Well, I have now met the guys in person behind WATA and they're all super cool. The WATA display at MGC was nuts, the booth was equally amazing, and it was nice to be able to ask questions in person.
Since I'm not a sealed guy and this isn't my scene, my impartial question I'm curious about is this: Has VGA ever attended an event and interacted with it's customer base?
Well, I have now met the guys in person behind WATA and they're all super cool. The WATA display at MGC was nuts, the booth was equally amazing, and it was nice to be able to ask questions in person.
Since I'm not a sealed guy and this isn't my scene, my impartial question I'm curious about is this: Has VGA ever attended an event and interacted with it's customer base?
I believe they attended Too Many Games last year as a direct response to Wata attending the show. Prior to that I believe they had only ever attended the Age expo when they first launched. I could be mistaken. I am also unsure if they attend toy cons or doll cons - the other items they put in cases.
It probably didn’t make sense for them to attend shows between their launch and last year since they were the only company in the US that did this sort of thing. Not all company’s that slab items attend shows. I’m fairly confident PGX doesn’t attend shows.
I just remember reaching out to them about doing a video tour of their place years ago, maybe 2013, thinking that would be something neat for the forum. But it didn't get too far and I remember someone, not them, saying they probably don't want people knowing where they are or how they do things, aka, trade secrets. I pitched it as, "letting people get to know you," piece and thought about that when I was meeting Kevin face to face this past weekend.
Competition is good. I like the WATA logo and stickers.
VGA cases can be opened and closed if you know what you are doing so it still looks sealed, and the contents can be messed with. I wouldnt send anything to them.
Well, I have now met the guys in person behind WATA and they're all super cool. The WATA display at MGC was nuts, the booth was equally amazing, and it was nice to be able to ask questions in person.
Since I'm not a sealed guy and this isn't my scene, my impartial question I'm curious about is this: Has VGA ever attended an event and interacted with it's customer base?
I know that they do the big Star Wars convention because I emailed for population data the other day and they said they weren't taking those requests until they get back from the show. My guess is that their show schedule is more weighted towards AFA and toys.
I will point out that this site and many prominent members have a close relationship with WATA, so you're not exactly gonna get the most fair and balanced answers here
VGA cases can be opened and closed if you know what you are doing so it still looks sealed, and the contents can be messed with. I wouldnt send anything to them.
VGA cases can be opened and closed if you know what you are doing so it still looks sealed, and the contents can be messed with. I wouldnt send anything to them.
I'd love to see someone try tampering with a Wata case though. The top has those clips and looks solid, the paper has that hologram and NASA thing, but the bottom looks just glued on (unless it's all one piece and I'm misremembering?). I think Wata cases certainly look more secure, but I'd love to see someone put it through its paces.
VGA cases can be opened and closed if you know what you are doing so it still looks sealed, and the contents can be messed with. I wouldnt send anything to them.
I'd love to see someone try tampering with a Wata case though. The top has those clips and looks solid, the paper has that hologram and NASA thing, but the bottom looks just glued on (unless it's all one piece and I'm misremembering?). I think Wata cases certainly look more secure, but I'd love to see someone put it through its paces.
Bottom slab took some noticeable damage though and I feel like it would be obvious that there was something off with the case. Any case can be opened and glued back together with another game/comic/coin/card inside. You just have to know what to look for when buying. You can crack open a CGC case and glue it back together too but most comic collectors would notice something off about the case within seconds of viewing the slab. I think that would be the same here, the majority of sealed game collectors that have handled VGA games would notice the chipping/cracking in the acrylic and also the glue applied to re-attach it (assuming they aren't spot melting the acrylic). I assume you could crack open a WATA case and glue it back together too, but there would be tells that are obvious that shows the case has been tampered with.
VGA cases can be opened and closed if you know what you are doing so it still looks sealed, and the contents can be messed with. I wouldnt send anything to them.
I'd love to see someone try tampering with a Wata case though. The top has those clips and looks solid, the paper has that hologram and NASA thing, but the bottom looks just glued on (unless it's all one piece and I'm misremembering?). I think Wata cases certainly look more secure, but I'd love to see someone put it through its paces.
I experimented with a few other VGA games and was able to do it so you could barely tell it was resealed under close scrutiny. No actualy knowledge about plastics, just With some minor google fu on acrylic glues.
I never posted about it because I knew I would be crucified.
Anyways, I have wata subs and they are designed to be “easier” to open, but with guarenteed damage so it would be very easy to tell it was repaired. (I believe that was by design).
Wata has legitimate engineering in their cases You can easily tell once you get one in hand.
Vga cases always felt to me like an acrylic display case adapted for grading, wata is a case designed 100% to be a game grading enclosure.
VGA cases can be opened and closed if you know what you are doing so it still looks sealed, and the contents can be messed with. I wouldnt send anything to them.
