shitty ink-jet printables. Play patched games in modified XBOX to preserve Duo laser.

Happy ending: Aaron gets rid of Habboland theme. DarkKobold crawls in hole and dies. Pizza party! Fap fest!

[Gentlegamer]

b-but I like Habboland

[VestCunt]

As for ol' Sapphire, the only people that heard his story and believed it were fooling themselves.  None of Tobias's story ever made a lick of sense.

Fudoh's yarn reads like a house of lies today, but it was somewhat believable in 2005. No one had ever seen a posthumously-pirated PCE game before. Reproductions were in their infancy even on popular consoles. Mindrec had literally scoured the Earth (albeit not very thoroughly) and couldn't find anyone willing to replicate a PCE game. The official word from the tech people at the time (TZD, MindRec, etc.) was that the disc format was extinct. Cheap printers weren't as good, PCEFX didn't have a repair forum, Sparky wasn't making fancy labels, D-Lite was ruining the right headphone channel in brand-new TE's with his mono sound fix, and no one knew how to repair a Duo yet.

Admittedly, I WANTED to believe I was buying a real Sapphire, but whatever. The scene was ignorant about a lot of things back then.

[NecroPhile]

As soon as it was known that it was made by care4data in europe, it was OBVIOUS that it wasn't made by Hudson.

[Joe Redifer]

Play patched games in modified XBOX to preserve Duo laser.

Eff that! The Xbox laser is worse than the Duo. Mine has a very difficult time reading pressed games. It reads DVD-Rs much easier. And you can't just replace the drive with another. Each drive is married to the console. That sucks. Fuckin' Xbox, man.

[PCEngineHell]

As soon as it was known that it was made by care4data in europe, it was OBVIOUS that it wasn't made by Hudson.

To be honest half the people I knew who purchased a Fudoh copy had no idea it was pressed by Care4Data. That knowledge wasn't made available until people actually got their copies in hand, opened them, and started posting about it. And there were plenty of buyers out there who did not frequent this forum, who had no idea to look at the company stamp on the disc.

And as for Hudson themselves, getting them to confirm or deny production of the things was a mess. Their email responses were mostly about feigning ignorance of the situation. In retrospect I suspect they had probably already been annoyed by used game shops in Japan about the very same thing, since these were popping up over there too. My personal stance on the issue back then was to give Fudoh benefit of doubt, concerning how he was saying he originally obtained them, and to remain neutral on the disc legitimacy until Hudson would confirm otherwise.

Fudoh went out of his way to make these look legit, even faking boxes from Hudson to hold the games in to make it look like he obtained a lot of new old stock. Then you had him posting that supposed letter from Hudson. Basically all his proof they may be legit was not just to boost sales, which it did do, but to also take attention off of him as the potential bootlegger. I think at some point he just decided he didn't care anymore if people knew it was him or not when he saw the chance to make more money though. Basically around the time he started bootlegging Rockman and Space Fantasy Zone.

Its kinda funny, my view of things way back then. Back then I used to not mind buying boots, if I knew what they were and they looked interesting. I used to grab those Famicom multi carts when I'd see them cheap, and I'd nab any funny looking pressed 3DO boots I'd come across that were cheap too. I'd go out of my way to buy the stuff, not really to save money, but just because the stuff was kind of a novelty to me. Seeing the harm Fudoh did though with the Sapphire mess, not just to this community, but normal pce collectors and fans elsewhere in the world, used game shops etc., it just really changed how I felt about this stuff.

The fact is Fudoh had no love for the PCE/TG ever at any given point. He didn't care about its fans, its forum driven communities, or the dealers and import shops still taking the time and giving the shelf space to make sure this stuff could still be bought and sold 10 years later. He had no concern about how his actions would impact any of it. His only concern was if something was affecting his cash flow. When it was he would take action to keep the cash coming in, like he did with faking the Sapphire evidence.

If he really was just doing it for the community, he would never had lied about the Sapphire mess to begin with. He would have come clean and went out of his way to make sure people knew they were repros, and sold them cheaper. As it stands now, if he cared about the community and just wanted to spread the PCE love, he would be selling ALL his current warez at cost, at the same low price, not at the inflated 1990s new retail prices he is asking for now.

Lets be clear on this. Fudoh doesn't care about you playing and owning a pressed disc, and preserving said games legacy in any sort of way. If he thought he could get away with selling cd-rs of the stuff at the same stupid inflated price, he would do that instead to save a few pennies. But he knows people want pressed disc. He is using that as an angle to get his current warez sold at said very unreasonably high prices.

