nesdev.org

You know these black plastic cases for NES games.

Is there any reason why some NES games have a plastic case with a Nintendo logo and some have a blank case?
Is there a specific logic behind it or is it totally random?

At least in the US, Nintendo-labeled plastic sleeves came only with games published by Nintendo themselves, and everything else had a blank plastic sleeve. Not sure if Nintendo published games started using the blank sleeves later on, but they might have.

Then how come I bought a complete "Paperboy" with package and everything and it had the case with the Nintendo label? I mean, it's possible that it was switched, but since it's really a complete game, it seems unlikely.

Can anybody confirm that the third party games never had the plastic case with the Ninteno logo when buying it new?

I seem to remember that Nintendo and licensee games shipped with logo sleeves, and aftermarket sleeves were black.

So that means every plastic case that came with a game always had the logo and they were never shipped without a logo?

All of my third party games came with a black sleeve. The only ones that I had with the logo were from Nintendo. Keep in mind I only had a limited amount of games as a kid.

Alright, so I get conflicting statements here. (First party vs. third party games, original plastic cases vs. aftermarket ones.)

Who can tell me what's really going on? When were the cases with the logo used and when the plain ones?

What's been said is for the most part correct, but we're basing it on experience from the late 80s/early 90s, which is over 20 years ago. Cut people some slack! :-)

In my experience the sleeves with the red "Nintendo" branding were only used on games which were both 1) made by Nintendo and 2) published by Nintendo. All other games (including games made by other companies but published by Nintendo) used black sleeves with no red "Nintendo" branding.

That said, here's something to keep in mind:

Kids usually stopped caring which games used what sleeves after a few months of time. E.g. you'd play 10 games in an afternoon, and when you were done you've just shove whatever game into whatever sleeve. Any NES game you buy today would be subject to that.

Furthermore, keep in mind that games sold as "new! unopened!" may have actually been opened at some point (but kept in very very good condition) -- do you know how inexpensive shrink wrap guns + shrink wrap plastic (polyolefin film, a.k.a. POF) are? Try US$60 for the gun and US$50 for 1500 feet of 18" wide POF. It's pocket change for someone who sells tons of crap on eBay. I've even bought games from local outfits (similar to GameStop for example) where the games/boxes/etc. are shrinkwrapped (to imply they're "new", but if you ask you'll be told "it could be new, sure! But it's probably used").

Here's my question to you: why does it matter, or is this just another case of NES Spergelording?

koitsu wrote:Here's my question to you: why does it matter

I want to put the games into the kind of plastic cases that were made for them. If the original vs. aftermarket thing was true, I would buy only cases with the Nintendo logo. If the 1st vs. 3rd party thing is correct, I will buy plain ones for my third party games and Nintendo ones for my Nintendo games.

koitsu wrote:Spergelording

This word exists three times on Google. Are you trying to establish a new word?

The spelling sperglord is more common. I believe it's related to "sperging out", which refers to acting in a way deemed characteristic of the DSM-IV criteria for Asperger-type high-functioning autism. Perhaps the accusation of having an "Asperger attack" ultimately stems from "I'm confused as to why a damn should even be given about this."

tepples wrote:The spelling sperglord is more common.

O.k., in this case it's not a new word.

tepples wrote:I believe it's related to "sperging out", which refers to acting in a way deemed characteristic of the DSM-IV criteria for Asperger-type high-functioning autism.

Nah, I'm just a bit pedantic about those things. Although I wouldn't lose sleep about when I couldn't get the correct sleeves. But since I can order all that stuff easily, why not use the cases that were intended for the various games?

There is a thread on NintendoAge related to opening originally sealed NES games, you may want to look there for your answer. I believe it's in the Collectors Corner section.

it's possible that it was switched, but since it's really a complete game, it seems unlikely

Yeah, it's completely unheard of that people lump together a loose cartridge, box, manual and plastic sleave (sometimes from different countries/regions) and sell them as "complete"...

tepples wrote: DSM-IV criteria for Asperger-type high-functioning autism

Wow, that's one hell of a rainbow in the backdrop!

Sometimes I like to find games that are brand-new and unopened, but not that expensive, and open them up with an unmatched glee. Feels good.