Case Vs. Caseless

[Decept]

So I wanted to hear some opinions because I am starting to think I am crazy... well I know I am crazy, so anyways. When buying used games:

1) Do you prefer having the original case/manual?

2) Do you care what condition the case is in? (not the game itself)

3) How much more money are you willing to pay for the original case/manual vs. generic?

4) Am I crazy and obsessive because I feel like I must have the case, but the manual just happens to be a bonus?

[Zephyr]

I agree with you for the most part. Sometimes though if a game is dirt cheap I'm willing to not have the case. Manual is nice, but not really necessary. I found a site a while back that has scanned labels that you can print off and put in empty game cases to make your own, but I just haven't gotten around to trying it.

[jeffx]

I only buy games in complete condition. The lowest I'll drop is a bunch of stickers on the case. I can just replace that or better yet take them off with goo gone.
I've skipped some good "deals" just because the sleeve/manual was ripped/missing. That's a deal breaker to me. Or how about Gamestop putting their stickers RIGHT on the sleeve. I've stopped buying there a long time ago.
So either we're both crazy or neither of us are.

[Hamel]

I buy a game only if it has a case

[Decept]

Woot, I was just making sure I wasn't the only person who thinks this is deal breaker. I have no idea why this happens, but as soon as I find out there is no case, all of sudden I lose interest, no matter how good of a deal it is.

ARGH! I hate it when there are stickers inside the plastic, on the label... like who does that and why? I mean honestly I have seen it where people have kept the white paper on the back of the sticker so the adhesive never touches the label, so in that case, I buy. But don't these stores know that cases are deal breakers to some buyers?

[Crabman]

Depends. It should have the original packaging at the very least, unless it's a cartridge game. I'd prefer manuals, but it isn't an absolute deal breaker in some cases (racing games, for example).

[jeffx]

Woot, I was just making sure I wasn't the only person who thinks this is deal breaker. I have no idea why this happens, but as soon as I find out there is no case, all of sudden I lose interest, no matter how good of a deal it is.

ARGH! I hate it when there are stickers inside the plastic, on the label... like who does that and why? I mean honestly I have seen it where people have kept the white paper on the back of the sticker so the adhesive never touches the label, so in that case, I buy. But don't these stores know that cases are deal breakers to some buyers?

That's because deep down inside of you you're a game collector nerd. You just don't know it yet. It's OK, you know? You can still live a decent life, trust me.

They put stickers inside cases because they have no soul. That and it probably makes it easier for them to track the games, given that they probably do the case-switcharoo if asked or in need of a clean one. I think there are a few GS employees on this forum so maybe they can fill us in on this evil practice. Also they know some random kid will buy them anyway.

[Decept]

ok, jeffx, you made me admit, I have a second job at GS... soooo... anyways I figure if I need extra money I figure I might as well support my habit that you have so eloquently pointed out.

It is possible to label the inside without attaching the sticker! I think the other employee's problems stem from their laziness or indifferent opinion to cases/sleeves not to mention people working there aren't always "gamers."

Also, I personally find it easier when we have to lower/raise prices on items, that when the sticker is merely "floating" along the sleeve, it is easier to replace it with another "floating" sticker rather than re-apply or remove the old sticker which would be the case if it had been applied like any other sticker.

So that is what started this dilemma, and the many before this post, and I am sure there will be many that will happen after this post. I called a gamestop, asked them if they had a game, they said they did, they found it while I was on the phone, and then I asked if they had the case or a generic one, he couldnt find it, and asked "is that a deal breaker?" I said probably and ended the call.

Not to mention, I had called two different stores before that one, Store A said the nearest store was 300 miles away that had it, Store B said it was at Store C, and I finally found it at Store C, when their online product locator said it should have been at Store A, B, and C... hence when I am away from work, I am just another customer, but why isnt their online product locator up to date, and why was the first store's worker so incompetent as to not be able to look up the nearest store (this isn't the first time I have had problems tracking down a game outside of my district, or their workers in general), and after all this trouble is it really worth the discount.

So yea, it's an addiction.

[Olethros]

I only buy games in complete condition. The lowest I'll drop is a bunch of stickers on the case. I can just replace that or better yet take them off with goo gone.
I've skipped some good "deals" just because the sleeve/manual was ripped/missing. That's a deal breaker to me. Or how about Gamestop putting their stickers RIGHT on the sleeve. I've stopped buying there a long time ago.
So either we're both crazy or neither of us are.

