Should You Collect Your Games “Complete in Box”? - Retro Bird
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- When it comes to collecting, one of the biggest questions that collectors have to ask themselves is if it's worth it to collect games CIB, or "Complete in Box". I discuss the positives and negatives of collecting your games complete under a variety of the different circumstances that play a factor.
Should You Collect Your Games “Complete in Box”? - Retro Bird / Is it Worth it To Collect Games CIB? / Should You Collect the Case and Manual for Games?
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Games played: Ristar (0:00), NBA Hangtime (0:10), Spin Master (0:25), Sunset Riders (1:09), Klonoa 2 (2:05)
I appreciate the Klonoa 2 gameplay. It's a very underrated game.
Good call on this sometimes I gotta turn into the FBI and try to find out what game it is
@@Daniel-pm6nl haha I know right. I wish more youtubers would do this.
@@TenOfZero1 I agree
Thank you for thinking ahead, I was going to ask for one of the games featured on this video.
Man, that is a beautiful arcade controller. Full disclosure, I have zero interest in collecting retro games. Your videos just have the perfect balance of nostalgia and humor that I'll watch whatever you're talking about just for the entertainment.
yep. i'm fine with emulation. though PS2 (not retro) can be a bit tricky. I like to not only conserve space but have it all in one or two spots.
Glad to hear that and thank you! I try to make my videos so that they'll appeal to anyone interested in video games. Thank you for the compliment on the arcade stick too. It was made by Analogue Interactive years ago before they started making all their FPGA consoles.
Same here, I'm all emulation but watch a ton of retro collecting channels.
Yeah, retro games are super pricy. I prefer to buy them digitally if ever. I recently got Link's Awakening DX because my old 3DS died with the game on it. I had to start over from scratch with my digital 3DS game collection.
@@nathanlamont9920 Do you really think the Ps2 is harder to emulate than Saturn or even Ps3? I’ve never really run up against barriers with that system.
I don't consider a game complete unless Timmy wrote his name on it.
What never ceases to shock me is the staggeringly high number of loose sega genesis carts out there. What kind of monster would have thrown away those cases?
Yeah, kind of sad to think about right?
I own a decent handful of Genesis games, and I think I only ever had one with the case. It's all loose carts for that console. Unfortunately I was a kid when I got the console, and now I have no idea where that case is. It hurts...
CIB is definitely optimal and with the box is necessary for disc based games. But if missing the manual means saving $30 so be it.
Yeah unfortunately I have no symphony of the night manual. Got it locally for $40 June 2020 just missing the front art/manual. And I really don't feel like spending 40 just to have that manual lol
For cartridge games, I like to have one CIB from each console and the rest loose. Having one let's me remember what CIB was like for that console without breaking the bank.
i feel you bro. got a few NES cib's. love them the most and its the biggest generation for me! so many first games of a franchise!!!
and one each of SNES (Zelda: LTTP), N64 (Mario Party) GameCube (Smash Bros. Melee)... from the "Wii" on only sealed ;)
@@Lah-Criz What? I get the cartridges, but why on earth would someone throw away the boxes of disc-based games?
@@PhoenIXPhantasies I meant because of the financial side of it. everything before wii i can't afford sealed
@@Lah-Criz Ah, I see. So you buy them, keep them sealed and then download the game or? I never really get the sealed collectors. I have a few. Some went in my backlog and then shot up in price and now I'm scared to open them for instance. But apart from that I want to be able to play them.
I'm here for the bread bag clip collection.
That Mean Girls disc has gotten some mileage. Glad to see it show up. :)
If I had $1 for every time I read a description on eBay that said "CIB -- missing manual" ...
I'm personally Cib as much as possible when it comes to disc based games. I love reading the manuals and all of the fun inserts inside for expired contest entries or warranties. One thing I think that was forgotten to be mentioned is personally I like games cib because it has that nice weight to them. Most modern games that don't include instruction manuals are disappointing when the case feels light as a feather.
Agreed. Modern game cases feel really flimsy and fragile. Older game cases just felt a lot heftier. It was especially bad on consoles like the Wii U that just felt paper thin. It's extremely easy for them to get damaged and punctured if you're not careful because of how thin they were.
