Of all the consoles out there, which one do you enjoy collecting for the most and which one takes priority?

[TheRetroVideoGameAddict]

I've been collecting video games for a while now and I've been asked by friends, family, readers, and other folks "which system I collect for the most"? I also saw elsewhere a similar thread asking the same question but yet there is no similar thread here, so I decided to post the same question to my DigitPress family. What console takes the top priority in your hunting and collecting and which system do you enjoy collecting for the most? Sometimes the two aren't the same, like for example I love PS1 and Atari 2600 and have been putting a massive focus on those two consoles and their games as of late thus making them a top priority, but the NES and SNES are two systems that I enjoy adding to my collection and hunting the most.

How about you guys? I think this would be a fun thread to participate in and to share some stories, so let's hear it!

[CastlevaniaDude]

To be perfectly honest, I don't "collect" so much as I "accumulate". What I mean by that is that I buy games that I like, regardless of system, and over time remain open to more and more suggestions as I read reviews/watch videos/stumble upon stuff.

My largest collection is NES, which is still fairly modest, but it's mostly games that I like and play with my friends over beers. I think if I ever started buying games just for the sake of completionism, I wouldn't have fun with it anymore.

My least favorite was TG16. I bought a turbo a few years ago, got really bored with it right away and frustrated with the prices of some really crappy games, and sold it for about half of what I paid for it.

[The Dord]

To be perfectly honest, I don't "collect" so much as I "accumulate". What I mean by that is that I buy games that I like, regardless of system, and over time remain open to more and more suggestions as I read reviews/watch videos/stumble upon stuff.

My largest collection is NES, which is still fairly modest, but it's mostly games that I like and play with my friends over beers. I think if I ever started buying games just for the sake of completionism, I wouldn't have fun with it anymore.

My least favorite was TG16. I bought a turbo a few years ago, got really bored with it right away and frustrated with the prices of some really crappy games, and sold it for about half of what I paid for it.

Yep, I have the same idea with my collecting. That's why you will see very few LJN games in my collection (except for Gotcha!).

[-^Cro§Bow^-]

Currently the Sega Genesis for me. And as the others above stated, I usually only collect or acquire what I will actually play. But I do have a few titles I'm not fond of that I grabbed because they were cheap and CIB.

[T2KFreeker]

Turbografx 16/PC Engine for me. Great little system with some really nicely put together games. I also have ahd a sweet spot for 3DO as of late. Awesomeness.

[bigbacon]

I always wanted a master system as a kid but we ended up a Nintendo family (stopped after n64)

I finally got one like 6 months ago and I made it goal now to get a complete USA set of games. I've stopped collecting for other systems for now. It is sad the SMS didn't get any love in the USA but we can blame Nintendo for that and some of it on Sega for poor advertising and some really poor design choices, like the box art and the carts. I think I have 40 games to go, an in box controller, in box phaser and then in box systems.

I REALLY do want to get a TG16 and a Jaguar. Those were two other systems I always wanted to get back in the day. I know the Jag is sort of a failure but thats ok and the TG16, sucks that, again, USA didnt gte alot of the good games. least in emulation, I am enjoyng the japanese games a lot more than the USA ones.

[TheRetroVideoGameAddict]

I always wanted a master system as a kid but we ended up a Nintendo family (stopped after n64)

I finally got one like 6 months ago and I made it goal now to get a complete USA set of games. I've stopped collecting for other systems for now. It is sad the SMS didn't get any love in the USA but we can blame Nintendo for that and some of it on Sega for poor advertising and some really poor design choices, like the box art and the carts. I think I have 40 games to go, an in box controller, in box phaser and then in box systems.

I REALLY do want to get a TG16 and a Jaguar. Those were two other systems I always wanted to get back in the day. I know the Jag is sort of a failure but thats ok and the TG16, sucks that, again, USA didnt gte alot of the good games. least in emulation, I am enjoyng the japanese games a lot more than the USA ones.