I agree with this 100%. It used to be a problem when money was tighter. I'd often go without playing something because I couldn't find one in good condition. Now, though, when I look at my collections I'm very glad I stuck to my principles. I have the resources to fill in the gap quite easily and I'm not stuck with junk!

[slayn]

I only buy games in complete condition. The lowest I'll drop is a bunch of stickers on the case. I can just replace that or better yet take them off with goo gone.
I've skipped some good "deals" just because the sleeve/manual was ripped/missing. That's a deal breaker to me. Or how about Gamestop putting their stickers RIGHT on the sleeve. I've stopped buying there a long time ago.
So either we're both crazy or neither of us are.

I agree with this 100%. It used to be a problem when money was tighter. I'd often go without playing something because I couldn't find one in good condition. Now, though, when I look at my collections I'm very glad I stuck to my principles. I have the resources to fill in the gap quite easily and I'm not stuck with junk!

These two posts contain my thoughts on the issue.

[Yazarc]

I was the same way as a few of you until I realized there were quite a few games that I passed up on years ago, and still haven't found them again to this day for a decent price.

I have myself a collection with hundreds of games because I enjoy gaming. Not because I want the shelf they're on to look pretty.

[slayn]

I was the same way as a few of you until I realized there were quite a few games that I passed up on years ago, and still haven't found them again to this day for a decent price.


Olethros covered that:

I have the resources to fill in the gap quite easily and I'm not stuck with junk!

[stalepie]

With CD games I like to have the jewel case (never understood why it was called "jewel") in order to have something to put it in, not that I can't buy a stack of blank cases otherwise, but usually CD games come that way. Cart games... just the cart is fine.

[jeffx]

Cart games... just the cart is fine.

I still prefer my games to be complete but yeah. Good condition GBA/SNES/N64 boxes are a rarity these days. At least SEGA almost ALWAYS got that part right, except after 1995 when they switched to crappy cardboard cases for a little while. NEC also made a dumb move when they stopped putting HU-Cards in jewel cases after introducing the Turbo Duo.

But I can't believe some people throw away their DS cases. I almost always see naked DS cartridges on my random pawn shop trips. Just baffling.

[Tatsuya]

The only way i buy them without the proper cases/labeling is if they are ungodly rare(shadow hearts is the only one that comes to mind for this) or if it's a game i just wanted to try for the heck of it, i/e something i'm not worried about breaking.

[Kain Mare]

For the most part, (95% of the time) I will purchase titles based on the condition of the case and disc, if there is cover art and a booklet inside. Any specials that come with used products are shway bonuses in my opinion (most gamers keep the free shwag for themselves). I look around at stores that I can get to with no problem and others if my friends are going with me (I'm a white girl that lives in Jersey. God do I suck at directions.).

If the game is online, I can only go by what the seller had put on the description for the game. A few times I bought used PS1 titles that was *supposed* to have everything (case, cover art, booklet and anything else) but just ended up getting a working game in a flimsy paper case. Then I provide my own cover art and booklet if needed.

For example, when I worked at EBGames (when it was a great and awesome job), a customer traded in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for the PS2. There was no booklet, cover art, case, nothing. Just a game in a small flimsy CD case. It was sold for 20 bucks to the guy who traded it in. I bought it for 20 bucks that night. I did have the chance to buy another copy from some dorky kid for less, but that fell through. ::sigh::

[Divals]

Usually I only buy games if they have the original case and manual. I do make exceptions, but usually only if there is a significant discount from the original price (I bought Uncharted: Drake's Fortune for $11 with no case and manual last summer, but I wouldn't have gone any higher than $15), or if the game is super rare (my first copy of Growlanser: Generations came with no manual).

But generally places like GameStop have no difference in price between whole and partial copies of games, so I don't even look at the ones without cases or manuals.

[Yazarc]

I was the same way as a few of you until I realized there were quite a few games that I passed up on years ago, and still haven't found them again to this day for a decent price.


Olethros covered that:

I have the resources to fill in the gap quite easily and I'm not stuck with junk!

Um, no....It seemed to me he was saying he's glad he stayed picky. I'm saying, I'm not as picky as I used to be...

In any event, it really doesn't matter whether he did or he didn't since the TC is asking people to speak for themselves. Or are we not supposed to have the same opinion as someone else?

[Terash Cas]

I only buy if it comes with a case and manual... unless the condition of the disc is too good to not buy... I do hate it when there are large stickers or writing on the case then again goo gone cleans that crap off.

Only have 2 games that came from ebgames that were in paper sleeve... Parasite Eve and A-Train... I was outbid a few weeks ago on ebay for a case for PE already found a complete second copy of a-train.

