Rare Games Collection Stolen

Date: 2006 August 20 15:36

Posted by Joe

We've been passed a press release from DDR:uk, a group of hardcore Dance Dance Revolution fanatics, on the 18th of August their equipment was stolen (with the exception of their custom build DDR machine, as it too big to easily move), their £25,000 collection includes a wide variety of rare and sought after games, most of which are no longer in production, along with specialist hardware and games controllers.

Since the items in question are rather unique, we would like to ask community minded otaku to be aware of the items stolen and keep a look out for them on places like popular auction sites, specialist games dealers and other places second hand goods are traded. The DDR:uk crew are offering a reward for any information.

The DDR:uk crew also help run events at anime conventions such as the games room, which was a huge success at AmeCon 2006, with the DDR machine being a huge attraction, along with the more unusual classic games. DDR:uk also put a plea out for hardware and games donation to help replace what was stolen.

On a side note the AmeCon manga library (which is made up of generous donations from Tokyopop and Tanoshimi and is stored with the DDR:uk hardware), was also vanadilised by the same criminals, with boxes of manga thrown out onto the street into the rain, and is now spoiled as a result.

We've deliberatly posted this to all editions of Otaku News, as although the items in question were stolen in the UK, many of the items stolen are rare they're desirable internationally, so all our readers should be made aware.

Full Story

Press release as follows:

To the Community

It is our unfortunate duty to announce that, on the night of the 18th of August, DDR UK's equipment store was broken into and burglarised.

All the boxes of consoles and games, including bags of electrical equipment were stolen - effectively the entire gaming arsenal of DDR:uk, short of the DDR machine itself.

Below, we include an approximate list of what was taken, but before we get onto that we would like to make a plea for information to aid us in tracking down the equipment. We know this is a shot in the dark, but if anyone knows anything we ask that you please come forward. We are willing to put up a reward for anyone who can provide information leading to the reclamation of the gear. If you do know anything, please contact us or Kingston upon Thames Police Station.

The amount of games, consoles and other equipment that was stolen is too vast to list in its entirety, but this summary should give you an idea how badly we have been affected:

Over 100 console games for a variety of consoles – many of them classics for consoles that have long been out of production. They include, but obviously are not limited to, the Dancing Stage games, a near complete collection of Beatmania for Japanese PS1, Pop’n’Music 9 through 12 for Japanese PS2, and naturally all of our DDR games across the gamut of gaming platforms.

The stolen consoles included: three Sega Mega Drives, a Mega CD, a 32x add on for the Mega Drive, a Sega Saturn, a Dreamcast, a Playstation, two English PS2s, a Japanese PS2, an Xbox, a Nintendo DS and a PSP – the entire DDR:uk console collection.

They also took the wires, memory cards, save games and controllers including the specialist controllers for games like Guitar Hero. Also stolen were the 24" LCD monitor, the colour laser printer, all of DDR:uk’s Hi-Fi and sound equipment, one of the dance mats and several boxes of computer parts.

Ultimately, the value of the stolen goods comes to some £25,000 – this has severely crippled us, both in terms of equipment and finance. DDR:uk has been left unable to do any events in the future. We do not know whether the culprits will be caught, and even if they are it is uncertain whether or not we will retrieve our stolen equipment. So here comes our second request.

If you have anything you can spare - unwanted games, unused consoles, old controllers, spare wires – anything whatsoever, we humbly ask that you consider donating it to our cause. DDR:uk has spent several years bringing classic videogames and first-class gaming entertainment to festival, convention and Expo attendees across the country, and we do not want this crime to stop us providing that service!

We would so incredibly grateful for anything you could donate!

For more information on how to donate. Please go to the DDR:uk website at
http://www.ddruk.com/gamesdrive.php

Thank you all for your help.

The DDR:uk Team