Should I streamline my collection?

[esquire]

Ok, I am sure this has been asked before, but here it goes. When I started collecting (as opposed to just buying to play) video game systems, I tried to get the systems first, and collect for them later. I have a sizeable collection that includes:

Gamecube
XBOX
Playstation 2
Dreamcast (2 - 1 normal and 1 black Sega Sports Edition)
Nintendo 64
Saturn
Turbo Duo
Core Grafx II with Super CDROM2 player
TurboGrafx with CDROM2 player
NEO-GEO CD
SNES with Super 8 adapter
NES Top Loader
Genesis Model 2 with Sega CD & 32X attachments
Sega Master System Model 1
Intellivision
Colecovision
Odyssey 2
Commodore 64
Texas Instruments 99/4A
Atari Jaguar with Jaguar CD attachment
Atari 7800
Atari 2600
Atari Lynx II
GBA SP
NGPC
Nomad

and my redheaded stepchildren:

Atari 5200
3DO
CD-i

I am contemplating getting rid of those systems. With the exception of a very few 3DO games, I really don't enjoy playing games on any of the systems. The joystick on the 5200 makes me loathe playing anything on that system, and I don't want to shell out over $50 for a Wico. The 3DO is decent, but most games are already available on other CD based systems such as the Sega CD, Saturn and Jaguar CD (I can't how many versions of Myst, Dragon's Lair and Space Ace I have!!!). And the CD-i, well IMO that system just plain sucks. The only game I've ever found fun was Hotel Mario.

I am also contemplating selling my top loading NES and picking a normal one. Why? A. I can make money and still have the system to play the games B. The top loader does not have a/v cables, only RF.

The gamer in me says to get rid of these systems, you'll never play them. You can use the money to buy games you'll actually play. However, the collector in me says that I may want to hold on to them. Not sure why.

Before you answer, let me clarify my collecting habits - I am not a completist with respect to most consoles. I only buy games that I'll play. For instance I am collecting all the Shmups for the PCE, Genesis, and SNES. The reason? I don't want kiddie games and sports games that I'll never play. The only exception to this is my TurboGrafx Collection. I am only 3 Hucards away from a complete collection. I am also contemplating collecting entire DC, SMS, Colecovision and Jaguar collections. Altogether I have over 1,200 games.

PS, I am also running out of space in my room of doom.

[Oobgarm]

Based on what you mention about the 'stepchild' systems you have, I'd say sell them. The reasons you mention justify doing so, even if the collector side wants you to keep them.

Ditto on the Top Loader, only keep it if you're a die-hard NES freak.

[swlovinist]

dude, I know how you feel. I am all for streamlining, and did a "minor version" of it myself. I got rid of two systems, the phillips cd-i and the APF M 1000 because I will probably never play them. If you arent going to play the system and dont want to pay any money to play it, dont keep it. After all, the benifits of having a game collectiuon is that you can play it right?

[ClubNinja]

Do it, do it, do it!

I'm in the middle of doing the same thing and everytime I send out a package of stuff, I get all warm and fuzzy inside. I'm making more space and funds for games I'll be a little more interested in. As I've thought to myself:

Tis better to have a collection of awesome games than an awesome collection of games.

In turn, the collection of awesome games will become an awesome collection on its own anyway. I think that one Ikaruga is much more exciting than fifty different Maddens. See what I mean?

[LazingBlazers]

LOL My point of view is why collect quilts when you prefer afghans?

Or maybe more aptly... why keep something that you don't want or need when you could part with it for something that you actually do?

I streamlined my games into a decent collection of stuff that I will never part with, and a small amount of stuff that I'm constantly trading/selling/evolving so to speak... and, trust me, it's the way to go since you're not a completist.

[Jasoco]

I've thought of this a liottle, but all I can think of to sell off wouldn't really bring in much money or free up a whole lot of space.

My Redheads are the Jaguar and the Master System. I only have a few games for both and have not collected any more than what I got with them. (3 games for the Jag and 8 for the SMS.) So I'll probably keep them.

