Your 3 most valuable games-Gameplay;Sentamental;$$$Value

[Sniderman]

Sorry I dropped a videogame thread into Off Topic, but since this could encompass both VG forums, I split the difference and posted it in neither.

I was kind of looking over my collection today and my eyes lingered on the three games I own that mean the most to me - but each mean the most in different catagories. You see, I have three "most meaningful games:"

Gameplay - This is the "go-to" game. I will always have this in my collection because I'm always playing it. I'm always entertained by it. I never tire of it. I never WILL get tired of it. When I'm old and grey, odds are I will still be playing this game.

Sentamental - This is the emotionally-connected game. The game that has some deep-rooted emotional connection to me for some reason. I will always possess this game not because I play it very often, but because there is a tale or memory that is tightly associated with this game.

$$$Value - This is the game that means the most to me as a collector. It may be the game I spent the most to get or the impossible-to-find game that I spent pennies to get. It may not be the most expensive game in my collection, but it's the one that I have the most sweat-equity invested in.

Now that I've set up the thread for future input and posts, here are my 3 "most valuable:"

Gameplay - "Sky Odyssey" for PS2. I don't know what it is about this game, but I play it at least 2 times a week. It's simple to play - a basic flight sim - but the graphics and slow, relaxing gameplay always give me a "zen" feeling. The sweeping orchestral music is a perfect match too. I just find myself playing this after a hard day at work as it has a calming effect on me.

Sentamental - "Entombed" for Atari 2600. My dad never much cared for videogames and never really understood the appeal. One day, he watched my brother and I playing Entombed and he became interested. He grabbed a joystick from my bro and had me show him how to play. My dad and I played that damn game for HOURS. And, towards the end, he was whipping my ass each game we played. He still doesn't like videogames, but he'll have me plug this game in during the holidays and he and I will go toe-to-toe. My dad and I have very little in common, so it's great that he and I share this one interest. I also feel that he made an effort to get involved with something *I* like, which means a lot too.

$$$Value - "Futurama" for PS2. OK, OK, I know it's not uber-expensive and I have other games (many other games) that are worth more. But I'm a HUGE fan of the series and I went out and picked this up on release day. And I will never, ever, ever sell it, though I think I last played it a year and a half ago. And I've been watching the value slowly climb with each passing year. If I was to lose/sell this off, I think it'd be a while before I got ahold of another copy, so I treat it like the collectible rarity I feel it to be - and know it will one day become.

OK, who's next?

[Apollo]

Gameplay: Super Smash Brothers Melee. I doubt this one even needs an explanation. To put things into perspective, me and my friends are on our third copy of the game from so much use. We have over 1000 hours played on one memory card alone.

Sentimental Value: Dragon Warrior 1. This was the first game I played, at the tender age of 2. I was just learning to read, and was fascinated by books by this point, so much of my learning ability comes form playing this game so much as a kid. Considering the fact that I beat it when I was either 3 or 4, and still go back to play it definitely says something about it.

$ Value: A copy of Megaman 1 CIB. Regardless of rarity (I haven't checked, I don't care :-P), Megaman was a series I grew up on, and just misses the cut for Sentimental, but with all the orignal stuff, it makes it's way to my most valuable money-wise.

[Vectorman0]

This is a good take on such a common subject.

Gameplay - GoldenEye. This was a really tough one for me to choose. I have a few other games I really love and go to a lot, but of all the possible games I could think of for this category, GoldenEye was the only one I brought up to college with me. I'm really fond of the single player still and the multiplayer is always fun when I get a chance to play it.


Sentimental - TMNT: Hyperstone Heist for Genesis. I grew up with it and have very good memories of playing it with my father and best friend, not to mention it's a great game too. I still play it through a few times a year to this day.


Monetary Value - Right now it's MGS3 Subsistence Limited Edition. After having two pre-orders not fulfilled, I swore to never pre order anything from EB/Gamestop ever again. I ended up having to pay 2.5x retail for it. It actually seems like one of the only truly limited games that has had the "Limited" title in a long time, and I won't be selling it until I get my hands on an open one as a replacement for my sealed copy. Though once I get a CIB Boing!, I'll have to change this. It's not looking good though, seeing ebay prices.

[Kid Ice]

Gameplay - Zombies Ate My Neighbors. Not one of my "favorite" games, but I'm always up for it. It's timeless.

Sentimental - Madden 94. This was the version I always played with my college buddies. Still my favorite Madden.

Value - I've had a few "valuable" games pass through my collection, but currently I don't think I have anything worth more than 50 or 60 bucks. I'd say my Vectrex multicart...is that cheating?

[The_Kodiak65]

ok, here it goes...


gameplay- chrono trigger- i've played this so many times, beaten it so many ways, and than re beat it the same ways so many times it could make you sick.......it just has such great gameplay and story, i cant....stop...playing it!!!!!!

sentimental- mc kids (nes) - what can i say, this game is just plain fun, i remember playing it as a wee lad.....me and my brother would rent it and play 2 player for hours, and it was just a fun game!

money- suikoden(ps) - found this one cheap, and im starting to playing in the break times between classes, definatly worth the whole $5 i paid!

[Vectorman0]

Gameplay - Zombies Ate My Neighbors. Not one of my "favorite" games, but I'm always up for it. It's timeless.

Sentimental - Madden 94. This was the version I always played with my college buddies. Still my favorite Madden.

Value - I've had a few "valuable" games pass through my collection, but currently I don't think I have anything worth more than 50 or 60 bucks. I'd say my Vectrex multicart...is that cheating?
For value, I think the multicart is fair game. I wanted to use my vectrex flashcart for gameplay, but that would be cheating.

