Collector unboxing turns into a mini tragedy
A rare piece of videogame history arrived with a surprise: it was basically ruined. A collector known as Keripo filmed themselves opening a package that was supposed to contain one of only 50 copies of the Tsukihime Trial Edition floppy. Instead they found the disk mangled and the box stuck with tape saying it had been “Opened and Resealed by Customs.” The video captures their disbelief and swearing — yep, it’s that kind of mood.
The item had been carefully packed by the sender, reportedly sandwiched between cardboard and bubble wrap. Keripo says the package came from a friend in Portugal (not Japan), and that friend could scan their own copy to confirm this disk was genuine and had some bad sectors — but the collectible value is the physical object itself, which is now damaged beyond repair.
It’s not clear whether the damage happened while in DHL’s hands or was done by U.S. Customs. Keripo plans to file a report, and IGN has reached out to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for a statement.
Why this matters to gamers (and why some people point at the “adult” label)
Tsukihime is a 2000 visual novel from Type-Moon that originally included adult content and later spawned anime and manga adaptations. This Trial Edition floppy is prized by collectors for its rarity and history, not for the demo files on the disk. Listings for similar preview editions have fetched eye-watering sums — one auction in 2021 reportedly closed at about 2.5 million JPY (roughly $16,000 USD) — so the physical item is worth serious money to the community.
Some people are speculating that Customs targeted the package because the demo carried an “Adult Only” label. U.S. import rules can bar obscene material, and whether something is considered obscene is decided case-by-case. That said, this explanation is unconfirmed; we don’t have an official reason for why the floppy was torn up.
For collectors and Type-Moon fans this is more than a headline — it’s a loss of a tiny cultural artifact. Keripo even joked that the ruined copy will become the one-of-a-kind “destroyed by U.S. Customs” exhibit at a planned Type-Moon museum. Fans online have been sympathizing, amused, and furious in equal measure — a cocktail of outrage and dark humor that often follows rare-item mishaps.
What’s next: Keripo says they’ll file a complaint and document everything, and the community is watching for any official comment from Customs. Whether this turns into a bureaucratic explanation, an apology, or a legal headache remains to be seen — either way it’s a reminder that rare physical game media still has both monetary and sentimental value, and that shipping old floppy disks can apparently be hazardous to vintage art.
