How do you catalog your collections?

[dvdguy]

How does everyone keep track of what they have/need? Do you use spreadsheets, web pages? I'm looking for a no nonsense way to catalog my collection while also providing the ability to let others see what I need (for trading purposes).

[Famicoman]

Okay, I started out Using the IGN Collection(In fact mines still there unupdated). I stopped because it took too long to log everything in, and they dont have every game catalogged. Then I switched over to a Program called Cart commander. It was great...But too great, and I still don't know how to save...Then I fooled around with spreadsheets, but I had a hard time documenting everything I wanted too. Now, I've gone low, low tech, and keep 2 notebooks, one consoles, one handhelds, and prow around with them at events so I know What I have, and what I don't. One day...I'll switch back to computer.

[Christophero Sly]

Honestly, I keep it all in my head.

[+legeek]

I have a Three Column Word Doc listing my games and an excel spreadsheet to do a grand total. I break down my 2600 stuff by company and label variation, otherwise it's alphabetical...

 

Cheers,

Ben

[Jerseydevil1953]

I use this game site

http://www.stageselect.com/Collection/default.aspx

[JB]

Raw ASCII text, updated sporadically.

[dvdguy]

Cart Commander is kinda what I'm looking for... a database program that'll output to HTML, but the options are wonky and it hasn't been updated in 3 years (naturally).

 

I'll check out Stage Select.

[Radio F Software]

For NES (which is what I only collect right now) I went to Nintendo.com, they have a list of EVERY licensed game made. I printed it out. Then I went to NesPLayer.com and got the list of the 77 unlicensed games (American Video Entertainment, Color Dreams, Tengen, Panesian, etc) and wrote them on the back of the last page. I cross out the ones I have,

[SteveW]

I typed out a rarity list of Genesis and NES games from Video Game Collector's Magazine #1, and saved it as a note on my iPod. Those are the only two systems that I'm not sure of the games's rarities.

[spacecadet]

I have a nicely formatted Excel spreadsheet... which I unfortunately haven't updated in about 3 years. I used to be pretty diligent about it, because I do have a tendency to forget what I have and buy dupes.

[sniperCCJVQ]

EGM

[Mr_8bit_16bit]

I'm going to make a handwritten accounting for all of my media (games, music, movies, even books) and all of my hardware (including things like my TVs and my stereos etc) and then use MS Access to create a database using all of that info. That way I can cross reference and whatnot, and I'll have a complete list of everything (including serial numbers on the hardware) and have it forwarded to the insurance company and frequently updated in the event of a burglary or a fire. But not just for insurance reasons, If I use access, I can access a database and not have to pour over a big spreadsheet like I'd have to in Excel...that and in Excel, I'd have to figure out how to catagorize everything and with Access, I can change my criteria in each search...Access is groovy.

[hex65000]

I have a quattro Spreadsheet made up I have big headers that descrobe the system, below I have the title, genre, manual, notes, and a running counter on one side so I can see how many I have of a certain platform.

 

My list is also horribly out of date. I occasionally update a few things here and there. When I'm out and about, I usually just run off memory. Which has worked fairly well for the most part.

 

I may have to add a new column for boxes since I'm starting to get a massive number of them for my Genesis carts.

 

Hex.

[ Brute force answers for elegant problems... ]

[crveatch]

I use Game Trading Zone. It's quick and easy to list all my stuff, plus I do most of my trading through this page than any other. I tried IGN, but it's just so damn tedious to enter things. The only drawback to GTZ is the subscription, but it's worth it to me to be able to quickly and easily find who has what you want and wants what you have.[/url]

[A2600]

Microsoft Word, 1 document per system

 

Layout:

 

SYSTEM NAME

 

Console:

System Name, Version or style, (year released of that version)

 

Acessories

List acessories owned for that system

 

Games

List games then state if boxed (B) loose (L) manual (M) or complete ©

After you list them all select all the games then go to tools, table, sort by alphabetical order!!

[Albert]

I have used Cart Commander in the past, and it works pretty well. I've got a bit slack about keeping my collection organized on my computer, so my Cart Commander database needs to be updated. In the past I've also used simple text files and an overly complex Access database I created to help keep track of my games.

 

..Al

[christianscott27]

find a complete list of system titles online, cut and paste + remargin it to fit into a palm memo page.

 

chop out the titles i already have, as i find more i chop them out too

the resulting list is a clear uncomplicated list of what i still need. my palm pilot automatically updates the list on my desktop everytime i synch so its easy to open up the palm suite on the PC and grab the list for easy posting.

[zombiecraig]

I use a program called Game Collector. It is available at www.collectorz.com if I recall correctly. It's not bad, though you do have to pay for it. But they do update it fairly frequently. I just found an update today, in fact.

[dvdguy]

I use a program called Game Collector.  It is available at www.collectorz.com if I recall correctly.  It's not bad, though you do have to pay for it.  But they do update it fairly frequently.  I just found an update today, in fact.

 

No classic consoles in their database though. Meh.

[dvdguy]

Well in-between college football today I messed around with Cart Commander and managed to catalog the bulk of my current collection. Any comments? Suggestions?

[kemsted]

Honestly, I keep it all in my head.

 

Same here.

 

-kemsted

[cimerians]

I use a program called Game Collector.  It is available at www.collectorz.com if I recall correctly.  It's not bad, though you do have to pay for it.  But they do update it fairly frequently.  I just found an update today, in fact.

 

No classic consoles in their database though. Meh.

 

 

Well......there is no database other than the one you create. To gather the information the program scans places like Amazon and All Game Guide to fill in the information (including box scans).

 

The query also did Mobygames about half a year ago and thats how most people got all their classic consoles entered. It was awesome and luckily I bought my copy back when this was the case so I have almost all my classic games with box scans etc.

 

Mobygames told them to buzz off (I don't know the details why) and now its mainly used for modern games because Amazon is still available. You can still enter classic games in using the All Game Guide search but for box scans you'll now have to do the scan yourself and import the JPEG.

 

I still have to recommend it though

[crunchysuperman]

I wrote a little Access DB.

[sku_u]

I use a word program. I created the following categories:

 

Game Company B/M/C Rarity

B/M/C Stands for box/jewel case, Manual, cart/cd

 

I have my list broken down alphabetical by system.

 

I also have a separate hardware section for each system:

 

Hardware Company Rarity

 

and a separate document for miscellany like Atari mobiles and video game related trading cards. It works very well for me and since I put it together a few years ago, I've been able to drastically cut down on the clutter and avoid ending up with multiples of games.

 

I print out a hard copy about twice a year and have handwritten update pages for new items I get in between.

[joeybastard]

All in my head but I need to put it on paper or disk. I'm getting too old to rely on memory.