22 replies to this topic

[LinkoVitch]

I have just obtained a mint copy of Atari Karts. It's so mint that it is still in it's factory shink wrap complete with the hook that the boxes were hung from still folded down and unused. Even though it came through the post there is no damage to the box, not even slight crushing.

My dilema.. do I open this great find and get some play time on the game, or leave it as the treasure it is? So far I think I may just keep it and buy an already opened copy, but it's finding another copy that will be the problem :/

ARGH! what do I do!

Oh and on another note. In the rare rating section of Atari Age, how about another rarity rating, that of finding the game unopened?

anyway I'm off to build an intricate alarm system and booby traps to protect my latest aquisition.. lets see Indian Jones steal this from me HA!

[oesii]

Well are you a collector or more of a gamer? I don't really collect things I'm not going to play now or into the future, so I would carefully open the shrinkwrap at the top and then keep everything in good condition. If ever have to sell or trade it, then it will keep a lot of its resell value.

If you paid around US$50 for a new Atari Karts, hopefully you can be patient and wait for some auction, sale, or trade to come up because I've seen some loose carts go from $15-30 so that would be a way to have the best of both worlds.

[Gunstar]

What i do in these situations is like oesii said, just slit the top of the swrinkwrap an access the cart for play. download the instructions from here at AtariAge so you don't have to even remove the manual and get fingerprints or any other damage to it. Leave the shrwinkwapping on the box and put it away safely. As long as you keep the cart in primo condition(never touch the label-that's where the handle domes in handy), it can be considered a mint condition game which will be worth just as much as an unopened one, especially since the shrinkwrap is still on the box. Also, now that you own the game, if you have or can get a flashrom cart and find the image, you can legally use that image and play the game that way. Although I've no idea of any site with rom images...Atari-jaguar.de used to have them, but i don't think you can download them anymore...I had downloade Attack of the mutant penguins from their site years ago to see if I'd like the game, i did, and then I bought the original. I'm both a gamer and collector, so I have to have my cake and eat it too!

[LinkoVitch]

Well I am planning to develop some games for the Jag, so if I can get hold of the ROM image I can always burn it off to play I guess. Good thinking.

Be nice to see whats in the box though

maybee secret tresure

[Chris++]

Open it!! These things are for playing! You KNOW you want to...


CF

[t.skid]

Chris Federico said:

Open it!! These things are for playing! You KNOW you want to...


CF

I Agree... open it carefully, take care of box, manual and cart, and enjoy Karts!!!!!

[JagMX]

[b]open open OPEN, and PLAY PLAY PLAY its a great game for the Jag, and deserves to be played Im sure one day youll come across another sealed/mint condition Atari Karts youll get your hands on for a good price
enjoy life (or the Jag) while you can

[bluevoodu]

Open it and play it. You know you want to.

Dude, whats the point of leaving on your shelf and not playing it. I am a collector too..... but I am starting to turn around on this issue..... There is no point to collecting if you do not get to play, and enjoy the games.

Open it , and you will reap more benefits than if you store it

†B†V†

[LinkoVitch]

I'm just thinking of 50yrs-60 yrs down the line when I get to pass on my collection to my Grandkids. Be nice to have things in it like that.. wonder what that would be worth???

I think I'll leave it sealed for now.. and keep my eyes open for another copy on ebay.. buy that one and play that one.



But.. then again.. AARRRGGGHHHHH anyone got transporter technology yet? I coul djust beam the cart out the box

[bluevoodu]

The price is bound to fall on that no matter what. Its basically in supply/demand.

Trend shows that gaming systems (no matter how popular at one time) tends to decrease in value. The SNES is only one error to that example. ITs still one of the most sought after systems

†B†V†

[JagMX]

LinkoVitch said:

I'm just thinking of 50yrs-60 yrs down the line when I get to pass on my collection to my Grandkids.

[b]
no tellin what they'll do to it then :wink:

[The Helper]

There was just an eBay auction of about 100 sealed Atari Karts cartridges but I do not think it sold. The sealed ones are probably going to be showing up on eBay more often now. I do not know how much a difference that makes as far as rarity is concerned but seeing that amount on eBay leads me to believe that there will be more available in the future.

[Punisher5.0]

bluevoodu said:

The price is bound to fall on that no matter what.  Its basically in supply/demand.

