Keep them sealed or open - that is the question...

[orrimarrko]

I'm asking this in regards to what's best for the long term condition of the game boxes.

 

Do you think that it is better to release the tension caused by the shrinkwrap, or leave it sealed?

 

Obviously, there are several factors to consider:

 

value

box condition

etc...

 

Just looking to see what other people do, as well as a general conscensus.

 

Will leaving boxes sealed/shrinkwrapped cause problems to the structural integrity of the box over time?

 

Thanks,

Steve

[keilbaca]

Just cut a slit across the top. It keeps the plastic on it, yet it doesn't crush the box.

 

I edited this to be a bit more clear, heh. I don't think having a game sealed is worth that much more than one still in the box. Games are meant to be played, I only have a few sealed games, but I have loose copies of the game, so I can play it whenever.

 

But as said, if the shrinkwrap hasn't already crushed the box, then it most likely ever won't.

Edited June 10, 2006 by keilbaca

[Philflound]

Actually after 20+ years, if the box hasn't been crushed from the shrinkwrap, chances are it'll never be. I actually haven't seen too many boxes get crushed though. At least all the ones I own.

 

Phil

[+Omegamatrix]

I've seen boxes get crushed by shrinkwrap. Lots of them. I think what is happening is the plastic basically stays the same size, but the box inside expands due to moisture, heat, whatever. If the box is nice I like to keep the shrinkwrap on with a neat little slit in the back to take the game out. Never know what you might find inside.

[shadow460]

I've seen boxes get crushed by shrinkwrap. Lots of them. I think what is happening is the plastic basically stays the same size, but the box inside expands due to moisture, heat, whatever. If the box is nice I like to keep the shrinkwrap on with a neat little slit in the back to take the game out. Never know what you might find inside.

 

Like a rarer label variation than you expected...

That has happened to me before

[shadow460]

Mm?

 

My first double post--please delete or ignore at your own discretion.

Edited June 11, 2006 by shadow460

[ATARIPITBULL]

I'm asking this in regards to what's best for the long term condition of the game boxes.

 

Do you think that it is better to release the tension caused by the shrinkwrap, or leave it sealed?

 

Obviously, there are several factors to consider:

 

value

box condition

etc...

 

Just looking to see what other people do, as well as a general conscensus.

 

Will leaving boxes sealed/shrinkwrapped cause problems to the structural integrity of the box over time?

 

Thanks,

Steve

 

just from my collection, I have had to get rid of 6 game boxes that had been crushed from the shrinkwrap and even just cutting a slit still does not stop the shrinking. If you want to keep your boxes looking great, REMOVE THE SHRINKWRAP and if your not going to play the games, why buy them at all!!!!

 

[+Nathan Strum]

I don't see shrinkwrap adding value to a game. People can re-shrinkwrap games anyway, so telling an originally shrinkwrapped one from a re-wrapped one might be difficult (or impossible on eBay).

 

If you want to protect them, get some comic book bags.

[ntavio]

I've unwrapped the majority of my shrinkwrapped games. I'm of the school that it crushes the box. I've had it happen on several occasions, especially with Atari red boxes and 7800 boxes. Besides, the boxes never had shrinkwrap when I was a kid and played Atari (1980-1985).

[Philflound]

Well, almost all the later release titles were shrinkwrapped. I've considered opening my games many times. The only one I did open was the BMX Airmaster from TNT. I had to make sure it didn't have the Atari version.

 

Phil

[orrimarrko]

Thanks all - exactly what I wanted to hear.

 

Shrinkwrap's outta here. I'll get some of those bags from AA.

 

Thanks again!

 

Orri-

[Mr. Postman]

Ouch, gotta' leave em' sealed. They lasted this long in their original state...

 

Take a razer blade and make a 2mm slit in the shrinkwrap somewhere indiscreet to relieve tension if you're worried, but if they've lasted this long I believe that they're okay. Games were meant to be played, but if they lasted this long in their package they were meant to be displayed instead.

Edited June 23, 2006 by ResOGlas

[jerrykurtz]

Collectable games do have a higher value if they are still sealed versus just a boxed game. Take Pitfall! for example -- a rather common title. Loose ones go rather cheap. Boxed ones for around $10, but sealed ones have been fetching $50+

 

And, if I have a need to suddenly play Pitfall!, I'm not going to crack open my sealed one -- I'll just play the loose cart I have (yes, its perfectly fine to have more than one cart of a game!)