The only reason he is willing to take a loss on the Xak and Startling Odyssey II disc is because he got busted by the translators and he wants to calm the situation. He is making a lot of money off of everything else, so this is chump change for him, plus he will still have suckers buying the packaged copies for the inflated mark ups. In the end he has no real intention to make legitimate amends for what he has done to the PCE community prior, or to do it any real favors or selfless acts of generosity. Everything he does has a motive or angle and it all revolves around $$$.

While I'm not the greatest supporter of the idea, what has been mentioned prior of just pressing the stuff here and giving them out at cost behind the scenes to forum members here specifically would be a worlds better alternative then to continue to give this asshole money. At least then it would be you guys doing it for yourself, for your own community.

No money will be made, and at that point the attention that would be generated would be minimal so you wouldn't have to sweat some company sending cease and desist notices. No one take credit for it. Attach no names to the shipping address. In fact, when you mail them out, just mail them out with a fake mailing address or something for the sender.

Consider it a community action. The motive would be out of love of said games and this community, not for lining said pockets with cash. You keep it low key, not for profit, and not on ebay or in the sales threads, and don't do it with crap like Dracula X, which too common a title.  Handle it all behind the scenes, via pm and email. And don't let members with below 500 post jump in trying to buy it all up.

Outside of that, just buy the fucking PCE versions of said games or save up and buy legit copies, or play burns. As is, anyone who wanted something like Godzilla or Dungeon Explorer II could have gotten Japanese copies for decent prices easily.

[Bernie]

While I'm not the greatest supporter of the idea, what has been mentioned prior of just pressing the stuff here and giving them out at cost behind the scenes to forum members here specifically would be a worlds better alternative then to continue to give this asshole money. At least then it would be you guys doing it for yourself, for your own community.

No money will be made, and at that point the attention that would be generated would be minimal so you wouldn't have to sweat some company sending cease and desist notices. No one take credit for it. Attach no names to the shipping address. In fact, when you mail them out, just mail them out with a fake mailing address or something for the sender.

Consider it a community action. The motive would be out of love of said games and this community, not for lining said pockets with cash. You keep it low key, not for profit, and not on ebay or in the sales threads, and don't do it with crap like Dracula X, which too common a title.  Handle it all behind the scenes, via pm and email. And don't let members with below 500 post jump in trying to buy it all up.

  You have read my mind sir.

[NecroPhile]

To be honest half the people I knew who purchased a Fudoh copy had no idea it was pressed by Care4Data. That knowledge wasn't made available until people actually got their copies in hand, opened them, and started posting about it.

I should've said that I meant that in the context of the discussion HERE.  People were arguing that they were real even after it was known where they were made and Tobias had posted his illogical stories about them being reprints done by Hudson in '99 (more than three years after Hudson had made anything for PCE or even PC-FX), reprints that were supposedly 'not good enough' yet they sold them anyway.  Just the fact that he was selling them for pennies on the dollar should've made it pretty clear that they were boots, really.

[PCEngineHell]

To be honest half the people I knew who purchased a Fudoh copy had no idea it was pressed by Care4Data. That knowledge wasn't made available until people actually got their copies in hand, opened them, and started posting about it.

I should've said that I meant that in the context of the discussion HERE.  People were arguing that they were real even after it was known where they were made and Tobias had posted his illogical stories about them being reprints done by Hudson in '99 (more than three years after Hudson had made anything for PCE or even PC-FX), reprints that were supposedly 'not good enough' yet they sold them anyway.  Just the fact that he was selling them for pennies on the dollar should've made it pretty clear that they were boots, really.

I wouldn't really say pennies on the dollar. I think what I paid for mine was around $77 or so.
But yeah when Tobias came here posting his proof I did kinda just want to give him the benefit of doubt, as least concerning his evidence. For me back then it wasn't cool coming out with guns blazing flat out accusing someone of being a bootlegger. Accusing someone of illegal bootlegging back then would have carried a worse stigma then it does now in gaming forums. That and back then companies were more sue happy then they are now. Since some of the copies had popped up in Japanese game shops that gave him something to prop his story up on too.

I did my best to try to get Care4Data and Hudson to confirm if the disc were legit or fake. I just couldn't get any solid proof one way or the next. Neither wanted to confirm, or deny the such via email, and I'm the type that really does want the most solid proof possible, which for me would have been a confirmation from Hudson one way or the other. Until then, my stance was more neutral, with some devil's advocate tossed in for good measure, not accusing them of being 100 percent legit, or flat out fake. Personally, in my gut, I leaned on them being fake/repro, and when I got rid of mine I listed it as being such.