[scooterb23]

Gameplay - Baseball Stars. This NES game is my favorite game ever. To this day, noone has made a baseball game this fun.

Sentimental - Roc n Rope (2600) - A game I thought was lost to me in 1986, only to show up in a Secret Santa box some 17 years later. Everytime I see this game in my 2600 box, I smile.

Value - Probably my Vectrex Pole Position cart. For as many games as I own, I don't think I have many valuable games.

[Policenaut]

Gameplay - Street Fighter Series: Dude, I've played this series extensively and exhaustively, and always come back for it. The Street Fighter Series changed everything to me. This game pushed me to the limits.

Sentimental - This is a difficult choice, as I have a few: Lunar: Silver Star Story; when in college, I was always thinking of it, and grabbed the controller as soon as I came back hom from studying. The game is beautiful in many ways and has a special charm. Kung Fu Kid. I liked that game so much. Megaman 2, I really LOVE this game, it is a game I played a lot with my cousins. But what got me as a gamer by heart is the Master System console. I still remember the first time I had the chance to see it in action. I loved everything; Thunder Blade, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Y's, Kung Fu Kid among many others

Monetary Value - I guess that Radiant Silvergun complete with spine card, MGS3 Susbsistence Limited Edition factory sealed, Masters of Combat or Guardian Heroess.

[bangtango]

Gameplay - "Pirates" for NES: Butt-ugly graphics and non-existent music and sound effects but what is there gets the job done. I've played other versions of this gem, including the XBox one from a few years ago, but the NES game is my favorite. I remember drooling over a Game Players magazine article/review on this one, full of screen shots, for over a year before finally getting my hands on this. When I did, Pirates not only lived up to the Game Players hype but it exceeded it. This game is really addictive to the right person and I am always trying to beat my best scores. Right now, I have a couple of saved games (careers) going and when those are done, I will soon start another pirate career or two. I remember staying up until 4:00-5:00am playing this game a bunch of times during my junior high/high school summer vacations.

Sentimental - "Delta Force" (the original) for PC: My oldest brother and I have a pretty poor relationship and we don't speak much, we never really did. To be brief, he views me as a disappointment and a failure for not having the same career aspirations or interests that he and my father have. Anyway, this is how my oldest brother ties in. Back when this game first came out and was still high-priced, he invited me over to his house a few different times to play it after he'd just purchased it. When I'd finished trying it out, after playing about two hours a day for close to a week, my brother gave me his copy. No strings attached. It surprised me a little that he gave me what amounted to a brand new PC game for no reason in particular, it wasn't my birthday or Christmas. I guess he saw how much I enjoyed it or felt like doing something "nice" for me. We still don't talk very much and haven't got a thing to say to one another at family functions but that copy of Delta Force is laying about 15 feet away from me as we speak. As it turns out, he ended up with another copy a short time after giving me his, so it worked out in the end.

$$$Value - "Sega Dreamcast System": During my poor, part-time job working college student years, I spent a paycheck that I desperately needed for bills on a brand new Sega Dreamcast on clearance at Walmart. This was after Sega had 86'ed the system but before the final price drop. The way they were flying out of the local Walmart, there weren't going to be any systems left when the price dropped for the last time. No way in hell, seeing that I kept count every time I went in. I NEEDED to get one before they disappeared from Walmart altogether, regardless of the financial consequences. So I had to buy it at around $80-100, which I think was the first or second price drop after Sega bailed on it. I couldn't afford it but I knew it was "the right thing" to do, as a dedicated gamer and Sega fan. I ended up with a late credit card payment or two and bounced a couple of checks during the temporary beat down that this transaction did to my finances. Oh well, I still have the very same Dreamcast sitting upstairs and my credit rating has since improved!

[otaku]

Gameplay- Anything classic-mario, sonic, treasure games these I have to play regularly

Sentimental-super mario world first game I ever played

monetary- Radiant Silvergun is the single most expensive/rare/legendary game I own.

[Oobgarm]

Gameplay: Mega Man 2. This was the first game I ever saw that someone had 'rented'. I got into it and constantly play it, thanks to emulation on my portables. It's generally the second game I put in when playing the physical NES.

Sentimental: Contra. I have incredibly fond memories of playing this with my cousin back in the late 80's. It's what I look back upon when reflecting on my gaming past, and it pretty much emcompasses how much I enjoyed the NES as a kid.

$$$$$$: I have the aforementioned MGS: Subsustence box set if you want to look at pure monetary value. However, I consider my complete copy of Motor City Patrol for NES to be the one item I've invested a lot into. Not money, but time. And I'd not trade or sell it. Ever.

[Flack]

Gameplay - Tony Hawk 2 (PSX). I have a second PSX hooked up in my gameroom that I just leave Tony Hawk 2 in all the time. It's been almost eight years and I'm still not tired of blasting through the Hanger and Marseilles. I know I'll never be as good as a lot of other players and that's okay. I just really enjoy this game.

Sentimental - Lords of Conquest (C64). From 1985-1986 my parents owned a computer store (Yukon Software). Things didn't go well and it closed down. Near the end my parents were going to trade shows and computer conventions, marking down all their inventory and liquidating everything. Lords of Conquest was a Risk rip-off and to be honest I'm not even sure I liked it or even played it, but we had one copy that didn't sell and I ended up with it. It has a Yukon Software price tag on it and so I'm sure I will always keep it.

$$$Value - Either my Q*Bert or Gauntlet II cabinet. The Q*Bert is probably worth more, but I paid more for the Gauntlet II cab and drove 20x as far to pick it up.

