Does Game Condition Affect You?

[allyourbase]

If you are out and about and see games for sale, does the condition of the game matter to you? Let me specify: If you collect NES games and you see a pile of them, do you just pick out carts that you don't have and head for the cashier, regardless of the condition? This question gets even harder when rarity/want-lists get involved. If you see Bubble Bobble 2 in the wild for a usual price (nothing like $2-5. market price) but the label is completely gone and the cart is gunked, do you purchase it?
Personally, no matter what the game- the cart/label condition has to be "good-great" for me to purchase it, no matter the rarity (with very, very few exceptions). I usually walk if the label is ripped or their is too much magic marker, etc. on the game.

Just wanted to know how many gamers use this as a strict criteria for their collections.

[shawnbo42]

Yup, I'm right there with you. I will rarely buy CD games for this reason. I am elitist about that. I actually bought some PSX games the other day that were like-new. My exception is, of course, rare games. I will buy rare titles with light (repeat, LIGHT) damage. If I were to find Bubble Bobble 2 in the wild for $5, I'd buy it regardless of condition, but it wouldn't go into the collection. At least, not on display. Fortunately, I already have that particular title, so I wouldn't need to worry about it, but I know what you mean.

I just like everything to be "display-worthy", which is why I constantly buy 2600 carts (when I can find them). I am always looking to upgrade from the ripped/missing label/damaged carts.

[Draven]

I'll buy anything, as long as it plays. I'm a gamer first. Obviously, if there are two items there and one is in better condition I'll pick up whatever looks better cosmetically. I wouldn't pass a good deal on a game just because the label's torn or it's been wrote on (I'm actually guilty of writing on games myself...the majority of my NES carts have passwords or cheat codes on the back so I don't have to constantly look them up). I don't display anything or ever plan on selling it so cosmetics don't matter.

[shivers]

i just wanna play. but sometimes i do like to have a good condition with manual and box just to remember when i used to have that special game. but yeah most of the time i just get it as long as it plays. as far as CD games i rather have a good condition even if i have to pay more.

[aaron7]

If I don't have it, I'll buy it regardless of condition... I simply mark it down on my lists with yellow highlighter instead of green till I find a better copy.

This, of course, depends on the price. If I find a copy of a game with a beat up label and they want full price I'll walk away.

[TheRealist50]

I am very condition sensitive. I want them to look good on the shelf, missing labels and stickers is a big no no.

I bought revenge of Shinobi from Value Village. It was a former rental and it was horrible. The manual was covered with packing tape (each pack, back and front) and there was a sticker on the front of the case inside the plastic cover ON the insert page...that pissed me off. Plus stickers on the label of the game and on the back of it. It took a long time but I got EVERYTHING out, including the packing tape off the manual. You wouldn't be able to tell it was a rental.

[Drifter 2000]

I usually like the label to be intact and no totally covered by stickers. I don't mind a small rental sticker, or a little tiny of a tear off the label but I'd rather have one that's in perfect shape. Writing on the cartridge itself is no big deal but I HATE seeing writing on the label itself.

If it's a really tough to find game and I'm getting a great deal I'll likely buy it and keep it until I can find something in better condition.

[Iron Draggon]

BIGTIME... otherwise, I wouldn't spend so much money buying sealed games, just to open them up and play them... I'm hyper-anal about mint condition

[Ro-J]

I've never done this, so I don't know....but how easy is it to download a label, print it, and replace a badly torn label? Is there a site that offers old labels? And with a decent printer can you tell the difference between a reprint and an original label?

[Sabz5150]

and there was a sticker on the front of the case inside the plastic cover ON the insert page...that pissed me off.

Oh god, nothing pisses me off more than that. I make sure to voice my disapproval when I see that habit being done at any game store.

PRICE TAGS DO NOT BELONG ON INSERTS OR ON THE CARTRIDGE LABEL. EVER.

Nothing will steam you more than going to pull a price tag off of a game and taking half the original cart label with it.

[scooterb23]

I refuse to buy any game that has been touched by human hands. Fingerprints on the plastic dramatically reduces their grade when I have them graded and slabbed...

[swlovinist]

If I dont have it and the price is cheap, I will buy it as long at it looks playable. Obviously in the wild games are a big hit and miss, and for me I do not know when I will see that game again in person. The only two systems that I mostly care about condition are the Sega Genesis and N64 due to having every released game boxed for those, I am now going for condition upgrades.


