For the import collectors, do you care about spine cards?

[fcgamer | 4,751]

I picked up a Japanese 3D0 machine a year or two ago, and I've now decided to actually get some software to try the thing out. I've seen some items for sale with spine cards, and then others without the cards. Obviously there's a bit of a premium for disks with the spine cards.

Anyways, I'm just wondering for those here on VGS who collect import disk games, how important are the spine cards to you? In some ways I'm tempted to just buy games and not worry about the spine cards, but I'm worried that down the line I might regret that decision and then start thinking about repurchasing portions of my collection just for the spine cards.

[GPX | 1,373]

I don’t really collect import games much, but regarding spine cards I do collect them when I can for the Mega CD games. It’s not a prerequisite but a nice bonus if the costs are similar to the ones  without the spine cards. 

[Hammerfestus | 3,881]

I collect very few imports and as such when I go out of my way to do so I want the spine card with it if that came with it.  I can see it being less important if you have volume but when you’re only interested in a handful of titles I want all the bits.

[spacepup | 2,411]

I think different people will have different opinions here.  In my personal case, I try to get them in order to have a more complete copy and information, but, it is not something I obsess about.  I'd pay a small bit more for a nice complete copy with OBI, but I'm not going to pay large amounts of money just for that.

For me, it was kind of... idk, a relief? When I came to the decision that I wasn't going to obsess about them for all titles.  Some are just incredibly difficult to get, or even double or triple the cost in some cases.  

I guess I'd say just take some time to really think through whether it is something you truly care about.  Because if you *do* decide later that you want them, it is a lot of work because you can't always easily find just the spine, so it'd be a process of selling / replacing "incomplete" copies and that could be a lot of work.

[DefaultGen | 5,427]

Yeah gimme em. I'll only forego a spine card if there's a nice copy that's literally half the price, in which case my wallet will get the better of me. 

[MegaMan52 | 2,458]

Yes, I do. And not just the ones included with imported games, but also imported soundtracks.

Some of them look cool too, like the ones that came with the Mega Man 9 and 10 soundtracks.

Edited February 5, 2023 by MegaMan52

[Sumez | 2,989]

I never cared about them. I find them to be more of a bother really 

[Tanooki | 4,950]

I don't care enough to pay more for them, but if I can get them as they should be, part of an optical disc package I'm happy enough to have it.  As pointed out, either way with or without it's basically still complete, they tend to just repeat info as an eye catch, like the interior flap of a hardback book cover flap.  When I do get them from new or used CDs, audio CDs, PCE stuff even, I usually lay them flat and stuff it in the case out of sight and harms way.  In a way they're a bit of a nuisance anyway as it's more stuff to worry about that adds nothing to the quality of the game.  Given they're just wrapped over and sealed in, on this side of the pond it's like having a sticker on shrink wrap, an extra.

[Brickman | 4,012]

They are nice to have but I don’t obsess over them. I was trying to for SS but some games are crazy expensive if it has the OBI and reg card. Not worth it unless you are looking to document everything and have deep pockets.

[Deadeye | 1,596]

I don't go out of my way for them.  If there are two copies of the title for sale of similar condition, one with spine card and one without, I'll pickup up the spine card if the cost is under 15% more.

If the condition is different, say really good without spine and not as good with, yeah I'll go with condition over a piece of paper.

[Teh_Lurv | 254]

They're nice to have, but I don't specifically go looking for copies with him. I'd rather settle for a nice in-case copy without one than spending extra time/money hunting down a copy with a spine card.

[T-Pac | 7,584]

I'm clueless about collecting disk-based games, but now I'm curious...

What's a spine-card? And why are they important?

-CasualCart

[Gloves | 11,824]

9 minutes ago, CasualCart said:

I'm clueless about collecting disk-based games, but now I'm curious...

What's a spine-card? And why are they important?

-CasualCart

In Japan (and some other regions), disc based media usually games sealed with a card external to the plastic case, wrapped around its "spine" like so:

 

It's a wrap-around card which when you open the seal is entirely loose, so often they'll get tossed:

 

Many people, myself included, will store the spine card inside the case, as it usually fits just fine inside:

 

As for why they're important, it's a part of the original package, so many would consider a game not complete without it. 

[T-Pac | 7,584]

Ah, I got it now - thanks @Gloves!

Seems neat if the cards have extra game info or something, but I can see why people are indifferent to having those for the most part.