I miss the manuals and amazing box art that retro games offered. Gaming just isn't the same in the modern age.
Would my suggestion of filling your games with old newspaper to add more weight resonate with anybody?
I do agree with the weight thing everytime I pick up a GameCube game missing it’s manual I do a double take
A guy on Etsy can make reproduction manuals for a lot of games on many different consoles, as long as the scans are available online or if he has it in his personal collection. It's a nice alternative to "complete" a game that is very pricey, and he does great work! 👍. It will cost anywhere from $25 - $40 depending on how big the manual is.
To me, it depends on the console I am collecting.
For example, if I collect Gamecube games, then I want them to be CIB, but if I collect SNES games, then it would be just loose copies.
Yeah, there really needs to be a case for disc games.
@@Hauntaku Agreed. Disc based games, I need CIB.
Cartridge, I can settle for the game itself.
I mean... Who loses their disc based box??
Wow! This video had the the trifecta. Rocket Knight, Mean Girls, and Bananas!!! Oh and Bread bag clips...That's almost too much for me. I gotta sit down for a minute.
Retro Bird is the man!
Definitely like collecting CIB!
You're like a real life cartoon character, it's always so fun to watch you!
Retro Bird is like Scott The Woz but with less swearing.
I just had to grab a manual the other day and look up what to do in my game. Without it I would be stuck , so manuals and instructions are vital
I like doing CIB when it comes to disc based games. If I receive a CIB disc based game, it's usually in very good condition.
Respect for those who kept it CIB all these years
I've found that to be the case too.
@@RetroBirdGaming Ahh? The “case”? 😎👉👉
Complete in Box always for me. Love the art, love the manuals, the cases look great on the shelf, it’s how they were back then. More expensive yes but makes me more selective in what I get. 👍
Gameboy games are super hard to find in box and when I do find them, they're often overpriced!
This is why I love collecting Sega Master System games. They come in clamshell style cases, so case and cart games are often available. Even when only carts are available, it is not too tricky to track down an empty case. If you do so and print a cover, you are set!
SMS is a totally underrated system, but ngl having the pause button on the console is a big pain haha
The Holy Grail: Sparkster frisbee, T-shirt, hat and button.
Collect all 4 and you’ll impress Retro Bird with your good taste forever!
Yeah, talk about a treasure trove of goodness.
“Sometimes is just knowing that you have them”. @2:03. Exactly.
“It’s like getting mooned through a window”!!! Had me rolling dude.
I try collect my sega genesis and GameCube games with their original cases and manuals. The games because it was the way they were intended to be played. The cases and manuals because they are BEAUTIFUL, old, (mostly from Japan 🇯🇵) and from my childhood era + they house the game itself. Great episode dude!
Glad you liked the video! Thanks :)
I buy everything CIB. I don’t care about prices as long as they’re fair and don’t exceed €150 for a retro game. Nothing loose in my collection (1,600 games) and it looks great. I can sleep very well at night.
I have a headache thinking about the 2 loose games in my collection.
@@Hauntaku you need to fix that as soon as possible. Take a second (or third or fourth) job.
@@Parisiancollector They are two GameBoy games and those two aren't considered rare, so it should be fairly easy to find boxes for them at a good-ish price. Luckily, I'm storing the games in my little plastic storage shelf with my cardboard box games (you're supposed to store the cardboard box games somewhere where there's less of a chance of dust and oxidization)
I'm relieved to know you take the proper steps to protect your DVD of Mean Girls!
I use the manuals for my games. I agree: using a physical manual and a srategy guide with the game instead of hopping on the internet is a fun experience.
I typically buy my cartridges loose and my disc-based games CIB. The manual is nice to have, but not a dealbreaker if it isn't there, as long as the original artwork is there. The game has to look nice on my shelf. I wouldn't buy loose Switch or DS games, though. Those cartridges are too small and the cases look so nice. On a side note, I would love to see what happens if you send in the Rocket Knight t-shirt order form.
