How important is having complete copies to you? [Archive]

Elusive

07-08-2005, 08:36 AM

Complete. Sega cartridges are too easily affected by dust and grime not to have their box; besides, boxed games are easier to store and organise. As for manuals - useful, but not absolutely necessary. If it was a game I'd been dying to get cheap, I'd forgo the manual. Not otherwise, though.

Genesis Knight

07-08-2005, 09:20 AM

I'm not really a collector--I just try to snag the game as cheap as I can.

GeckoYamori

07-08-2005, 10:25 AM

It's a nice extra but nothing vital.

VinnyT

07-08-2005, 12:14 PM

I don't really don't care about boxes and manuals, considering how hard games are hard to find in my area at times, I take what ever I can find.

I mean, if I find a Pirates Gold cart sitting at a flea market for $3, i'm not going to hold out for a box.

tim333

07-08-2005, 12:39 PM

All I want is to play the game. I love manuals and the clamshell boxes are very nice, so I get them if I can, but if I can't I don't sweat it in the slightest.

Electroman

07-08-2005, 01:04 PM

Complete is the ONLY way to go for a platform I love(d).

Russman

07-09-2005, 12:09 AM

It's purely based on my mood. If I see a game I really want to play...I'll take it if it's just a loose cart. I prefer it complete though, and I always buy complete if I can, especially when its a game that I won't be playing....if it's purely for collection purposes it must be complete.

Dartagnan1083

07-09-2005, 02:54 AM

I once had all the boxes and stuff to my genesis and atari games.

I kept the carts in a shoulder level drawer, while the boxes were organized in drawers near the floor.

a flood in the house eventually made it neccessary to move the furnature, including the drawers the boxes were kept in. Which I never saw again.

I still had the carts though, and some Genny boxes were out of the drawer for whatever reason.

But when I buy Genesis or SMS games. . .the clamshell case or box IS neccessary. For Sega CD, Saturn, PSX, or DC games, I need the box and manual for the nice cover-art.

Wired

07-09-2005, 08:29 AM

I am one of those guys who must have the box and manual if I buy a game. Extra stuff, like posters, isn't as important.

AlexKidd

07-10-2005, 05:05 AM

Whats up guys? I'm new here. Always been a visitor of the site,just decided to join.

As far as complete packaging goes,if the genesis game originally came in one of those nice plastic boxes, I prefer to have it complete. Though if it's in one of the flimsy boxes the later games came in,I don't really care. Either way if I see a good deal on a loose cart I get it. One store in my area had a copy of gunstar heroes complete for $30 and another one had a loose copy for $7. I'm sure you can guess which one I got.

Genesis Knight

07-10-2005, 03:54 PM

The $30 one! ^_^

Menosa Torres

08-01-2005, 12:42 AM

Where do you guys find your complete games?

Dartagnan1083

08-01-2005, 02:38 AM

Ebay, Amazon, and this nifty local store that gets genny games in every so often.

Vicman

08-01-2005, 03:18 AM

Maybe on down the road I'll care more about having the game in perfect/complete condition but right now I'd rather just have the cart if having it complete is alot more expensive. To me Genesis collecting is nice because of the fact that you can usually get games real cheap. Since I can already play every single game for the system free, via emulation, collecting then becomes something of a tangible/nostalgia induced act. Physically having the game gives it more weight in my mind towards playing and appreciating said game, and thus its sweet to have an actual copy in my hands. Nonetheless I don't even like paying $50 for a new game, let alone 1/2 as much for a 10+ year old one. I'm just cheap that way. :P

landstalkerx

08-01-2005, 05:08 AM

Where do you guys find your complete games?

I get most of my complete games from estarland.com i've bought many games from them. The games are always in good condition and they have a wide selection of complete games. Their used games even come shrinkwrapped.

crazyjoedavola

08-01-2005, 08:08 AM

I definitely try to get complete games. In most cases they're only a few bucks more than loose cartriges. Those clamshell Sega boxes were one of the things I really liked about the Genesis. Very durable and great for collectors, unlike the SNES games which are much harder to find in good condition let alone complete.