[suppafly]

Gameplay: Streets of rage 2 for sega genesis. Runner up: Street fighter 2 on SNES

Sentimental: Super Mario Bros 3....i played it in my teen years a LOT. Runner up: Contra on NES

Value: CIB Spiderman Web of fire for 32x. Runner Up: Mint Mega man Wily Wars (with a super mega key region converter) for PAl Mega Drive.

[YoshiM]

Gameplay: Gotta be Super Mario Bros. Every once in a while I gotta go through that game again. It's practically a perfect game.

Sentimental: Hmmm. It's hard for me to pick *one* specific title. There's a bunch that have varying sentimental value (Space Battle for Atari VCS: first game I ever bought, Mike Tyson's Punch Out!: first NES game I ever played, etc). For the most sentimental I'd have to pick a small collection of games. Back in 1984 for Christmas my Dad gave me a tape with a bunch of games he had typed into his TRS-80 Color Computer from Rainbow and Hot CoCo magazines. He saved them all to this tape and added a "Christmas Card" of sorts at the beginning that allowed me to pick what I wanted to play and then explained the rules of the game. Titles like "Submarine Simulator", "Guppy's Revenge", "Pipeline", "UFO Battle" and others. I still have the tape and have backed the contents up to both diskette and onto emulator.

$$Value: It has to be the Tengen Tetris I bought at Goodwill for $2.

[shawnbo42]

My top 3:

Gameplay: I can't really decide on one title. Several kind of stand out to me. I know it's not "classic" yet, but the first Halo I can't get enough of the single-player storyline. That game is the sloe reason I bought my Xbox way back when. Super Catlevania IV is another title I will never stop playing. Something about it really draws me, I just can't put my finger on it. NES Super Mario Bros. is ALWAYS worthy of playing as well.

Sentimental "Value" : Gotta be Super Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting.
This game I, along with several friends, would play for not hours, but literally DAYS. It would be the situation where someone would go to bed to get some sleep for school, and someone else was waking up at 2 am to play before school. We actually killed a SNES playing this game. Something about the system being on 24 hours a day for 10 days or so? Needless to say, the battle counts were ridiculous, as I recall.

$$$Value: Stadium Events for NES. Paid $500 for it couple years ago. Other than that, I've got Final Fantasy (original), as well as all 4 Dragon Warriors for NES, boxed, complete at the goodwill for $2 apiece.

[XYXZYZ]

Gameplay- Street Fighter 2 Champion Edition. I've played it consistently for the past 15 years, and I'll probably be playing it for 15 more.

Sentimental- Maybe Legend of Zelda? Just because it was fun in a way no other game was, it had a lot of wonder and mystery to it.

Value- I don't know... Sega Saturn Capcom D&D Collection I suppose. Unless you're counting arcade boards...

[Kroogah]

Gameplay: Smash Bros. Melee. If you know, you know. I've sold my Gamecube off 3 or 4 times and always end up buying one again because of this game. As soon as I learned Game & Watch was a playable character, it was all over.

Sentimental: Maniac Mansion on the NES. This was the first video game I ever went crazy over. Had the Nintendo Power issue with the map and everything. I wanted to live in that house. Hell, I still do.

$$$Value: Well, I own about 15 games right now. So it's Guitar Hero 2 for the 360.

[Keir]

Gameplay - Jumpman (C64): No brainer for me. I usually say this is tied with Bard's Tale for my favorite game, but as far as a game I can just pick up and play anytime at all it's definitely Jumpman.

Sentimental - Bard's Tale (C64): I don't get too sentimental about games, but this was my first CRPG and I have lots of memories of playing it with my brother.

Value - Glib (Atari 2600): This is a tough one, especially since Atari rarities seem to keep coming down in value. Going by DP prices, this would be tied with Ghost Rush (Laseractive) at $90.

[norkusa]

Gameplay: In The Groove. Play about 4-5 nights a week for an hour. Could always play DDR instead which is basically the same thing but ITG is my favorite.

Sentimental: My boxed copy of Golgo 13 for NES. Bought it when I was in 6th grade and it was the first game I ever purchased with my own money. Before I got it, I was playing SMB/Duck Hunt for months because my parents never bought me games (just rent). I totally got my money's worth out of this one though and was blown away at all the violence and suggested sex in it.

$$$Value: Probably my 3 boxed Panesians. I'm selling those soon so after I get rid of those, it'll probably be my Gundam SD Dimenson War for Virtual Boy.


(Hey Keir, didn't I trade you that Glib?)

[Keir]

Now that you mention it, yes I think you did. Thanks! :)

[fergojisan]

I have two for each category, I can't decide:

Gameplay - Adventure and Legend of Zelda. I loved Adventure when it was out, and I always play through it a few times when I fire up the 2600. The Legend of Zelda got me back into home gaming after being frustrated by Super Mario Bros. When I discovered that you could blow holes through certain walls with the bombs, it reminded me so much of finding the dot in Adventure.

Sentimental - Human Cannonball & Sky Diver. When we got our 2600 (VCS at the time) for Christmas, my parents bought us Space Invaders and these two games. We played the hell out of both of them, because for a long time it was all we had. I still play them now, but Sky Diver sucks without a friend. Mike Etler had a 2600 hooked up at one of his NAVA meetings in the 90s, and I put in Human Cannonball and was enjoying it. The look of disgust I got from a fellow attendee was humorous and also infuriating. You like what you like, you know?

$$$$ Value - 5200 Meteorites and SMS Buster Douglas Boxing. I found a boxed Meteorites at the Englishtown flea market for a buck in the mid 90s. I bought the manual on eBay a few years ago for 36 bucks. Not too bad. I got the Buster Douglas Boxing when KayBee toys (I worked there at the time) was closing out the SMS 2 and loads of games. It was new and I either paid $9.99 or $14.99, which were the prices for all the games. I think the system was $9.99.

