Sealed Genesis games - all have hangtabs?

[rarebucky]

I recently got a supposedly factory sealed copy of E-Swat but somehow I think it's a reseal. Aside from the fact that the shrinkwrap is done differently than my other Genny games, the hangtab is missing so the shrinkwrap covers the entire box. Normally there's that hole on top around the hangtab. Is this common? Are there Genesis games that came out new without hangtabs?

[PingvinBlueJeans]

I don't know for sure, I'm not the biggest Sega collector in the world, but I can't remember ever seeing any that lacked a hang-tab. Obviously, it's not uncommon to see used Sega games without them, but all the Master System and Genesis/Mega Drive games that I bought new have them, and any that lack them were clearly removed by someone. Look at the case closely. Does it look like the tab was removed?

As far as the shrinkwrap, I can't remember if any lacked the whole on the top, but that seal doesn't sound right.

[rarebucky]

No, it doesn't look like the tab was removed at all. I have several used Genesis games where it looks like someone either cut it off or pulled it off and you can tell because there is a break in the plastic. In this case, it looks like it was never put in because there is just the little recess for the tab but no breaks at all. And the wrap, while different from my other games, still looks like a factory wrap - it's very nice.

[nebrazca78]

No, it doesn't look like the tab was removed at all. I have several used Genesis games where it looks like someone either cut it off or pulled it off and you can tell because there is a break in the plastic. In this case, it looks like it was never put in because there is just the little recess for the tab but no breaks at all. And the wrap, while different from my other games, still looks like a factory wrap - it's very nice.

E-SWAT is an early release game released by Sega themselves, it should have a tab.

[gdement]

Assuming you're going to open the game, then the best indicator would be to open the cartridge and look at the contacts. Even if they've been cleaned, they should still show some indication if the cart has been used.

[rarebucky]

I'm not opening the game - that's why I want to know if this is factory sealed or not :) Does anyone have any games that they know are factory sealed that don't have tabs?

[PingvinBlueJeans]

All the ones I bought new have hang-tabs, and from what I've read, the only Sega releases that lacked them were the Japanese Mega Drive games. So, unless you bought that E-Swat new from a retail store yourself (which I'm guessing you didn't), I'd say it's probably a reseal. Either way, it's not worth much.