-CasualCart

[Renmauzo | 1,205]

I go out of my way to get copies that have the spine card now. When I started my PCE collection a few years ago, I didn't even consider it, but as time has gone on and I've been getting each Saturn game with the obi, I regret not considering this when I was picking up my PCE stuff.

It's not just about completeness for me though, it's part of the art. PCE have the white tray spine, Saturn have the black ones, both are boring which is resolved by the obi/spine card. Some cards are a little more plain, some have cool artwork on them...and since I keep every game in a box protector, it's not as though they get in the way or anything.

Anyway, just speaking for me, I do have regrets that I didn't look for copies w/obi for the PCE stuff, so if you are thinking you may regret it, that thought will probably creep back in at some point. Motivations are different though, and for me, it's all about and extra coolness to the package as a whole.

Edited February 5, 2023 by Renmauzo

[RH | 4,965]

I've collected very few CD items from Japan.  My biggest question is why is this a thing even to begin with?

I mean, what’s the point, really? It just feels like an extra, unnecessary manufacturing cost.

[Brickman | 4,012]

42 minutes ago, RH said:

I've collected very few CD items from Japan.  My biggest question is why is this a thing even to begin with?

I mean, what’s the point, really? It just feels like an extra, unnecessary manufacturing cost.

It’s like how some people collect all the extra stuff in NES games. There’s really no point besides the feeling of completion or for archiving.

If you meant why do Japanese have an obi, well that’s just a style thing that started with books.

[RH | 4,965]

32 minutes ago, Brickman said:

It’s like how some people collect all the extra stuff in NES games. There’s really no point besides the feeling of completion or for archiving.

If you meant why do Japanese have an obi, well that’s just a style thing that started with books.

I meant the latter.  I didn’t realize is started with books, but I’m still curious.  We do get them on books from time to time in the US, so that is something I’ve seen, just very rarely.

[Brickman | 4,012]

29 minutes ago, RH said:

I meant the latter.  I didn’t realize is started with books, but I’m still curious.  We do get them on books from time to time in the US, so that is something I’ve seen, just very rarely.

Yep just a style thing. They also have dust covers on softcover books/manga. Whereas most English regions don’t put a dust cover on softcover books.

[WhyNotZoidberg | 586]

On 2/4/2023 at 8:57 AM, fcgamer said:

I picked up a Japanese 3D0 machine a year or two ago, and I've now decided to actually get some software to try the thing out. I've seen some items for sale with spine cards, and then others without the cards. Obviously there's a bit of a premium for disks with the spine cards.

Anyways, I'm just wondering for those here on VGS who collect import disk games, how important are the spine cards to you? In some ways I'm tempted to just buy games and not worry about the spine cards, but I'm worried that down the line I might regret that decision and then start thinking about repurchasing portions of my collection just for the spine cards.

The only imported games I’ll ever own are Japanese 3DO games  (and Korean but they come in cardboard longboxes) and I do very much prefer having the spine card of course. 

Which ones are you getting?

[phart010 | 1,708]

7 hours ago, RH said:

My biggest question is why is this a thing even to begin with?

Because it’s Japan

[phart010 | 1,708]

On 2/5/2023 at 3:13 PM, Gloves said:

As for why they're important, it's a part of the original package, so many would consider a game not complete without it. 

What I hate is the new trend of putting decorative stickers on outside of the plastic seal. With those, it’s like you can’t even open the game otherwise you lose the sticker and the game is incomplete 

[spacepup | 2,411]

10 hours ago, phart010 said:

What I hate is the new trend of putting decorative stickers on outside of the plastic seal. With those, it’s like you can’t even open the game otherwise you lose the sticker and the game is incomplete 

Just an idea here, and something I started doing just because.  When I encounter that, now I cut out a nice little square (or whatever shape) of the plastic / sticker, and put it inside the game case, much like I would another extra.  That way it's saved just in case someone cares for it

[Sumez | 2,989]

An alternative suggesion is just removing the plastic seal with the sticker and throwing it in the garbage, that's working super well for me so far  

Edited February 7, 2023 by Sumez

[Tanooki | 4,950]

1 hour ago, spacepup said:

Just an idea here, and something I started doing just because.  When I encounter that, now I cut out a nice little square (or whatever shape) of the plastic / sticker, and put it inside the game case, much like I would another extra.  That way it's saved just in case someone cares for it

This 100% is what I did years back when Nicalis did Switch releases where the first run had added stuff as they'd put a quarter sized sticker on the wrap more or less.  I'd cut a square out, stuff it into the clip/manual space in the case.