Which Consoles Do People Usually Not Collect The Game Boxes

Which Consoles Do People Usually Not Collect the Game Boxes For?

Alright, let’s dive into the world of game collecting! You know, the fun hobby where people love to gather old games and consoles. But here’s the thing, not everyone collects everything. When it comes to game boxes, there are some consoles where the boxes just don’t seem to get as much love. We’re going to explore which consoles often get left out when collectors are grabbing boxes.

The Rise and Fall of Boxed Games

Before we get into specific consoles, let’s think about why some boxes are more desirable than others. It used to be that game boxes were a really important part of the whole game experience. They held the game, the instruction manual, and sometimes cool extras like maps or posters. They also had cool art that made them look awesome on store shelves! Over time things changed, as technology moved ahead, and how we buy games also changed. Now many people buy their games online and usually no longer get physical boxes.

The nostalgia factor plays a big role. Older boxes can bring back good memories of playing games when we were younger. The condition of a box, the art on it, even if it includes the manual can all greatly increase the value in the eyes of some collectors. But sometimes certain console boxes don’t get much attention from collectors, and we will be talking about that now.

The Handheld Heroes (and Their Forgotten Boxes)

Handheld consoles are a big part of the gaming world. They’re portable, fun, and let you play games on the go. But the box collecting scene for some of these handhelds is kind of all over the place. We will examine here some notable examples, that may have been overlooked in the past

The Game Boy and Game Boy Color

Okay, so this might be surprising, but even the super popular Game Boy and Game Boy Color boxes aren’t always super high on collectors’ lists. Many people who have them just have the games, cartridges or the games in generic cases. The reasons for this are varied:

• Size Matters: The Game Boy boxes were small and made of thin cardboard. They often got squished or damaged easily. Because of this many people probably didn’t hold on to them.
• Easy to Lose: These small boxes were easy to lose. They weren’t big and sturdy enough to keep around easily. So they were probably tossed out to keep the space.
• Focus on the Cartridges: Most collectors seem to focus more on the actual game cartridges. These are seen as the “main event”. So the game boxes are more seen as extras.

However, this is not to say that all Game Boy and Game Boy color boxes are worth nothing, some first party titles and other special releases can fetch a good sum of money, if it is in good condition. It’s worth keeping an eye out for those rarities.

Game Boy Advance

The Game Boy Advance or GBA, saw many changes, some games were kept in small cardboard boxes like the previous iterations, but some were also in bigger plastic boxes. This did little to increase their value in the eyes of the collectors. The boxes were still seen as a secondary item.

• Similar to the Original: The small cardboard boxes had the same problems as the original. They were easy to damage, and people may have thrown them away.
• Plastic Clamshells: The plastic clamshell boxes were a little more durable, but they also took up more space, so people may have tossed them out for the same reason.
• Cartridge Focused: Again, most of the value is in the game itself, rather than the packaging.

Nintendo DS and 3DS

The Nintendo DS and 3DS family brought new types of game cases with them. But even with these advancements, some collectors might pass over their game boxes.

• Plastic Cases: The shift to plastic cases made things a bit better for storage. But they were still seen as extras.
• Lots of Games: There are a huge number of DS and 3DS games. Many collectors simply can’t collect all of the boxes. The large amount of games can make it daunting.
• Focus on Functionality: Collectors seem to focus on the games themselves, not always their packaging. Especially because of the sheer amount of games available for these systems.

Sony PSP

The PSP is a handheld console that used UMD discs. The cases are a bit different than what we have talked about before. Even with its unique format the boxes aren’t always at the top of a collector’s list.

• UMD Cases: The UMD cases are small and made of hard plastic. They’re much more durable than some of the other handheld boxes. Yet still not as much sought after by collectors.
• Many Copies: Lots of people had PSPs, meaning there are lots of games around, and their boxes can be seen as too common.
• Focus on Function: Again, many collectors are interested in playing games, so their packaging was not as sought after.

Home Consoles: The Underappreciated Boxes

Now, let’s look at some home consoles and which of their game boxes often get passed over by collectors. Not all boxes are equal, some consoles just have boxes that aren’t very popular for various reasons.

Sega Saturn

The Sega Saturn is seen as one of the more forgotten home console in gaming history, its boxes aren’t that highly sought after either. There are a few things that cause this:

• Clunky Design: Some say that the cases are big and awkward, and this may lead to some collectors not bothering with them.
• Rarity Issues: Certain Saturn games are very rare, making the focus on acquiring the actual games more important than the boxes.
• European releases: The European release of the Sega Saturn has large boxes, which collectors may find difficult to store, so it is less sought after.

Original Xbox

The original Xbox, often forgotten in the shadow of the 360, also has game boxes that don’t always get the love they deserve. Here’s why:

• Plastic DVD Cases: The boxes used standard DVD cases, which were pretty common and seen as nothing special. This made them undesirable to some collectors.
• Size and Storage: DVD cases are not particularly exciting or aesthetically pleasing for some collectors.
• Game-Focused Collecting: The focus with Xbox games is more on the games themselves, and playing them, not necessarily their boxes.

PlayStation 2

While the PS2 is the best-selling console of all time, and most people do seek to acquire their favorite games for the console, the focus is on the games themselves. The game boxes are not at the top of the collectors lists.

• DVD Cases: Similar to the original Xbox, the PS2 also used DVD cases, making them less interesting to many collectors.
• Ubiquitous: There were so many PS2 games made, so the cases are very common and not seen as particularly valuable.
• Playing over Collecting: Collectors are more into playing the PS2 games than preserving their boxes.

Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii brought unique game cases, but even these aren’t always highly valued by collectors.

• DVD Cases: Like the PS2 and Xbox, it also used standard DVD cases, which are seen as generic by some collectors.
• Game focused: Collectors are usually interested in the games themselves, rather than the packaging.
• Mass Produced: There were so many Wii games produced that the boxes aren’t that rare or particularly sought after.

Wii U

The Wii U is a more recent console that had unique game cases, but again, some collectors tend to overlook them.

• Blu-Ray Cases: The Wii U used blu-ray cases, so they’re similar to PS3 and Xbox One games, making them not so unique or special.
• Rarity: The Wii U didn’t have as much as success as other Nintendo consoles, leading to less games being printed and thus their cases being more rare.
• Focus on other Nintendo systems: Many collectors may want to focus on more popular Nintendo consoles like the GameCube or the Switch, making the boxes of the Wii U less interesting.

Why These Boxes Get Overlooked

So, why do these boxes often get ignored by collectors? Here are some common reasons:

• Durability Issues: Many of these boxes are made from thin cardboard or easily breakable plastic, making them not that easy to preserve over long periods of time.
• Practicality: The fact that the cases are easily replaceable like CD cases, or DVD cases makes them less desirable for most collectors.
• Focus on the Game: Most collectors prioritize the actual game, whether it’s the cartridge or the disc, and the packaging is often seen as an extra.
• Space Concerns: Some boxes are big and clunky, and collectors often have limited space, making the preservation of these cases not that important.
• Large production numbers: The amount of games produced, often makes their boxes seem common, and thus their desirability falls.

It’s important to remember that game collecting is a personal hobby. What one person values might be different from what another person likes. Some collectors love the boxes and everything that comes with it, but some might just want to play the games.