[GrandAmChandler]

Okay guys follow with me now.

I MOVED this to Classic Gaming, and then MOVED it from there to Classic Discussions, (For the appropriate redirects) as this will be an ongoing thread that encompasses all game platforms. This is a great topic! So many choices, I will have to come back to post mine.

[The_4th_Survivor]

Gameplay: "Quarth" for the Gameboy / Famicom. Yes, an obscure, yet exciting shooter/puzzle hybrid by Konami. Ever since I was exposed to the original Quarth back in the days when those 200-in-1 multi carts were highly priced, this was one of the games on it. Insane action coupled with strategy and great music, this is a game that I will pop in, play for about 5 minutes and then realize later that an hour or two has passed.

Sentimental: "Mega Man" for the NES. Way back in 1987, I ended up buying this game when my dad finally agreed to buy me my own NES, for around $250+. Needless to say, I was ecstatic and now I no longer needed to go to and from my cousin's house to play my games on his NES. This was the first game where I had been exposed to a character that was not only likeable, but the gameplay rocked like nothing else in those days. Still one of the more 'difficult' games to master, it still stays up there with my top 100, time after time. This game was also one of the first games my brother beat by himself and he's not really a video game player.

$$$$ Value: This is a toss up. I have a few games that are apparently worth money, so I'll list the top four -

"Panzer Dragoon Saga" Bought this one from Toys R Us back before the days of the 'r-zone', when you still had to bring those little tags up to the register. Although I've opened it to try it, I've never actually played it, but I will get around to it one day.

"Radiant Silvergun" I picked this one up from a recommendation by a video game store owner. A nice old Hindu Lady named Nattie, who enjoyed playing games herself. I've always liked SHMUPS and this changed the way you played them.

"Dungeons & Dragons Collection" Another game set recommended by Nattie, a few years before she retired and went back to India. I've never played this for very long. Less than two hours, ever since I bought it over 7-8 years ago.

"Akumajo Dracula X: Chi No Rondo" (Castlevania: Dracula X: Circle Of Blood) This is probably the one I am most proud of. After 5 years of searching, with no success anywhere else and before the days of eBay, I bought this from a Spanish guy who lived in Japan, for around $130 shipped. In 1998, $130 was a lot (it still is now, lol) but I can safely say that this game is worth every penny I spent on it. The only other CV game that even comes close to rivaling it would be the original CV for the NES or CV:SoTN.

[Policenaut]

"Panzer Dragoon Saga"

I totally forgot that I have it!

[RASTAN]

GAME PLAY:
Downtown Nekketsu Story (River City Ransom)
---This is a game that I will never part with. Fell in love with it back in 1989 or 1990 (don't remember which exactly anymore), and the rest is history. It hasn't aged as well as other BEUs that I cherish and won't get rid of, like Bare Knuckle 2 or the JAMMA PCB of P.O.W., but the gameplay of this title is just too much fun. To this day I brave through this game all in Japanese [having memorized all the stores from the RCR version] on my AV Famicom at least twice a month. It's just too bad that the sequels (IMHO) didn't quite fare as well. And while RCR Advance was nice, I still prefer the original.

Sentimental Value:
RASTAN SAGA (Full upright Arcade & Tatio Legends Vol. #1)
---Really my user-namesake could be listed under "gameplay" as it played the best out of it's three part series, as well as with other Hack 'n Slash games of the BEU sub genre... but it's the nostalgia & sentimental value this title holds for me that keeps me glued. I came across this arcade game in 1988 @ a Mr. Gattis Pizzaria in Del Rio Texas and never looked back. Flashfoward to 2005, in an odd twist of fate, and I ended up buying the very same arcade unit I had etched my initials into back in the day off a seller on Ebay. Though the Taito Legends ROM gets more play than the upright due to the power cord having blown in the socket sometime ago, but one day I'll get the unit fixed and play it the way it was meant to be played.

$ Value:
Metal Slug Anthology
---I know this sounds crazy seeing as how it's a budget priced game by SNKP, but I'm going to sell off my 2-Slot in the near future, and this sucka' is like gold for me. Moreso because all freggin' seven games are all on one disc! 2-D sprite based RGS madness will probably never be as good as this again, so while the retail might have well been $14.99 @ Gamestop, it's priceless for me.

:band:

[Pezcore343]

This is going to be a tough one.

Gameplay: I might have to say Ocarina of Time, because of all the games I own, I've played this the most times. I think my count for times beaten is 5 or 6, not to mention about 10 uncompleted runs. However, I think I also might have to say Ghouls 'n' Ghosts for the Genesis. Gotta love that game.

Sentimental: For this one, I'm going to have to split it between the original Pokemon games for Gameboy, because I remember being ADDICTED to those games in third grade. I would even bring my Gameboy to school and play in my desk. The other game is Oddworld Abe's Oddyssee, which I would alwyas play at my older cousins house when I went. I recently picked up a copy from a box in the backroom of the GameStop where I work and I couldn't have spent that $1.48 on anything better. =)

Monetary: Hmm, I don't think I have many very valuable games. Most of the games I currently own would probably go for maybe 20 or 30 dollars on EBay, maybe more for the more recent titles.

[G-Boobie]

This is a great thread.

For Gameplay, I'd have to go with a tie between Disgaea: Hour of Darkness and the ubiquitous Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Both are games I consider to be masterpieces, and both are games I play when nothing else appeals to me; I've put nearly 300 hours into Disgaea, and I own SotN on four different systems. Honorable mention goes to Bioshock, which I think may take top spot in the fullness of time.

