The Rules of Video Game Collecting

[fiddlepaddle]

...fill an entire basement...

 

That's only a start. Remember, there are attics, garages, closets, nieces and nephews to loan to, collectors to trade with, and storage units than can be rented.

 

You've got your "main" collection, your "beater" collection, your "boxed" collection, your "favorites" collection, the hand-helds, the stand-alones, and don't forget console variations. Shoot, just trying to collect all the Sega Genesis consoles can fill up a couple of closets.

 

Then there are all those "carts you don't want but haven't sold yet", the "backups for the carts you really, really like to play", the "carts that still need to be fixed", the "carts that might be OK", the "carts where the labels came off", the "bootleg multi-game carts" (and their cousin, the "lame collection of legal but uninspired games" carts), and the "carts you haven't found a system they fit in yet".

 

There are prototypes, finished and half-finished home-brews, demos, and burned roms that are non-functioning and unreadable. Also, there is also LOTS of video game related paraphernalia, literature, promotional items, corporate trinkets, and, of course, an ever expanding world of virtual collectibles.

 

Rules? No thanks. In the words of Doc Brown: "Roads? Who needs roads..."

[shadow460]

The one and only rule of video game collecting:

Hide it from the wife!

 

Example 1:

"Sweetie, I know these look like video games, totally not."

Example 2: after trading the wife's collectibles for games:

"What happened to my book collection?"

"Uh, I dunno, I think, like, the water tank caught fire and they all burned up before I could put it out. Or maybe it was a targeted earthquake or something, you know, the real small kind that don't show up on the Science Museum's little Richter thingy."

[Keatah]

One little 500GB WD Passport. Sweet. Everything right there. The lady doesn't get pissed, you don't waste money on storage, you don't get bogged down in the physical world. You always have a backup. Your collection is safe. You can transcend yourself to a higher plane of ecclesiastical experiences.. the list of advantages rolls on!

 

I know that I will be able to play arcade gyruss at a moment's notice and not have to worry about relying on a cranky arcade unit with a misaligned crt that has burn-in and weak caps. Or a sticky joystick or rotting pressboard. Or loosely socket chips that make intermittent contact. Emulation is the way to go. Besides where would I house all this trash anyways?

 

I ain't trying to be batty or strange or anything, just offering a unique and different way of seeing things, that's all.

 

Imagine 80 gigs (compressed winrar) of organized stuff. encompassing Apple //e,][+,//c,//gs,][,//c+, A800, c64, 2600/52/78, astrocade, O2, vectrex, intellivision, colecovision. I have not gotten into nes snes genesis saturn 3do ps1 or ps2 yet. But will do so soon. And I still have stuff to go through for the first half of the collection.

 

On a different note, here is why classic gaming systems are dangerous. Ever smell the new-car smell? All the VOC's and outgassings from the new plastics and such, that gets into your brain and messes with you. So avoid that if possible. Classic gaming systems are no exception, and with the used ones you are bringing in bacteria and other 'stuff' from other houses and garages. But really - think about it. Emulation is the way to really preserve these games. that *IS* after all, the main purpose of mame. The project authors will tell you so! Pc hardware and variants of it will be around far longer than a 2600 console, except for the die-hard collectors who put their units in glass boxes. Please, no lectures or comments on the reliability of error-ridden cd-rom drives or exploding pc power supplies. And even if the pc standard falls out of favor, you can then run an emulator to emulate an older o/s.. Just like dosbox running Mike Cuddy's Gyruss music program!

 

What about the CRT radiation? especially from older monitors that don't have to conform to any sort of standard. Blasting your brain with radiation.. Dirty light.. pppffffaaaagghh!! Fergitabowtid! Lcd monitor running emulation is much much safer. And no transformer hum and magnetic fields to deal with either..

Edited March 17, 2009 by Keatah

[shadow460]

Funny you should mention Gyruss and the joystick. It's actually one of the less playable titles on MAME because of the joystick.

[Linkz1]

I really don't have any rules for game collecting, but these are a few things I follow:

 

1. The cart has to have been tested and working.

 

2. No one cart is worth breaking the bank for.

 

2a. With the exception of rarer games, like MUSHA or items like the Supercharger.

 

3. When purchasing a console, it must be complete with cables, power adapter and all necessary controllers.

 

4. Have fun!

[+Ransom]

3. When purchasing a console, it must be complete with cables, power adapter and all necessary controllers.

 

Is this a way of protecting yourself from the "I dunno, it may or may not work, I don't have anything to test it with" sellers?

