Who Doesn't Save the Boxes for their Games?

[Griking]

I know that most people here save them but does anyone here throw the box and manuals away when they buy a game? It amazes me how many people I see bringing loose games into Gamestop to trade in. What posesses them to throw all but the game away when they originally bought it?

[Shadysmurf]

Alot of times they won't give you more even if you have it.. and if you do it's considerably low, if I ever trade in anything(Which usaully I don't..) etc.. I always trade in game only and I usaully only trade in if they have something I want..or a new game I want has been released.. altough that has'nt happened in awhile last game I did that with was Chrono Cross O_O.. Alouthg im really considering getting a Neo Geo Pocket Color..

[RetroYoungen]

I used to not save my boxes, and now I kick myself for it, even if it's not that rare or special a game. When I can find a game complete like for the Genesis or NGPC or whatever system, I get giddy. Like when I found Rocket Knight Adventures yesterday for 3 bucks, totally complete and in good condition. I'm glad some people did what I should have done.

[RetroYoungen]

Alot of times they won't give you more even if you have it.. and if you do it's considerably low, if I ever trade in anything(Which usaully I don't..) etc.. I always trade in game only and I usaully only trade in if they have something I want..or a new game I want has been released.. altough that has'nt happened in awhile last game I did that with was Chrono Cross O_O.. Alouthg im really considering getting a Neo Geo Pocket Color..

Dude, buy one! That system is one of the best systems (console OR handheld) that I've ever played, and I know some other people agree with me. A definae good buy!

...Sorry, had to add that.

[Chunky]

2 sides to this coin.

I will not keep the boxes for 2600,nes,snes,n64.
(if i get boxes or manuals with these games i ofer then to someone else)

I will not buy any gc,psx,ps2,dc,saturn,genesis,sms,tg-16 without a case (instructions optional).




GB and NGP boxes and manuals i'll keep them if i get them, don't really mind either way.

[petewhitley]

I always chuck boxes (I'll save the CD/DVD keep cases, etc. though out of convenience). Simply no interest in them, I'm not in this hobby to make any money, or to fill a room, just to play the games. I like having the carts lined up... It looks better to my obsessive-compulsive disordered mind.

[Shadysmurf]

If you just throw your boxes away I'll Take them...and on the subject all mine are stored in bubble wrapped cardboard boxes

[Slipdeath]

Alot of times they won't give you more even if you have it.. and if you do it's considerably low, if I ever trade in anything(Which usaully I don't..) etc.. I always trade in game only and I usaully only trade in if they have something I want..or a new game I want has been released.. altough that has'nt happened in awhile last game I did that with was Chrono Cross O_O.. Alouthg im really considering getting a Neo Geo Pocket Color..

Dude, buy one! That system is one of the best systems (console OR handheld) that I've ever played, and I know some other people agree with me. A definae good buy!

...Sorry, had to add that.

hell yeah, trust me it is an awesome handheld, and im still trying to complete mmy collection

[scooterb23]

I don't go out of my way to throw away boxes, but I definitely don't collect them. I will pick up a loose copy of a cart over a boxed one sometimes...

CD based games I like to have cases because I can use them for my mix cds. I store older cd games in cd wallets, and the newer ones that have DVD style cases are kept in those cases...

[jaydubnb]

What posesses them to throw all but the game away when they originally bought it?

I think its like buying shoes...the object inside is more valuable to most ppl than the outside container...and a game box is too small to store stuf in lol

To be honest I cant stand cardboard boxes: I dont have any of em excpet for the NGPC ones...some cool art work. No, scratch that I have a complete Ys Books I and II for the Duo. (mainly to protect the included map). Oh, and I'd keep the SNES Dracula X for the bad ass pic of Richter ;) But I much prefer and wouldnt dare toss hardcover cases like the Genny's, CD jewel cases,NGPC snaplocks, or the coffins that protect NEO*GEO home carts.

[SoulBlazer]

What do you mean by boxes? Most games these days don't HAVE boxes.

CD games of course will stay in the case, and I won't get a game that does'nt at least have a duplicate case for it.

I always kept my N64 and Game Boy games in their boxes -- they are still sored like that. The 32X games I got eariler this year came complete and they are staying like that. I don't have any other older console systems.

[sisko]

I don't save my boxes either unless its a disc case of some sort, limited edition box (such as the Zelda N64 boxes), or import box.

On the other hand, I don't understand why people throw away jewel cases.

They take up space and I buy the game to play it, not to stare at a pretty box.

[Oobgarm]

Most people tend to buy the games just to play them. I can remember that all of my pre-N64 games had the box/manual tossed out. Now, of course, I see the error of my ways, since lots of those are hard to find now.

