Need advice collecting

[Head of Desserts]

So this year has passed and I have collected many games I wanted from previous and current generations.
But this year I want to be more organized went it comes to my purchases.

I just finished making a huge wishlist of games I want for each console. For instance, for NES, I have 25 out of the 70 games I want. For n64 I got 86 out of the 125 I need. SNES, Dreamcast, Virtual Boy, XBOX, GC, etc. etc. I have a list of games also for console I don't own yet (GBA, DS, etc.) I also like to collect collector editions and video game related figures.

Where do I even start?

These are all games I want to play, so there really is no absolute favorites. DO I focus on one console this year or buy one game per console, or buy a console I don't have? I don't know where to begin. And also I don't want to fall into the trap and create this huge backlog.

Do I start with the cheap games first?

I have the goal, the vision, I just don't know how to act on it on a practical basis.

I know the word budget will be tossed around a bit, but that's not a huge concern unless I were to go after the expensive games.

I would post my wishlist but it would be too long.

[wiggy]

I think everyone has their own methods.

I personally tend to stick with one or two classic consoles at a time, as far as my game buying habit goes, while still picking up current/modern stuff here and there (which, in all honesty, is what I play most often). Lately I've been focusing on NES and SNES. I'll prolly switch from NES back to Genesis pretty soon though and still keep on slowly picking up the remaining SNES titles that are on my list.

But you should do whatever feels best for you!  I collect way more than I play anymore (virtually no time to play), so my buying habits largely reflect that.

[e_brugal]

Don't know why but if I see games or consoles that I don't have I tend to buy the consoles. But is your decition.

If you want you can start buying one console and after that buying some games and alternating them that way

[sheep2001]

JUST. BUY. EVERYTHING!

lol.  i'm a bit like wiggy i guess, in that i spend more time collecting than playing these days - but i am always on the look out for a bargain, and i just grab it if i see it.  I tend to collect only for consoles i already have, but i have been known to grab a bargain for a system i dont have too - turbo duo cd's i'm looking at you.

I think if you focus on one system at a time, you'll miss out - save some searches on ebay for what you want, and check them regularly (craigslist, etc probably better in US).

I'm just starting to go for a full Master System set (US & EU releases), probably about half way there at 130 or so, so that's my main focus for next year, but that wont stop me picking up any random stuff i see along the way.  I slowed down on ps2 and xbox when i got ps3 and 360, and will probably slow on ps3 and 360 now i have ps4.  I'll now wait for the period between they become out of date and classic to pick up the games cheap.

[venkman00]

I have a feeling that with the Retron 5 coming out a lot more people are going to get into collecting cartridge based games so I would start there. That's what I'm doing, anyway.

[Mick Dundee]

Id start with some of the older more expensive ones. Try getting some of them before they get harder to get. I guess with the same mentality you could purchase a few that aren't AS rare/expensive yet and hope they just gain in value.

 Try some of the collector's editions.

[Blumpkin]

I have a feeling that with the Retron 5 coming out a lot more people are going to get into collecting cartridge based games so I would start there. That's what I'm doing, anyway.

I'm largely betting on this too. That's part of the reason I buy so many games, get the games while the getting is good.

I don't have a list of games that I have to still get, but rather I know a few games that I don't own but want to. I just keep an eye open for stuff that I don't own yet. And when I find something, I don't instinctevely pounce on it.  I never pay a local dealer more then an eBay price, and vice versa. I keep an eye out for games sold in lots, cherry pick what I want to keep and flip/trade the leftovers.

I always pay the lowest price that I can.

[palmer6strings]

I try to give myself an allowance out of every paycheck. That way when I come across a great deal I can afford it. I buy anything and everything but my favorite 2 consoles are SNES and GBA. Though my NES collection is by far the largest.

[FritzWhite]

I always try to look for the best deal I can find regardless of what system it's for when I'm hunting. If something is cheap enough that I can turn it over and make a quick profit then I'll use that towards other games.

It's a great time to collect ps2 and xbox if you're into that as they're cheap now. Definitely not a good time to sell ps2/ps3 and xbox/xbox360.

Personally, I probably enjoy collecting super nintendo the most, but prices are stupid. For any system, of course you'll want to look for stuff that's CIB and in great shape as that will fetch more if you flip it.

