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A collector says a rare 1999 Tsukihime Trial Edition floppy arrived cut into pieces after a customs delay lasting more than 40 days. Contemporary reports describe the Windows 95/98 demo as one of only 50 known copies, but the public account does not establish whether customs, DHL, or someone else caused the damage.
What happened to the Tsukihime demo?
In an account reposted on Reddit in 2026, the recipient said the parcel had been held in U.S. Customs for over 40 days. When it arrived, the 3.5-inch floppy was in multiple pieces, while its paper flyer survived. The recipient wrote, “Today was supposed to be a very happy day,” and said the disk was “cutting it up into multiple pieces.” They said they planned to file a claim. These details are the recipient’s account, not an official finding about the shipment or the damage. Reddit post reproducing the collector’s account
What made this floppy significant?
The damaged item was not a standard retail game disc. It was a Windows 95/98 demo floppy for Tsukihime, developed by Type-Moon and distributed in 1999 at Comiket 57. Time Extension reported that the trial version was reportedly sold there for 100 yen. Time Extension, February 27, 2026
Tom’s Hardware described the demo as one of only 50 known copies. That figure is contemporary reporting, not an independently verified census of surviving copies. Its report said the disk shell had been twisted and torn before the disk was sliced. Tom’s Hardware, February 28, 2026
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Who was responsible for the damage?
That remains unknown. The recipient initially blamed U.S. Customs, linking the damage to the reported customs hold. Later reporting noted a DHL security-checked sticker on the package. Neither the sticker nor the hold proves who handled or damaged the disk; the available accounts do not identify where in the shipping chain the damage occurred. Time Extension on the DHL sticker Tom’s Hardware on the unknown point of damage
Tom’s Hardware quoted the recipient, Keripo: “Would never have expected US Customs to both remove all that AND intentionally damage the floppy directly,” says Keripo forlornly. That is the recipient’s reaction, not evidence establishing who caused the damage or whether it was intentional. The sources do not establish a motive, the outcome of any claim, or compensation.
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What do the package details show?
Tom’s Hardware described pre-shipment images showing the floppy sandwiched in cardboard and wrapped in bubble wrap inside an outer box. Its report also said the cover art appeared undamaged and identified the Mr. Data 2HD disk as generic blank media. Those details describe the reported packaging and condition; they do not establish how or when the floppy was damaged. Tom’s Hardware on the packaging
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the incident matters to game preservation
Physical game artifacts can be vulnerable even when the surviving paper material and packaging appear intact. An archival sleeve can keep an ordinary 3.5-inch disk free of dust and make it easier to handle; a rigid case can add support against bending. Both are routine storage measures, not protection against deliberate interference, and neither can restore a disk already cut into pieces. No particular product or brand is established as suitable by the reports on this incident.
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