Discuss Time! 149

[NickThorpe]

Hi guys, it's time for another Discuss page. The question this time is: How much does condition matter to you?

That is to say, when you buy used games, are you happy with beaten-up loose cartridges or do you try to get complete copies with everything as pristine as possible? Why do you do this?

As usual, we'll pick some responses to go into the mag.

[Sokurah]

I'm not a rabid collector so I don't fuss too much over the condition. I won't buy anything tatty but I won't pay a premium for mint quality either.
Somewhere in between = good quality for sensible money. That's how I do it.

[Big Shoes]

I will use SNES games as an example.
If I just want to play a game or want it for my collection I would just go for cartridge only, as long as it was cleanish with the label on it, that would be fine. But my favourite games for a system, I would try and get them complete in their boxes with instructions and inlays.

[Timothy Redux]

For my megadrive collection i'm fussy, but not too bothered for other systems. As long as they don't have p00 on the disc (I had this once at a carboot)

[David]

Happy with cart only for most systems but now I am concentrating on megadrive stuff its boxed games only, as they just look so cool

[Megamixer]

If I'm going to keep it then it has to be complete and in excellent condition. Why? Not really sure in all honesty! I guess I just can't see a beat-up or shabby box looking very appealing on the shelf. I'm okay with loose carts if I just want to play them however. Prices on some boxed games (especially the SNES) mean that it's simply more affordable to buy a loose cart. I couldn't spend £100 on a boxed title without even knowing if I'd enjoy it!

[Mayhem]

It doesn't have to be pristine, but I'll tend to only buy used games if in good condition or better. Only caveat, if it's something extremely rare.

[dste]

I don't try and go for perfect and pristine but I do try and go for complete and nice.

I've seen some shocking boxes over the years that I have passed on and have occassionally passed on games that haven't had instructions. I do own some cart only games but if I had the choice I would happily get rid of them for complete versions.

The reason I go for complete is because it's nicer and I like to own the complete package.

[ncf1]

Things have changed for me over the years. I'm not a big collector but if I buy a game, I do want it to be in perfect condition, or at least near as possible. I guess its the perfectionist in me, anything tatty or incomplete... just annoys me.

[ArchaicKoala]

Condition doesn't overly bother me from a box point of view just as long as the cartridge doesn't look like it has been chewed on and covered in odd substances...

[joefish]

Depends - there are things I want to have as collectables (like Sinclair ROM cartridges), so I want them intact with the rubber boot and the box. But even then I'm willing to forego the little instruction pamphlet if it saves me paying stupidly huge prices...

But if it's just something I never had and want to play, I'll largely go for the cheapest, battered, cartridge only or just the least-scratched disk-only option.

[gman72]

I sell my games in decent condition and expect the same from titles I purchase.

[RodimusPrime]

When I got into retro gaming I was just buying everything and anything. no matter if it was loose or rough condition, I just wanted to play everything.

I ended up with aroung 4-5000 games.

I am now down to around 1500 and am slowly working what games I really want to keep and buying them complte in good condition and selling all the other stuff to finance it all.

[necronom]

It has to be in decent condition and have all the bits that came with it. For example Ghostbusters on the C64 had to be the correct case (not the cheap budget release), and have the instructions in it. Obviously no pen scribbles on the cassette, etc.

[yakmag]

Varies for me,

If it is a specific game that i'm after, eg my copy of Doom 2 on PC, it had to be the 'Big Box' edition, with instructions etc in very good nick.

I have bought loose carts for my gameboy and that is good enough for me.