Advice for a beginning collector

[MattK]

I just started collecting 2600 games about a month ago. I currently have 13 games, and would like to build up my collection. Which games should I look for next time I go to the flea market? (I'd like to start off with some of the more common games, and then progress to rarer ones.)

 

Thanks in advance,

Matt

[General Atarian]

This is how I got started collecting. Simply don't look for a specific games, simply buy any game you find and dont have. Then as time goes on, you will get more selective, passing over dupes.

[General Atarian]

This is how I got started collecting. Simply don't look for a specific games, simply buy any game you find and dont have. Then as time goes on, you will get more selective, passing over dupes.

[Rick Weis]

my advise if you find any rare ones at a flea market get them first!!

 

as far as good games that would depend on what you like.. some of my favorites are:

adventure

montezuma's revenge

pitfall

bowling

frogger

warloads

indy 500

X-man

 

take care, and good luck with your collecting!

 

Rick

[StanJr]

If rare games interest you at all, learn as much as you can about them, that way if you spot one, you will know what you have found and will not accidentally pass it up, like I have.

 

When I got back into collecting, I started by trying to pick up all the games I had as a kid (65 total). Now my collection is more like 150 as I learn about other games I've never played. And now I've gotten to where I am picking up certain types of games (ie, I'm working on an Activision collection and a Coleco collection).

 

Most important of all, however, is just to have fun with it.

 

 

[Ze_ro]

Well, instead of buying everything you can find, here's some tips that might be useful:

 

1. Look through the rarity guide here on AtariAge. It'll give you a general idea of what games are worth. For example, don't pay $10 for Combat or E.T.... but do pay $10 for Quadrun or Chase The Chuckwagon. I'm not saying you should memorize the entire list, but just enough so that you know some general facts, like that games made by Atari and Activision are generally less rare than anything from Telesys or Avalon Hill.

 

2. Download a bunch of Atari roms, and play them on emulators. That'll give you a good idea of what games are good and which suck. I'm not sure whether you are into Atari for collecting or for playing, but there are definitely a lot of games that you'll want to get just for the sheer fun of the game (For example, Pitfall 2 only rates a 4 in rarity, but it's much more worthwhile than a lot of the rarer games out there). Also, playing the roms will keep you aware of which games are actually just copies of each other. Unless you consider it worthwhile to get both the Atari and Sears version of a game, you could save yourself a couple of bucks (and some disappointment) by only buying one of them.

 

3. Set aside some space, because things will get packed quite quickly... especially if you keep buying systems and joysticks. When I started looking for Atari stuff, I quickly got into the habit of buying other systems like Intellivisions and such. Eventually, everything just balloons out.

 

--Zero

[King Asmo]

I think the best thing to do would be to learn what games are rare, and which aren't.. and have a rough idea of what the values for certain games are.. then buy any game that's a "bargain". I mean, if you find a game of rarity 8 or 9, and decide you don't want it, there's dozens of people who would trade you 20 to 50 different uncommon games for it, so you might as well pick it up.

 

At the same time, if you want to be a serious Atari collector some day, I wouldn't trade really rare carts for piles of uncommon ones.. because eventually, you'll find all the uncommon games.. but you might never find the rare title you gave up again.

 

KA

[Stella'sGhost]

Everyone here has good points, the key ones to remember are just to buy any games you should find, that you don't have, unless you really want duplicates - perhaps you can trade them - and if you think a game is too expensive try to get the price down, if you can't then don't buy it, no sense in feeling unhappy, you will find it again sometime for cheaper, I always do!

 

Having said that, there are certain games that are rare enough that if you do find one, it may be worth getting it simply because you may never find it again for years.

[KAZ]

I'd have to say try not to be obsessive like I always seem to be when collecting games for classic systems...

 

I have a record of how much I paid for them

where I got them from or from whom

 

I even heard of some people trying to save all of the receipts they had from all video game stuff.

 

This really bogs things down, and I'd maybe try to steer you clear of these obsessive types of activities.

 

 

If you are one of the "boxed" people, I certainly am, this obsessing gets clearly out of hand.

 

 

 

Here's an obsessive thought that I would like you to never get into...

 

Is the label of my loose cartridge in good enough shape, or should I try to get one that is better looking? You can imagine what ends up happening. How can you decide if a label is BAD enough to replace...?

 

I had a Dragster cartridge label that looked like it got ran over by a lawnmower, and that's the only one I've replaced.

 

 

I've learned the HARD way about over paying in THE WILD, because I never find anything in the wild. Again it was because I was obsessing over thinking it was better to get cartridges FROM the wild than from Ebay.

