Spotlight on the NES's original "Black Box Thirty"

Estil

I just started back into NES collecting and in addition to getting all the blue chips and personal favorites, I also want to own a complete set of the original "Black Box Thirty".  As it stands now I'm only three short (I only do cartridge only):

Donkey Kong Jr. Math
Ice Climber
Stack Up

Anyone else here like doing the original Black Box Thirty?

Zoso471

my ultimate goal is to get the blackbox thirty along with smb 2 and 3 sealed or as minty as possible. unfortunately im currently trying to find them in the wild which will take years and years to even acquire a few.

Estil

I only do cartridges because I can read most of the manuals on here (though I found a few that are glitchy and won't go past the title page) and the boxes would just get in the way. I like having the cartridges on a nice DVD shelf where I can pull whatever game I want when I want without having to worry about wrecking the box.

VGS_captmorgandrinker

Only one I still need is Stack Up.

Estil

Is Stack Up the rarest?

Bronty

Originally posted by: Zoso471

my ultimate goal is to get the blackbox thirty along with smb 2 and 3 sealed or as minty as possible. unfortunately im currently trying to find them in the wild which will take years and years to even acquire a few.

you're trying to find a sealed set in the wild?   good luck bro

Polonius

"Black Box 30" sounds like what I'd been thinking of a while ago... Is that all early games that had the "_____ series" logo? Or what?

dangevin

^ Yep, with the pixel-art covers.

Zoso471

Originally posted by: Bronty

Originally posted by: Zoso471

my ultimate goal is to get the blackbox thirty along with smb 2 and 3 sealed or as minty as possible. unfortunately im currently trying to find them in the wild which will take years and years to even acquire a few.

you're trying to find a sealed set in the wild?   good luck bro

haha na i shoulda been more clear, for now im trying to see what i can find in the wild, but inevitably ill be buying most of them on here.

NES Nick

I just completed my cart only collection a month or so ago, and I have boxes/manuals for Stack Up and Mario Bros, box only for Baseball.

thewalrusisal

Going for CIBs - at 16/30 right now plus 2/3 on the silver boxes (damn you Kid Icarus).



It's just neat to see them all lined up - like going through a time warp to a Sears in 1987.

recspecz

Originally posted by: thewalrusisal

2/3 on the silver boxes (damn you Kid Icarus).

I think the local record score has a minty Kid Icarus silver box.  I'll check it out for you and let you know its price.

brideck

I'm focusing on early releases in general, so I have a lot of these CIB.  Some in better shape than others.  Just DK Jr Math and the box for Metroid (if you're counting silvers, too) left to go.

I was 2nd bidder in not one, but two DK Jr Math CIB auctions that went off over the weekend.  Some day...

choppyfield

Originally posted by: Estil

Is Stack Up the rarest?

The game itself isn't. The R.O.B. pieces are what makes the whole CIB more obscure. Usually fetches a good $200+.

jonebone

When I sold off 500 or so CIBs, I made sure to keep my Black Box set. Though if the collector ever dies in me and I scale back to only my favorite games / games I might want to play someday, Excitebike would be the only one I'd keep.



But it is a great subset to have and satisfies the "collector" in me. I don't have the time, desire or space to pursue an entire CIB NES set, so the BB set does the job.

Polonius

Hate to sound like such a noob, but I can't seem to find a list of these 30 anywhere.....



And blue chip refers to the big recurring series like Mario, Zelda, etc, right?

tuxedocivic

I am. -CAN though. Which can make it harder, or easier. Depending on how you look at it. Oh and condition doesn't matter to me so that makes it WAY easier.

Kid Dracula

I am going for one CIB, with preference to the hang-tab releases. Though, I am in no rush, like my whole NES collection. I don't really set sub-goals for my set, but eventually I hope I will end up with them all.

profholt82

Originally posted by: Polonius

Hate to sound like such a noob, but I can't seem to find a list of these 30 anywhere.....



And blue chip refers to the big recurring series like Mario, Zelda, etc, right?

There is a list of the original 18 games available at launch date on the NES wikipedia page.  If you scroll down a little on this AA forum page, someone has them listed along with their approx. rarity/value.
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/138715-original-black-box-nes-game-for-sale/

Estil

Originally posted by: Polonius

Hate to sound like such a noob, but I can't seem to find a list of these 30 anywhere.....



And blue chip refers to the big recurring series like Mario, Zelda, etc, right?

Here's a complete list of the Black Box 30:

10 Yard Fight
Balloon Fight
Baseball
Clu Clu Land
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Jr
Donkey Kong 3
Donkey Kong Jr Math
Duck Hunt
Excitebike
Golf
Gumshoe
Gyromite
Hogan's Alley
Ice Climber
Kung Fu
Mach Rider
Mario Bros
Pinball
Popeye
Pro Wrestling
Slalom
Soccer
Stack Up
Super Mario Bros
Tennis
Urban Champion
Volleyball
Wild Gunman
Wrecking Crew


And yes, blue chips are the big classic games, like Mario, Zelda, MegaMan, Metroid, etc.  Just like they call top high school prospects in basketball blue chip recruits.

xtremegamer

I would like to have these with Booklet and cart, about half way there.

thewalrusisal

>>>I think the local record score has a minty Kid Icarus silver box.  I'll check it out for you and let you know its price.<<<<<

Cool - just know I am an unapologetic cheapass.