I hate how many stores try to sell loose ds games. Who wants that you could sneeze and it would disappear
I gravitate towards CIB since I like looking through the manuals and having the artwork (as well as a protective case). I will sometimes buy loose discs or cartridges if I find a deal. However, if I want something enough to buy it full price on eBay, then I want CIB.
Love your taste in action plat form games Bird. Nice to see some of the lesser known titles getting some shine.
CIB: Chickens Interested in Bananas. Under normal circumstances i would allow any new fan of some nanners, but chickens? They are a suspicious bunch.
I do CIB for disc and Genesis.
Nofriendo is strictly carts, just like when I was a kid.
I’m a cib collector. I like having a box with artwork, much more presentable way to have a collection and of the course the game is protected
Protected from being played?
Glad to see the famous BBCC (Bread Bag Clip Collection) making a cameo. Always good to see a valued cast member return lol. Great video as always haha
Got a Chiquita ad before the video started - how fitting :-D Cheers!
listening to this while cataloging my own humble collection on a day off while sipping coffee is just TOPS! Cheers, new fan of this channel!
Welcome aboard!
I have over 12,000 games, and about 3,000 of those are loose. Of course I'd rather have them CIB, but the truth is, having games loose like that isn't a terrible or bad thing. If it can save you a lot of money, go for it. I have four rooms, and one of those is called my Nintendo Room. The names are just celebrations of console manufacturer's, and aren't indicative of what I actually have in each room. My other rooms are the XBOX Room, Sega Room and Atari Wall.
The Nintendo Room is where I store all of my loose games, however, even some in that room are CIB, such as my Neo Geo AES, Fairchild, and others. It really is up to the individual collector as to how they buy, store or display their games. Regardless, whatever you do, do so because YOU want to do it that way, and display your games, however you wish, with pride. After all, they are YOUR games!
Exactly! Personalize your collection!
Big collections are scary to me.
For disc based it’s CIB all the way! And if I was rich the same would apply to cartridge games as well… 😏
Edit: except for the tiny cartridges like DS/3DS/switch, those are a must to have CIB
I try my very best to get every game complete in box! I also make sure to grab any indie titles I want in physical form while they're still affordable. I have a small collection and only 2 games aren't in the box. The rest of my collection is mostly Nintendo Switch games, but I have a few DS and 3DS titles. One of my boxes is dented :( but the game is amazing!
Personally, I feel that a small collection is even more impressive than a large collection. I have to make sure my collection only has games I want to play and I don't let it get too large. Each game is important to me! Though, I had to remove a few of the nostalgic games because I don't play them enough.
😄!! Rewatching a few of your older vids and must've missed it a ways back. "What's this? It's like getting mooned through a window." That's golden Retrobird. Golden. 😆
Ok, “to CIB or not to CIB” is an excellent pun
I think people should buy what they can afford. And don't be ashamed about it when it comes to Retro games. Now if they're disc games then yes, I try to get C.I.B games.
There is nothing better than opening a new game and sniffing the manual. Yeah I'm weird, big whoop, want to fight about it.
I will always say that it depends on the game! Metal Gear Solid PS1’s instruction manual was so beefy and complimented the game so well. And like you said, some of the Saturn and ps1 longbox manuals, while not in color, are packed with so much cool info.
Gotta watch that Mean girls DVD guy.
i love this guy !
I got a Zelda case for my Switch Lite that came with two tiny plastic cases that hold up to 4 Switch games each. They fit into slots in the inside of the Zelda case too. The Switch Lite lays on top of them. That's a sweet way to keep all your Switch stuff together if you just have the handheld and a small collection of games.
I'm a CIB boy. It just bothers me if something isnt complete. I retroactively went back and bought boxes and packing materials for all my consoles in the last year.
man i just love your vids... these speak to me on a whole other level haha. i've been a CIB only collector... for 20 years. I made 2 exceptions: original Gameboy and Game Gear. but even GBA and NES/SNES it was CIB only. this actually kept me from diving deep into the SNES library for those 20 years... because i could never afford collecting CIB SNES... so about a year ago i decided to make another exception... i now collect SNES carts.