On a side note Aaron7, it good to see a binder/highlighter person such as myself :)

[PapaStu]

Condition is prime concern. I won't be happy with it loose or beaten up, so I just skip it until I find one in a condition I'm happy with. I'd just end up rebuying it and thats a waste of money.

When I could still walk into GameStops and buy PlayStation games i'd often pass up harder to get games (Intelligent Qube was the biggest offender I ran across) because it was loose, or missing manual ect.

[DeputyMoniker]

It depends on the game but in general, as long as the price reflects the condition, I will buy it. Say, for instance, I find a game I want at a pawn shop and it has marker all over it. Well, marker/engraving are two of my deal-breakers, so I probably wouldn't buy it unless it were an excellent deal. If the label were torn, then I would just want a good deal. If it were relatively cheap, I would buy it. It it were to be market, or higher, I would have to think about it. So, yes, condition is a concern but it doesn't have to be a deal breaker. As long as it is functional and marker/engraving-free, it's still a possible purchase. No markers. No engraving, No non-functional games or anything that is a condition that may damage my system. I pay to play.

[Aussie2B]

A good deal is a good deal no matter how you slice it. Obviously games with condition issues are worth less, but if it's still a good deal, I'll pick it up. I'll always try to restore games to the best of my ability and I like upgrading when I get dupes, but having a playable game is the most important thing. Of course, I always prefer a complete, mint game, but I don't sweat it if it's not. The only areas in which I'm particularly discriminating is I generally don't buy an import at all if it's not complete (since the vast majority of the ones for sale are complete), and since I'm trying to get a complete NGPC collection for my boyfriend, I'll only buy complete as it's extremely hard to find the pieces separately.

[Steven]

I used to not really care when I started out in 2006 buying SNES games. I'd buy a game (such as Shien's Revenge) with the label torn half off, because it was like $3 or something, and I also didn't particularly "care" about the game enough that its status didn't affect me.

However, a bit later I became a stickler on the cart label being fully intact without much defect. Sure, if the price was right, but usually I waited until both the label and price matched my interest.

So in a nutshell, yes, game condition affects me. The game is most important, but that doesn't mean you can't have it look nice, too.

[Xander]

It depends mostly on cartridge versus optical media for me.

Almost all my NES/SNES games are loose and I try to keep it that way. I'm a gamer first, sure I like boxes and manual but it doesn't really matter when it is time to actually play the game. Also, most cartridges when displayed end up looking fairly awesome even if they don't have their boxes. As for cart apparence, the important part of a cartridge is its PCB and since it's inside the shell, it's usually in good condition whatever the cart condition may be. I have a few games with markers and half teared labels and it doesn't bother me too much.

As for optical media.. like PS1, Saturn and PS2 that's where I get more picky on condition. A badly scratched CD/DVD might permanently destroy the game, so the condition become a concern. Plus, a loose optical game sucks, you have to use generic CD/DVD case to store it and it just looks awful. I don't buy loose for this type of game anymore, even for a very rare game at a very good price, most of the time it won't be worth it.

[cyberfluxor]

If it's dirt cheap, appears to work, and is a demanded/rare game that I don't already own then I'm likely to pick it up. If I ever find a cosmetically nicer copy then I may give the lesser to a friend or sell it locally if no one wants it. If it's a common game then I'm likely to pass on it as there are plenty of others out there. Overall I prefer quality of condition over quantity, though I do have a good number of games so maybe I've been lucky.


I've never done this, so I don't know....but how easy is it to download a label, print it, and replace a badly torn label? Is there a site that offers old labels? And with a decent printer can you tell the difference between a reprint and an original label?

There are some users on DP that do that and quite a good job at it too. Here's one thread discussing NES labels:
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106898

If you dig around with the search function you'll find some postings of reprints, though some collectors would like to know if it has a replacement label.

[Arthur-Otaku]

Affect very much for me

Bad condition or loose games are just junk for me (FOR ME OK?), probably, because I am an serious collector

But I can buy some for re-sell purposes

[Hitman Tyler]

Not to mean but..
We did have this thread: (it's kinda collector's only,but similar)
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105366

My response was:
I think i kinda have OCD when buying games. I also try to get games with the original box,insert,disk. Also this meaning I Hate taking a disk that has the greatest hits disk when the insert shows the original. Also if this box had a little crack in it I ask for another box. Even when an Ebay auction says the game is MINT, i have a problem with that. I always ask what does he/she consider MINT. Due to i have my own view of being MINT. Like one time I bought a game of ebay he said it had no scratches,marks,stains,rips,etc. So I confirmed this again with him and he said what I am saying its MINT. I'm like great then when the game gets to me it has Scratches all over it all, i go mad.