Sure, the Jaguar was a failure but it has it's share of fun and exciting titles. I really loved Breakout 2000, Tempest 2000, Defender 2000, DOOM, Atari Karts, AVP, Zool 2, Cybermorph, Rayman, and a few other games that the Jaguar housed, it's worth picking one up if not for it's interesting history alone. I play my Jaguar fairly often to this day, but not as often as some of my other systems of course.

As for the TG-16, I guess I should hunt one down since mine is only working when it pleases. I've only got 7 games for it so I'm not too worried since I never play it, but I'd be better off with a completely working console.

[bigbacon]

I think now a days the only I reason I want a Jaguar is tempest 2000 and the joy of having one and the massive controller.

[TheRetroVideoGameAddict]

I think now a days the only I reason I want a Jaguar is tempest 2000 and the joy of having one and the massive controller.

There are lots of good games on the console, Breakout 2000 is a blast in 2-player and a trip in single player, and yes, Tempest 2000 is a great game. I remember seeing AVP for the first time in 1994 and thinking it was the next coming of Christ, nothing looked as good aside from 3DO games at the time and I had yet to see or play a 3DO when I first saw AVP. The commercial for AVP was a great one too.

[Daria]

My weakness has to be the NES. I know I haven't been around for a while but for those that don't know I collect RPGs for any and all systems. However I'm a sucker for any boxed NES game regardless of the genre.

[Words iManifest]

Love collecting for the Turbografx 16/PC Engine and I definitely have a soft spot for those sexy 3DO long boxes but my #1 answer is easy, the Sega Master System. I'm 14 games away from a CIB US collection (I have Sonic, just not UPC'd and don't care to) and have a small but growing PAL library. Best part is that I'm just missing the cheap commons. I'm taking my sweet time though as it will be bittersweet to complete as that journey will be over.

[rmaerz]

Right now I'm focused on collecting ColecoVision titles. I enjoy collecting 2600 titles but I can't afford to collect both right now.

[bigbacon]

Love collecting for the Turbografx 16/PC Engine and I definitely have a soft spot for those sexy 3DO long boxes but my #1 answer is easy, the Sega Master System. I'm 14 games away from a CIB US collection (I have Sonic, just not UPC'd and don't care to) and have a small but growing PAL library. Best part is that I'm just missing the cheap commons. I'm taking my sweet time though as it will be bittersweet to complete as that journey will be over.

i did the same thing with Sonic and will do so with any other UPC sticker games, though my golden axe warrior has the sticker.

[buzz_n64]

Like many here have stated, I have the most fondness towards the NES. The NES was the first system that I owned and have the most childhood memories with. The NES would be my largest library of games out of all my collection.

[kupomogli]

I collect what I like. New consoles take priority because I have most of what I'm interested in for older consoles.

[Words iManifest]

i did the same thing with Sonic and will do so with any other UPC sticker games, though my golden axe warrior has the sticker.


The rest of my UPC'able games are UPC'd and there's already many debates on what constitutes a complete collection but for me, I just don't care. My copy of Transbot is the standard box and cart, not the card version and that's just fine for me. Less about the little things and more about where the collection takes you.

I was just camping up in Wisconsin with my wife, her friend and husband, everyone was sleeping in the car and I was driving. Happened on this old antiques shop in the middle of nowhere and just had to pull over feeling I might find some rare gem inside. I didn't find anything cool game related but picked up this weird monkey/coconut kinda thing for my wife that she loves, lol. How often would you do that if you didn't collect though ?

I don't mean to stray off topic but I feel it relates, it's that pure excitement of acquiring that new game for your favorite system and being one step closer to completion...or...maybe I'm just weird.

[Videogamerdaryll]

I don't collect games anymore..
(yea right tell that to my shelves,boxes bins filled with them..

Ok I don't collect like I used to...

However when I find something I didn't pay attention to years ago as I should of I may collect for it..

Such as the VECTREX..

Right now I'm so crazy about playing games for this system that I'm slowly buying games for it..Not everything as I'm actually selling Vectrex games I will never use such as the Light Pen Games...

Any game that I can play with an overlay actually made for it I want..
So that's what I'm mainly colleting for..

I buy Xbox 360-PS3 games each month and never sell them but I don't feel i'm collecting them as there are just tooooo many to collect.

