NGPC Collecting

[SegaAges]

I have been thinking about doing this for awhile. This might be one of my expensive collections, as it would be stellar to get them all complete. I would go NTSC-U only.

What are the easy ones to get?
What are the tough ones to find complete?
What are things I should look out for (Take that question as you want in regards to NGPC collecting)?

Obviously getting started means that I get a complete NGPC which are around 10-30 on eBay normally, and then I work from there.

Throwing some advice or tips to me would be awesome, as I know nothing about NGPC besides the fact that everybody recommends it.

[PapaStu]

Since you're stating that you are going for a US collection and complete, just start shopping about for games and systems.

Things to remember;
* ALL US games have cardboard boxes and ESRB ratings on the labels of the games (There are a scant few supposed released US games that came in clamshells, as far as i've seen with my own eyes, only one has a printed insert with an ESRB rating on it, more might exist, but they've not come to light yet). If you see a game with the little color rainbow on the label, and no ESRB logo, its not a US version of the game. Now that doesn't mean its not playable, it just means its not a US copy.

* There are 32 US released games, 30 have boxes/manuals. Fasalei! and Last Blade do not. They are considered complete with clamshell and game.

* ALL US systems are in orange boxes (6 systems), or were the Sonic Bundled systems (3 systems). Any other box art you see are either UK/PAL or Japanese systems.

Honestly most of the games are pretty easy to get, people seem to have different games that cause them problems in getting. It took me over 2 years to find a complete US copy of Magical Drop Pocket but everything else was relatively easy for me to get. I did start buying and collecting just after the system died though, so I had a solid start in 01.

[GM80]

PapaStu, do you know anything about the company that repackaged and bundled either old stock or refurb NGPCs with 6 games, and another 6-pack of games?

About 4 years ago, my local Hastings store (a movie/music/VG chain) got in a shipment of blister-packed blue NGPCs. The consoles were bundled with 6 cart/clamshell-only games, and there was a second assortment of games available separately in a 6-pack.

I seem to remember reading something about it at the time, but it has slipped my mind. Was this an official release, or just some third party mopping up the remaining stock?

[CosmicMonkey]

All I know is that someone purchased all the remaining NGPC stock and repackaged it as these 'Pocket Colour Arcades' or something along those lines. All the original boxes and manuals were destroyed, leaving just the bare Neo Pocket units and random games in their protective cases.

[PapaStu]

It was a third party that bought out remaining warehouse stock from SNK (or something to that nature) and bundled the games together either with a system, or just a bundle of games. Those bundles must have had a low cost because I saw them all over the place (Discovery Store, Frys, EB Games).

[DigitalSpace]

I remember when EB had those 6-game system bundles. I can't remember the exact price. I'm thinking it was around $50.

I also remember seeing the separate 6-game packs (and some 4-game packs as well).

When you get Pac-Man and Crush Roller, make sure that they include the little plastic stopper thing for the control stick. It limits the control stick to 4-way control. FYI, both games are playable without it, but the stopper makes control a little easier.

[otaku]

for the most part this is an inexpensive system to collect for and very easy to collect for. Definetly stop by neogeo.com I only missed a few things from my collection before selling:

Samsho limited edition system
dc link cable (expensive/rare)
cardfighters 2 (very expensive and need translation)
a few others

I had a ton of games though and still have my carry case somewhere, I owned several systems, very good battery life.

Thought about getting back in but am going to try wonderswan instead now

I remember those packs for 60 as well at my local hastings. I bought online via amazon and got a brand new complete system with 24 games (some japanese some duplicates only a few boxed) shipped for 90 bucks

[DigitalSpace]

very good battery life.

Quoted for truth - the battery life is excellent.

[Steve W]

Heh heh... I managed to get lucky and find the 6-pack of games marked down at an EB Games outlet store for something like eight bucks. I ended up talking to the salesguy there for a good long while. He was telling me how he finally scored a GTE Sylvania branded Intellivision to complete his collection. I'd never met a GameStop/EB Games employee who knew a damn thing about video games before. Of course, I never saw him there again.

[Tupin]

I don't have much, just loose games.

I almost got a Dreamcast link cable, though.

