Shrinkwrapped games.

[NightSprinter]

I had to do this. Being how I have still sealed copies of "Super Huey" for the 7800, and "Crossbow", "Ms. Pac-Man", two copies of "Ikari Warriors", and a copy of "Motorodeo" all sealed. The Ms. Pac-man cart I'm probably leaving sealed due to the fact I own two loose copies. I've got one group of people saying leave the games sealed for their value, while others are saying to open them and play them. I get a headache trying to figure it out.

[chrisbid]

ugh

 

i dont call games "shrinkwrapped" anymore, i call them "DP'd" in honor of the knuts over there that demand their games to be "sealed"

 

what sets apart video games from any other type of collectable is that they are meant to be played on a platform. 98 times out of 100, the packaging rarely warrants a video game product to left unopened (unlike collectable toys).

 

the only reason to keep a sealed game that way is if you already have an opened copy. i think i have 2 DPd games in my collection and both are dirt common doubles. play your games and do your best to not jump through the microscope of game collecting

[maibock]

Do people realize how easy it is to shrink wrap already opened games? Even the all elusive "line down the back"? For less than 50 bucks you can purchase the equipment and the material to shrink wrap hundreds, if not, thousands of games..

[jaybird3rd]

I don't believe in keeping games wrapped up as an "investment." Games are meant to be played, so I have no problem opening them up and playing them. I do recognize, though, that shrinkwrapped game packages contain all their original contents and are usually still in good shape, so I tend to slit mine open just enough to get the game/manual out. I try to keep everything together and in like-new condition after that, and I usually leave the shrinkwrap on (even though it's been opened) to protect the box from dust.

Edited February 8, 2006 by jaybird3rd

[n8littlefield]

I think I'm the exact opposite. Since I only collect games to play them, and since I have no room in my tiny apartment, I always try to buy a game without the box! Of course, that only applies to classic stuff - DS and PS2 games I'll only buy with full DVD case and instructions.

[keilbaca]

As mentioned, its not a toy in which its better off still sealed in the package, this is a game, its meant to be played. Also a big mention to the resealing materials, is shrink wrap really worth more than gold? No. Open them and play them (well except for ms. pac, because you have a copy already).

[Zonie]

I don't believe in keeping games wrapped up as an "investment."  Games are meant to be played, so I have no problem opening them up and playing them.  I do recognize, though, that shrinkwrapped game packages contain all their original contents and are usually still in good shape, so I tend to slit mine open just enough to get the game/manual out.  I try to keep everything together and in like-new condition after that, and I usually leave the shrinkwrap on (even though it's been opened) to protect the box from dust.

1015261[/snapback]

 

People used to do that with albums (remember those?) Problem is, the shrinkwrap used to shrink more and warp the albums.

 

I agree with opening them. Collecting games for collecting's sake and not playing them is absurd. and as stated, anyone can re-shrinkwrap something. It's a joke. People are lemmings. Shrink-wrap is a bad religion.

 

Most of the game stores shrink wrap the used systems. I think it's only benefit is to keep the stuff together, ensure it stays that way, and keep the dust off. I have seen shrink wrap destroy the analog stick on a N-64 controller.

[8th lutz]

Do people realize how easy it is to shrink wrap already opened games? Even the all elusive "line down the back"? For less than 50 bucks you can purchase the equipment and the material to shrink wrap hundreds, if not, thousands of games..

1015258[/snapback]

No doubt. There was bunch of master system games in a bundle shrinkwrapped and not all the games were in the right case. I first learned that over 7 years ago. It was an nes game. There was a couple things missing. The game was in the right box, but there were stuff in the nes boxes that weren't. That shrink wrap practice is with old games that are in bundles. It is a bad religion. Shrink wrapping means craps if a game is no or not. If a person see a fairchild channel f games shrink wrapped it does not mean it wasn't open. It is no doubt dp'd. I can give some extreme examples they posted over there but I will not give any examples on these boards.

Edited February 8, 2006 by 8th lutz

[+Omegamatrix]

Cut open a small slit and see what's inside. You never know what's in there until you look. The only way I feel confident about a shrinkwrapped game is if I buy it from the store myself. Otherwise I always presume someone has re-shrinkwrapped it even if they haven't.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Open and PLAY!

[SteveW]

I can't resist opening a shrinkwrapped game if I don't already own a loose copy. I have a sealed Tempest 2000 for the Jaguar laying around here, because I was hoping my best friend would buy a Jag at Kay-Bee Toys big Jaguar sale years back. He never bought one, so I couldn't share the goodness of Tempest 2000 with him. Later on, I decided not to let the opportunity to slip through my fingers again, so for a wedding gift in 2001, I bought my friend a Samsung Nuon DVD player with a copy of Tempest 3000. He was very happy.

[Room 34]

I voted "open it" but there should be another option: I DO keep games sealed if they're duplicates in my collection.

 

I have one game I wish I HAD left sealed. I was shooting for a complete collection of all six Space Invaders label variations (including Sears). I finally finished off the set with a sealed NIB red label. But my curiosity got the best of me, and I wanted to see that red cartridge label, so I opened it.

 

 

The BOX was red label style, but the cart was silver label! Silver label with a 1988 copyright and non-standard end label, actually. Weird. I hate how careless Atari was with this stuff in the late '80s! See attached scans...