This is how I handle my collection:
- NES, SNES, N64, Gameboy, GBA: loose
- Master System, Genesis, DS, 3DS, disc systems with DVD or BluRay case: at least the box and game; manual optional.
- Disc systems with jewel case: CIB
This pretty much matches what I do as well.
Great video, funny as always.Once you start collecting C.I.B nothing else will do. I only collect for Gameboy/GBC so I can focus on that. Im supper picky so it's hard as the boxes are cardboard!! Not having the instructions keeps me up at night so I'm probably O.C.D! Its a shame that in a few years games will no longer have instructions or probably even a physical game to cherish? Just a console or hard drive with a list of games on it to show off thier collection on. I'm pleased I was a 70s kid. Yeah I'm old, old happy and poor...
5:43-6:07 is genuinely brilliant writing.
I just clicked on the video not caring much about the topic, but you have a very unique sense of humour. I laughed a bunch of times while watching this! 🤣 thank you and keep it up!
It depends though on my circumstances. If the games are based on the discs, I intend to have CIB. I even make some small notes on a single paper (wish list) that I need a manual or back insert or art front cover later on. Some of my GBA/DS games only have loose cartridges. But, again, I always look up the price to either leave them alone or save some money later on to get their original manuals/original art front covers before going into CIB.
Great topic! As for collecting CiB, I do when I can find a good deal on one. No so much because I'm picky about having everything (most of my Snes and Genesis games are just carts), but because I like the artwork, advertisements, etc. I thrifted a copy of the original SimCity for Windows quite a few years ago that was CiB (or close to it). It even included the catalog! It's like having a time capsule. It's just cool to have.
As a side note, I think something should be said for custom boxes. I recently started making custom boxes for some of my boxless games, and while it's time consuming, it's really rewarding when it finally comes together!
I've never thought about this before, but I think the older the console is, the more I'm inclined to collect CIBs. But that might be the case purely because I was gifted many Nintendo, and Genesis CIBs that kicked off my collection. If that hadn't have happened, I probably wouldn't have ever thought about CIBs. Many of my friends/fam have never even considered it. Love your content!! Naners 4life!
9:31.. this was pretty much me on the car ride home after every new game purchase or game rental.
I was originally a CIB only type of collector but the prices of the more expensive genesis games I wanted caused me to go cart only, and I buy custom game cases. They are super nice and I save big money. 👍
Your "all or nothing" collecting mentality is absolutely correct in my case. Since I don't have deep pockets like most seem to have, I preferred to spend a little extra modding my consoles so I can play retro games without physically having them. All I own is (give or take) 16 consoles, a CRT, an LCD and 3 perfectly planned KALLAX shelving units to combine it all into a great gaming corner so I can play any game my heart desires with the original hardware.
I can’t believe this channel isn’t bigger every time I watch a video I think this channel must have 100k subs
Thank you for that. I just gotta be patient and appreciate all the wonderful folks like yourself who are already here :)
I have always tried to get the game & manual at least. There are a few manuals out there that wow in price & scarcity! Awesome vid!
I'm whatever's cheapest kind of collector so 98% percent of my cartridge collection is loose haha. There's a lot of japanese SNES and Saturn games on my collection too.
I still own both the consoles and boxes of my childhood's NES and N64. Along my dad's old CRT. The same one we used to play those videogames along my little brother. That's all the satisfaction my nostalgia craving needs you know what I mean?
Shout out to Eduardo Senior and Diego I love you both.
Love your videos man just discovered your channel a few days ago and that's all I've been playing so far. Keep it up!
Glad to hear it! Welcome to the channel :)
I think for me, getting a game CIB is a way to relive what it was like actually buying games in the heydays. Usually on the bus ride home or in my mom’s car I’d flip through and read the manuals so I was ready to go when I got home. That’s a big part for me, along with the action of putting the original cartridge or disc in the real system and playing the game in its original format. By no means is CIB necessary for me, but it just adds a little something to look at when I’m not actually playing. This also comes back to when we only had one console and one tv for the whole family to enjoy too.
if the artwork is really good or if the game is really great, going for the box is a plus. the more complete the better as I wanna fill out and send in the warranty card...
