Freak369's Full Review: InterAct Accessories Game Guard Cases 8 Pack For G...
Until recently, I didn't have much of a need for storage cases for Gameboy games. There were only about 15 games in the house and when they weren't being played the game cartridges were returned to the boxes they came in. But all good things must come to an end and eventually the boys started using the Gameboy and Gameboy Advance more and more which meant more wear and tear on the boxes, instructions and cartridges. Knowing that eventually I would have to figure out a new storage system, I set out to visit my Gameboy Geeks and get some suggestions from them.
Much like Computer Geeks, the Gameboy Geeks are dedicated to their profession and obsession. When I asked them what I could do about preserving the instructions and cartridges, they gave me several options but in the end [and after much debating] I decided on investing in about five packs of the InterAct Game Guard Cases rather than a huge storage unit for the instructions, cartridges and other assorted accessories.
If you aren't familiar with the InterAct name, chances are you aren't into video games. They have a great reputation in the area of controllers, memory cards, light and sound accessories and of course, storage units. I had seen different types of guard cases, but never in a "mega size". Target was the only place I was able to track down any type of plastic storage cases and they wanted $2.99 for 2 cases. Sorry, call me cheap but that just wasn't going to cut it for me.
The Gameboy Geeks told me to check out GameStop [since they sell both new and used items] to see if there were any other types of storage units that appealed to me. Low and behold, I walked in the door and almost fell over when I saw all the different items they had just for the Gameboy cartridges. I asked if they had any packages opened so I could see how thick the plastic was, how sturdy the cases were and the overall 'open and close' feel and they said 'no'. I thought that they might not want to open a pack – but they were more than happy to help.
The First Impression
The plastic case is pretty sturdy – when you press in on the middle of it there is a little flex, but for the most part it resists the pressure. There is a small latch on the bottom of the front of the case with the word push - simply apply a little pressure and the case pops open. That only took me about two minutes to figure out :] The design of the case is interesting – the bottom part of it has a ridge that is the height of the Gameboy cartridge. This is a nice thing to know since some cheaper cases have a split-seamed design that does nothing to deep dirt and dust out of the case.
The only thing you need to know – this is strictly for the Gameboy cartridges. The Gameboy Advance cartridges will fit into the case, but they will rattle around and make a ton of noise. I initially thought I could fit two of the Gameboy Advance cartridges into the case but since there is a lip at the top of the cartridge, you can't fit two inside the case.
InterAct vs. Nintendo
Since I invested a nice chunk of change into the cartridges, I wanted to make sure that my investment would be protected now that the boxes were almost destroyed. I looked at the Nintendo cases and they are the same design, type of plastic, identical 'open / close feature and would serve the same purpose as the InterAct ones, only for about $5.00 more per 8 pack. I can't warrant spending extra money on something just for the name, never have, never will.
One Month Later
I was really curious to see how the cases would hold up with some heavy duty usage so I gave a few to my boys to test out. My main concern was the plastic hinge on the back of the case, if that breaks off from excessive opening and closing the case is useless. A month later and the cases are still in pretty good condition, there are some minor scratches on them but after all that is what they were made for. Since my boys take their Gameboys with them almost everywhere these days, I knew that the cases would get a workout. All eight are still functional, working perfectly and only have a few minor scratches from being dropped.
Choices
It wasn’t until a recent trip to GameStop that I saw the guard cases in a plethora of colors. The ones I purchased a month ago were clear – and when I saw the pack of colored cases I knew I had to have them. You can never have enough cases in the house since there is always a chance one will get lost, carried off by a pet [it's happened twice already] or somehow mangled. I kept the colored ones for my games [Yoshi's Cookie, Tetris and Dr. Mario] so it's an instant "hands off" warning to the boys.
Since the only real choice you have to make regarding the InterAct guard cases is color and the number you want to purchase at one time – it’s a pretty easy selection process. If you have less then four games I suggest you go for the 2 pack. If you have more than 4 games picking up the 8 pack will save you some money in the long run.
The colors include: lime, purple, yellow, blue, clear and red. Since this is an 8 pack of cases but there are only 6 colors, you will get two duplicate colored cases. This varies from package to package so don’t get worried if you see differences in the duplicates.
Prices
I picked up the InterAct Game Guard Cases at GameStop for $4.99. That's not bad when you consider the name brand [Nintendo] cases retail at $9.99 - $10.99 for the 8 pack – and that’s when you can find them. You can also find these online at EBGames.com [Electronics Boutique's online store] for the same price, plus shipping and handling. Amazon.com has these cases from time to time but I have never been able to catch them in stock.
The Bottom Line
Overall I am extremely happy with both the clear and colored cases. I highly recommend the InterAct brand of cases over Nintendo since they are literally identical except for the price. While these aren’t waterproof, they have kept the games dry during a drizzle. The design keeps the games free of dust which is a definite plus. If you are a hard-core gamer and haven't found a storage system that you are happy with look around for the InterAct Game Guard Cases.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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