SNES Collecting Questions

[KRAMNED]

Hi I'm starting an SNES collection and I was wondering what makes a game complete. I know the game should have the box with instructions, but what about the standard book from Nintendo and the Nintendo Power offers? Also, if I have a choice between a copy of a game that's Player's Choice and one that isn't, what should I go for (in general)?

[Richter Belmount]

Complete is whatever came in the game box when it was released.

[CrazyGamesDude]

Alright, so complete has a different meaning for everyone, it just depends on how you want to view it. For some people complete means the box, manual, and game, and for other people complete is anything that was included when you bought the game brand new.

As for your other question, the non player's choice versions are more desirable and generally worth more, but it's really up to you.

[Lanzo]

Like he said above, I generally view complete as box game and manual or a poster/map if it came with one. Many of the other things are just generic and not always specific to the game although warranty cards are cool I don't really care too much about them.

[jammajup]

With box,manual,reg card or anything else that came with it is fine to match the requirement `complete`but if its quite an obscure game just the cart will do short term in my opinion.

[KRAMNED]

Like he said above, I generally view complete as box game and manual or a poster/map if it came with one. Many of the other things are just generic and not always specific to the game although warranty cards are cool I don't really care too much about them.

Thanks, this is what I've been following so far. With the maps/posters, does anyone know a place documenting these releases? I know some of the common ones like A Link to Past, but I'm having a hard time confirming for most games.

[sheath]

Yeah, if I were going to view complete as anything more than game, box and manual I would need a database of other included items. Usually if the game came with a map I am okay with finding that out for "complete."

I have never seen a list of promotional material and registration cards at all, much less per game. This kind of thing I file under statements like "I bought the game new and kept everything."

[Xtincthed]

it's different for every collector
some people want EVERYTHING that came with it (so also folders etc), most just want the box, manual, inlay and cart (and extra's if there were any, like maps)

[Coptur]

Yeah it depends. Personally, I'd say just having all the games is good. But if you have all the boxes and manuals, thats just crazy.

[Natty Bumppo]

Thanks, this is what I've been following so far. With the maps/posters, does anyone know a place documenting these releases? I know some of the common ones like A Link to Past, but I'm having a hard time confirming for most games.
Ebay is good place to look to see what should have come with the game in terms of charts, maps and posters. Most of the SNES games are common enough that there will usually be a more or less intact one up for sale. (Sometimes people will offer stuff that didn't come with the original release - often a premium of some sort. But I have also seen people offer up "rare" maps and posters for outrageous sums that are actually just clipped from a nintendo power magazine - you can get the whole magazine for much cheaper with a little bit of searching. Also other formats of the game will sometimes have maps that the SNES didn't come with - for example I have a map for Might and Magic III that came with the PC version. )

For what is worth I consider a game complete if it has the game, manual, box and anything needed for game play - so a map or chart is good but a poster with nothing else on it is nice but not essential.

[Eleuthria]

I've always considered Complete to be everything directly related to the game, meaning: Box, Manual, Cartridge, and ANYTHING that came in the box specifically related to that game (Posters, mini-guides, maps, charts).

The small trays, plastic bags, warranty cards, or magazine subscription cards are not a part of a "complete" package to me, because they could easily be taken from a different game and put into that box and you would not know.

[lkermel]

Yep, same as everyone here. "complete" should come with everything that was originally included with the game. Personally, I'm happy when I get game+box+manual.

As Eleuthria said, it is actually tricky to know what came with the original game (auction sites are good to find out about this) - and generic cards (warranty/registration and so forth) are often the same for all the games. As a side note, Japanese SFC registration cards do often come with the game's serial number on them, so it is easier. But how can you tell if the plastic tray is legit ? (many Famicom games have "custom" trays and sellers often reconstitute "complete" games without the original trays or registration cards). SNES games come with a cardboard tray which is (I believe) the same for all the games, right ?

[Steven]

SNES games come with a cardboard tray which is (I believe) the same for all the games, right ?

There are two tray types I know of -- the good old "all-around casing" and the newer kind where the top has no "edge/border." I prefer the old one that goes all around. Looks nicer, heh.

And like you, I'm happy with box+manual+game. That is complete to me, along with maps and guides (i.e. Earthbound) specifically made for the game. Don't really care for game posters where it's just art of the box on the front and nothing on the back. Nice to have, but as someone pointed out, not essential. IMO