RF Generation Message Board

If you consider yourself a collector of a certain console, how do you feel about variants?

For this example, let's say your goal was to collect the Saturn's library...

(A) Nights Into Dreams was released both as a traditional longbox and as a pack-in with the 3D controller. The pack-in version is in a jewel case. Do you feel like you need both releases to have a "complete" collection?

(B) Daytona USA was released both as a stand-alone game and then re-released in the super elusive (and expensive) Net-Link edition which offered online gameplay. Do you feel like you need both releases to have a "complete" collection?

(C) There's a 3-Pack release of Daytona USA, Virtua Fighter 2 and Virtua Cop. Do you feel you need this 3-Pack and all three stand-alone longbox releases to have a "complete" collection?

...this thread is definitely aimed more at the collectors here. I personally have my own views on veriants, but I'm curious what others views are.

Unless a variant includes a little something extra thrown in that I might be interested in, whichever version I find first is the one I pick up.

Something like yellow label and silver label Metroid, or Grey and Gold Cart Zeldas? Sure.

Something like 5 screw/3 screw or round/oval seal variants though? Nah.

i agree with this, if it's a major difference then ya, like for example i just replaced my copy of metroid prime that had a "best seller" award on the cover art for the original release. i also needed the manual too but the point is i do prefer certain variants over others.

minor differences like the nes ones quackula listed and others like model or version changes, i don't really care about. excepts being if a certain version # fixes a game breaking glitch or anything like that, or adds some significant feature like the japanese re-release of super mario 64 getting rumble pak support.

for your examples:

A, i would definitely want both if i was going for a complete collection, but i wouldn't feel like i needed it to count as a complete collection. i would probably count my collection as complete with only one of those.

B, in most cases i would go with the version with the most features, the net-link one, but considering how expensive it is i would go with the basic version. that one is a borderline call on whether i would count it for a complete collection though, i probably wouldn't, but i'm sure it would bother me not having it XD.

C, i'm not familiar with the saturn library, but if you mean a 3-pack in the same way there are dual packs of PSP and PS2 games (and other systems) where it has separate cases for each game inside and they're just put into a single outer box sleeve, then i wouldn't count that for a complete set. i would actually avoid that for a complete set and only get the original releases of each, because i kind of consider 3-packs/dual-packs along the same line as PC/GH/PH, they're just new packaging on the same game and i would really prefer the original only.

i definitely see all your examples as valid variants though and worthy of collecting as a bonus on top of a complete set. i just wouldn't count them towards whether or not my collection was complete.

Considering that I attempt to document every variant known to man, you know my answers to your questions. :P
However, I will not consider "variants" for the older consoles due to differences caused by hand manufactured items.

that's basically my way of thinking. For me, in those examples, if I own any version of Nights, then I own that game. I don't really NEED another version of it to feel my collection is complete.

Thats my thought for the most part. If I were attacking the Saturn library I would probably try and end up with the different versions of something like NiGHTS like you mentioned, because its an important game and the variants in packaging are significantly different though.

With the Daytona Netlink Edition I'm not sure. I probably wouldnt pursue it unless I was done with the rest of the system and it was still screaming my name afterwards.

Thats my thought for the most part. If I were attacking the Saturn library I would probably try and end up with the different versions of something like NiGHTS like you mentioned, because its an important game and the variants in packaging are significantly different though.

With the Daytona Netlink Edition I'm not sure. I probably wouldnt pursue it unless I was done with the rest of the system and it was still screaming my name afterwards.

Considering what you listed, the only item there with any real additional expense is Daytona CCE NetLink, and no one would even know the variance without opening the case so I'd probably pass on it.

Why not grab the other cheap variants and have a nice collection?

so if I had every Saturn game EXCEPT the longbox version of Nights and individual releases of Virtua Cop, Virtua Fighter 2 and Daytona you wouldn't think I had a nice collection? :P

If I have any variant of a game, I say I have it, and am more or less content with that. However, if I happen to get a variant of the same title in a lot, I'll keep both versions and just consider the less pleasing looking version to be a bonus. Perfect example would be Best Sellers, I'm fine with having them in my collection and don't actively try to replace them, but when I do get an original release, it goes on the shelf and the best seller is taken off the shelf.

You'd have a collection with no qualms about calling him ugly. Not a very nice collection at all.

If you have one copy of a game i say it is complete. Extra are just icing on the cake. I have everything you mentioned but the stand alone Nights release. I am looking to get that one though.

I do not actively seek out variants, and usually wont bother with color differences in the cart unless there is something really special about it like a Turok: Rage Wars gray cart.  The exception being Legend of Zelda.  I feel I do need all of them.   

If I stumble upon a variant I don't have, I pick it up. But my goal is to have one copy of each game. For example, Gunsmoke for NES, has two different covers. I currently only have one of them. I do not feel the need to get the other, however if I came across it for a good deal, I'd grab it  up.