[Shawn]

I have not found one game yet that will play on the atari console while still in the box without MAJOR difficulty..lol.. So ya open them.

[Crazy Climber]

Collecting SEALED games?, I don't get it.

[homerwannabee]

Collecting SEALED games?, I don't get it.

Well here is how the logic follows. The rarer the better. Games with instructions are rarer than loose games without instructions so games with instructions is more expensive. Complete in box games are rarer than games with instructions so CIB games are more expensive. Sealed games are rarer than Complete in box games so Sealed games are even more expensive.

[Zwackery]

Everything in my collection is for actual use, so I open up all the sealed games I happen to get. Because some people go ga-ga over sealed games, I tend not to buy these in auctions because, as homerwannabee pointed out, the sealed games are pretty expensive compared to their non-sealed brethren. Since I do like to have the boxes for the carts, sometimes I wind up with a sealed copy...but it's not that way for long! I try to convince the sealed collectors that my opening of the boxes is helping to drive up the value of their sealed versions, but thus far I have not received any "open that box" donations. And yes, I don't care about the rarity, I will open the box to play the game.

[orrimarrko]

As far as I'm concerned, sealed games (regardless of the system) are for investment only. Meaning, if you collect "sealed only" games, you're doing it for the money (or anticipation of the money.)

 

That guy who bought the sealed Stadium Events didn't do it for the love of that game - it was an investment.

 

If you buy sealed Atari 2600 games and open them, that make a lot of sense to me. Personally, I've done this a lot lately.

 

It accomplishes two things, in my opinion. First, it saves me time from finding a complete one. Second, it at least allows me to get a new cartridge and manual. Hopefully, the box is in great shape as well. Since condition is very important to me, and I'm very picky about condition - buying sealed games and opening them is an easy way for me to get what I want.

 

I have no problem opening sealed games whatsoever.

 

What made me start this thread was to see what the general consensus was on the subject, especially when it comes to box damage from leaving it sealed.

 

Everyone has their own reasons for collecting, and I don't judge anyone for doing what they like, in that regard. Just because it doesn't make sense to me, doesn't make it wrong.

 

However, I want to keep my new games in as pristine condition as possible, which is why I asked if I should leave them sealed, or simply cut open the shrinkwrap.

 

Thanks again everyone for your input.

 

Steve

[Philflound]

The other thing about opening "sealed" games is that you get all the original contents. Most times games are sold "complete", but technically they aren't. People are under the assumption a game is complete with box, manual, and cart. But they don't include the catalog, warranty, posters, comic book, etc. So getting a sealed game and opening it is also a way of checking to make sure all contents are in there, and you're guaranteed almost always, mint contents, if not the box too.

 

Phil

[orrimarrko]

The other thing about opening "sealed" games is that you get all the original contents. Most times games are sold "complete", but technically they aren't. People are under the assumption a game is complete with box, manual, and cart. But they don't include the catalog, warranty, posters, comic book, etc. So getting a sealed game and opening it is also a way of checking to make sure all contents are in there, and you're guaranteed almost always, mint contents, if not the box too.

 

Phil

 

 

Say word, SON!

 

Exactly.

[Philflound]

Actually I should have elaborated a bit more on the last thing I wrote. When I sell games that have the box and instructions, I don't think I usually write CIB or complete anywhere in the title or description unless it's sealed or comes with the poster inserts, comics, etc. I usually write MIB. I don't know if many of the older Atari made games came with anything other than instructions inside, and possibly a catalog, but I usually don't include the catalogs and warranties when I sell games. Correct that. I do put CIB.

 

Phil

Edited June 24, 2006 by Philflound

[Zwackery]

I still have a stack of those red Atari catalogs sitting around, so I suppose I should start putting them back in the boxes! That would probably drive me bonkers. I do tend to remove the catalogs from most of the boxes and I have a binder where I have a little collection of each release from the various companies as I run across them, but I do leave the warranty cards in the boxes. Certainly there are many titles that have some sweet extra pack-ins, from comics to stickers to posters to controller overlays and so on, and it is great to get all those if you can. I suppose I take each on a title by title basis for my own collection.

[Rik]

I don't see shrinkwrap adding value to a game. People can re-shrinkwrap games anyway, so telling an originally shrinkwrapped one from a re-wrapped one might be difficult (or impossible on eBay).

 

If you want to protect them, get some comic book bags.

Very true!,good point.