That whole Tobias ordeal though kind of busted my sense of trust when it came to sellers on here, and partly why I started jumping down sellers throats so much when shenanigans were being pulled by them. Sadly sometimes you just simply cant afford to give anyone the benefit of doubt. In the past when its been done it ended up with not just Tobias and his Sapphire boots, but also TZD not honoring orders before selling out to Red Frog, Dean not finishing mod work after a years worth of time has gone by, the Risingstuff cunts etc. The shit just seems to exacerbate when left to sort itself out on this forum because people are afraid to ruffle someone's feathers.

[cjameslv]

He is giving the games away for free and including free shipping, so everyone could just order that and he will make alot less off this run.

[Emerald Rocker]

Or everyone could snub his useless effort at "good will".  I'm too cool to take Tobias's ratty boots, even for free.

[SkyeWelse]

Or everyone could snub his useless effort at "good will".  I'm too cool to take Tobias's ratty boots, even for free.

That's how I feel about it too. While he offering it for free, if it isn't something that Nightwolve was a part of, then it doesn't belong in the Xak collection because to me, that's a fake unauthorized bootleg, no matter how good the quality may actually seem on the surface. There is an actual Xak series bootleg that I would love to have in my collection, but the difference is, it was a big-boxed MSX style bootleg of Xak I sold at a few dutch MSX fairs by the actual romhackers and translators that worked on it to bring it to the fans. Now something like that... that is treasure worth having, not this stuff that Tobias is pushing.

-Thomas

[elmer]

First order of business: ruin Tobias.

I cannot believe that I just saw these on eBay ...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-Engine-Memories-Turbo-Duo-Box-GodzillaDungeon-Explorer-IIBonk3DynasticHero-/331506417015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-Engine-Memories-Best-of-Japan-Renny-Blaster-Fausse-wbr-te-Amour-Sylphia-wbr-Kaze-Kiri-/331506415382

How on earth does he get away with this?????????

[tknjin]

I saw those on ebay as well couldn't believe it.  Sad thing is, I know it will be bought =.=

[PCEngineHell]

First order of business: ruin Tobias.

I cannot believe that I just saw these on eBay ...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-Engine-Memories-Turbo-Duo-Box-GodzillaDungeon-Explorer-IIBonk3DynasticHero-/331506417015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-Engine-Memories-Best-of-Japan-Renny-Blaster-Fausse-wbr-te-Amour-Sylphia-wbr-Kaze-Kiri-/331506415382

How on earth does he get away with this?????????

Yeah I saw those too. He had 3 auctions going. I imagine he is doing this via a friend/proxy seller. Thats what he used to do before with Sapphire and SFZ on jacked up ebay listings.

[Sarumaru]

First order of business: ruin Tobias.

I cannot believe that I just saw these on eBay ...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-Engine-Memories-Turbo-Duo-Box-GodzillaDungeon-Explorer-IIBonk3DynasticHero-/331506417015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-Engine-Memories-Best-of-Japan-Renny-Blaster-Fausse-wbr-te-Amour-Sylphia-wbr-Kaze-Kiri-/331506415382

How on earth does he get away with this?????????

Yeah I saw those too. He had 3 auctions going. I imagine he is doing this via a friend/proxy seller. Thats what he used to do before with Sapphire and SFZ on jacked up ebay listings.

Not the only place they're showing up, too. And check out that price tag.

http://page4.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d165026937

LULZERPAN~

[NecroPhile]

Those auctions aren't necessarily by Tobias.  There's plenty of opportunist d-bags that'll buy his shit for flipping - buy three and sell two to get their own for 'free'.

[LostFlunky]

...and please don't just look at those auctions and whine about them... report them.

[Gentlegamer]

Report all counterfeit items on ebay... but they rarely do anything about it.

[CGQuarterly]

Those auctions aren't necessarily by Tobias.  There's plenty of opportunist d-bags that'll buy his shit for flipping - buy three and sell two to get their own for 'free'.

That was the first thing that came to mind when I saw them.  Not saying that it couldn't be him selling his own stuff, but it makes a lot more sense that it's a flipper. 

The only thing I could see him doing is putting those up on eBay to give people the impression that they are selling for above "retail" (lol) on the secondary market, thus driving more people to buy them from him thinking that they are an "investment".  Like if people see that auction and then Google the product to see what it's all about, then go to his website and see how much cheaper they are there, they might be more inclined to jump on them, thinking that they are getting a great deal.

