Each grade can also have a modifier associated with it:

• Sealed (S): Sealed with original factory (or store) shrinkwrap or sticker. Not to be confused with a re-wrapped previously-opened box.
• Compressed (C): Package has been crushed or compressed.
• Torn Wrap (T): Sealed package has tears in the shrinkwrap.
• Item Missing (IM): Package is incomplete, missing one or more items from the original distribution. Examples of missing items would include the wishstone from Wishbringer, the cloth map from Ultima II, etc.
• Missing Minor Component (MMC): Package is missing a minor component. Minor components are any included pieces that don't detract from the game playing experience. Examples of minor components would include warranty or registration cards, product catalogs, one of two identical items (like pens), a sheet of graph paper from an otherwise complete pad, etc.
• Bad Media (BM): Media (diskette, CDROM, tape, etc.) is known to be bad or defective.

Modifier examples:

• An unopened copy of a title in Fine condition would be called "Fine, Sealed" or "F (S)".
• A copy of Ultima 6 in Very Good condition but missing the moonstone would be called "Very Good, Item Missing", or "VG (IM)".
• A package that misses Mint Sealed condition because the wrap is torn would be "Near Mint, Torn Wrap" or "NM (T)".
• A heavily-played, slightly beat-up copy of MULE that is missing the registration card and the diskettes have ceased to work would be "Good, Missing Minor Components and Bad Media" or "G (MMC, BM)".

Examples:

Long form: Ultima Underworld, open and used item in good condition:
Title: Ultima Underworld
Year: 1993
Platform: DOS
Box/Packaging: Very Good
Original Media: Fine
Manual: Very Good
Catalog: Near Mint
Reference Sheet: Very Good
Registration Card: Item Missing
Additional Items: Near Mint
Comments: Has "Best RPG of 1993" sticker on front box. Additional items are a cloth bag with metal "runes".

Short form, multiple items:
Tass Times in Tonetown (PC): Box G, Media F, Manual G, Registration Card ED (handwriting), "Newspaper" prop F
X-Car Experimental Racing (PC): Box MS
Ancient Land of Ys (PC): Box G, Media F, Manual G, Registration Card IM
Archon (C64): Box NM, Media NM, Manual VG, Registration Card NM

Abbreviated form, multiple items: (Legend is Box/Inside Materials)
Ancient Land of Ys: G/VG
Under a Killing Moon: VG/F
Pinball Construction Set: VG/G
Music Construction Set: VG/G
Dr. J and Larry Bird go One on One: NM/NM
Daemonsgate: MS

Abbreviated form, multiple items with modifiers:

Ancient Land of Ys: G (C, MMC)
Pinball Construction Set: VG (MMC, BM)
Music Construction Set: F
Dr. J and Larry Bird go One on One: NM (T)

These are just suggested list templates; you are free to use whatever format you choose. The MobyGames Grading Scale is a specification, but you can implement that specification any way you like. Note that, for all forms suggested above, there was only one grade listed for Sealed items. Since the item was never opened, the condition of the contents cannot be determined (although you can make some assumptions from the condition of the box).

Frequently-Asked Questions:

Q: Will the number of grades change?
A: No. Many hours of thought were put into what appreciable differing grades of condition could be (as related to software items). Unless an extremely strong and convincing argument is made, they will never change.

Q: Why only six grades?
A: More (or less) grades wouldn't describe an item's condition any better than the grades provided. We deliberately created granular grades for the best conditions and coarse grades (only two) for poor conditions. This was done to best serve the needs of collectors without overwhelming them. Also, the more grades you have, the more their implementation is subject to debate -- which is precisely what the MobyGames Grading Scale is meant to eliminate.

In the above example, the game package itself is rated "Fine" (F) because of the two slight defects, while the props, being virtually untouched, are given a "Near Mint" (NM) rating.

Seastalker, Apple II. Shelf wear, missing Discovery Squad sticker. [VG/NM(IM)]

In this example, while the existing props are "Near Mint" (NM), the "Item Missing" (IM) notation is added to indicate that the package is not 100% complete. Also note that the "Very Good" (VG) grade for the package can be used to differentiate the amount of wear between this package and the Enchanter package above. "VG" is lower on the scale than "F", so the wear on the Seastalker package is more pronounced than on the Enchanter.

Shogun, IBM PC. Missing one of the 3.5" disks. Box is somewhat crushed. [G/F(C,IM)]

Here's a package that uses two modifiers: The first to indicate that the box is a bit crushed (C), the second to let you know about an important item that is missing (IM).

Starcross, Commodore 64. Missing ads, otherwise complete. [VG/VG(MMC)]

This package is complete as far as props are concerned, but doesn't have the ads / flyers / catalogs Infocom included in their packages. Since this is minor and doesn't detract anything from playing the game, the "Missing Minor Component" (MMC) modifier is used rather than "IM". Notice also that both the package and the props have some minor imperfections (both are rated "VG"). Since no specifics are given, assume normal wear from previous use.

