Starting a Game Boy collection

[kanijus]

I would like to star a Game Boy collection but I feel lost. Im not sure with which one of the Game Boys I´m going to begin. Which one is the best if you think about the price/games/not-so-challenging to collect?

Better to buy complete games or only cartridges? Where to find the games?
Collection tips? How to preserve the games? How to store the games?

Thanks!!

[BetaWolf47]

I want to know how to store/display games as well. I'd recommend starting with the original Game Boy and possibly dual-mode (black) GBC games. They're easy to stack or shove in a shelf before you find a more effective method of storing them.

[joshnickerson]

Complete Gameboy games (especially early era) can be rather expensive and hard to find, so if you're just going to be playing the games, I'd just go for the cartridges. As for the system itself, I would go for the second version of the Gameboy Advance SP. It's got a big, bright backlit screen, and it's compatable with all Gameboy games.

As for storing, you could try using those plastic binder sleeves collectors use for baseball cards.

[BetaWolf47]

That's the 2nd time someone has told me to use card sleeves. If you want to hold them anywhere, you'd need a heck of a big binder though.

[joshnickerson]

Well personally, I just keep all my loose ones in a big shoebox.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Another thing about the sleeves - you'll need to get acid-free sleeves.
For reference, I have a 3" binder full of instruction manuals, which are thinner than GB cartridges. I have 8 instructions in each sleeve, and the binder holds ~400 manuals, which means it would hold ~200 GB cartridges (just estimating). That would work until you find a suitable solution for display...I would also suggest dividers.

Maybe an index-card type solution would be better?

Btw, this same problem pops up for any game that doesn't have the name on the spine, ala N64.

[kanijus]

So its better to go for loose cartridges... I will do it. And for the other versions (GB color and advance)?

[udisi]

Original GB loose is pretty cheap to collect. I you want to go CIB, It's very pricey.

GBC is pretty cheap either way atm. Shantae is the only really expensive title, and for the most part finding CIB's is easier.

GBA is a great library, but there's a lot of pirates out there on ebay, and you could end up buying a lot of pirates if you don't know what you're doing. GBA carts in general are still more expensive than GB or GBC. They're still holding some value. Not many super expensive games, but still more expensive than GBC.

I'd say GBC is the cheapest to try and CIB, if you wanna go cart only GB can be done pretty cheaply.

[kanijus]

I think i will go for the loose GB games and for the complete GB Color. Some kind of list of all the games on internet (EU och USA)?

[Jumpman Jr.]

Well, I don't think anybody can tell you which one you want to start to collect. I'd say collect the one that you have more of a connection to.

They are both pretty difficult to complete. Especially if you go CB or CIB. CIB game boy games are a little bit harder to get than CIB GBC games.

I'm sort of trying to do both right now. I have about 200-250 CIB GBC games and about 100 CIB GB games, although I am a little bit more focused on GBC.

Either way, take your time, don't rush it, and have fun :)

[GameBoyGeek]

Jumper Jr has the right idea. Have fun with it. CIB games are not always easy to get especially original game boy games or as I like to call them gray bricks. I have a collection of around 400 or so...I need to count again. I have picked up games CIB when I can and its not easy. Id say i have around ....50-75 CIB games. Some of which are posted in my thread about my collection. I've also got some gray bricks for sale if you are interested. Let me know we'll work out something :)

[neuropolitique]

I would stay away from CIB Game Boy, as lately the prices have just gotten stupid. Now would be a good time to try GBC cib, though. Prices are still reasonable, and boxes are plentiful. GBA is pretty easy going, too, tight now. Though it's a bottomless pit if you gotta catch them all.

If yer going cib, ebay is almost your only option for getting games. Loose you can find all over the place locally. So I'd go loose. You'll have much more fun.

I second the advice to use a GBA SP2 to play on. Any generation Game Boy game looks better on one.

Keep the games in their plastic shells and you can store them anywhere. If yer worried about quick access you can label the shells with a labelmaker or something similar.

My last tip is, don't start at all. The best, and most fun, collections just happen at first. Starting a collection just for the sake of collecting something isn't much fun for the collector.

[dnkykng89]

Hi there, I'm Dan. I started collecting game boy stuff recently, and I don't have a massive collection, but I'm quickly learning about GBs.

I skimmed through most of these posts, and from I can see, the things people are saying are good advice. Original game boy games complete in box can definitely be expensive.