I too despise labels attached to the cover art I wouldn't bid or buy anything like that...
~
Case condition I would prefer damage only to the plastic piece that hold the manual concerning PSX games as that is easy to replace, Don't like broken bits, ripped cover art, writing.
Disc no scratches, writing, labels.

Price for the Case and Manual $5~10 some places around here knockdown the price if the damage is more than cosmetic.

It was sad to see a local shop selling a Disc Doctored copy of Vagrant Story for $50.
...

As for PSP,PS2,PS3 games case condition doesn't really matter just the cover art as it is easy to replace

............~~
The price the winning bidder paid for the Parasite Eve Case, Manual and demo disc was 14.50

[DamnedToBeFree]

I don't give a damn about the condition of the cases. I only care about the condition of the games themselves.

[Yazarc]

Actually, yeah. I will buy used once in awhile, but I won't take the game out of the store without looking at first. Gamestop will try to sell some games in pretty questionable condition from time to time.

Oddly enough, I didn't look at a new game and ended up bringing home the wrong PSP game one time.....Actually, that was about 2 months ago.

[Divals]

I usually don't mind so much if the disk is scratched, because there's a place around here that can take out nearly any scratches (except when some damn kid keyed one of my dvds.. grr). They haven't messed a game up yet, and it costs about $2-3. Pretty nifty when the only copy of a rare game you can find is all scratched up.

[slayn]

Um, no....It seemed to me he was saying he's glad he stayed picky. I'm saying, I'm not as picky as I used to be...


What in the world are you going on about? Olethros said he was glad he stuck to his principals and didn't settle for lesser copies of games because now he has the money and can go back and buy them, something you said you're not having luck with because you can't find a "decent price."

In any event, it really doesn't matter whether he did or he didn't since the TC is asking people to speak for themselves. Or are we not supposed to have the same opinion as someone else?

You're pretty quick to get defensive here. I wasn't being hostile.

[Sei]

I only buy games in complete condition and tend to prefer new. I used to get used games from EB on occasion due to a manual and case policy they had, but since the merger they just send you their disgusting ebcases and no manuals. Never again.

I like the manuals for the art mostly. There are a few very very nice ones.

[Yazarc]

You're pretty quick to get defensive here. I wasn't being hostile.

Well, I don't mean to sound defensive, but you quoted that something had been covered and it was the complete opposite opinion of my own.

To further expand on that, I appreciate the games first. I'm not too worried about the condition I buy them in and elusive ones that I still want and don't already have are few and far between these days.

Take a game like Wizardry TotFL. If I shared the same principles as some people here, I wouldn't have purchased this due to the manual having a torn front page(which it does). That would be a crying shame because I'd be missing out on a wonderful game. I want things "now". I'm not taking the chance that a more pristine copy MAY come along in the future at which point the price will have ballooned to triple MSRP.

On games from the not too distant past, there have been two instances in my PS1 games where I was able to call the publisher and get a replacement case and manual for my games when purchased used.

[Superkenon]

I have OCD, and there's no way I'm buying a game without its case and manual in mint condition. As much as I'd like to say "screw it," I just can't, because I would seriously lose sleep over it.

Even the stickers vex me to no end. The horrible residue...! Takes so long to completely clean that stuff off...

[Divals]

I have OCD, and there's no way I'm buying a game without its case and manual in mint condition. As much as I'd like to say "screw it," I just can't, because I would seriously lose sleep over it.

Even the stickers vex me to no end. The horrible residue...! Takes so long to completely clean that stuff off...

Have you tried rubbing alcohol? It works wonderfully on the sticker residue, my game collection is now looking better than ever :p

[Master Zombots]

I never buy used games, so they must be clean, complete, and perfect. :D

[ViolenceJack]

In some Rare cases, you can find a case, booklet and game seperately on ebay, Ico would be an example.

I usually wont buy unless all three are together, esp in a store like GameStop. If theres stickers on the outside of the case thats fine I can take them off with lighter fluid or replace the case. If they are on the inside on the inserts I'll pass.

[Terash Cas]

I have OCD, and there's no way I'm buying a game without its case and manual in mint condition. As much as I'd like to say "screw it," I just can't, because I would seriously lose sleep over it.

Even the stickers vex me to no end. The horrible residue...! Takes so long to completely clean that stuff off...

Have you tried rubbing alcohol? It works wonderfully on the sticker residue, my game collection is now looking better than ever :p

Goo Gone is better for that.

