A variety of topics, Cases, Purchases, and GBC/GB dilemma.

[temperedreason]

Hello folks!

I'm new to thecoverproject.net, and have a few thoughts, concerns and questions... 

In my Mac-using days I had a lot more graphic design programming than I do now on PC, so I doubt I'll have the tools necessary to contribute to this project in the same way as some of you...  But I truly love the work you guys are doing here.  Absolutely professional looking and in many cases, retail grade. 

I have a tremendously large game collection and have always been anal retentive about having at least the game and instruction manual for older cartridge titles and handhelds.  I have recently been struggling with some of my older games because a majority of my GBA, GBC, GB, NES, N64, and SNES games lack the original box.  My first idea was to piece-by-piece purchase original retail boxes for all of my games that are lacking one.  We're talking 160 games or more that have no box.  Original retail boxes can run anywhere from $5 to $30 depending on rarity a peice, and aren't always in perfect shape.  Let's face it: Original boxes suck at protecting the games, get smashed, ripped and faded.  I haven't actually gotten a single game in a custom case because I haven't decided how to proceed with this entire plan.  I am on the fence about a couple things.

I actually discovered this site by means of a profiteer trying to cash in on the quality work here  - customgamecases.com.  $3.00 a case - for a superior case is actually still better than paying $5-10 dollars a piece for filmsy carboard boxes.  That being said, whoever runs customcamecases does give ample credit to this site. 

Some of my biggests issues are around game boy games.  GBA games don't bother me all that much because DS game carts were designed to accomodate holding them.  As for GB/GBC... here are some of my thoughts:

1.  Folks here seem to prefer using DS cases for GB/GBC games.  I hate the idea of mangling the US cases to get older games to fit.  Removing a tab is fine, but tearing out an entire section just makes the case look like garbage.  I discovered that the UK DS boxes are significantly better for my older GBC and GB games since they require fewer modifications to get the games to fit.  But part of the problem is that UK game cases are hard to come by here in the US - and I'd need about 50 or so.  Anyone know where I can buy these empty cases in bulk AND get them shipped to the US?  Further, if I simply stretch the US - sized inserts to the dimensions of the UK insert, does it still look okay?

2.  The new 3DS games have enough space to accomodate a GBC or GB game above the DS card area, but the game is not secure- it falls freely around inside the game case.  The manual area is large enough for a standard sized GB or GBC manual without any modifications, but if the manual is too thick, when coupled with the game cart, it causes the case to bulge.  And finally, none of the inserts on this site are designed for the slimmer 3DS cases.

3.  We all know there are similar problems for NES games.  The UGC does not accomodate an NES game.  Folks have to bust out exacto knives and again we have the quality issue I noted above.  As for SNES and N64... I have 15 and 35 games, respectively. I have no complaints about the end result I've seen, except for the fact that I will need to either print these inserts myself on legal paper, or pay to have them printed at Staples - IF they'll even print them.  If I print them, I'll need to get a paper cutter or something, because I suck with scissors and don't trust an exacto knife.  I'm sure even with a paper cutter I'll manage to screw my inserts up.  I'd really much rather commission someone to do all of this for me - but I'm sure personally requesting that of anyone here would violate some site rules.

4.  Virtual Boy. I have 13 games, and 12 of them are of the original 14 released in the US.  If I decide to buy boxes for all games that do not easily fit into some case, then I will have a VERY hard time finding original boxes to this games.  To date, I haven't found a case that accomodates these games with the exception of the UK DS game cases.  Anyone else had any other successes?

5.  I have 73 game boy advance games.  12 of them have original boxes.  Nintendo seems to sell US DS cases in bulks of 7, I believe.  Even still that's going to add up.  Any other luck for finding these cases affordably in the US without begging at my neighborhood gamestop?

I'm anxious to see some of your responses to all of this, as I am currently overwhelmed and uncertain as to how to proceed.  My plan currently is only to get cases MADE or MAKE them for GBA, N64 and SNES, and look for original boxes for the others.  If I can find UK DS game cases in a reasonable price and quantity, I may do the GBC, GB and VB games with those.

Thanks...

Brandon

[Arseen]

Hello folks!

Hello!

Anyone know where I can buy these empty cases in bulk AND get them shipped to the US?

I might know place have to check, will post link if they do

Further, if I simply stretch the US - sized inserts to the dimensions of the UK insert, does it still look okay?

Actuall don't know do you have to stretch, they might fit as is.

it falls freely around inside the game case.

Actually not a problem or do you plan on shaking and throwing ta cases?  

And finally, none of the inserts on this site are designed for the slimmer 3DS cases.

Not yet, should not be hard edit

We all know there are similar problems for NES games.  The UGC does not accomodate an NES game.

Yes you have to remove some holders but the cases designed that way and won't leave gaping holes.

I'll need to get a paper cutter or something, because I suck with scissors and don't trust an exacto knife

.
Exacto knife plus meatl ruler is simple answer.

I'd really much rather commission someone to do all of this for me - but I'm sure personally requesting that of anyone here would violate some site rules.

BIt iffy, but I'd say no if they charge just for printing cutting and postage.

Virtual Boy. I have 13 games, and 12 of them are of the original 14 released in the US.  If I decide to buy boxes for all games that do not easily fit into some case, then I will have a VERY hard time finding original boxes to this games.  To date, I haven't found a case that accomodates these games with the exception of the UK DS game cases.  Anyone else had any other successes?