[YoshiM]

Primarily no I don't keep boxes except for the DVD/CD cases or the SMS/Genesis clam shell cases (when I collected them). Everything else-nope. No room, no interest. Instructions, any inserts (posters, magazine subscription info, etc.) and game is all that really matters to me.

[advbat]

I do not collect / keep boxes or cases of any kind... I don't have the room and it keeps my collection much more manageable as far as space. I collect carts and instructions and give away/sell throw away boxes. This includes CD/DVD cases.

[kevates]

sorry, I forgot who I was for a moment...

I do not collect / keep boxes or cases of any kind... I don't have the room and it keeps my collection much more manageable as far as space. I collect carts/discs and instructions and give away/sell/throw away boxes. This includes CD/DVD cases.

[lendelin]

I keep the boxes/cases, manuals, maps, posters, nowadays even the ads. I love cardboard boxes (much more than cases), to throw a box away seems almost perverse to me. :)

I love to open an old NES game, it's still in the original plastic sleeve with manual, exactly like when it was new, and if a poster, poster ad, or any other ad is inside, the better.

I even bought a NES Castlequest from ebay because it came with the lil map (similar to Zelda, but the game is completely mapped out). I'd never buy a used game without box and manual. There is just something missing, something doesn't feel right. I wouldn't even buy a Stadium Events for $50 if it's not complete. Yep, I'm so bad. :)

[nesuser2]

hmmmm.........i would keep all that stuff. dont get rich off of it but keep it if you buy it new. it doesn't take up that much space.......if you're buying that much stuff that it really takes up that much space......then maybe you should spend your gaming money on more space LOL

seriously though........i would keep it. atleast throw it in a box and if you find out in 20 years that it's worth some money then sell it......if not atleast your stuff is complete. i have a ton of boxes and manuals i sold for NES but that's only because the game wasnt' my favorite. i still have about 30 NES boxes that some people might kill for, and the only reason i collect them is because in 20 years........i will get it out of the box and remember it. anything beyond that doesn't matter.............and i'm rambling. but anybody with a bunch of dvd cases i would buy, i get damaged ones all the time with my dvd collection. and wow......one last thing........if somebody got into my stuff one day and took all my dvd cases and burnt them or threw them away. i would rather be shot, i have dvd's that i got in trade and it still burns me that i cant find a video store to let me have the case. dvd cases and stuff like that is revolutionizing what people keep and what people don't........but wow i can't believe some people dont keep the dvd style cases. not only does it diminish the value.......it looks totally jacked, if somebody offered to sell me a soft case FULL of ps2 games......with no cases......stolen would be the first thought through my mind.......i'm gonna can it now. i've spoken

-Mark

[The Manimal]

Of course I buy lots of cart only games, but manuals are very important, especially with games that have elaborate instructions, maps, charts, etc.....like adventure games and RPGs.



Box isn't a big deal either way, but I never toss mine out. You can always collapse them.



Disc games? Jewel cases can be replaced, but back and front inserts are a must no matter what! I will not buy the 'rarest' game for $10 if it is missing the booklet!~ Like music, many stores will sell the games for a few dollars if that....just because the insert is missing. Just totally unpresentable. A jewel case where you see the disc when it's closed, because the booklet is missing. Not cool. Back insert missing....you see the tray and nothing else. No title for the spine either, because of this. Yuk.

[Kid Fenris]

I once chucked the packaging for StarTropics, only to discover that the manual included a "letter" from a character in the game. At a certain point in the game, the player is told to put water on this letter to reveal a secret code necessary to progress. And by the time I realized this, the letter was long gone.

Ever since this incident, I've always hung onto a game's box and documentation, and, given the chance, I try to get the most complete copy possible.

[SoulBlazer]

Yeah, I thought that was great about Star Tropics. Talk about original! I mean, games had bonuses for years before that, but a bonus that isa ctually NEEDED for the game.

Actually, the letter was seperate from the manual. It was a normal letter from the main charcters uncle inviting him to come vist him for the summer. When I first got the game, I read it with the instruction manual, did'nt think much of it, and put it away back in the box.

About mid way through the game you're told you need a secret code in order to continue playing -- something about accesing a computer file in the sub or something -- and that it was hidden on the letter. I don't think the game actually SAID it was invisible ink -- but after looking at the letter again it was easy to tell what to do, even for a kid. :)

Sure enough, once I put it into a bowl of water, there was a hidden message on the bottom.

The really cool thing was that the letter came out of that just fine. Nintendo must have used some special paper or something. I've seen one letter dunked at least 12 times and it's still fine.

