I need help from a fellow Gundam Wing fan

[Godly Paladin]

I'm wanting to buy the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing series on DVD. Here's my dilemma.

On ebay there are dozens of listings like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=617&item=6339752580&rd=1

What's odd is that this is different from the DVD set that Amazon carries:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001BMMG8/qid=1100807802/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-4481262-8149718?v=glance&s=dvd

I've heard that "region 0" means a pirated product, and some of the ones on Ebay have that. Others, like the one I put the link for, don't.

My question is this: does anyone know, once and for all, if the first URL I put up is pirate? Does anyone own this copy? I'd really like to get the Gundam Wing series, but I don't know if it's pirate or not. Thanks in advance.

[Mangafanatic]

Okay, the first one looks pirate. That set's all over ebay, and I'm pretty sure it's not a licensed box set. The one of Amazon is the real merchandise. More expensive, I know, but that's just the way the anime cookie crumbles.

[Roy Mustang]

The one on ebay is a bootleg. Region 0 give that away, because there are only four regions for DVD's Region 1, Region 2, Region 3 and Region 4.

Region 1 is what US and Candan use and Japan uses Region 2 and well as Europe.

The link that you have of the Gundam Wing box set from Amazon is the real licensed box set.


Wingzero22

[ShiroiHikari]

also, when you find a box set that has, say, three discs instead of ten, that's a bootleg.

[Godly Paladin]

So what about the ones being sold Used at Amazon for around $50? Pirated as well?

And what are the problems with pirates? Bad video quality and sound?

[Roy Mustang]

also, when you find a box set that has, say, three discs instead of ten, that's a bootleg.

Right, since Gundam Wing was a nine disk set and if you count the Endless Waltz disk, that is ten.

Funny thing is about the ebay link. It says 7-DVD set and I only see four disk there?


Wingzero22

[Godly Paladin]

On other listings if you scroll down enough it shows the other slipcase.

Would you guys suggest that I not buy used from Amazon either?

[Roy Mustang]

So what about the ones being sold Used at Amazon for around $50? Pirated as well?

Well, since they say they are IMPORT-New/sealed 6 DVD box set in English/Japanese that tells me that they are pirated as well.

Why would inport disk have it in english anyway.


Wingzero22

[agasfas]

One the first link is region 0 and the price is $40. Bootleg
The second is Region 1 and is about $150. See the difference?

There the deal. Most region 0 dvd's are bootleg, but not all. There are some companies who indeed do use region 0, but these are few and small. Here's the deal, goto
http://www.import-anime.com. WHen you are there click on DVD reviews on the left hand side. They review "bootleg/import" anime dvds. People post thier reviews based on story, video rip quality, sound quality, subtitles etc. People even post screen captures. I'm not going to say I condone it or not, just make your own decision. THe fact is you get what you pay for. Though it's always nice to support the US companies so they can continue to but out more anime. Hope this helps.

Edit:
To go directly to Gundam wing:
http://import-anime.com/index.php?page=view&item_id=2615 FX version
http://import-anime.com/index.php?page=view&item_id=2334 MAC version

http://import-anime.com/index.php?page=view&item_id=2210 Manga internation version

*all have eng/jap dub and subs including screen caps.

[Godly Paladin]

Thanks guys.

[Retten]

The simple answer is- the ebay one is a bootleg and the amazon one is for reall.