What generation will you stop collecting at?

[leatherrebel5150]

Personally the N64 is the newest system I plan on collecting for. There are two reasons for this: One is that I only want to collect cart based systems as the games themselves have a very long lifespan. Where as cd's eventually get scratched or deveolp disc rot which is a real turn off for me. On top of that when buying disc games used there is a much higher chance that they are damaged.

Second is that many games made after that just don't appeal to me. I mean some do like zelda titles. But looking specifically at the Wii (I only collect nintendo at the moment) for every good game there is a good 20 that suck. I work at a Toys R Us and there is about 3 games we have now that I would try on a shelf of about 100 it is really sad.

Third (yea I know I said I had two reasons) is that the librarys for systems put out after the N64 are huge. I just looked up the list of Ps2 games on wikipedia and its over 2000 games long. Granted some are region exclusive but still that is alot.

So which generation of game consoles do you plan to stop at and why?

[maxwatts]

As i am a VERY VERY VERY specific "collector" (in that i only get games i want to play) i will probably go on indefinitely. For instance i have the Gamecube games that i want to the exclusion of everything else in that library.

[buzz_n64]

To build entire libraries for, I will stop at the Dreamcast, but for video game series or simply enjoyable games, I see no end.

[Baloo]

As i am a VERY VERY VERY specific "collector" (in that i only get games i want to play) i will probably go on indefinitely. For instance i have the Gamecube games that i want to the exclusion of everything else in that library.

Same, I just buy the games I want to play and keep them really. I don't try to collect every game for every system, takes up too much room and I don't want all that junk.

[PapaStu]

Way to hate on the GBA, DS and 3DS. The PS Vita is also going to be on memory card type things as well. Those are all 'cart' systems that went well past the N64 release frame.

[Aussie2B]

Well, obviously if a system has no physical games I won't be collecting for it. It really comes down to how you define "collecting". For the most part, I'm not interested in pursuing full system sets. I am interested in more targeted sets within a system's library, though. I do have less interest in the systems past the 32/64-bit generation, but in time, I wouldn't be surprised if I get more interested. Hype is a turn off for me, so I tend to appreciate games more when they're older. I still on occasion buy and play current games, though, and I don't see that ever changing unless things become digital-only.

[BetaWolf47]

Looking at today's games, I'm thinking I should've stopped after last-gen. I regret getting a Wii and DS, and I regret not just getting into PC gaming sooner. I would be happy playing just games from NES through GameCube times. There aren't enough games made today that honor the genres that made gaming as popular as it is. I realized that after playing Demon's Crest this week.

[Ballermann2D]

Dreamcast!

then again - it's the only system i'm collecting for, even though i'm not aiming for a complete one.

[maxlords]

I don't build entire libraries, so there's no need to stop collecting. I only "collect" the stuff I like and want to play...so probably never unless I stop playing.

[leatherrebel5150]

Way to hate on the GBA, DS and 3DS. The PS Vita is also going to be on memory card type things as well. Those are all 'cart' systems that went well past the N64 release frame.

I'm not really into handhelds I was thinking about home consoles when I wrote it so maybe I should have specified.

When I put ... last generation you collect for I guess I was thinking more about the people who go for complete sets because in my mind that is what makes it collecting to me. To have a goal to reach and a finish point. Getting games that I like to play isn't the same as collecting to me. I have games for both gamecube, PS2, and Wii but I wouldn't say I collect them because I just pick games up I find interesting.

It's just my opinion on what makes it "collecting" and I can't find a way to explain it better at the moment, and I know I'll get crap for it. But it is just my opinion.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

For people that collect whole sets, I imagine the PS2 generation must be intimidating due to the large number of titles. Most of them are cheap, but storage becomes an issue. Disc rot, as you mentioned, also casts doubt on the future of collecting discs.

[Dreadstar]

English is my first language and I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the phrase "stop collecting." ;)

[The 1 2 P]

For me theres really no end in sight. I mainly collect only what I want to play but I also make a few exceptions for rare games that I can resell down the road. My collection starts at the Nes generation and runs right into the current gen. The only way I'd stop collecting new games is if future console gens went to all digital. At that point I could focus specifically on my past gen collecting and playing my huge backlog of games.

[Steve W]

I've stopped collecting with the current generation. The only machines I have are an Xbox 360 and a DS. The 360 is dead thanks to my nephew, and I've never bothered getting it fixed. There's no point in collecting for it. I can have a huge part of the 360's library in 20 years, but there's virtually no way I'll have a working console to play them on with the poor quality of construction. I've never liked Nintendo, so I don't care about the DS (I only bought it because I found it cheap in a thrift store).