[Vectorman0]

What are the easy ones to get?
What are the tough ones to find complete?
What are things I should look out for (Take that question as you want in regards to NGPC collecting)?

Most are easy to get. Start by finding a good lot of games on ebay, and get that. A lot sold with 16 sealed games (half the set) and more for something like $160 recently. While doing this, look for Magical Drop Pocket and the Anthracite Sonic bundle because these two items are by far the hardest to get of all US released games and systems. Everything else is easy.

[zektor]

If you decide to go loose (well, loose with cases) you can get ahold of the whole set for VERY cheap. I first scored a NGPC and 14 games for $72, and then out of a stroke of luck another NGPC brand new in box and 16 games I believe for $60 shipped. I only had 6 or 7 doubles in there, they are all USA releases, and I am now nearly done with the set (loose that is) for very cheap. I bundled one of the units and the 6 or 7 games I had doubles for and sold for $75. Basically spent less than $60 for my whole collection...

If you go complete you may have to wait awhile to find everything. If you need some boxes/manuals (I am a loose collector, although some of these games were complete) I have a couple including Gals Fighters and some others. Great system and well worth adding to any collection. I really love this little handheld.

[PapaStu]

Personal collection pics up.

http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=135987

Its a real easy to store collection, let me tell you. Everything save for one system fits very nicely in its box in the closet. You might end up waiting a few years for a game or two, but storage is all that really matters! **snicker**

Back on topic.... Any other questions?

[fpbrush]

Nice collection PapaStu, I especially like the accessories ;)

I had a question about US packaging. Is there any logic that they follow? I know there are basically 2 types, color bar at the bottom or silver bar at the top. After a certain date did they change types, or what? Then you gotta throw in Dark Arms and Sonic with the white bar... :/

[The 1 2 P]

My NGPC is a mixture of US and Japanese games. One of these days I will try to complete it.

[retro junkie]

There are 32 US released games, 30 have boxes/manuals. Fasalei! and Last Blade do not. They are considered complete with clamshell and game.


I have seen Last Blade in a box but it is an import. I've seen two different packages, one was a hard plastic case with English and the other was a cardboard box with Japanese. Was Last Blade only released in the US as a repack in the liquidation packets of six games?

[PapaStu]

I have seen Last Blade in a box but it is an import. I've seen two different packages, one was a hard plastic case with English and the other was a cardboard box with Japanese. Was Last Blade only released in the US as a repack in the liquidation packets of six games?

The UK version would have an english clamshell, and the Japanese one has the Japanese language packaging.

From my understanding, Fasalei! and Last Blade had US Boxes/manuals made for them, but SNK went under before the games were released. The games were liquidated off to eBay sellers and the box/manuals were tossed.

From those bundled lots I have come across, i've not seen Last Blade or Fasalei! in them. Doesn't mean that there arn't some that have the US versions in there, but the impression i'm under was that they were sold to a few eBay liquidators, and not the company/people that did the NGPC repacks.

[GM80]

From those bundled lots I have come across, i've not seen Last Blade or Fasalei! in them.

The one bundle I picked up at Hastings a few years ago (or the one pack of games I bought along with it) had both of those games. I remember, because those are two of the only 10 NGPC games I ever played.

I can't say whether they were actually US carts, though, as I sold off the lot a few months later when I downsized.

[retro junkie]

Thats the way I got a hold of my copy of Last Blade. My local EB games was selling the bundle packs with six games and an SNK pocket color. I already had the system but grabbed up one of the packs any way.

[fishsandwich]

I love the NGPC. The only thing I don't like about it is the lack of backlighting. I am totally spoiled by the GBA and PSP.

There's a lot to say for phenomonal battery life, though.

My collection is a mix of US, UK, and Japan. I love the UK plastic clamshell boxes. The UK games, particularly the rarer games like Pocket Reversi and Last Blade tend to go for the most money in my experience.

[otaku]

you can mod it with a frontlight not as good as backlight but better than nothing

[SegaAges]

So far the tips coming in are really good.

I know that there is a good chance that some of these will fetch a pretty penny (I got the VB collection and I didn't score everything for $5 a piece).

looks like neo-geo.com, eBay, and DP for this collection.

Any other places I should keep an eye out for when starting up this collection?