How picky are you about your carts condition?

[hellraiser]

I was just lookin at the pics of that moldy bumpy nes cart. I would have been pissed!!!

I got some torn labels and sharpied games but im not gonna lie...THEY KILL ME!!!:bawling: First good deal I get ill try to replace them...

So...

Do you care? If so how finicky are you? Got some nasty carts? Lets see your worst!

[Graham Mitchell]

I'm generally not too concerned about aesthetic conditions of the cart as long as it works. Of course if given the option id go for a cib game in top condition but if that would turn a $10 game to a$40 game then forget it.

[Zama]

I'm super picky about the condition of the games I buy but that's just the collector's instinct in me :angel: Besides, I liked neat and tidy stuff :bigmac:

[Snappaccino]

With carts I just want the label to be in 1 piece with no rips or anything and I don't want any part of the cart to be discolored.

If I see a game that has writing on it and dirty as all hell but its not discolored/sun faded and the label is good then I will buy it, all that other stuff can come off.

[SpaceHarrier]

I'm pretty picky. I always check the pin connectors, if they are completely scored up or grimey, I definitely won't buy it. I won't purchase anything with sun-faded labels or serious label wear in general.

I will buy it if someone's name is scribbled on the plastic, provided I can't actually see it when the cart is inserted in the system. Most of the time I can get the writing off anyway..

[Dr. Dib]

I'm not picky at all. I'm likely to buy carts in nearly any condition and then get angered later on when I realize I just purchased a cart with a defect.

The only thing that really angers me is when shops put stickers on the game label. When its Goodwill or another shop like that I understand since they don't sell games normally, but when its a gamestore that's just annoying.

[Emperor Megas]

I mainly just care that the label is intact. If I'm interested in a game and it has gunk or writing on it that can be easily removed, I don't sweat it much. Also, I tend care more about my favorite games than bottom tier games.

What's more important to me is the condition of the box or case, and manual (for the games that I collect complete in box) than the cartridges.

[ryborg]

I literally could not possibly care less, especially for games I've had my whole life. As long as the game works, that's good enough for me. I have a stack of NES/SNES games from my youth that are completely beat up, but I wouldn't swap 'em for free factory sealed versions.

[Steven]

For the right price, I would buy a game that is in "acceptable" condition. Maybe even below average. However, if it's a "good" game, eventually I will look to replace it and sell the double. I've discovered as the years go on I get a bit more picky with the condition of my games.

[todesengel]

The only games that I'm not picky about are Famicom carts. If it has a little bit of writing on it I don't mind.

[FOnewearl]

I literally could not possibly care less, especially for games I've had my whole life. As long as the game works, that's good enough for me. I have a stack of NES/SNES games from my youth that are completely beat up, but I wouldn't swap 'em for free factory sealed versions.

I get what your saying as I am kind of weird about games and making sure I keep them if they are something I bought new back in the day but I would probably trade something like a cart only copy of Chrono Trigger if I was somehow offered a sealed copy of it in exchange.

The oddest thing I have that isn't something I still have that I bought new ages ago is a copy of Ghost & Goblins that I got in the mail from Funcoland back around 96-97 that looks like it was sanded down in the back that I would never get rid of just since it's a neat oddity. I always pictured somebody barrowing it and some kids pissed at the game in wood shop class that decided to sand the cart to get revenge :grumble:

If given the option I would get everything complete and in perfect shape (if cheap) but I usually settle for less and ain't too picky if the price is right. The best example of this is my copy of TMNT: Hyperstone Heist. I got a cart only copy at the flea market for a buck a few years back that has some wear on the corner of the label. I wouldn't mind having a complete copy of this but only if I luck into one dirt cheap to fairly cheap in the wild otherwise I'll live with my mild label damage cart only copy.

[mobiusclimber]

I'm kind of in the middle. The more expensive the cart is, the less I care (dependent of course on the price I paid for it). Cheap games I want to be in pretty good shape since there's not going to be a huge difference between a beat up cart or a mint one. I also need to have boxes, but the condition of the box is also not that important. There are a few boxes I have that I want in better condition, but it has to be pretty bad for me to care (lots of wear, marker, tears or the like).

[The 1 2 P]

I'm pretty picky about my carts but they don't have to be flawless. An intact label and no major blemishes are usually good enough for me. I don't worry about dirt, dust and marker writing that much because my rubbing alcohol/goo-be-gone combo cleaning makes everything look new again. And as weird as this is going to sound I actually enjoy cleaning old carts. Having said that, I wouldn't buy any carts that look like they were dropped in the toilet. I'll pass on those so that somebody more deserving can have them lol.

[retroman]

well..i do care how it looks..but it depends on the game..if its something i must have..im happy as long as it works.

[Parodius Duh!]

I am completly ANAL about game condition. Carts must look as close to new as possible! I use to freak out in gamestop cause they would always stick their HUGE price stickers right on the game label, like, whats the f'ing point? put it on the fucking plastic part!!!!!!

