How to open a MVS cart without damaging the label

[supergoose]

James said it before, but because of recent events, I felt like posting these pictures for everyone to see.

If you've never done this before and want to make sure that what you bought isn't a bootleg, then please take two seconds to look at the following pictures.

There's absolutely NO need* to open your cart any more than this:

If you're careful, then you won't damage the label:

Yes, putting the boards back in is a bit more tricky than pulling them out, but that should be worth your time.

*There's no excuse either.

 

[pipes]

Yeah, it's a pain in the ass getting those boards back in but worth the effort.

As a side note, I love those ebay ads where people post pics of the boards to show they're legit and you see the shell laying right beside it opened 180 degrees. No thanks!

 

[ViolentStorm]

Yeah, it's a pain in the ass getting those boards back in but worth the effort.

As a side note, I love those ebay ads where people post pics of the boards to show they're legit and you see the shell laying right beside it opened 180 degrees. No thanks!

Then they come to realise once putting the boards back into the shell and close the thing they have ruined the label.

 

[Comrade Porn King Mikhail]

Thx for pics to show the noobs. I've been doing this same exact method for the past decade. Pains me to see them opened up 180 degrees pretty much ensuring a full label crease. At that point might as well just go on the cheap with a repro label.

 

[Xian Xi]

I even do this for CPS2 board that have that security tab.

 

[Xian Xi]

Great pics BTW.

 

[Joneo]

Props man! If you've got to open a cart, this is the way to go.
Unfortunately paper labels can still form a small line as many have become brittle and the print cracks/flakes at the slightest flex. Still, it's greatly reduced by being this careful.
Plastic-coated/hologram labels tend to put up with a bit more abuse, but also benefit from the... (30°?) angle limit.

 

[Liq_Wurm]

Nice PSA! this thread outta be...

'd

 

[loegan43]

Nice, and I'd agree, this thread should get stickied.

 

[Jibbajaba]

I opened my first MVS cart the other day, and just out of common sense I did it that way. Maybe for some of these eBay people, they don't understand the collectibility and importance of condition. Remember that arcade operators didnt give a fuck about babying their games. They only cared if they worked.

Chris

 

[ki_atsushi]

I opened my first MVS cart the other day, and just out of common sense I did it that way. Maybe for some of these eBay people, they don't understand the collectibility and importance of condition. Remember that arcade operators didnt give a fuck about babying their games. They only cared if they worked.

Chris

Glad I'm not the only one who thought this was just common sense. I've opened AES carts without damaging the labels too, all you have to do is be careful, take your time, and don't fold it over.

 

[xsq]

+1 on sticking this, thanks for the pics.

 

[thieslo]

I did this with my NITD. If I can tell it isn't a boot through the slots I don't touch it, but if I can't, I just open it wide enough to get the little black spacer through .

Super easy to remove it, but when I tried to slide it back in it took probably 30 min for me to get it to close just right, but the label still looks pristine and I have the added benefit of knowing my board is legit!

 

[Joneo]

Super easy to remove it, but when I tried to slide it back in it took probably 30 min for me to get it to close just right, but the label still looks pristine and I have the added benefit of knowing my board is legit!

Before closing would be a good time to take some pictures too. That way for any future trades/sales you can demonstrate authenticity without having to go back in.

 

[SNKorSWM]

Good info.