Vicman

08-01-2005, 09:03 AM

No doubt crazyjoedavola, but when you're talking about a big difference like some of the RPG's or big name greats like Gunstar Heroes it's not worth it IMO.

David J.

08-21-2005, 10:13 PM

Mel

08-22-2005, 01:17 AM

Sega Genesis, and any other cart consoles I have no problem with it being loose or complete...

If I buy a game with a box and manual, fine. But it's different for Fighting games, I need the manual for those, for move lists.

For me its RPG's, i get lost so easily so I need a linear guide.

its www.gamefaqs.com whenver i get stuck or need a new move ina fighting game =)

danielscheil

08-22-2005, 03:29 AM

just complete !

Drixxel

08-22-2005, 01:20 PM

If I can, I'll buy complete, but generally if I can find a game I'm looking for, and for a good price, I'll buy it regardless of completeness. It's nice to have the box and manual, but a big reason I collect at all is to play what I collect, so the cartridge is the only essential part. Still love to find games complete, though.

danielscheil

08-22-2005, 02:21 PM

for me thats not good i have 170 complete games and i can not start now to collect incomplete games

i can't sleep when i have more than 2 games without a manual :-)

drewza89

02-21-2009, 07:20 PM

I don't care about manuals, but I always want the clamshell box. If I can't find it with the box for a reasonable price, then it's no big deal to buy the game loose.

Flygon

02-21-2009, 07:34 PM

I prefer having the box, but I am easy honestly.

Manuals aren't importaint to me. =P

djtwok

02-22-2009, 01:56 AM

Original box is important for me, manual is nice but not a must have.

GameUser-16-32-128

02-22-2009, 03:23 AM

If it's not complete, then no deal!

squall280

02-22-2009, 04:25 AM

300 plus only complete. i can't deal with loose games.

sonictails

02-22-2009, 06:40 AM

Don't care. I like trying to spend the least amount of money on genesis games (nba live 95 loose for $0.20 anyone?)

Youngie

02-22-2009, 07:57 AM

I also don't much care. I'd prefer to have all the games boxed but if I find a gem without the box for cheap then I'll buy happily.

TmEE

02-22-2009, 08:03 AM

Having complete stuff has become important to me... I'm gonna get all my loose games replaced with complete ones.

Youngie

02-22-2009, 08:11 AM

Well it's good if you're rich. Otherwise I'll just take what I can find.

john8248

02-22-2009, 11:46 AM

You can't play boxes or manuals - both of which have easy workarounds (media storage & internet).

Noiman

02-22-2009, 11:47 AM

It's CIB or nothing for me

MrMatthews

02-22-2009, 12:12 PM

I'm with tmee on ths one. I prefer all my games to be CIB, but if I don't have a choice I'll just buy the loose cartridge and try to upgrade later.

Unless the game is made for a pre-GameCube Nintendo system. In that case I'll never entertain any hope that I'll find them complete.

17daysolderthannes

02-22-2009, 02:45 PM

it's mostly a money thing. I'll buy cart-only now because they are cheap and accessible and then later on when I'm working at a degree-required job making 6 figures I'll probably go back and buy mint/complete copies of all the ones I really like. I'm definitely not a completionist collector, I buy the games I either played or always wanted to play back in the day, and then any games that I see/hear about and seem cool to check out. Then again, once I shell out for a full-on MAME cabinet, I doubt I'll ever bother with real hardware again because of the sheer convenience factor (except on rare occasions).

acdc

02-22-2009, 03:04 PM

its harder to collect complete copies
so it s more fun for me

Ace

02-22-2009, 03:11 PM

I couldn't care less because even if I do find an unboxed game, there's a guy I know who owns a pawn shop whose Genesis cartridges are ONLY sports BS(all boxed), so I get a casing and print a cover. I know that's cheating, but that's the way I do things without dishing out a fortune for boxed games.

sonictails

02-22-2009, 04:53 PM

Jesse813

02-22-2009, 10:26 PM

Some people are content with loose copies, others aren't. How important is it to you?

I'm pretty anal, so I need to have all my games with box and manual.