[MarioMania]

I have a Zelda Oracle of Seasons Box..It a little crushed, I want a Nice one

I'm paranoid about what game boxes I want to keep perfect

[exit]

As long as the front label isn't completely ruined/written on, then I'm usually good. I hated seeing a game I wanted at Goodwill with a giant $2 written on the front label, instead of all the empty blank space the cart has, it's like they do it on purpose.

Other than that, as long as it doesn't look like it was found in a cesspool, I'm good.

[hellraiser]

OK Ok....

Now be honest...

Any one try to "touch up" a label? Removing marker from carts videos is one of the first thing I looked up on youtube when I started collecting again. Still though I often think about trying to clean up a label with a marker or risk glue a peeling label back.

[Fatalstar64]

I've been pretty anal about condition because I think what if I wake up tomorrow and want to sell off my entire collection, even though I know that probably won't happen you never know and it's best to have your stuff keep it's value and easier to sell. I tend to be a bit lighter on stuff like Earthbound, Metal Warriors and Kirby's Dreamland 3 as it's hard enough to find those around but I make sure I get some sort of discount on them for their condition. By the way does anyone care about the safety label on the back? My Earthbound had that infamous blockbuster sticker and while removing it took part of the safety label off.

[Atari 5200]

I'm so picky about my carts, I passed up NWC 1990 for $10 because it had a spot of mud on it.

[megasdkirby]

Cart condition is important to me, but I won't be anal about it. As long as the game is in good condition, I don't mind. Not beat the hell out of and I am ok. I have carts that have been ultra worn, but they still look good, so it's fine with me. Nevertheless, I try my best to get the best condition possible and will skip over games that either are "loose" or look like shit.

From 1 to 10, 10 being best, the most I've accepted is a 5, or just "fair". Not too bad, not great either...just "OK" or "fair".

[Icarus Moonsight]

I'm so picky about my carts, I passed up NWC 1990 for $10 because it had a spot of mud on it.

That's all for this installment of "Collectors Failing Upwards". Stay tuned for a tutorial on junking all those useless boxes, cases, packages and booklets!

I've had gorgeous looking ones that didn't work at all and I've had awful looking onces that fired up without a hitch. It's a lot like dating actually.

[Tony Lama]

I will usually buy a cart (if needed for my collection) as long as it's not totally messed up and the label is intact. Writing on the cart doesn't bother me so much. But I'm not so crazy about engraving (where some kid carved his initials into the plastic). If the game is functional I will add it to my collection. If I find a nicer copy down the road, I will replace it.
One thing that REALLY gets me though is the little "rattle" of some carts that have a piece of plastic broken off inside! I know most collectors open up their carts to solve that problem, but I don't do that. First off I don't have the proper tools. And second, for some weird reason, opening up a cart makes me feel I've ruined the "integrity" of the cart. Like it was put together by some factory machine long ago and was never meant to be opened by the user. Call me CRAZY!!

[obesolete]

As long as it works I will buy it. I've got a few games with some serious gouges in them, but as long as the game play isn't affected, I'm not too particular.

Labels are the same. I'd rather have a nice label, but I won't discriminate if I find something I've been looking for and it's a little beat up.

[pseudonym]

I don't really care. As long as the game works and the cart and label aren't wrecked, I'll buy it.

[The 1 2 P]

or risk glue a peeling label back.

I found a copy of Dragon Warrior III at Goodwill for $2 a few months ago. Unfortunately the top left corner of the label was peeling and I planned on selling it. So I took a small dab of crazy glue and affixed it to the underside of the peeling label and presto--no more peeling label.

[nebrazca78]

Fanatical. All games in my U.S. Sega collection must be in like-new condition or new. For packaging variants, Sega imports or any non-Sega game I am much less stringent. Having these games in like-new condition is a much lower priority but I will take the opportunity to upgrade their conditions whenever I can.

[Cornelius]

I will usually buy a cart (if needed for my collection) as long as it's not totally messed up and the label is intact. Writing on the cart doesn't bother me so much. But I'm not so crazy about engraving (where some kid carved his initials into the plastic). If the game is functional I will add it to my collection. If I find a nicer copy down the road, I will replace it.
One thing that REALLY gets me though is the little "rattle" of some carts that have a piece of plastic broken off inside! I know most collectors open up their carts to solve that problem, but I don't do that. First off I don't have the proper tools. And second, for some weird reason, opening up a cart makes me feel I've ruined the "integrity" of the cart. Like it was put together by some factory machine long ago and was never meant to be opened by the user. Call me CRAZY!!
You CRAZY!

I take what I can get. I don't think I've turned down anything I needed in the wild because of condition if the price was decent. I didn't realize it when I bought it, but I have an NES pyramid with a half torn label and reeking of cat piss. I still couldn't throw it out, so it is in its own baggie. I upgrade pretty much everything when I get the chance.

[hellraiser]

So I took a small dab of crazy glue and affixed it to the underside of the peeling lable and presto--no more peeling label.

Nice!!! Think im gonna have to give it a try...



By the way does anyone care about the safety label on the back?

Dude!!! Thats the crazzyiest part of my madness!!! While I want my front label perfect I could care less about the back one!!!X_x