[christianscott27]

it cant be said enough - if you arent in this hobby for fun then you should leave, there isnt much money to be made, truth be told we're losing money and having fun doing it. games should be your little indulgence, instead of a scratch ticket or top shelf shot. so you've got a stack of great atari games, thats for you and bragging rights here, otherwise you're just a geek with some old black plastic. if you're really lucky and good with ebay you might eek out a small return on your investment but otherwise just enjoy the colllecting for the fun of it - there are 99 better ways to make money than preserving shrinkwrapped atari games.

[cimerians]

I open everything.

 

I want to play the game.

[NightSprinter]

Sheesh, I didn't ask for such hostile replies ok? For the record, Chris, I did get into this for fun as I still play a lot of the stuff I have (if not ALL of it). Hell, I got unopened copies of "Deluxe Invaders" and "Demon Attack" and opened the games to play them. I only meant some of the harder to find games.

 

I'll re-state myself on the first sentence: I do not want hostile replies or for this to erupt in a flame-war. Keep these posts civil.

[christianscott27]

its not personally hostile or a flame war, this a long standing topic in collecting. its not about your personal choice, although thats why you posted, its about the larger issue of collecting vs playing. its like if you asked "emulation vs the real thing" you wouldnt expect every response to refer to you, same goes here. this issue is as old as the hobby. why do people care so much about what other gamers do, well thats the nature of forums isnt it?

[liveinabin]

yeah, rip it open. Shrink wrap means nothing. There's a fairly high chance these things were shrink wrapped years after their shelf life anyway. It's not part of the original packaging, it's just heated plastic, tear it off

[Foxsolo2000]

Do people realize how easy it is to shrink wrap already opened games? Even the all elusive "line down the back"? For less than 50 bucks you can purchase the equipment and the material to shrink wrap hundreds, if not, thousands of games..

1015258[/snapback]

 

 

That is one of the reasons why I tend to open the game and play it. There was a case on Ebay not so long ago about a seller who got prosecuted for selling resealed games and claiming that they were original shrinkwrapped. I have never collected games for the value of being shrinkwrapped for a game should; eb played and enjoyed, not admired

[jaybird3rd]

There was a case on Ebay not so long ago about a seller who got prosecuted for selling resealed games and claiming that they were original shrinkwrapped.

1015647[/snapback]

I saw another seller who claimed his Atari 2600 game was in its original shrinkwrap, but the picture showed a LOOSE CARTRIDGE that was shrinkwrapped with one corner of its worn and yellowed label folded over underneath the shrinkwrap. Somebody actually bought it, too, so maybe shrinkwrap does make people lose their minds.

[davepesc]

I always open. Heck, I'm not rich enough to waste money on games to look at the pretty boxes.

 

The only circumstance where I have sealed games are:

Had the game loose then happened to buy a sealed copy, so loose one went in trade bin and I haven't wanted to play yet, so sealed is still sealed.

 

I have a few sealed PS2 games too that I bought on sale and haven't gotten around to playing.

[8th lutz]

I didn't want a flame war either. It is a touchy subject. I remember games being shrinkwrapped a long time ago but shrinkwrapping nowdays shouldn't mean anything in a games worth. I know it is hard to tell what is in mint condition and what is not without it. When I go to one of my main gamestore to look around I see 10 to 12 loose atari cartridges shrinkwrapped as a bundle.

[liveinabin]

I would have thought that, if anything, it reduces the value of a game because any potential buyer would be taking the contents on faith.

[shadow460]

I just don't buy them shrinkwrapped unless they're real common.

There are a few games I'd leave shrinkwrapped if I got them that way. That's stuff like Virtual On Gold and maybe some Supercharger titles (got Commie Mutants shrinkwrapped right now).

 

A few games need repairs after so many years, so they're worthless if theyve just sat there in the retail box.

Try opening and playing a shrinkwrapped Pokemon Silver. You won't get very far until you shut the power off and realize the save/internal clock battery has died.

Games like that aren't worth 2 cents if they haven't been opened.

[rockman_x_2002]

... People used to do that with albums (remember those?)  Problem is, the shrinkwrap used to shrink more and warp the albums... 

1015264[/snapback]

 

Which is one reason I agree to go ahead and open them, strictly from a collector's standpoint. If you leave that shrinkwrap on there long enough, it damages the box, and actually probably decreases its value then. But if you take the shrinkwrap off and take good care of the box, you can usually keep it in its original intended shape with relative ease. And that's just from a collector's standpoint.

 

But I'm a player more than I am a collector, so, as I've posted many many times before on this forum, I say rip that sucker open and let the good time roll, my friend.

[NightSprinter]

... People used to do that with albums (remember those?)  Problem is, the shrinkwrap used to shrink more and warp the albums... 

1015264[/snapback]

 

Which is one reason I agree to go ahead and open them, strictly from a collector's standpoint. If you leave that shrinkwrap on there long enough, it damages the box, and actually probably decreases its value then. But if you take the shrinkwrap off and take good care of the box, you can usually keep it in its original intended shape with relative ease. And that's just from a collector's standpoint.

 

But I'm a player more than I am a collector, so, as I've posted many many times before on this forum, I say rip that sucker open and let the good time roll, my friend.

1016166[/snapback]

 

Thank you for the statement, X. After having read that I'm not really going to feel guilty taking the shrinkwrapping off ANY of my sealed games now (even if they are duplicates) I mean sure they take away that "completely brand-new" value, but it's still the game with everything in the box, plus saving the game from excessive damage. I also heard from a few local gamer friends of mine that shrinkwrapping is even MORE dangerous to battery-backed games, due to the fact that the unused battery will start to corrode over the year.