Worst Idea Ever. Warning, this is not for the faint of heart.

[Schiggidyd]

Please check out this link.
Not for the faint of heart!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/8BitMemory

What do you guys think of destruction of collectibles for THIS?!

[SOL BADGUY]

I dont like to click on links to sites I dont know. Whats going on there?

Worst idea ever would be for Philips to relaunch the CD-I and have Bubsy 3D as their lunch title.

[scaleworm]

Please check out this link.
Not for the faint of heart!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/8BitMemory

What do you guys think of destruction of collectibles for THIS?!

I think that this is a GREAT idea. The more this knucklehead and folks like them destroy old games and systems, the more our collections go up in value!

WOOHOO!

p.s. Idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(not the poster here... but the idiot(s) gutting innocent unsuspecting Gameboys and NES/SNES carts.

Just like the GOD DAMNED ( I do hope God Damns these people too) dim-bulbs that turn GREAT vinyl (not Barbara S's...i fucking hate her too) into fruit bowls... (I HATE These bastards).

http://www.instructables.com/id/Vinyl-Fruit-Bowl/

https://www.google.com/search?q=barbra+streisand&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=5Kg6UdDkNeTVyQGItYGADg&biw=1173&bih=556&sei=96g6UeP4L-fuyAGA8IDADQ

It is FRIDAY, I'm starting my Drink on....

....OH MY GOD... I just looked online at all of the Vinyl into Fruit Bowl sites... I wanna' hurt someone now real bad...

[SpaceHarrier]

I dont like to click on links to sites I dont know. Whats going on there?



Gameboys, lobotomized into retro-looking hard drives that will surely make you 'the envy of all your geek friends'. Classic NES cartridges, their entrails torn free, replaced with external pc storage. An atrocity.

Except that LJN game.

[spman]

Gameboys, lobotomized into retro-looking hard drives that will surely make you 'the envy of all your geek friends'. Classic NES cartridges, their entrails torn free, replaced with external pc storage. An atrocity.

Except that LJN game.

I would guess that he's probably stripping down Mario / Duckhunt carts and slapping on a reproduction label, it's not like this dude has an abundance of copies of these games that are in demand at his disposal to wreck them. He can destroy all the copies of X-Men for NES he wants though, he's doing the world a favor.

[SOL BADGUY]

The better classic games look like he photoshopped the images. I bet he went around to stores and got sports titles and other crappy cheap games, then prints out the stickers for those better games onto them. With the gold cart Zelda games though I hope he didnt gut them, but I guess some people really really hate Zelda 2.

[Gameguy]

He can destroy all the copies of X-Men for NES he wants though, he's doing the world a favor.
He could have bought defective games that weren't working anymore, someone bought some cheap NES games off me to use as hard drive cases. I didn't have any defective games at the time so he got cheap commons, but he was asking for defective games. It's why I don't throw out broken games even if they can't be repaired, somebody might be able to use them.

[JSoup]

Probably could have just bought a few empty cartridges from any of the sites that mold them, then print out the game label. More steps and would raise the price of the trinket, but would have still saved a game from being destroyed.

[Gameguy]

Probably could have just bought a few empty cartridges from any of the sites that mold them, then print out the game label. More steps and would raise the price of the trinket, but would have still saved a game from being destroyed.
Aren't those cases around $5 each or so? None of them really look like real NES games anyway, it's just cheaper and better looking to buy crap games in bulk and just use those cases.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I will not shed a tear for X-Men for NES.

Not a one.

[recorderdude]

http://oi45.tinypic.com/a0jxnc.jpg

[Schiggidyd]

Guys, I think he uses real cartridges.

"This is a discounted item. There are some cosmetic flaws in the cartridge, so it has been discounted $10. An example of cosmetic flaws would be some minor damage to the label, non-removable writing, or discoloration in the cartridge."

[Aussie2B]

I dont like to click on links to sites I dont know. Whats going on there?

I'm surprised you've never heard of Etsy. It's like THE site for people selling game-related crafts (and crafts not related to games too).

