I bought a PC game of eBay, however it came with disc only in a slim case, no inserts, etc. I can tell it is new, but I'm wondering if it is a copy? I contacted the seller as they did not say in listing that it was disc only and they said item is new but if you are not happy return for full refund and I will disable the serial number. I've never heard of such a thing.

Was it an indy game?

What game is it? What languages? Can you email me a link to the ebay site? There are too many unanswered questions to be able to tell if it's real or not.

ana

The game shipped from FL they sell quite a few games. It's Nancy Drew #11 "Curse of Blackmoor Manor". I compared it to other Nancy Drew games I have on my shelf and it looks nearly the same.

The sellers name is:
qsoftngames

Very interesting. I had a look at the seller's page and they have a 100% rating and I scrolled through the games they have to offer which brings me to my next comment.

I have seen some games at Best Buy this weekend (the bargain shelf $9.99 each) with a ton of casual games (Diner Dash, Zuma, etc.) and a few adventure games (Journey to the Centre of the Earth was one) packaged with I think just a jewelcase. I doubt there were inserts inside. If I had seen them packaged like that on ebay, I'd think it would look a bit sketchy (packaging looked cheap) but since it was at Best Buy, I'm assuming it was legit.

Is it something like that? I can't remember if I saw any Nancy Drew games there but I think I saw Blackmoor Manor there. Maybe it's legit and just been put out by a discount game publisher?

Don't know what the seller is talking about with the serial number though. Maybe they just said that to dissuade you from burning a copy and then returning?

It's in a clear slim case (not your standard thick jewel case) and it's a purple disc (if anyone has the game can you confirm it's purple). It has all the same logo's etc. as my other ND games. I never had to use a serial number for ND so I'm confused by that also. The only thing I can figure at this point is they buy the cheap games at Wal-Mart/Best Buy etc. in those flimsy carboard boxes, take the game out of the sleeve, and then slip them in a jewel cases to sell and discard the boxes. They usually run $9.99 at those places and I paid less than that, so I'd love to know where they find these games so cheap that they can make a profit!

PM,

I just checked mine, its in a DVD style case and the disc isn't purple.

PMcOuntry, I just check my ND game. What I have is the Double Dare package, it has The Secret of Shadow Ranch and Curse of Blackmoor manor in it. The games come in paper sleeves. And Blackmoor Manor is purple.

Maybe the seller just bought the same double dare package and is selling the discs as single games?

Hello I have recieved the older Nancy Drew games in a jewel case but not the recent ones .They can copy them so good today .I would look at the cd it self the game side .

If your disk is purple, it should look like this. Click on CD1 to see it.

Run your fingers on the disk, especially the edges. Does it feel like the surface is smooth and part of the disk? Or is it a sticker that can be removed? If it's the former, then it's definitely an original.

Very good advice from Alkis. Also if the actual disc, not the cover side but the back side, is purple then in my experience it is highly likely to be a copy. I also noticed many sellers on eBay having 100% good feedback and still selling copies! I stumbled upon one myself. I guess people who are giving the good feedback are aware the seller's selling copies and do not mind.

The legal copies have something written around the inner circle from the back side. If it is a DVD the back side should not be purple in color or any other color. Check also if the cover label is a sticker. I would't concerned about the slim case. Maybe this site sells used games (some of them very used)...

Yeah, that's what I was thinking about them purchasing the discount published ones from Best Buy. Perhaps they are purchasing overstock from whoever publishes them?

Alkis

That is a fantastic site you linked to. Up until now I was getting my art from Moby Games but this one also includes DVD movies.

Many thanks

My cover doesn't look quite like the one you posted but it does have all the copyright info, etc. on it like the other ND games I own, unlike that picture which doesn't include them.

The actual game side is NOT purple, it looks like a normal CD, silver and shiney.

However... here is what I just discovered as I was writing this. If you wet you finger and run it over the label side, it RUBS RIGHT OFF! Now I have seen in catalogs where you can get disc printers that screen print right onto a disc, no labels, etc. I have a feeling that is what is going on here.

I reported the listing to eBay but who knows if anything will be done. It burns me that they are making a ton of money off these games ($8-10) that they are obviously burning and then using a machine to screen print a FAKE label. I have looked up more actual disc label pics (you can see several on eBay) and this one is obviously not legit! It appears that eBay "might" suspend the account... oh gee, they'll just open another one. Is there no way to stop these people. I'm trying to get my money back but I have a feeling it's down the drain...

There are two methods (that I know of) of mass disk production: Offset and Digital.

Offset is often cheaper but takes weeks to produce because it can only be done in a factory. Digital is slightly more expensive but even a local store can have the hardware to do it in 2-3 days, so many companies prefer it. The disadvantage is the one you mention, it rubs off if you wet it. This doesn't indicate a pirate copy.

Just to be safe, don't store your disks inside the goldfish bowl.

How can you tell that this printing method is different from the one it could be done by a house printer which can print on disks? Are there any differences?

Patricia,

if you have paid with Paypal you WILL get your money back. I also bought a cd which turned out to be illegal. I started a case in Paypal against the seller and they have to answer within 14 days I think. If they don't you automatically get your money back and if they do answer, Paypal will obviously rule against them and you will get your money back. So I hope you paid with Paypal so you can definitely get a refund. What you can also do is leave a very negative feedback so other buyers will avoid that seller. When buying used games or media I always buy from private sellers in eBay, then you can almost be sure that it is a used and privately owned game. As for new games you are better off buying them from Amazon if you are in the US or Play.com if you are in Europe: their prices are quite low.

Well I had already left feedback before I realized it might be a fake although you can do a follow up to feedback. It does bother me that it does not match any of the pictures I see of this disc elsewhere and once I compared it to my Maxwell CDR's it looks exaclty the same. Everytime I touch it, the ink comes off, and all my other bought games certainly don't do that, they have a coating. Amazon was having a sale so I re-ordered it from them so hopefully I can get my money back. I'm waiting to hear from the seller but if I don't I will contact PayPal, maybe I'll contact them anyway.

Hi PM,

you can contact Paypal straight away through the resolution center and they will officially contact the seller for you. The sooner you run the case through Paypal, the sooner you will receive a refund. Good luck with your future purchases!

I hope you got a good deal from Amazon. That particular ND is available on BFG.

Yes, I thought about BFG also but then there is no actual disc unless you ask them to send you a backup. This way I can resell it if I so wish. I'm going to contact PayPal now just to get the process started.

PM,

remember to use the resolution center in your paypal account menu. you go through there to start the process and you do not actually need to contact paypal via email or anything like that.

I just did that, I used the resolution center and it says if you don't hear in 3 days you can escalate the dispute.

Did you check the inner ring on the silver side? All of my Nancy Drews have an HER plus a number stamped as well as what looks like a bar code. You won't find that on a CDR.

Edit--I discovered that Blue Moon Canyon does not have HER. It is the only ND that I have in a DVD case. Three others have HER stamped.