Collecting: Complete only or loose?

[RetroRevival]

I was just reading these forums and in particular the Collecting Milestone thread.

I have *just* started on my collection (only 5 games old!) but have already decided to buy complete games only (media, instructions & box), as apposed to loose games.

For me, loose games are not only worthless in resale (if it ever came to that) but to me it would feel that it was not complete. Its all well and good getting to 1000 games in a collection, but if half of them are media only I would feel that I am breaking the collection code of conduct, and not having a "valid" collection.

Is it just me?

[Mayhem]

Depends on the system. For some, getting complete games is really how most of them will still be sold. That's usually anything disc based. Anything cartridge based quite often will be found as much loose as complete, if not more so.

In the 8-bit realm, I usually go for complete, but if it's rare, I'll take it loose. Anything newer (SNES, N64 etc) then it's complete only.

[anagrama]

Is it just me?

Nope. :)
There's all types of collectors here, even some of those crazy souls who just want sealed games ;)
Personally, SMS/MD/MegaCD/32X/Sat/DC games have to be complete (or at the very least boxed), but I have no qualms about buying loose carts for most other systems if either a) it's cheap enough or b) I'm desperate for a copy to play.

[EnemyZero]

your really don't want to limit yourself, im a perfectonist, i love having complete games,but im also a realist and theres just some games you won't be able to find, or be able to find without a hefty price tag, the best thing to do is if you see a game you want loose grab it, because you can always post on here , there is usually someone who has a empty case or instructions, or if you find another complete copy in the future pick it up and sell the loose one. 3/4 of my genny collection is complete, mint condition but i still have a good 150-200 loose carts laying around which eventually i will find boxes and instructions for

[davidleeroth]

CD-games have to be complete but I'll accept loose carts.
Gives you something to play while waiting a cheap complete one or, what would be the best, find an orphan box and manual through this awesome site. :D

[NESaholic]

I myself like complete games, i'd rather get it complete then cart only, if a game is really hard to get i'd settle for cart only for the time being, at last i'd like to get it complete.Sealed is not a must, if i find a sealed game for cheap i'll buy it, but not if it's insanely high priced,i'd rather just get it complete. :D

[fishsandwich]

Like he said... it depends on the console

For me...


Any CD games must be complete

All N64 games must be complete

Genesis games depend on the game

SNES loose is totally fine

SMS must be complete

NES loose is totally fine

pre-NES anything can be loose


Cheers

:D

[kainemaxwell]

I usually go for both. If I find something I want loose and get the box and manual, if I have to, later on. Or if I find something complee I do my best to get it then.

[thegreatescape]

If im browsing ebay i probably wont bid unless its complete, but if its in the wild ill usually settle for box+cart if its a good or uncommon game. Cart only is a last resort and only for rare/good/really cheap games.

Not that many loose Mega Drive games around here anyway, so that saves me a lot of trouble :)

[Speedy]

It's all about the money, if the price is right ill buy loose carts also. CD games must have box though.

[jdc]

You'll find that you will "rewrite" your stipulations as far as collecting goes.

I live in a small city, and I've done remarkably well as far as completes go, for the access that I have. I like my Genny stuff to be complete, but I'm not that much of an avid Genny collector. NES? I don't collect it, so loose is okay and it's how most of it appears in the wild. N64 is what I do collect and I insisted on completes in the past....but there are a few games that I'm seeing everywhere as loose carts, but nowhere as completes. I think that I'll pick up those loose carts, and look for completes as they show. My main goal is to own a complete library....my secondary goal would be to have them as completes.

Same with Dreamcast. For my disc systems.....ALL discs must be mint, no scuffs or scratches. However, nearly every damned Dreamcast disc that I'm seeing in the wild has been roughly treated....so my Dreamcast collection will be the only one that HAS scratched discs in it, out of pure necessity.

[Aussie2B]

Going for complete games only is an obsessive habit that I'd rather not pick up. :P

As others have said, it varies. For one, a lot of American packaging isn't even worth collecting what with black and white manuals and ugly boxes/cases. On the flip side, that's the reason why I have to have my Japanese imports, with few exceptions, complete. The packaging is just so nice.