[Divals]

I have OCD, and there's no way I'm buying a game without its case and manual in mint condition. As much as I'd like to say "screw it," I just can't, because I would seriously lose sleep over it.

Even the stickers vex me to no end. The horrible residue...! Takes so long to completely clean that stuff off...

Have you tried rubbing alcohol? It works wonderfully on the sticker residue, my game collection is now looking better than ever :p

Goo Gone is better for that.

I tried goo gone, but it makes such a nasty smell..

[jeffx]

try butane (lighter fluid) then? It's much cheaper too.

[Ike.]

I have OCD, and there's no way I'm buying a game without its case and manual in mint condition. As much as I'd like to say "screw it," I just can't, because I would seriously lose sleep over it.

Even the stickers vex me to no end. The horrible residue...! Takes so long to completely clean that stuff off...

Have you tried rubbing alcohol? It works wonderfully on the sticker residue, my game collection is now looking better than ever :p

Goo Gone is better for that.

I tried goo gone, but it makes such a nasty smell..

You don't like oranges?

[Ike.]

In some Rare cases, you can find a case, booklet and game seperately on ebay, Ico would be an example.

I usually wont buy unless all three are together, esp in a store like GameStop. If theres stickers on the outside of the case thats fine I can take them off with lighter fluid or replace the case. If they are on the inside on the inserts I'll pass.

I almost never buy games that aren't in near-perfect condition. The only time I skipped on this rule was when I found a copy of GH2 and GH Rocks the 80s in godawful condition. No case or manual, and the discs were scratched up to ####, but they were only 5 bucks each, and this was in 2007 or so when both of those games were still running 44.99 used.

I also bought a complete copy of Alundra that happened to be a former rental copy, from one of those stores that puts the stickers on the ####ing disc. Working Designs, lovely people that they are, gave Alundra's manual their trademark holofoil surface, which meant that the manual's cover was nice and stiff and made a good tool for removing the stickers without damage. :)

[Kakizaki]

I almost never buy games that aren't in near-perfect condition.

Or unless it is Gamera or Toukon Retsuden 3 on PSX. ;)
(http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/home/199090.html)

[Ike.]

They're near mint, they just have cracked cases. Which is fine. The cases are replaceable. Besides, how often do you see PS1 game cases without at least one crack?

[Divals]

You don't like oranges?

If I found goo gone that smelled like oranges, that wouldn't be so bad. All I've found has that pseudo-pine smell.

[Ike.]

Oh, are you using a knockoff? Goo Gone is an actual brand of solvent, and it works great. Every dollar store in the nation sells it (unless you live in one of those not-America countries.)

[Yet Another Tim]

Seeing how my policy on game buying expanded, it all depends on the platform:

GBA: I'm perfectly fine without the case; I can just buy the game, seeing how I can just insert it inside a DS case's GBA slot.

DS: Must be complete, period, no questions asked.

[Kakizaki]

They're near mint, they just have cracked cases. Which is fine. The cases are replaceable. Besides, how often do you see PS1 game cases without at least one crack?


All of the time from where I buy, but that really kind of breaks down another problem with the original question in this thread. Everyone has a different idea of what mint, near mint, etc are anyway.

I was only joking around with you to begin with. ;)

[Ike.]

Oh, I know. I work in a used game store, so I think I have a pretty liberal definition of "mint."

If the game is cartridge based, there are two distinctions: mint with case and "mint" without case. Mint with case is preferable, but finding cart-based games with any of their original packaging can be such a chore and so expensive that I'm usually happy to just get the game with the original sticker on it. "Mint" in this case means it has the label, the label's not peeling off, and there's no writing on it. Gameboy and GBA games I don't really care about their condition, as long as they have the label. DS and PSP absolutely must have the label, instruction book and a decent case since those are a little harder to replace.

Any disc-based game must have all of the packaging and any inserts (don't care about advertisements.) Irreplacable things like CE tin cases need to be in relatively good condition with as few dents as possible. Jewel cases and DVD cases are a dime a dozen, so cracks don't matter as much to me. Though I hate those Saturn/Sega CD/early PS1 longbox cases because they're difficult to replace. The things were made to break.

[Kakizaki]

^Jewel cases can be strange with imports as well. I have more than few titles where the case looks like a standard jewel case, but it is just barely a little thicker (if that makes sense) to accommodate very large instruction booklets - Fire Pro SMS comes to mind.

[Divals]

Oh, are you using a knockoff? Goo Gone is an actual brand of solvent, and it works great. Every dollar store in the nation sells it (unless you live in one of those not-America countries.)

