The composition of your collection.

[Slimedog]

How do you distinguish what does and does not get into your collection? Do you collect all games for a system, or just a subset? I see a lot of posts from people here to collect every game, even if they have no intention of playing them all and it seems like a lot of people don't buy unless they are actually going to play it. Where do you stand? Also let me know if there are any choices that are blatently omitted and I'll try and add them.

[DoubleJJ]

I mainly just collect what appears to be interesting, or fun. No specifics, even though the majority of my collection is RPG's.

[Ed Oscuro]

I still have a problem picking up junk because I don't want to leave Goodwill empty handed, but I've gotten pretty good with limiting myself to games I want to play. I don't really care about awesome tech (though hardware is good, always good) so much as I do the games; same goes for "unique" or "historically valuable" stuff. It better be fun.

[Kevin Listwan]

If the price is right I will pick up any game. But for the most part I tend to be on the lookout for games that are interesting/odd or just plain good ones.

[Roi]

For now I'm trying 'All games released for a system domestically.' for my Cube.

[RetroYoungen]

For the most part I collect domestic games. For my Pocket Color in particular I love the imports, as they're really easy to just pop in and play (as in no little extras or adapters to worry about). But mostly I just stick to games I know I'll be able to play in my native tongue, and those games are a helluva lot easier to come across around here.

[Sylentwulf]

All domestic released games for systems up to and not including the N64/ps1, no handhelds.

Although I DO pickup dreamcast, and non-gameboy handheld games if they're $1 at a flea market or something for example :)

[Slimedog]

All domestic released games for systems up to and not including the N64/ps1, no handhelds.

Although I DO pickup dreamcast, and non-gameboy handheld games if they're $1 at a flea market or something for example :)

Thats probably another topic all together. What systems you collect seems to have a lot to do with when you started gaming, but not always. Even though I started gaming in 1980 on a 2600, my collection starts with NES and later (excluding the 7800) for all US released consoles and portables. I know I'm missing lots of great stuff by not getting imports, but they just cost so much I need to draw the line somewhere.

[chrisbid]

ultimately, i would like to own every domestic game for every sega system, but for right now, when i go to gamestores, i look for any games from the more difficult systems to shop for in the wild.

for example, if i see a box of VCS games, i will go for those first, as few stores carry anything prior to NES anymore.

the only exception, is that right now im on a trek to find every complete dreamcast game i can in the city that isnt overpriced (under 10 bucks). i loathe ebay, so i will only go there once ive taken every other measure possible to complete my DC collection

[MegaManFan]

Actually that poll pretty much screws me over, because I can answer a different way for each system I own. On TG and SMS I collect all the domestic games, plus imports (my US SMS collection is complete). On N64 and Dreamcast I'm only working on complete sets of US titles. On 2600 I don't actively seek out imports, but I will collect them for curiosity's sake and if the price is right. Genesis I will only go out of my way to purchase import Mega Drive titles for if they were never released in the US (although I've accidentally bought a few that were). Saturn I don't really collect hardcore for on either domestic or import, but imports always seem to catch my attention and they are easier to store due to not having the stupid breakable oversize case. 7800 I have a complete set of games for, including an "import" I bought modified to NTSC (Sentinel). The list goes on and on. There's not one hard and fast rule for my entire collection - it varies system to system.

[Jumpman Jr.]

I collect Nintendo home-based cartridges. They are the only games that I can stand playing :)

[Aussie2B]

I know I'm missing lots of great stuff by not getting imports, but they just cost so much I need to draw the line somewhere.

You'd be surprised just how cheap imports can be. o_O For example, nearly every RPG in existence is cheaper Japanese than in English. And even the Japanese-exclusive ones tend to be dirt cheap.

Anyway, I'll buy games for virtually any system, and I buy both imports and domestic titles. I try to avoid PAL, though, just because that's a whole 'nother can of beans I don't feel like opening (and there are very few titles I'd want that weren't released in Japan OR the US). I'm also not into PC/calculator/cellphone/what have you games. I have a small stack of PC games, and I don't even include them on my collection list. I don't even fully know what I have. o_O Nothing special and nothing that interests me, I know that much.

Even though I'm open to just about anything, I don't collect with a mass-hoarding mentality. I go for games that I think will amuse me in one way or another, whether it be an excellently designed game or a game so terrible that it's hilarious (if it's the latter, I won't pay much, though). There's only one system that I actively want a complete US collection for - the Neo Geo Pocket Color, and I got no problems with that since nearly the entire library is great.

[Crazycarl]

i only collect games that i want to play, or seem weird that i want to give a shot. So my collection has no real fluidity, just a mish mash of diff. games that seemed like a good time.lol

[Lady Jaye]

I'm mostly a gamer, rather than a collector, so the bulk of what I have is what I consider "classic must-haves". I'm by no mean a completist.

[Emily]

For me its standard to try and obtain all domestic releases for the systems I collect for... -_-
But systems I really favor ( GB, Vectrex) Ill buy up imports. I like importing games for systems that dont require any modifications to play them.