[Natty Bumppo]

I have always had a fondness/weakness for the Sega CD.

While many don't like those oversize jewel boxes (mostly due to their fragility), they display very handsomely when lined up on a shelf with those (mostly) uniform blue spines and easy to read titles. I have somewhere around a hundred (what with dupes) and they generally attract the most attention from non-gamers when they see my game collections.

[Canadian Psycho]

Saturn, but that's because I am almost done with my NES (the reason I am in the collecting hobby) and SNES collections.

[Jack_Burton_BYOAC]

Right now, the PlayStation is where you'll find the best bargains and unusual stuff when you're out doing the rounds. So that one.

[sloan]

I agree with PSX, and have a special affinity for the system, if my avatar is any clue. The library for PSX is massive by any stretch, like over 2,100 NTSC releases. The games are normally found for cheap and there are so many quality titles on that console. I actually started collecting for PSX due to finding the games for $1-$3 basically everywhere I went. Now, I am over 1,000 games on this impressive console. My favorite games for the system: The Jet Moto series, with Ridge Racer series a close 2nd.

[Atarileaf]

My primary focus has been and always will be the Atari systems - 2600/7800/8-bit computer followed by the Tandy Color Computer. After that its probably NES/SNES/Genesis. Problem is, those collections are mostly complete. I'm not actively after anything but will buy games I don't have, boxes I don't have, label upgrades, etc.

I sometimes will jump from system to system when it comes to collecting. For example, in the last few months I've been primarily targeting games I want for the GB/GBC/GBA and some GameCube. I've even been focusing on the Wii a little bit.

I'm also a collector who focuses on quality over quantity and purposely leave behind games that don't interest me or that I won't play. Let other collectors have those, I don't buy to resell.

[Flam]

when I got back into gaming over a year ago I cleared out my old systems (got rid of my 64, Dreamcast, and Genesis) and have only focused on the NES. NES was my favorite growing up and I find that I really only have time/space to focus on one system. I feel more focused just concentrating on one system and don't ever feel over whelmed. I focus on quality over quantity and currently have about 60 games; and really only have about 10-15 more on my radar. Once I get those I feel that I'll really slow down on my 'collecting'. I will say we use to have my wife's old SNES but I can't seem to find it, I was kicking around the idea of getting an SNES and picking up about 10-15 titles for it, but the SNES seems so pricey right now I don't feel like forking the money out right now.

[bigbacon]

hit up flea markets and such. you should be able to score an SNES for less than $30 bucks.

[Flam]

hit up flea markets and such. you should be able to score an SNES for less than $30 bucks.

maybe so, but the top titles would be more, and those are the one's I'd be interested in. I've gotten most of the higher dollar NES games that I wanted, all the others are probably in the $5-$15 price range so I'll just stick with NES for now and get the last 10-15 games on my 'want list'. For what it's worth here is my current list, followed by the want list. As always, if ya'll see anything that I need to ass to my 'want list' please let me know, I'm always up for suggestions.

HAVE:
Adventure Island
Bases Loaded
Batman
Battletoads & Double Dragon
Bionic Comando
Blades of Steel
Blaster Master
Bubble Bobble
Burger Time
Castelvania III
Contra
Donkey Kong Classics
Double Dragon
Double Dragon II
Dr. Mario
Duck Hunt
Duck Tales
Excite Bike
Felix The Cat
Ghost N' Goblins
Golf
Gun.Smoke
Jackal
Joust
Kickmaster
Kid Icarus
Kiwi Kraze
Kung Fu
Kurby's Adventure
Legend of Zelda
Life Force
Little Mermaid
Little Nemo
Mario Golf
Mega Man II
Mega Man III
Metal Storm
Metroid
Mike Tyson's Punch Out!
Mr. Gimmick!
Ninja Gaiden
Pipe Dreams
Pro Wrestling
RBI
RBI Baseball 3
RC Pro AM
Rescue Rangers
River City Ransom
Solar Jetman
Star Tropics
Super Marior Bro.
Super Marior Bro. 3
T&C Surf Design
Techmo Bowl
Techmo Super Bowl
Tetris
TMNT Arcade
Ultimate Frogger
Xevious
Zanac

