The Future of Game Collecting

[MF_Luder]

NOTE: Mods feel free to move this to Modern Gaming if necessary. Just put it here because it seemed to fit better.



This forum is for "everything pre-PS2", but I figure this has got to be the one exception. What do collectors see as the future collectibility of all system PS2 and after? Today, some systems of 10-25 years ago are hot with collectors (e.g. 2600, NES, SNES, etc) and some are weak. It's odd to think, but some day people will be collecting PS3 and Xbox 360 games. People will be buying Halo 4 for $3 on eBay, and Blue Dragon 2 for $50 (plus $25 shipping).

Perhaps the collectors of today might consider the PS3 as too modern to ever collect for... but the kids and teenagers of today that grew up with the current systems will definitely be collecting for them, much as we are with the systems we grew up with. Some of the older people out there have really gotten to see the evolution of gaming and, eventually, the evolution of game collecting. Back when they were kids playing their brand new Atari VCS, they probably couldn't imagine that 30 years later massive communities of retrogamers and collectors would still create a market for it. But today, now that we have seen these evolutions take place, it becomes easier to predict. So where do you guys see the collectibility of current systems 10, 20, or 30 years down the road?

I think the DS and Wii will have the most collectibility of the current systems. Systems with novelties that make them unique seem to do well with collectors years later... even when the quality of games is sub-par (i.e. Virtual Boy). I don't think the GameCube will have much collectibility outside of the 1st party Nintendo titles (similar to how the N64 has turned out). And the Xbox... does it have any hope? Up until the past year, I probably used my Xbox more than my PS2 (mostly because 3rd party games were superior on the Xbox), but I don't think it has much of a future in collectibility. Just too boring. So of last-gen, I think the PS2 will have the best future down the road, and the Wii in this gen. Can't say much for the PS2/X360 yet. And the PSP will go the way of the Game Gear... mildly collectible, but not something anyone will miss if they're lacking it from their collection. How does everyone else see it going?

[Nintendo Gamer]

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[darkcat]

My opion on this topic is well yes...that is if gaming keeps building at the rate it is. personaly being 16 and a collector i feel that kids that grew up with nes, etc and find that there is more the the systems. For example how many people even know about r.o.b or the power glove. Not enough. I feel that if people find out about these items such as things like the psp camera like common who is gonna have these in like 10 years no one. So I feel that if people find out there is history they will follow it all the way though. I collect form oddisy to wii right now. Yet i will start on ps3 and xbox360 once I make more $$ or the price drops. Also alot of the older collecters grew up with atari or colcovision or intv. Therefore the kids that grew up with xbox and all that will start to collect that and there are quite a few younger collecters who i feel will keep this going till ps10 lmfao.

[swlovinist]

I see as time goes on, that the PS1, PS2 really getting a collecting following. It is already that way with the PS1. In 10 years, all the current game systems will be sought for rarities. Dam those Collector editions. In 10 to 20 years, the PS1 will be the new "atari" as the system that new collectors started with. In 30 years, hopefully we will be around still to enjoy collecting! In 30 years, hopefully I will be able to pass on my collection to my son or daughter.

[Nebagram]

I already seriously collect PS2, used AND new games. It really is the time to do it, frankly, some great games can be picked up for virtually nothing. (Shadow of the Colossus, sealed, for £10 anyone?)

[s1lence]

Soon I will be starting my own collection for the PS3, so I must be early :-D. I already know theres about 2-5 360 collectors currently at this board tho.

One of those would be me.

I see the transition moving through the generations of systems. The 2600 used to be the hot system for collectors, then it was the NES, now its starting to move to the SNES and Genny. As stated before the PS1 will be the hot system to collect for in a few years and most likely the PS2 will follow that. It will be interesting with the online downloadable games only though in this generation of systems and beyond, but thats years down the road from a collecting point.

[lkermel]

> I see the transition moving through the generations of systems.

This is an interesting point. Is it moving through the generations of systems, or generations of players/collectors ? If you look at it, I think it is not coincidence if the Atari 2600 used to be hot for collectors, then the Nes and now the Snes and Genny. I feel like systems start to be hot for collectors when the generation who grew up with the same systems start looking for them again...

I personnaly collect from the pre-cartridge era (pong etc...) to the 16-bit (Snes, Megadrive...) era. I have other systems (of course), but I concentrate on the above. As Nebagram mentionned, I also pick up cheap PS2 games I missed because now is the best time to do so.

[ssjlance]

The Virtual Boy actually has some really good games, like Mario's Tennis, Red Alarm, Wario Land, Vertical Force, and etc.

But yeah, I always have wondered what it'll be like seeing copies Twilight Princess gathering dust on the shelves in game stores and flea markets.