Well A little back round Story about me for everyone.

let me know if you want me to get rid of the link, and just leave my response.

Thanks

[Haoie]

I'm willing to pay a certain percent more for something that comes with its manual and case, than compared to just a disc.

Still, what's really important is the game condition itself.

[Joe West]

labels have too be clean, carts i can fix that, cd's have too be smooth as a baby bottom, or i dont want it....

[StakeRaiser]

I just like being able to read the label when its on the shelf, and when I look at the front.

If there is a little peeling, writing, sticker, doesn't bother me. I kind of like having some rental stickers at times, its kind of cool seeing that my games came from rental stores from all over the country, gives them character.

[allyourbase]

Not to mean but..
We did have this thread: (it's kinda collector's only,but similar)
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105366

let me know if you want me to get rid of the link, and just leave my response.

Thanks

No, HT that link was helpful. I DO think that these two threads are just different enough to merit them both existing. Thanks for sharing! I would agree with everyone that CD games are much more 'condition intensive' when it comes to getting good shape games. I tend to go for PSX/PS2/Saturn/DC games that are as complete as possible and with pretty minimal surface damage, although anything that would be fine with a resurface is alright with me.;)

[darkslime]

It all depends on the price and the game.
If it's for my collection, I would prefer a good condition, but if its hella cheap and I don't have it I'll buy it.

If it's a common for resell, I'll buy it because most people on ebay don't care if their smb3 label is half torn off.

I get picky on cd games though. I will make sure they're not very scratched unless its a very rare/expensive game for cheap, then I'll resurface it.

[spoon]

Yes condition matters. I am a collector/gamer. I do not mind if the game shows slight signs of use. I just don't want something I can't refurb. By that I mean I clean everything I get whether it is a double or going into the collection. It's OCD.

I will buy cartridge games complete or loose. Part of the fun is finding all the parts to make it complete. Anything super expensive I will hunt down complete. I will buy cartridges that have messed up backs or stickers and the like. As long as there are no bad tears or label peeling. I like to clean them up. The backs can be replaced with other matching ones.

Disc based game I only buy complete or at least with the original insert sans manual. Outside case can be destroyed since it can be replaced. Disc can only have light scratches. I will buy ones that are bad and have them buffed at a local place. Well, everything except DC of course, They have a great machine!

Every double I get is compared with the one in my collection. Replaced if needed. OCD.

All imports pretty much follow the same rules. I try and buy them all complete though.

[otoko]

Nope~

I'm more about playability!

Somewhat is for my Fiance though... She has some OCD..

[neist]

It all depends on the price and the game.
If it's for my collection, I would prefer a good condition, but if its hella cheap and I don't have it I'll buy it.

If it's a common for resell, I'll buy it because most people on ebay don't care if their smb3 label is half torn off.

I get picky on cd games though. I will make sure they're not very scratched unless its a very rare/expensive game for cheap, then I'll resurface it.

I tend to share a similar stance. Though I will buy a damaged game if I want to play it badly. Especially if it's hard to find.

Will I keep looking for a better copy? Sure, but at least I have something cheap to play in the meantime. I don't typically collect for the sake of it. I collect games of a genre or feel that appeal to me, so first and foremost I want to play them.

[jdc]

As a system gets older, I'll start to "slum it" in the wild. For instance, any PS3 games must be mint completes......but PSX games can have mild scuffs on them. Depends on how hard it is to come by, too. A friend of mine found a copy of Silent Hill 3 in the wild.....mint disc and instructions.....but missing the bonus music disc. He grabbed it because I needed it and knew that I could most likely find a shitty copy later that would probably have the music disc in a hardly worn condition.

[Astrosmash]

For carts, I'm not that picky as long as it's playable and has a label in good condition, and preferably clean. Otherwise, writing, stickers that aren't on the label, etc. don't matter too much to me - I think somewhere deep down I even enjoy stuff like that adding "character" to the piece.

For CD games, I won't buy anything with scratches unless it's extremely rare (then I'd have to get it resurfaced); label-side damage is out completely.

[norkusa]

Most cartridges I have are loose, so I'll buy anything as long as the label is intact and it can be cleaned up. Writing isn't a big deal either since I can use a little Goof Off to erase it.

