Anti-Actiplaque

[NovaXpress]

I was going through my box of loose carts and noticed that my Enduro is looking pretty ugly. I started bitching about the Activision curse, then decided to look around and see which companies games held up the best.

 

Atari seems to take the prize. Many carts still looking mint. Spectravideo is looking good as well. Many Imagic hold up nicely but some labels are peeling.

 

I was surprised to see the Actiplaque effect on many of my M Network carts. I never really looked at them before, but there it is under those dark blue letters. Not all of them are showing it, but many of the ones that are came from the very first M Network release. I remember buyin em.

 

How are your carts holding up?

[slapdash]

Many Imagic hold up nicely but some labels are peeling.

 

Yeah bending a stiff label guarantees it's going to peel eventually...

 

I have an A#2 Fancy Label Club entry for an Imagic cart that won't stay stuck on. Grr!

[Stein]

my poor activision carts... I agree, they seem to be the worst for acti-plaque. someday I think I'll relace them with some nice recreated labels... I found a web site offering custom cut cast coated inkjet labels, they're kind of expensive but it sounds like quality paper being somewhat water resistant.

[Brad2600]

I just got my copy of Spider Fighter that I won on EBay and there is asolutely NO actiplaque on it! It came with instructions and only cost me about $5 or so.

 

Not all Activision games are affected by actiplaque.

[D.Yancey]

All the Activision carts that I originally purchased as new in the 80's have no actiplaque. I believe it is because they have always been kept in a climate controlled environment(mostly low humidity A/C or wood heat) and in a closed case out of the light and air. They've all been handled frequently. A few even have my fingerprints in the ink from when I had a damp hand and touched them. Now, nearly all that I've aquired second hand are affected by actiplaque-- some severely.

[Christophero Sly]

Almost all my Parker Bros. carts suffer from actiplaque AND peeling labels. It's a good thing the games are good.

[Brad2600]

My Parker Brothers carts have some peeling but I managed to glue the labels back on at times.

[moycon]

I think it had something to do with the glue being used.

Its funny but I've had some that are perfect and others that had anti-plaque and they were all stored the same way.

This seems to support the glue theory.

One thing everyone can agree on...It sucks.

[NovaXpress]

This is all kinda weird. All of my Parker Bros games remain in great condition while Activision and M Network are slowly rotting away.

 

Are we going to need climate-controlled "Cart Humidors" for proper storage?

[surfnmadness]

My Dataage carts are the worst for labels.

 

Atari is the champ of labels, even the oldest ones (blacks) are holding up.

[Room 34]

I think the white and blue U.S. Games labels seem to hold up pretty well... too bad the games are crap!

[MegaManFan]

I've played worse than Entombed and Squeeze Box. In fact I'd say they're both pretty good.

[Room 34]

I think the thing about Squeeze Box that bugs me is how BIG your character is.

[MegaManFan]

Yeah, he's kind of like a Malicious Lord of Prison Garb.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

i started thinking about this and i wonder if/why it hasnt/has been done. sence a few of u can make games yourself, cant u just like copy a quadrun and put it on a cart then order up a sticker to put on there?

[surfnmadness]

i started thinking about this and i wonder if/why it hasnt/has been done. sence a few of u can make games yourself, cant u just like copy a quadrun and put it on a cart then order up a sticker to put on there?

 

Unfortunately, this has started to happen now that rare carts are going for over $100. Problem is remaking the box and instructions to match. Just remember, if you want a rare cart, best bet is always someone in these forums.