Or maybe I'm giving him too much credit.

[CrackTiger]

The eBay seller with multiple copies of Tobias' newer products for sale is located in Germany. Just like the seller who had an endless supply of Sapphires several years ago.

BIN price on the box sets is $350.

[LostFlunky]

Well 2 of the three current auctions have been removed...  Didn't see the third earlier... just reported it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-Engine-Limited-XSC-Bundle-Startling-Odyssey-Xak-III-Cycho-Rider-/331509009231?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d2f7a0b4f

[ClodBusted]

Thanks for reporting!

[Tatsujin]

lol, all 0 Bid ended actions so far.

[SignOfZeta]

You'd think selling the things at 2000% profit (the "retail" price) would be lucrative enough, but hey, why not triple it, eh?

[bob]

Well 2 of the three current auctions have been removed...  Didn't see the third earlier... just reported it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-Engine-Limited-XSC-Bundle-Startling-Odyssey-Xak-III-Cycho-Rider-/331509009231?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d2f7a0b4f

I had reported 2 of them as well.

[NightWolve]

Good work reporting his auctions. Yeah, I wondered who it was and saw that the seller is located in Germany, so it's either him, a proxy buddy, or one hell of a coincidence...

Anyhow, I have 2 updates:

1) I'm Facebook friends with Tru/John and I finally reported the incident to him the other night. Linked him this thread as well. He emailed Tobias to deal with it - I asked what he said, and his answer was pretty much what I said, only with not as much "f--ks" and in hopes of finding an agreement. ;) Up to him.

2) I did finally reply back to him myself right before telling Tru.

Quite honestly, I still haven't decided on how to resolve this with you, but while letting myself cool down and avoid the issue, there are points that need to made right now:

1) Wanna make sure you're made aware that I plan to eventually press Ys IV myself, and that you need to keep your hands off of it!!! I'm sure you've had your "eye on the prize" when it comes to Ys IV, no question about that... I've been made aware that you're pressing most of the NEC library and there was quite a bit of fear that you may have already snuck and done it, but yeah, keep your hands off of it!! I have invalidated the public patch with some enhancements and script edits, and I'll have to keep that private to prevent someone like you from accessing it - I guess I'll save the update until I can get needed votes/deals with everyone in the project to go forward.

2) Your $109 EUR price for the 3 pack is pretty ridiculous and that would need to be brought down to something sane with fair mark-up principles. Your shameless profiteering is something I don't wish to be associated with on any level, not to mention the big problem with you, your criminal baggage of the fraud you perpetrated against the public by forging a document purported to be by Hudson Soft to falsely convince the public you obtained the last real and new batch of Sapphire, CDs which you had in fact pressed yourself and thus were fakes all along... You caused a lot of financial damage to buyers and resellers alike who were tricked into believing that batch was real, you made out like a bandit and got away with it all... Hard to believe those Youtube channel personalities forgave you for all of that mess!

3) I notified Tru about SO II the other day, so that's out of the way. How he deals with you is entirely up to him. He said he already emailed you so you will have seen that by now.

That's all for now.

[tknjin]

When you do ever get the time to press these CDs I will definitely be purchasing them through you man.  I think it would be cool to see them done by the fansubbers who put the time and effort to let the masses enjoy.

[DildoKKKobold]

1) Wanna make sure you're made aware that I plan to eventually press Ys IV myself, and that you need to keep your hands off of it!!! I'm sure you've had your "eye on the prize" when it comes to Ys IV, no question about that... I've been made aware that you're pressing most of the NEC library and there was quite a bit of fear that you may have already snuck and done it, but yeah, keep your hands off of it!! I have invalidated the public patch with some enhancements and script edits, and I'll have to keep that private to prevent someone like you from accessing it - I guess I'll save the update until I can get needed votes/deals with everyone in the project to go forward.

I hope, for your sake, you didn't actually send this to Tobias. He's clearly demonstrated, by trying to pass off a bootleg Sapphire as a legit game, that he has zero care for the community or ethical lines in reproductions. You can say hands off as much as you want, but I seriously doubt he'll listen. Given the past behavior, I'd say that it is pretty likely he'll ignore you. On top of that, you've told him you are planning on pressing Ys IV 'sometime in the future' and a better version. Which, I'm pretty sure, to some one like Tobias, means that he needs to press it sooner, rather than later, to maximize his profits, while you "take votes."

