A rare 1999 demo of Tsukihime for Windows 95/98, with only 50 copies, was cut and damaged in a customs inspection. Learn about this gaming artifact loss.
© X / Keripo
A video game collector encountered an unfortunate situation while receiving an extremely rare artifact of gaming history—the 1999 demo version of Tsukihime Trial Edition. According to the owner, only about 50 copies existed for Windows 95/98. Upon opening the package, however, it turned out that the floppy disk had been literally cut into pieces, with its plastic casing twisted and damaged.
An unpacking video revealed that the storage medium had been subjected to intentional physical impact. Based on the nature of the damage, the disk was opened and sliced with a sharp tool during an inspection of the shipment's contents. It's unclear exactly when this happened—whether during a check by U.S. customs services or by a logistics company. Nevertheless, the packaging from the sender's side was done carefully, with the disk and cover protected by cardboard and bubble wrap.
What makes this destroyed copy particularly valuable is its rarity. The Tsukihime Trial Edition is considered part of the early history of Type-Moon studio and the visual novel genre. For collectors, such editions hold not just material but also cultural significance. Even potential compensation cannot bring back a unique specimen that existed in such limited numbers.
The reasons for such a harsh inspection remain unknown. One theory suggests that inspectors might have been drawn to the "adults only" age rating on the packaging. However, no official comments have been provided by the inspection services yet. Meanwhile, preliminary reports indicate that the cover and printed materials were not damaged, and the storage medium itself was a standard 2HD floppy disk without external branding.