As far as Nostalgia is concerned, I have two. Wizard of War for the Commodore 64 was the game that my friends and I would play until three in the morning on sleepovers when I was a kid; I wish I still had it. The other entry is The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. I was laid off for a month a few years back, and I spent five or six hours a day, seven days a week exploring the island Vvardenfell. I'd never spent much time in a western RPG before that; it opened my eyes to REAL sandbox gameplay and changed the way I play games across the board.

And Value... I collect games because I'm a compulsive pack rat, not because these things are worth cash, so any game of value I own is a game I wanted to play. As a result, my 'MVG' is probably either Radiant Silvergun on das Saturn, or the MGS: Subsistence LE.

[-_-Nintendo-_-]

Gameplay: Monster Rancher series, I remember Playing Monster Rancher 2 for hours in end, I had 200+ hours and had STILL not beaten that game. That's value I tell ya.

Sentimental: I got a few, but probably Adventure Island 2 for the NES is a good contender. Used to always play that with my Mother :P

Value: I dunno, my complete copy of Alien Solder for the MegaDrive? Or maybe Daze Before Christmas also for the MegaDrive?

[Fuyukaze]

Gameplay
Tetris. It doesnt get any more simple then this. Dispite how it's progresed over the years, the original always has a certain charm that never gets old. Always pushing myself to see if I can get better then the last. How many lines can I finish now, how many the next time? How far can I advance? The game's been out around 20 or so years and yet I just dont get tired of it.

Sentamental
Autographed copy of Final Fantasy 1. Back when I first played the game, I loved and hated it for it's difficulty. I'd rent it for days at a time and always get stuck near the begining. A few years ago I found a loose copy for 20 at a local game store. Sure, I over paid for it but the following year I attended an anime convention where the artist for the Final Fantasy series was a guest. True, in hind sight I wish I'd brought my complete copy of Final Fantasy VI for the Super Famicom, but looking at it now, it still never ceases to amaze me every time I look at it.

Value
Its hard to say what the most valuable game is. Prices change often in the same month. One day a game can be fetching $30 for a loose copy, the next your pushing $20 for a complete. Sometimes games maintain value and never depreciate, other times they do. I'd say either my complete copy of Chrono Trigger, Ogre Battle, or Uncharted Waters New Horizens. Then again, it could be Valkrie Profile as well.

[klausien]

Gameplay: Castlevania: SOTN. Alucard controls in a way that is the very definition of "butter." It is like a dissertation on 2D side-scrolling play control perfection.

Sentimental: Shooting Gallery for the SMS. I used to shoot those infuriating supersonic ducks and dodging balloons with my late Grandfather. He was an expert marksman, so he loved light gun games.

Value: Like others said, it changes all the time due to the market, but, depending on the day, its either my US Panzer Dragoon Saga, MGS 3 Subsistence LE, Radiant Silvergun, Jp MD Alien Soldier, Jp MD YuYu Hakusho Makyo Toitsusen or Rakugaki Showtime. My most valuable single item is probably my Kisado with email from TZD informing me that I had most likely just bought the last brand new one in existence. It isn't new anymore as I use it, but that email increases its value IMHO.

[Nicola]

Game play: probably Mario Kart for the GBA. I can't go to the toilet without that one. My intestine doesn't seem to work if I don't play Mario Kart.

Sentimental value: Elite II Frontier. Every time I was sick, I had to play with that game on my Amiga 600. It kept me away, from planet to planet, trading and fighting!

Monetary value: at the end, I think that it's my European NEW CBS ColecoVision. After years hunting, I've finally found it in an old toy shop one year ago, for 20 euros.

[darkhades]

Gameplay - NHL 94 (Genesis) This is the one game i've played constantly over the years, I must have completed 50 full seasons since 1994.

Sentamental - Final Fantasy III (SNES) This is the first game I ever bought with my own money. I bought it when it was first released with the money I saved from my 1st job delivering Newspapers. It cost me $89.99 new, and I still have the receipt.

Value - Iam not really good a determining the value of my items. I think the value changes often, so Iam gonna throw 3 games out there.
1. Earthbound Complete (SNES) actually just found this, everything is Mint.
2. Suikoden 2 Complete (PS1) I have 2 copies, both mint. One I bought when it was first released, the second found at a yard sale.
3. Snatcher Complete (Sega CD) I have no idea what the value is these days.

[Chadmahn]

Play value: Blades of Steel on NES , Kirby's Dreamland on GB

Sentamental: Probably Duckhunt and Super Mario Bros. when the games came together in a packaged deal with NES

Value: Hmmm well I really haven't got any big treasures but I have two copies of the original Japanese Pokemon Green Version , one I opened cause I was 10 and the stuff was like crack, even though I didn't play it cause I can't understand Japanese, and one just to hold on to.

[Shrooin]

Gameplay Indeed it is hard to choose when not limited to one console. One game which I can't even comprehend how many hours I've spent playing. It's not very long but despite it being an RPG I returned to it time and time again through my childhood and even in recent years. My favourite SNES game Shadowrun there is no substitute for this game and never will be. IMO It's replayibility is nothing short of amazing.

Sentimental This game was very significant in my childhood. It was a pack in game we got with the SNES way back in 1992 - obviously SMW. Seeing that being played for the first time was just amazing even though I'd played other 16bit games (SMD). The quality was unparalleled in fact I think its what got my parents into video games enough to spend some real money. After seeing a few more high quality SNES games my parents bought a copier which drastically altered my childhood - I would spend nearly all my free time playing SNES.

Value I don't really collect stuff for their value but I like getting high quality complete games (who doesn't?) when I can, which I hardly have any of. Anyway my most valuable game is another SNES game - New Horizons. The box, cartridge and inserts are dam near flawless but the manual is a bit dodgy it can be described as good condition I suppose. I don't know how much it's worth I'd say around $80 USD or so.