 

 

Avoid these Pitfalls! at all cost!

[Adrian M]

If you can easily find games in the wild, then you have it a lot easier than most. Buy whatever you feel you can afford and most importantly, DO NOT OVERPAY!

 

Then, use eBay as a research tool. Find out what exists, what the average price is for that particular game and keep your eyes opened.

 

But since you're relatively new to the 2600 collecting scene, follow what the others have already said. Buy the games and have fun. Scope out the rarer title later on (unless you have immediate access to them now).

[Rob Mitchell]

Just a small reply about controllers:

 

You need two sets of paired paddles (4 total).

 

You need one pair of driving controllers

 

You need one pair of Keyboard Controllers

 

You need many joysticks of various types to get the feel of what you like.

 

If you see a trakball, pick it up (Atari, Wico)

 

If you see an Atari Light Gun, grab it.

 

Get some rare carts for trading with others.

 

Have fun! I was in your shoes about 1997. I started with an initial purchase of 60 carts and console with controllers for $20.

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

[tiggerthehun]

Welcome aboard Matt! I'm rather new around here - and have found this place to have not only a wealth of information on the 2600, but, more importantly - it has the coolest "community" feel on the net. Clever folks - clever posts - and some timely ballbusting... what more could a guy want? Anyway - when I came on board someone sent me a few free games - and so I pass that on to you. These are mostly common games - but they're yours if you want 'em. Cost? You gotta do something nice for someone (here, or in the real world) in the next few days. The games:

Donkey Kong

Dig Dug

Jungle Hunt

Raiders of the Lost Ark

LMK - Andrew

[MattK]

If you see a trakball, pick it up (Atari, Wico)  

 

Trak-Ball? Didn't know they made one for the 2600. Which games does it work with?

 

Also, I've heard that Wico joysticks are better than the Atari ones. What do they look like?

[KAZ]

Wico joysticks are better than the Atari ones, but there is a huge CATCH.

 

I'm talking of course about Wico sticks for the Atari 5200.

 

They really are very very good....the wico controllers are great to control, much better than the default ones...

 

But you still need regular controllers where the auxillary, and keypads work. If you can't start a game at all, the wico can't even do its job.

 

So I went the "spendy" route, and picked up two flawless refurbished Atari 5200 controllers. They actually work fine just themselves, being they are refurbished with gold contacts.

 

So for controllers, I have a hell of a set up:

2 wicos with Y cables

2 refurbished default controllers

 

and of course, two Atari 5200 controllers that have SOMETHING wrong with either of them. A button doesn't work on one, the reset doesn't work on another, etc. etc.

[tiggerthehun]

Or, Matt, if you don't need those 4 games, I'll pass 'em on to anyone who needs 'em here. So, any takers?

[MattK]

Or, Matt, if you don't need those 4 games, I'll pass 'em on to anyone who needs 'em here. So, any takers?

 

I already have Donkey Kong, and haven't heard of the other three. I'm not quite interested. Thanks anyway, though.

[Atari freak 1]

I know people are going to be very mad when I say this because I have had so many freebies that I think my entire collesction is from freebies but....

 

I'll take'em if he doesn't want them.

 

But first,

make sure he doesn't want them.

 

I really wouldn't want to take them just because he didn't see your post or anything.

[MattK]

I really wouldn't want to take them just because he didn't see your post or anything.

 

It's OK. Go right ahead.

[tiggerthehun]

Atari Freak - drop me an email with your address - I'll send 'em out tomorrow - just remember to "Pay it Forward"...

[Atari freak 1]

Take jungle hunt mattk, I already have it.

 

and It's a great game.

Although, It's a little easy, It's one of my favorites.

[MattK]

OK then, if you're sure you don't want it... i'll take Jungle Hunt.

[tiggerthehun]

HEY! Easy, now "Atari Freak" - don't double my shipping costs here! I actually was just planning on shipping out one free lot. If I get another big lot together - perhaps - but I'd feel a little silly sending one game that cost more to ship than to buy.

[KAZ]

I don't have Raiders of the Lost Ark, can I have that, if nobody else want it?

[Atari freak 1]

sorry tiggerthehun!

I was trying to be nice to mattk.

 

I sent you an e-mail.

[tiggerthehun]

AAAHHH! Well, I had hoped to ship ONE free lot to ONE person - as it's a couple bucks to ship off the cartridges. I have no problem giving away these games, but if the games are going to a couple different places, I wouldn't mind a buck or two for shipping. Lemme know what you all want to do and drop me an email.