Cataloging your collection?

[Superchop]

The more of people's collections I see on here the more I wonder how they keep track of what's in them.  My collection is small in comparison to many on here but even like that I sometimes tend to forget what I have...so I can only imagine what people with bigger collections must go through. 

So, how do you keep track of your collection?  Or do you not keep any record at all?

Right now I'm using MS Excel as a way to list what I have without me needing to go sort through but I would like to find something a bit better.

[wiggy]

I bought 3 copies of Turok 2 this month thinking that I needed it and not part 3. 

I don't catalog.  I buy the great majority of my classic games at local sued stores and I'm not gonna drag a giant Excel spreadsheet with me every time.  Once I've cased a game that doesn't happen.  It's pretty engrained in my memory afterward since I make each of my own covers.  Becomes hard to forget what you have at that point.  Just need to case up one of these damned copies of Turok 2 now

[mojoeskateco]

I go with excel all the way.  I like being able to filter on things.  If there's something I want to keep track of I just add a column.

For example I have the NES and SNES libraries dumped into excel with the following columns:

Title

Rarity

Release Year / Month

Cart - if I own the game I mark it here

Manual - same as cart

UGC Cased - Have I cased it? .. If so I mark it off

Cover Project - Is there a cover for this game - I've gone through the site and filled this out and I update when a new cover is posted

Priority - Tracks games I'm focusing on acquiring

Whenever I need to order UGCs I filter on what I own, that has a cover, that I have not cased.

I keep the file on my phone and load it up before I go shopping.

[Dan-Fu]

I use the retro collect apps for my iPhone.

[mojoeskateco]

What apps do you use?

I have one called "Game Vault" but I don't really like it.

[Dan-Fu]

http://puregaming.org/

Each app is $4 each. But in my opinion it's totally worth it. They're working on an Atari 2600 collecting app and then a Gameboy/Gameboy Color collecting app. I know because they told me.

Before you think nothing of it watch a video on it or something.

[Harp00nX]

Ive only 400 odd games in total but when I'm looking at games I seem to be able to recall if I have it or not with 99% accuracy, I do keep a spreadsheet though just to keep track on what manuals I need for snes games.

[ShoothimNow]

I forked out the dough for "Collectorz - Game Collector" and I love it.

[Dr.Agon]

i dont keep a list of what i have, which has led to me buying games twice so maybe i should?
i do however have a list of games i want, as i do most of my game shopping online its fairly easy to check it before buying anything...

[Dan-Fu]

I forked out the dough for "Collectorz - Game Collector" and I love it.

So it has NES and older stuff?

[madrocsz]

I forked out the dough for "Collectorz - Game Collector" and I love it.

I have been using Game Collectorz for years, great when you remember to update it. Only problem is the mobile app, wish you could do more with it

I'm over 1500 games and its the only way to keep my brain straight when trying to remember what I have lol

[games-go-round]

It's funny - I know I can't be the only one, but I still index my collection the pen-and-paper way.  I have a three-subject notebook that's broken down into different sections - video games, ebay sales, and general bills.  It works for me, but my collection is pretty tiny at 35 games.

I list them by system first, then I list the games in ABC order.  I list the systems in order of release date, so I have my NES and Genesis games first, and my Gamecube collection last.  I also have them arranged on the shelf this way, as it makes it easier for me to find them.

Just for fun, I broke down my collection into different categories, too.  I have games listed by genre (I currently have no puzzle games, oddly enough...) as well as by developer and publisher.  It's amazing how many Capcom games are crammed into my collection, as well as the number of fighting games that I own!  I also number games by series - I tend to have only one game in each series, usually my favorite game in the series.  For Mega Man, Metroid, and Phantasy Star, I have more than one game in my collection, which means that I like them just a little bit more than the other game series I have.  I like organizing them that way, because I can tell at a glance that I like the Phantasy Star series a little bit more than Final Fantasy or Zelda.  Funny thing is, I totally do, too :-D

I don't include downloaded games in my grand total, but if I did, I'd probably be pushing 50 games, total.  Maybe that's a project for another day...

[WolfAlmighty]

Since I only collect NES it's easy for me to remember what I have, but there are some games I have manuals for and I don't have the game to go with it so I keep track of that so I don't re-buy the manual.  I have C-ring binder with a few pages that I printed out off of an Excel spreadsheet which I just check off when I get stuff, and I also use the online collection manager at NintendoAge.

[Maben]

www.backloggery.com

It's a great site for keeping track of your collection, your wishlist, and what games you still need to beat/progress in.  It's free and I love it

[sheep2001]

Collectorz.com all the way.  Now registered users get use of Collectorz connect, the web app too -  it's fantastic, you can access your collection from anywhere