Which game boxes do you prefer ? If it is your choice....

[JPB]

Ok, just a little rant here Gamestop.

Several years ago, I decided to sell off my Playstation 3, and all of my 48 games. Just a few days ago, I decided to pick them all back up again. Which I am up to 11 right now. But anyway....I went to Gamestop to look for a few titles, and I had found them. The titles were Final Fantasy XIII, DMC and The Last Of Us. They had one of each in stock..Or so he said.

So while he was ringing up the games, I had forgotten my wallet and ran back to the car. Reentered the store, the games were bagged up, I paid then left. I should mention, I drove 78 miles to get to this store one way. So, I return home....and the games are all there. But Final Fantasy XIII was in a "red Greatest Hits" box. Which I loathe for some reason. The box I handed the guy, was the original release box, and looked new. Call it OCD if ya will, but I cant stand not having the appropriate box. So he lied when he said one copy was in stock. The disc also has Greatest Hits written on it.

I have received PS2, PS3, 360, Gamecube crap boxes before also. So the bottom line is, does Gamestop keep the good and original boxes for some reason ? Or do kids throw them in the trash before trading in their games ? Otherwise, why would the entire PS3 and 360 section in most Gamestops I have been in.....90% of the games are in busted up, yellow ...and residue covered boxes? One I had received and didnt know till I got home, it had coffee spilt inside the box.....several years ago. The manual was wet. Ill never leave that store again, unless I get to puchase "exactly" what I hand the clerk.

Does anyone here, regardless of console.....do you care in what box you receive ? Or does the Greatest Hits, or ugly Gamestop yellow box suit you just fine as long as the disc is good ?

And I know some games has been released in the Greatest Hits boxes....and I dont buy those either.

 

[Nashemon]

You'll get mixed answers here. Most people just want to play the game and then give it right back to GameStop. As a collector, as any real collector will tell you, it depends on the product. If something is rare enough, it's more acceptable for it to be in subpar quality. That doesn't mean I don't want it in the best shape possible, though.

GameStop purchases are no exception. They price based on the title, not the grade. They also don't care if there's a case or manual included. It's the same price with discs only, or if it has a mint box. If you buy online, there is no choice in the matter; You might get the game in a paper sleeve, autographed by the previous owner, or you might get lucky and get CIB (Complete In Box). Most game stores around me follow suit. I've only encountered one that actually would charge more if it included a box/manual, and they would mark off a few bucks depending on condition.

As far as Greatest Hits/reissues go, it depends on the title. Some Greatest Hits are the only way to get certain versions of software that include bug fixes to their previous releases. Sonic 2 comes to mind. But given the choice I hate the look of most Greatest Hits, or "Best Seller" boxes. It ruins the box art at worst, and is an eye sore on my display shelf at best.

And yes, kids throw away boxes, and lose manuals, and spill things. There's also dozens of articles online about "downsizing" your belongings, and one thing they love to do is throw away "DVD" boxes and put the discs in sleeves. Paperstock/cardboard (for retro gamers) also degrades over time even if you store it well.

Regardless of any of those shenanigans, I always inspect all purchases, even if the clerk has to get me 10 different games from 10 different locked cases, and I have to go through a pile of the same title each time to find the best one.

That said, GameStop pulled a fast one on you, and I'd be upset, too, but whether that was intentional or not is unknown. Like I said in the beginning, most of their customers probably wouldn't care or even notice.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

I hate the generic boxes and I won't buy games in them. At that point I'd rather buy digital since the generic boxes look like crap but pretty much have to be used. Otherwise your discs will always get scratched pretty badly if you put them in a spindle instead of in a game or DVD box. Having a manual is always a nice bonus but it'll never be the difference between me buying a game or not.

 

[shortylickens]

I miss the old computer boxes. they were big enough for a decent size manual and usually a map or sometimes even a mousepad. Max Payne 1 came with a nice mousepad. I still have it in my junk storage.

 

[EXCellR8]

I'm actually a game box snob... original label/box or I just download it digitally. I don't buy used games from GS very often (if at all) but I know when I pull one out and it's just generic with the title written on it I just put it back. Sometimes I'll inspect the disc itself if it's one of the only copies available but most of the time I don't consider it without the original packaging, which doesn't have to be perfect, just present.

 

[razel]

If the price is the same, then there's no reason not to get the original box. I have gone to GameStop before and not bought used games because it's came with no box or just a printed Gamestop box. What I despise is buying a new game, last one in stock, but you don't get a sealed one. You get original game display box with the disc and sold as new. No discounted used price, no nothing. Only times I bought those anyway was when the game was $15 and under. Not worth the gas to drive to another Gamestop just so I can unseal a new copy.

 

[JPB]

I remember when Devil May Cry 4 was released. I went in to pick up my copy for the PS3, and they handed me a opened copy, with a price tag stuck to the game that stated new, and the case itself was sealed with a round Gamestop sticker.

I think they do that, so you cant return for a full refund. Cause I have tried before after buying a game labeled as new, and it was not sealed. They said....the game isnt sealed...I stated, I bought it an hour ago, and it was already unsealed.....the clerk then states, it doesnt matter who unsealed it, it is unsealed. So it is store credit only. And the copy of Devil May Cry 4 I purchased was the Steel Book... for PS3. He tried for 15 minutes telling me I ordered it for Xbox 360. So he handed me "what he said" was the very last copy of DMC 4 for the PS3...which was unseald....no plastic....box edge sealed with a round sticker, and a price sticker on the game .... that states new.

That is probably how they keep their money "in store" with store credit so they don't have to issue cash refunds.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

I remember when Devil May Cry 4 was released. I went in to pick up my copy for the PS3, and they handed me a opened copy, with a price tag stuck to the game that stated new, and the case itself was sealed with a round Gamestop sticker.

I think they do that, so you cant return for a full refund. Cause I have tried before after buying a game labeled as new, and it was not sealed. They said....the game isnt sealed...I stated, I bought it an hour ago, and it was already unsealed.....the clerk then states, it doesnt matter who unsealed it, it is unsealed. So it is store credit only. And the copy of Devil May Cry 4 I purchased was the Steel Book... for PS3. He tried for 15 minutes telling me I ordered it for Xbox 360. So he handed me "what he said" was the very last copy of DMC 4 for the PS3...which was unseald....no plastic....box edge sealed with a round sticker, and a price sticker on the game .... that states new.

That is probably how they keep their money "in store" with store credit so they don't have to issue cash refunds.

They call it busting the game out. They open up one copy and put the disc in a paper sleeve behind the counter so they can put the empty box out on the shelf for display. The rest of their sealed new copies are behind the desk. If you get the last copy they have of the game you're getting the busted out one. Supposedly the employees are often allowed to take those busted out discs to play at home at many Gamestops, so you're likely not getting a new game if it's busted out. I can understand why they do it though (the busting out, not the lending to employees), as if they put sealed games on their shelves they'd all get stolen by the drugees and crooks who go there to sell stolen stuff.