[kazuo]

Gameplay: Super Metroid
Sentimental: Super Metroid
Monetary: Probably Dungeons & Dragons Collection (JPN Saturn) or Metal Wolf Chaos (JPN Xbox)

I love Super Metroid. Best video game ever. Period.

[Jimid2]

Lemme see...

Gameplay - I'm going to say California Games on the Atari Lynx, here... This is a game I've been playing steadily since 1989, and I can still pick it up and jam on it for a couple minutes any time and be happy... I have two Lynxes on display in my handhelds collection cabinet, and they're both loaded with this game. ;)

Sentimental - Final Fantasy VII, no question; not the first RPG I'd played or completed - not even the first Final Fantasy - but it was the first one that resonated so strongly with me that the day after I finished it I went out and bought another memory card so I could start it all again from scratch...

Value - Devil's Crush for the TG16/Turbo Express... Okay, the game may not be worth that much to you, but I tracked down and bought an NOS TurboExpress just to play this game again the way I remembered it after fooling around with it on MagicEngine for a couple of days, so it's worth a pretty penny to me!

[Cryomancer]

Hmm...

Gameplay, either Fallout 2 or PSO. I *can* get bored with them...but I always come back.

Sentimental, probably Earthbound, since my original copy of Knuckles Chaotix magically dissapeared somewhere. I assume I eventually get a time machine and steal it from myself.

Value, probably my Laseractive if that counts, if not, Pole Position for Vectrex is supposed to be pretty high on the R scale.

[Dragon Warrior Jasen]

Gameplay: Metroid for NES, first game I beat start to finish!

Sentimental: Mario Brothers/Duck Hunt, first game my wife and I ever played together. She kicked my ass.

Value: Either my Valkyrie Profile Game/Guide or Dragon Warrior 4 CIB. Valkyrie goes for more, but DW4 was a thorn in my side to get a decent copy of for a good number of years.

[tom]

GAME PLAY: Amidar. Well, DP says it's one of the worst VCS titles ever, but I love it and I can play it for hours. First you wanna break your joystick, it moves so slowly, but after a while it gets very rewarding. Such a good story too, had me giggling for sure, that's how video game stories should be.

Sentimental: H.E.R.O.. Even now, I play this over and over. This game brings back so good memories, everytime some new caves to explore. Classic

$$$Value: X-Man (boxed). After I sold my boxed Boing! and boxed Condor Attack, X-Man is now my most valueable game in my small VCS collection. Still plays good though.

[Barbarianoutkast85]

My most valueable games to me on a sentamental value because I've played and love them so much are as follows; Bomberman 2 (NES), Boogerman (GEN), Duck Hunt (NES). Actually money value-wise I would say; Caltron 6-in-1 (NES), Flinstones suprise at dinosaur peak (NES), blockbuster world champ 2 (GEN), also Chrono Trigger CIB, and Super Mario RPG CIB both for the SNES sell for a nice chunk of change on EBay.

[grolt]

For me NiGHTS is the most valuable to me in both gameplay and sentimentality. Since it is such a one of a kind game even today, and the control is so analog precise, it's a game that you can always work on and never tire of. The gameplay is just that good and deep. Sentimentality kicks in since the Saturn was the first system I bought on my own (in Grade 6 with money from a summer job) and NiGHTS was the game I'd always play. There would be times there when I was a pre-teen and I'd have trouble sleeping and the (lite) subject matter of the game would really speak to me.

In terms of monetary value, my best is probably PANZER DRAGOON SAGA, SHINING FORCE III or WINNING POST. Ho hum to that!

[Griking]

Sentimental - I have a complete collection of Infocom games that I still love to play.

Gameplay - the games that I've played the most and enjoyed playing the most have been World of Warcraft, Unreal Tournament (the original one) and Civilization III

Value - *shrug* not sure, I have a complete 2600 Waterworld that's probably worth something.

[Smashed Brother]

If I were to divide up my 3 most valuable games into these categories, I think that it would be something like this...

Gameplay: Many games come to mind, but Castlevania SOTN (PS1) simply tops them all. I have played through this game in all of its' incarnations, US and JP, dozens of times throughout the past 11 years. It still never gets old for me. I never even question why I'm playing it yet again. For me, the gameplay is like taking it to the 'Glory Hole' and finding out that Jessica Alba is on the other side :)

Sentimental: There are a couple of games that makes me pine for the 'good ol days', but one game that brings forth a rush of great memories is definitely Super Smash Bros Melee (GC). For the past 6 years, I have logged in hundreds of hours playing this game in 3 and 4 player mode with numerous friends, foes and innocent bystanders. Some of these people who I have played this game with, I haven't even seen in years... but their stats and custom names still remain on my memory card. This game makes me think of nothing but good times.

Value: If I go by certain online sites and overall demand, I suppose that my most valuable game would be Suikoden 2 (PS1). I do have quite a few rare games laying around and even a factory-sealed SMT: Nocturne Limited Edition just sitting on my shelf, but if we're talking about a game that is always in demand and consistently commands a high price, regardless of what condition it is in, then Suikoden 2, it would be.

[jamespmt]

gameplay- ocarina of time or SMB

sentamental- slalom nes - first game i owned (still have it.)

value- caltron 6 in 1 NES

[unwinddesign]

Gameplay -- Deus Ex. It's a shame this got overshadowed by Half Life, because it is so much more sophisticated and better in every way. It got maligned for performance issues when it came out (which is why it lost some GotY awards), but on modern PCs, that's all moot. Brilliant story, brilliant gameplay, brilliant characters -- just a perfect game. Shame the second one tarnished the series with its suckage.

