Ultra Rare Floppy Disk Game Destroyed by US Customs or DHL Checkers

A devastating blow to video game preservation has struck the collector community, as one of only 50 known copies of the Tsukihime Trial Edition (月姫 体験版) floppy disk was deliberately destroyed during shipping. The incident, shared by collector Keripo on social media, has sparked outrage among gaming historians and preservationists who recognize the irreplaceable nature of such artifacts.

(Image credit: Keripo on X)

The Tsukihime Trial Edition represents a crucial piece of gaming history from 1999, serving as a demo for what would become a landmark visual novel in the Type-Moon series. The game's significance extends beyond mere nostalgia - it represents an important chapter in the evolution of visual novels and eroge games that would influence countless titles in the decades to follow.

According to Keripo's account, the package arrived in a state of utter destruction. The original Windows 95/98 demo floppy disk had been deliberately sliced into pieces after its protective shell was twisted and torn almost beyond recognition. The collector's unboxing video, which contains explicit language due to the shocking discovery, shows the extent of the damage.

"My Tsukihime Trial Edition (月姫 体験版) finally arrived, one of only 50 copies in the world. Only to discover that US Customs had removed all the bubble wrap and physically destroyed the floppy disk," Keripo wrote on social media. "Will file a report but literally crying right now."

What makes this incident particularly galling is the apparent care taken by the original sender. Before shipping, photographs show that the contents were properly packaged between cardboard sheets to prevent bending, with liberal amounts of bubble wrap used inside an outer cardboard shipping box. The sender clearly understood the value and fragility of the item being transported.

"Would never have expected US Customs to both remove all that AND intentionally damage the floppy directly," Keripo noted forlornly in their thread.

The destruction raises serious questions about the handling procedures of both US Customs and DHL, the shipping carrier involved. While the exact point in the transportation chain where the damage occurred remains unclear, the deliberate nature of the destruction - with the disk being sliced rather than simply crushed or bent - suggests intentional action rather than accidental damage.

One theory proposed by observers is that the destruction may have been triggered by the "adults only" notice on the game artwork. The Tsukihime series, known for its mature themes and occasional explicit content, might have caught the attention of a customs official who decided to take matters into their own hands. However, this remains speculation, as the exact motivation behind the vandalism is unknown.

From a technical perspective, the destroyed floppy appears to be a standard Mr. Data 2HD disk - essentially blank media with no special branding or artwork. This suggests that the value of the item lay entirely in its contents and historical significance rather than in any physical rarity of the storage medium itself.

For the collector community, this incident represents more than just the loss of a single item. It highlights the ongoing challenges faced in preserving gaming history, particularly for items from the floppy disk era. Unlike modern digital distribution, where copies can be easily duplicated and preserved, physical media from the 1990s exists in limited quantities, making each surviving example precious.

The Tsukihime Trial Edition's rarity cannot be overstated - with only 50 copies ever produced, each represents approximately 2% of the total known surviving examples of this piece of gaming history. The deliberate destruction of even one copy represents a significant loss to the historical record.

While the game's cover art appears to have survived the ordeal intact, and there's hope that fellow collectors might be able to provide a disk image for digital preservation, the physical artifact itself has been lost forever. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of gaming history and the importance of proper handling and preservation procedures for historical artifacts.

The collector community has rallied around Keripo, with many expressing sympathy and offering assistance in potentially recovering the lost data or finding replacement copies. Some have suggested that the incident might actually increase awareness of the importance of preserving such rare gaming artifacts.

As of now, it's unclear whether Keripo will pursue compensation from either US Customs or DHL for the destruction of this valuable piece of gaming history. The incident has sparked broader discussions about the need for better training and procedures when handling historical artifacts, particularly in an era where digital preservation is becoming increasingly important.

This unfortunate event serves as a cautionary tale for collectors and preservationists alike, highlighting the need for robust digital archiving practices and the importance of treating historical artifacts with the respect and care they deserve. As gaming continues to evolve as an art form and cultural touchstone, incidents like this remind us of the ongoing challenges in preserving our digital heritage for future generations.