[Blueprint]

If you collect wii games now is a good time to collect . A lot of great titles and most below $10 bucks , a few exceptions are like mario titles, xenoblade and metroid trilogy everything else is very affordable but if you are collecting older stuff ,  8bit or 16bit  best place for me is ebay ,  just be patient check new listing constantly and you will find  your games, also check lots many hidden gems are sometimes on the mix., that's how i got my copy of aero fighters in a console lot for $60 a few years ago ( it was misspell ) 

[Head of Desserts]

I think everyone has their own methods.

I personally tend to stick with one or two classic consoles at a time, as far as my game buying habit goes, while still picking up current/modern stuff here and there (which, in all honesty, is what I play most often). Lately I've been focusing on NES and SNES. I'll prolly switch from NES back to Genesis pretty soon though and still keep on slowly picking up the remaining SNES titles that are on my list.

But you should do whatever feels best for you!  I collect way more than I play anymore (virtually no time to play), so my buying habits largely reflect that.

Focusing on one or two consoles is a good strategy. Psychologically, it feels satisfying closing the gap on a system's wishlist than spreading it all over the place. The only exception to this would be if I find a great deal on a game outside of the collecting goal.

Don't know why but if I see games or consoles that I don't have I tend to buy the consoles. But is your decition.

If you want you can start buying one console and after that buying some games and alternating them that way

That's a valid point; get all the hardware out of the way then collect for them. But if I am going to buy a system I don't own, I would want to get a bundle with games included.

JUST. BUY. EVERYTHING!

lol.  i'm a bit like wiggy i guess, in that i spend more time collecting than playing these days - but i am always on the look out for a bargain, and i just grab it if i see it.  I tend to collect only for consoles i already have, but i have been known to grab a bargain for a system i dont have too - turbo duo cd's i'm looking at you.

I think if you focus on one system at a time, you'll miss out - save some searches on ebay for what you want, and check them regularly (craigslist, etc probably better in US).

I'm just starting to go for a full Master System set (US & EU releases), probably about half way there at 130 or so, so that's my main focus for next year, but that wont stop me picking up any random stuff i see along the way.  I slowed down on ps2 and xbox when i got ps3 and 360, and will probably slow on ps3 and 360 now i have ps4.  I'll now wait for the period between they become out of date and classic to pick up the games cheap.

Yeah got to keep eyes peeled

I have a feeling that with the Retron 5 coming out a lot more people are going to get into collecting cartridge based games so I would start there. That's what I'm doing, anyway.

Then that would drive the price of cartridge based games up, but not everything is so black and white as it seems, we shall see...

I have a feeling that with the Retron 5 coming out a lot more people are going to get into collecting cartridge based games so I would start there. That's what I'm doing, anyway.

I'm largely betting on this too. That's part of the reason I buy so many games, get the games while the getting is good.

I don't have a list of games that I have to still get, but rather I know a few games that I don't own but want to. I just keep an eye open for stuff that I don't own yet. And when I find something, I don't instinctevely pounce on it.  I never pay a local dealer more then an eBay price, and vice versa. I keep an eye out for games sold in lots, cherry pick what I want to keep and flip/trade the leftovers.

I always pay the lowest price that I can.

I always feel dirty flipping but I guess I need to do this. One time I was at a pawnshop and they had Pokemon Yellow for $3, which can easily be flipped, but I already had it and felt bad doing that, but then probably some reseller would grab it in the future, but trades could work, but trades on Craigslist...lol yeah they are always fair /rolls eyes.

I try to give myself an allowance out of every paycheck. That way when I come across a great deal I can afford it. I buy anything and everything but my favorite 2 consoles are SNES and GBA. Though my NES collection is by far the largest.

Yup take a cut from the income. Got to to be disciplined about it. If I am taking out 10% for example, I can't decide to take out 30%, unless I can balance it out next pay period.

I always try to look for the best deal I can find regardless of what system it's for when I'm hunting. If something is cheap enough that I can turn it over and make a quick profit then I'll use that towards other games.

It's a great time to collect ps2 and xbox if you're into that as they're cheap now. Definitely not a good time to sell ps2/ps3 and xbox/xbox360.

Personally, I probably enjoy collecting super nintendo the most, but prices are stupid. For any system, of course you'll want to look for stuff that's CIB and in great shape as that will fetch more if you flip it.