I'd say its important for me, but not super important. I started off w/ loose games But now I'm to the point where all future games I purchase must have at least the box & insert, as for those early loose games I'll replace eventually, some have already been replaced, its not a priority right now though since im working on getting imports and some of the harder to find games.

TheEdge

02-22-2009, 10:47 PM

Genesis is pretty dam old. I completely understand if the carts I get now don't come complete in case with Manual. Though it kind of irritates me that people would lose the cases. How sloppy can these people be? They don't even deserve Genesis carts if they are going to treat their stuff like that.

squall280

02-23-2009, 12:28 AM

The thing that gets me angered is that the genesis had these very good cases yet people still ost material along the way. like when i see a loose cd/dvd format game i am always like ...........@#$%. how easy is it to put a game back in its case. i understand the boxes for the earlier nintendo stuff and how people could easily loose them but come on.

E-Man

02-23-2009, 02:40 AM

When I first started my Genesis collection I made a promise to myself that I would get the games CIB cause Genesis games CIB was easier to get than compared to the SNES and NES. My NES and SNES collection are all loose carts only.

mick_aka

02-23-2009, 08:28 AM

10 years ago I didn't give a rat's ass, nowadays I feel I can afford to be picky.

Everything I buy now has to be CIB and if it's a PAL release it HAS to have the little hanger tab intact on the top.

I recently ditched all my loose carts via the Retro Gamer Magazine forum.

Alianger

02-23-2009, 08:42 AM

I'd have picked a more middle of the road choice if there was one. I wouldn't mind all my games to be complete, especially if the manuals are interesting or the box art is cool.. But it's more important to be able to play the game.

RedComet

02-23-2009, 10:29 AM

When I was younger and didn't have much money to spend and really wanted to play a game, I'd gladly pick up a loose cart at Funcoland if the box and manual wasn't available. Nowadays, I'd much rather wait and spend a little more on eBay to get my hands on a complete copy.

Silanda

02-23-2009, 10:54 AM

I haven't voted as I'm somewhere in the middle. If getting a complete copy will cost too much I will go for an incomplete one if it's much cheaper.

E-Man

02-23-2009, 11:25 AM

Is having the hang tab important? I really don't care if it has it or not.

nissling

02-23-2009, 12:29 PM

If it's Sega, it have to be complete. If the manual is a bit worn, I don't really care. I hate the hang tabs, some collectors say they need it. I can't understand why.

Gentlegamer

02-23-2009, 01:26 PM

If I'm buying a real copy, it must have case and manual. Otherwise, I can play the ROM on my computer for free.

Zebbe

02-23-2009, 02:44 PM

Games must be complete when I buy them, no question. Getting a game without box/manual is like getting a girl without left/right breast - you can still play, but it's just not the same thing anymore.

TmEE

02-23-2009, 04:02 PM

Games must be complete when I buy them, no question. Getting a game without box/manual is like getting a girl without left/right breast - you can still play, but it's just not the same thing anymore.

QFT

iluvclassicgaming

02-24-2009, 02:06 PM

17daysolderthannes

02-24-2009, 03:47 PM

I generally like to get a MIB copy for all of my favorite games, PLUS a loose copy (i'll use the loose copy for playing and the MIB copy goes into the collection). I'll get just the cart if it's a game that i'll play every once in a blue moon.

that's probably what my collection will end up like eventually since I buy games as cheap as I can (for the most part) at the moment. I've already re-bought a few Longbox Playstation games because Playstation Longboxes are the hot steamy sex of the video game world.

Samamo

02-25-2009, 07:15 AM

It's always a nice bonus if you find it complete. But I don't care all that much, meaning I wouldn't pay heaps more just for it to have the manual. I do prefer it to have the box at least though. Manual isn't mandatory.

Sudo

02-25-2009, 10:17 PM

Very important to me, I only buy complete games for all my systems.

mick_aka

02-25-2009, 11:43 PM

Is having the hang tab important? I really don't care if it has it or not.

Yes, it gives me a great big nostalgia boner.

