damaged games

[Sgt.Pepper1983]

Have any of you had a problem with kids, nephews, or neices damaging your collection? Atari games are the only one I have this problem with. Every atari game I bought cib or sealed has had the box totally crushed or at least stepped on and dented by my nephew. It may only be three games that I'm talking about but those are the hardest ones to find in that condition. He knows he's not allowed to touch anything that has a box with it, and he never does this with my nintendo or sega games. But the atari games always get crushed at some point when I have my back turned.

[ovalbugmann]

It's your fault dude, hard to find and expensive 2600 boxes, basically all your 2600 boxes should be put in a box high on a shelf or buried in a closet, if you are going to let them play your games. Take the damn carts out of the box and only have the carts around - those are tough. Is that so hard to do? What is going on there that you would trust your little nephew? You should have all your carts out of the box, if not sealed, anyway to avoid damage to the flaps by opening and closing and so you yourself can play the games and keep your boxes in good condition.

 

Your crazy dude - be smart, this paper Atari stuff-boxed games, are fragile & expensive, so take steps to hide the boxes and leave out all the carts - easy! They don't need the boxes just maybe a printed manual from Atariage! Keep the original manuals with the boxes.

Edited May 8, 2009 by ovalbugmann

[STICH666]

My little cousin always liked to erase my memory cards.

[Keatah]

Go emulation for the day-to-day game playing, and save the original stuff (which you *now* have smartly & securely packed away) for nostalgic trips

[Sgt.Pepper1983]

It's your fault dude

 

Everyone I've talked to about things like this say that when something bad happens because a child disobeys an authority figure it's always the child's fault. Children are required to obey immediately and without question any time an authority figure tells them something. Whether they do or not is another matter, but the fact is that obedience is their only legitimate option. When something bad happens because they didn't obey it's their fault. This is not an opinion. There are plenty of books about raising children that would say it's the child's fault when something bad happens because the child disobeyed an authority figure.

[hhwolfman]

I have two girls, one Grandson. Over the years, even at ages 1 on up, They come in my room and touch nothing, unless they ask me. Nuff said.

[Sgt.Pepper1983]

Could curiosity be the reason why he's obeying me about not touching the nintendo or sega boxes, but disobeying me about not touching the atari boxes? I did tell him that all my atari games and the atari itself are all older than I am. Could he just be curious about the fact that it's older than I am? And if that's the case, how do I explain to him that it's totally irrelevant and is no excuse to disobey me?

Edited May 8, 2009 by Sgt.Pepper1983

[Video]

Honestly, I agree pretty much with the second poster, though that was a bit harsh.

 

Games I don't play, stay in the box and are packed away, games I do play are loose and in a seperate container where the boxes don't get damaged. This isn't for other people or kids or anything, shit happens especially when you have third parties playing with your things (mostly a good solid case of "it ain't mine (Or I wasn't taught any better) soI don't give a damn") But as I said, it's mostly for me, these old boxes are well, old, some are getting brittle, and anything wears out with use, even something as simple as a box. I don't want to wear them out, so I don't use them.

 

As for your kids (or whoever elses they are) you just gotta realize, people aren't machines, their indipendant, and curious and will do their own thing reguardles. You can hope to at least partially controll them, but you can't expect to fully do so in all circumstances. You could try to beat their asses when they do something to your stuff. I know someone is going to jump on me, but seriously, fear of being harmed is built into every liiving creature and understood as 'hurt=no'. It's why kids don't touch fire, or stoves, or knife edges, etc. Not because anyone has told them not to, but more likely because they experianced the error of their ways first hand.

[Keatah]

It is the parent's responsibility to correctly feed the kid (no garbage junk food) and create an environment conducive to learning and good behavior.

[MCHufnagel]

It is the parent's responsibility to correctly feed the kid (no garbage junk food) and create an environment conducive to learning and good behavior.

 

Having two kids of mine own, I feel this is true. You can only go so far. Make sure you protect them when they are young, teach them right from wrong and hope you did a good job when they are off on their own. I'll be finding out how good a job my wife and I have done when our oldest goes off to college this fall.

 

In regard to protecting your stuff from kids. Yes, it is "their fault" when they mess something up. But being an adult, you should have enough common sense to know that kids will get into things. You need to be proactive in keeping things away from kids.

[Herbarius]

I've had some of my games ruined by my little brothers...

 

One day, my uncle gave me his original version of the PC game Star Wars: X-Wing for free. No box, but the original disks. I installed the game and played awhile, keeping the stack of disks around because I was too lazy to put them somewhere...

 

Only 2 or 3 days after, I come home from school, then I notice that one of my little brothers hat been in my room and had CUT THROUGH ONE OF THE X-WING DISKS with a pair of scissors! I couldn't believe it... I mean, why couldn't he have done that to ANY of the propably dozens of disks around my room that were NOT original game disks...

