How Do You Keep Track Of Your Games?

[PapaStu]

This thread has been around a few times recently, so i'm merging it with THIS ONE (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81098) and bumping it back to the top.

[Barbarianoutkast85]

I use the good old paper and pen along with word.

[Big Papa Husker]

I didn't know if there was a newer thread, so I just posted in here. What do you guys use? I was going to get Collectorz with a barcode scanner. Anyone have any experience with the software or the barcode scanners they have?

[chrissylas]

I'm thinking of getting Collectorz myself. I've downloaded the trial software and I really like it.

Is there something that can be used to catalogue strategy guides as well? In my old system (oh the exciting world of excel) I used to keep a sheet just for strat guides.

[VACRMH]

I didn't know if there was a newer thread, so I just posted in here. What do you guys use? I was going to get Collectorz with a barcode scanner. Anyone have any experience with the software or the barcode scanners they have?

I've been using the software off and on for years, and finally decided to buy it a few months ago. I don't bother with the barcode scanner because it's pretty easy to type in the UPC code if you really need to use it.

I love the fact that I can add scans, pictures, info for just about every little detail and so on. For me, it was totally worth the cost of admission. Just to show how detailed I get, here's a few pictures...

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/vacrmh/Misc/GameCollectorTemplate.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/vacrmh/Misc/gamecollector1.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/vacrmh/Misc/gamecollector2.jpg

I had scanned a bunch of stuff for Growlanser, so I decided to get image happy. I'm usually not that bad. For Persona 4, the back image thumbnail was weird for that template so I edited the code a little and now it displays it properly :)

There's a few extra templates that people have created, I use the Midnight Blue theme (As seen above.)

It's great to keep track of costs, statistics, where you bought it, if you've beaten it and when, and every other little detail. Feel free to send me a PM if you have any questions.

[Ed Oscuro]

I tried to keep some lists in TXT format - I should start using the Open Office spreadsheet app because pure text fields get messy, even when I format them carefully.

Mainly I keep the lists in my head, right now. I don't find myself buying dupes; I pretty much know what I've got and can juggle the details of a few hundred games in my head. It helps that a lot of the items I want to get occupy a high profile in my brain and I remember when I finally track something down / find the money to pay for it.

[Rickstilwell1]

I use a text program on my PC and write them down in alphebetical order.

But they aren't all in one giant file - Nintendo systems are in a nintendo list file, sega in a sega file, Atari in atari file, and so on and so on.

In the files, they are listed like this example:

Nintendo NES: 133 games

Adveture Island 3
The Adventure Of Link

And, so on and so on. Also, if it has a manual, box, or is complete, i put after the title (Complete) (Boxed) or, (W manual). The ones without something like that are loose.

But if it is a system that i have more of them complete, the ones complete aren't listed, but the loose ones are.

I have all the files in a folder on the desktop of my PC.

This is a lot like one of my many methods. I keep track on multiple things so that way my collection list is all over the place and easy to get to.

I do the wordpad document thing, but have realized it starts to look ugly if I get a ton of games that have boxes, manuals, overlays or other special things with them. (Like my Intellivision list)

The second thing I started doing on top of that is taking pictures of every single exact game I have and uploading them to my myspace. I already have my games pictures uploaded there. Now any time I get a new game it is easy to add it to the list. I picture boxes and manuals with games. If I update and get a game's box or manual later, I delete the old picture of the game and retake it with the extras, and re-upload.

The only thing that these two methods do is show what I have.

In order to see what I have left to collect, I started printing out the checklists from this digitpress guide and checking them off. This method looks to me like the best possible method so far. Almost makes me want to retire my word document, but I won't as it is easy to update now that it's been kept up to date. The likeliness of losing the papers, hard drive and my myspace at the same time would be very slim, so I would always be able to restore one if something was lost.

I only seriously collect US released games right now, so it should cover everything I need. I also don't seriously try to collect for systems that are still alive. I want the dead ones while they are still around. Then I can get the new stuff when it is last-gen and cheaper to buy, unless it is a title I really really gotta have.

I just really like how it actually has real check boxes, and how easy it is to check off whether the game has its instruction book or box. If I ever need more information on a game, I just check back here. I set mine up title only and shrink long titles so I don't have a mess of microscopic letters or cut off words.

And I sell off my dupes ASAP whenever I get them so that isn't an issue. Dupes never make it into my inventory.