Disc games I'm picky though. Proably because all mine are on display shelves and I'm always looking at them. I'll pass on incomplete or heavily scratched games, even if it's something I really want. For example, I passed on Team Losi RC Racer for PS1 twice recently. I've been looking for a copy for 4 years now but these two I found looked bad (one was an ex rental and the other had lots of scratches).

[AMG]

The only thing I'm extremely picky about is disc based games. They must be complete and mint for me to purchase them. I'm a lot more lenient on carts.

[The 1 2 P]

I've run into this problem at Goodwill several times. I'd see titles I wanted, but if the cd/cart and case have gunk and residue all over them then I pass(if the cart/cd has more hair and gel on it than a chia-pet, um.....no). Some stuff I don't mind because I actually like cleaning carts, but even I have my limits. If it's a super rare game in shitty condition(which you can regularly find on ebay) it depends on rather I think I can sell it or not. But for my own collection it better be in as great of condition as possible.

[Gamingking]

I prefer the lables to be in place and not ripped. It's a huge factor in my decision of buying it.

[We Are Ninja]

...I'd buy it regardless of condition, but it wouldn't go into the collection. At least, not on display...

I just like everything to be "display-worthy", which is why I constantly buy 2600 carts (when I can find them). I am always looking to upgrade from the ripped/missing label/damaged carts.
I'm the exact same way about PS1 and PS2 titles. I'll pick up something sans case or manual, but I'm always looking to upgrade to a complete one...

That said...

I'll buy anything, as long as it plays. I'm a gamer first. Obviously, if there are two items there and one is in better condition I'll pick up whatever looks better cosmetically. I wouldn't pass a good deal on a game just because the label's torn or it's been wrote on...

[8bitSunshine]

I'll go with PapaStu on the grounds that 'getting it till I find a better one' means wasting money. Then again, I'm picky in different ways for different systems:

- NES Games : Carts alone are fine, as long as the label is still in tact. If I ,anage to find a good deal on an NES game with manual or box and manual, then I might go for it. I'm also disgusted with marker and/or any sort of writings, stickers, and other unwanted "horrors" on the carts, same applies for non-NES items, I buy used, YEAH, but not something so obviously pre-owned, if you get what I mean;

- Super NES Games : Lately, depending on the game, I go for cart/instructions/box, mint or near mint. Especially with RPGs. However for SOME games, I would be fine with a cart only (for example, if I ever find a good deal on Joe & Mac, I don't need CIB on this one)

- PS1/2 games (and any later system using gamediscs) : In these cases, since I'm already very picky about titles, I go for Mint or Near-Mint almost everytime. Gamediscs are far more easily damageable than carts ever were, and for that reason, I'll only settle for games that have very little scratches. The next thing that is gonna cost me lots is finally getting that Suikoden II game...MINT.

Overall, cosmetics have their importance to me. Like shawnbo42 said, I like it to be "display-worthy". Also, if I'm able to get my hands on a game (old ones) with its manual included, then I'm only happier. Most of us are, after all, Collectors.

Oh, by the way, a few years back, I got Final Fantasy VII for real cheap, but it's a Greatest Hits edition, the manual is missing, and disc 1 is a bit damaged to the extent that it causes lag in some cutscenes, especially the first time in Cosmo Canyon. Sure wish I had a better copy, but they're so pricey! :bawling: Haha.

[bunnybum]

It depends. If I come across a game I don't have and I think it's a good deal, I pick it up with no regard to its condition, as I'm a gamer before collector (more of a packrat than collector, actually..).
I pick up games in bigboxes without thinking twice, since they make nice displays, but I do, however, keep an eye out for copies with nicer boxes in better condition.

And yes, my collection looks more like a landfill than a game collection :beaten:

[We Are Ninja]

...I pick up games in bigboxes without thinking twice, since they make nice displays, but I do, however, keep an eye out for copies with nicer boxes in better condition...

Man, I thought it was just me...

[bangtango]

Carts: Depends on how badly I want to play it. I'll buy carts in lousy shape if I want the game bad enough, assuming the price is right. I don't buy stuff with the intent of reselling, so it isn't like I am sitting around worrying about finding a buyer. In contrast, I'll pass on some items in mint condition if I don't want them and if they aren't worth a significant amount of money.

Discs: Need the disc to be in very good shape and for it to be in the original style case it came in. For example, PS1/Dreamcast games in a cd-style case and PS2/XBox games in a dvd-style case. It doesn't have to be complete. But with that said, I need disc games to contain at least the manual or the cover/inserts. As long as it contains one of the following (either), I can find the other component on Ebay easily enough without making a huge investment.