Anyway, destruction of carts aside, it's just a dumb idea and looks dumb too. If you guys want to see some genuinely cool game-related crafts, ones that actually showcase real creativity and talent, check out http://www.spritestitch.com

[Schiggidyd]

I'm surprised you've never heard of Etsy. It's like THE site for people selling game-related crafts (and crafts not related to games too).

Anyway, destruction of carts aside, it's just a dumb idea and looks dumb too. If you guys want to see some genuinely cool game-related crafts, ones that actually showcase real creativity and talent, check out http://www.spritestitch.com

And look! They do it all without destroying the very products they represent!

But according to the 8BitMemory guy on Etsy, he "Loves the classics!"

[spman]

Guys, I think he uses real cartridges.

"This is a discounted item. There are some cosmetic flaws in the cartridge, so it has been discounted $10. An example of cosmetic flaws would be some minor damage to the label, non-removable writing, or discoloration in the cartridge."

Well, if he's pealing the labels off copies of Bases Loaded and TMNT, which is what I suspect he is doing, that doesn't mean those cartridges aren't in flawless condition themselves.

[camarotuner]

He's destroying common NES games to make crap? Whatever, there is more than enough copies of all of those games floating around that I couldn't care less. Let's be realistic guys if tomorrow he melted 10000 copies of Legend of Zelda and turned it into a big plastic ball the price of Zelda wouldn't move. They printed a LOT of these things. Now if he starts killing Cheetamen 2 carts he might have a shot at effecting market value. Which I'm sure isn't his goal but these aren't "treasured collectibles" to most people, let's be honest.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Why don't folks complain when people make repro carts out of common carts?

Bit of a double standard there, eh?

[JSoup]

Why don't folks complain when people make repro carts out of common carts?

People complain about it all the time.

[Polygon]

This is a horrible idea, not only because it takes perfectly good retro gaming (for the most part) and ruins it. Also, the idea of a USB drive is to be portable. These things make horrible USB drives.


I will not shed a tear for X-Men for NES.

Not a one.

I have to agree with this. They belong in some dark pit along with ET. And honestly, I think ET was the better game.

[wiggyx]

People complain about it all the time.

This.

Because, you know, there aren't enough copies of NBA Live '95 to satiate every person on Earth who wants a copy 50 times over.

[Gameguy]

People complain about it all the time.
I complain about repros and replacement labels as it makes it harder to avoid buying bootleg games. Someone makes a repro of Stadium Events and produces a new label that's identical to the original, good luck telling the difference unless you can open the cart up in person. There was someone selling repros of Stadium Events awhile ago so this can happen with any rare game.

Destroying crappy common games does bother me a little, but not as much as it used to.

[wiggyx]

Repro labels are never printed offset, like the originals. If you do a little research about how to spot the differences between laserjet, inkjet, and offset printing, then you should be able to spot a repro label without much work at all ;)

[Aussie2B]

I don't care for the practice of using real carts to make repros, but I know that there are enough retro gamers into them that being particularly vocal with my complaints will do nothing but bring their wrath upon me. But for me, I've devoted so much effort into restoring games over the years that purposely destroying them just isn't something I'm down with, even if it's a common game or a crappy game.

[SparTonberry]

Aren't gray Zelda IIs uncommon, though?

[Gameguy]

Repro labels are never printed offset, like the originals. If you do a little research about how to spot the differences between laserjet, inkjet, and offset printing, then you should be able to spot a repro label without much work at all ;)
If I see them in person I can usually tell the difference, it's just if you're buying a game online and are going by photographs then it can be tricky. Going by some average photos in an auction, even with videos of a system running the game won't be enough to be 100% sure it's legit. Someone can just slip a "rare" game into an unpromoted auction full of random carts with no particular focus onto any specific game, if people see a rare game the price will get bid up even if the game later turns out to be fake.

It's also why I dislike when people "restore" rare games by replacing labels. If someone claims to have replaced a ruined label on a rare game, how can you really be sure it's just a new label and not a complete repro cart? It's just stuff that makes me cautious of the hobby.

[recorderdude]

If someone claims to have replaced a ruined label on a rare game, how can you really be sure it's just a new label and not a complete repro cart?

If you care enough to replace the label of your game, you intend to keep it. Everyone knows illegitimacy devalues retro game sales. Anyone claiming otherwise probably did just make a repro.