Trend shows that gaming systems (no matter how popular at one time) tends to decrease in value.  The SNES is only one error to that example.  ITs still one of the most sought after systems

†B†V†

Thats not true. Look at the Neo Geo. There are games on the system that easily go above $1000.00. Another system is the Top Loader NES, those usually go for about $100.00 on ebay. And with Jaguar- most items are going up in price. The JagCD price just recently skyrocketed. Catboxes and BattleSphere still go for over $200.00 easily.

[Gunstar]

The Helper said:

There was just an eBay auction of about 100 sealed Atari Karts cartridges but I do not think it sold.  The sealed ones are probably going to be showing up on eBay more often now.  I do not know how much a difference that makes as far as rarity is concerned but seeing that amount on eBay leads me to believe that there will be more available in the future.

Was that a LOT auction of 100 carts? Or was it 100 seperate auctions for Atari kart games?

[JagMX]

[b]it was one whole lot, i think the starting bid was like 2000.00, of course no one would go for that

[MacGurl]

LinkoVitch said:

I'm just thinking of 50yrs-60 yrs down the line when I get to pass on my collection to my Grandkids.  Be nice to have things in it like that.. wonder what that would be worth???

I think I'll leave it sealed for now.. and keep my eyes open for another copy on ebay.. buy that one and play that one.



But.. then again.. AARRRGGGHHHHH  anyone got transporter technology yet? I coul djust beam the cart out the box

Umm...if you leave it to your grandkids, they'll just rip it open and play it anyway. So you might as well get to do it first

[bluevoodu]

Punisher5.0 said:

Thats not true. Look at the Neo Geo. There are games on the system that easily go above $1000.00. Another system is the Top Loader NES, those usually go for about $100.00 on ebay. And with Jaguar- most items are going up in price. The JagCD price just recently skyrocketed. Catboxes and BattleSphere still go for over $200.00 easily.

Actually it is true. but, there are always a few exceptions to the rule
Metal Slug is just an awesome game. I am heavily into the neo market.... and I do see a downward trend in gaming prices, as I do the Jaguar. a few months ago, you could buy a new missile command 3D for $43.00 on Ebay..... now, I'd be surprised to see one go past $23.00. The last one went for around $20.00.

but yes, you are right too

[eric_ruck]

I wasn't crazy about the game...I'd wait until either the eBay prices come down or you score an open copy, IF you're into collecting sealed copies.

Eric

[bluevoodu]

OPEN IT!!!! YOU KNOW THE ANTICIPATION IS KILLING YOU

†B†V†

[benjam138]

Keep it sealed. I like to display my games and it looks a lot nicer sealed. I'm sure you'll be able to find a loose one at a reasonable price. Just my $.02

[bluevoodu]

meh..... your probably right.

†B†V†

[LinkoVitch]

The prices of games are likleyto be pretty low now, we are still in the tail end of it all.. But in 50 yrs time (probs less) when no-one has consoles as we call them today and there is something else. THEN the price should go up. Look at original Star Wars figures. They are now worth a fortune in original packaging. Imagine what they will be worth in 20-30 yrs?

RE Grandkids. I wouldn't be giving them to them whilst they were kids, more like when they were in their late 20's and could appreciate them better. Maybee able to warp one into being just like me

[goatdan]

bluevoodu said:

Actually it is true.  but, there are always a few exceptions to the rule
Metal Slug is just an awesome game.   I am heavily into the neo market.... and I do see a downward trend in gaming prices, as I do the Jaguar.   a few months ago, you could buy a new missile command 3D for $43.00 on Ebay..... now, I'd be surprised to see one go past $23.00.  The last one went for around $20.00.

Technically, a trend is something that happens for an extended period of time. A few months do not necessarly reflect the trend.

When I started my Jaguar collection in 1996, I got many of the items in it very cheaply. Here are some examples:

Jaguar system w/ hookups New - $20.00
Jaguar CD system w/ hookups - $40.00
Ultra Vortek New - $10.00
Defender 2000 New - $10.00
Alien Vs. Predator (w/ Japanese instructions) - $20.00

None of these games will probably ever get this cheap again. Video game systems seem to follow a definite trend -- immediately after being discontinued they drop in price regularly to the point where the games are insanely cheap. After reaching the bottom, they start to ever-so-slowly gain value for a while. After that period, their value starts going up much more rapidly.

There are exceptions to this, but often the exceptions are usually due to the re-release of a game (as happened with SNES Chrono Trigger), the realization of the rarity of a game (as happened with NES Stadium Events) or the sudden elevation to 'legendary' status (Saturn's Radiant Silvergun).