Would you rather have the boxes for your incomplete games, or the manuals?

[Ludwig]

Always the box, very important to look good on the gaming shelf

...and to waste heaps of space.

[rolenta]

Since I threw most of my boxes out decades ago and kept the manuals, I'll have to say manuals.

[portnoyd]

Always boxes.

[Leo_A]

Always the manuals. I don't even bother displaying my game boxes. Takes up too much room and doesn't look particularly appealing to me, so they sit stored in the attic.

[jonebone]

Boxes, that's all that I see from the shelf anyway.

[RPG_Fanatic]

Boxes, they look a lot better sitting on my shelf boxed. I never even look at the manuals anyways.

[leatherrebel5150]

Manuals because if you think about it you can get some Universal cases and print out some covers and poof you got boxes that are sturdy, uniform, and look good. Manuals however are a real pain in the ass to just print out for yourself so it is easier to just pick them up.

[Informationator]

I'm rather surprised everyone is saying Boxes. Manuals have art and useful information pertaining to the game in them. Boxes take up tons of space and damage easily.

I understand the historical aspect, but why choose art over art+information? Is it a display thing? I have a handful of boxes, but I'll probably just end up scanning them and selling them so I can fill out the SNES manuals.

[SparTonberry]

Manuals.
I'd rather have the information on how to play the game.
I like boxes, but I wouldn't spend a fortune to get them.

[Rickstilwell1]

I'm rather surprised everyone is saying Boxes. Manuals have art and useful information pertaining to the game in them. Boxes take up tons of space and damage easily.

I understand the historical aspect, but why choose art over art+information? Is it a display thing? I have a handful of boxes, but I'll probably just end up scanning them and selling them so I can fill out the SNES manuals.

Ooh what games in particular are these boxes for? I'd buy a bunch if the price was good and the games were ones I wanted. Manuals and carts are so easy to find on ebay, but the boxes are hardest and cost the most.

[Aussie2B]

I'm surprised too. I guess fashion over function rules around here.

[substantial_snake]

Manuals here.

Now with the availability of stock hard shell boxes that fit most cart based games you can easily print out another cover or make your own. This is only if your want an original collection thought I see the reason behind getting the box over the manual.

[Baloo]

Definitely boxes. I find it much easier to store boxes than manuals, manuals tend to get beat up without the boxes.

[kupomogli]

Boxes.

[Loremaster]

Boxes for me as well. Since I mostly do Genesis and disc-based stuff, boxes are much prettier on the shelf, and are easier to keep nice. My NES and SNES boxes are kind of a pain to protect, same with my GBA boxes.

Besides, when you have a uniform row of the Sega Red Stripe on the shelf, it looks soooooo gooooood.

[starchildskiss78]

I would have to say in the case of a cartridge game I would rather have the manual and for a disc based game the case.

I did go on a quest to have the manual, disc/cartridge, and box for almost every system I own. I lack boxes for most of my NES and SNES games, but I don't seem to mind as much...especially the SNES games which I think the boxes are such big pains in the butt to take a game out and put them back in.

[Gameguy]

When I have a cart and manual I think of the manual as a bonus, when I have a cart and box I'm upset the thing isn't complete. Either way I want them complete, I won't be done until I can find complete copies of everything.

[Informationator]

Ooh what games in particular are these boxes for? I'd buy a bunch if the price was good and the games were ones I wanted. Manuals and carts are so easy to find on ebay, but the boxes are hardest and cost the most.

I typed this up JUST for you (yeah, yeah, I'm too lazy for alphabetical order) :P ...but don't get too excited. I will almost certainly throw them on eBay, but I will definitely give you a heads up about when I post them if you'd like me to:

Boxes:
NCAA Basketball
Wheel of Fortune
Clayfighter
Lion King, The
Super Off Road: The Baja
Revolution X
Biker Mice from Mars
X-Kaliber 2097
Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (CIB, I have a kajillion copies)
Top Gear
Championship Pool
Madden '98
Harley's Humongous Adventure
Bonkers

ANDDDDD

*Drum Roll*

Super Noah's Ark 3D (It has a Christian Book Store sticker on it I've not yet tried to remove lest a future owner want to remove it him or herself, though I'm somewhat of an expert on removing stickers)

[Melf]

For Genesis and Sega CD games, I prefer manuals because I can always download and print out an insert. Manuals are a MAJOR pain to print.

[Casati]

This Ebay seller has a lot of cropped boxes available. Why would somebody cut the lids off of them? Maybe it would tidy their appearance if they had worn lids, but would seem to ruin their functionality and value.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-NES...item415c0694d2