If you collect wii games now is a good time to collect . A lot of great titles and most below $10 bucks , a few exceptions are like mario titles, xenoblade and metroid trilogy everything else is very affordable but if you are collecting older stuff ,  8bit or 16bit  best place for me is ebay ,  just be patient check new listing constantly and you will find  your games, also check lots many hidden gems are sometimes on the mix., that's how i got my copy of aero fighters in a console lot for $60 a few years ago ( it was misspell )  

Great advice, focusing on ps2, original xbox, and wii would be smart. They are on the down low.

Id start with some of the older more expensive ones. Try getting some of them before they get harder to get. I guess with the same mentality you could purchase a few that aren't AS rare/expensive yet and hope they just gain in value.

 Try some of the collector's editions.

Yeah some get cheap others with a limited run get expensive. Still kicking myself I didn't get the Borderlands 2 Ultimate Loot Chest Edition.


I appreciate everyone's advice. You guys are so cool, you don't even know it. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW
/pelvic thrust

[larryinc64]

It's good to have a goal, and a list of what you want, but don't have it very strict and leave room for impulse buys. Also set a budget, and leave more room for wild finds than internet. I normaly leave internet buys for stuff on the top of my list that I was not able to find in the wild.
You also don't have to have everything all at once. Games will occasionally pop up in the wild for good prices.

Whenever I buy a new system, I always look for some cheep games, just to have something to play on it.

Here is how I got some of my stuff, maybe you will get some inspiration.
I started collecting in 2009, and the biggest places I got games were from friends/ adequateness, Goodwill, Creg's List, eBay/Amazon, and local game stores.
Early on, I knew I wanted a NES, SNES, N64 and Genesis.
I did not have a personal credit card or a store near by that sold old games, so I had to scrounge.
Tag sales were my first method, but I never got anything too good, My first find was a PS1. I never found anything older but I got some N64 stuff later on.
I got a N64 system from my sisters freind, no chords, and some crap games. Got the chords off-line.
I later found a old video rental store and got some random SNES, NES and Genesis games CIB for cheep.
My SNES was from a friend.
I eventually got a NES and Genesis from the internet.

Stuff like the Saturn, 3DO, Atari 2600, Xbox, and Dreamcast were impulse, I found a good deal and got them.
The Xbox, 3DO, Xbox and Dreamcast were from Goodwill. Atari from Creg's List, and I got a rare game for the Saturn from GW, and later bought the system to play it on.

For games, I put a price limit on used retro games of $30 for average games, with a few exceptions for games I really want. Most of my pricy games I got for cheep, Only paying market value for Mario 64, Zelda LTTP and Yoshi Island.
I got games like SSB 64, Mario Kart 64, DKC2, Super Mario Kart, Mario World, Mega Man X, Banjo Kazzoie, Both Zelda 64s, Dragonforce, Mario Sunshine, Luigi Mansion, All 3 Zelda NGC games, and Yoshi Story were gotten cheep or free from Tag Sales, Good Will, or Friends, not paying more than $5 for any of them.
Big lots can be good, bus it's hard to find some that are not overpriced. I got a huge NES lot with great titles from Cregs list, for around $2 a game, and got Zelda 1 & 2, Castlevania, Contra, and Mega Man 3 in it. I sold Duplicates here a while back and made back most of the money. Cregs List is probably better for this, but eBay can be good if you dig around.  I recently won a Famicom lot of 170 games on ebay for around $200.

It's fun to build up a collection from nothing, slowly getting stuff from where you can. I have pictures from early on to more recent times if you want to see how my stuff grew. I need to post new pics. http://www.thecoverproject.net/forums/index.php?topic=11412.0

[venkman00]

I have a feeling that with the Retron 5 coming out a lot more people are going to get into collecting cartridge based games so I would start there. That's what I'm doing, anyway.

Then that would drive the price of cartridge based games up, but not everything is so black and white as it seems, we shall see...

Exactly, which is why I'm trying to snatch up as many as I can before they go up too high.

[FritzWhite]

Do you wonder if the market for retro games will mostly die with our generation or will people be playing and hunting for carts in the 22nd century?

[larryinc64]

Do you wonder if the market for retro games will mostly die with our generation or will people be playing and hunting for carts in the 22nd century?

I'm 18 and I have many friends into retro gaming, does that answer your question?