On one hand, It's just packaging. A box intended to protect a product inside and make the the item identifiable on a store shelf (no different to food packaging). On the other hand, it's art, gaming history, makes the product complete and has more value than your pets. Let's be honest, if you were a doctor and had a patient that was collecting loose VHS tapes, you would be prescribing heavy medication for that kind of crazy.
I sold/lost/donated(thanks mom) my childhood collection but once I got back into console games around 2013 ish I just kept them all complete in box out of habit. I'm glad I did.
As long it comes with the game and the original case/box I’m fine. I don’t mind missing the manual
CIB all day! Great video as always 🍻
I prefer my games CIB but if I find a rare game in the wild loose I'll buy it and worry about that later. I have several titles I picked up over the years like that. One that comes to mind is Streets of Rage 3, got it loose with a torn label years ago on the cheap but recently got the case/manual and a repro label for much less than what complete goes for today. Did the same for Capcom vs SNK 2 on ps2. Also bought just the manual for Powerstone 1 since I had the case & disc.
Speaking of repro, if I can't find case/manual I'll spend $20 or so on a repro just so it's presentable. I had to do that for my loose copy of Marvel vs Capcom 2 last year, no one was selling the c/m by itself and I already have the disc. I did the same for Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style and Tales of Destiny. No way I'm buying those again CIB with today's prices.
On the other hand, I'll buy certain games again if they're cheap enough. I had a loose copy of Tokyo Xtreme Racer 1 on DC but it was worth buying a new CIB copy, and TXR:Zero on ps2 as well. Originally I got it loose for like 3 bucks years ago but I got another complete copy for slightly more a few years back. And then there's my original first Genesis game, SF2: Championship Edition. It plays fine, but the c/m are ragged and falling apart. I just got another complete copy since it was cheap.
Lastly, there's times when you have to know when to hold. I found a loose Zone of the Enders 2 at a store, I held off. Went on eBay and found CIB for slightly less than the store had it priced (not counting s/h). Scored that time.
I go for CIB, good condition, and black label copies, but i can't afford Nintendo cardboard. I would be there to have that Time Crisis 2 manual discussion over dinner :P
When I shop for cartridges, I always do lose. Even if the CIB complete in box price is only $10 more. I'm primarily collecting for the DS and 3DS at the moment. Everything goes straight into my carrying case regardless if I have a box or not.
For the Professor Layton series I did do CIB, because for some of the games, the price difference was only like $5. It was a novelty opening the cases up and reading through the manuals. Brought me back to my elementary days. (Or bathroom trips pre smart phones.)
But the novelty wore off pretty quick. It's just so much easier to have everything in 1 case. And the manuals mostly just have instructions on how to play with very few extra character analysis tidbits.
I feel bad because I'm genuinely considering just throwing them all away because they're just taking up space, but I know some people are looking for cases. I'm just too lazy to set anything up on eBay so on the TV stand they stay, for the moment
I guess I see the appeal of CIB, but with games largely not even coming with manuals anymore, I don't know why CIB is make or break for some people. For me, yeah, the box art may be pretty to look at, but I can just Google the image.
For my GameCube and Wii games, I prefer having a case just to protect the discs.
It brings me joy seeing you display NBA Hangtime 64
I only collect CIB. Not trying to be a snob, just consider it much much nicer than a loose disc or missing the manual.
Keeping doin' your thing my friend! Nothing wrong with the way you like to collect :) Being a snob comes from how you act towards others. Not from what you do.
@@RetroBirdGaming Yeah, just imagine some rich game collector drinking red wine in their game room full of games they'll never play.
Even if I wasn't really interested in retro gaming and couldn't perfectly relate to almost everything you talk about I'd probably still enjoy your videos a lot because of your awesome sense of humor. Thanks a lot for the great entertainment!
edit: ... and I love having games CIB 😁
Thank you Jesse :)
That was my reaction to the Time Crisis II manual too. ;)
I see you retro bird with that CiB of maximo. I just bought clean copies of Maximo and Maximo v army of zin myself. Classic gems right there.