I'd love to see someone try tampering with a Wata case though. The top has those clips and looks solid, the paper has that hologram and NASA thing, but the bottom looks just glued on (unless it's all one piece and I'm misremembering?). I think Wata cases certainly look more secure, but I'd love to see someone put it through its paces.
I experimented with a few other VGA games and was able to do it so you could barely tell it was resealed under close scrutiny. No actualy knowledge about plastics, just With some minor google fu on acrylic glues.
I never posted about it because I knew I would be crucified.
Anyways, I have wata subs and they are designed to be “easier” to open, but with guarenteed damage so it would be very easy to tell it was repaired. (I believe that was by design).
Wata has legitimate engineering in their cases You can easily tell once you get one in hand.
Vga cases always felt to me like an acrylic display case adapted for grading, wata is a case designed 100% to be a game grading enclosure.
I have both and I prefer the WATA cases. I prefer WATA in all categories so no argument there. I just don't think we need to be scared about buying VGA games. With all certified collectibles, buy the collectible not the label/grade.
Also, considering how many games have already been certified by VGA, I think a big part of WATA grading is going to be crossover grading from VGA to WATA. So hopefully collectors aren't too scared about VGA because all that will do is cause them to keep their games in VGA holders and not cross them over with WATA.
I dont think people should be worried. A convincing fake takes effort and to replace a high dollar game, you would already need to own a graded version.
I just wanted to see if it was possible, because I was opening them to send to wata either way.
That being said, im going with the one that is far more difficult to fake.
With Wata being the emerging company to grade and certify video games they had a lot of data to drive a superior case. I would have been pretty disappointed in any company that did not greatly improve upon what existed on the current market.
Comments
I am considering on getting my CIB NES and my newly acquired Grey NWC graded ,which service should I use ?Wata or VGA ?
Wata. Without a doubt (in my mind) for games.
I am considering on getting my CIB NES and my newly acquired Grey NWC graded ,which service should I use ?Wata or VGA ?
Wata. Without a doubt (in my mind) for games.
Ok thanks ..
If it is a console, WATA dooes't grade them because they don't have the appropriate cases yet, and VGA will only grade if it is supposedly new.
If you mean a CIB game, again VGA will only grade it as qualified if it is new. If not new, then WATA is your only choice.
So regardless if which company is better, your options are limited based on what you have.
CIB NES, do you mean console or games?
If it is a console, WATA dooes't grade them because they don't have the appropriate cases yet, and VGA will only grade if it is supposedly new.
If you mean a CIB game, again VGA will only grade it as qualified if it is new. If not new, then WATA is your only choice.
So regardless if which company is better, your options are limited based on what you have.
My bad..When I say CIB Nes , I mean the NES console ..My has R.O.B ..
CIB NES, do you mean console or games?
If it is a console, WATA dooes't grade them because they don't have the appropriate cases yet, and VGA will only grade if it is supposedly new.
If you mean a CIB game, again VGA will only grade it as qualified if it is new. If not new, then WATA is your only choice.
So regardless if which company is better, your options are limited based on what you have.
My bad..When I say CIB Nes , I mean the NES console ..My has R.O.B ..
If it is a used console, neither company will currently grade it.
CIB NES, do you mean console or games?
If it is a console, WATA dooes't grade them because they don't have the appropriate cases yet, and VGA will only grade if it is supposedly new.
If you mean a CIB game, again VGA will only grade it as qualified if it is new. If not new, then WATA is your only choice.
So regardless if which company is better, your options are limited based on what you have.
My bad..When I say CIB Nes , I mean the NES console ..My has R.O.B ..
If it is a used console, neither company will currently grade it.
Ok thanks for the info.
Since I'm not a sealed guy and this isn't my scene, my impartial question I'm curious about is this: Has VGA ever attended an event and interacted with it's customer base?
Well, I have now met the guys in person behind WATA and they're all super cool. The WATA display at MGC was nuts, the booth was equally amazing, and it was nice to be able to ask questions in person.
Since I'm not a sealed guy and this isn't my scene, my impartial question I'm curious about is this: Has VGA ever attended an event and interacted with it's customer base?
I believe they attended Too Many Games last year as a direct response to Wata attending the show. Prior to that I believe they had only ever attended the Age expo when they first launched. I could be mistaken. I am also unsure if they attend toy cons or doll cons - the other items they put in cases.
It probably didn’t make sense for them to attend shows between their launch and last year since they were the only company in the US that did this sort of thing. Not all company’s that slab items attend shows. I’m fairly confident PGX doesn’t attend shows.
my impartial question I'm curious about is this: Has VGA ever attended an event and interacted with it's customer base?
When they were first launching they were at the NAgeExpo in Knoxville Tn back in 2008.
Competition is good. I like the WATA logo and stickers.
Well, I have now met the guys in person behind WATA and they're all super cool. The WATA display at MGC was nuts, the booth was equally amazing, and it was nice to be able to ask questions in person.