I think US DS cases work as well but it comes back to the butchering.

I have 73 game boy advance games.  12 of them have original boxes.  Nintendo seems to sell US DS cases in bulks of 7, I believe.  Even still that's going to add up.  Any other luck for finding these cases affordably in the US without begging at my neighborhood gamestop?

There is one store on ebay that sells generic US DS cases, but some say that the stinck, literally and figuratively, will post link soon.

Thanks...

Yo're welcome

Brandon

Anyway welcome to the site.

[Arseen]

EU DS cases: http://www.rivierapublishing.co.uk/acatalog/info_227.html, they might ship could not find answer, sio  contact them. But shipping will be expensive.

US DS cases: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160501964209&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
See this topic for opinion on them: http://www.thecoverproject.net/forums/index.php?topic=5690

[temperedreason]

I asked Riviera about posting to the US...  The US wasn't listed in their countries to ship to on the checkout screen, but maybe they'll make an exception.  Their price really is pretty good, actually.

[Arseen]

I asked Riviera about posting to the US...  The US wasn't listed in their countries to ship to on the checkout screen, but maybe they'll make an exception.  Their price really is pretty good, actually.

Price for case is OK, but I think the Postage will be way higher than within Europe, might be even triple.

[SonicAdvDX]

Well, first off, it seems like you need to make up your mind on which cases you are going to use before you commission anybody to do cover printing/cutting work. If you're willing to settle for the DS case route, so that you can use the bounty of GB covers available on the site, then I would be glad to help you with the printing/cutting process, plus a small nominal fee for the labor, of course. (Cutting things out is a tedious process, remember that. ) I use, as Arseen suggested, an Exacto knife with a metal ruler. The edges are almost always perfect.

But, if you want to use EU cases or 3DS cases, that will be a different story. Theoretically, you could simply stretch/skew the DS covers to fit the dimensions of EU/3DS cases, but if you want them to LOOK decent, you would probably want to edit each cover individually  and change only the spine to be the proper sizes, because (if I'm not ill-informed) the spine is the only thing that changes size from US to EU cases. In other words, that would be an EXTRAORDINARILY tedious process that you would likely have to undergo yourself. But, like I said, if you want someone to do the cutting for you, I can.

Also, about "mangling" the boxes to get the games to fit, it's really not that bad. Especially once you put the games inside the cases, they cover up the places where you cut. That's the idea, for the game to hide the scars of the case itself.

As for printing covers, I've been to several Staples, Kinko's, and other various print stores in my area and they all turned me away because they noticed all of the copyright logos on the covers, and they just didn't want to deal with it. Luckily, I go to a University with an on-campus print shop run by students who couldn't give a damn about what I'm printing, so that's where I've been going to do my printing.

As for Virtual Boy games, I have my entire collection cased in "mangled" DS cases that work just fine.

So, if you want to commission my print/cut service, I'd be more than happy to oblige you on your casing quest. But, Photoshop work goes too slow for me, unless you want to pay BIG BUCKS for commissioned editing work for cover case conversions. That's really not something I want to do. Unless the price is right, I guess.

Send me a PM if any of this interests you, or you have any questions for me.

[gamer1234]

I am new to the covrproject too.

[Arseen]

I am new to the covrproject too. Do not worry about programing and all that stuff becaus if you look on google you will find a company that will do it it for you

What programming dude?

[SonicAdvDX]

This guy is a spam bot trying to plug his blogger site. (Proof: http://www.thecoverproject.net/forums/index.php?topic=5733.msg49411;topicseen#new) Something about me doubts that this guy made "100's" of covers without making more than a single post on the forums, and inexplicably not knowing that the upload feature has been down for the past few centuries.

As a forum admin, one would think you'd have a better eye for this sort of thing, Arseen. Wink

EDIT: Also, he seems to keep editing all of his posts after someone points out that there's something wrong/suspiciously bot-like about what they're saying.   

Really? Read more carefully the edited by part.  

[Arseen]

Read PM I send to you SonicAdvDX. 

[SonicAdvDX]

Really? Read more carefully the edited by part.  

....Wait. What? Why are you editing his posts for him!?!? You're a funny one, bub.

[Arseen]

Really? Read more carefully the edited by part.  

....Wait. What? Why are you editing his posts for him!?!? You're a funny one, bub.

Having little fun before the kill. Just like my little sisters's cat did yesterday with a mouse.
Perks of being Admin.

[Arseen]

Got bored, He is gone now.

[AppleQueso]

Out of curiousity, I checked this customgamecases.com place, and they actually do give us credit:

http://www.customgamecases.com/?page_id=2

A rather nice bit of credit at that 

[Arseen]

Yes, nice that they don't claim the the covers as their own.

And if the 3 bucks includes UGC as well, like they make us understand...

We are dedicated in giving you top quality in all our products!
Your old school game collection is worth keeping! And we all know the sad truth is that shoe boxes are one of the best things to store them in. Unforchantly though, we know once we stick them in a bin, we’ll never see them again! They’ll get stuffed in the attic or shed, or melt in the garage. Well not anymore! Give your valuable video game collection what it deserves! Put them in their own cases! And not just any cardboard box case or storage bin! But something custom, something that will last for years to come, something that will protect your games from scratches and dust forever. Give them custom fitted, custom made, plastic game cases. And once you do, proudly display them on your shelf with all your other great games!

...they are not ripping people of.