Ever started to collect for a system....Then STOP

[LimitedEditionMuseum]

I started to collect for the Sega Saturn and got about 10 games in, shooting and fighting mostly, then I started to look up more games in reviews then I found that I didnt like %90 of the games I looked at. I see most of the good games were Japan only so I might get that replay and get some of those.

[Rickstilwell1]

I started trying to collect everything for everything. Then I stopped all of them.

[SpaceHarrier]

In 2006 I started collecting for NES, bought a few games, then decided I never played them that much anyway and stopped. Of course, this year I've grabbed a pile of new ones, but all the time in between I basically minused out a few I didn't enjoy.

[Tanooki]

Due to $1-3 games before the greed of net phones at my flea place back west got ruined I went nuts into the NES and racked up around 330 games, but got fed up with space eating dust collectors and skimmed it back down to 50 (upped it to 80~ since) and used the cash on some solid SNES games I would use.

[Aussie2B]

If you mean lost desire to get more, then no, but there are some system collections that I was adding to regularly for a while and then stopped. More a victim of circumstance than anything, though. From '99 to around 2003 or so, I was consistently adding to my NES collection. I had a local independent game shop that I'd visit every so often, spend 20 bucks or so, and leave with a stack of games. I was also doing the same with GameStop. But eventually the local shop closed down and GameStops stopped carrying NES/SNES/Genesis games, so since then it's pretty rare that I add to my NES collection. There are some systems I shop for on eBay a lot but others for which I almost never use eBay, for some reason.

[LimitedEditionMuseum]

I really envy you guys who started back then.

[xelement5x]

Yes, but that's only because I finished collecting all of them for the system ;)


In all seriousness though, I think there is kind of a distinction to be made. Are you talking about collecting for a system and then selling off all the stuff because you don't like it, or just not buying new items anymore because prices/games aren't really optimal right now?

For me, there's never been a console I've really abandoned once I get a small cache started, but I often will not actively collect games a system because there are other things I'm interested in. However, that doesn't mean that I won't grab games for if I come across them cheaply.

For example, I don't actively collect most Nintendo stuff. If I was at a retro store I probably wouldn't give their SNES and N64 section more than a quick once over, but if I am rummaging through a thrift and see a bunch of non-sports SNES or N64 carts for a $1 a piece I will probably grab them just to give them a try.

[Casati]

I really envy you guys who started back then.

Same. I sold off my video games in the 90s for next to nothing and was out of the hobby until a few years ago, although I bought things on Ebay since 2000. I hate to think of how cheaply I could have built a collection a decade ago. Buying the stuff a few years ago was still much cheaper than it would be today though.

[Aussie2B]

It's all relative. I wish I was collecting earlier so I could've loaded up on marked down games for NES, SNES, etc. while those systems were still in retail stores. And as far as eBay goes, there was plenty of stuff that was MORE expensive 10 years ago and a lot of other stuff that stayed roughly the same. There's an ebb and flow to collecting. Not everything just continuously goes up and up and up.

[kupomogli]

I've technically stopped collecting for most systems, even for some of my current gen systems since I haven't purchased any new games for them recently.

[Tron 2.0]

Yes, but that's only because I finished collecting all of them for the system ;)


In all seriousness though, I think there is kind of a distinction to be made. Are you talking about collecting for a system and then selling off all the stuff because you don't like it, or just not buying new items anymore because prices/games aren't really optimal right now?

For me, there's never been a console I've really abandoned once I get a small cache started, but I often will not actively collect games a system because there are other things I'm interested in. However, that doesn't mean that I won't grab games for if I come across them cheaply.

For example, I don't actively collect most Nintendo stuff. If I was at a retro store I probably wouldn't give their SNES and N64 section more than a quick once over, but if I am rummaging through a thrift and see a bunch of non-sports SNES or N64 carts for a $1 a piece I will probably grab them just to give them a try.
2nd that's how i go about it as well.

[ArcadiaExeter]

ive been collecting things my whole life. you name it i've probably collected it (stop it perv). ive found a rule you have to follow when you collect anything is only collect the things you actually like. the completest mentality just leads to disappointment, frustration, and an empty wallet.

[Rickstilwell1]

I figure if I ever start collecting games for a system again without the intention to get rid of them, it will end up being Playstation 3. That is one of the few systems where in the long run it will be cheaper to buy the original games than to burn them. Blank bluray discs are not at that affordable stage, and the originals keep well due to being scratch resistant which means they'll probably be mostly in good condition and remain common for the most part. I don't want to even think about hoarding games again till all my old collection is sold off though. I'm starting to like this clean floor I am creating. It is so new and unfamiliar to me.

[thenintendokid]

I can relate to this, I was trying to collect Genesis, SNES, and NES all at the same time. Eventually my Nintendo passion just overpowered my desire to collect Genesis games and decided to use all my money towards them instead. Only got about 20 Genesis games before I quit. Was extremely short lived haha.

[Balloon Fight]

When funcoland/gamestops cleared out their Dreamcast inventory, I started collecting them fairly hardcore for 6 months. My goal was to have a set. Stopped at like 50ish, and have only bought maybe 2 dreamcast games since.

[Baloo]

I lost the desire to collect a long time ago...

[Tanooki]

I lost my desire to downright collect too nearly a decade ago. Sad long story shrunk it's quite simple. I moved from CA to KY with a supposed job set to start via a temp agency. They screwed me once I was out here. Before going broke (within a week) the fools got me into a computer repair shop with Gateway, that lasted a year and a half when it got shut down by a shady bad merger. This was in 04 and I burned 6mo of unemployment, had to rack up a debt, start a small business part time while working 365/7 with race horses for 2 years before joining my current company.

