20 replies to this topic

[YarsRevengeFan]

I was just wondering,

When you are collecting for a gaming system, does it matter to you whether or not the games are MIB, CIB, or just loose?

Do you buy 2 copies of the same game and use one for show and open the other to play?

If you buy just one copy, how do you store it when you're not playing it, in it's box, or somewhere else.

This question came to my mind while I was looking at pics of everyones collections, which I can say are most impressive.

In my opinon, if its a game I am really interested in, I'll buy it loose and if I come across a good deal on a CIB or MIB, then I'll get it. For games that I buy that have no instructions and are just loose, if I need it, I go to the particular system and search for a scanned copy of the manual.

Thanks for your inputs!

[minorleagueguy]

If I already have the cart, I llok for a boxed copy, If I can't find the boxed copy, then oh well. Of my collection (672 games,12 systems), 80% are boxed, so it's tougher for me...



minorleagueguy

[christianscott27]

i think its important, at least for me, not to get hung up on box collecting. unless the box serves to protect the game from damage (CDs) or from getting lost (tiny handheld carts) i dont keep the cardboard. my collection already fills a shelf lined bedroom, with the boxes it would be triple the mass, i just dont have the room. besides there is a hidden bonus, i keep those lovely boxes for trade items.

system boxes though, i like those, they have that christmas morning big present magic and they'll come in handy for moving.

[Mayhem]

If it's rare, I'll take it in any form I can get and then work on getting it complete. Otherwise really complete only...

[Room 34]

I'm mainly just into loose carts. I do collect manuals and boxes, but I don't go out of my way to get CIB.

Other than the carts themselves, I am most interested in the game CATALOGS. I think my interest in them is a combination of the graphic designer in me and that strange part of me that can spend an entire evening studying a road atlas, looking at places I have no intention of visiting.

[sku_u]

For me, it depends on the size of the library for the system and how old the system is.

When I was working on my collections for the Odyssey2, Arcadia 2001, 5200 and 7800, I was looking exclusively for complete boxed games in excellent condition. If I ended up with an NIB game, I tried to find a loose copy for my collection as well.

The Intelivision was the crossroads system for me. When collecting for the Itellivision, I ended up with a boxed collection that is about 75% complete, but I have every cart for the Intellivision excluding Thin Ice, prototypes and homebrews, so I'm currently undecided as to whether or not to pursue boxed versions of the 25% of Intellivision games that I have that are incomplete.

For larger system libraries like NES and older systems like the 2600, I focus more on getting the cart and instructions, but get as many boxes as i can find for a reasonable price.

When cataloging my games, I try to make mention of how complete they are and have a separate section for games where I have a box, but no game, which I don't factor into my cart count until I get a game.

Did all that make sense?

[YarsRevengeFan]

Yup!

Keep those inputs coming!

[Room 34]

sku_u said:

The Intelivision was the crossroads system for me.  When collecting for the Itellivision, I ended up with a boxed collection that is about 75% complete, but I have every cart for the Intellivision excluding Thin Ice, prototypes and homebrews, so I'm currently undecided as to whether or not to pursue boxed versions of the 25% of Intellivision games that I have that are incomplete.

I've noticed a lot more Intellivision games CIB out there... makes sense. It was a little more necessary to keep their boxes... keep the overlays with the cart, etc. (Plus, the boxes were actually designed for storage and not simply "transport the game to the buyer in the cheapest manner that is large enough to discourage shoplifting.)

Also, I think back in the day the Intellivision was for the "nerdier" crowd who would be more likely to keep these things together and in pristine condition.

[VidGameKing]

it all depands on what sort of collecting you are doing. I you collect to play, then MIB, CIB is not really nessasary. but if you want to collect to show off to thers than MIB, CIB is the way to go. i'm sort of a mix. When I collect for my dreamcase I require everything to be CIB, but for my other systems i just collect whatever I can find. so most of my collections are mixed.

[Ze_ro]

I generally buy games to play them rather than to collect them... so it's not that important to me that I get the box and manual, as long as I get the cartridge and it works. However, if I can get the whole package for an extra buck or two, then I'll usually go for it.

One exception to this is my Jaguar and Lynx collection... so far, my entire set for each system is completely boxed (with the exception of Cybermorph of course), and I'd like to keep that going until I have a total set of games for each of the two systems. Luckily, finding Jaguar and Lynx games CIB is fairly easy compared to 2600 or ColecoVision games.

There are two occaisions whree I did buy an extra version of a game to get the whole package though... a long time ago when I made an order with O'Shea's, you had to buy 12 games at once, and there were only 10 that I didn't have, so I ended up getting an extra shrinkwrapped copy of Realsports Baseball and Battlezone... and a few years back, I happened across a CIB version of Star Raiders (With the comic book, controller, overlay, manual, cartridge, and the box was also in good condition). For $4, I felt that it was worth it.