But if you rented the game or got it second hand, you were SOL and these were the days before the net. Probaly why no other game has done anything like this. Oh well.

Great game also, by the way. One of the last NES games I still saw being sold new at KB Toys back in 1999. I bought all three copies and sold them over the next couple years on EBay or included them as trade bait. I doubt sealed copies of that game go for much, cause I can't have been the only one doing that! :)

[cessnaace]

First off, let me state that I am insane!

Secondly, I have NEVER tossed the box or instructions for a video game. Oversized boxes for PC games are a different story, however. They are WAY too big. I keep all printed manuals, however.

Thirdly, I will buy loose came carts sometimes, if I can't find a complete copy (manual, box, inserts, overlays, etc.). However, I would much rather buy a complete package. I paid $30 on Ebay for a complete GILLIGAN'S ISLAND for the NES. I very much doubt anyone would have paid that much for a loose cart.

Fourthly (isn't this fun(ly), I have noticed that trends are different for this sort of thing depending on the system. NES games tend to turn up loose, minus all manuals and boxes, etc. Meanwhile, Sega Master System games more often turn up complete then loose (or at least, with the box).

Fifthly, I have 12 different systems, games for another 4 (that I can't play yet, of course), PC games ,and I just scored some Commordore 64 stuff. I have 29 HUGE boxes of games in storage (climate controled), and buy more every week (hey, I said I was insane). My wife agrees that I'm nuts, but loves me anyway. I still prefer the games to be complete!

Lastly, if ANYONE out in gameing land, reading this missive, tosses old manuals, boxes, gaming magazines, or GAMES. DON'T! Email me first. I'LL TAKE THEM!!! :) :D :)

End of missive.

[devilman]

Fourthly (isn't this fun(ly), I have noticed that trends are different for this sort of thing depending on the system. NES games tend to turn up loose, minus all manuals and boxes, etc. Meanwhile, Sega Master System games more often turn up complete then loose (or at least, with the box).


Certainly the case in the UK. I always try to get complete games, but most of the NES games that turn up on Ebay are just cart only. I can only assume that it's because Nintendo used cardboard and the boxes didn't stand the test of time. 95% of my Master System games are boxed and most with instruction manuals. I hate having cart only MS games.

Same can be said for SNES too - it's not too often that people sell complete SNES games.

[bargora]

I once chucked the packaging for StarTropics, only to discover that the manual included a "letter" from a character in the game. At a certain point in the game, the player is told to put water on this letter to reveal a secret code necessary to progress. And by the time I realized this, the letter was long gone.
HA HA

[Dr. Morbis]

The boxes to some of the earlier systems are becoming exceedingly rare (2600,NES, etc.). Do a search on ebay for any dirt-common NES game (pro wrestling, Hogan's Alley, Contra, Bubble Bobble, etc.) You will find easily over 50 auctions, or sometimes even over 100, of which one or two MIGHT come with the box. I would venture to guess that for systems that used cardboard boxes, the boxes will become much more expensive than the actual cartridges in the future. Over 95% of all NES games in general circulation (ie: not in some hardcore collector's room) are loose. Probably jumps to 99%+ for 2600.

Just my opinions

[Shadysmurf]

All but ONE of my Gameboy games has everything it came in intact in mint like it was just bought... most of my nes boxes are like that.. but a few of em are ruined/show ware.. all my SNES games I bought knew that have boxes so those are mint and so are all my n64 Games besides a few rental stickers

[cessnaace]

The local Game Force stores (retailers of used video games) have tons of SNES games. All but 3 or 4 are loose. Likewise, they have tons of Genesis games. However, while they have 40 are more loose, they have even more in their original boxes. This seems to support the idea that cardboard boxes get tossed (generally speaking), while hardshell plastic cases are kept.

In my own collection I have never tossed the box or instructions for a console or handheld game. So, I have many vintage Atari 2600, 7800, Intellivision, etc. games complete and near mint. In fact, I have over 40 Atari 2600 games that are still sealed (I bought a lot from a wearhouse in Mexico years ago, along with a lot of 7800 games. They're still sealed as well).

On a related note, I've been seeing a disturbing trend of people cutting the bulk of the instructions off the manuals for Saturn games, leaving just the cover page. This really gets my goat, especially since uncracked Saturn game cases are getting hard to come by. Either they were designed poorly, or they are too large. Either way they are frequently cracked, or have some other defect that drives the anally retintive like me further around the bend!
x_x

[Ruudos]

ALways kept the boxes and manuals. Good to store your games that way too. Some people I always saw losoe carts on the ground, what a mess.