If get into the details of my collection, I only have manuals and boxes for a handful of my NES and Genesis games (I just never find anything but carts in the wild), and the percentage is only slightly higher for my SNES games (since I saved all the manuals for the games I bought new). I have manuals for most of my Game Boy games, but not many boxes; all but one of my NGPC games are loose. Most of my N64 games have boxes, but less have manuals. I somewhat make a point to get them complete, but I won't pass up a good deal on a cart. I do make a point to get all my PlayStation games complete, but I won't turn down loose discs for free, dirt cheap, or in a big lot of other stuff I'm buying. I'm pretty sure that all my Sega CD and Dreamcast games are complete, and so is almost all my current generation stuff.

It all comes down to value. I keep in mind the value of a game both complete and loose, and if it's a good deal, I buy it.

[Iron Draggon]

It's not just you. I'm one of those "crazy" collectors who only wants sealed games myself, but that's only because 99% of my collection was all bought sealed back in the day, so it's just a matter of maintaining the extremely mint condition of my collection as thoroughly as possible throughout it all for me. But there are some games that I know I'll never find still sealed anymore, so in those cases I'm willing to buy them mint complete, just so I can get them.

In your case though, I would follow the advice of the majority here and get loose carts whenever you can get them for cheap, even if you already have them, because you can always use them for trade bait or sell them for cash when you need it. That's one thing that I wish I had in my collection right now, a ton of extras, because I need alot of money really bad right now, but I don't have any extras, so I have nothing to sell that I'm willing to part with!

[Barbarianoutkast85]

If its a disc based system I need complete if its cartridge im not as picky but id rather have complete then loose.

[kevincure]

I need my carts not only boxed, but in a good condition box. CD games need to be complete of course. I only plan on having collections of the "great titles" for older cart systems (I'm going to set up a MAME/Emulation box on a SFF computer) so it's no problem to get the few games I want complete.

If you collect 64, I would do what Qixmaster did and buy some lots of "broken down" boxes (the folded down, unused boxes). N64 boxes are often in rough shape in the wild, and complete games command a decent premium. It's much cheaper and easier to get the broken down boxes, and the condition is better too.

[punkoffgirl]

To me, it depends on the type of game. I have all kinds of loose 2600, Coleco, and NES games, and those don't bother me. But all of my N64 games have to be complete.

[joshnickerson]

If I can get the box, I'd take it, but otherwise, I'd settle for the cartridge. Of course, most of my collection USED to be complete, but then a rather large chunk of my boxes "disappeared" when I moved seven years ago. Still kinda upset about that. :(

[XxMe2NiKxX]

I say, it's not neccesarry to have them complete, but if the price is right, I will take complete. My entire Genesis collection is complete, and I've got everything, but I've been collecting Genesis sience it came out, so that's a different story. When starting out, I'd accept anything you can get your hands on, then gradually work your way up to boxed and complete games.

[SegaAges]

i get everything complete unless i really, really want the game or i get it for free.

i have general chaos for genesis loose, and some random crappy n64 games loose.

2600 games i don't even try to get complete, all of them are loose.

when i buy games now, i try to get them complete based on the system.

anything cd based i will only get complete, i try to get everything complete minus 2600.

i never try to get sealed, just because i play every game i own, even if it is just to test it

[MarioAllStar2600]

I was all about loose games when I first started collecting. Then I had more of an urge to buy games complete. Now I pretty much only buy complete. It has cut my collection in half of what it should be though. Kind of depressing. I wisah I collected loose so I didn't spend so much on one game.

[imanerd0011]

When I first starting collecting I was the same way, I only wanted complete NES games... I soon realized that if I ever wanted to get an entire U.S. release NES collection , that it was going to be near impossible to do unless I was going to get just the carts. So now I only collect loose carts. When you think about it, what do you boxes and manuals do ? You can't play them, and for about 95% of NES or Atari games they aren't necessary. You can just put the game in and play. If you are collecting for newer systems (N64 , Playstation , Dreamcast) then I would try to collect complete games, but if you are collecting anything older than SNES, I would go for loose carts.
Although , I am the same way about my cartridges. I only want mint games , that look almost perfect. I won't even buy a game if it is less than that.

[slip81]

Depends on the system, I collect for SMS and N64. N64 doesn't have to be complete, cart only is fine for me. SMS has to be complete and in good condition, the least I will take for a SMS game is cart and box, but I prefer complete.

