Buying game boxes and manuals?

[Fatalstar64]

Hey guys I was wondering if it was worth buying just boxes and manuals in great condition for cheap and finding the loose games for cheap. My only question about it really is do people care if you sell it to them that the serials don't match? I'm not sure that anyone is that insane but let me know your opinions on it or if you've sold games that don't match.

[Swamperon]

Despite how OCD we collectors can be about our collections, I've never encountered anyone online/in the wild who is bothered about the serial codes matching, most probably wouldn't even bother to check. Maybe if it's a really rare game that's worth several thousand, but even then... probably not.

I'd say generally it's worth it, as long as they're cheap enough and they will significantly increase the value when it comes to selling the game.

[rpepper9]

What games have serial numbers? I know if the Hot Rod community I am also a part of, serials matching on engine and auto can more than triple the value of the car. Never heard about it in games though.

[Fatalstar64]

Well Nintendo games have them on the sticker of the game and on the boxes manuals too I think. I never implied it made them more valuable if they all match just wondered if a non match bothered other collectors. At least with N64 and SNES games they do have serials not sure about other systems as I only collect for these 2 right now.

[gpmt700]

I have never even really checked a CIB game's box with the manual and cartridge, but I'm still fairly a collecting noob. :duh:

[izarate]

As far as I know, there aren't games with actual serial numbers (like, consecutive). Every Street Fighter II cartridge will say SNS-S2-USA and every Street Fighter II box will say SNS-P-S2.

The only exception to this rule would be the Majesco releases which have black & white manuals and the boxes say "Distributed by Majesco Sales" at the back. The Majesco carts don't have a sticker on the back, the information is engraved in the cart instead.

Some Limited Editions might have a consecutive serial number.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Izarate, there are other variations as well. Part#, Box Art, Text, Game Rating, Re-release...there are dozens of different variations.

It's best to match them up if possible, but for the most part it doesn't affect price.

[izarate]

Well yes, I know that there are several variations for some PSX games for example but I was referring to serial numbers (like SLUS-XXXX, etc.)

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Yeah, there are several part# variations for Nintendo systems (NES/SNES/N64/GB). I'm not sure there are too many for other systems, as Nintendo used it as a revision system.

[baraka]

As far as I know, there aren't games with actual serial numbers (like, consecutive). Every Street Fighter II cartridge will say SNS-S2-USA and every Street Fighter II box will say SNS-P-S2.

The only exception to this rule would be the Majesco releases which have black & white manuals and the boxes say "Distributed by Majesco Sales" at the back. The Majesco carts don't have a sticker on the back, the information is engraved in the cart instead.

Some Limited Editions might have a consecutive serial number.

It can become more of an issue when u collect European SNES/NES games. Different region codes usually represent different languages so that can become a problem.

[fahlim003]

Arcade games (JAMMA and otherwise PCBs) should have matching serials for box and games. The materials (manual, marque, move strip, etc..) not so much, and for collectors in that realm, this can be a concern but it's can be a very expensive and hard proposition to fulfill.

As far as non-limited edition console games, I prefer to have an original CIB but if I desire for a specific game to go for CIB (mostly Nintendo as all other companies are easy to collect CIB from the get-go) then I'll try tracking the parts down individually.

[mobiusclimber]

The only thing I've heard about is the "Million Seller" or whatever it is. Most collectors don't want that version (it's like the Greatest Hits versions of Playstation games), and they really don't want a mixed and matched set (box is one thing, cart is another). Otherwise, never heard of matching boxes and carts w/ serial numbers or anything.