[bb_hood]

Anyway, destruction of carts aside, it's just a dumb idea and looks dumb too.

Yeah thats exactly what I thought when I saw them. Stupid idea and looks stupid also. Just another guy trying to make a buck off the retro video game craze. You can put many other things in a 'modded' nes cart, but you generally wouldn't because its stupid

[wiggyx]

If I see them in person I can usually tell the difference, it's just if you're buying a game online and are going by photographs then it can be tricky. Going by some average photos in an auction, even with videos of a system running the game won't be enough to be 100% sure it's legit. Someone can just slip a "rare" game into an unpromoted auction full of random carts with no particular focus onto any specific game, if people see a rare game the price will get bid up even if the game later turns out to be fake.

It's also why I dislike when people "restore" rare games by replacing labels. If someone claims to have replaced a ruined label on a rare game, how can you really be sure it's just a new label and not a complete repro cart? It's just stuff that makes me cautious of the hobby.

Yup, nearly impossible in photos. Definitely causes more stress than the typical collector concerns would while shopping on eBay and whatnot had 10+ years ago :(

I love repros, but I'm not at all into repros of what's already available (even if it is at an astronomical price). Repros serve to fill a very literal gap in my collection that cannot be filled otherwise, not to act as a placeholder for an actual release.

I occasionally "restore" carts with new labels for myself, but they aren't anything that I'd a) ever care to sell, and b) would never try to pass off as original if I were to sell.

[Ninjamohawk]

I like the nes controller keychain. Might even buy one.

[JSoup]

Repro labels are never printed offset, like the originals. If you do a little research about how to spot the differences between laserjet, inkjet, and offset printing, then you should be able to spot a repro label without much work at all ;)

Assuming someone was dead set on putting out a near perfect copy, it's possible to get around any type of supposed differences any level of research is going to teach you. I worked in a printing studio for five years (all kinds of printing, from multi-media to block prints). The crap that can be done by people whoa re really into it is amazing. I'm fairly confident that if I really wanted to make a fake [INSERT RARE GAME HERE] I could do it and pass it off without trouble.

Not that I would. Probably make one and post a "hey, guys, look at this neat thing I did" topic here.

[wiggyx]

Well sure, it wasn't to say that it's technically impossible, but rather that it's very unlikely that you'll ever run into a repro label that's 100% perfect. Especially considering NES and SNES carts with that extra spot color ;) That in itself is more work and money than almost anyone is willing got bother with I'd imagine.

[JSoup]

Wouldn't cost as much as you think and the time investment matters differently from person to person. Not saying you're wrong, just adding more information to the pile.

I'd actually be interested to see what these printers I was talking about could do with a proper 3D printer, whenever those start becoming common place. I've already read posts and topics (none around here, yet) to the effect of piracy becoming more common place when a 3D printer can be found at every Kinko's.

[Az]

I would venture to guess the number of carts and whatnot that have been tossed into the garbage over the years vastly outnumbers the numbers sacrificed by crafters/artists.

I don't even play 99% of my collection, and I have no intentions of selling any of it, so it's all out of circulation and won't be falling into anyone's hands. For all purposes they might as well be in a locker in the bottom of the ocean.

[Atarileaf]

I would venture to guess the number of carts and whatnot that have been tossed into the garbage over the years vastly outnumbers the numbers sacrificed by crafters/artists.

I don't even play 99% of my collection, and I have no intentions of selling any of it, so it's all out of circulation and won't be falling into anyone's hands. For all purposes they might as well be in a locker in the bottom of the ocean.

Yea my opinion on that has changed dramatically. I'd rather other collectors who would actually play games that I don't care for, have them, instead of me just being a video game version of a hoarder. Better for everyone :)

[wiggyx]

Wouldn't cost as much as you think and the time investment matters differently from person to person. Not saying you're wrong, just adding more information to the pile.

I'd actually be interested to see what these printers I was talking about could do with a proper 3D printer, whenever those start becoming common place. I've already read posts and topics (none around here, yet) to the effect of piracy becoming more common place when a 3D printer can be found at every Kinko's.


Interesting. I guess I neglected to consider that you can do spot colors with digital print now (correct?).

