CGC Video Games Updates Shrink Wrap & Insert Policy for CIB Games

Purchasing and opening a video game for the first time is a thrilling experience for any gamer. Most of the time, when opening a game, enthusiastic players will tear all of the shrink wrap away from a box and discard it. Other gamers — especially those looking to add to a collection or keep their games for a long time — will open a small section of shrink wrap to keep as much of it intact as possible while still being able to get to the game inside.

Neither option is incorrect — how you treat your video games is up to you! However, some collectors enjoy collecting opened games that still have the shrink wrap attached to the box. When opened games are submitted to CGC Video Games™ with the original shrink wrap still attached, CGC Video Games encapsulates the submission without removing the shrink wrap.

Although CGC Video Games does not include shrink wrap as part of an opened or complete in box (CIB) grade, our graders will still evaluate the shrink wrap to determine its authenticity before certifying the game. Often, CGC Video Games will receive submissions that have been resealed with aftermarket shrink wrap not original to the factory release. If CGC Video Games receives an opened or CIB submission that is determined to have aftermarket shrink wrap, the unoriginal shrink wrap will be removed before encapsulation to ensure that CGC Video Games is meeting the CGC Guarantee to only encapsulate and grade genuine collectibles.

The same standard applies for inserts included in complete in box submissions. CGC Video Games’ expert graders meticulously research each game to determine its matching components (box, cartridge, manual and inserts). This is important because inserts can say just as much about the production history of a game as its other components.

Sometimes, complete in box games are submitted to CGC Video Games with incorrect inserts. This is because third party sellers may add inserts to a CIB game to make it more “complete” without considering if the additional inserts match a game’s variant. For example, it is not uncommon for CGC Video Games’ graders to find Konami posters or Acclaim reply cards in Nintendo-published “complete in box” submissions.

In addition, CGC Video Games also receives submissions that include a complete in box game along with miscellaneous related items. For example, CGC Video Games often sees submissions of Dragon Warrior with Nintendo Power inserts. While the Nintendo Power inserts are related to Nintendo, none were ever included in any release of Dragon Warrior, making it an unrelated and unoriginal insert to the submission. Another example often seen in the CGC Video Games grading room are certificates of authenticity from other third-party authentication companies.

If CGC Video Games receives a complete in box submission with incorrect inserts or items not original to the game, the incorrect components will be removed and returned to the customer unencapsulated. This will guarantee that all of the CIB game’s components are as authentic and original as possible.

Please note: CGC Video Games will only make an exception to the insert policy for original sales receipts and handwritten cheat codes for the game being submitted. CGC Video Games has decided to keep these inserts inside the submission for nostalgic value, since they are often important to submitters. However, these additional inserts will not be listed on the label nor in certification lookup.