Gotta love all the stupid re-sellers coming on here complaining about ruining the value and "tricking buyers". IM NOT SELLING

If the label is already damaged then whats the problem? My final Fight looks better now because of a marker, so if that makes me insane then so be it.

Billy, you should make an entire episode sometimes on how to restore games like this video. This was actually fun to watch and informative on how to make any game awesome again.

Exactly. Im not selling this game. That reseller game hunter came here and brought his reselling cronies to rip on me but I dont go out and look for games to sell, so dropping the value means nothing to me. I want it to look good.

Using a sharpie has made some of my carts and boxes look 10 times better. Thanks alot bro =]

Another thing that also works if there is some sticker residue on a cover, is to either take the sticker you just pulled off, or a piece of tape and repeatedly keep sticking and puling it off on the residue. It may sound stupid, but it actually works pretty well.

Hey quick pointer you might want to consider: A quick blow with a heat gun in low will take off any stickers off the cart.. but be carefull on the cart label, and melting the cart! Also eraser with alcohol takes aways sharpie pretty easy!

I find its safer to use rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs. Get a little on the swabs and gently rub. But you are 100% correct, protect any stickers, paper, cardboard. The alcohol will clean the plastic fine, but absolutely strip anything else.

Thanks dude! This was one of the first videos of your's I saw. And when I got my copy of DOOM on SNES today, it had damage like this, and this was the first thing I thought of to fix it. Helped a lot!

To keep it a little tidier spray the cloth you're using rather than the cart

Actually, there is one, called Retr0bright. It's a formula that you can use as a whitener for plastic.Google it and you will find it. A friend of mine used it on a SNES and the results were pretty spectacular.

Retr0Bright is great to get rid of yellowing, but sometimes your console/cartridge is too bright after the process, so don´t use to much of it on your first attempt. Also: a (warm) hairdryer can be a miracule worker when it comes to stickers and price-labels...

Not a bad idea! I try to avoid picking up damaged games. However sometimes I find deals on damaged games and I just can't turn them away. Usually what I'll do is buy a sports game for $1 and then swap the back. Then, once I find a better copy I'll sell/trade the beat up one and replace it with the good condition copy! :)

You can actually find hi-res images of almost any game label online. Print it out on some glossy paper to the correct size and you can make yourself an almost exactly copy of the original label.

Why is there so much hate in this thread? I understand that some of Billy's techniques in this video might be a little controversial, but the important thing to remember is that they work well for him. These are, after all, his games. It would be nice if people who post comments would only write things that they would say in person. It's as if being behind a keyboard makes everyone want to let out their inner rage on these comment boards. Gaming videos are supposed to be fun. Thanks Billy!

I just bought a lot of games recently which had been in a video rental store for quite some time. One cartridge had three different stickers from three different rental stores, permanent marker on the cartridge for another different store, AND the name of a fifth rental store CARVED into the side of the cart. What a nightmare.

another tip (for black permanent marker on the plastic of the cart) is getting a magic eraser. gets that stuff off like magic. No need to worry about names written on the cartridge ever again :)

Guys, besides the monetary value of these games, didn't we start collecting games because WE ENJOY PLAYING GAMES??? I get upset when i find fellow gamers that i ask, "Oh, what games are you playing now?" and they go "Nah, I don't play..I just collect.." Ugh...the begining of a re-seller....let's all sell our childhood...It's Fun!!! And Billy, I totally agree with a "fix-it" here and there...it just makes the game look more presentable... : )

@MikeGartner I once used alcohol and a cue tip and it helped. Wasn't perfect and you could damage the label, but if it has marker on it then its already damaged anyway. You might try acetone....but dilute it in water and use a TINY drop on the cue tip.

yes the top bar is purple, not red. by the way i think the best way to repair snes labels is to reprint them on a quality sticky paper. a lot of 300dpi labels are avalaible on coverproject !

Using markers on the game labels is "additive". A comic book will also drop very much in price, if you try to "mask" damage instead of just letting the damage be visible.

I was just going to mention Goo Gone. That's what I used to get off those stickers on the Gamestop cases. When I actually shopped there.

Yeah, Goo Gone is the best way to remove stickers. I also like to use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to clean the cart of all sharpie marks. Also, if you have the security bit to open the game cartridge, you can get a pencil eraser and wipe of any corrosion on the contacts. Then windex a Que tip, wipe up the contacts, slap that sucker together. Just like new.

That's awesome. I just got Judge Dredd at a goodwill and the label has some fading like that. Thanks man!

@tyron256 a tiny bit of super glue to tack glue it. a very very thin layer so it wont soak through the label

Clan of the grey wolf brought me here! Great video!

I love you, Gamestop has always pissed me off with the stickers. Also the retro games I get sometimes are damaged, thank you very much man.

yep. 409 will work magic if you let it sit for a few minutes. I agree with snesosT about the hair dryer trick. That works great for sticker removal. nice vid!