I'd like to be able to buy (or even offer for sale) nearly perfect repro labels for those people that want to restore the appearance of their old games. Just with some sort of very small, but very easily located marker to indicate that it is NOT an original label in order to better preserve the market.


I've actually got a 3D printer on the way. The resolution with 3D print isn't really such that a pefect copy can be made at this point, but I'm sure that time will come. I'm planning on using it for products like console and cart replacement shells and I'll make sure to post my results when I do.

On a side note, my local libraries have 3D printers now. You just pay a print fee like you would on any old laser or inkjet. It's pretty wild.

[Griking]

I want a Stadium Events one.

[Aussie2B]

I don't even play 99% of my collection, and I have no intentions of selling any of it, so it's all out of circulation and won't be falling into anyone's hands. For all purposes they might as well be in a locker in the bottom of the ocean.

That kinda makes me sad too, to be honest. I mean, maybe I'm not one to talk, given my huge backlog, but I do try out 99% of my games as I get them and hope to play through (or at least invest a decent chunk of time) into all of them some day, even if that dream may be a little farfetched. If my mentality about my collection ever got to the point where I'd flat-out say something like "I don't want to play the vast majority of these", I'd seriously question why I'm still in the hobby and why I'm bothering to keep all these games in my possession.

I don't know, maybe I'm misinterpreting and you do actually want to play your games but time or whatever prevents you, but it just seems like a rather dispassionate way to talk about gaming/collecting.

[Steve W]

Honestly, I don't see any problem here. The guy's just selling a handful of NES games and handheld systems that millions of copies exist of. It's not like everybody's going to do that and destroy all the copies in existence. And besides, I've done something like that myself. I've got a Pac-Man and an E.T. cartridge for the Atari 2600 that I've hollowed out, crammed a 3-port USB hub inside, and put USB drives inside. When I go out of town I take my old PowerBook G4 with me, and it helps me carry around my media since the laptop's drive is only 80GB. Plus, it was pretty fun to make.

[FayeC86]

Honestly, I don't see any problem here. The guy's just selling a handful of NES games and handheld systems that millions of copies exist of. It's not like everybody's going to do that and destroy all the copies in existence. And besides, I've done something like that myself. I've got a Pac-Man and an E.T. cartridge for the Atari 2600 that I've hollowed out, crammed a 3-port USB hub inside, and put USB drives inside. When I go out of town I take my old PowerBook G4 with me, and it helps me carry around my media since the laptop's drive is only 80GB. Plus, it was pretty fun to make.

Exactly. I've had fun doing similar things over the years, be it MAME'ing an original MVS Cabinet or throwing a Raspberry Pi into an NES Shell.
Creating something you will use or enjoy (nstead of letting something you wont take up space) is a great way to enjoy yourself.

[Jorpho]

Didn't someone fit an entire working PC into an NES cart a while ago? A USB drive seems kind of tame in comparison. Or maybe that was just an entire working Famiclone.

I really wouldn't want to trust my valuable data to something bought off an Etsy store.

[Enmity]

I want an copy of The Guardian Legend for NES with a 500gig HDD in it, but I still want the cart to be functional. I think that would be pretty neat and worth the 25% increase on the cost of a 500gig HDD.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

Gee, I guess maybe I will burn in hell for doing this:

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll314/JYakapucci/JoystickTester001.jpg

I don't remember what the Atari cart was that I used as a donor for this. This one is just the prototype and if I ever get time and ambition, I will make a much nicer looking one.

[xelement5x]

I think that this is a GREAT idea. The more this knucklehead and folks like them destroy old games and systems, the more our collections go up in value!

WOOHOO!

p.s. Idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(not the poster here... but the idiot(s) gutting innocent unsuspecting Gameboys and NES/SNES carts.

Just like the GOD DAMNED ( I do hope God Damns these people too) dim-bulbs that turn GREAT vinyl (not Barbara S's...i fucking hate her too) into fruit bowls... (I HATE These bastards).

http://www.instructables.com/id/Vinyl-Fruit-Bowl/

https://www.google.com/search?q=barbra+streisand&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=5Kg6UdDkNeTVyQGItYGADg&biw=1173&bih=556&sei=96g6UeP4L-fuyAGA8IDADQ

It is FRIDAY, I'm starting my Drink on....