[mailman187666]

I've definately been picking up a lot of the PS2 games that I can. As far as that generation goes, I have a feeling the only thing that are going to be really collectible is PS2 games. Maybe a couple here and there for gamecube like Ikaruga and maybe a few others. But PS2 has all those niche games and whatnot. I really don't see x-box being too much of a collectors' system. The only one worth looking for imo is Marvel Vs. Capcom 2. I am curious to see what the future of collecting is going to turn out to be. But It would probably be safe to say, get PS2 while you can. Get yourself A MGS3 subsistence LE set and you'll be good to go.

[Jumpman Jr.]

I think we are currently in the stage where consoles like the SNES and Genesis are just about to his their "nostalgic peak." It's hard to think that games for the PS3 and the 360 will be in this same category, but I definitely think that they will.
My only question would be: what will the collecting scene be like for NES games when the PS3 is considered "classic."

[Cambot]

One interesting point is the reason many people get into collecting.

Personally - and I'm sure I'm not alone - the main reason I love collecting games is because I couldn't afford them when I was young. The rate at which I got games as a youngster was like one per each mile a snail travels. For me, it was the NES and SNES era. Going into thrift stores and finding games for $2.00 I remember wanting as a kid is what it's all about.

I still collect games that came later than that, too, such as PS1 and Dreamcast. In fact, I currently have a Wii and am eyeballing the 360, and I get enjoyment from them all.

[smokehouse]

What a great topic.

It seems that small batch games that are decent will score big in the years to come. Look at the PS1, most of the sought after titles are small release games that often came out later in the lifespan of the console. Every now and then a game breaks that rule *COUGH…Final Fantasy VII…COUGH* but for the most part games like Castlevania SotN, Mega Man 8, the Final Fantasy Collections, Metal Slug X, Einhander and other games that were widely overlooked when released become sought after later.

The PS2 will probably be no exception to this…the XBOX…that’s a different story. Most XBOX games will not stand the test of time. In 15 years no one will want a copy of the original Halo…the one game that single-handedly propelled the XBOX into fame.

As for what NES, SNES, Genesis etc games will be going for 20 years from now…who knows? I can say it will either be big $$ or non at all…only time will tell I guess.

[udisi]

I'm not too sure the current gen will be very collectable for 2 reasons

1)games today are produced in such large quantities. A rare game may still have 100,000 copies.


2)A lot of the kids growing up today are in a whole new technological generation. Things like gametap, roms, bittorent, etc. I see the 360 and PS3 living on, but not on the original hardware. More so I see the kids of today downloading ROMS more so and doing a lot more with emulation in the future.

[Trebuken]

The gaming industry is growing at an alarming rate and retro-gaming is growing quickly as well. Ebay is drying up, it's getting really tough to find uncommon games, even a couple of years ago that was not the case.

Every system has a collectible value. PS2, Xbox, Gamecube - probably have a greater potential for collection than previous generations simply because there are more copies of games. There are fewer super rare, protos, etc., and the average value might prove less but the collectibility is greater. The library of games is larger as well; the PS2 > PS1, Gamecube > N64; Xbox > Dreamcast.


Thinking of the DS is tough. It resembles the SNES on some levels and the N64 on others. There are a ton of mediocre games, espeacially 'kiddie' games and I think that hurts its collectibility. On the other-hand it has a lot of the mystique of the SNES. The games are not holding value much; excluding first party titles.

The GBA is a good system to collect for at the moment for its resemblance to the SNES. With the GBA player you can even think of it as console collecting.

[smokehouse]

One thing that will help retro gaming is how fun many of the older games really are. I’ve had some teenage family members over before (you know, kids that were born AFTER the SNES and Genesis was released) and they love NES, SNES and Genesis games. Unlike many games today that require either a PHD or 3 months to play, older titles like Contra, Super Mario Bros and Sonic are easy to pick up and fun to play.

I think that as more kids start to play these older titles that are not only fun but have also stood the test of time (unlike the 2600…), they will be more sought after.





As for the eBay drying up comment, I couldn’t agree more. I do not watch eBay and I actually despise using it but I have noticed the Pawnshop market dry up almost completely. I can’t remember the last time I saw a decent NES, Genesis or SNES title for sale.

[MF_Luder]

I do not watch eBay and I actually despise using it but I have noticed the Pawnshop market dry up almost completely. I can’t remember the last time I saw a decent NES, Genesis or SNES title for sale.

I think part of this also stems from the increased popularity in retrogaming. It's so hard to find good games in-person because they get snatched up so quickly by fellow retrogamers. I walked into my local Goodwill just yesterday and found Final Fantasy VII, VIII, and IX all Black Label and complete for about $20, plus a Dreamcast with 5 controllers and 4 memory cards for $10. I asked, and sure enough, they had just been put out. I guess it was just lucky timing for me. Two hours later and I bet they'd have all been gone. Retro game stores usually have a much better selection, but this is because they are charging normal market value for games, so they aren't flying off the shelf as fast.