Even given the number of problems we've had, I'd rather support you than Tobias. (Not saying I'd actually buy Tobias's version, just that given the choice between two, I'd pick you.)  That said, I think you just put a timer bomb over your head to getting this pressing done. I'm fairly certain you inspired Tobias to speed up his next pressing.

[NightWolve]

I hope, for your sake, you didn't actually send this to Tobias. He's clearly demonstrated, by trying to pass off a bootleg Sapphire as a legit game, that he has zero care for the community or ethical lines in reproductions. You can say hands off as much as you want, but I seriously doubt he'll listen. Given the past behavior, I'd say that it is pretty likely he'll ignore you. On top of that, you've told him you are planning on pressing Ys IV 'sometime in the future' and a better version. Which, I'm pretty sure, to some one like Tobias, means that he needs to press it sooner, rather than later, to maximize his profits, while you "take votes."

Even given the number of problems we've had, I'd rather support you than Tobias. (Not saying I'd actually buy Tobias's version, just that given the choice between two, I'd pick you.)  That said, I think you just put a timer bomb over your head to getting this pressing done. I'm fairly certain you inspired Tobias to speed up his next pressing.

Well, funny you should pop in here again for that... He already responded back to me, and well, no surprise, he already pressed Ys IV and given his batch orders, we're talking about 500 CDs or more, etc. It's too late, it's been revealed that the guy is gonna be doing a significant part of the NEC library, and yeah, Ys IV made his production list as many predicted. He probably already did Dracula X as well... He added that in light of the situation, he won't be selling them, they will be given out.

[DildoKKKobold]

Well, funny you should pop in here again for that... He already responded back to me, and well, no surprise, he already pressed Ys IV and given his batch orders, we're talking about 500 CDs or more, etc. It's too late, it's been revealed that the guy is gonna be doing a significant part of the NEC library, and yeah, Ys IV made his production list as many predicted. He probably already did Dracula X as well... He added that in light of the situation, he won't be selling them, they will be given out.

Interesting. I don't believe him. He doesn't seem like the type to pass up on profits.

Actually, TBH, I don't believe he's already pressed Ys IV. Seems like another lie to try and delay your pressing. Why would he not be selling it, if it were already pressed? Something just "off" about that.

[NightWolve]

I believe him. From what I've gathered, he did a bunch of batch orders of many games on his list, and that's the easy part, send CD label artwork and a CD-R off to the pressing plant that he uses. So he's pressed a whole bunch of games in the NEC library including fan-translated games, and those are sitting in his stock, and he does the slow part which is manuals and maybe box art as he goes along, etc. You will be seeing many releases come out this year.

I also know this to likely be true because of other developments, but I was asked not to disclose them at this time (not by him!)... But yeah, suffice to say, I won't be bothering with my desire to press it... If he didn't have criminal baggage and chose not to sneak around, the newer font and spelling fixes could've been on these, but he is who he is and he used the old public patches currently available, just like he did with Xak III, so...

You might be happy to hear (no sarcasm intended!)
that the free discs of Xak and SOII are extremely popular. We shipped
way over 600 pairs to users all over the world (with all costs on us).

[geise]

so...

Fuck him?

[DildoKKKobold]

I... I don't get it. He did one of the most deplorable possible things you can do, as far as reproductions go, by trying to pass off a bootleg as the real deal. That, to me, means he had zero conscience from the get-go. He'll do whatever he wants, to maximize profit.

However, from the dealings with Nightwolve, he seems like a somewhat morally defunct, but trying to-do-right guy. I can't align the two in my head. They say a tiger can't change his stripes... but it sounds like Tobias has.

[spenoza]

Well, if BurntLasagna wasn't already gun shy enough, a release of his Dracula X work will certainly be the end of any further involvement he'd be likely to have in the community.

[Bernie]

Well, if BurntLasagna wasn't already gun shy enough, a release of his Dracula X work will certainly be the end of any further involvement he'd be likely to have in the community.

Good riddance to him.

[PCEngineHell]

Well, funny you should pop in here again for that... He already responded back to me, and well, no surprise, he already pressed Ys IV and given his batch orders, we're talking about 500 CDs or more, etc. It's too late, it's been revealed that the guy is gonna be doing a significant part of the NEC library, and yeah, Ys IV made his production list as many predicted. He probably already did Dracula X as well... He added that in light of the situation, he won't be selling them, they will be given out.

How significant? Did he actually elaborate? I mean there is hundreds of games available, and most normal games could be purchased legitimately for used prices that would probably beat his prices for new repros.