Collection Tracker

[data722]

Hey, I have tried a couple but I am not completely happy with either of them so I come to you asking what you all find to be the best site/app for tracking and inventorying your retro collection? Preferably it would have both website and an ios/android app and also track accessories and systems.

Thanks.

[tpugmire]

Check out vgcollect.com if you haven't already.

[data722]

Check out vgcollect.com if you haven't already.

That is the one that I am currently using, but just didn't know if there was anything better out there.

[tpugmire]

Gotcha. If you're not completely satisfied, drop by the forums and make some suggestions on how to make things better.

[data722]

Gotcha. If you're not completely satisfied, drop by the forums and make some suggestions on how to make things better.

Ok. I didn't even know the forums there were active at all.

My biggest problem with it is how picky the search function is. If you don't have it in there exactly as it is listed it won't find anything.

[tpugmire]

The forums there are actually pretty active for such a small site. A search engine overhaul is planned, but no ETA yet. Everyone knows its a problem, so believe me, it will get fixed.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Ok. I didn't even know the forums there were active at all.

My biggest problem with it is how picky the search function is. If you don't have it in there exactly as it is listed it won't find anything.

The search is weird right now. I suggest searching for word pairs, for example if you want to find "super ultra fighters punching 2: boogaloo mania", search for "ultra fighters" (without quotes) and you'll get anything with those two words, in that order, as search results.

And yes the forums are active. Both tpugmire and myself are admins there. :p

[Guyra]

Personally, I'm using Collectorz.com's Game Collector, and I love it!

I'm just using the Windows program, but there's also an Android and iPhone/iPad app available, and a web based thing. I don't really care much for the latter, but solely due to my own preferences. The mobile app looks like something I'll want to get when I get an Android phone though, and the Windows program that I've already got is just fantastic.

Basically, you can add games manually, with as much information you want - they have pretty much thought of every bit of information you'd might want to include. But you can also add games automatically, searching either by title or by bar code number, and it'll pull up whatever matches it finds from a huge database.

Even better is that if you've got a bar code scanner, you can add your games really quickly! I got my bar code scanner from eBay for $15. Worth every penny.

Keep in mind that the program and the app both cost money, and the web thing is subscription based. I've only used the Windows program, but it was well worth the money. There is a trial version for it, so I suggest that you just go try that out first and see what you think.

And the three different systems(Windows program, mobile app, and web thing) can all be synchronized with each other, so you don't have to add everything one place, and then add it manually the other place afterwards.


http://www.collectorz.com/

[data722]

The forums there are actually pretty active for such a small site. A search engine overhaul is planned, but no ETA yet. Everyone knows its a problem, so believe me, it will get fixed.


The search is weird right now. I suggest searching for word pairs, for example if you want to find "super ultra fighters punching 2: boogaloo mania", search for "ultra fighters" (without quotes) and you'll get anything with those two words, in that order, as search results.

And yes the forums are active. Both tpugmire and myself are admins there. :p

Ok cool. I'll certainly have to give it more of a chance then and stop by the forums.


Personally, I'm using Collectorz.com's Game Collector, and I love it!

I'm just using the Windows program, but there's also an Android and iPhone/iPad app available, and a web based thing. I don't really care much for the latter, but solely due to my own preferences. The mobile app looks like something I'll want to get when I get an Android phone though, and the Windows program that I've already got is just fantastic.

Basically, you can add games manually, with as much information you want - they have pretty much thought of every bit of information you'd might want to include. But you can also add games automatically, searching either by title or by bar code number, and it'll pull up whatever matches it finds from a huge database.

Even better is that if you've got a bar code scanner, you can add your games really quickly! I got my bar code scanner from eBay for $15. Worth every penny.

Keep in mind that the program and the app both cost money, and the web thing is subscription based. I've only used the Windows program, but it was well worth the money. There is a trial version for it, so I suggest that you just go try that out first and see what you think.

And the three different systems(Windows program, mobile app, and web thing) can all be synchronized with each other, so you don't have to add everything one place, and then add it manually the other place afterwards.


http://www.collectorz.com/

Thanks, i'll take a look. I was looking for something that was free or pretty cheap though.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Collectorz has one tiny flaw: What happens if the game you want to list isn't in the database? Like some weird version of a game that was only distributed in a province in Canada bundled with bags of milk. (Note: This doesn't actually exist.) Well, VGCollect lets you add that version of the game pretty easily.

