Mega Man X3

[WhyNotZoidberg | 585]

I just got my filthy mitts on a decent looking Mega Man X3 cart. Probably the best looking one I ever saw, but it still shows a light touch of wear where the label folds to the top of the cart.

It looks pretty good, but most times you see this:

 

Any reason as to why this specific game has a fragile label?

Edited June 11, 2021 by WhyNotZoidberg

[Reed Rothchild | 9,520]

The short version:

Early SNES have a glossy Made in Japan label that is super tough.

Later labels (mostly "Made in Mexico") just have a fragile paper label.

[Andy_Bogomil | 815]

Poor quality label plus it's an awesome game so lots of handling

[WhyNotZoidberg | 585]

1 hour ago, Reed Rothchild said:

The short version:

Early SNES have a glossy Made in Japan label that is super tough.

Later labels (mostly "Made in Mexico") just have a fragile paper label.

Ah so even the Made in Japan carts have fragile labels, if they're from later production runs

[phart010 | 1,707]

From what I’ve seen there are two types of non-glossy labels. The paper ones and the plastic ones with ink that rubs off. Megaman X3 is the latter.

I think a few other late releases use this kind of label, if I’m not mistakes, some notables are Final Fight 3, Metal Warriors, Space Megaforce

[Nes Freak | 584]

in the mid 90s nintendo went cheap arse  on the label using wax coating which wears out.  it wasnt till the mid 2000 they wen back to plastic coated

[phart010 | 1,707]

My idea was that since so many Megaman X3s have messed up labels, and since collectors hate 1:1 replacement labels, we should make replacement cartridges larger so they’re obviously replacements. Then you could have a larger sized high quality label too. Neat in its own way, without pissing off collectors:

Credit due to Buyatari for the X3 complete artwork 

Edited June 11, 2021 by phart010

[Nes Freak | 584]

36 minutes ago, phart010 said:

My idea was that since so many Megaman X3s have messed up labels, and since collectors hate 1:1 replacement labels, we should make replacement cartridges larger so they’re obviously replacements. Then you could have a larger sized high quality label too. Neat in its own way, without pissing off collectors:

Credit due to Buyatari for the X3 complete artwork 

yeah but then your snes cart gets upgraded in to a neogeo cart.  it will still piss off collectors either way lol

[CMR | 519]

I think replacement labels should just be labeled as such.  Just put it in fine print along the side or something.  I also like the idea of using custom artwork for replacement labels, but should still be labeled as "replacement label" in some way.  Other than that, let collectors get pissed off.

Replacement shells should also be easily identifiable as replacements. 

[Tanooki | 4,932]

^Hah yeah.  And really if you're pissing collectors off, you're probably doing something right anyway.  Any collector who gets in some other buyers way with their my way or the highway attitude have it coming.

 

It's a shame NOA went so cheap on labels for a good 10 year stretch.  You can kind of note the point when stuff went south, it wasn't long after Earthbound came out.  The Super Gameboy carts on GB were like the first point of incorrect cost cutting that caused sticker problems.  You can pretty much just figure whenever DK 94 and EB came out, that spread of time in that year is about where you need to be careful handling and more so cleaning games, as the usual good stuff like alcohol will on contact ruin them.

[Andy_Bogomil | 815]

3 hours ago, CMR said:

I think replacement labels should just be labeled as such.  Just put it in fine print along the side or something.  I also like the idea of using custom artwork for replacement labels, but should still be labeled as "replacement label" in some way.  Other than that, let collectors get pissed off.

Replacement shells should also be easily identifiable as replacements. 

Back when I first got into collecting and  replaced a few crappy labels I made some custom ones. This copy of FF had the Japanese board with Poison in the game. 

 

 

[Tanooki | 4,932]

Not a fan of made up stickers, but that art is very nice.  I don't get Capcom, didn't in 1991, let alone when those wankers again in 2001 yet again put the stickboys in there and left out all the violent stuff on GBA too...dicks.  I went and paid $10 more to import the JP version that year.  Don't bother if you're not going to do it right.   I do like that idea of getting around it some, Japanese board, US shell.

[Jeevan | 8,910]

If you really wanna know the difference in the labels, looks like they used what would be a semi gloss stock to make the japanese(earlier ones) and a trans thermal for the mexican(later ones).  

[CMR | 519]

N64 labels were the worst IMO as far as Nintendo stuff goes.  The absolute worst, though, had to be late Sega Genesis labels.  Those things go bad from just existing.

Edited June 13, 2021 by CMR