I was just reading the Rose Tattoo thread and it reminded me of how lovingly I hoard my game boxes and how eccentric this behavior seems to any non-collector. The boxes are stacked to the ceiling in our garage, and occasionally my husband has suggested the drastic step of actually throwing them out. To solve this problem I have suggested renting storage space, but he thinks it makes no sense to rent storage space just to store my game boxes.

I have tried to reason with him. I show him my Neverhood CD, hold the box up next to it and say, "With this box, the game is worth about $100 more." Then I toss the box back on the stack and say, "If I destroy this box I have just thrown money away."

What my husband fails to understand is why I have to keep all the currently worthless boxes just in case some day they miraculously become like The Neverhood.

For a moment then I thought we had the same husband ! Then I remembered ; "Nah ! Can't be ! After all, my husband's a . . . . wife !!"

Gelert <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" />

LOL! I have finally started breaking down the boxes and storing them flattened in a bigger box. All cardboard and extra paperwork with them. The CDs all fit nicely on a large CD shelf. If I didn't do this, hubby would start suggesting that I have too many games, and I can't have that happen.

I also get peeved when I receive a box that is damaged. I receive FMISF and Silent Hill 2 crushed. I also received a Nancy Drew with one of those sticky store bars that I couldn't remove without ripping the box (grrrrr).

I honestly don't understand the obsession with boxes. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" /> I really could care less if I have the box or not. Before I discovered Gameboomers, I tossed the box as soon as I opened the game, just as you would throw the box of any other product away. (I know many of you are sitting there in shock--and if you knew just what boxes I threw away, you'd probably start crying <img border="0" alt="" title="" src="graemlins/cry.gif" /> )I do save the boxes now, since I don't keep the games after playing them, and if I want to trade or sell the games, the people usually want the boxes. But, I really still do think that it's just a waste of space. Then again, I'm not really a collector, so maybe it's just me. I'm certainly not going to let the lack of box stop me from trading or buying a game that I want.

Just my 2 cents. I know I'm in the minority here, but I thought I'd add the opinion of a no-box fan.

Dawn <img border="0" alt="[kiss]" title="" src="graemlins/kiss.gif" />

I never cared about boxes either, until I started looking for the older games. Some of the harder to get ones are expensive and if I decide they are not keepers, I'm more likely to break even if I trade or sell a more complete game.
Recently I had my hubby pick up The Omega Stone at our local EB. He didn't notice that the box was damaged (even though it was brand new and full price). The only reason I didn't return it was that I knew it would be a keeper for me, but any other title would have gone right back.
I guess what I'm saying is that if I keep a game in my collection, I don't care if it has the original packaging. If I will be trading or selling it, it makes more of a difference.

I know this is gonna sound sad but it's not necessarily a 'collection' thing. It's more of . . . . like books on a shelf . . . . they kinda look really nice displayed in their boxes, otherwise they're just a row of CD's aren't they ? Some of the boxes are really smart, I think, like 'Obsidian', Gab.2, 'Myst, 'The Neverhood', 'The Quivering', 'Syberia', etc.. Of course, like books, there's no point just displaying them for pretentious reasons. You've gotta play 'em as well ! <img border="0" alt="[winky]" title="" src="graemlins/winky.gif" />

They do, however, arouse a lot of interest, and spark off lots of conversation when we have visitors. In that way the boxes can indirectly create that little spark of interest in adventure games in people who have often asked to borrow one to see if they like the games. New recruits !!!!

I still buy and trade for games sometimes that are without boxes but, because I like them 'looking good', I still chase after the boxes elsewhere afterwards. VERY sad eh, Dawn ? I DO know where you're coming from with your point of view, but mine is an affliction that I'm, unfortunately, happy with. Again unfortunately, it also means that, at times, the internal perimeter of my 'puter room can be reduced significantly - by at least a box-width all the way around. Now, THAT IS SAD !

Gelert <img border="0" alt="" title="" src="graemlins/woozy.gif" />

When you flatten the boxes is it possible to put them back together exactly as new? I tried flattening a couple and they look sort of sad and well, flat. How do you reconstruct them, do you tape them back together?

I flattened a bunch and put the disks into folders and filed them away. Eventually I put them all back and shelved them so, like books, I could tell at a glance what I had and where it was. I'm not concerned about their future value although they will have a lot longer future than I, in all likelihood.

If you think about it as a collection, and one that in time might become valuable, it's always a possibility. I recall working in a large movie theatre when I was 16 and seeing all those posters going up and coming down for each new movie and I know now that had I started collecting them then I'd have a small fortune today. But then, at 18, I joined the USAF and left behind all the toys and things I'd managed to retain from many years before and thought were mine. I had planned for them to someday go to my kids, when and if I ever had any.........the Erector Set, a radio (my first) that I got when I was about 7, a Mickey Mouse Watch, etc. All were given away as soon as I left home and never seen again.

So I've never become a collector but I do tend to hang onto things that I consider an art whether anyone else does or not......and the game boxes, like the movie posters, are art. At least to me. They can be given away or thrown away but it will be after I'm gone and not before.

Hey Becky,

Do you suppose it's something in the Long Island air? I also have huge plastic bags filled with game boxes in the attic. Just can't part with them. I have a bookcase in my front hall with five shelves and when I buy a new game I put it in a 6 x 9 manila envelope along with the instructions. I label the envelopes and file them in alphabetical order. I'm running out of room since I must have 200 games by now. As long as I can keep putting them on the shelves, hubby doesn't complain about me buying more games. Baags!!

Hi.

Well I'm not a "collector" so I don't have that many games that I need to put the boxes elsewhere

I've always kept my games in their boxes though .... because they bring a lot of pleasure and I think they look great sitting there on my shelves

'Course every game I've acquired wasn't in its box but you can't win 'em all

Cheers.

Mad

I like my boxes and it isn't just because they add to the value of a somewhat rare game. I'd keep it for even a common $5 game, if it was a game I liked and had a nice looking box.

I keep all my gameboxes securely wrapped in polythene in the cellar... currently they are filling the space set aside for a fortnights coal.. glad we now have gas central heating

We don't part with Anything unless we have to.. hence our small home is stuffed with toys and toy boxes

Tig

Hey Ladybug -- maybe we could meet at the Smith Haven mall Gamestop and buy more games to add to our collections! I still haven't acquired the new CSI game yet. I wonder if the box looks good....

Becky, I only flatten boxes that can be unconstructed (have tabs or developments) so that they can be put back into shape without harming the box. I have a few games that are in permanent boxes, like Byzantine was. If you flatten that box, you might as well pitch it because it isn't going to be looking good anytime soon

Hey Becky,

I'm always ready to shop for more games. I just bought CSI last week, got the last one in Price Club for $16. I thought that was a very good price. The box looks pretty good too.