 

At another time I had a game on CD-ROM, and played it often, but one day I couldn't find the disc anywhere. I searched everywhere, I asked my little brothers what they've done with it, but of couse they said they had nothing to do about it, as always... Eventually I gave up. You've got to know, at that time I had a 5,25 inch floppy drive in my PC, along with a normal 3,5 inch drive and a CD-ROM, and one day I discovered that there's something shiny in there... after I got the CD out, it was the game I had lost, it was completely ruined, no CD drive would read it anymore. It seems my brother didn't only insert the CD into the floppy drive but also tried by force to lock the handle!

Edited May 9, 2009 by Herbarius

[xg4bx]

by you telling him no, those games have become the forbidden fruit that no child can resist. hide the games when he comes over or lock the door to where theyre stored.

[ovalbugmann]

Everyone I've talked to about things like this say that when something bad happens because a child disobeys an authority figure it's always the child's fault. Children are required to obey immediately and without question any time an authority figure tells them something. Whether they do or not is another matter, but the fact is that obedience is their only legitimate option. When something bad happens because they didn't obey it's their fault. This is not an opinion. There are plenty of books about raising children that would say it's the child's fault when something bad happens because the child disobeyed an authority figure.

 

Hahaha! What world are you living in, buddy? Not this one. How many kids have you raised anyway? You see these parts I italisized - where are these kids, in obedience school like a dog? You better realize that if kids are not obeying you or their parents it is related to something the parent is doing wrong. They need to be taught things properly and given good support, love, playtime with adults, structure a host of needs besides food and shelter OR they will act out showing you that you a lacking somewhere. Bad behaviour is something they do to show you they are not happy with something.

 

Hey I could care less, their your boxes dude, if you seriously expect them to do all the stuff you said they are supposed to do you are naive. The problem probably is that they need adult supervision and be shown how to properly handle Atari stuff with an adult. If you think they are to be expected to act like adults and respect authority and property, you are sadly mistaken - their frackin' kids man! Put your boxes "up" dude- what the hell? You get that parenting book and read it, we'll see if they can magically do all that stuff you said without significant quality time spent with them instructing them on how to behave and act properly and not step on boxes/trash stuff. Also, if the parents are messy, the kids will think it's ok also. They will copy many things from the parents. Parents need to set the proper example. Get smart man - save your stuff from destruction by kids put it up!

 

Look at what these people say:

 

 

Honestly, I agree pretty much with the second poster, though that was a bit harsh.

 

Games I don't play, stay in the box and are packed away, games I do play are loose and in a seperate container where the boxes don't get damaged. This isn't for other people or kids or anything, shit happens especially when you have third parties playing with your things (mostly a good solid case of "it ain't mine (Or I wasn't taught any better) soI don't give a damn")

 

As for your kids (or whoever elses they are) you just gotta realize, people aren't machines, their indipendant, and curious and will do their own thing regardless. You can hope to at least partially control them, but you can't expect to fully do so in all circumstances. You could try to beat their asses when they do something to your stuff. I know someone is going to jump on me

 

Generally beating their asses does not work in the long run they will only do something else that is bad later. You must teach properly with love and spend time with them showing how thing are done safetly and right.

 

It is the parent's responsibility to correctly feed the kid (no garbage junk food) and create an environment conducive to learning and good behavior.

 

Having two kids of mine own, I feel this is true. You can only go so far. Make sure you protect them when they are young, teach them right from wrong and hope you did a good job when they are off on their own.

 

In regard to protecting your stuff from kids. Yes, it is "their fault" when they mess something up. But being an adult, you should have enough common sense to know that kids will get into things. You need to be proactive in keeping things away from kids.

 

 

by you telling him no, those games have become the forbidden fruit!!!!!!!!!!! that no child can resist. hide the games when he comes over or lock the door to where theyre stored.

 

 

Some very very smart comments here, born in '83 Sgt. Pepper, maybe you should ditch what you think you know about child behavior and listen to these people - how could everybody here be wrong?

 

You know I collect Jaguar stuff, when young cousins come over I keep the CDs and all paper stuff away from them and just bring out the Jaguar system and all my carts - if they want to play a cd game and ask me I alone am the only one allowed to put the disc in the system - they don't play Jaguar alone only when I am around -as they know.

Edited May 9, 2009 by ovalbugmann

[Mord]

Only problem I've had with kids damaging stuff in my collection was having my niece sit on the dreamcast I was about to send to my cousin.

 

Fastest sitdown in HISTORY!

 

Needless to say the disc drive was broken.

 

 

I sent it to him anyway.

