I used to not care about the condition of the label...

For a long time I prided myself for being above mere cosmetic concerns such as damaged labels, only loving games for the content, not the container.

But recently... something has happened to me. I think it started from getting to know a few local dudes into collecting and being jelly of their pristine games. Now I look at my ravaged carts and they are starting to annoy me... I am.. concerned about that.. That is not a natural thing for me.

Now when will this stop? Next thing will I want CIB games and boxed consoles???
That is just silly!!
OMG what have I gotten myself into... :(

That's the natural progression I think. I really love the art on the boxes so I try to limit myself from buying loose carts. I really like looking at my shelf as well as playing the games.

Are there good scans of the original labels? You might be able to remove the labels with Goo Gone and a scraping device, print up a new label on a good quality vinyl decal, and apply it to the cartridge. I imagine some systems would be easier than others, like the simple Master System game labels for example.

To each their own - but I for one am definitely of the cart case/label/manual/hang-tabs! condition crazy camp myself. It's nice that a lesser cosmetic condition doesn't bother some people, in fact it adds character in their mind, unfortunately I can't look past a deep scratch, pen or pencil markings, torn or missing pages, etc.

I could think of a few good examples that would probably make some scratch their heads; So you're not alone if you're beginning to feel that way, I'm just very particular about what I buy because if I'm going to spend money on a game I'm not going to settle for something I won't be satisfied with later.





...if only you people knew what I've done to a copy of Phantasy Star IV, or that manual of Crusader of Centy, haha, I'd be banned from here... :lawl:

I've been CIB in excellent condition from day one. It's pricier, but worth it to me.

For me it depends on the game. If it's a classic then it has to be CIB. Unless it's really really expensive. Controllers are my big thing, I'll pay a fortune for a good one, I have this awful feeling that one day they'll all be gone and I CAN ONLY WATCH.

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Originally Posted by Lync

...if only you people knew what I've done to a copy of Phantasy Star IV, or that manual of Crusader of Centy, haha, I'd be banned from here... :lawl:

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Let me guess, you hammer smashed Phantasy Star IV and put the remains in the CD shredder after rage quitting the game, then you burned the Crusader of Centy manual as a sacrificial offering to Shigeru Miyamoto?

CIB for me. Not into hang tabs though. I have my original Phantasy Star 4 with the box still in the original shrink wrap. I sliced the bottom of the shrink wrap off and put tape around it so the plastic would not come apart. I then removed the game and put it in an empty case with the manual and all the paper work. Box is in really good shape.

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Originally Posted by MaxWar

Now when will this stop? Next thing will I want CIB games and boxed consoles???

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There's only one thing you can do now..

get rid of all your games and consoles.

I try to get boxed games when possible but I'm alright with loose carts. If I come across a game that's more complete or in better condition than one I have I'll replace it and sell the old one. Sometimes this actually works out where I make more money than I lose if I pick up a game cheap at a flea market and can sell the old one for more online.

I don't really go out of my way to replace worse-condition games but when the opportunity arises I'll take it.

If a game is really ridiculously expensive and I find a super cheap copy with some label damage I tend not to stress over it.

I also have this weird quirk where I care less about the cartridge if the box is in good condition since the box is what will be on display anyway. If I have a banged up cartridge and I can pick up its box for next to nothing I'll do that sometimes.

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Originally Posted by segafan1989

I've been CIB in excellent condition from day one. It's pricier, but worth it to me.

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-_-

I thought you regularly reprinted inserts and labels for your loose games? I remember that awesome work you did on the MUSHA manual specifically.

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Originally Posted by Obviously

I try to get boxed games when possible but I'm alright with loose carts. If I come across a game that's more complete or in better condition than one I have I'll replace it and sell the old one. Sometimes this actually works out where I make more money than I lose if I pick up a game cheap at a flea market and can sell the old one for more online.

I don't really go out of my way to replace worse-condition games but when the opportunity arises I'll take it.

If a game is really ridiculously expensive and I find a super cheap copy with some label damage I tend not to stress over it.

I also have this weird quirk where I care less about the cartridge if the box is in good condition since the box is what will be on display anyway. If I have a banged up cartridge and I can pick up its box for next to nothing I'll do that sometimes.

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I'm kind of the same way. I'll take a trashed cart if the box and manual are in nice shape. Part of that is like you said the box is normally on display and I could care less about the cart's condition as long as it works in my system. Another thing is you can always pick up another copy of the cart in nice shape if you really want.

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Originally Posted by NeoVamp

There's only one thing you can do now..

get rid of all your games and consoles.

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http://m.memegen.com/t1d1vv.jpg

I used to care about condition, then it became more about the games. I still own individual cartridges because they're normally cheaper. Except for SNES, where a $50 Super UFO Pro 8 is significantly cheaper than even a few high profile games.

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Originally Posted by sandplasma

That's the natural progression I think. I really love the art on the boxes so I try to limit myself from buying loose carts. I really like looking at my shelf as well as playing the games.

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Agreed that the shelf ornament factor is huge with MD/Genesis games, especially considering the Japanese ones. I like my boxes in nice shape, with manual and hangtab intact.

I play everything I have, and taking the cart out and admiring the full colour manuals of the NTSCJ software is an integral part of the experience for me.

A small nick on the cart label (or peeling NTSCJ labels) don't worry me, but I can't abide texta or massive rips at all.

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Originally Posted by Guntz

I used to care about condition, then it became more about the games.

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Ahh! Nice, it means there is still some hope I revert back.

To put things into perspective, I do not mind a little nick or what not, but some of my carts are complete disasters. I used to shrug it off but I frown on them now. Also, what's up with those genesis carts where the glue seemingly permeates through the label and it becomes all blotched? Im sure you know what I mean, does not seem to happen with nintendo carts.

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Originally Posted by MaxWar

Ahh! Nice, it means there is still some hope I revert back.

To put things into perspective, I do not mind a little nick or what not, but some of my carts are complete disasters. I used to shrug it off but I frown on them now. Also, what's up with those genesis carts where the glue seemingly permeates through the label and it becomes all blotched? Im sure you know what I mean, does not seem to happen with nintendo carts.

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I know what you're talking about. My Sonic 3 from childhood looks like that. I can only guess it's because I handled it all the time and maybe the oils on my hands effected the cart label?

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Originally Posted by xelement5x

I know what you're talking about. My Sonic 3 from childhood looks like that. I can only guess it's because I handled it all the time and maybe the oils on my hands effected the cart label?

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I've gotten a little less uptight about the condition of my disc games, as long as the scratches are not too deep, I can tolerate a few here and there. With cartridges, I usually went by the rule that the label had to be intact but if it's really cheap then I wouldn't mind one with a little wear and tear to the label either.