Sentimental -- Donkey Kong Country. Bought this with my SNES in '96 with my allowance money. God, how I loved this game. This and Banjo Kazooie cemented my love of Rareware for all of eternity.

($$) Value -- I only own about ten games total (excluding XBLA), and none of them are rare or worth much. Mass Effect Limited Edition, at $60, is the highest. After that, I guess Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Not much of a collector, obviously.

[Sabz5150]

Sentimental: Starflight for the Sega Genesis. I still have the copy I bought when I was 15. It still has my savegame from when I was 15.

[Nebagram]

Gameplay: Sonic 1, 2, 3, CD and & Knuckles. Could play them all day, any day.

Sentimental: Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast. Game I've had in my collection the longest- almost 9 years now- beat it at least 6 times, and I have a perfect save file on my memory card (which I've also had 9 years). Also, the disk doesn't have a single scratch on it. :)

Monetary: Urgh, now you're asking. I don't think I have anything I'm certain I could get over $100 for, with the possible exception of a complete (pad overlays included) Alien Vs. Predator for the Jaguar. I'm a notoriously tight bastard when it comes to shelling out big money on individual items.

[Sparkster]

Gameplay - SMB3. I could put it away for 10 years, and destroy it like I had played it yesterday. I've played it THAT much, and I'll continue to play it.

Sentimental - Adventure (2600). It was my favourite game when I would go over to my grandparents' house. They're no longer with us, but I'll never forget trips there, and the goodness that is Adventure.

$$value - Final Fantasy VII - picked up a copy at a garage sale for $2.

[Arcade_Ness]

Gameplay-Zombies Ate My Neighbors: It's one of those games I can pop in whenever I can't think of what to play.

Sentimental-Marvel vs Capcom 2(PS2)A great fighting game to satsify the comic and game nerd in me. It used to be the only fighting game I played when I got it.

Value-Magic Knight Rayearth-Saturn(U.S. Version)-Found it off Ebay and wanted it really bad. Mostly for the english translation; the fact that it was mostly mint in the game case, w/sticker pack and instructions was just icing on the cake.

[SpaceHarrier]

Gameplay: Donkey Kong Country - The perfect platformer. It had it all.

Sentimental: Super Mario Bros. 3 - Still boxed and in mint condition from when I was 11. A Solid feat, I'd say, as I lost the boxes and a good deal of the manuals for every other NES game I have. It helped that gaming was so popular amongst me and my friends that we often had 2 Nintendos going on 2 TVs and SMB3 was so epic that we were playing it on both of them at the same time. So I claimed one as my baby and the other got tossed around like the rest of my games.

$$$$: Final Fantasy 7 - Black label in solid condition, discs all mint. I really don't have that many games that are high dollar. It is between this and Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (also near mint).

[courtesi96]

Gameplay: I am in no way a sports fan; either in real life or in video games. However I have to say that Color Baseball for the TRS-80 Color Computer is hands down my favorite sports game of all time. It's stat free which I like. If played solo the computer has a very good AI. And it's just you vs. them - no teams. You'd think that from these descriptions that it's very limited in features but this is not the case. This is an A+ title that deserves to be talked about more. IMHO the best baseball game that ever was.

Sentimental: Smithereens on the Odyssey 2. Similar to another posters experience my dad and I don't have a whole lot in common. But when he seen this game in action he had to pick up a joystick and play. This is probably the most simple video game ever made and yet it inspires everyone to trash talk your opponent.

Value: You know people will laugh but I don't care. I think Alien Vs. Predator 2 for the PC is my game of value. Why? Because it's almost 10 freaking years old and still a joy to play that's why! Obviously there aren't as many players as say CounterStrike/Halo but who cares. While not an 'expensive' game as you would be thinking for this category I think it has the best 'value' of a PC game that I have played nearly every week since 2001.

[Kid Dracula]

Gameplay - 2 Player Metal Slug. Probably because I've been really into the Anthology lately, but these days I find that's the go to game for an entertaining yet not too commiting session. I always want to keep playing but even one game doesn't take that long

Sentimental - Mega Man 2. Came very close in the gameplay category as well. My friend Dave and I when we were in grade 1 and 2 used to rent this game, what seemed like every other weekend, and have a sleepover and beat it. I know games were more expensive then but with the amount we must have spent renting it, we could have bought the game a few times over. Anyway, a few years later I found a copy of it, in quite poor condition, lying on the ground outside my school! I was ecstatic and have treasured it ever since. It's the only game I have a double of and refuse to let go. My friend offered me 15$ for it but I didn't consider it.

$ Value - Action 52 Complete Genesis. It isn't my most valuable game but I got it for a good deal. One of the only game stores that sells retro games in my area over prices their games in general. Especially Genesis games which is unfortunate, because lately I've been trying to pick more up. I was kind of angry about the 10$ madden's and 20$ streets of rage and was about to leave when I looked across the counter and saw a bunch of complete, boxed Genesis games. Looking at the end labels I see Action 52. From where I was, i couldn't tell if the label said 4.95 or 49.95. Must be 49.95 I thought, but asked to take a look at the box anyway. Nope, it actually was only 5$! When I got home I looked at the receipt and it said 3.76 $. The guy had given me a bizarre discount on an already underpriced game (not taking gameplay into consideration...)

[SEGA_Queen]

Gameplay & Sentimental: The entire Sonic The Hedgehog series for the Genesis. Ah, so many great memories! Sonic 2 was the first game I played, and I was hooked ever since! The awesome gameplay of Sonic 3 & Knuckles has made it my favorite game in the series.

Value: It's a toss up between my Japanese copy of Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, and one of my PS1 RPGs. (FF VII, the Tales of Destiny games, etc.)