[klausien]

Anything cartridge can be loose in my collection since I am most interested in the software itself rather than the packaging in most cases. Only SMS and PCE/TG16 card software need a case. I hate loose Hucards. Lynx games are an exception to this.

Anything post PSX absolutely MUST have a case and instructions or I simply will not buy it. I have passed up many a PS2 nugget because it lacked instructions.

I will occasionally make exceptions in the PSX realm if it is a game that lacks value outside of my own curiousity, but who wouldn't want the full packaging for a game? I will admit though that Nintendo boxes are a bit tough to store and lack utility. Using them wrecks them.

[captain nintendo]

NES games have to be complete for me, I know there may be a few games I end up getting loose because it is impossible to find complete. But another thing I want to strike on is the media. I consider the NES stuff complete without it , simply because it would be impossible to find everything @_@

[Emily]

Right now, i prefer loose Nes carts...though i LOVE instruction manuals.
Ill take gameboy/gameboy color and SNES games loose, But Intellivision, Vectrex,Gameboy advance, and all disc games must be complete.
Hunting for gameage in the wild is more rewarding than buying from Ebay any day, and Im more likely to score the games i want to play loose, plus it adds some mystery. Im probably one of the few people here who has no concern for the condition of my NES carts or labels. I love to clean them!
I recently bought a couple games that looked like they were dragged through mud (poop?) but they look and play fine now, and thats all that matters. :-P

[drummy]

I prefer complete games, but I get loose ones if I really must.

[cracked8ball]

For cartridge based systems, boxes are manuals are nice to have, but not necessary. However for CD/DVD based systems, games must have their cases and manuals. I did make an exception for Castlevania Symphony of the Night only because it was hard to find awhile back.

[scooterb23]

I buy loose whenever possible. I tend to not buy loose CD based games, but if I found one I really wanted, I don't think it would stop me...

[Sosage]

Personally, I despise loose Genesis games (with Sega Master System being a very close second). They are by far the easiest pre-PS1/Saturn/N64 era games to find (at the very least) boxed, if not complete. Loose Genesis carts also have a way of haunting the shelf space if you happen to find a duplicate complete copy down the road. They are like bad strays with no home. You just had to let it in and now it won't go away...and no one will take them off your hands. If it is a loose sports title...then it is going to be in your collection until the day you die. ;)

Everything else from the pre-PS1/Saturn/N64 eras I can stand being loose (well...ok...and Sega CD...that is out of not liking loose CD games laying around), but prefer complete. I sort of dig how my loose NES collection looks, plus the games are a lot more accessible (I don’t think I ever open my boxed NES games for random play…there is always that feeling that this will be the time I thumb the tab too hard and tear/bend something…also, some of my boxes are so ragged from the previous owner that I think one more open will disintegrate the box).

[Nesmaster]

cart based, i want some games complete, but im totally cool with cart. cd based must be complete, unless i find disc only for dirt cheap.

[The Manimal]

I think it depends on whether it is in a protective case of some form.


Any disc based game has a case that it came in and stores it, so those will always have to be complete. A jewel case without a booklet or back insert just looks retarded. The case holds all of it.

Carts...


I will buy a complete NES game but loose is totally fine....as long as I have a black sleeve to put the cart in :D (I have several hundred extra sleeves in case I ever need them hehe)

This kind of goes for all other cart games, though all my N64 games are complete (don't own that many, and all are complete so far, so I might as well keep it up). I was recently thinking about Genesis games and whether I should rebuy the dozen or so I have that aren't complete, so that they are all in their boxes, given the boxes ARE the cases. Then I thought, the latter games don't come in snap cases anyways...so in the end there is no consistency either way. :/ This expands I guess to SMS games, and I think all of those came in those snap cases, so I might give them the treatment I give jewel case games, and get all my SMS games complete. This still seems wacky because then I'd have all nicely snap-cased SMS next to a loose Genny collection and wonder why I couldn't do the same. (Yes, I am not making much sense...I'm a wacko LOL ).

On those clear snap cases that were made for carts that also hold the booklets..... I hated the NES ones (rentals came in these a lot of the time) and prefer the black sleeves, but the ones which are basically identical but for the N64 are kind of neat and I wish I would have picked those up. I think those cases even held a memory card, so it holds everything but the box.