WANT:
Bad Dudes
Baloon Fight
Bucky Ohare
Bump n' Jump
Castlevania
Crystalis
Darkwing Duck
Dig Dug II
Ducktails 2
Galaga
Guardian Legend
Gyruss
Ice Climber
Klax
Marble Madness
Ms. Pac Man (Tengen)
Ninja Gaiden II
Popeye
Power Blade
Q-Bert
Rockin Kats
Seicross
Super C
Super Mario 2

[Tanooki]

Over time since the 90s NES and SNES are it, NES edges it out though. It had sadly become painful with all the predatory pricing on stuff the last 2-3 years though sadly. I pity anyone getting in during these times who doesn't have a good bit of funny money to throw around.

Up until last week I hadn't bought a NES game for many months. I found some nice cheap games with the manuals, two were tengen and both had those sleeves too plus a poster and one sleeve and the poster weren't even mentioned. They were four games I owned years ago I wanted back and each were just 5-6 shipped which was awesome. Mickey Mousecapade, Road Runner, Rolling Thunder, and Strider.

[TheRetroVideoGameAddict]

One thing I've been doing lately as far as collecting goes is I've been hunting games down that I've either never played or games that I didn't spend much time with when they were originally out. That's how I've discovered games like Astyanax, Crystalis, N.A.R.C, and Adventure Island over the past year or so, it's always fun to discover gems that you knew were there but just didn't really pay much attention to. The SNES and NES is full of games like this I've found, especially the NES where there is just so many titles that it's hard to ever truly "finish" collecting for it.

I started doing this once I hit a "wall" with collecting all the games I had as a kid and getting to the point to where I was thinking to myself, "now what?".

[FrankSerpico]

Right now I'm having fun scoring cheap N64 games. The bulk of them are cartridge only, but it's nice to score games from marquee nintendo franchises like Zelda and Mario Kart that aren't regularly overpriced as hell like most NES and SNES stuff is right now.

[sfchakan]

I find a lot of enjoyment in Genesis games. They're often complete when you find them and typically really inexpensive compared to other systems.

Nothing beats finding a game you want complete...

[ProjectCamaro]

It's hard to say because I'm not a fan-boy so to speak of any company and I think all consoles have their own flair and set of games that are fun to play.

Part of me really likes the rare consoles because friends really enjoy playing them since they probably never saw them before and part of me likes the more popular consoles because you can buy so many great games fairly cheaply.


I have always had a fondness/weakness for the Sega CD.

While many don't like those oversize jewel boxes (mostly due to their fragility), they display very handsomely when lined up on a shelf with those (mostly) uniform blue spines and easy to read titles. I have somewhere around a hundred (what with dupes) and they generally attract the most attention from non-gamers when they see my game collections.

I agree, I love the big ole' cases used for the Sega CD and Saturn.

[gameofyou]

I'm pretty much done collecting for it, but Sega Saturn is my favorite.

[Myxomatosis]

Lately for me, it's been the SNES.

I grew up with an N64 and a gameboy pocket (both of which I still own today, the same consoles and most of the games for both). However, I can remember playing the SNES at a friends house and I would look forward to each and every time I went to hang out over there. I never owned one of my own until I started collecting, and it's now that I realize just how much I love the system and its game library. Without a doubt has to be my favorite console to get new games for at the moment.

[Submissive421]

My focus shifts every few months. I collected for ps1 exclusively for the 1st few months of the year and collected around 30+ games. Now I'm focusing on N64, SNES and Sega CD. SNES is the hardest to collect for since the prices are stupid high. After I collect a few on my wants list. I put my focus back on to ps2, sega genesis, original xbox and nes. So in a nutshell my focus is everywhere. If I find a good deal I'll pick it up

[bigbacon]

My focus shifts every few months. I collected for ps1 exclusively for the 1st few months of the year and collected around 30+ games. Now I'm focusing on N64, SNES and Sega CD. SNES is the hardest to collect for since the prices are stupid high. After I collect a few on my wants list. I put my focus back on to ps2, sega genesis, original xbox and nes. So in a nutshell my focus is everywhere. If I find a good deal I'll pick it up

I started out this way but it was too difficult. Unless I find a crazy deal in the wild on something I've been sticking to only SMS but I've oddly started going for 32x stuff also.