The span of those 2 years I went from a couple dozen systems/handhelds and over 1500 games down to under a dozen systems and at least 1/2 the games sold off. Had all Sega put out, Sony, NGPC, Duo, anything Nintendo(kept all that but the spare gameboys and the VB), coleco tabletops, and other fun stuff...all gone. It made me physically on the edge of being ill selling it off to combo pay bills, still have the hobby at all on a small mini sized level. Due to the debt(which I just finally cleared this month which got triple the size too before that) I never could re-grow stuff.

3 years ago for a year I did try and make a NES collection got into the 330~ area and got fed up. Kind of got old sell off war flashbacks and just decided it wasn't worth it. I dropped it all down to 50~ (up to 80 again, but wise slow buys) and used it to get expensive SNES stuff(as of 12mo ago prices only worse now) doing shrewd buys. I've added a few more N64 games, ditched all my GB/GBC stuff and focused a bit more on GBA, left the GC flat at 10 games and the Wii isn't double that nor is the PS3 and the PSP is outta here too. I just can't do it anymore, it's permanent damage. I just get what I'll play, and if it rots, eventually I sell it.

I used to have some insane costly now stuff that was cheap when I got into it (1995.) Earthbound mint CIB (cost me $40 then), Bubble Bobble 2 w/book equally nice for $20, Aero Fighters SNES for like $10, Dracula X PCE CD, and the list goes on. As it stands now I'll never have that again unless I accident upon stuff stupid dirt cheap as I won't play into the predator pricing now. Of those few I listed only EB I have and it was a $2 lucky flea find in June and that's just the game only. I don't bother with paper anymore either unless its free or near it, too expensive to care.

[IHatedSega]

With the Saturn you really have to go with the Japanese library, which can get expensive. Dont blame you for stopping.

[Manhattan Sports Club]

I can relate to this, I was trying to collect Genesis, SNES, and NES all at the same time. Eventually my Nintendo passion just overpowered my desire to collect Genesis games and decided to use all my money towards them instead. Only got about 20 Genesis games before I quit. Was extremely short lived haha.

I'm like the opposite. SNES was the first console I owned as a kid and while I still have a fondness for it, I eventually came to collect more Genesis games as they were and still are much cheaper (especially complete) and there were more hidden gems that appealed to me. Then I took a break from retro collecting, and have recently returned to some degree. Now I buy Genesis almost exclusively, and the occassional Super Famicom RPG, the latter simply because they are cheaper, more abundant, and I have studied japanese for some time now. So economically it all fits together.

I have never really aimed to get a complete collection, though I've thought about it at times. I almost tried for Neo Geo Pocket Color but gave up on that. Same with Turbografx and PC Engine.

But most importantly I too live by the rule that you should only collect what you like unless you are serious about being a completist. Bringing down the fat from my collection has given me a sense of relief. Other than video games I have also taken up an interest in reading and collect books I enjoy. The simplicity of it alone has also brought down stress as there isn't as much technical stuff to deal with.

[MachineGex]

Shortly after the Saturn went belly up I grabbed one and a dozen or so games. I ended up realizing most games on were on PSOne and stuck with that instead. Sold the Saturn and games and havent thought twice about it until now.

[Tron 2.0]

I can relate to this, I was trying to collect Genesis, SNES, and NES all at the same time. Eventually my Nintendo passion just overpowered my desire to collect Genesis games and decided to use all my money towards them instead. Only got about 20 Genesis games before I quit. Was extremely short lived haha.
Sounds like you burned out then.Even if you have the money,it's best to concentrate on one console at a time that way you get what you want to play.

Most often for me i stick to one console for awhile then move on to the next one.

[retroguy]

With the Saturn you really have to go with the Japanese library.

Says who? If you can't find a few (or more) games you like from this list, then maybe your standards are just too high:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvlwBAcHV-s

[cityside75]

For me it's the Neo Geo. A few years ago I found a Neo bundle on Craigslist for a decent price and bought the system and 7 games. While I was aware of the high prices on the games for the system I still figured I'd continue to pick some up here and there. I haven't purchased one additional game for the system though. Even the cheaper games are expensive by most other systems' standards and there are so many ways to play Neo games these days that I can't pull the trigger on anything else. One of these days I may try to set up a trade with another owner to mix up my library but until then I don't see my Neo collection changing much.

[Atarileaf]

I was like this with the master system. Couldn't find too many games that interested me and just stopped trying to find games for it. It recently developed some glitchy problems so it looks like that may put a complete stop to collecting for it.

I actually thought about collecting for both the Saturn and the Atari Jaguar but after looking through both libraries I couldn't find even a handful of games TOTAL between both systems to warrant a purchase of either.

[Steve W]

I bought a GBA when the SP models came out, bought a bunch of games for it, played it briefly, then I remembered that I don't collect Nintendo systems and I especially don't like their underpowered portables (the Atari Lynx was my first portable, it was only until the GBA came out that any handheld could match its power which took them almost a decade to catch up) and I set them aside and forgot about them. Completely lost interest within a month.

The same sort of thing goes for the N64, I bought a used one in a thrift only to play Tetrisphere on (which I could never quite get into, considering I never figured out how to play it). I did buy two or three other games for it, but lost interest in it fairly quickly. Mainly because it wasn't worth struggling with that damn controller just to play a game. I know what many people will say, "If you just take time to get used to the controller it would be fine", but in my mind, a controller should feel completely natural and you shouldn't have to give it a month to finally get comfortable with its unergonomic shape and terrible control and button placement. A great controller should become an extension of your hands so as not to distract you while you're playing. The N64's horrible game pad was just too clunky to use.