If your collection doesn't have any weird stuff like that then the Collectorz app should work. But for everything else... ;)

[Guyra]

Collectorz has one tiny flaw: What happens if the game you want to list isn't in the database? Like some weird version of a game that was only distributed in a province in Canada bundled with bags of milk. (Note: This doesn't actually exist.) Well, VGCollect lets you add that version of the game pretty easily.

If your collection doesn't have any weird stuff like that then the Collectorz app should work. But for everything else... ;)

Actually, you can do that in the Collectorz.com program. That's what I meant by adding games manually. :) Click a button, type in the title, and click "Ok." Then it's in your collection. You can also add whatever data you want, plus cover art, etc. Both before and after adding the game to your collection. And then you can submit it to the database if you wish. :)



Thanks, i'll take a look. I was looking for something that was free or pretty cheap though.

Yes, I certainly advise you try out the free trial. Then you can see if you think it'll be worth the money or not. To me, it was well worth it. But of course, one would like to spend money on actual games instead, hehehe! xD

[Zing]

I just use a Numbers spreadsheet on my iPhone and iPad. It automatically syncs on all devices, even your Mac, and will have a web version available later this year if you need to get to it from a windows machine.

[todesengel]

I use an app called iCollect Video Games Pro, you can get it for iPhone/iPod/iPad for like $3. What I like about it is that you can use the camera to scan barcodes and pull info from their database. If they don't have it in their system then you just manually add the info and pic of the item.

[goob47]

Whew. That took a while.

So I just put my whole collection into VGCollect.com, and I was wondering how some of you got that nifty signature thing that keeps track and shows all the new stuff. :) Thanks!

[Kitsune Sniper]

Whew. That took a while.

So I just put my whole collection into VGCollect.com, and I was wondering how some of you got that nifty signature thing that keeps track and shows all the new stuff. :) Thanks!

Embed a signature image with this address:

http://vgcollect.com/sig/yourusernamehere.jpg

[Panzerfuzion]

I use backloggery but they dont have a app for your phone.

[Rickstilwell1]

I just found out Gamefaqs has a collection tracker as well, which includes a personal note section for describing anything you want. Condition, price, game progress, whatever - and nobody else will see that notes section. If you have multiple variants you can list them all there.

Gamefaqs is usually pretty good about including all games as it even retains entries for cancelled games and newly announced games.

It also has a description for "have physical", "Have digital", "used to have", 'played before but didn't own" and "never played or owned" as well as how much you played it from as low as tried it up to completed 100% (leaving it blank means you bought it but never touched it).

It's a bit different in style to other sites but it has been useful to me lately with its "now playing list." I'm currently working on 15 games and that high number reminds me I really should finish off some of the shorter games before I forget about them and max out at 20 games which is as many as they allow to be shown. I guess they figure anything above that number and you probably abandoned some.

[JSoup]

I was going to suggest Backloggery as well. It doesn't have an apps, but I've added stuff easily via a smart phone and the 3DS browser. The sites design is simple enough that it shouldn't be an issue for most modern devices.

Another good one is RFGeneration and the community is pretty lively as well. I had completely forgotten that VGCollect existed. I can't remember what it was, but something turned me off on the site, whenever it was that I was last adding things. Might have just been the hassle of having to add a bunch of things.

I'm finding the the collection features on GFAQs are pretty good as well, but they don't have options (yet, and it's been 2+ years) for removing anything you've added.

[Flashback2012]

Are there any collection apps out there that DON'T require you to be connected to the cloud or have a WiFi hot spot in order to access? I carry an iPod on me and I can only access the web when I am at home on my network or somewhere that is a WiFi hot spot. I wouldn't mind having a spreadsheet like program that I can open up and view whenever I damn well please regardless of where I am.

[JSoup]

I believe the Collectorz program doesn't require a cloud or constant wifi contact to function.

[todesengel]

Are there any collection apps out there that DON'T require you to be connected to the cloud or have a WiFi hot spot in order to access? I carry an iPod on me and I can only access the web when I am at home on my network or somewhere that is a WiFi hot spot. I wouldn't mind having a spreadsheet like program that I can open up and view whenever I damn well please regardless of where I am.

The ipod app that I mentioned a few posts up doesn't require you to be online to view any info you already put in, only need to have net access if you want to use the sync function really.

[DK1105]

I use RF generation to keep track of my stuff. I almost always have there android app open when ever i'm out hunting and it has saved me a few time from rebuying something or remembering if I am missing a case. Also a plus is you don't have to be online because it syncs rather than pulling the site every time you need it.

I used to have an excel sheet that I used but that got unwieldy rather quickly.