[wiggyx]

The ol' SNES-a-roo for me.

[Aussie2B]

If you want to talk pure numbers, I have more games for PlayStation than any other system. NES follows after that. But I don't get all that dedicated to one particular system. I nab the good finds as I come across them, regardless of platform. I will say that I mostly get my older US games in the wild, but I only go hunting when staying with family because NYC is basically a dead zone for that kind of stuff. When I'm here in NYC, I do almost all of my game shopping online, which is usually either marked down modern games from Amazon or what have you or retro imports which I have no choice but to buy online. I used to put a lot of effort in Neo Geo Pocket Color collecting and eventually pieced together a full US set (all CIB except for Sonic), but I did that for my fiance, as he's a huge SNK fan. For myself, I've put a lot of effort into importing Japan-exclusive N64 games (ones that aren't sports), since it's a lot of fun looking into this area that the majority of import gamers ignore. Similarly, I'd like to collect every PC-FX game and have 40 so far out of the 60-some releases.

[CatTehBus]

I collect for NES and SNES, the SNES takes priority and I know they are both really expensive to collect for. But I go for loose carts and I'll grab a minty box if I find one for the right price. I get almost all of my stuff at pawn shops and thrift stores, and I think its fun to frequent the shops, get to know the people there, and take advantage of any kind of bargain or deal they might have that day. Always looking for valuable games I can trade or sell to put towards more SNES and NES.

[PizzaKat]

I enjoy collecting for the NES since it was my first console, but since I pretty much have all the consoles anything I see thats a good deal I don't hesitate to buy. Since I never got many games as a kid I guess its just the satisfaction when I do get one. Their also so simple to start up and play. I was playing this game called Xexyz earlier and its a pretty good game. Snake Rattle n Roll is another cool game. Don't get me wrong I like games of this Gen (not all) but just playing the NES or SNES Genesis SMS etc is just relaxing nostalgia.

[Steve W]

Atari 2600 is my favorite. It was my first real game console (not counting Pong) and has always been my first pixelly love. I have gone in different directions in the past; I didn't have too many Xbox games until everybody started blowing the games out to make room for the 360, then I pretty much went crazy and started snapping up games cheap. A couple of years ago I went on a good Genesis bender. But I always come back to the Atari. If I go to a store that has a retro game section, I pretty much search through the Atari stuff first and give the other stuff a super-fast skim afterwards. You know what they say, "dance with the one that brought 'ya".

[8-Bit Archeology]

I grab any game i like or want to play for my collection. But if i find a TG16 game in the wild. I freak. Those are the games that make my day. Albeit rare it is a great feeling. I am buying more snes but thats mainly for the reason that they where wishlisted at a gaming store and people tend to trade in more common console games.

[iycon]

i would have to say the sega genesis and xbox are the largest parts of my collection. I bought my first genesis new in 1992 and it still runs well today, and i still enjoy it. I have about 190 games for it.

the xbox was a great system and collecting for it is still fairly cheap. I have about 270 games for it with only about a dozen sports games. my goal for it is to reach a complete us release set or at least 50% complete.

[TheRetroVideoGameAddict]

Now that my latest foray into 2600 and PS1 collecting is at it's end until I decide to pick it back up again I think I'm going to shift focus to the Sega Genesis and the Sega CD, two consoles I love but don't own too many games for. This should be a fun adventure for me and hopefully I'll discover some gems I didn't know existed like I did with the SNES, PS1, 2600, and NES! Hooray!

[patrick_710]

I enjoy collecting for all systems but some of my favorites have to be the ps2 because it has many titles and out of those many titles lots of them are fun,and the game cube because its my favorite console it has great exclusives and amazing controls

[stlgamer75]

I have always had a fondness/weakness for the Sega CD.

While many don't like those oversize jewel boxes (mostly due to their fragility), they display very handsomely when lined up on a shelf with those (mostly) uniform blue spines and easy to read titles. I have somewhere around a hundred (what with dupes) and they generally attract the most attention from non-gamers when they see my game collections.