I don't think it was a knockoff, I'm pretty sure it said Goo Gone on the bottle. I'll have to go to a dollar store and see what I can find, I was using it at my friend's store so I can't just go and look.

[Terash Cas]

Though I hate those Saturn/Sega CD/early PS1 longbox cases because they're difficult to replace. The things were made to break.

Ya... I have or had a complete Resident Evil Longbox lent it out long ago to a relative came back with the manual missing, the plastic cd hub gripping thing broken and the cover slightly unglued; thats when I decided never again. I'd wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't designed to peelup.

Only other original longbox games I have is X-Com Ufo Defense I'd say in very good condition since that was basically a large jewel case. Then there is A-Train Very Good Glossy Cardboard type case.

[Fuyukaze]

Carts can be loose unless they are imports, then they need to be complete. Disc games generaly must be complete and non greatest hits but if the game is cheap enough, I'll accept it minus the manual.

[slayn]

Carts can be loose unless they are imports, then they need to be complete.

Is there any particular reason for this, or just an idiosyncrasy?

[hibiki_takami]

I got DDS2 a while ago and only got a generic case, then got DDS1 later on brand new (the reprint version). I then swapped out the cases with my old Soul Calibur III case to hold both games (it had a flap for some crappy demo disc) - so now, if I want to play DDS1 or 2, I can just pull that one case off of my DVD rack and we're good!

[stalepie]

Cart games... just the cart is fine.

I still prefer my games to be complete but yeah. Good condition GBA/SNES/N64 boxes are a rarity these days. At least SEGA almost ALWAYS got that part right, except after 1995 when they switched to crappy cardboard cases for a little while. NEC also made a dumb move when they stopped putting HU-Cards in jewel cases after introducing the Turbo Duo.

But I can't believe some people throw away their DS cases. I almost always see naked DS cartridges on my random pawn shop trips. Just baffling.

Yeah, so far i've kept all my DS cases. Maybe now that I'm older I feel like more of a collector (a bit), but still I'm mostly not interested in these aesthetic things. Admittedly some boxes -- especially from the old days -- had nice art. Same with some instruction manuals. But even if I was a collector I couldn't care less about those Sega CD / American Sega Saturn jewel cases! I hate those!

Honestly the art on today's boxes doesn't impress me that much, especially for DS, which, because it's a kid's system, seems to go for "kid quality" art no matter what. Don't really get that. When I was a kid I appreciated extravagant/ interesting / detailed artwork, but oh well. Whateva.

[dunno001]

(I'm a white girl that lives in Jersey. God do I suck at directions.).

*points to the bolded above* That's your problem. Those roads are a nightmare!

Topic at hand, I prefer the case and manual to be intact, but don't demand it. However, unless I really want a game, I will not pay a premium for missing items. As a result, I only have a couple of those generic GameStop cases. For games that aren't hard to find, though, I will want both present. Granted, for the price of what I got Suikoden II for, you better be sure that I insisted on (and got) everything. (Then again, that trip to Play-n-Trade was expensive, and all because I was the only person on their call list for Persona 1 being traded in...)

Regarding DS games, I find that the cases just take up too much space, so I only keep a couple of cases around. However, I do gut the cases before recycling them, so should I ever choose to get rid of a DS game, I can take one of my cases, and put the sleeve and manual back into it. Well, except for the 1 or 2 I bought without a case, but they go into one of many DS game holders I have.

However, this does bring me to another thought that has crossed my mind- what do people here think of thinpacking? I've been doing that with a lot of my DVDs, and have been considering doing that to at least my DVD-case games, just to get more shelf space for games. (Having 2 small shelving units dedicated to these games does get to be spacious.) Thinpacking does require a slight trimming of the case; would this be a dealbreaker to you?

[Terash Cas]

All of my games are in Iris storage boxes... which can hold about 50 or so PSX games using 3 Boxes per shelf...or 35 PS2 games can be stuffed in them... $12 for 2 at Costco...

Only problem with thinpacking is organizing them and remembering...

[Fuyukaze]

Carts can be loose unless they are imports, then they need to be complete.

Is there any particular reason for this, or just an idiosyncrasy?

It makes no sense at all. I realize it. I cant read Japanese so having the manual, box, posters, and any other extras doesnt realy add up to anything logical either. I think it has more to do with the shape of the carts over any rational explanation. SNES and SFC carts being some of the biggest examples.

Also, while I stress completeness on domestic disc based games, I dont mind a missing manual or spine card with imports. Maybe I am crazy.