@MikeGartner use a dry erase marker, then use the eraser immediately over it, then write on it, then well repeat. Use baby wipes to also get excess dry erase marker residue off. I do it all the time when selling on Ebay!

wow nice title thanks for the tip been finding games at flea markets and needed to clean them

Wouldn't Sharpie on the label detract from it's overall value even more than a faded/worn label?

@vintagevideogamegeek a place called Game Exchange, their prices are amazing on vintage games. Even better than Play' n Trade.

i agree the label was already in rough shape, but me personally i prefer the authentic wear over a quick fix...but however its is YOUR game so you can do whatever the hell you want to it

In every field of collecting there is competition and unless you are a loaded you have set yourself goals. Value of games usually drops below the retail price in matter of months, I only hope that gaming industry will not go ''completely online'' in next 10 years.

good idea with the Windex and sponge, but i don't think you should use sharpie on the game it might look better but i feel that will lower the value of the game more rather than just to have the normal wear of the label...great video nonetheless and i love your channel keep up the good work

Great Tip's! Dont know if other's thought about this one but you know when you find a game and some IDIOT put the sales sticker right in the middle of the label,if you take a blow dryer and heat the sticker up it will peel right off 98% of the time,depends on what kind of sticker and how long it was on there.

so simple but i never thought of this lol great vid.

@ScottSchymanski thanks. it leaves a little shine in the right light but it look a lot better than a damaged label.

Hey Cap8bit, sometimes I cover the label with a plastic transparent adhesive film in order to protect it further from more damage, then I cut off the excess with an x-acto knife. I do that to my SNES, NES, GB and N64 carts. It looks as good as new.

The Easy Eraser and a some glass cleaner worked wonders for my copy of "X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse" -- which someone wrote all over with permanent marker. Yes, I know it's a beat 'em up game. You don't have to write that on the cartridge, you know.

Honestly, it was marker, leaving it damaged or buying a new label completely. Not left with much options. The damage was already done, so I don't understand what people are bitching about.

lighter fluid evaporates when it makes contact with air though? so it just dissapears/evaporates within minutes. It's 100% safe to use, even on cardboard boxes

You are giving us too much credit. the real damage is Ebay, it makes amatures all around the world see the high prices and look for games to make a quick buck. Also That huge story about that lady who sold a Nintendo with Stadium Events for 30,000 I think...yeah that story was everywhere, basically letting the world know there is value in old games

ive actually been following these tips recently. i got into a cleaning up my games phase.

You know what would be a good idea? If someone made labels for games for sale. Exact same quality and everything. This way games that are totally hopeless (label wise), you can just clean the cart up and order a new sticker for a few bucks online and wallah! Some collectors might snarl at this but I think there are some exceptions to the rule.

Nice, I do the exact same thing when I get an old, beat up, NES game.

I think cosmetic-repair to games that you are gonna keep in your collection is GReAT!! They are yours....I've seen people (skillfully) use 'markers' on their cartridge...and look great...I had to look twice before I noticed. Shit, they are yours....Crap on them if you want...as long as the "Crap" doesn't interfere with your gaming : )

BILLY MASE HERE WITH THE CART CLEANER!!! :D

Yeah, I never turn in games either. I just used to go there for used games and what not. And usually the games that everyone turns in are the ones that are so similar you might as well have only one version anyway. Sports games, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty 2K__.

Great video. I enjoyed it AND learned something! Already subscribed though.

8-Bit Eric sent me here, good video!

delete their ignorant comments. This is great to improve the quality and look of any collection. Really these people must think old, faded, and destroyed labels look great.

Another amazing vid Cap'n!

vary helpful so thanks for this video :) btw can that work on DVD cases like PS2 for an example?

I doubt resellers are complaining. One referred me to this video. He uses your tips to clean his games

I use a Sharpie to touch up problem areas on SNES cartridges. If the ink on the sticker has already worn off, or if there are slight rips or tears, then what is the harm in masking the imperfections?

AWESOME VIDEO! I Clean the games I find un rough & poor condition the same way, I tght I was the only one who was OCD & used a Sharpie to get the color back LOL, here's another tip that may help ya out, For games that are discolored and the grey is almost brown I use a heavy duty cleaner called "Purple Power" we sell it at Advance Auto but I think every big store sells it so I dont think u will have to go to a parts store to get it. just spray it on, let it soak for a while.then scrub!

I don't know about coloring on my carts. I think I'll just accept the label damage.

What's the best marker to use for the purple edges? I haven't seen a Sharpie that matches the color very well. My Hagane needs fixed D:

I actually really like the marker idea. Not like I'm going to sell my games anyway.

It worked for me! Nice video

hey buddy i got top tip for you! instead of using the harsh window cleaner on your beloved old carts try vegtable oil and a rag. it gets the nasty sticker crap off really well.

This past weekend I was able to pick up Super Mario All-Stars and Legend of Zelda A link to the past at Salvation Army. They were 4 bucks apiece so I got them for a good deal. I the label on Zelda is starting to peal on top. I'm gonna clean it and glue it back on but not sure yet what glue to use...not gonna cheap elmers glue...any suggestions?

