When do you "break the seal?"

[isiolia]

If it's a genuinely new copy, and doesn't seem to have an odd rattle or whatnot, then I tend to leave it in the plastic until I'm going to play it.

Reshrunk used copies, or new copies in questionable condition I'll open to check the disc.

[BoringSupreez]

I usually break the seal as soon as I get back in the car from buying the game, or after opening the package it came in if I bought it online.

[MrPopo]

So far there's only been one thing I've kept sealed and pristine, and that's my Mega Man 9 promo retail box they released. And I keep it sealed because they went the extra mile and put some of those generic price stickers on, one on top of the other, like it had been discounted.

[cookie monster]

Foxhound 1022 is full of crap he very rarely waits to open games. He went so far as to get mario kart 7 for me for christmas he opened and was playing for weeks before he gave it to me. If i order stuff online he will break his neck to get to it first so he can open it, even if its mine.

[harper]

And I keep it sealed because they went the extra mile and put some of those generic price stickers on, one on top of the other, like it had been discounted.

Mmm, I love it when places do that.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Seal comes off the second I get to my car with the game, even if I won't be playing it for a while. I am a manual smeller too, and i'm not ashamed of it!

Same here! I usually can't even wait until I get home. I guess that I'm still like a young kid in that respect, I get so excited about my purchases.

And hell yeah I sniff manuals too. They smell so delightful, second only to Magic: The Gathering cards.

While I never will have the willpower to keep a game sealed, I do keep a lot of the extra goodies in their shrinkwrap: the Lunar 2 map, the Final IV trading cards(?), the Otomedius Excellent pillowcase, etc...

[Yancakes]

On those rare instances where I actually get a new game, I open that shit on the busride home.

[diesel_dan]

Seal comes off the second I get to my car with the game, even if I won't be playing it for a while. I am a manual smeller too, and i'm not ashamed of it!

Oh man, I'm a total manual sniffer, too! Something about the aroma of that ink brings back so many great childhood memories. Too bad they're being phased out--future generations will never know that joy.

As far as breaking the seal goes, I wait until I'm ready to play. I have about a half dozen sealed games "on deck." I guess I'm a lot faster when it comes to buying games than finishing them.

Who knows--maybe I'll forget about one and have a priceless sealed gem in 20 years!

[Curlypaul]

Add me to the list of manual sniffers - I do this on old games that I get as well. Som eof those smell of old finger dirt but every now and then I get one that still smells new!

I also open games at the earliest opportunity. If 'm buying a new game I'll play it straight away no matter the state of my backlog.

[GSZX1337]

I've never sniffed a manual but:

They smell so delightful, second only to Magic: The Gathering cards.

I LOVE the smell of trading cards. Whether it's Poke'mon Legend of the 5 Rings, Yu-Gi-Oh!, or Magic: The Gathering, I can't help but sniff those cards as soon as I open the pack.