Since I'm not a sealed guy and this isn't my scene, my impartial question I'm curious about is this: Has VGA ever attended an event and interacted with it's customer base?
I know that they do the big Star Wars convention because I emailed for population data the other day and they said they weren't taking those requests until they get back from the show. My guess is that their show schedule is more weighted towards AFA and toys.
https://www.watagames.com/who-we-are
(though it does look like the advisory board has seen some changes)
That being said, WATA was pretty much created in response to VGA's shortcomings.
VGA cases can be opened and closed if you know what you are doing so it still looks sealed, and the contents can be messed with. I wouldnt send anything to them.
Had no idea. That's rough.
VGA cases can be opened and closed if you know what you are doing so it still looks sealed, and the contents can be messed with. I wouldnt send anything to them.
Had no idea. That's rough.
Here's the thread:
http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=5&threadid=182868
I'd love to see someone try tampering with a Wata case though. The top has those clips and looks solid, the paper has that hologram and NASA thing, but the bottom looks just glued on (unless it's all one piece and I'm misremembering?). I think Wata cases certainly look more secure, but I'd love to see someone put it through its paces.
VGA cases can be opened and closed if you know what you are doing so it still looks sealed, and the contents can be messed with. I wouldnt send anything to them.
Had no idea. That's rough.
Here's the thread:
http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=5&thr...
I'd love to see someone try tampering with a Wata case though. The top has those clips and looks solid, the paper has that hologram and NASA thing, but the bottom looks just glued on (unless it's all one piece and I'm misremembering?). I think Wata cases certainly look more secure, but I'd love to see someone put it through its paces.
Bottom slab took some noticeable damage though and I feel like it would be obvious that there was something off with the case. Any case can be opened and glued back together with another game/comic/coin/card inside. You just have to know what to look for when buying. You can crack open a CGC case and glue it back together too but most comic collectors would notice something off about the case within seconds of viewing the slab. I think that would be the same here, the majority of sealed game collectors that have handled VGA games would notice the chipping/cracking in the acrylic and also the glue applied to re-attach it (assuming they aren't spot melting the acrylic). I assume you could crack open a WATA case and glue it back together too, but there would be tells that are obvious that shows the case has been tampered with.
VGA cases can be opened and closed if you know what you are doing so it still looks sealed, and the contents can be messed with. I wouldnt send anything to them.
Had no idea. That's rough.
Here's the thread:
http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=5&thr...
I'd love to see someone try tampering with a Wata case though. The top has those clips and looks solid, the paper has that hologram and NASA thing, but the bottom looks just glued on (unless it's all one piece and I'm misremembering?). I think Wata cases certainly look more secure, but I'd love to see someone put it through its paces.
I experimented with a few other VGA games and was able to do it so you could barely tell it was resealed under close scrutiny. No actualy knowledge about plastics, just With some minor google fu on acrylic glues.
I never posted about it because I knew I would be crucified.
Anyways, I have wata subs and they are designed to be “easier” to open, but with guarenteed damage so it would be very easy to tell it was repaired. (I believe that was by design).
Wata has legitimate engineering in their cases You can easily tell once you get one in hand.
Vga cases always felt to me like an acrylic display case adapted for grading, wata is a case designed 100% to be a game grading enclosure.
VGA cases can be opened and closed if you know what you are doing so it still looks sealed, and the contents can be messed with. I wouldnt send anything to them.
Had no idea. That's rough.
Here's the thread:
http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=5&thr...
I'd love to see someone try tampering with a Wata case though. The top has those clips and looks solid, the paper has that hologram and NASA thing, but the bottom looks just glued on (unless it's all one piece and I'm misremembering?). I think Wata cases certainly look more secure, but I'd love to see someone put it through its paces.
I experimented with a few other VGA games and was able to do it so you could barely tell it was resealed under close scrutiny. No actualy knowledge about plastics, just With some minor google fu on acrylic glues.
I never posted about it because I knew I would be crucified.
Anyways, I have wata subs and they are designed to be “easier” to open, but with guarenteed damage so it would be very easy to tell it was repaired. (I believe that was by design).
Wata has legitimate engineering in their cases You can easily tell once you get one in hand.
Vga cases always felt to me like an acrylic display case adapted for grading, wata is a case designed 100% to be a game grading enclosure.
I have both and I prefer the WATA cases. I prefer WATA in all categories so no argument there. I just don't think we need to be scared about buying VGA games. With all certified collectibles, buy the collectible not the label/grade.
Also, considering how many games have already been certified by VGA, I think a big part of WATA grading is going to be crossover grading from VGA to WATA. So hopefully collectors aren't too scared about VGA because all that will do is cause them to keep their games in VGA holders and not cross them over with WATA.
I just wanted to see if it was possible, because I was opening them to send to wata either way.
That being said, im going with the one that is far more difficult to fake.