Ah how I have missed it. I thought I would do a post on one of my sub-collections - the small box early Nintendo carts CIB.
This is a very difficult to name series because it doesn`t quite correspond to the pulse line carts - Hogan`s Alley for example doesn`t have a pulse line version of the cart but has one of these boxes while Devil World, which does have a pulse line cart, was only sold in the larger silver boxes so far as I know. So tempted though I am, I can`t just refer to it as a CIB set of the pulse line carts even though that is almost what they are. That means, you know, just look at the pictures to figure out which CIB games I am talking about here.
These, along with the early Namco boxes of similar size, are my favorite Famicom games in terms of boxes. They just have the right balance of size, color and evocative-yet-simple artwork on the cover to lure me in. If I had been a kid in 1983 and been confronted with a sales display full of these I definitely would have bugged my parents for them until they became so massively fed up that they just bought me one to shut me up.
Come to think of it I was a kid in 1983. Lucky for my parents that they never took me to Japan.
Anyway, I only have 10 of these which means I am still a few short of a set. That includes some of the nicer ones like Mario Bros and Donkey Kong Jr. Math. Fortunately none of them are expensive so hopefully I`ll track them down at some point. Sadly that will probably have to be on Yahoo Auctions or somewhere similar as I don`t get out to the shops anymore like I used to.
Anyway, I think the Donkey Kong one is probably my favorite of the ones I do have. It is a very cool piece of pop art. I think once I finish the set my next project will be to try and devise some way of properly displaying them all as my current method (putting them in a box stored under the bed) just isn`t doing them justice at all.
Very nice. I love classic packaging like this and these small boxes are just so cute.
ReplyDeleteIf I had the cash to spare (and lived in Japan), I'd track stuff like this down too but for now I'm content looking at the pretty pictures people like you post up. :)
Welcome back, Sean--even if it is temporary :) Sorry to hear you're sick, by the way--although I have to admit I'm kind of glad you're sick, as it means we finally get another post from you.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, you know that I love these 'small box' Famicom games, too. Of course, how could you not? Like you said, they're perfectly balanced in terms of size, color and art.
I've sadly done a terrible job of expanding my 'small box' collection. In fact, I'm not sure I've done more than collect the Pulse Line carts so far--and even then I don't yet own CIB copies of Popeye English or DK Jr. Math (both of which are PRICEY if you're attempting to buy them through the US version of eBay).
I'd like to get a few others eventually, though--such as Hogan's Alley and the other gun games.
Anyway, thanks for the update and post and photos. Hope you feel well soon--and try not to stay away for so long, OK?
Glad to see you back for another post. Try not to make it another 3 months, please?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - thanks for the comment, you should come over someday when you do have the cash to spare:)
ReplyDeleteBryan - thanks! I hope to start posting more regularly at some point but the way things are now things have been a bit too busy. Maybe soon though:)
I remember seeing your post a year or so ago about your collection being one of the things that inspired me to start collecting this set. I`ve noticed that Popeye English and DK JR Math are expensive on Ebay CIB, they are the two priciest in Japan too but go for much less (I sometimes see them on Yahoo Auction for 30-50$ depending on condition versus about 100 or so on Ebay). I actually have two copies of Popeye English CIB that I picked up at good old Omocha Souko for a song back in the day.
Nathan - thanks! I will try to make it no longer than 2 months from now on :) Seriously, I will try to post more often, I miss it!
I completed my tiny box CIB set a couple weeks ago, DK JR. Math was definitely the hardest to find (at all, let alone complete and in good shape, took me almost a year of checking every couple days).
ReplyDeleteThey sure look nice together!
http://i.imgur.com/mzdq5yw.jpg
DeleteSorry to stick my nose in here, but that's awesome, Brandon. Congrats! I used to look all the time for a CIB copy of DK Jr. Math (of any condition!), but never saw one and basically gave up. Maybe I'll start checking again, as I really want a CIB copy of that game. I also want a CIB copy of Popeye English, of course, but for some reason I want it less than I want a copy of DK Jr. Math. Anyway, maybe I'll just hit up an importer later this year and see if they can get me these games so I don't have to stalk eBay :)
DeleteThose look pretty sweet, Brandon, congrats on finishing the set! I`m missing 5 of those -DK Jr math, Mario Bros, Gomokunarabe, Wild Gunman and Duck Hunt.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Sean, and great post as always! I love looking at your pics of your collection, they're always so colourful :) That Donkey Kong one caught my eye too, it's definitely the best!