I especially must agree with neuropolitique, on his last tip, because that's exactly how it happened for me... I just started buying game boys for little to no reason, and it's definitely becoming a cool hobby.



My last tip is, don't start at all. The best, and most fun, collections just happen at first. Starting a collection just for the sake of collecting something isn't much fun for the collector.

[kanijus]

I agree with all the post above.

I will go for the loose GB games and complete GBcolor.

GameBoyGeek:

what are you selling exactly? Games or consoles?

And for the Game Boy sp2... I only have the sp AG-001... You mean the AG-101. I couldnt find it here in Europe... I wish I had one.

[Gameguy]

You might want a few different Gameboy systems, some games need to be played right side up so they're unplayable on an SP system. Gameboy Camera, Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, etc. I used to find systems for $5 or less, though it might be a bit harder now.

[GameBoyGeek]

I suggest picking up CIB games as you go. Meaning if you find one for a good deal snag it. Because the prices on some of these are outrageous these days.

[kanijus]

Gameguy: Do you think you can find a few systems for me? ;)
I only have one Game Boy Advance SP...

Has anyboy of you Zelda games for the game boy (original, color or advance) to sell to me? :)

[savageone]

I honestly do not recommend playing original Game Boy games on the Game Boy Advance SP+ (SP2, backlit, whatever). It's great for GBA and GBC but with the original GB games it just looks wrong to me. I consider almost all the color palettes pretty bad and not meant to be seen on a backlit screen, the default being somewhere near horrendous.

From my experience:
For GBC/GBA: GB Player, GBA SP+
For GB: Super Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, or the original if you're feeling nostalgic and can get one with a screen that isn't failing yet.

[kanijus]

Well, I have been looking for a Game Boy pocket but I cant find one...

Do you think is a good idea to import one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/GAME-BOY-POCKET-CONSOLE-GRAY-JP-IMPORT-JAPAN-NINTENDO_W0QQitemZ230433574328QQcmdZViewItemQQptZV ideo_Games?hash=item35a6e94db8

Or maybe someone here has one for me (Original, Color or pocket complete with box)

[BetaWolf47]

Don't worry, Game Boy Pocket systems show up quite often in gaming places. I'd just sit tight and keep looking, unless you're looking for a specific color.

A little point of advice: during your searches, keep a very clean loose game and a set of AAA batteries on you so that you can test the system if you find one. If the game doesn't boot, you can probably clean it to make it work. However, what you should be checking for is other malfunctions, like a messed up screen.

[kanijus]

Thanks for the advidse. I have recieved today Golden Sun and Final Fantasy V for Game Boy Advande. Still waiting for Links Awakening dx and A Link to the past. They should come soon. And of course, still looking for Game Boy Pocket. Or Game Boy Advance sp AG-101...

[kanijus]

Thanks for the advidse. I have recieved today Golden Sun and Final Fantasy V for Game Boy Advande. Still waiting for Links Awakening dx and A Link to the past. They should come soon. And of course, still looking for Game Boy Pocket. Or Game BOy Advance sp AG-101.

[GameBoyGeek]

Gameguy: Do you think you can find a few systems for me? ;)
I only have one Game Boy Advance SP...

Has anyboy of you Zelda games for the game boy (original, color or advance) to sell to me? :)

Sure can. What are you looking for? Sadly you missed an auction I had up for an original game boy with the box plus 10 games. Sold for cheap too.

But I still have a lot of extra games from my personal collection that Id gladly work out a deal with you. I'll send you a pm and we'll go from there.

[kanijus]

I just bought a Game Boy Light. The money is gone now. Next month i will come for more!

[savageone]

Yeah I think that GBP auction you posted was a bit pricey, that is getting into Game Boy Light price territory. From what I've seen boxed Game Boy systems really don't command huge premiums or anything, it's more important that the unit itself works well.

I've always wanted to get a Game Boy Light but have never seen one in good shape for a price I'd pay. :( Post up some pictures of it in action when you get it!

[kanijus]

Yeah I think that GBP auction you posted was a bit pricey, that is getting into Game Boy Light price territory. From what I've seen boxed Game Boy systems really don't command huge premiums or anything, it's more important that the unit itself works well.

I've always wanted to get a Game Boy Light but have never seen one in good shape for a price I'd pay. :( Post up some pictures of it in action when you get it!

I will post some pictures. Im sure it will work perfectly! And it was cheap too!