Cartridge Label Conditions

[classicgamingguy]

Last night I went over all my carts for my Atari 2600. Not a large collection, mind you, but about a dozen or so, all different. To my horror, I realized that most of them are damaged in some way. Either they are starting to fall off, end labels are gone, or they have suffered from heavy glue residue stains.

 

This was a very close inspection with a fine-tooth comb, as it were. My question for all the collectors out there is do you replace these carts? If you get or find in your collection a damaged cart label, how actively do you go out of your way to get another cart? Let's assume commons for the most part, not ultra-rare pieces.

 

Since I play and collect, I'm torn whether I should start looking for replacements immediately or just ignore them for now. Some are dups from boxed sets, so I'm not too concerned about those. My poor Defender cart lost it's end label, for example, but I have a CIB that I leave alone.

 

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[Shawn]

Commons I would replace myself. Rares on the other hand I would just live with it unless I find a hell of a deal on one in better condition.

[kb9snl]

I will replace a really terrible condition cartridge if I run across one that is better, but I don't generally go out of my way to do it. I tend to collect loose cartridges though, not going after the boxes or anything like that, so I guess it's really personal preference.

[classicgamingguy]

Well, my goal is to collect boxed sets, and just play with the loose cart. I'm wondering if I should start hunting up some of the worst-looking carts and replace them. I'm ashamed of myself for letting get that way..of course I didn't have all the blame in that (it was the way I got some of them), but I like my stuff looking as spiffy as possible.

 

Any other thoughts?

[shadowdoggie]

I will replace a really terrible condition cartridge if I run across one that is better, but I don't generally go out of my way to do it. I tend to collect loose cartridges though, not going after the boxes or anything like that, so I guess it's really personal preference.

 

Take my advice, do yourself a favor, and heed this friendly warning ... stick to that strategy (only collecting loose carts). Write it down some place where you'll see it every day, repeat it out loud, repeat it often, and never waiver... never give in to temptation. That is of course unless you want your empty guest room to turn into the world's largest walk-in closet.

[A.J. Franzman]

Depending on how bad the label is, I often do some touch-up using various methods. Loose or lifting labels are easily fixed with a glue stick. I have also made my own reproductions of several main and end labels. I even managed to find some inkjet-printable silver foil paper to use for label repros.

[+HatNJ]

Thats what Id do just replace the label Its a sticker nothing more nothing less and if you decide to sell even if the value is lower specify its a repro label but cart is orignal I guess I am the odd ball Labels to me are just stickers if they are in good condition but peeling glue stick them if ts so worn its just enough to see what it is and I plan on not selling Id replace it with minty new one that at least looks as good as it did decades ago

[classicgamingguy]

Thanks for the advice. The loose carts seem to be having the "peeling issue", so perhaps I'll just glue them back down into place. Since they are all loose, however, and common, it would be just as easy to spend a few bucks and replace them with carts that have better-conditioned labels. I don't have one rare game, so this would be just as easy a fix.

[kb9snl]

I will replace a really terrible condition cartridge if I run across one that is better, but I don't generally go out of my way to do it. I tend to collect loose cartridges though, not going after the boxes or anything like that, so I guess it's really personal preference.

 

Take my advice, do yourself a favor, and heed this friendly warning ... stick to that strategy (only collecting loose carts). Write it down some place where you'll see it every day, repeat it out loud, repeat it often, and never waiver... never give in to temptation. That is of course unless you want your empty guest room to turn into the world's largest walk-in closet.

 

Trust me, I am at this point, unless I end up with a much larger house, then I might go crazy and start box hunting like mad! I do have manuals for the majority of mine though...(about 90 of the 135 carts have them)

[NightDriver2600]

As long as the game works, I don't care too much about the label. I "collect" games so that I can play them. Most of my Atari games are still in the original boxes anyway, so most of the labels are in decent shape.

[donssword]

I swear that one of these days I am reprinting and replacing all my Activision cart labels.

 

Even if they won't play without a ton of wiggling, they should at least look pretty.

[EricDeLee]

Commons I would replace myself. Rares on the other hand I would just live with it unless I find a hell of a deal on one in better condition.

 

 

I'm in the same boat on this one.

I always keep two updated files on my phone with carts that I need for my collection.

One of the files is a complete list of the carts I just don't own yet.

The other one has a list of carts I own, but if I can find them on the cheap, I'd like to buy if they have a better label then the one in my current collection.

 

I have some where I'm missing end labels, so I'll replace them eventually. Rare ones? I really don't mind if the cart is in bad shape. Obviously I'd prefer it to be in good shape, but a messed up label on a Quadrun that lowers the price of the cart to $40 or something like that: That's the type of game that belongs in my collection until a better deal comes along.

[classicgamingguy]

As long as the game works, I don't care too much about the label. I "collect" games so that I can play them. Most of my Atari games are still in the original boxes anyway, so most of the labels are in decent shape.

 

I probably shouldn't be too concerned, either. These loose carts are for playing. The real collection is the boxed games I have thus far.

 

Thanks for all the replies.

 

-Steve

[shadow460]

I usually make new labels for the ones that are in bad shape. Sometimes I don't make the same label the cart had, though. I had a Superman with a torn end label, so naturally I made Sears picture labels for it. My labels don't look enough like the originals to be mistaken for the real thing, but they satisfy me.

 

Rarely I will buy another cart if it looks almost perfect and mine is trashed. Sometimes if I don't have the game already but there are multiple copies for sale, I'll buy one with a trashed label and print it a new one.

 

What I do really just depends on my mood. In general, though, the only reason I go out of my way to buy a replacement cart is if the one I have doesn't work at all. I did this with Fathom when my cart died, and I went for one with a horrible label since mine looked halfway decent. I switched the labels, played Fathom a while, then had a nice day.