Suspended, IBM PC. Props in plastic tray still wrapped. [F/MS]

Here's a Suspended package that has the box opened with just a bit of box wear ("F") and the props still untouched ("MS", Mint Sealed).

Trinity, Commodore. Package in great shape, but Trinity site map has large coffee stain. Sundial pieces have been punched out, but the border piece is still included. [NM/ED]

Here the package itself is unblemished, but the props inside aren't perfect. Since YOIS grades props as a single group, the final score is based on their cumulative defects. In this case, the punched-out sundial isn't all that bad, it just indicates this prop was used by the previous owner, so by itself it'd probably bring the score down from "NM" to "F" or "VG". However, that coffee stain on the map is pretty serious, dropping the whole score down to "ED".

Wishbringer, Apple, shrinkwrapped but box is dented in one corner. [VG(S)]

Here's what you'd call a "Very Good Sealed" package: It's shrinkwrapped, but we can't rate it "Mint Sealed" since it's not perfect. The "Sealed" (S) qualifier is used to indicate the presence of shrinkwrap, to set this package apart from a VG package that's opened. Note that, since the item has never been opened, no rating exists for the props. They can be assumed to be "MS" (Mint Sealed).

Witness, Amiga, shrinkwrapped. Wrap is torn in one corner, with slight wear. [F(T)]

Like the previous example, this game is also sealed, but here the wrap isn't perfect. In this case YOIS uses the "Torn Wrap" (T) modifier, instead of "S". Note that, while the wrap is torn a little, it's not enough for the package to have actually been opened. If that were the case, the materials inside would have a rating as well.

Zork I, Commodore. Set of loose props and disk. No box. [IM/VG]

Here's a game that's got all of the original props, but no outer box. The box can't be graded if it isn't even present. In cases like this, YOIS uses the "IM" notation as a place-holder for the box, while still grading the props. In a listing for a completely empty box, with no disk, manual, or props at all, the item would be filed under "loose props" where it would have a single rating based on the condition of the box.

Zork II, Atari 400/800, shrinkwrapped. [MS]

This last example shows a shrinkwrapped, mint package. Remember, "MS" is the best possible rating, meaning both shrinkwrapped and mint (and no defects in the wrap). A shrinkwrapped but dented or crushed package would be rated lower.

Because the MobyScale is intended to give brief, standardized overviews of an item's condition, the longer Shoppe descriptions will still be used to detail any specific flaws. If a grade less than "NM" is given, but no package damage is described, you can safely assume there is simple wear on the corners and/or edges of the box. Anything beyond this (cracks, bare patches, etc) will be noted in the description. Always feel welcome to ask for further clarification or scans of the item in question.

Similarly, most "MMC" notations will be explained in the full description, but if no details are given, you can assume that a catalog or reference card is the only thing absent. Again, please feel free to ask. In special cases where a trinket was included in only a limited number of game packages (for instance, the lapel pin in the first 5000 copies of BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception), an "IM" notation will not be included if that is the only item not present. Since such an item was not normally included in all packages, a package can still be considered complete without it (though of course packages that do include such items are much more desirable).

Single, loose game props and disks will have a single MobyScale rating, rather than any "IM" notations for the missing box / other props. In the case of disks, YOIS will use an "IM" notation to indicate a missing diskette sleeve, or one that's different than the one the disk originally came in. Unless the diskette itself is damaged, disks are graded primarily by the amount of wear or discoloration on the label.

For InvisiClues, the MobyScale rating applies to the condition of the booklet itself. YOIS will still be using the "% developed" notation to give a more approximate description of how many of the hints have been exposed. Wear on the cover, warped pages, etc., will bring the grade down, but the number of hints developed will not. The reason for this is that it's impossible to define distinct boundaries between "Fine", "Very Good", and "Good" when each hint book has its own different number of hints that may or may not be developed (and the percentages are approximate; I'm not about to sit down and calculate them with any precision). As a general rule, though, the more hints developed, the lower the overall condition of the book will tend to be. A rating of "NM" for InvisiClues will appear only if the booklet has no wear or damage and no hints at all developed.

YOIS follows the MobyScale quite literally: As a general rule, you won't see "Near Mint" or "Mint Sealed" packages very often. Anything more than a slight tear or crushed portion of a box will drop the grade down to an "ED". This doesn't necessarily mean you should avoid all items with such a grade. Read the descriptive text and decide for yourself if it's still something you'd want in your collection. Never hesitate to ask for scans illustrating the defects. As useful as the MobyScale may be, it's not intended as a substitute for looking at the package yourself.