[Sonicwolf]

I keep all games and systems in an archive in document form with wordpad. I detail the system, then the amount of systems and variations I have of them and then the games. I also keep a log of the updates, every time I get a new game or system, I write it down and add to the total amounts, keeping previous updates so I can see how many games I have bought from date to date. Its a nice little setup.

[vintagegamecrazy]

For all of you that don't want to use excel because it's too much work are really only chumping yourself. I have over 3,000 games and painstakingly catalogued everything in excel including cart manual and box condition and now I can just update it when I get a few games and can transfer it to my Motorola Q phone and have my whole collection documented everywhere I go. It has been truly amazing to have.

[Bloodreign]

I keep a text file on the PC with the games separated by system, I'm sure when I get to the point of too many games I may have to further separate them into various categories, but 300+ games isn't too hard to keep track of if you know what you have and don't have.

[SegaAges]

I keep it all on software tghat I made on my sig. Not the most uber software, but it loads up 1200 games super fast.

[ninjabearhug]

Cataloging my collection is something that has been a love/hate thing with me for years now. Until recently my primary list was just a simple word document, but in the past i have toyed with pretty much every collection tool that has been mentioned in this thread already. I was never truly happy with any of them though, as a variation collector i tend to have multiple copies of games which have regional differences and as of yet I haven't found a database that has all the games I want to add.

Anyway, I decided to make this http://ninjabearhug.webs.com/games.htm.

It's a lot of hard work at the minute as I've got a lot of games to take pictures of, but at the same time I'm finding it much easier to keep up with. It's already come in pretty handy too. It's an instantly accessible database of all my games with pictures, if I'm not sure of a games condition in my collection I just fire up the web on my phone and hey presto, instant condition check. I used to end up buying quite a lot of doubles from game shops because i couldn't remember if my games were complete or not :frustrated:

So yeah, while all the other sites/databases out there are pretty good ( Guardiana is my favourite as I'm an MD nut), the best option by far is to just make your own database in a style that suits your needs.

[Flippy8490]

VGRebirth is what I use as well. But Also, I keep a personal list in a spreadsheet. It takes a long time to compile, but it really is worth it in the end to just get it done.

[Big Papa Husker]

My collection is currently cataloged on the IGN lists. Is there any way to show them ALL on one page with the private notes, which is where I keep where I bought it and the price paid? I wanted to pull that info out so I could transfer it to Game Collector.

[Big Papa Husker]

I'm thinking of getting Collectorz myself. I've downloaded the trial software and I really like it.

Is there something that can be used to catalogue strategy guides as well? In my old system (oh the exciting world of excel) I used to keep a sheet just for strat guides.

You could probably use Collectorz.com's Book Collector software.

[VACRMH]

Is there something that can be used to catalogue strategy guides as well? In my old system (oh the exciting world of excel) I used to keep a sheet just for strat guides.

Under extras you could add a checkbox for Strategy Guides. Then to see which games have a guide you could use a custom filter to pull up which games have one.

Or like Big Papa said, there's book collector.

[murdoc rose]

start early lol rfgen was the one i used but there's several other good ones out there too, for basic collection u can just use the dp guides

[chrissylas]

Under extras you could add a checkbox for Strategy Guides. Then to see which games have a guide you could use a custom filter to pull up which games have one.

Or like Big Papa said, there's book collector.

I didn't even think about adding something under extras. That's a fantastic idea. Thanks!

I only have about 150 strategy guides.... not quite enough for a whole new software package :)

[VACRMH]

I didn't even think about adding something under extras. That's a fantastic idea. Thanks!

I only have about 150 strategy guides.... not quite enough for a whole new software package :)

NP, that's one of my favorite parts about GC. I can add fields for every little extra. Guides, registration cards, soundtracks, whatever I want.

[Big Papa Husker]

NP, that's one of my favorite parts about GC. I can add fields for every little extra. Guides, registration cards, soundtracks, whatever I want.

Can you export these changes as templates or something similar?

[VACRMH]

Can you export these changes as templates or something similar?

You mean like Export to HTML? Or something else?

When you export to HTML each detail page for a game will usually have that information already on it.

For all of the templates that I know, the view in Game Collector shows what extras you have checked (Box, Manual, Strategy guide, ect)

[Big Papa Husker]

You mean like Export to HTML? Or something else?

