Well, it really depends on which game you're talking about. A Mario All-Star or a Tetris & Dr. Mario cart isn't worth more or less if the back has been switched or not. Many people are buying games for what's printed on the electronical board, not what's printed on back case.
Just a note, it's never been proven that these are production plant numbers, and they very likely aren't.
It doesn't matter what they are, the fact remains that switching the back side isn't a lot different from changing the label or anything else that's part of the original game. After switching the game it's not in it's original state anymore. I hope you're at least mentioning this worthlessness of the items when you sell them one day.
lol you make me laugh. I just told you that I swapped out backs with identical back labels! Furthermore, back swapping on SNES carts isn't as simple as NES carts because some of the boards are cut differently. For example, Mega Man X2 and X3 have a 3 section pin connector with two spaces, while most only have 1 section. I swapped an X3 back onto an X2 cart and guess what? THEY WERE EXACTLY THE SAME!!!
What's next, are you going to whine and call a game worthless when someone puts a Black "Nintendo" sleeve in a CIB that should only have a plain Black sleeve with no logo? Get over yourself already.
Just a note, it's never been proven that these are production plant numbers, and they very likely aren't.
It doesn't matter what they are, the fact remains that switching the back side isn't a lot different from changing the label or anything else that's part of the original game. After switching the game it's not in it's original state anymore. I hope you're at least mentioning this worthlessness of the items when you sell them one day.
lol you make me laugh. I just told you that I swapped out backs with identical back labels! Furthermore, back swapping on SNES carts isn't as simple as NES carts because some of the boards are cut differently. For example, Mega Man X2 and X3 have a 3 section pin connector with two spaces, while most only have 1 section. I swapped an X3 back onto an X2 cart and guess what? THEY WERE EXACTLY THE SAME!!!
What's next, are you going to whine and call a game worthless when someone puts a Black "Nintendo" sleeve in a CIB that should only have a plain Black sleeve with no logo? Get over yourself already.
I could always exchange the sleeve, and it's documented good enough which games came with what sleeves. I cannot easily change the cart back again and I'd first have to a) know you changed it and b) find out what really should be there. It's the same concept as with cars, If you replaced something in a classic car, even if it's noticeable (to most) you have to mention it when selling.
Hydr0x, you are assuming that EVERY SINGLE BACK TO EVERY SINGLE CART IS UNIQUE. I'm 100% positive that this is not the case. When you have a pile of 100s of loose carts in your room it isn't hard to find an identical back. Like I said I've only swapped identical backs but I have been neglecting the power plants (if that is even what they are). I'll just leave it at that... don't take it personally.
Hydr0x, you are assuming that EVERY SINGLE BACK TO EVERY SINGLE CART IS UNIQUE. I'm 100% positive that this is not the case. When you have a pile of 100s of loose carts in your room it isn't hard to find an identical back. Like I said I've only swapped identical backs but I have been neglecting the power plants (if that is even what they are). I'll just leave it at that... don't take it personally.
I'm not assuming they are unique. I know that various carts have the same back. But you're saying you're exchanging them even if the number differs. This is something that should not be done. I hope you're at least not changing one were there's a revision suffix (A/B/C) cause that would seriously confuse any (possible) buyer. If your cart back says there should be Revision A inside and it isn't that's a big problem.
I also think swapping cart backs is a BAD idea. I also keep track of what backs go to what games so having ones that are swapped annoy me. I only swap backs if it is an EXACT match including the stamped numbers. The back of carts show the history of where that game has been and is important for us to track as the hobby progresses...
Apparently this is a touchy subject. I don't think it's a good idea to swap backs of carts because of the label, production number, and revision code, but I also think that 99% of people could really care less. If you are going to swap backs, you should probably just make sure the numbers and letters match just to make collectors happy. At least when dealing with rarer games. I personally don't think they should ever be changed, but let's face it - a lot of us are reselling and are doing it to make money and you make more for a better looking game. I don't think it justifies it, but I can see why some people do it at least.
I don't see a problem at all with swapping backs. 99.999999% of buyers couldn't care less about whether a game has it's authentic back, and those that do probably are capable of verifying that a game they just purchased has the correct back, or not.
There have only been a few instances where I've tracked what's on the back of a game, usually for rare variants and original releases. It's pretty easy to tell when an incorrect back is put onto a game if the swapper doesn't pay close attention. So in this case it benefits the community if the swapper does a crappy job
I think reselling has been going on long enough that it would be impossible to accurately track which carts had which backs. Are most going to be original? Yes. Can you prove it? Probably not.
1. Who are you to tell me I can't swap backs? If I want a game with a clean back and it is for MY collection and it isn't going to leave MY hands then why the hell do you care?
Without getting into the back swapping issue, just saying anything is fine because its your collection completely ignores that some day it will not be yours anymore. This is the same problem with making good fakes only for yourself. Eventually someone else will have it who may not know it is fake, and they could get screwed. Everyone will sell or die so what you do for your own collection does matter. Of course if you are already throwing away games you probably don't care as much as many people here.