I'm so far behind on this generation that it would be too difficult to play catch-up. There's not enough quality games that I'd like on the Wii to bother with that one, the PS3 has never grabbed my attention, and the 360 is too unreliable to bother with. I still haven't come across a cheap PSP in the wild to pick one up. So I'm going to have to pass on the newest systems and games. I probably won't bother with the next generation either. Those new systems will all be HD, and I've given up on watching television anymore, so I've never upgraded from a tube TV to hi-def. I've fallen too far behind the curve. But I don't really care, I've got plenty of classic machines to play and collect for.

[Nebagram]

13th generation. I don't plan on living much beyond 60. :-)

[Parodius Duh!]

SNES is as far as I go.

[BydoEmpire]

I already stopped at the Genny. I sold off my n64 and Saturn collections, and while I still have a pile of ps1 games I don't really see buying (m)any more in the future. I also have a good GC, PS2 and Xbox1 collection but I'm not adding anything and it wouldn't kill me to sell some of that off. I have no interest in collecting for modern systems. I already started selling 360/Wii games after I was done with them because I know I'll never play them again.

[kupomogli]

Like others have mentioned, I'll collect what I like regardless of gen, so no stopping until there are no new games I enjoy.

[ubersaurus]

As far as fullsets go I'm pretty sure I draw the line at the 7800, but I continue to pick up anything that strikes my fancy for pretty much everything its contemporary or newer. I simply don't have the space or money to go willy-nilly on every game I find.

[Trumpman]

I have no interest in the collecting tons of terrible games that are required for a full set. More power to those that do. For me, though, it is more a question of how far back in time I want to collect. I am of the generation that grew up with the SNES, Genesis and N64, and I am very interested in collecting for those systems. I am also interested in acquiring an NES at some point. But I cannot see myself collecting for any of the systems pre-NES, like the Atari 2600 or Colecovision. Maybe at some point I will change my mind, but I cannot see myself ever playing those games.

[Kellhus]

This gen is the last straw for me. I didn't even want to get suckered into this gen to begin with, but a lot of developers that I highly respect were putting out excellent games, and I ended up caving. Even then, my collection of current gen games is relatively small.

There are already enough games in the world to keep me busy for an entire lifetime, and I'm not into the direction the industry has taken at all.

[sheath]

I think I will only be interested in going back to pick up games for systems up to the Dreamcast, with a very few that I might still pick up on Xbox, Gamecube or PS2. The present generation has been a huge disappointment for me overall, with an average of one game a year that has interested me at all. If I get a Wii I could probably buy six games for it and be done, and all of them would be "lightgun" games.

I think my primary collecting will be focused on TurboGrafx/PCE/CD, Sega CD and Saturn for the indefinite future. If the Jag market drops to reasonable prices I'll be picking up quite a bit there too.

[substantial_snake]

Not really interested in collecting just interested in playing games for fun regardless of the generation. I keep around what I enjoy and sell off that which I don't so I guess I'll never stop collecting in a way. ;)

That being said I seem to have picked a great time to get nostalgic about the Genesis and SNES with all of the titles being developed from the ground up or getting official translations/releases. I'm buying up most of the promising newly developed titles for the genesis at the moment so I guess thats a (lose) form of collecting.

[Colorado Rockies]

The Gamecube will probably be the last system i ever try and get a complete set for.

On a side note, does disc rot effect modern discs like Xbox 360 and ps3? Or is it mainly older discs like turbografx, ps1, saturn, sega cd etc.?
Thanks

[Emperor Megas]

I don't build entire libraries, so there's no need to stop collecting. I only "collect" the stuff I like and want to play...so probably never unless I stop playing.This is me as well.

[Fatalstar64]

I'd say I don't go past the childhood era of gaming for me anyway. So no PS2, Xbox or Gamecube I think this was the era I least enjoyed. Frankly I'm not even sure whether these games will ever have value because for one they all have the cases and are far more common to find. I could be proven wrong though I sincerely do hope that people focus on the newer systems so classic Nintendo games can plunge and I can finally get some at low prices. I don't actually want to own all games on a system as if I buy a bad game and hate it I will not hesitate to sell it or trade it for another retro title. So I don't want a complete collection either just stuff I want to play and quality games keeps me from needing more shelves. Also focus on collecting carts because they will actually last I have no desire to own disc based games unless it's Crash or Spryo the Dragon there are exceptions. I simply just love the classic Nintendo games and my big collections will always be NES-N64.