Plus, the popularity of eBay also makes it so now we're competing with people who don't even collect games. Soccer moms are picking up SNES lots at thrift shops just to turn it for a profit on eBay. Heck, they're probably bigger competition than the real collectors.

[MF_Luder]

The Virtual Boy actually has some really good games, like Mario's Tennis, Red Alarm, Wario Land, Vertical Force, and etc.

But yeah, I always have wondered what it'll be like seeing copies Twilight Princess gathering dust on the shelves in game stores and flea markets.

Poor Virtual Boy... it's been picked on all it's life, and now I guess I was doing it to. But I do love the Virtual Boy... I really like collecting for any system that provides a one-of-a-kind experience. I was just using the Virtual Boy as an example because it's known much more for it's unique features than it's quality games (which is exactly what's happening with the Wii right now).

[MF_Luder]

Not to shift the focus of the topic... but merely to add another question... can there really be such a thing as people collecting Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii games right now? I ask this because I've noticed a few people here say that they do it or know people who do, but I feel like it's not the same as collecting, say, SNES games.

I mean, I buy 360 and Wii games on a regular basis. I don't have the time to play every slightly above-average game that comes out (e.g. Crackdown) but I certainly try to play the "instant classics" that are highly successful with critics and gamers (e.g. Gears of War; God of War II). However, when I go to pick up my copy of Halo 3 I'm not going to feel like I am "collecting" it. It's just not the same feeling as if I bought Super Mario RPG at a flea market or on eBay.

So the first question is, what do the people who are collecting current-gen games actually doing that makes it different from "buying", and turns it into "collecting"? Is it just buying most of the new games as they come out so that you can consistently own a complete (or close to complete) X360, PS3, or Wii collection?
And my second question is, if that's the case, than is it really worth it? Doesn't it make more sense to do all this 5 years down the road when they are in bargain bins for $5, instead of new for $60? I understand people collecting PS2 games right now for this very reason... but "collecting" 360, Wii, and PS3 games just seems like a stretch right now. And if there is a scene for current-gen collecting I'm certainly not trying to insult it. Just trying to understand it better.

[DefaultGen]

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[cyberfluxor]

There will be a continuous trend for years to come unless game consoles go the way of arcades with MAME, but it's doubtful looking at PSP and Xbox EMUers. There will always be a niche croud for any hobby and with the large group of gamers (retro, classic and modern alike) it appears it won't die anytime soon, so don't fear a non-collectable PS3, Wii or Xbox 360 title. I actually look forward to this because it'll continue to push new system buyers to unload their older games increasing the supply of the now older generations. Right now is a good time to start collecting PS2, Xbox and GC games that came out earlier in the consoles life because people are still trading in for newer end-time releases, and with low prices on them for being so "old" in retail stores their abundance is great for us.

Going over to the mid-90's hitting the SNES, VB, Genny and various other units, the demand is high but prices seem a bit choppy. I can stumble across many $1, 2, 4 games but then some that are $10, 15, 30 too. It's a drastic difference depending on if it was actually good, popular or some gag game with some online joke (we have all seen that large price jump for Zero Wing). Maybe a few years from now it'll crumble and most of those expensive buys will be more affordable to the average collector/gamer.

As far as handhelds go, for some reason I just never see the collectibility in them. Whenever I come across old handhelds their prices are dead bottom, the games are cheap and they appear to never sell. The GB games have finally dipped, just look at GameStop and other used game stores slowly killing their inventory along with Indy shops. The GBC is beginning to hit it's end and soon the GBA will be at the climax with the DS and PSP beginning to take true shape. The handheld market moves real fast and is very often overshadowed by console and PC gaming.

[8-bitNesMan]

Not to shift the focus of the topic... but merely to add another question... can there really be such a thing as people collecting Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii games right now? I ask this because I've noticed a few people here say that they do it or know people who do, but I feel like it's not the same as collecting, say, SNES games.

I mean, I buy 360 and Wii games on a regular basis. I don't have the time to play every slightly above-average game that comes out (e.g. Crackdown) but I certainly try to play the "instant classics" that are highly successful with critics and gamers (e.g. Gears of War; God of War II). However, when I go to pick up my copy of Halo 3 I'm not going to feel like I am "collecting" it. It's just not the same feeling as if I bought Super Mario RPG at a flea market or on eBay.

So the first question is, what do the people who are collecting current-gen games actually doing that makes it different from "buying", and turns it into "collecting"? Is it just buying most of the new games as they come out so that you can consistently own a complete (or close to complete) X360, PS3, or Wii collection?
And my second question is, if that's the case, than is it really worth it? Doesn't it make more sense to do all this 5 years down the road when they are in bargain bins for $5, instead of new for $60? I understand people collecting PS2 games right now for this very reason... but "collecting" 360, Wii, and PS3 games just seems like a stretch right now. And if there is a scene for current-gen collecting I'm certainly not trying to insult it. Just trying to understand it better.