Nice! I'm still keepin' an eye out for the sequel myself.
When I was a toddler.... in my first years of gaming, I didn't even remember seeing an Atari 2600 box. It was just a cartridge and the manuals were just a stack of booklets with coffee stains stuffed somewhere at the bottom of the shoebox we kept the cartridges in. The Atari games themselves didn't have any value, they were just things we traded with our neighbors like they were fancy pens in grade school. This would have been 1983 and I think a new Atari game was cheaper than a Star Wars action figure.
By the time I got a NES, I was so excited any time I got a new game... I probably tossed the box almost as soon as I pulled the game out of it, and tucked that manual in the black dust sleeve. It wasn't till the Sega Genesis when the boxes started mattering to me because it was a protective case that kept everything neat.
Through my late teens, I never thought to save the paper box till I bought my own games... which at the time would be SNES games. Games like Chrono Trigger, Secret of Evermore and Final Fantasy III... I busted my butt "fippin burgers" for weeks to buy those games, you betcha I was gonna keep everything. Plus those types of games came with all sorts of neat extras. By the time the PS1 came out, everything had it's own protective case and it wasn't that I intentionally collected CIB, it was just practical to keep that stuff.
When I got married, I sold all my entire childhood video game collection to pay for a wedding, and I convinced myself it didn't rock my world, and the more I denied it, the more it built up in me. I was younger, it was the responsible grown-up thing to do at the time. Now, I'm a little older, money isn't as tight as it used to be... so I'm taking it back... all of it. Just like Mouth at the bottom of the wishing well in Goonies.
About 5 years ago, my mother in law bought me a Raspberry Pi and I figured out how to turn it into an emulation box, and it re-kindled my love for the games I played in my childhood, and I went on an exciting journey of slowly getting back the games I had as a kid that I had sold. One problem... I had wrongs that needed to be righted! I had to not only get the games back, but I had to get them back with all of the things I could. Boxs, manuals... posters and maps if they had them... but not so much registration cards and other things not specific to the game in the box. Thankfully I started this journey at a good time, and a lot of what I wanted to get wasn't ridiculous like it is now.
It started out with the cheapest of cheap stuff. My friend gave me a dusty fat PS2 and I picked up the handful of games I loved playing on that system, but remembered how much more I loved the PS1... and it played those games too. So I started getting all the PS1 games I loved. This was right when Gamestop had their "retro" section, and always had a stack of really good games cheap. Then I got a Wii in the box for $30 at a garage sale, and remembered... that plays GameCube games too! Score! Wii games in Gamestop were getting phased out of rotation, and I was getting great titles for like $10 or less. After picking up a few GameCube games... it just didn't feel right not playing them on an actual GameCube. Then I got an OG Xbox. Then I got a NES Jr and a SNES Jr and discovered these things called Everdrives. Which let me play the games I didn't have yet... but then I felt guilty I was pirating them, so I was committed to getting the games I wanted to play in physical form... which doesn't really change anything legally, but it helps me sleep better at night.
My goal was to obtain all the games I owned as a kid, and all the games my best friend had who loved video games as much as me... and the games I had fond memories of borrowing from other friends or renting. For a kid who's childhood revolved around comic books and video games... thats a WHOLE LOT of video games to cover.
Long story short, I somehow ended up with 562 CIB games from NES-3DS. I skipped the Saturn cuz helz naw, some of the games I had for that system are like $500 now! If I had that kinda money to spend on a game, I'd much rather get a Neo Geo! So thats what I did. I'm really not that good at the whole logic thing, but I always wanted a Neo Geo, and now I have two... you know... cuz that whole logic problem. "I'll get the Neo Geo I lusted over as a 13yo... wait, this stuff is expensive, I'll get an MVS too. The games are so much cheaper on that!".
Now that I have all this stuff... complete games, RGB modded systems, playing on PVMs, Disc based consoles with ODE's. Premium cables....
Now that I have all this stuff, what do I find myself playing the most?
...a MiSTer.
None of this makes any sense, and I'm having the time of my life.