[RASK1904]

By rarety would be Action 52 for Genesis. Frankenstein's Monster for 2600 And Chavez II for Snes (I do live in San Diego though).

Sentamental Would be some Pal games. I love the fact that they were never released here. Ufouria, Crackout and the Mario,Tetris,World Cup one.

Money I don't know people will buy common stuff for lots of money just becuase it's "popular". Chronotriger, Earthbound, Dracula X.:)

[FamicomFreak]

Gameplay: I love tmnt 2 the arcade game for the NES but I love more the pirate cart of tmnt 2 for the famicom which is the one I play the most! To me it's a great game with slick gameplay. The pirate stuff in the cart just gives me a shoot of nostalgia.

Sentimental: That would have to be my Mario 8 pirate cart which means a lot to me also about my childhood. I lived in a pirate cart community back when I was young and these games just brings me back to all my great memories.

Value: I think the most valuable item I have would be house of the dead for the Saturn although I don't know how much half my stuff is worth anyways....

[WhatsMyUsername]

Gameplay: Banjo Tooie, just love this one and play through it once a year.

Sentimental: Yoshi's Island, my first console game and i had tonnes of fun with it as a kid and still do. It was what i got instead of Mortal Kombat because my mom didn't want me to play violent games :D.

Value: Not sure, I just started collecting so i don't have anything to spectacular. So no idea.

[eskobar]

Gameplay : FINAL FANTASY VII. I started to play games very early on my life, i can count 25 years since the first day. I have played almost any console/computer/paper RPG... but the charm and possibilities of the FFVII RPG system are the ones i most enjoyed, easily.

Sentimental : THE LEGEND OF ZELDA was and is a unique experience, starting from the beauty of its gold cart and the box design, this game marked a new step on my gaming evolution, sweet game.

Value : I still have a few sealed QUADRUN for the Atari 2600 ... i have auctioned 3 on ebay and the reach at least 550 usd for the ones with punched boxes .. and the one i have mint reached 1,200 usd :D

[Xander]

Gameplay: Tie between Bubble Bobble on NES and Final Fantasy III on SNES. FFIII is my favorite game and I will probably keep doing it from start to end every now and then for the rest of my life. But, Bubble Bobble is my go-to game when I just want to have quick fix in game, damn I love Bubble Bobble.

Sentimental: Tie Between Final Fantasy I on NES and Adventures of Lolo on NES. Adventures of Lolo was my very first game and both my mom and dad used to play it too from time to time. It is the only game I've ever seen my mother play, and that overjoyed me to no end when I was a kid. I acquired Final Fantasy I in some very shady way (I stole it O_o) when I was 6 and in retrospect, I'm glad I did. This game sparked my interest in RPG and heavily influenced the gamer I am today.

Value: Nothing expensive really. Probably my repro of Star Fox 2, but it's hard to put a price on that kind of item. Then it would be one of my RPG in the 50$ range value, like CT, Xenogears or FFVII.

[GamerTheGreek]

Gameplay - Zelda A Link to the Past (SNES) great game alot of levels and large field to play in. I loved everything about it and just cant play it enough, even on emulator.


Sentimental - Blue Max ( Atari XE) just a game I grew up playing alot, this runner up for game play cause even if you beat the game depending on rank and level you can always go back and improve. Winning wasnt the only part to it. rank added a 2nd part to it.


Monetary Value - Couldnt begin to tell ya on this.

[KlownKefka]

Gameplay: I have to pick the original Fatal Frame. I have NEVER to this day played a game scarier than the original Fatal Frame, and the only games that come close are it's sequels. As scary as the Resident Evil titles (up to and including Code Veronica: X), the original Fatal Frame is the level of creepy and scary that it is the only game I've had to pause and to regain my composure, and save and quit so I can recuperate. The atmosphere is so creepy. When a spirit pops up, even a good or neutral one that doesn't even attack, I still jump or perk up. The original Resident Evil introduced me to survival horror but Fatal Frame took it to a whole new level, that to this day still freaks me out.

Sentimental: Sentimental is a tough one for me. I can't pick between Final Fantasy IV or VI, so I have to choose both. With Final Fantasy IV I can remember how epic becoming a Paladin was, and is the only game that I can remember bringing me to tears (and still sometimes does to this day) at the beginning of the final battle. I'm not saying it is the only one, but I can't remember doing it in anything else, this specific moment always makes me sad. Final Fantasy VI on the other hand, was the first game that I had followed to it's release and wanted so badly. I remember getting it for Christmas and popping it in almost immediately, while everyone was still there. It's so good it's one of the games I replay the most. I remember the feeling when I thought the game was over and the ending was very bleak, only to find out I was at the halfway point, and Kefka is the greatest boss that's appeared in a game in my opinion. He's that special kind of crazy, and has caused more destruction on a level few others (if any) have managed.

Value: As far as getting the most bang for the buck, I have to pick multiple games again, as I don't know which I've gotten the most out of. Dragon Force for the Sega Saturn, and Shining Force 1 & 2 for the Genesis are the games I've gotten the most bang for my buck with. With the Shining Force titles, since they are very linear (2 was less so but still pretty linear), they're extremely easy to get through. 1 I've played through more because it is shorter, and going for best stats in a playthrough is a lot easier, but both games I'll boot up and just play. Now Dragon Force is a game that I'll admit I've never beaten. The closest I got was when I was younger, and I actually got to the final fights and stopped playing. I think my save file corrupted so I never beat it. I pop it in constantly though and will pick a country, start level grinding early on because I've learned all the mechanics to the game, and start conquering. The game for some reason anymore always loses my interest about halfway through and I save and stop playing. Then when I feel like going back, I usually just end up starting over.