Although I haven't done this yet, I've also considered buying new versions of games where my copy is somewhat damaged. Some of my N64 games have quite a bit of label damage, but the prices aren't low enough for me to bother with this yet.

--Zero

[Adrian M]

In a perfect world, I'd love to have my games as complete as possible.

But realistically speaking, the bulk of my 2600 carts are loose. Due to age, cost and relative scarcity in the wild, it's just unrealistic to expect to find complete boxed games for the 2600 anymore. Yes, they exist, and you'll see them on eBay and such regularly, but it's just easier (and faster)to focus on your collection if you take what you can get. I'll snap up just about any 2600 game that I find for sale, so I guess you can say that I'm just happy to have a loose cart.

[VidGameKing]

here here

[Zeus]

Jeez, if I were a completist, the only CIB that I would have would be the Moon Patrol I ordered from the AA store.

[VidGameKing]

peopel actually order from AA?? I thought that was somthing AA did on the side, like no one really used it, it was just there! wow! you learn somthing new every day. I should check it out, maybe I might find somthing I like!!!

[sku_u]

VidGameKing said:

peopel actually order from AA?? I thought that was somthing AA did on the side, like no one really used it, it was just there! wow! you learn somthing new every day. I should check it out, maybe I might find somthing I like!!!

I'm assuming you're joking, but in case you're not, I've spent hundreds of dollars at the AA store over the past year and a half, although the majority of the spending has been on repros and homebrews.

[VidGameKing]

um, yeah, i'm joking, right..... run away!

[Jasoco]

If it's a Disc game, I will only buy it with the case and Manual and the back insert. The only Disc game I have right now that is not complete is Vay which only came disc. But I will pick up a complete one when I can.

As for carts;

NES, not a big deal. If I find a copy boxed, I get it. But I prefer the unboxed ones. So I am anti-complete there. I will try to get the Cart only as well as the boxed copy I have. Only about 5 or 6 of my boxed NES games have unboxed partners.

SNES, No. I do not care about boxed SNES games.

Genesis, not a big deal. This one I so far only have singles of the games. Some boxed, some not. I'll wait until Genny stuff is cheaper before I start for unboxed versions of stuff like Sonic 3, Robotnik, Etc...

DC, Yes. I need the cases and everything that makes it complete.

Sega CD, yes. Except for the Vay, all mine are boxed in either a box or the plastic case. And all the cases are as unbroken as possible. Maybe cracked, but no missing arms.

32X, I have four 32X games (Counting the CD/32X game) and all are complete. The 32X Corpse Killer came brand new in wrapping. It is completely complete. For the Cart versions, I will get the box at least. Manual if possible. So far I'm good.

Jaguar, Well.. I would LIKE to have complete games. Or at least boxes. I hate carts with no labels on the top.

SMS, same as Jaguar. I would love boxes.

N64, no big deal. I have two boxed games. Perfect Dark and Conker. The rest are just on the shelf. I would LIKE boxes so I could tell which was which, but N64 shit is still too damned expensive to bother yet.

GameCube, Xbox.. Yes. Of course. Must have cases. They are discs. I DESPISE the very thought of the existance of CD cases for GCN dsiscs. This shows in a few years down the road, there will be tons of CASELESS GAMECUBE GAME AUCTIONS! That just saddens me. KEEP THE MIN THE CASES! When you take discs out of a case, it gets lost. The case that is.

PSX. I only have a couple I kept. Surprisingly, FFVIII is the only complete one we have. And it's not really ours. The rest we did the above "Put the games in a wallet" move and well.. need I explain what happened? Grr... I would like to at least find the case and manual and backing for my Bubble Bobble. It's the only worthy PSX game.

Atari 2600.. *pshht* yeah right. I'm not into it that far yet.

[VidGameKing]

well there you go an entire system!

[Kyo]

if i cant find minty fresh boxed cart, then i'd go for a "good" to "near Mint". my last choice would be a loose cart.

[Video]

I useually just go the cheapest rout first. Get the unboxed loose game. If I'm interested in it, I'll look for the CIB box, I'd eventually open a MIB box anyways just to see if the game works. It's personally worth more to me to know that.

[Mindfield]

I'm a bit of a completist. I'll buy loose games, certainly, but I do prefer boxed, and if I get a MIB or NIB title I'll usually try and find a loose copy for play. In fact, if I get a NIB title I won't open it -- which can be frustrating if it's a game I really wanna play. :-)

I'm especially picky about Intellivision games. Overlays generally play an important role in Inty games, and storage of overlays being a problem it's always better to get the whole package.