I just did this sharpie thing on a black ps2 game label i got from gamestop. Looks good as new :)

Any tips for removing a sticker from a label? The back label of my copy of Conker's Bad Fur Day has a pretty sizeable price sticker on it but if I did something like this it would pretty much take the back label out with it.

couldnt find the one i was on about but found 1 similar vid useing the peroxide and corn starch mix and another vid useing some solution may be worth looking into........right back to the captains vids lol

cos in that guys it makes it not as valuable to resell. the dude is a reseller, sells nearly everything he buys. His ebay will attest to that, he gets a ton of hate comments about it all the time

His main goal is not to raise the price of his game. He is a collector and is just trying to make the game that he bought look better.

Any suggestion on how to deal with stickers that are over that actual label without damaging it?

Retr0Bright. Otherwise, I don't mind it when the back of a case is damaged. I just replace it with the rear end from another cart. Finally, sports games have a use.

I wanna see you clean up that Battle Toads/Double Dragon.

Any clue how to fix "browning/yellowing" discoloration of cartridges. I got a couple gameboy games & it looked like someone dug them up from the Earth...BTW Great Show...Huge Fan...Keep'em coming...

@bitchfacerecs yeah I just didn't have the guts to say " this is the captain signing off" lol

I use a heat gun to get all the stickers off my games and boxes. It works great and you don't have to worry about using chemicals like Goo Gone, alcohol, or Windex. You just have to be careful not to get the game too hot.

Final fight 3 is an amazing beat them up game and the best form the final fight games great fix bro

is it possible to print a scan of the label at a professional print shop and just stick it on? good as new?

@BestestBuddys Use a hair dryer to heat up the sticker and very carefully and slowly remove the sticker while continuously applying heat.

all the games i get are fucked up cause they are cheaper, but i put a lot of effort to restore them and its amazing what u can get out of them!!!! love the game chasers, best show ever....

yea lmao this is awesome. thing is when you get a game and the label is just gone (my super mario RPG). thats when you gotta go ghetto and print a label out on shiny photo paper to measure of course using a exacto blade to get the rounded corners.

I really wish that there was a way to just download the actual game label image, print it out on label paper and just put it on, fresh and new..

Have you ever tried some stuff called GOO Gone, it's the best stuff I found yet for those stupid price labels that just wont come off. Spray a litlle of it on the table and dip a toothbrush in it and lightly brush away the label. They sell goo gone ay HEB in the cleaners ailse

Thanks for those great tips. Could you do one about taking off stickers from cardboard boxes?

thanks for the tips, great help to me.

how do you take off gamestop stickers off the cover art / inside cover .. you know what i mean

Sweet cop on the final fight 3. This like many others, turtles metroid etc, I have bought from japan for a few pounds/dollars versus what the USA cart would cost me. Do have a lot of American carts and prefer them but like that it's so easy to play super famicom games and when English isn't an issue, might as well. Metroid has an English language option on the start screen I didn't know about. Have touched up damage on games like this too. Does feel good improving things and I have enjoyed immensely replacing lasers on playstations and saturns and hacking off the lugs on my snes and 64. Nothing advanced of course but still felt good to DIY. Do more stuff Billy! Not just game chaser stuff as that is obviously a lot of work, not that this isn't but like your style and want to see more of what you collect. You play anything on your wondermega/x eye you liked yet? Final fight cd and silpheed are superb.

I have a NES that has been in a box for 20+ years with games etc. How much is it worth, mint condition with one of the special suitcase looking official nintendo box case things ?

What do you do if the sticker residue is on the label?

how do you feel about relabeling a cart with a damaged label

If there's a sticker ON the label....how do I get it off without screwing up the case. I tried doing some with a bomberman game on GBA, and it screwed up the label terribly. (I used alchohol so I'm guessing it wasn't a good idea).....:( Oh well it was only 2 bucks.

any idea how to deal with a peeling label? some of the games i picked up need a little TLC in that area

Hey Billy, but what about labels that are starting to peel off? how I do fix that?

Oh, I'm definitely gonna try this - Thanks =]!

And what does that have to do with prices of retro games?

What's the song in the video about halfway through to the end?

Is there anything out there that allows to printout game labels? I heard about the cover project, but what about the carts themselves? I'm not a collector (yet), so don't bury me if I should know this.

I'm surprised the screws aren't rusted.

thank's for this! it helped alot!

As Yoda once said..."Grip the pillow, she will.....Going in dry, I am"

I winced when you sprayed your cart with Windex and started taking to it with a scrubber. This is a HORRIBLE idea. Besides not being very effective, you also scratch up the plastic. I suggest you track down a bottle of De-Solv-It (or some other citrus based cleaner). This stuff is great for removing sticky residue and, if you're careful, you can even apply it to thick paper products, such as game boxes for example.

lol i like how the tag says "unused".