....OH MY GOD... I just looked online at all of the Vinyl into Fruit Bowl sites... I wanna' hurt someone now real bad...

Those vinyl bowls look pretty sweet. I've got some an box sets I don't want the records in so I think I'm going to have to mess around with that for a bit.

And don't blow up on me, if I didn't do this with them I probably would just bin them.

[Dr. BaconStein]

Most of these games are a dime a dozen. Even Mega Man 2 is one of the cheaper Mega Man games. A little on the gaudy side for an external drive, though. It would be neat if they had kept all the internal guts so you could still use them as carts/systems.

[Az]

I don't know, maybe I'm misinterpreting and you do actually want to play your games but time or whatever prevents you, but it just seems like a rather dispassionate way to talk about gaming/collecting.

I never meant that I didn't want to play them, but realistically I never will be able to. 60 hour work week + wife/kids/house leaves a very limited number of hours per week to game. If you only have 6 hours a week to game, looking at a shelf of hundreds of game titles means you could literally never buy another game and still never get to enjoy them all.

And while the concept may be disheartening... let's all be realistic. These are a mass-produced, profit motivated, relatively cheap (and to some degree disposable) medium. To say the world or society is being denied cultural enrichment is a bit of an overstatement. Having a box full of dust covered NES commons in my closet is not the cultural equivalent of vandalizing the Mona Lisa.

Conversely, selling those NES commons here or on Ebay is not the equivalent of donating musical equipment to an orphanage. While I'd hope that the $5 cart I sell to a stranger ends up enriching his and his family's life and having sentimental value, in reality all I can hope for is I don't get a Paypal chargeback.

[scaleworm]

That kinda makes me sad too, to be honest. I mean, maybe I'm not one to talk, given my huge backlog, but I do try out 99% of my games as I get them and hope to play through (or at least invest a decent chunk of time) into all of them some day, even if that dream may be a little farfetched. If my mentality about my collection ever got to the point where I'd flat-out say something like "I don't want to play the vast majority of these", I'd seriously question why I'm still in the hobby and why I'm bothering to keep all these games in my possession.

I don't know, maybe I'm misinterpreting and you do actually want to play your games but time or whatever prevents you, but it just seems like a rather dispassionate way to talk about gaming/collecting.

collecting and playing are not always in synch.
they can but gaming takes more time for me, once all cleaned than a 10 minute hit at a thrift shop once/twice a week...

i do love to play them though.
some day....

[scaleworm]

[QUOTE=Az;1957191]I never meant that I didn't want to play them, but realistically I never will be able to. 60 hour work week + wife/kids/house leaves a very limited number of hours per week to game. If you only have 6 hours a week to game, looking at a shelf of hundreds of game titles means you could literally never buy another game and still never get to enjoy them all.



AMEN brother, AMEN.
but some day.... some day, right?

[teh_d3th_st4r]

...and I thought my chiptune DMGs were sacrilegious.

[needler420]

If you care enough to replace the label of your game, you intend to keep it. Everyone knows illegitimacy devalues retro game sales. Anyone claiming otherwise probably did just make a repro.

I'm not even that big of a collector but that's another reason why I hate people that do repros without a proper license. Dumping a rom on a cartridge is just as illegal as someone playing a rom on their computer.

I do not trust anyone invloved in repros without a proper licence. Someone who knows what they are doing can scam people with repros selling them as originals. With the types of printers out nowadays it's hard to know 100% when something is legit or not no matter how much you know or take the game apart to look at the chips and soldering etc.


Yeah thats exactly what I thought when I saw them. Stupid idea and looks stupid also. Just another guy trying to make a buck off the retro video game craze. You can put many other things in a 'modded' nes cart, but you generally wouldn't because its stupid

You mean like Wiggys Red rose colored gaming business. He trys to say he won't pass repros off as originals but the fact he tried to sell repros on two sites that don't allow it make me question his ethics. Repros and kickstarters and all the the like are cash grabs that came with this retro game craze. It's a very niche market that caters to collectors more so then someone actually wanting to play the game.