I'm glad someone else said Sega CD because I totally agree with your assessment about them looking handsome on my shelf with their blue spines (except for the early cardboard box games). I also like the oddball titles available for this system, so many titles where you insert the game and have no idea what kind of game play you're going to get. Full blown FMV or FMV cut scenes only, point and click adventures, quicktime/laserdisc like games, 16 bit shooters or action games with better music/scaling, etc.

Also I love collecting for systems with relatively small libraries (sorry NES, Genesis, PS1, Atari 2600). My favorites are Vectrex, Saturn and Turbografx-16. Great games and undervalued systems at the time of their release. Just a fan of the underdogs I guess.

[Tanooki]

Three years later Im not buying into SNES and NES games now because it just bugged me too much. Sure there are plenty in the 10 and under area but the quailty isnt so much there then.

I jumped ship to the Gameboy and DS/3DS families for Nintendo and also now have a Sega Genesis for exactly a year now and a Game Gear too since last April which between the pair I have around 50 titles or so. I enjoy that stuff now because it is still cheap enough to experiment and find fun stuff to do without being gouged badly for it in most cases as theyre relatively ignored thankfully.

[Gamevet]

I'm glad someone else said Sega CD because I totally agree with your assessment about them looking handsome on my shelf with their blue spines (except for the early cardboard box games). I also like the oddball titles available for this system, so many titles where you insert the game and have no idea what kind of game play you're going to get. Full blown FMV or FMV cut scenes only, point and click adventures, quicktime/laserdisc like games, 16 bit shooters or action games with better music/scaling, etc.

Also I love collecting for systems with relatively small libraries (sorry NES, Genesis, PS1, Atari 2600). My favorites are Vectrex, Saturn and Turbografx-16. Great games and undervalued systems at the time of their release. Just a fan of the underdogs I guess.

Trading in my Sega CD collection to get Saturn titles may have been my worst gaming decision ever. I had a collection of over 50 titles for the Sega CD, including Snatcher, VAY, Dark Wizard, Thunderstrike, Blast Corps, Lunar: The Silver Star Story and The Space Adventure. I think I got less than $150 credit for all of that back then.

[Zama]

I would say I enjoyed collecting things from the SNES era, following by N64, and the PS1 8-)

[Tron 2.0]

Looking currently at the genesis for retro video games rebuilding my collection for it has been ok so far.

[celerystalker]

At one point in the late '90s, I collected NES pretty hard. Pretty much anything I didn't have that I saw at $3 or less I picked up. I finally stopped in the early 2000s, realizing that I'd be buying a bunch of stuff like learning games that I'd never play. I still have them all, having stopped around 500 or so.

Anymore, I don't collect for any specific console for completion. Every now and again, a series strikes my fancy to collect for, and I'll buy up what I can find. Hebereke, Keith Courage/Wataru games, Dragon Slayer, Kunio/Downtown Nekketsu, and a few others I tend to snap up anything I don't have at a decent price.

I really agree about how great Sega Saturn and CD stuff looks. I love the look of those huge, obnoxiously fragile jewel cases. I also like the european CD-i cases, Neo Geo AES boxes, and the big box PC-FX stuff for how it looks. Still, I only buy games with the intent to play them. Currently, I'm mostly just buying arcade pcbs and cabinets for games I played growing up that were meaningful or nostalgic for me. I don't want to be all cocky and say I have all of the console stuff I'd ever want... as I play stuff, I'm still finding games in my own collection that I didn't expect to enjoy. However, arcade stuff gives me a lot of great fun in short bursts when life gets busy, so that's where I'm at now.

[danny_galaga]

Was N64 for me. Collect to play. But lately I have strayed from the consoles and pretty just fool around with my C64, lots of cheap fun (",)

[Ryudo]

Dreamcast and SEGA Saturn.
DC I keep finding new gems import or domestic. Saturn holy shit so many amazing games in Japan. In less than a year have got over 30 games for it on imports alone. I have a handful of DC but I am not even close to done with Saturn imports.