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm talking to you, have you got Robocco Wars? I discovered it by accident a couple of weeks ago and discovered that, even though hardly anyone (in the West at least) has hears of it, it's actually a fantastic game! :)
Man, I LOVE that game! I played it on an emulator back when I first got into that, and I've been trying to find an actual cart ever since. It's apparently pretty uncommon though, I've never been able to find it on eBay... :(
DeleteAlso, welcome back Sean! Good to see you're still amongst the living! XD
Thanks Simon, I`m glad to be back!
ReplyDeleteI do have Robocco Wars actually. It was one of the last carts I added to my collection in the days leading up to my move last year, which unfortunately means that I haven`t tried to play it yet (and it is packed away in a box somewhere now). I will have to rummage around and try to dig it out!
Yes, you really should. It. Is. AWESOME! :D
DeleteHave you thought about getting those transparent plastic sleeves for your famicom game boxes?
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, welcome back Sean! Coming here to find a new article was a pleasant surprise, and it really made my day. Second of all, I realize this will seem almost like advertising, but I could REALLY use some help with this...
ReplyDeleteDarkstalkers Resurrection just came out on PSN and came out on XBLA the other day. Now I know Capcom has been... well, let's face it, terrible. I hate how they pulled the rug from under MML3. I hated them for that whole on-disc DLC crap.
But the sales of this game will determine whether we get a Darkstalkers 4. I LOVE this series, and if I had a 360 or a PS3 [I have neither :(], I'd buy it in a millisecond.
It's a Capcom fighting game, so it'll be good. And it's only $14.99 for PSN and 1200 MS points on XBLA. Plus, didn't PSN users get a free $10 credit the other day? Put it towards that!
I know it's weird to ask this, but PLEASE people, PLEASE buy Darkstalkers Resurrection. I'd appreciate it to no end.
I realize Sean doesn't have the newer systems either, but I know other readers here might, so... PLEASE do this? Please? :)
Steven - no, I haven`t gotten any of them. I kind of like the look of them in the `nude` so to speak, though right now I keep them in plastic boxes designed for VHS tapes.
ReplyDeleteSkyrunner - thanks! No problem with the plug for Darkstalkers :) Like you say I don`t have a PS3 or 360 but probably some other folks here do!
Hey... If you happen to have any friends with a PS3 or 360, Sean, you should ask them to buy it. I mean, it was released over there too, as Vampire Resurrection. America, Japan, doesn't really matter. Every little bit counts.
DeleteAlso, have you ever played the games? If you ever get a Saturn, you should definitely get Vampire Savior if you like fighters.
I`ve never played any of hte games, but if I do run into a PS3/ 360 owner I will let them know!!
ReplyDeleteOh that's cool. For some reason I've never seen the box for the Famicom version of Donkey Kong. I always had in my head that the box would be plain with the stripe and zigzag like how it is on the label. But of course, Japanese Famicom games don't always have their cart labels matching the box like they did with NES boxes!
ReplyDeleteYeah, they started matching up the box art with the cart art a bit later than these. There are actually two different Donkey Kong boxes, this one and a larger one with a silver border (same art work though).
ReplyDeleteWell, it's been a while. How're you holding up? Anything new on the collecting front?
ReplyDeleteThanks Skyrunner! I`ve been a bit busy with stuff, but I do have some interesting stuff I`ve picked up recently. I`ll have to do a post soon :)
ReplyDelete:D
DeleteI've already been checking here every day, but it's nice to know something will indeed be coming soon. By the way, have you managed to get one of those Epoch systems yet?
I`ve had quite the sage trying to find an Epoch Super Cassette Vision actually. I keep getting outbid at the last moment on Yahoo Auctions, it has been quite frustrating. Hopefully soon though :)
ReplyDeleteConsidering your luck, I'm sure you'll win one eventually. Just keep at it ;D
DeletePersonally, I always though Donkey Kong 3 looked the best. Ah well, to each their own.
ReplyDelete