[Slimedog]

My collection comes from a list of game I would ever possibly play. I kind of have it down to a formula, but its pretty convoluted. It starts with a complete list of all games available for the system that were released domestically (US).

Remove the sports games. I leave on any future sports titles that don't have directly the same rules as a current sport, for example Ball Blazers is in, Cyberball is out.

Remove any edutanement, such as anything Barney or Telletubbies.

Remove board games and game shows that have a real life counterpart. Monopoly is out, Top Shop is in. Casino games also get the boot unless they have a significant component from another genere.

Non-game applications also get kicked off, such as GBA videos and organizer software.

Finally some nitpicking that falls under personal taste. Driving/Racing/Filght sims (Gran Turismo) are out, arcade equivialents (Ridge Racer) are in. Obviously this is the greyest area of the rules.

This usually leaves 75-80% of the games for a system for me to attempt to amass. I've done this for all dead systems NES and later and thats the list. Single spaced, double columns it is currently 42 pages long. 42 is a nice number. God now that I see the rules all written down, I realize what a tragically sick bastard I've become.

[AlexKidd]

Generally I only collect games that i'll eventually play. However I would like a complete U.S. collection for my nes and turbo grafx.

[dieourumov]

I collect games for the NES and SNES, and i have one import game. i usually tend to stay away from fighting games though.

[tholly]

I buy or have games from any US released system.

If I'm out shopping, I find something I don't have, and the price is right, I'll buy it.

I stay away from imports though....I want stuff that I can actually understand without some sort of translator dictionary or something.

[squidblatt]

I'm going for a complete US Xbox collection, and I may end up upgrading to imports as well.

For the rest, I just get what interests me or looks like a good, cheap deal.

[davepesc]

I tend to target specific games for a particular system, but ever since ebay, I find myself buying lots for the games I want and keeping one of everything I don't already have.
I end up with lots of games I wouldn't otherwise have and justify it by thinking about the low "per game" price!

[neuropolitique]

It depends on the system. I'm going for complete for my Game Boy collection. NES is just kinda happening to be complete, since I find so many in the wild. Everything else is games I think I may like.

[SuperNES]

for old games, i just buy whatever's cheap. i'm actually a lot more interested in the systems themselves more than the games. that's why i have more systems than a lot of people, (somewhere around 15) but a lot less games(about 100). when it comes to new games, i only buy games i think i'll like, because new stuff usually isn't too cheap.

so, i do'nt really fit into any of the categories. i have no intention of completeting any of my systems anytime soon.

[Haoie]

All in a system for several genres. Namely PS, and quite a few genres too. But it's really all for a system that I enjoy playing.

[Dimitri]

"All games released for a system, including imports."

Change that to "only imports", and that's about what I'm doing. Here's lookin' at you, Megadrive and Playstation. 8-)

[Lord Contaminous]

Well I used to be the mass hoarder until now....

My room needed more space, and since I'm going to school now, I packed up a great majority of my games in UHAUL boxes and just left out my absolute favorite games.

That way I won't get too tempted to play games too much when academics are my priority.

But back to the subject at hand. My mind is shifting toward Japanese imports. I vowed never to buy Gamestop/EB Games crap again. I buy whatever to my judgment I will definitely enjoy.

[Pantechnicon]

Depends on the system. For pre-NES systems I'm pretty much trying to score all domestic releases. Post-NES I pick up what looks good or interesting to me, or I try to build up a nice selection of games which are unique or showcase the system's capabilities.

[imanerd0011]

For NES I am going for a complete U.S set, but for every other system I buy the games I want to play. I'm sure after I finish my NES collection I will then move on to SNES, but until then it will be how it is.

[hydr0x]

huh, your poll is missing an option

you should split up the domestic+imports option into 3:

- domestic + all imports
- domestic + all western imports
- domestic + imports i like

see, ALL IMPORTS is something almost no one will go for (i'm pretty sure those 4 votes until now selected it because just domestic doesn't fit them) as it includes several hundred weird japanese games per system

now, most people will import whatever they like, not aiming for any complete import sets, but there's still the third option that's especially important for european collectors, but also for american. A lot of people collect everything released in Europe/US + the US/European exclusives (like an american SNES collector would import Terranigma and others). That option would have been my choice :)

[McBacon]

Mine isn't on there:

A select set of high quality games for a select set of systems.

So I'm talking all the Nintendo Systems and Sega Systems, and some SNK ones too.

As for games, I'm collecting all the best Nintendo Games, Sonics, Megamans.. that sorta thing. But then agian, I'll buy loads of other stuff If I think its worth playing. I'm pretty adaptable, but I don't like crap in my collection.

Of course, Nintendo, Sega, SNK, Capcom, Konami, they are all good.

[bargora]

Well, I mostly pick up games that I think I'd be interested in playing, even if I have way more right now than I could actually play in a reasonable period of time. So that's how I voted. That means that my collection is fairly heavy in 2-D shooting games, vehicle-based shooters, first-person shooters and arcade compilations.

But then, I also like to have at least a couple of exemplars from other popular genres for a system, especially if they were huge titles. Like a Gran Turismo or Final Fantasy for Playstation or Street Fighter for SNES. Even though I'm not much of a racing or fighting or RPG fan. Partly to see what all the fuss is about, and partly just to have a more "well-rounded" collection.

