What Not to Send to CGC Video Games

CGC Video Games™ is thrilled to be offering certification services for video games. However, there are certain video games and related materials that CGC Video Games does not certify. Below is a helpful guide covering what not to send to CGC Video Games for certification. Items that are not accepted by CGC Video Games will be returned to the submitter ungraded.

Cartridge Only and Disc Only Games

CGC Video Games will grade Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Nintendo 64 cartridges by themselves without a box. However, these are the only consoles CGC Video Games currently offers this service for. Cartridge only games from other consoles will not be graded by CGC Video Games.

Similarly, CGC Video Games will not certify disc only video games. Any non-NES, non-SNES or non-N64 cartridges and any optical disc submitted to CGC Video Games without a corresponding box or case will be returned ungraded.

Manuals and Inserts

CGC Video Games does not currently certify manuals and inserts by themselves. If a manual or insert is submitted with a corresponding box but not a cartridge or disc, then CGC Video Games will certify the manual or insert according to its complete in box standards and issue a Qualified label for that game. Learn more about the Qualified label here.

Improper Components

CGC Video Games will not certify improper components. If a video game is submitted with improper components, CGC Video Games will certify the proper components that were submitted and grade the game accordingly. If one of the improper components is a cartridge/disc, box/case or manual, CGC Video Games will issue a Qualified label for that game.

Big Boxes

CGC Video Games does not currently grade non-standard sized boxes, including big boxes. Unfortunately, this means popular video games like EarthBound for Super Nintendo cannot be certified as complete in box. EarthBound can only be certified as cartridge only. However, games that were released in a standard-sized box or case and packaged within a big box may still be certified. For example, many Not For Resale or Collector’s Edition variants that were part of a bundle may be certified as complete in box as long as they still have their standard-sized box/case and manual.

Guitar Hero for the PlayStation 2 is a good example. It was initially released as a bundle, but the game still came with a standard-sized case and manual. In some instances, a game was packaged in a big box with a standard-sized case, but it did not come with a standard-sized manual. This is true for games like the Lunar series for PlayStation. Although packaged in a big box, these games still came with a standard-sized double jewel case but an over-sized manual. CGC Video Games will certify the case and the discs, but not the manual. In such situations, CGC Video Games will issue a Qualified label for the game.

 

Games with Security Tags Attached

Retail stores often place security tags on sealed video games to discourage theft. These tags are made of a plastic shell that covers a metallic strip. Unfortunately, the tags are bulky and do not fit properly inside CGC Video Games' state-of-the-art holder, and if encapsulated, these tags risk damaging the condition of the video game. CGC Video Games will reject games that have a security tag and return them to the submitter unholdered.

 

Homebrews

CGC Video Games does not currently certify homebrews or other unlicensed video games.

Prototypes

CGC Video Games does not currently certify prototypes.

Reproductions

CGC Video Games does not certify reproductions. If a component of a video game is suspected of being a reproduction, then CGC Video Games will grade the rest of the components according to its complete in box standards and issue a Qualified label for that game.

Sticker Only Not For Resale Cartridges

CGC Video Games does not certify sticker only Not For Resale cartridges.

Consoles

CGC Video Games does not currently certify video game consoles. This includes consoles that were bundled with a video game.

Controllers and Accessories

CGC Video Games does not currently certify video game controllers or accessories. This includes controllers and accessories that were bundled with a video game.

Nintendo Power and Strategy Guides

CGC Video Games does not certify Nintendo Power magazines or video game strategy guides. However, Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) does certify these items. Nintendo Power magazines and strategy guides sent to CGC Video Games will not be transferred to CGC. They will be returned to the sender ungraded.

Video Game Memorabilia

CGC Video Games does not certify video game memorabilia. However, Collectibles Authentication Guaranty® (CAG®) does certify some of these items if they are part of a collection with certain provenance. Video game memorabilia sent to CGC Video Games will not be transferred to CAG. It will be returned to the sender uncertified.