How do you feel about variants?

[Flodder450]

I honestly don't care, but i DO think with the Gamecube,a row of different backcovers is nicer then just a long stretch of silver on my shelf

also, if i come across a copy of a game that i already have, but it is in superior condition, i will buy it, and sell the inferior condition one

[prfsnl_gmr]

I am trying to obtain a complete collection of NES carts - which has become a much more expensive proposoition in the last few years - so, I am trying to acquire a lot of the "major" variants. The "major" variants (e.g., gold LoZ vs. gray Loz, blue Untouchables v. black Untouchables, etc.) look quite different; so, I like to have both in my collection. I am less much less of a completionist with regard to the other parts of my collection. I do, however, own both versions of Nights, and I would like to pick up a "gray" Maximum Carnage at some point.

[Mechblue]

Always an interesting topic, it is nice to see all the different opinions when it comes to collecting. I collect some variants, like gold and gray carts of zelda games but that's about it. I'm more in to collecting system and controller variants than games.

We mentioned the gold carts vs gray carts, greatest hits, and million sellers. But what about small variants like Super Mario World, with top label text being bold or smaller, etc? Do small print changes to the label or cover/box during the production run warrant adding it to the collection?

[ExedExes]

If you order from, say, JJGames or estarland, you'll have to email them ahead of time to know exactly what you're getting. A little while ago I ordered two copies of Super Smash Bros. Melee from JJ (one for me and one for my seester) - I ended up getting one Player's Choice copy and one Best Seller copy.

That was another that I noticed while looking around for SSBM on eBay (less than $20 complete, that is ) is that not only does it have a Player's Choice release, it also has a "BEST SELLER" release. Is that the only GameCube game that has 2 greatest hit designations?

[AppleQueso]

That was another that I noticed while looking around for SSBM on eBay (less than $20 complete, that is ) is that not only does it have a Player's Choice release, it also has a "BEST SELLER" release. Is that the only GameCube game that has 2 greatest hit designations?

I think Paper Mario: TTYD has that going on too. The "BEST SELLER" thing is really bizarre to me. I never quite understood the point of it.

[ninjainspandex]

If you order from, say, JJGames or estarland, you'll have to email them ahead of time to know exactly what you're getting. A little while ago I ordered two copies of Super Smash Bros. Melee from JJ (one for me and one for my seester) - I ended up getting one Player's Choice copy and one Best Seller copy.

That was another that I noticed while looking around for SSBM on eBay (less than $20 complete, that is ) is that not only does it have a Player's Choice release, it also has a "BEST SELLER" release. Is that the only GameCube game that has 2 greatest hit designations?

if i remember correctly the best seller disignation was for games that sold over a million copies while the players choice were nintendo games sold at a reduced price. so thats why it has multiple variations

[prfsnl_gmr]

We mentioned the gold carts vs gray carts, greatest hits, and million sellers. But what about small variants like Super Mario World, with top label text being bold or smaller, etc? Do small print changes to the label or cover/box during the production run warrant adding it to the collection?

There are certainly some people that collect that type of variant, but I am not one of them. I think that collecting "minor" variants like that would only result in a bloated collection of nearly indistinguishable games. That said, I do, however, have two versions of Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt/World Class Track Meet - the "red overalls" version and the "white overalls" version. I also have three versions of Wayne Gretzky Hockey...and I am trying to track down one more. (Seriously, the guy wears four different outfits on the cover of that game.) So, I am perhaps not one to lecture on this point.

I think that the superficial variants are the easiest to spot, but there are also "code" variants (like the exploding hamster in Maniac Mansion) that I think would be more interesting to collect. Identifying these variants would require a lot of work, however, and collecting them would require someone to buy a lot of carts. I would be interested in seeing some one (other than myself) attempt it, however.

[ninjainspandex]

dont forget the shinobi varients with spiderman, godzilla, and batman

[theclaw]

That was another that I noticed while looking around for SSBM on eBay (less than $20 complete, that is ) is that not only does it have a Player's Choice release, it also has a "BEST SELLER" release. Is that the only GameCube game that has 2 greatest hit designations?

I think Paper Mario: TTYD has that going on too. The "BEST SELLER" thing is really bizarre to me. I never quite understood the point of it.

Starfox Assault is another game re-released twice. Player's Choice with Best Seller version, and a Best Seller only version (no Player's Choice).

Yet on the other hand look how expensive Japanese copies are! I got lucky...

[KalessinDB]

Depends on how crazy collector you are. Personally, I consider myself a "guy who likes to play games" more than a collector, so I don't really care -- despite having some 400ish games for 30ish consoles (plus now a bunch of flash carts that are allowing me to pack up my originals into storage), I've never seen myself as a true collector.

But I can definitely see a lot of collectors going nuts for every variant ever. God bless 'em honestly.