[Trebuken]

I have thought about this before and my initial thought was to collect everything through the Sega Dreamcast; I am unsure about how far I want to collecto for the Gameboy/GBC/GBA. It seems I have had a great deal of luck collecting for the original Xbox and the Gamecube so I will likely pursue them at some point; this thought begs for me to collect the PS2 as well to finish the generation.

I am well along in my pursuits with several complete (or near complete depending on your criteria). The sticking point is some of the high priced games - I hope to start buying them one at a time every few months.

There are a handful of games I expect never to have (Magical Chase TG-16, Daytona Netlink Edition for the Saturn, Bounty Bob for the 5200), but I will settle for close.

[The 1 2 P]

But I cannot see myself collecting for any of the systems pre-NES, like the Atari 2600 or Colecovision. Maybe at some point I will change my mind, but I cannot see myself ever playing those games.

Exactly how I feel. And I actually grew up with the Atari 2600 and 7800 being the first systems my family owned back in the day. But today those systems and games are completely unplayable to me. I don't collect for them and would never want to play them again.

[jcalder8]

In terms of collecting I would say this gen is my last. I am really enjoying collecting the 360 and I don't have the space or money to collect another system, although the DS has been getting some love recently so I'm getting close to collecting two.

There are tons of other games for other systems that I want to buy and will buy no matter what but I don't collect for the system. Probably about 60% of my 360 games I'll never play more than once because I only bought them to collect but like I said I can't do this for most systems because the games would take over my house and I have a very understanding wife.... but not THAT understanding.

[retro junkie]

I only collect cart based games and they are the games that I like. I do not want any game in my collection that is something I wouldn't want to play. Though there have been times I have considered collecting all N64 titles. Mainly because that I felt that it is attainable due to the smaller library.

The N64 would be the last Generation that I would consider collecting for when it comes to a home console. Nothing interest me beyond that. I am open to any generation of gaming, but at the moment, I am waiting.

[swlovinist]

My "serious collecting" of games ends with PSP, although I think that I will eventually get 3DS and the vita. The Sega Dreamcast will be the latest set I probably will complete(1 game away). I dont think I will have the time or engergy to pursue stuff newer.

[Badhornet]

I'm a cart type of guy so it's N64 for me

[SpaceHarrier]

This generation. I'm less and less interested in modern games..

I don't even own a PS3 or Xbox 360 yet.. If I want to play something I'll go to a friend's house to do so. The last time I could say that was when the Master System was current.

Perhaps I'll get one-or-the-other at some point, but probably nothing beyond this gen.

[JSoup]

I stopped collecting around age 16 and switched to only getting games I actually want to play. Which is, outside of the odd sale game here and there, only a few a year at best.

[Zing]

I already stopped at the PlayStation.

[courtesi1]

I'm actually in the process of getting back into the hobby. I'm one of those guys who "sold it all" while everyone was telling me "you'll regret it." Yeah, I'm that guy.

Like others have said, I will only buy what I will play. Though I may buy an extra cheap copy in the wild just to have a back up - I will likely own less than 20 games across several platforms.

Here are the last few consoles and my thoughts on them (I will own older consoles, these are just thoughts):

nintendo 64: <10 games

dreamcast: not interested in anything

playstation 2: not interested in anything

xbox: <3 games, rallisport challenge 2 immediately comes to mind (best rally racing game ever created)

gamecube: nothing I want to play but will buy adapter to play GB/GBC/GBA cames on the tv.

xbox 360: what turned me off of modern gaming. launched out of the gate with knowingly defective manufacturing in an effort to quickly gain market share. this plus all the games i am interested are internet only with laggy broken network code. this all left a bad taste in my mouth.

playstation 3 - the only game im interested in is thexder neo. $400+ for one game? pass.

wii - we have one but only use it for netflix :)


so to answer the ops question: xbox

[Zing]

There are already enough games in the world to keep me busy for an entire lifetime, and I'm not into the direction the industry has taken at all.

My thoughts exactly.

[Emuaust]

Im a gamer and find myself "collecting" for platforms I play games on, so yes that does include this generation, but to be honest with publishers implementing stupid things to wipe out the second hand market this will be my last generation that I care about, I hope anyway.