Unless one day I decide to only focus on a few consoles, I will keep most of it. Oh well. Nice try. Especially since the most space it taken by my NES collection followed by Genesis/32X/CD collection (If you count it all in one.) and there ain't no chance of me dumping those.

So I'm stuck with it all. And I don't mind. Could really use more space, though. LOL

[YoshiM]

I went through the same thing as I'm also more gamer than collector. If I didn't have fun with it or never really played it, it got sold off or traded. The trick is not to get these odd ball longing pangs and then buy the stuff again only to sell the stuff again after you realize why you sold the stuff in the first place. I did this with the Genesis/ Sega CD (3 times), Turbografix-16 (also 3 times) and the Atari VCS/2600 (hmm, also 3 times...things goes in threes with me I guess but unlike the Genny and TG-16 I got the system a 4th time but it's got sentimental value).

So if you definitely feel you won't play them or don't enjoy them, sell or trade them off. No one says you have to be a completist.

[AB Positive]

I did this last fall. At the height of my yard sale scores I ended up with whopping 21 systems and NO room to store them. Now, I'm down to 11, two of which are handhelds, and a LOT more room. Plus the cash from the downsizing allowed me to upgrade my TG-16 to a modded Duo, and my Neo Geo MVS setup to an AES setup.


Although I'm suddenly starting to wonder how much I want to keep my Saturn stuff, speaking of downsizing. I contemplate it a lot but... Nights is so good :D


-AG

[-hellvin-]

Here's what I say.

Money is good. It is the thing of happiness. All those systems are not currently bringing you happiness. So why not get rid of them to receive some happiness and perhaps use it to buy something that will make you....happy.

I think all your reasons are quite on the spot. The 3do, while fun, just really doesn't have much to it that is not available elsewhere. The CD-i should be burned to death, and the 5200 I think I would enjoy if I had one since my first game system was a 800xl but that's just me. And the top-loading NES I would only buy to resell. No A/V capabilities just kill it and you'll get good money for it.

SO DO IT.

[DigitalSpace]

I am more of a gamer than a collector myself.

I recently traded off a Fun 'N Games for the SNES, which is an R8, and I don't regret it. I found it loose at a local Software Etc. for $9.99 back in February and bought it. I played it once and came to the conclusion that I would hardly ever play the game, if at all. Around the same time, a member here sent me a PM asking how attached I was to it. He was going for a complete SNES collection and was looking for the cart. I agreed to trade it for a loose Final Fantasy III. That is my favorite RPG of all time and wasn't in my collection, and it meant a lot more to me than Fun 'N Games ever would. It went to someone who really wanted it, and got a step closer to having a complete SNES collection. And even if that member had never sent me a PM, I would have eventually put it up for trade with the hopes of getting something I really wanted in return.

Trading a rare game isn't the point, though. The point is I'd rather have something I'd enjoy playing then something I don't, and I'd rather see what wouldn't enjoy playing in the hands of someone who would appreciate owning it. I'd rather have a small collection of games I enjoy than a huge collection of stuff with a majority of stuff that I never play. But I have an SNES, Genesis, N64, PS2, and Gamecube, and there's quite a lot I'm interested in playing, so of course, I'm going to have a good number of games. I'll always be on the hunt for something.

In my case, I had decided I wasn't into collecting video games for rare stuff, (although there are a lot of rare games I'd like to find someday), but to own and be able play as many good games, common or not, as possible, whether I enjoyed it back in the day and to play good stuff I missed out on the first time around.

There's my two cents, and I apologize if it seems like I went off subject at any point.

@esquire: Keep us updated on what you decide to do.

[Chunky]

I do this/done this every few months. I go out and collect on 3 things, Games I remember, Games that were in everyones top 20(since i may have never played them) and games that their names or boxes or screen shot look interesting.....well i guess also deals that i know are deals.

