Over the last year or so I've started to pick up a few cheap reproduction Genesis and Mega Drive games. I usually don't both paying extra for a case or instructions (if they are offered) as their quality usually leaves a lot to be desired. However these loose carts were really just getting on my nerve and I had to figure out a way to get them in a case. First thing I had to do however was actually pick up a few cases...but from where?
Enter the old and usually budget friendly sports titles. I'm surprised the local retro store didn't just give these to me as I'm sure most of these games have been sitting there for quite some time juding by the dust on the cases! While I may eventually end up trying the Tommy Lasorda Baseball or RBI 4 later on, these games were bought solely for their cases.
I had previously had some custom covers printed and ready to be inserted into cases so transforming these dull and boring sports titles into something a little more interesting was quick and easy. Did I have to go to this trouble for these repro games? Of course not, but they now look much better sitting on my shelves than they did before as a "naked" cart.
Pretty, eh?
Collectors like to show off their collection, whether is sports memorabilia, comic books, automobiles or in the this case video games. Sometimes I hate that I also view myself as a collector because it takes time and more money usually to track down the game in the condition and completeness that I'd like to have...versus just buying a cheap loose game and playing it. Plus it should go without saying that cases like these take up valuable real estate space on my shelves. While they look fantastic, I'm not sure how much longer I can continue to be a collector. Now if you'll excuse me I've got some games I've been waiting to play.
It is interesting where people fall on the spectrum between gamer and collector. At one end, gamers don't care where the game comes from and just want to play, whether it is via emulation or otherwise. At the other end, collectors are more interested in rarity and value instead of gameplay. It's a pretty complicated hobby when you think about it, as not too many other collecting hobbies have the issue of playability! (well, toys do).
ReplyDeleteBeing a toy collector as well I agree that there are some parallels of it being a complicated hobby. I love playing games, but there is just this inherent impulse inside me to collect and display...hence making cases for loose games. Honestly though I don't mind going back and forth between being both a gamer and a collector.
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