How good are video game box protectors

[noclass_nick]

So I know people love UGC's (until seymours) but with the games released in cardboard boxes over the years, nes, snes, n64, etc im wondering how people are finding them for storing their cardboard boxed games. Being in new Zealand I don't get access to UGC's without a large cost involved which I don't want to pay, and wide dvd case just don't work for me. So for my Sega SG-1000 collection im tempted to do some reproduction cardboard boxes then store them in the video game box protectors. More so to look good on my shelf rather than the tatty old ones which I have wrapped in foam and keep in storage.

Just want to know peoples thoughts on VGBP before I go down this path with cardboard box template, which I may use for other consoles.

[Oobgarm]

If money allows me to, I'm definitely going to get plastic protectors for the boxes I have. I've heard both good and bad, but personally I feel that as long as you're getting acid-free plastics, you're in good shape.

And since you mentioned making your own boxes...

I've made close to 150 NES box reproductions out of thick stock (100# Matte Cover) and they came out great. This was done with images sourced from TCP and adjusted to fit a template I put together:


(original on left, repro on right)

The stock isn't quite as thick and isn't really "cardboard" (or "kraft" paper as it's called in the paper industry), but it's fairly solid and would look great in a plastic protector.

I did this with the black boxes and they look pretty nice:



They're just a *tiny* bit smaller than the actual boxes depth-wise, but it's barely noticeable. This picture was taken right after I cut and folded, so the flaps stick up a bit and haven't been folded down enough.

I've done Game Boy, SNES, and N64 boxes too, but I haven't tried putting them together yet.

[noclass_nick]

nice, I see www.videogameboxprotectors.com do protectors for sega sg-1000 games so it makes it quiet tempting for me, and the boxes themselves are quiet sturdy compared to others, might even put a bit of polystyrene under the cardboard to help keep the shape like so

[Oobgarm]

nice, I see www.videogameboxprotectors.com do protectors for sega sg-1000 games so it makes it quiet tempting for me, and the boxes themselves are quiet sturdy compared to others, might even put a bit of polystyrene under the cardboard to help keep the shape like so

If you do end up making gatefold boxes like that with a recessed part for carts, do share that template. I'd bet people would love something like that. (I'm one of them)

[Ozzy_98]

When we were dating my wife used a box protector and never got knocked up, so they work pretty well.

[sebboh]

So I know people love UGC's (until seymours) but with the games released in cardboard boxes over the years, nes, snes, n64, etc im wondering how people are finding them for storing their cardboard boxed games. Being in new Zealand I don't get access to UGC's without a large cost involved which I don't want to pay, and wide dvd case just don't work for me. So for my Sega SG-1000 collection im tempted to do some reproduction cardboard boxes then store them in the video game box protectors. More so to look good on my shelf rather than the tatty old ones which I have wrapped in foam and keep in storage.

Just want to know peoples thoughts on VGBP before I go down this path with cardboard box template, which I may use for other consoles.

you can use hard cardboard box to store individually, cutting the the cardboard to fit the box. (It's not good looking, but it's cheap) or take a look in some old vhs case in videoclubs, at least in spain the rental case has different size (Can hold snes game boxes inside)

[noclass_nick]

lol id prefer to make them properly and get them printed properly as well on nice cardboard lol

[noclass_nick]

So I really like these style boxes but if I do it with any other sega game the manual wont fit, cause sg-1000 manuals are thin and tiny, trying to think of a way to do them but with thicker manuals? suggestions?

Whats the best way to design a cardboard box template?

[e_brugal]

Contact bear78, he has an easier and faster way to do what you want.

This is his thread on something that is more or less the same as you are asking

http://www.thecoverproject.net/forums/index.php?topic=15116.0

[noclass_nick]

Ive started making my own template, huge bloody boxes, wont even fit on A3 size paper, but that's ok id get them printed at a store anyway, still wonder if its worth making more of a box for the manual to slip in rather than just a slit in the door of the box.

heres a preview of what im working on (not full size )

http://www.mediafire.com/view/bapj8i6s3vm99hj/Box%20Template.jpg

[noclass_nick]

Ok made one with a wider front, might try to print it out in pieces and glue it to cardboard to see if it all fits together, copy pasted one of my sg-1000 games to see how it will look

http://www.mediafire.com/view/uyaaw2aaeokek66/Box%20Template%203.jpg

oh the grey ones are just the glue tabs. and the white slit on the right is for the manuals to slide into

[noclass_nick]

ok printed out template, pasted to cardboard and folder it up, bit tight, the door doesn't close well, need a tab to help it close, if it was professionally done it would be fine, spine ends up being 30mm wide, I tried different games in the sg-1000 slot,

SG1000:

http://www.mediafire.com/view/d5woxmphpidbf8w/sg1000.jpg

SMS:

http://www.mediafire.com/view/783k0wc3mhna1bj/sms_(1).jpg

SMD:

http://www.mediafire.com/view/2eaw1a9y45dca9s/smd.jpg

32X:

http://www.mediafire.com/view/w6f6k9kit2781n8/32x_(1).jpg

[noclass_nick]

If you do end up making gatefold boxes like that with a recessed part for carts, do share that template. I'd bet people would love something like that. (I'm one of them)
[/quote]

ive tried printing them out the problem is the width of the unfolded boxes are over 60cm wide, which would need to be printed on A2+ sized cardboard. which might end up getting expensive if done at a printing shop. more tempting to do them in the style of the genesis boxes but in black

[scottmog]

I prefer to stay away from paper/cardboard boxes at all costs... Problems that are happening with paper boxes now with happen to your current ones in a few years.

NES: Still undecided, maybe bitbox
SNES: Still undecided, maybe UGC the only problem I have is manuals fitting inside
N64: Prime N64 plastic cases with labeled spine and book front inside
Gamecube: Stock
Wii: Stock
Wii U: Stock
GB: CustomGameCases.com by Shadowfox
GBC: CustomGameCases.com by Shadowfox
GBA: CustomGameCases.com by Shadowfox
DS: Stock
3DS: Stock

If anyone has suggestions for NES/SNES please let me know. Must be plastic and very durable.

[noclass_nick]

if your out of the usa, and cant get ugcs for a large price, wide dvd cases are your only option and they just don't look right aye

im more of a collector of retro games from my childhood than a player of them, so its more having the best looking thing on my shelf, new sexy boxes rather than old saggy ones