And why should I want to have a "well-rounded" collection? Beats the hell out of me. I don't think it's to have a big list here at the forum. I guess in some way I'm playing a meta-game of "videogame museum curator". Then I suppose there's the foolish notion that my kids (when they come along) should have a good videogame collection. Hell, they'll more than likely scoff at the primitive amusements in my collection.

Anyway, latelly I've found myself buying fewer straight genre games and picking up weird-ass games that don't neatly fall into one of the big categories. Like last week when I got Ballerburg: Castle Chaos. What's that? A friggin' "Crossbows and Catapults" simulator? I'm so there. But then there I go dating myself. How many of you even have heard of Crossbows and Catapults?

So in the end, I don't think that my buying strategy is all that well-defined. I try not to spend very much on any one thing ($8.00 limit!), except about once a year when I get a bee in my bonnet and decide that I absolutely must spend way too much on something completely fabulous (Steel Battalion!). I buy stuff that I like (shooter shooty shooting!), except when I buy stuff that I don't know that I'll like because in the unlikely event that I get around to playing it I might like it (One Piece Mansion!). I buy stuff that just looks really neat (Internal Section!) and stuff that is so weird and complicated that I have to have it, even if I know that I'll probably never figure it out (yes, Fighter Maker and Carnage Heart). I buy puzzlers (Puzzle: Star Sweep) even when they look like they're exactly the same game as something else I own (Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo). I don't really care for Capcom 2D fighers (heresy!), but I buy all the Darktalkers games. I never play sports games, but I bought three Dreamcast sports games for three dollars last weekend.

At this rate, I suppose that eventually I will acquire all games for all systems. Just don't tell my wife.

[Slimedog]

And why should I want to have a "well-rounded" collection? Beats the hell out of me. I don't think it's to have a big list here at the forum. I guess in some way I'm playing a meta-game of "videogame museum curator". Then I suppose there's the foolish notion that my kids (when they come along) should have a good videogame collection. Hell, they'll more than likely scoff at the primitive amusements in my collection.


Actually I wouldn't be surprised to find a lot of us here thought of ourselves as "videogame museum curators". I know I do. Often when scoping out the stranger items, I think "Its really neat and unusual that this got made. It should be appriciated and not thrown away." I guess to quote Indy "It belongs... in a museum!"

Oh and I love Ballerburg: Castle Chaos. The Monty Pythonish tutorial alone is worth the $5 price of admission. And yes, its probably because I was into Crossbows & Catapults ages ago.

[Daria]

One genre across all systems doesn't seem to be an option so yeah... didn't vote.

[namzep]

For the NES, I'm after a complete Domestic set. For every other system, just the games that I think I'll play. I still end up with more than I can play, though. :P

[robotriot]

In general, I pick up any game I find for any system. I've got special interest in shmups though, so these have a high priority. Currently I'm working hard on getting all Dreamcast shmups. I'm also trying to complete my CD32 collection, but I'll doubt that will ever happen ;)

[bargora]

Actually I wouldn't be surprised to find a lot of us here thought of ourselves as "videogame museum curators". I know I do. Often when scoping out the stranger items, I think "Its really neat and unusual that this got made. It should be appriciated and not thrown away." I guess to quote Indy "It belongs... in a museum!"
*cracks whip*


Oh and I love Ballerburg: Castle Chaos. The Monty Pythonish tutorial alone is worth the $5 price of admission. And yes, its probably because I was into Crossbows & Catapults ages ago.
Excellent! I will boot this one up tonight!


Currently I'm working hard on getting all Dreamcast shmups.
Just PAL, or are you breaking the bank with the JP titles, too? I ask because at the time Ikaruga released I think I'd caught 'em all, but the friggin' system just refuses to die in the Land of the Rising Sun. Now I think I'm about $250 from getting complete in the shooty category again. !@#$

[NESVIDIOT]

I collect everything that catches my interest. So on that note I don't generally buy sports games, I maybe own 5 or 6 different sports( baseball, football, hockey, basketball, soccer) that mildly catch my interest. I do however,buy games (mostly RPG) that I know that I won't play ever, but I do know will become more valuable over time, then sell it off to put towards something that I do want.
I guess, in short, that I only buy games to collect that I'm interested in keeping. Everything else I buy to sell to get what I want.
so to anwser the question " A selection of quality games for each system that I own." Not every game, only the ones that interest me whether I play them or not.

[Slimedog]

I've noticed that some folks aren't voting because "all systems" or "many systems" aren't options. When I wrote it, I intended the meaning to be "across any given system". I'm pretty sure not many of us collect for only one system, but by the same token, most of us don't collect across all systems either. So the poll is intended to refer to how you decide which games you will collect for every system that you collect for. Sorry if I wasn't more clear on that.

[Crush Crawfish]

I buy every game that I would ever enjoy playing for a system. There was a time that I wanted to have complete collections, but it was really hard to justify spending money on games I'd never have the desire to play. Not to mention all the space it would take up.