So now, I infect my children with my obsession of retro video games. I play video game music in the car when I drive them to school, and my son loves watching channels like yours with me before bedtime.
It gives me an almost uncontrollable glee to hear my 2yo daughter request MegaMan to listen to while she's eating her breakfast... wearing a bib, covered in yogurt... and my wife feeling like she failed as a mother.
The best solution I have found; is to buy the carts or digital retro games on current hardware, and then track down extensive book on the games. I have a Street Fighter, Zelda and Mario history book (ones with awesome artwork; including from manuals) and it saves space but gives me the nostalgic experience of looking at more info on a game I own in a physical form.
I do CIB for plastic game case consoles most of the time. But, the more expensive a game is, I do try to be more flexible
This might be silly of me but I almost never go for disc based games missing the manual because if I do end up finding a complete copy later then trying to sell the incomplete copy ends up becoming a pain in the ass. CIB copies are just so much more popular in general.
Brilliant video dude!! I must admit if I get a game that’s missing a manual I do shed a tear 😢 also a cracked Dreamcast case is abit upsetting 🤬
CIB is a must for disc based games, especially Jewel Cases. I will buy a DVD case style box/disc only if it's a good deal since the artwork is still there and hunt down the manual later on. Cartridge based games(not including Switch) are cart only. I dont plan on having a huge collection, so I will just get custom game cases made for the cart based games when I'm done collecting what I want for those systems.
Awesome vid! Bread bag clip thing got me good. I'd love to know the context but still funny. They're mostly made of paper now so maybe they are rare? lmao
Alright, call me crazy, but my entire game collection is complete: about 2,800 games total EXCEPT the eight NES games that I have, which are cart and manual in custom Game Cases clamshells (I have the box, cart sleeve and styrofoam - but no baggie - for Sky Shark stowed away). Heck, I’ll see my crazy and raise myself an insane: all my Master System (87) and Genesis(109) cases still have their hang tabs!!!! Atari VCS? All 38 games in their cardboard boxes.
Maybe it’s the OCD in me, but even when I was a kid, I insisted on keeping my games and consoles in their boxes when I wasn’t playing them.
@@OriginalMasters Nah, just meticulous over 20+ years of collecting - if I were to do it today, I have to agree that it would be insanely expensive… I mean I still do, but at least it’s one here, one there every once in a while. It also used to be a lot easier to buy games in parts (game, manual/inserts, cases/artwork) and often for less than buying a complete copy.
@@jcchaconjr Yeah, complete in box is best! I kept good care of half of the games I had as a kid. My siblings didn't care though, so most of those games stopped working. The ones I played were the ones that still worked.
I am big on aesthetics. CIB or nothing at all. I like the way the games look on display in my game room. It reminds me of the days when I used to buy and rent games. It's an important part of the gaming ritual for me. We all have standards.
I'm in the middle, somewhere. My cartridge base gangs don't have to be complete in box. But if a Odyssey 2, Sega Master System or Genesis game comes complete, then that's a bonus. Now my disc-based games on the other hand, those have to be complete. I would buy a loose disc at a reasonable price then jump online to find the case.
For cardboard box games I place painters tape on the tabs so the lid slides out rather than yank the tabs
Cool vid, I'm all about CIB games when possible. Though I will buy a game loose if I know that I can complete it later of if the game is a gift from a friend. I got my copy of Sonic CD this way b/c it was left in the Sega CD I was given, I certainly wasn't going to give it back 😅. I also like my games protected by the case and oddly enough just knowing the manual is in there, plus the cases just look cooler displayed and sitting on my shelf. I haven't tried discussing a game manual at dinner though, but maybe I'll give it go 😂
I’ve gotten to the point where CIB (for me that means case, cover art, manual, and the game itself of course) is all I look at when I’m looking for a particular game. This has become increasingly difficult with how most retro game prices have skyrocketed in price in the last few years. Cartridge games are my exception; finding CIB SNES or N64 games is just not feasible. Heck, a few of my N64 carts are bootleg because of the ridiculous prices even a lot of loose carts go for.