Samamo

02-26-2009, 03:35 AM

Yes, it gives me a great big nostalgia boner.

omfg lol. Yeah does look old school I don't remember the genesis games hanging in store and going to see them really I was ~7/8 :( But would be cool for nostalgia reasons.

Youngie

02-26-2009, 09:16 AM

Yes, it gives me a great big nostalgia boner.

Well I don't have any hang tabs on my PAL games so that must be why I can't get a boner :lol:

Bablefish

02-26-2009, 10:48 AM

To me it's both YES and no, I would love to have all my games complete but that is either impractical or just plain cost too much. Let me tell you how I made Phantasy Star 3 complete, when all I bought was the cart and manual. I already had an extra box and someone on the Atari Age board agreed to email me a scan on the cover. Which I later printed out on photo paper. It may not me complete in the traditional sense, but I have no plans on selling it.

Gentlegamer

02-26-2009, 02:11 PM

I slice the hanging tab off all Sega cases.

jerry coeurl

03-05-2009, 02:38 AM

Basically I try to buy complete whenever I can. If I happen upon a game that's cart only and I've wanted it for a while, I might pick it up if the price is right.

As for the hang tags I really have no opinion. I have cases with and without hang tags in my collection, depending on whether or not they were there when I bought them.

ninjabearhug

03-05-2009, 06:34 AM

I slice the hanging tab off all Sega cases.

I really dislike hanging tabs, if i had the time i would cut all mine off too. My shelves are pretty full so i find myself just putting games on top of the ones that are already in order and the hanging tabs always get in my way.

I always buy complete games when buying them one by one, but quite a few of my games are missing the manual, mainly because they've come in job lots. It doesn't bother me too much atm, but I know it will some day so I'm always on the look out for manuals i need :).

Diosoth

03-05-2009, 11:16 AM

Ideally, if I was loaded with cash, I'd go complete. But I have to worry about the extra cost of the paper... is it worth the increase? One used outlet I go to charges $10-$20 more for boxed/complete vs cartridge. Plus storing the boxes and such. I keep my carts loose on a small shelf to get to them easily. This might sound a hassle with games that have no top labels... but that's why label makers exist.

I got a complete Startropics, letter never dipped in water, for $5. Complete Knuckles Chaotix for $10. Oterwise I can't be bothered to seek them out.

Mamba Tabac

03-09-2009, 01:50 PM

I slice off all the hanging tabs as well.
As far as complete/incomplete goes it depends - I'll happily buy just the cart if it's rare or if I don't already have it so I can at least play it - I can always sell it again later if I happen to find a complete version later.

mick_aka

03-09-2009, 05:15 PM

Mmmmmmm hanging tabs.....

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb87/segasaturnuk/hangers.jpg

oh yea, yea, Yea, Yea!, YEAAAAA!!!!

o o o o... OOoooooooohhhhhhhhhh...

Youngie

03-09-2009, 05:27 PM

oh yea, yea, Yea, Yea!, YEAAAAA!!!!

o o o o... OOoooooooohhhhhhhhhh...

Calm down please. You're scaring me...

Mr Smith

03-09-2009, 06:07 PM

Since we in Europe largely avoided the US disposable boxes then I firmly believe there is no excuse to not having a complete game. Manuals are vital to the collecting experience.

Devil N

03-10-2009, 10:39 AM

The goal of my collection is not to own as many games as possible, but rather to own a specific nostalgic selection of games in as good a condition as possible. Hence, having these games all complete with box and manual is very important to me. I leave the hanging tabs on as well, simply because that is the original state.

The only real exception to these rules in my collection at the moment is Earthworm Jim, which doesn't have a manual. I am actually quite pissed about that, especially because the eBay auction said it did have a manual. I'll probably have to get me another copy of the game sooner or later.

Youngie

03-10-2009, 01:09 PM

Devil N you'll have to sue the crowd you got Earthworm Jim from. Sue them for a million €. Might work.

TjN001

03-11-2009, 09:24 PM

For me, I just want to get games as cheap as I can. I would love to have all the manuals and cases, but really the only thing I care about is if the game works. I just want to play them.