[Linkz1]

3. When purchasing a console, it must be complete with cables, power adapter and all necessary controllers.

 

Is this a way of protecting yourself from the "I dunno, it may or may not work, I don't have anything to test it with" sellers?

 

Exactly. I don't want to waste money on a console that doesn't work unless I'm buying it with the intention to fix it.

[+Ransom]

The one and only rule of video game collecting:

Hide it from the wife!

 

Example 1:

"Sweetie, I know these look like video games, totally not."

Example 2: after trading the wife's collectibles for games:

"What happened to my book collection?"

"Uh, I dunno, I think, like, the water tank caught fire and they all burned up before I could put it out. Or maybe it was a targeted earthquake or something, you know, the real small kind that don't show up on the Science Museum's little Richter thingy."

 

Or find a wife who enjoys video games as much as you do.

 

If you already have a wife, though, the situation can get awkward. Wife trade-ins are difficult, and returns are never accepted.

 

And joining a polygamous cult is probably an extreme step for most of us.

 

Fortunately for me, when I was a very young man, I cleverly bored my first wife to tears by spending most of my time playing games and programming new games. Eventually I noticed she wasn't around any more, which freed me up to find a woman who shared my interests.

[+Ransom]

3. When purchasing a console, it must be complete with cables, power adapter and all necessary controllers.

 

Is this a way of protecting yourself from the "I dunno, it may or may not work, I don't have anything to test it with" sellers?

 

Exactly. I don't want to waste money on a console that doesn't work unless I'm buying it with the intention to fix it.

 

Good point. I'm often tempted by the console-only sales, but I've never pulled the trigger. I think I'll take your advice and avoid those from now on.

[Linkz1]

3. When purchasing a console, it must be complete with cables, power adapter and all necessary controllers.

 

Is this a way of protecting yourself from the "I dunno, it may or may not work, I don't have anything to test it with" sellers?

 

Exactly. I don't want to waste money on a console that doesn't work unless I'm buying it with the intention to fix it.

 

Good point. I'm often tempted by the console-only sales, but I've never pulled the trigger. I think I'll take your advice and avoid those from now on.

 

Depending on the console too, it's not always a good idea as some of the cables and power adapters are harder to come by than for other consoles. Like the 32x...the cable to connect it to the Model 1 Genesis is almost impossible to find...I got lucky when I got my 32X as it still had it.

[shadow460]

The one and only rule of video game collecting:

Hide it from the wife!

 

Example 1:

"Sweetie, I know these look like video games, totally not."

Example 2: after trading the wife's collectibles for games:

"What happened to my book collection?"

"Uh, I dunno, I think, like, the water tank caught fire and they all burned up before I could put it out. Or maybe it was a targeted earthquake or something, you know, the real small kind that don't show up on the Science Museum's little Richter thingy."

 

Or find a wife who enjoys video games as much as you do.

 

If you already have a wife, though, the situation can get awkward. Wife trade-ins are difficult, and returns are never accepted.

 

And joining a polygamous cult is probably an extreme step for most of us.

 

Fortunately for me, when I was a very young man, I cleverly bored my first wife to tears by spending most of my time playing games and programming new games. Eventually I noticed she wasn't around any more, which freed me up to find a woman who shared my interests.

 

 

Wife trade ins are only difficult if you're trying to trade in for a similar item. If you go to trade in for something that's actually useful, like a Sears Heavy Sixer, they go from difficult to impossible.

Edited March 17, 2009 by shadow460

[STICH666]

3. When purchasing a console, it must be complete with cables, power adapter and all necessary controllers.

 

Is this a way of protecting yourself from the "I dunno, it may or may not work, I don't have anything to test it with" sellers?

 

Exactly. I don't want to waste money on a console that doesn't work unless I'm buying it with the intention to fix it.

 

Good point. I'm often tempted by the console-only sales, but I've never pulled the trigger. I think I'll take your advice and avoid those from now on.

I just went and bought this yesterday. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=380108258895. Everything It uses is generic with the exception of the controller so I just went for it. Works flawlessly.

[darthkur]

do you want to fill an entire basement with classic gaming crap?

 

My basement? No, it's very damp in the summer and if it rains extremely hard for a few days it floods. The rest of my entire house? Most definitely, yes. Which I pretty much have already done.