[Atarileaf]

I've pretty much stopped at the N64/PS1 era. I really stopped buying new consoles with this generation and even for these, I have very little, like 10 - 12 games per system as there aren't a lot of must have titles for me.

Even the PS1 is kind of a fringe part of my collection. As others have said, I prefer collecting cart based systems.

[Sabz5150]

There are already enough games in the world to keep me busy for an entire lifetime

http://files.sharenator.com/challenge_accepted_RE_Its_Another_New_Post_D-s400x300-128676-580.jpg


(hotlinked image, so if it is goatse on your end, I apologize)

[revolutionika]

I will stop collecting or buying a system that does NOT have physical media!

[GameNinja]

I have been collecting on and off for the past 7 years. Whenever the bug hits me I collect and whenever it doesnt, I stop. I don't see myself ever not at least being interested in gaming/ collecting.

[Ze_ro]

I'll probably get out of modern gaming entirely after this generation, because there's too much stupid crap going on that's really putting me off... Though I can see myself collecting Xbox 360 in the future.

--Zero

[Robocop2]

Other than the current gen stuff and some PS1/2 and original Xbox games I only really dabble in NES and 16bit era stuff and a little Jaguar here and there. I don't really see that changing since I never really got too excited about the 32 bit era.

[Sanriostar]

I already just want to Multicart and AV hack all my systems and ride off into the sunset as it is.

[chrisballer]

I will collect everything as long as they keep coming out. As far as Complete Libraries though I change my mind a lot. I used to be all about the NES and now it is Atari and Xbox.

[Rickstilwell1]

I'll never stop expanding my collection. I always collect small segments of each system's library anyway. It's usually popular series and RPGs that get first priority for me. Even with downloads, I consider Sonic 4 and Vandal-Hearts: Flames of Judgement as part of my collection because they're not available elsewhere.

[synbiosfan]

I only wanted and completed a US Sega Saturn set. I ended up with a complete US 32X set too.

Now I just buy to play.

[Casati]

My largest collections are NES/SNES/Genesis, along with some Atari games, and I mainly buy these for play. I selectively collect PSX/2, N64, GBA and Gamecube games before they become expensive vintage games.

[Shingetter]

I will stop collecting or buying a system that does NOT have physical media!

This is what I plan on doing too. Though I did buy a used PSP GO because it was cheap. Didn't even charge it after testing.

[Edmond Dantes]

I'm deadlocked from the birth of the NES to the death of the PS2, with the exception of some PC games.

Though, my idea of "collecting" is "buy games I really want to play" and only recently have I become CIB obsessed (but not with PC games--since packaging is nonstandardized I don't see a point)

[megasdkirby]

I've decided to stop with the Dreamcast generation, tough exceptions exists. Although I won't collect for Playstation 2 or Xbox, i will collect (as much as possible) for GameCube games. I find them to be somewhat of an oddity for some reason.

Another exception is DS games, though that does not mean I will amass thousands of copies. I just try to get what I can, since many times I get them cheap, like when they are being liquidated at work. Otherwise, I skip them.

Also, I decided not to "collect" games I know I will never play, even for older consoles. I realized thst even if it's a hobby I enjoy, it's pretty much worthless to buy games that will pretty much rot in a shelf or to shell out insane amounts for a game I will never play. I realized this while trying to get a full Colecovision set. Now I just get the games I really want to get, and not spend 2K monies on a game I will never play.

[Trebuken]

I've decided to stop with the Dreamcast generation, tough exceptions exists. Although I won't collect for Playstation 2 or Xbox, i will collect (as much as possible) for GameCube games. I find them to be somewhat of an oddity for some reason.

Another exception is DS games, though that does not mean I will amass thousands of copies. I just try to get what I can, since many times I get them cheap, like when they are being liquidated at work. Otherwise, I skip them.

Also, I decided not to "collect" games I know I will never play, even for older consoles. I realized thst even if it's a hobby I enjoy, it's pretty much worthless to buy games that will pretty much rot in a shelf or to shell out insane amounts for a game I will never play. I realized this while trying to get a full Colecovision set. Now I just get the games I really want to get, and not spend 2K monies on a game I will never play.

I feel similarly. The Gamecube and DS seem more akin to the older generations than the PS2 and Xbox.

[goatdan]

I guess that I started collecting hardcore in the Jaguar generation, and stopped at the Dreamcast / Neo Geo Pocket one. And toss PS1 longboxes in there for some reason - I think I just really like how they look and the challenge of getting them.