[bb_hood]

You mean like Wiggys Red rose colored gaming business. He trys to say he won't pass repros off as originals but the fact he tried to sell repros on two sites that don't allow it make me question his ethics. Repros and kickstarters and all the the like are cash grabs that came with this retro game craze. It's a very niche market that caters to collectors more so then someone actually wanting to play the game.

No, thats not what I mean. Wiggy can do what he wants. His stuff is cool, he actually makes stuff rather than fitting a harddrive in a nes cart which anyone with a dremel tool can do.

[needler420]

No, thats not what I mean. Wiggy can do what he wants. His stuff is cool, he actually makes stuff rather than fitting a harddrive in a nes cart which anyone with a dremel tool can do.

Well comparing in terms of usefulness then yeah I would give it to Wiggy also. In general imo it's more of a hobby then a business. I don't get why you'd want to pay some expensive premium for a back lit screen. Just buy the accessory that's used for a light for like 98% less of what a mod would cost. The mods done in TC's post are more novelty purpose.

I'm a purist so the mods to me is mutilation. I think it's a waste. It's like someone having elective surgery.

[brainerdrainer]

I don't like that kind of stuff. Stop destroying the past

[sloan]

I don't like that kind of stuff. Stop destroying the past

I agree. Reminds me of Atari Age selling lamps made from sacrificed 2600 consoles and game cartridges. It is plainly wrong.

[Mark1983]

I could care less if they did it to all of the irrelevant sports games of the past...just leave the good stuff alone. It's meant to be preserved, not destroyed.

[staxx]

Awww and I was going to start a website to sell the following:

Radiant Silvergun CD Coasters
The Vectrex Mirror
Magnavox Odyssey Cup Holders
Neo Geo AES Tissue box

I can go on and on....

Needless to say I am not a fan of destroying old classic stuff but perhaps Madden carts are the exception.

[Tanooki]

I have no problem with a repro, though in particular it is in the case of using new parts. I don't much like having a game wrecked but in cases of stuff like Starfox 2 I don't see an alternative. One thing I strongly agree with are restoration labels, true copies of an original if your label has succumbed to age or previous owner stupidity and neglect. I take it much like car or other hobby people do, you can get reproduction parts that are like for like and don't have it tattooed asininely across the front like some uptight gamers demand others do with their property like it's their right to tell others what to do with their things. I've got a restoration label primed for Ninja Gaiden Trilogy and Lufia II as my originals are shot. I'm not sure why I haven't run them off yet but I know a solid style sticker to use and what to give it that outer laminate layer too to make it damn near close to original which would be still noticeable if you knew what to look for and gave it a hard stare.


As far as the original topic goes. I don't like to see old games and hardware mutilated either. But, if the item already was shot, I'm all for it. If you can use an old controller, game pak, hand held, or other accessory and make it into something cool instead of putting it in the trash GO FOR IT!

I had a busted Back to the Future 2&3 cart and turned it into a wall clock (could be made as a fold out desk clock too.) I looked, lost the pic I took of it. Anyway what I did was buy a clock motor kit from Michaels for around $6. I used a drill and drilled out the center screw hole through the front label to a size matching the clock face post and attached it and tightened it down. Inside the board of the game I filed the circuit just slightly so the mechanism would fit and a little bit of superglue to keep the board in place. The back I removed because it wouldn't close up, though if I were to go with a desktop version a simple hinge could have been glued or screwed to the top of the nes cart to allow it to fold out as a stand. I'm thinking of making another as I have a busted copy of Slalom in my closet.

[Shicky256]

Awww and I was going to start a website to sell the following:

Radiant Silvergun CD Coasters
The Vectrex Mirror
Magnavox Odyssey Cup Holders
Neo Geo AES Tissue box

I can go on and on....

Needless to say I am not a fan of destroying old classic stuff but perhaps Madden carts are the exception.

In that case, I don't think my "Stadium Events as a Dog Toy" YouTube series will be a big hit.

[jammajup]

We need a Stadium Events nes cart memory storage for sure lol

[Gameguy]

In that case, I don't think my "Stadium Events as a Dog Toy" YouTube series will be a big hit.
A Stadium Events pan flute might be neat.