 

My rules: If I want it and I have any cash left in my bank account, wallet or change in my pocket I get it. Period. Nice and simple except for the fact of not being rich so I could have a warehouse full of EVERYTHING I want.

[aftermac]

1 - I do not collect label variations. I like all label styles. I don't collect one specific kind and I certainly don't want 4 label variations of the same game.

 

2 - One of every game for consoles I collect for. Any duplicates that I inevitably acquire shall go towards collecting more unique games.

2a - The exception to this rule are my 2 sealed copies of 7800 Galaga. I've just owned them for a very long time.

2b - Further exception would be loose or open copies of sealed games (ie. my loose copy o 7800 Galaga, and others). I don't like opening sealed games, so having a loose or open copy is nice.

 

3. When purchasing a console, it must be complete with cables, power adapter and all necessary controllers.

 

Absolutely!

[Linkz1]

My rules: If I want it and I have any cash left in my bank account, wallet or change in my pocket I get it. Period. Nice and simple except for the fact of not being rich so I could have a warehouse full of EVERYTHING I want.

 

That's going to happen to me after I finish collecting all the games I want...which seems to grow with every new game I learn about!

[Zap!]

Most important rule:

 

I will laugh hysterically at those who collect sealed games.

 

Laugh all you want.

 

[Linkz1]

Most important rule:

 

I will laugh hysterically at those who collect sealed games.

 

Laugh all you want.

 

 

This is why I run out of space so fast...I love collecting games CIB.

[+Ransom]

This is why I run out of space so fast...I love collecting games CIB.

 

I'm in the same situation. I have room for only about 500 games (without reorganizing my entire house yet again). So that's forced me to focus on quality games and systems, rather than complete collections.

 

But that's fine with me.

[madhatter667]

1) I don't worry so much about being CIB. I like to collect carts, and I like to play them. I do get a bit picky over labels and overall condition.

 

2) If it strikes my fancy, it's game. Sometimes, I'll talk myself out of buying something though. It's just a matter of "is it good?" "Is it rare enough to be interesting?" "Is it for a system that gets collecting priority?"

 

3) The system has to have enough good games to justify it being in the collection.

 

4) I use MAME for arcade emulation because collecting real cabs is expensive, and very space intensive.

 

5) Aside from a quick game fix on the go, I don't really emulate except for the above. Emulation isn't a subsitute for the real experience.

 

6) If the price is low enough, I'll buy something that is untested.

 

7) I try to spend as little as possible on the hobby. This means that I surf auction sites, and scrounge thrift stores. There will be times I'll over spend a little to get something I am really after, but as a general rule, the less I can spend the better off I am.

 

8)One exception is import games. For some reason I find this aspect really fun, but only for a handful of systems. I still try to keep the costs lower by surfing around to find the better deal on something...but acknowledge that this is a niche gaming area, and therefore also carries a higher price tag.

 

9)Give every console or cart you are going to buy a shake, and listen for anything rattling around inside.

[Recycled]

Most important rule:

 

I will laugh hysterically at those who collect sealed games.

 

Laugh all you want.

 

 

Put me in your will, please.

[ninjasplat]

Things I say aren't usually worth much, so skip this if you don't care. Anyway, here's how I roll...

1:If it's awesome, get it.

2:If it works, get it

3:If it has a good balance of both rare and affordable, get it.

4:If it's still in the original packaging, skip it because it will cost you your SOUL! Then hang your head in shame because you're not a "real" collector for buying something that isn't in "Mint Condition".

[DaytonaUSA]

Sorry for the long post in advance. Here is my list:

 

1. When you get a game that comes in a case (especially Sega Saturn games) always ask the clerk if he'll switch out the entire case for one that is in great condition but houses yet another copy of Daytona Usa. If the clerk says no, leave. If the clerk says yes, buy it.

 

2. Always scour through buy in now listings on ebay as auctions are typically not fun, but annoying, and you'll go way over your price range. In order to stay away from temptation (I'm looking at you Test PS2), it's best to stay away from auctions out of fear of saying "it's just 10 more dollars with this bid".

 

3. Always shop at a place that has price stickers that come off easily. If there is severe residue left behind on all their games, unless it's uber rare, shop at a different store.