Baloo

03-13-2009, 08:44 PM

For me, it depends on how much I'm paying for the game. If I'm paying less than say like, $20-25 dollars for the game, I don't care, but if it's in that price range or more, I'll usually try to get a manual and box. And I usually try to get the manuals and boxes for the games I really like, a la Michael Jackson's Moonwalker.

But in general, the most important thing for me is actually having the game.

WarmSignal

04-08-2009, 06:25 AM

I'm a neat freak. Things have to be complete, and preferably not dinged, torn, scratched and any of that good stuff.

Devil N

04-08-2009, 07:28 AM

I just discarded my crappy copy of Earthworm Jim in favor of a complete and proper copy. But not after salvaging the good bits of the old copy, of course. ;)

TmEE

04-08-2009, 08:29 AM

I like to frankenstein a good copy out of 2... i'll sometime get another Sonic&Knuckles and make a good one out of 2...

stalepie

04-08-2009, 09:03 AM

Most of my games are cart-only. In fact, I even recently threw away a lot of boxes because they were taking up too much space. I did keep the ones I liked a lot, for instance, my Japanese copy of Thunderforce III, which has a cool cover. But mostly I just want the game.

TmEE

04-08-2009, 09:53 AM

I would have sold or given the boxes away....

genesisguy

04-08-2009, 11:06 AM

If I responded to this a month ago I woulda said it doesn't matter and just carts were all I wanted. Now I want the boxes, instructions don't matter as much. But the fact that these boxes were made in a way that they still look brand new today and most sellers don't charge that much of an up on boxed Genesis game, then I figure I might as well get them will they are still plentiful.

SNES games I'll take loose.

Anyone need a copy of Afterburn II, Sonic 2, or Bill Walsh?

ReyVGM

04-08-2009, 11:08 AM

If I'm going to buy a game to really keep it, then I will buy it complete.
If not, then I don't mind getting a rom, copy or lose cart/cd.

WarmSignal

04-08-2009, 05:26 PM

I would have sold or given the boxes away....

Indeed. People need to consider putting just the boxes/manuals up for sale on Ebay more, if they're just going to throw them out. I've got a few games just disc or cart that I'd rather not have to trade in just because I can't find any case or manual for.

muchomojo

04-09-2009, 12:39 PM

For Genesis games I definately prefer to atleast have the boxes, but if I find a loose game that I've been wanting for a couple bucks I'm not gonna pass it by.

Antony

04-09-2009, 08:53 PM

Some people are content with loose copies, others aren't. How important is it to you?

I'm pretty anal, so I need to have all my games with box and manual.

Why anal? Box/Manual is the proper item :cool:

Loose Nintendo carts can be easily explained since Nintendo insisted on releasing its cartridge games wrapped in a mere piece of paper, I never understood people that threw away the beautiful VHS-type Mega Drive cases :confused:

WarmSignal

04-09-2009, 10:44 PM

Why anal? Box/Manual is the proper item :cool:

Loose Nintendo carts can be easily explained since Nintendo insisted on releasing its cartridge games wrapped in a mere piece of paper, I never understood people that threw away the beautiful VHS-type Mega Drive cases :confused:

Yeah... I want a loose game about as much as I want to go to the store and buy and brand new game or dvd in a generic jewel case.

stalepie

04-10-2009, 02:24 AM

Why do people want the boxes so much?

jerry coeurl

04-10-2009, 02:39 AM

'Cause we're obsessive compulsive collectors, that's why! Complete games also tend to hold their value better, so if one does decide to get out of the hobby and sell all of their games (God forbid), they get a much better return on their investment.

Personally, I just like the way the boxed games look on a shelf, and I like leafing through manuals from time to time. It's just nice to have the complete package, imo.

gamegenie

04-10-2009, 09:41 AM

Antony

04-10-2009, 04:19 PM

it's not really that important to me.

What bothers me the most is gamers today are becoming condition to playing emulators with systems like Wii VC and these classic collection games.

Being able to play a game on the original hardware it was design for is part of what makes a video game enjoyable.

