Printed covers stigma

[Cjax08]

I've been listening to a lot of podcasts and YouTube videos lately about game collecting and the hobby as a whole. What I've noticed is there seems to be a stigma about reprinting labels and repros in general that I can only imagine extends to game covers as well. Everyone always seems to have an opinion of what it is to be a "real" collector. For example, I couldn't care less about CIB. Don't get me wrong I have plenty of original cd games in their cases, but the case and manual itself no longer influences my buying decision ever since I discovered the world of printing my own cases. Buying loose simply allows me financially  to extend my collection to a point that I would honestly never reach otherwise.

I don't know any other collectors personally other than from what I've seen online, so I've never actually exchanged opinions with anyone in person. What do y'all think? Does printing covers diminish what it means to be a "real" collector? Have you had personal experiences with other collectors with harsh opinions on this communities style of collecting?

[sheep2001]

It's all up to you.  Why should you care what others think about YOUR collection.  It's what you get enjoyment from, and what you can afford.

I'm quite happy to buy cart only, and make/print my own covers.  But, i would prefer to have the item complete if it was at a decent a decent enough price.  I really couldn't care less what other people deem to be a true collector/gamer/hoarder/any other label.  I'm me. Amongst other hobbies and real life, I collect video games.  I enjoy my collection. 

[shenske]

Real collector vs. Elitist collector

I could really give a shit if someone were to look down on my collection or not call me a real collector. This hobby is for me and not to appease others. It is not a competition nor do I feel my collection is inferior to someone else's because they have the original advertisements with their version of the same exact game.

Personally I try to avoid CIB collecting for cart based games. Cardboard is not meant to stand the test of time, especially a lot of these games had the target market of selling to children. Children are usually not inclined to keep their stuff in pristine mint condition and last for 3 decades. PLUS, I really enjoy making covers and overall improving the consistency of the artwork. Just look at logo placement and orientation on any of Nintendo based systems. Little to no consistency whatsoever, I prefer my reworked versions (narcissistic, i know).

Do what makes you happy and ignore the noise of the elitist. If I were to be collecting to preserve history and have all of my stuff in a museum then that is a totally different argument than my hobbyist mentality of actually using and enjoying what I collect.

[Cjax08]

Well said. Honestly I don't even play 99% of the games I collect except for modern systems like PS3 and PS4. However many of them I have played in the past or I do/will play through emulation which I have been getting really in to lately. I watch these YouTube videos with these hardcore collectors that call people who collect but don't play the actual disk or cartridge shelf collectors. They say it as if it's supposed to carry some weight. Hell yea im a shelf collector, because it's an ongoing hobby that will keep me busy the rest of my life honestly. I love printing out these covers and watching the shelf grow and grow. I really need to get some pics up soon of my collection on the display section.

[TDIRunner]

Everyone should collect how they want.  It's one thing to to prefer your own method of collecting over another, but it's another thing to look down on someone else who collects differently than you.

As far as the stigma for repro labels goes, I understand why some people think it's bad for the hobby because at times, it can be difficult to tell the difference between an original label and a fake.  But I don't feel that stigma should apply to game covers, especially for games like NES, SNES and N64 which never game in plastic cases with printed covers.  It's only come up one time for me.  I had a picture of some of my NES games in Shadowfox cases posted on facebook and one person said he didn't like them because he doesn't like repro boxes.  I explained to him that they weren't boxes, but plastic game cases that could never be mistaken for the real thing. He response was that he couldn't tell the difference, and therefore, it was bad for the hobby.  I told him that if he couldn't tell the difference between a cardboard box and a plastic case, the video game hobby might not be for him. 

[sheep2001]

I told him that if he couldn't tell the difference between a cardboard box and a plastic case, the video game hobby might not be for him. 

Best. Quote. Ever.

[TDIRunner]

I told him that if he couldn't tell the difference between a cardboard box and a plastic case, the video game hobby might not be for him. 

Best. Quote. Ever.

Yeah, that guy really caught me off guard. 

But like I said, that only happened one time.  I've never ran into anyone else who's had a problem with making custom game cases. 

[Cjax08]

Everyone should collect how they want.  It's one thing to to prefer your own method of collecting over another, but it's another thing to look down on someone else who collects differently than you.

As far as the stigma for repro labels goes, I understand why some people think it's bad for the hobby because at times, it can be difficult to tell the difference between an original label and a fake.  But I don't feel that stigma should apply to game covers, especially for games like NES, SNES and N64 which never game in plastic cases with printed covers.  It's only come up one time for me.  I had a picture of some of my NES games in Shadowfox cases posted on facebook and one person said he didn't like them because he doesn't like repro boxes.  I explained to him that they weren't boxes, but plastic game cases that could never be mistaken for the real thing. He response was that he couldn't tell the difference, and therefore, it was bad for the hobby.  I told him that if he couldn't tell the difference between a cardboard box and a plastic case, the video game hobby might not be for him. 

For sure on the older cartridge consoles with cardboard boxes. I more so think DVD covers are in line with the labels "stigma" you mentioned. I haven't began printing covers yet for my loose discs, but I have everything ready except the paper. Can't quite make my mind up yet on what I want to use. But researching about it is where I started hearing and reading about it being frowned upon by some. Like I said I haven't printed any yet that I'm happy with, but I imagine if you get the case looking good enough then that is where people would frown upon it. It's all the damn resellers of repro work trying to pass it off as original that gives it a bad rep.

[wiggy]

There's no stigma with game case covers because they aren't trying to replicate something that could be used to create forgeries/bootlegs, such as labels, manuals, or boxes.

Some collectors just don't like them because they aren't cool, expensive boxes.

[Taketheword]

There's no stigma with game case covers because they aren't trying to replicate something that could be used to create forgeries/bootlegs, such as labels, manuals, or boxes.

Some collectors just don't like them because they aren't cool, expensive boxes.

This is spot on in relation to the stigma. And like many others have said, this is YOUR collection. You have your own tastes and preferences. My collection style is just as shenske mentioned. I try to avoid CIB for any game which came in a cardboard box. Like he said, cardboard isn't designed to last. Collect to your preferences. Elitist collectors tend to think they're better than the rest simply because they have spent a fortune to collect in such a manner. Plus, from a preservationist viewpoint, your style of collecting is actually better for the longevity of these games. You're taking those loose cartridges and discs and giving them a protective case and a home -- saving them so to speak. As long as you're not printing repro materials and selling them as original, people have no place to criticize your collection methods.