Does anybody just buy the game only or complete

[Jungell]

I try to collect complete games but it doesn't matter too much to me if the manual is missing. I mostly care about the cartridge and the box. I mostly collect Megadrive and Master System games. I have two unboxed games but those came with the systems when I bought them. I keep them in a box where the can't be seen!

If it was a super rare game I suppose I could buy it cart only, for real low cheap. Haven't done that yet, though.

[Jrecee]

All CD based games - complete

Genesis games - complete most the time. I usually stock up on extra boxes and print out cover art from thecoverproject.net on certain (expensive) games or if I happen to find a game I want dirt cheap

Master System - complete

SNES/NES/Gameboy - cart only

N64 - complete, much easier to find boxes in good condition than snes

[isaacsquared]

I put up with cartridge-only NES and SNES games, but anything else is case+manual or no deal for me (I may buy it to eBay it, but not for the collection shelf.) Even all my Genesis games have the box+manual (though I am in need of a better Shining Force manual). One of my birthday presents this year was the manual for Shadowrun (GEN), since it was the only game on the shelf taunting me without the manual. One of my favorite games, too.

[Gamerforlife]

I won't buy anything that's not complete. I don't know why anyone does really. You wouldn't buy half a car would you? When I get a new game, I want game, box and instructions

[noiseredux]

I take what I can get.

[bacteria]

I buy the games cheaply as normally unboxed and no instructions. You can get the instructions off the net for free if you want them. Sometimes get them boxed, if doesn't cost much more, otherwise cheap, cart only; there again i'm more interested in a games collection than a collector of games.

[Dakinggamer87]

I like to always buy games complete if possible but for CD based it's a must.

[FiftyDollarCurse]

I buy loose discs all the time. If the choice is $35 for a complete copy or $1.50 for just the playable disc, then that's no choice at all.

Of course boxed games are preferable, but I wouldn't pay a dime more for a box.

I'm playing games here, not running a museum.

why do people throw away the cases anyways?

The same reason why you don't hold on to the box your coffee maker or your alarm clock came in. It's just packaging.

[Jrecee]

I won't buy anything that's not complete. I don't know why anyone does really. You wouldn't buy half a car would you? When I get a new game, I want game, box and instructions

You can play an incomplete game, you can't drive an incomplete car. Having everything is nice, and if it were cost effective I'd buy everything in the box with the manual. With SNES and NES games, I think they look good on a shelf without the box. Considering the wear on your average snes box if it even still exists, they probably look better.

[Incognito D]

I buy games with the intention to play them, not just for the sake of collection, so I'm happy with carts on their own. For instance, the N64 boxes are shitty cardboard anyway, and I won't really suffer without the instruction manual so the cart on it's own will do.