You know what? Having a "cart only" version (and let's not talk about a loose CD in a generic jewel case...) is almost like playing an emulator. The complete package is part of the charm for being someone that actually spends money to buy old stuff.

If I go out and search some classic "abandonware" PC games I want to have (e.g. Noctropolis, Shadow of the Comet), I see no point in buying used discs unless it's a complete version with the big box, the beautiful artwork and the booklets. The company doesn't receive revenue from used copies anyway, and you can still do your "job" with a downloaded copy of the game. The package for me is almost the same as vinyl sleeves.

Kollision

04-10-2009, 05:01 PM

A game without a box is like a book with no cover.

Which library wants to have books that are coverless?
Does anybody here see coverless books for sale anywhere? I don't think so........

Baloo

04-10-2009, 05:15 PM

A game without a box is like a book with no cover.

Which library wants to have books that are coverless?
Does anybody here see coverless books for sale anywhere? I don't think so........

Eh, I disagree.

Really I think the only people that want CIB games are Genesis collectors and CD based games because they come in jewel-like or jewel cases. NES, SNES, they don't come with long-lasting collectable boxes. So you're saying that all those SNES and NES games without those crappy cardboard, easily ruined and bent and disposable boxes have no covers a la books? It just doesn't sound right at all.

I don't care either way. I like the games to be with manual and box, but as long as I've got the game, I'm good. I think the game is the most important part really. I actually think manual is more important when it comes to non-genesis games, but that's just me. I do like the manual and box, especially for storing, but if I see M.U.S.H.A or Snow Bros. or Moonwalker for a couple of bucks at a flea market, I'm not going to be really picky and shit and not buy it because it doesn't have a box. It just sounds stupid.

KnightWarrior

04-10-2009, 08:44 PM

It dosn't really matter to me...

WarmSignal

04-10-2009, 09:33 PM

Eh, I disagree.

Really I think the only people that want CIB games are Genesis collectors and CD based games because they come in jewel-like or jewel cases. NES, SNES, they don't come with long-lasting collectable boxes. So you're saying that all those SNES and NES games without those crappy cardboard, easily ruined and bent and disposable boxes have no covers a la books? It just doesn't sound right at all.

I don't care either way. I like the games to be with manual and box, but as long as I've got the game, I'm good. I think the game is the most important part really. I actually think manual is more important when it comes to non-genesis games, but that's just me. I do like the manual and box, especially for storing, but if I see M.U.S.H.A or Snow Bros. or Moonwalker for a couple of bucks at a flea market, I'm not going to be really picky and shit and not buy it because it doesn't have a box. It just sounds stupid.

It's funny, the only two SNES games I own myself are both cheap $5 finds that included the "crappy cardboard" boxes with manuals in them. Both in great condition.

Hidden_Darkness

04-19-2009, 04:32 AM

when it comes to sega stuff genesis up until dreamcast, I have to have my games complete. theres just something awesome about the clamshell cases of genesis games. the only games that I could care less if their complete are game gear games and any nintendo, snes, gb games, the cardboard boxes just didn't survive so their hard to get complete.

17daysolderthannes

04-19-2009, 05:06 AM

You know what? Having a "cart only" version (and let's not talk about a loose CD in a generic jewel case...) is almost like playing an emulator. The complete package is part of the charm for being someone that actually spends money to buy old stuff.

If I go out and search some classic "abandonware" PC games I want to have (e.g. Noctropolis, Shadow of the Comet), I see no point in buying used discs unless it's a complete version with the big box, the beautiful artwork and the booklets. The company doesn't receive revenue from used copies anyway, and you can still do your "job" with a downloaded copy of the game. The package for me is almost the same as vinyl sleeves.

Well, that argument leaves out the accuracy group. While this board is pretty collector-centric, if you shimmied over to nesdev, you would find most people collect for the pixel for pixel exact experience. Whether or not I buy a game complete is solely a matter of cost. I have no problem paying $2-3 for a case with/without manual, but I won't pay quadruple the price for it. Being able to say you own a genuine copy of the game is enough for me, owning all of the packaging is frivolous unless you have tons of disposable income or you are trying to be a preservationist collector.