^ I can't help but think someday, as with real antiques, even the imitations will be worth good money. This happens all the time on Antiques Roadshow. "Oh, unfortunately this is a reproduction so it's not worth $50,000. But it IS a documented reproduction, so it's still worth $6,000."
In my opinion, you must decide for yourself what you want your collection to be. Some want to collect cart only others want all their games to be complete in box with manual. For example, I collect cart only for the main part, but I want the classics like the 2 Zelda games and the black box series and silver box series to be complete. Why? I find them the coolest and they deserve the credit haha! My collection is almost complete in my eyes, I have about 180 carts, which are games I like. Games I don't like I pass on, because they only take up space and are worthless to me, even if a game is very rare. The condition of the games in my collection vary. Not all are in minty shape but a lot of them are. When I find a better looking one I replace it with my existing one. My priority is that the game works and is great to play. Second is the condition. For my complete games I want the condition to be good to very good. Minty is not necessary.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, you decide what you find important for your collection!
Comments
EDIT : Oh! the concerned party beat me to it.
Just a note, it's never been proven that these are production plant numbers, and they very likely aren't.
It doesn't matter what they are, the fact remains that switching the back side isn't a lot different from changing the label or anything else that's part of the original game. After switching the game it's not in it's original state anymore. I hope you're at least mentioning this worthlessness of the items when you sell them one day.
lol you make me laugh. I just told you that I swapped out backs with identical back labels! Furthermore, back swapping on SNES carts isn't as simple as NES carts because some of the boards are cut differently. For example, Mega Man X2 and X3 have a 3 section pin connector with two spaces, while most only have 1 section. I swapped an X3 back onto an X2 cart and guess what? THEY WERE EXACTLY THE SAME!!!
What's next, are you going to whine and call a game worthless when someone puts a Black "Nintendo" sleeve in a CIB that should only have a plain Black sleeve with no logo? Get over yourself already.
as long as the label is a 100% you can always clean up the cart.....
Just a note, it's never been proven that these are production plant numbers, and they very likely aren't.
It doesn't matter what they are, the fact remains that switching the back side isn't a lot different from changing the label or anything else that's part of the original game. After switching the game it's not in it's original state anymore. I hope you're at least mentioning this worthlessness of the items when you sell them one day.
lol you make me laugh. I just told you that I swapped out backs with identical back labels! Furthermore, back swapping on SNES carts isn't as simple as NES carts because some of the boards are cut differently. For example, Mega Man X2 and X3 have a 3 section pin connector with two spaces, while most only have 1 section. I swapped an X3 back onto an X2 cart and guess what? THEY WERE EXACTLY THE SAME!!!
What's next, are you going to whine and call a game worthless when someone puts a Black "Nintendo" sleeve in a CIB that should only have a plain Black sleeve with no logo? Get over yourself already.
I could always exchange the sleeve, and it's documented good enough which games came with what sleeves. I cannot easily change the cart back again and I'd first have to a) know you changed it and b) find out what really should be there. It's the same concept as with cars, If you replaced something in a classic car, even if it's noticeable (to most) you have to mention it when selling.
Hydr0x, you are assuming that EVERY SINGLE BACK TO EVERY SINGLE CART IS UNIQUE. I'm 100% positive that this is not the case. When you have a pile of 100s of loose carts in your room it isn't hard to find an identical back. Like I said I've only swapped identical backs but I have been neglecting the power plants (if that is even what they are). I'll just leave it at that... don't take it personally.
I'm not assuming they are unique. I know that various carts have the same back. But you're saying you're exchanging them even if the number differs. This is something that should not be done. I hope you're at least not changing one were there's a revision suffix (A/B/C) cause that would seriously confuse any (possible) buyer. If your cart back says there should be Revision A inside and it isn't that's a big problem.
~~NGD
1. Who are you to tell me I can't swap backs? If I want a game with a clean back and it is for MY collection and it isn't going to leave MY hands then why the hell do you care?
Without getting into the back swapping issue, just saying anything is fine because its your collection completely ignores that some day it will not be yours anymore. This is the same problem with making good fakes only for yourself. Eventually someone else will have it who may not know it is fake, and they could get screwed. Everyone will sell or die so what you do for your own collection does matter. Of course if you are already throwing away games you probably don't care as much as many people here.
In my opinion, you must decide for yourself what you want your collection to be. Some want to collect cart only others want all their games to be complete in box with manual. For example, I collect cart only for the main part, but I want the classics like the 2 Zelda games and the black box series and silver box series to be complete. Why? I find them the coolest and they deserve the credit haha! My collection is almost complete in my eyes, I have about 180 carts, which are games I like. Games I don't like I pass on, because they only take up space and are worthless to me, even if a game is very rare. The condition of the games in my collection vary. Not all are in minty shape but a lot of them are. When I find a better looking one I replace it with my existing one. My priority is that the game works and is great to play. Second is the condition. For my complete games I want the condition to be good to very good. Minty is not necessary.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, you decide what you find important for your collection!
^ What he said.