They go on the shelf unless i have the system out and ready to rock...Then i go through the ones i bought and see if they worth playing. Then i go through some other names and pull some others i kept for this reason.

Then I sell and repeat. Just something i been doing untill i get all the games off my lists. Then after i may go on to try and get more of the games, but that is only after i have the ones i want.

[GunPanther]

This is a tough one for me.

I consider myself 60% Collector and 40% gamer nowadays.

Back in the early 1990s, it would have been 70% gamer & 30% collector, considering that I really didn't care too much about collecting games too much, just amassing as many games as I could via 'doctors'.

Only around 1998 did I realize that I was spending lots of money on what could possibly worth more at a later time, due to the fact that I had fell in love all over again with the NES.

Fast forward to 2004 and approximately 1,100 games later (about 100+ games aren't even listed on the IGN Collector's List), I find myself not only running out of room but also out of time when it comes to playing the games in my collection.

I have so many RPGs I want to play, it's just that I'm afraid that if I start them, I'm going to end up 'wasting' a lot of time and not getting other things done.

I still have yet to play "Lunar: The Silver Star", "Vay", "Panzer Dragoon Saga", "Shining Force III", "Xenogears" and even the original "Final Fantasy", let alone open up some of the other games that have been almost put away on a shelf and forgotten.


I guess the reason why I keep these systems and games around is because when I was younger, I never had the latest and greatest systems or games. But now that I can (kind of) afford them, I also don't ever want to regret 'getting rid of' any of my games or systems like I did my old NES back in 1992.

I don't plan on parting with my collection anytime soon, although I can't consider myself a completist collector.

I consider myself a collector who collects my favorite games but also happens to collect any other game titles as long as the price is right.

(Like the time when someone was selling "NES Play Action Football" for $1.00- I had to buy it)





:2gunfire: GunPanther :snipersmile:

[Jive3D]

When I was younger and just a gamer I would sell off one system to move onto the next. Then I recall the first point at which I had multiple systems set up to one tv (Genesis, SNES, NES & CD-i) at that point the collecting began and that doesnt include the handhelds.

I have sold off most of my stuff too, and in some cases tracked it down again (Dam you Toe Jam & Earl!). But the only system that I have gotten rid of and never recovered was the Sega Master System (version 1). Never cared for it. I am a hugh collector, but my collection is by no means huge - that's because I collect for quality and games that I am sure that I'll play.

I say sell the ones that you don't play, they'll only be an eyesore in your R.O.D.

But if you are going to sell the CD-i, at least experience Burn:Cycle first. Oh I'm just opening myself up for bashing with that comment. Ha.

[le geek]

I'm all for streamlining! I plan to do some serious streamlining myself after I move. I'd keep the Top loader though just cause NES Toasters are such a pain...

[Jasoco]

When I started collecting, I'd say was 60-70% Collector. But recently I cut back a lot. Haven't brought home bagfulls of games in a while. I mainly buy to play. And if there's a good game cheap, I'll get it too.

Though, this Friday I plan on temporarily going back to Collector and picking up as many $5 games I can find. But I want to cut back as much as possible because of all the new games coming out soon. DOOM 3 if the date's really true. Mario vs. DK is a MUST. I want to collect all the GBA Videos and Classic NES series. ($20 a pop. So I see one a paycheck should suffice.) Halo 2 is a MUST period. Pikmin 2. All the new stuff. Hell, even the DS will be a Christmas present providing it comes out this year. I got enough on my plate to keep me playing for a while. With a little collecting on the side.

[Usagi Mylene]

I'm a gamer more then a collecter. I mean, I'm collecting all the games I love. Depending, if I have a little bit of money to spare I'll buy something and if I don't love it, I'll either put it on ebay or just list it for trade to get something else.


So if those systems are not making you happy, then sell/trade them for stuff that will. There are times when I want to part with my top loader NES just to get money and then go to goodwill and buy the regular NES for 5 bucks but in the end, I can't part with my toaster.