When you export to HTML each detail page for a game will usually have that information already on it.

For all of the templates that I know, the view in Game Collector shows what extras you have checked (Box, Manual, Strategy guide, ect)

I mean like exporting the fields you created and import those fields into my database. I mean, if there are only 10 or so it wouldn't be hard to type them in manually...

[Big Papa Husker]

You mean like Export to HTML? Or something else?

When you export to HTML each detail page for a game will usually have that information already on it.

For all of the templates that I know, the view in Game Collector shows what extras you have checked (Box, Manual, Strategy guide, ect)

I mean like exporting the fields you created and import those fields into my database. I mean, if there are only 10 or so it wouldn't be hard to type them in manually...

Also, on the feature page it says you can enter in how much the game is worth. Any chance that it actually queries a site(s) and pulls down that information or is it strictly manually entered?

[VACRMH]

I mean like exporting the fields you created and import those fields into my database. I mean, if there are only 10 or so it wouldn't be hard to type them in manually...

Also, on the feature page it says you can enter in how much the game is worth. Any chance that it actually queries a site(s) and pulls down that information or is it strictly manually entered?

Oh! You mean like the fields of Box, manual ect? Where you'd like to add the field for say outer sleeve and it's not in the list?

There's a box you click underneath the list to just add a new field. If this isn't what you mean, let me know.

The value is manually entered unfortunately. Too many variables I would assume. But you can enter how much you paid for each game to keep track of how much money you've spent. Very depressing for me <_<

[Ed Oscuro]

The list of "top games" on Collectorz.com is hilarious. I buy program so I can remember I has Call of Duty 4 and Forza?

I'll just upgrade to a spreadsheet in OO.

[VACRMH]

The list of "top games" on Collectorz.com is hilarious. I buy program so I can remember I has Call of Duty 4 and Forza?

I'll just upgrade to a spreadsheet in OO.

Methinks a hell of a lot more people added Gears of War to their collection this week than an older classic game. But thanks for trying :)

[Ed Oscuro]

Methinks a hell of a lot more people added Gears of War to their collection this week than an older classic game. But thanks for trying :)
I'm not sure what this post is trying to achieve. Yes, GoW 1 is on the top left of the listed top games, but Call of Duty 4 ("classic?") is on there twice, both formats.

The point is all the games they're showing are new releases. I understand they're just aggregating what's been added the most and latest releases will top that off, but "collecting" brand new stuff seems pretty useless to me. Then again, I guess they're trying to find all the use they can for having lost $20 trade value on the shrinkwrap - or they just have really bad short-term memories.

In any case, I bet half my collection can't be input in the system.

[sebastiankirchoff]

I use a basic Excel spreadsheet. Nothing special.

[VACRMH]

I'm not sure what this post is trying to achieve. Yes, GoW 1 is on the top left of the listed top games, but Call of Duty 4 ("classic?") is on there twice, both formats.

The point is all the games they're showing are new releases.

In any case, I bet half my collection can't be input in the system.

http://www.collectorz.com/connect/games/toplist.php This is the list you're talking about correct?

The way I'm reading it, the games on the list are the most added games to users collections. Which is understanable, seeing as most of these games are very popular and or new releases.

And I had the same feeling as you about the lack of games in the database, but for the most part it found just about everything. Imports obviously weren't always found, but anything that wasn't was added manually and submitted in about a minute.


I understand they're just aggregating what's been added the most and latest releases will top that off, but "collecting" brand new stuff seems pretty useless to me. Then again, I guess they're trying to find all the use they can for having lost $20 trade value on the shrinkwrap - or they just have really bad short-term memories.


Who says anyone is just collecting new stuff? It's just what most people are adding to the collection. For example, I added RE5 this week myself, because I just bought it.

I really don't think most people would just piss away $50 on a program if they were adding a few games.

[Ed Oscuro]

http://www.collectorz.com/connect/games/toplist.php This is the list you're talking about correct?
The part of my quote you cut out answers this question, and also any questions you may have had about life, the universe, and everything!

Of course, I wouldn't underestimate the pull of collecting new stuff. Heck, my dad uses the old Win95 machine to record his latest movie purchases, as if it'd going to be really helpful to have everything on a machine that only connects to the outside world via floppy (thankfully, I have a solution for that...but I'm getting off topic.) This certainly doesn't seem to suit my needs, unless they have some kind of "make your own."