[Sgt.Pepper1983]

All I can say is that what I know about helping to raise a kid comes from my mom, my grandparents, and my sister. My politics may be liberal, but my attitudes towards raising kids are just as conservative as anyone else who lives down here. She raised me the same way, with attitudes like "spare the rod, spoil the child" and "children are to be seen, not heard". Maybe she was right and maybe she was wrong. I don't really know. Normally having aspergers is an advantage since it allows me to see things so much more clearly than people who don't have it can see things, but when it comes to kids it seems to make me clueless. I have already seperated all cib games from loose cartridges. I would also appreciate some advice for showing him how to properly handle the cib games when he's a little older. He's seven right now. Does anyone think he's old enough for that discussion. He already has a head start since I also collect vintage vinyl and have already taught him how to properly handle it. In fact Beatle records are the only ones I won't trust him with, but that's not because of his age. I don't trust anyone else to handle them, not even my mom who gave me three that she has had since they were brand new. After seeing how she handled them I was shocked that they were still playable.

Edited May 9, 2009 by Sgt.Pepper1983

[ovalbugmann]

I have already seperated all cib games from loose cartridges.

 

Great! that sounds good. Dammnit, I forgot what CIB means? What is it? - Closed In Box? Crisp In Box? Someone let me know, please.

 

Anyway if CIB means not sealed totally in plastic then you can take those games out and allow them to play them, while stashing the boxes.

 

Someone else should here comment on what age to teach him to handle CIB games, but I suspect it's going to depend on the kid and whether or not he's ready, by seeing how he treats other things -if everything seems to end up on the floor or covered in PB&J and drinks then - not yet. Maybe he will be naturally messy or naturally cleaner and more organized - you'll have to judge. But I just take all my Jaguar games out of the boxes and put them in another container and I leave the boxes on the shelf for display! I try not to bend the flaps too much. I only slit the top just enough to get the cart out and leave the plastic on them - didn't used to do that until I lived in a house with a evaporative cooler and my Jaguar boxes started picking up paint because they we next to the wall.

[Rik]

Nope,never had that problem.I taught all my neices and nephews to respect other peoples belongings.Plus i never had nor do i want kids of my own,UGH!!!!!!,so im okay.As far as people coming over to visit,i have doors and cabinets that house my gaming stuff under lock and key.

Edited May 10, 2009 by Rik

[Sgt.Pepper1983]

I have already seperated all cib games from loose cartridges.

 

Great! that sounds good. Dammnit, I forgot what CIB means? What is it? - Closed In Box? Crisp In Box? Someone let me know, please.

 

Anyway if CIB means not sealed totally in plastic then you can take those games out and allow them to play them, while stashing the boxes.

 

 

 

CIB is complete, but not sealed. At least that's my understanding of it. I think it stands for "complete in box".

[ovalbugmann]

Oh yes, "Complete In Box" -but not sealed- that's gotta be it - thanks need to remember that this time.

 

And well their just the old boxes - even stepped on their still good. They have cool artwork and increase the game value dramtically.

 

My friends back in th 2600 days used to throw them all out anyway, it's amazing this paper stuff is still around, it's gotta be the sheer volume of Atari 2600 stuff that was sold that allows people to find boxes today. Only thing I have boxed for the 2600 is a CIB "Omega Race" the one with the special controller, I have the box inserts and manual in there. Other than that, for CIB I have a boxed Supercharger unit complete with the system cartridge and Phaser Patrol game & six other CIB boxed Supercharger games. For the Supercharger I have WtW and a copy of Stella's New Brain.

 

For 2600 stuff I have a H6er with original AC adapter and a bunch of controllers, a few manuals and about 200 loose carts -probably 12 Pac-Mans.

 

I don't have a 5200 but it would be cool.

 

I have no boxes or manuals for my 7800 collection just two 7800's & controllers and two AC units and 28 game carts.

 

Don't have any Atari computers.

 

But I have a fully complete whole CIB Jaguar collection - my preference.

[ovalbugmann]

In your avatar it looks like you have a H6er also, Sgt. Pepper - Nice!

[Sgt.Pepper1983]

In your avatar it looks like you have a H6er also, Sgt. Pepper - Nice!

 

 

I just got it about a week ago and have been enjoying it for at least an hour a day. I gave the light sixer that I had to my sister. She used to say that she didn't care about authenticity until she let me have her light sixer in exchange for one of those plug and plays. She said that all she cared about was being able to play the game whether it was authentic or not. The problem is that it only lasted three or six months. She is so happy to have her real atari back.

[Sgt.Pepper1983]

Ovalbugmann, you also suggested reading more material about kids. I think that was the problem. Until just the last few days everything I knew about raising kids came from books written by religious fundamentalists, or my mom who is also a fundamentalist.

[STICH666]

The thing my parents did right for me was they let me keep my mind open. They didn't slam it shut with religion.