I have my childhood games for the 2600, NES and SNES, and I have little desire to get any further games for those consoles. That isn't to say that I don't like them, just that I only got attached to the four systems above in a collection type way.

As for the disc rot question, early manufacturing processes had issues and the earlier your disc-based game, the more worried I'd be... but, at the same time, manufacturing for discs has turned out to be better than people originally expected (the age before disc rot is based on the original manufacturing methods) and discs are lasting much longer than we thought. It's pretty uncommon to find a game that suffers from disc rot, and games are now nearly 20 years old on disc format, so I think you're probably okay.

[Edmond Dantes]

Also, I decided not to "collect" games I know I will never play, even for older consoles. I realized thst even if it's a hobby I enjoy, it's pretty much worthless to buy games that will pretty much rot in a shelf or to shell out insane amounts for a game I will never play.

Same here, except in my case I've noticed another problem: the more games I have, the more trouble I have even *wanting* to play games because the sheer amount of choices is so overwhelming.

It's like, on my PSP where I only have nine or so games, its easy for me to choose something to play at a moment's notice. But on my NES, where I have forty games, I often don't even put a cartridge in because I can't make up my mind. Moreover, if I decide to play an old favorite like Kirby's Adventure which I've beaten millions of times, I feel bad because I have a copy of Adventure Island II that I've never beaten and only played for a few hours when I first got it. My mind tells me I should be playing the latter, but I actually want to play the former.

That's partly why I went CIB-only too--it helps limit my choices.

[mobiusclimber]

I only collect three types of games: 1) RPGs; 2) horror-themed games; 3) other stuff that I enjoy playing. I only collect for the NES up to the PS2 era. This IS collecting to me since, for one thing, I have an end in sight even tho #3 makes it sound like I might not (it's actually an incredibly narrow category, but does give me some sort of "out" for when I've "finished" collecting the other two categories but still have the collecting bug). I would also argue that since I expanded #2 from the original "survival-horror" that I'm now collecting some games I'll never really play, which takes it into uber-collecting, imo. Also, I only collect CIB games.

The thing is, I have a 360 and a Wii but I don't feel like collecting #1 or #2 category games. Too much junk that I don't care about and I just can't feel attached to the games. There are certain systems like this (Xbox and N64), but I think it's really all about the approach game developers have taken lately. I just don't find this stuff that much fun, usually. Even games that I like all seem to be missing something and I'm not even sure what it is. I just know it cuz I can feel it when I play them.

[Jaruff]

I've sold most of my PS2 collection (had 100+ games at one point, I probably have 25-30 now) and I plan on adding to my Sega and vintage PC collection.

Never was interested in Nintendo items and my interest in pre-NES stuff goes only to the systems since I like vintage electronics.

I will start collecting for the PS3 once the PS4 comes out and I can grab games for $1-10. Right now I'm selling my games off as I finish them but once they're in the bargain bin, I'll buy them again.

Like others have said, I'll probably stop collecting when/if physical media is eliminated.

[Zing]

Same here, except in my case I've noticed another problem: the more games I have, the more trouble I have even *wanting* to play games because the sheer amount of choices is so overwhelming.

I have the same problem. I wonder if somehow hiding the majority of the games would help. Maybe put them in a box and store it in the closet or even give them to a friend.

[Mr Mort]

I too am only willing to collect games I will actually enjoy & play. That being said, I intend to stop collecting games with the current generation with the possible exception of the PS Vita.

Part of the reason is that I don't like the restrictions that have been placed on gaming by publishers and console manufacturers. DRM, EULA's, online connectivity requirements, profiles, download-only titles, and the like have taken some of the simple joy out of gaming. It's nice to know that my NES carts only need an NES to play. Pop the cart in, turn the power on, and start playing, that's it.

That simplicity is all but gone now, and takes a lot of fun out of gaming for me, and that is part of the reason why I'm probably going to stop gaming & collecting at the end of the current generation.

Besides, I have dozens of games I've never played or opened to keep me busy for several years, and now that I have a child, I don't have that much disposable income any more.
Of course, I'm never going to say never, but I really don't think I'm going to go any further than the current gen.

[Edmond Dantes]

I have the same problem. I wonder if somehow hiding the majority of the games would help. Maybe put them in a box and store it in the closet or even give them to a friend.

I keep my games in drawers. Trust me, it doesn't help. Because the minute I open it, I'm still hit with the sheer amount of games I have.