I remember getting new games added to GameTZ back in the day...ahh, too much like Wikipedia, trying to convince people that Undeadline was one or two words (I forget what I said it was).

[VACRMH]

The part of my quote you cut out answers this question

Didn't cut it out, you hadn't added it yet :-P

Agree to disagree, but I think you're not understanding simple statistics and assuming the people who buy new games only buy new games.

[Ed Oscuro]

I think you're not understanding simple statistics
You said you knew that extra text was there but you didn't read it like I done tell you to

I guess they're making lists like crazy men and having fun with that fancy software they got but I don't need no help figuring out if I lost the instructions to my brand new DVD game. If I lost the instructions to the DVD game I just bought I got more trouble'n this will help solve.


Insurance Purposes:
Protect your valuable game collection by having a complete list of your games in a safe place.
If I thought I could make lots of money on insurance for a fake list of vidya games I got even bigger problems, I can make a list of games and put them in a dry bag somewhere, ain't costing me nothin', it's all the same to the insurance man. I can put Kizuna Encounter on there lots o' times and they ain't gonna give a spit

Funnier yet, I don't see mention of condition or completeness anywhere, which I need.

[chrissylas]

I'm actually in the midst of adding my 360 games to the database right now. Even though it is a current system, I DO need help cataloguing which games I have. I tend to buy any game that I find for a cheap price (including 360 games) so I already have over 100 360 games already. Since I actively play the 360, I oftentimes can't remember if I own a game or if I just rented it.



Funnier yet, I don't see mention of condition or completeness anywhere, which I need.

I use the "completed" column to denote that the game is complete (as opposed to using it whether or not I've completed playing the game). I have also changed the two optional categories to read Instructions and Box. This way if I have only one or the other, I can just mark completed as "No" and specify which. Alternately, if the instructions are present but worn, I just mark the game completed and put "Worn instructions" next to the instructions box.

There is a condition option too. It runs New, Excellent, Good all the way down to Damaged.


So far I've only entered my PSOne and half of my 360 games. I'm really liking the program right now. I've got several thousand games and I could really see this making it much easier to keep track of the collection.

[Ed Oscuro]

Thanks for the info, chrissylas.

For that system to be helpful to me I need, for instance, to be able to denote things like

Obi / Spinecard / slipcover
Warranty card / reply card
Other extras (stickers sheet, product promotional booklet, the special cards that came with many Konami Famicom Disk System games)
Hardware or bonus CD included? (Super Street Fighter' on X68000 comes with a joystick adapter, Final Fight comes with a CD, etc.)

If I just wan to check some checkboxes I'll just do it for free in Open Office.

[chrissylas]

Understood. I actually downloaded the trial of the program and waited over 2 weeks before buying it because I wanted to be sure it would work for me :)

[Game Freak]

I have an Access database, which unfortunately has been corrupting itself every month >_>

[lkermel]

You know what ? I'm maybe old school but I use a simple text file... (here it is (http://www.kermelweb.com/laurentbox/havelist.htm))
I started this list back in 1996 and I've been updating it since then. So many friends tried various software and websites and most always ended having to redo the whole thing again after 3 or 4 years. I trust my simple ascii file and it's been serving me well for the last 14 years :)

[Nebagram]

I've recently had an update of mine- Click here (http://www.nebagram.co.uk/bensgamesthenewlookv3.xls) to have a look and let me know what you think. Being crap at programming I have to update all the totals manually but it doesn't take too long and it's better than having to deal with what my OCD will throw at me if I don't.

[Solertia]

I use www.backloggery.com :) I like it a lot, and it's got a lot of great features (most recently they added a good way to organize compilation games, which I'm currently working on with Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection). To get an idea of how it works just check out mine: www.backloggery.com/solertia :D

[Cobra Commander]

I'm just starting on a spreadsheet right now. I'm using Open Office instead of Excel simply because it's free. It's really liberating making my own list. I can catagorize it anyway I like. The only problem is I can't just show it to someone.
This project is going to take a long time. I have about 1200 or more games, and I've only done about 60.

[graciano1337]

http://vgrebirth.org/

[Astrosmash]

Not the most exciting method here, but I just use a standard Word document.

Well, actually, two of them. One has the full info (year, developer/publisher, etc.), the other is a "quick-reference" list which is just the game titles. Both have the games broken down alphabetical by system; systems in chronological order.