Think of it as a selective preemptive strike. Most titles that are sought after down the road will not be readily available in the bargain bins. For example, look at the above mentioned 1st party Nintendo titles. Mario anything seems to hold its value long after it's been released. Being a Nintendo fan and collector, it has always frustrated me to wait and wait and wait for price drops on titles that never come. And with titles having limited print runs, once it's sold out that's all she wrote. So guys like us so-called current gen collectors get them now and play and enjoy them. Then years down the road we have the complete MIB copies that are in short supply and highly sought after. Kudos to the OP for a great topic!

[Dr. Morbis]

Captain Obvious has been bludgeoned to death by most of the posts in this thread ( ...not that there's anything wrong with that).
:)

[8-bitNesMan]

Captain Obvious has been bludgeoned to death by most of the posts in this thread ( ...not that there's anything wrong with that).
:)

But Sammy Smartass is right there with him! Cheers ;)

[ssjlance]

Poor Virtual Boy... it's been picked on all it's life, and now I guess I was doing it to. But I do love the Virtual Boy... I really like collecting for any system that provides a one-of-a-kind experience. I was just using the Virtual Boy as an example because it's known much more for it's unique features than it's quality games (which is exactly what's happening with the Wii right now).
The Virtual Boy really does have a bad rep. Most of the claims about it are complete and total bull crap. I've played it for hours on end without so much as a headache. I really agree about the VB being remembered more for it's unique gaming experience than it's games. And sadly, the Wii is headed down the same path. Yeah, the remote is a little gimmicky, but it's a system that really does have some quality games.

[Trebuken]

Think of it as a selective preemptive strike. Most titles that are sought after down the road will not be readily available in the bargain bins. For example, look at the above mentioned 1st party Nintendo titles. Mario anything seems to hold its value long after it's been released. Being a Nintendo fan and collector, it has always frustrated me to wait and wait and wait for price drops on titles that never come. And with titles having limited print runs, once it's sold out that's all she wrote. So guys like us so-called current gen collectors get them now and play and enjoy them. Then years down the road we have the complete MIB copies that are in short supply and highly sought after. Kudos to the OP for a great topic!

For the modern consoles my thought is to set a price point at which to collect for. I cannot afford to but all the games at release, so if something like 'The Outfit' drops below $20 for the 360 it becomes collectible. At that price it will only depreciate in value too much and being released early in the consoles life will make it less common 10 years from now.

I've never plugged my Virtual Boy in...but I've tried my R-Zone on...

[MF_Luder]

Think of it as a selective preemptive strike. Most titles that are sought after down the road will not be readily available in the bargain bins. For example, look at the above mentioned 1st party Nintendo titles. Mario anything seems to hold its value long after it's been released. Being a Nintendo fan and collector, it has always frustrated me to wait and wait and wait for price drops on titles that never come. And with titles having limited print runs, once it's sold out that's all she wrote. So guys like us so-called current gen collectors get them now and play and enjoy them. Then years down the road we have the complete MIB copies that are in short supply and highly sought after. Kudos to the OP for a great topic!


I understand this if you're actually interested in the title. For example, if you're a huge Mario fan than nothing wrong with going after Super Mario Galaxy right when it's released. But it doesn't make the same sense if you're only buying it because of it's future collectibility. This is because it will be $50 at release, but it's unlikely that it will ever resell for more than that even 20 years down the road. Even rare games rarely exceed their original sale price. Back in the day, SNES games sold at like $60-$80 each. How many now are selling for more than that initial price? Sure, if you kept it sealed over the years you'd make a profit on certain games, but is this small profit worth the 15 year wait? With the exception of a few ridiculously expensive seals like FFIII, it's really not worth it. Plus, it sounds like most current-gen are opening the games to play them anyways, so this is a moot point.

So I understand if people are buying current-gen games now because they're really interested in playing them, but to me this is just "buying" them in the same fashion that the rest of us are. It doesn't fit the same mold of what I consider "collecting", but perhaps I just have my own definition twisted. Now if people are actually buying current-gen games and storing them away in a "collecting" fashion, than it just doesn't seem feasible to me from an economic statement. Seems as if they're overspending by purchasing them at the initial release when they can get them at a discounted rate by waiting 2-5 years after release.

[8-bitNesMan]

I see your point bud. My short answer is anything I buy I consider an addition to my collection, regardless of rarity (future or otherwise)

[MF_Luder]

I see your point bud. My short answer is anything I buy I consider an addition to my collection, regardless of rarity (future or otherwise)


I see. I guess my misunderstanding just came down to a difference in definitions in "collecting". I still don't think it's possible to "collect" current-gen games in the same sense as 2600 and NES games, but I understand what you mean now.