 

4. If the store you're shopping in for a new game happens to be Gamestop, make sure the price stickers aren't stuck on the actual paper cover of the dvd box.. as is their new policy (ps: screw Gamestop).

 

5. Cart based games are ok to buy without boxes unless it's that of a Genesis. While boxes are preferable, it's not a selling point.

 

6. If you see boxed games for the 32x that you don't own, buy it.

 

7. If you see any Pippin game for sale, buy it.

 

8. When you get home, get out your typical in-the-bathroom-cabinet cleaners such as rubbing alcohol and witch hazel, and clean your new purchases. Be sure not to use rubbing alcohol on systems... BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN! Water is always good on a tissue to get the dirt off of games as well. The cleansers being reserved for sticker residue (PS: how do these games get so dang dirty.. do people live underground? I swear..)

 

9. Bookshelves are only 20 bucks at Big Lots and Target. When your games fill another up one up, buy a new bookshelf.

 

10. All game systems must be hooked up. If it's not hooked up, it won't be played.

 

11. If there's a way to get imports on a system to work without a hard mod, do it. Import games usually put US games to shame (I'm looking at you, Saturn).

 

12. If it says "Microsoft" on it, be sure it's the best version of the system you can buy. If not, screw it.

 

13. For the last time, stop buying RPGs you dult. You never have time to play them. It doesn't matter how rare it is.. back away!

 

14. If you're still reading this, please ship all unwanted, neglected games and systems to 120 Shan........

Edited March 27, 2009 by DaytonaUSA

[+Ransom]

Good list, DaytonaUSA. Especially...

 

10. All game systems must be hooked up. If it's not hooked up, it won't be played.

 

Thanks for contributing!

Edited March 27, 2009 by Ransom

[Atariman]

One little 500GB WD Passport. Sweet. Everything right there. The lady doesn't get pissed, you don't waste money on storage, you don't get bogged down in the physical world. You always have a backup. Your collection is safe. You can transcend yourself to a higher plane of ecclesiastical experiences.. the list of advantages rolls on!

 

I know that I will be able to play arcade gyruss at a moment's notice and not have to worry about relying on a cranky arcade unit with a misaligned crt that has burn-in and weak caps. Or a sticky joystick or rotting pressboard. Or loosely socket chips that make intermittent contact. Emulation is the way to go. Besides where would I house all this trash anyways?

 

I ain't trying to be batty or strange or anything, just offering a unique and different way of seeing things, that's all.

 

I really can't fault the logic here as it really seems to work for some people, but this is not the case for me.

 

Is being in one of those "simulated" roller coasters the same as actually riding one? No - while some of those simulators do a decent job of representing how a coaster feels, it's not exactly right. I feel the same way about emulation - yeah, if I'm really dying to play a game and I'm nowhere near my collection, it will work in a pinch, but ultimately it's the feel of the controllers, the sound, the experience of sitting in front of your console/cab. Using MAME on a PC really can't stand up to having the original cab in your house, glowing just like it did when you first played it years ago.

 

Playing Blasteroids on my PC is much different from my cab. Sure, you can hook up decent speakers, make a spinner controller or something to that effect, and a number of other things, but by the time you're done, you've just made yourself a MAME cabinet (still not quite the same in my book). I'd rather have all of that "wasted" space taken up by my own personal arcade (with all of its artwork to look at, sounds mixing together, etc) than have a single, lonely machine. It's all about trying to recreate that "experience" at whatever level you're trying to achieve. Some people are cool with just a MAME cab, but I'm not one of those people.

 

To me, consoles are no different. I want to hook it up, feel the switches, clean the cartridges, etc. While my space isn't unlimited, it isn't a problem. I find more room for more consoles and games. Just like you can't see why people would be okay with wasting space and dealing with the frailty of aging video games, I can't fully understand why other people are more than willing to trade up their real hardware for the mediocrity of emulation.

 

My rules of collecting? If it's interesting, I don't have it, and the price is right, I'll pick it up. I am also another one of those people who will pick up the Atari consoles at the thrift store for the sake of "saving" it from it's more than likely future in the dumpster. (Assuming it isn't priced by a maniac and it looks like something that won't get picked up anytime soon)

[DaytonaUSA]

Good list, DaytonaUSA. Especially...

 

10. All game systems must be hooked up. If it's not hooked up, it won't be played.

 

Thanks for contributing!

 

Was that sarcasm? If so, and if someone already said that, I'm sorry >_>.