I wish I’d bought more of my Gamecube collection over a decade ago with manuals in mind. I’ve been looking into finding replacements for Pokémon Colosseum and Chibi Robo, among others. I just can’t bring myself to pay the astronomical prices I see online for a freakin’ 20 page manual I’ll never even read just to scratch that CIB itch. It’s a tough life 😭
I go with CIB. For cardboard box games, I put in some extra care and effort in finding good condition ones for the right price. That means that the box itself should be in complete condition and without too much wear and tear. Basically, my boxes looks almost new at a first glance. However, I am not paying for ultra premium condition.
Where I do not have a manual yet, I am on the hunt for one, probably overpaying for some manuals just for the pure satisfaction to make it a CIB copy.
I've found hunting down manuals on their own to be very tricky!
@@RetroBirdGaming Indeed. Got to get whatever you can get your hands on. I was lucky to purchase a binder with 75:ish NES manuals. That got me a long way. Now I am only 23 manuals away from having a manual to every game that I have, across all systems. That will be the day for celebration :)
Darn you Retro Bird. Lately, I’ve been getting loads of banana/grocery ads on TH-cam 😂
I love my Gameboy games, I have recently started getting the manuals for my loose games, which is fun but merely a hobby as it can get quite expensive. I completely agree with your last point, I have Kirby's Dreamland complete because it was. Childhood favourite game.
Keep up the awesome videos!
Definitely a “whatever I can get” gamer. I have a decent mix of loose carts and discs as well as pristine CiB titles
It's all over the place for me. Cart only is fine unless means something like you said. CD based with cover art is a must unless it's a expensive game I want to play. DVD cases manuals are a bonus for me.
An important sidenote here, in many cases early drm means there is stuff you do physically have to have. Including, but not limited to, keys in the form of serial or parallel plugs, sophisticated code systems, and even specific magnifying lenses you put up against the screen
Love your channel bro!!
Thank you Erick!
Love the mean girls cameo. Anyway for me in this modern flash cart world I can’t buy any game that’s not complete. I was shocked to learn when I was an adult that kids threw their boxes away 😂. I never did that. Anyway as long as we having fun playing that’s main thing but it’s complete all the way for me.
I think that a lot of us older folks are kind of in the middle. I know I started off just getting anything I could get, because I wanted to play everything. As time went on and the internet connected a lot of us on forums, I started seeing so much boxed stuff that made me feel like it'd be nice to have, and it made me interested in getting some games CIB. Disc stuff has always been CIB if possible.
Nowadays, I don't really consider myself a collector, even though I certainly have a collection that numbers well into the thousands. I'm not trying to complete any sets of anything, and I play my games. I order stuff from a company like Limited Run Games, but then I open and play it. I guess it's that I collect to play, not to invest or just have. If I were to sell most of it tomorrow and go to flash carts, it'd feel weird, but not catastrophic, because I could still play the way I enjoy.
You're still a collector! Everyone has a different style and rhythm to game collecting. I personally like having a tiny collection of games that I actually want to play because then the games won't be sad.
@@Hauntaku that's probably true. It'd probably be correct to call myself a collector, but not a completionist. Above all, I just enjoy playing, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy looking at cover art or flipping through manuals.
I don't mind if the instruction booklet is gone, but it needs the case/box.
If it's a cart, then I need the manual/map. If it's a disc, then I need the case. If I can get them all though, then defintely that.
If we are talking games with nice posters, or with more complex instructions, or even a more dear to your heart title, yes CIB, especially if it is Genesis hardbox, as those are WAY easier to find CIB. other than that, if you can get the CIB on a good bid at or around the naked cart price, then jump on it. ALWAYS buy disc based games with at least the case and cover art, tracking them down separately is just as much a pain as finding card board boxes for N64/Snes... unless you don't mind using a generic DVD case and print the art yourself. or buy some from the aftermarket box company online,.. name escapes me, but they are quality if you have the $ to spare.
For Cartridges I don't feel half as much need for complete but for the CD games I feel differently.
My two favorite games, Fallout and Fallout 2, came with spiral-bound manuals that the developers clearly put a lot of effort into. It was cool when that used to be common practice.