What actually constitutes as a complete collection??

[Drag0nsfyre]

Hey All,
One thing that I have been wondering (since I've only seriously started collecting for a short time) Is what is actually considered a complete collection? Not that I'm anywhere near one for any of the systems I have but is it having everything complete? (such as cartridge based) ie: game/box/manual etc etc. is it a combo of both? some loose some complete. or is it different in different cases Again, I know It's probably a noobish question but I was just wondering.
Thanks :)

[djbeatmongrel]

to be honest this has been discussed many times over. to some its all the games for a system from a region. to others they all have to be boxed. some people say a comple collection involves all case variants. its all dependent on the person.

i know one hugely considered "complete" factor is with nes collectors. som exclude NWC carts and stadium events from their definition of complete due to the rarity and price.

really it comes down to what is complete for YOU. you just need to know your goal. I know for myself i have a complete store release collection of n-gage games but many do not consider it a complete collection overall due to the lack of online exclusive titles. For the collector it is really for them to decide what "complete" means to them

[dylan0228]

Very well put! I agree.

[suckerpunch5]

Well, I collect super nintendo games, and I consider "complete" to mean the original game box, the game cart, and the instruction manual. Also, if was an rpg and it came with a map, I would need the map for that game to be technically complete. And Earthbound wouldn't be technically complete in my book, unless it came with the included strategy guide. I probably wouldn't get to worked up about the scratch 'n sniff stickers thought.

On the other hand, I wouldn't consider that Yu-Gi-Oh game for playstation complete (the R8 one) unless it came with the limited edition Yu-Gi-Oh cards. So you see, like someone said before, it all depends.

Hilariously, I don't really care about the nintendo power subscription cards, or warranty cards when talking about a complete game. But I bet some people do.

[madman77]

I agree, to each their own. I collect Lynx and I don't count the after-market homebrew limited release carts as part of a complete collection. But, I do consider having the box/manual/cart as part of it being complete. Nor do I count all accessories and assorted variations (cart, box, etc). Once I have all the released games I'll probably start to seek out variations just for fun.

[swlovinist]

A "complete" collection can be whatever you want it to be. I have a "complete" licensed nes set. That is that I have every single US nes cart that was liscensed by nintendo and sold in stores. I have all the unliscensed nes carts for the US but the three panesian games. I dont have all the boxes either(I have about 550 of them boxed). As for some of my other "complete" sets, I have everything. My sega CD complete set has every US demo and game complete with manual and inserts. My odyssey 2 collection is the same, as every game is boxed with manual. My n-gage set includes the online exclusives. Everyone has their own opinion of what "complete" is. At some point(espically with some of the harder sets), you just have to say "good enough" and call it done. Espically in the era of ebay, complete collections are expensive and hard to do. Complete to me is a version of "every released game", and it does not have to be with its manual and box.

[Maxx]

What about cross system collections like Final Fantasy or Zelda? Same rules apply. It all depends on what your personal goals are.

[Lemmi_Is_God]

for me complete is all the games from the USA region with atleast the cart/cd and manual

i have all the US released 3DO games but its not complete untill i get 2 stinking manuals but i have the boxes for those 2 games just not the manuals
and to be fully complete i would need just 11 more boxes and 2 manuals

i have a complete US Atari 7800 collection of games that were only available during the time the 7800 was still in stores all with manuals (IE no Klax/Sentinel plus others) but i do have Beep Drop just because i love burgertime :)

and i need cart #4 for the Coleco Telstar Arcade for that to be complete :)

[qbertandernie]

i count cart only as being a 'complete collection', with everything else(box, manuals, maps) being a bonus. most disc based games, however, have to have a manual to count. i dont shop on ebay much, so my games are basically 'as found', and anymore finding boxed games isnt too likely. im also not a fan of spending tons on individual games, so accepting cart only keeps things reasonably priced.

i also include first party cleaning carts in a 'complete collection', but i suspect im in the minority on that.

[MarioMania]

It really dosn't matter to me, I take any good game eather in good or bad shape..If I see a great deal on a complete game I get it...

[RegSNES]

As people have already said, a "complete" collection is defferent, depending on the person. For me, having a "complete" collection means having all the games on a system that I'd ever want to own. For example, my N64 collection is complete because I've finally obtained the two Goemon games that were released for the N64 in the states. I'm not gonna buy anymore N64 games. I know that may sound strange to some but I guess some of my collectiing methods are odd.

[Jumpman Jr.]

What one person's idea of 'complete' is will also, no-doubtedly change over time.
When I first started collecting, I only cared about getting the carts. Then I started collecting for the Sega consoles (SMS, 32X, Dreamcast, etc..) and I would only buy those games if they came in there boxes simply because they were merely a 'side-project' for me. Once I finished my NES collection (of loose carts), I thought to myself ".... shit, I need to get all the boxes now."
At the moment I have several complete collections but only that is 100% CIB, and so much of my focus now is going into making my other collections CIB (or at least, boxed).
Thats another scary thing for me too now: the manuals. Right now, I'm not totally into manuals, but I just know that in a few years I'll be kicking myself saying "why didn't you pick up the manuals you douche!"

[Drag0nsfyre]

Thanks for everyones input so far. :) It's cool to know that loose still counts in your collection as a whole. I also like the individual goals and personal preferences. I have found in that as far as carts go I do tend to at least try and get the manual with it (if at all possible) It is especially helpful with games I hav'n't tried or have wanted to try and kind of need to know what's going on. There is always game FAQS and other helpful places (such as here) on the web of course but It's still nice to have.
Again, Thanks for everyones input and your personal takes on how you go about it. It's always cool to compare notes and thoughts but I guess that's why I am (as most of you are) here to begin with. :cool:

[catbox_9]

For me it all depends on the system. I, like you, am nowhere near completion on any system but if I wanted to complete the systems I have here's what it'd require:
Atari 2600: Cart only. I have about 50 unique games but only 1 is boxed. I bought it sealed (Galaxian) but opened it because the game is my favorite and it was pretty cheap. I also have about 15 manuals.

NES: Cart only. I have about 30 games with a few manuals and 0 boxes.

SNES: Again, cart only. I have a box or two and a few manuals to go with my 20 or so games.

N64: Cart only. I have a few games, manuals, and a box but I don't have a system....my mom threw out all our N64 stuff but missed a few games.

GB/GBC/GBA: Cart only. I have a few boxes and almost every manual for my games here.

Gen: Box, manual, and cart. Most games came in high quality boxes (sort of) that held the manual and game nicely so there was no reason to throw the box out. All of my games (about 15) are complete including Sonic and Knuckles that came in a worthless cardboard box.

PSX,PS2,PSP,PS3,XBOX,XBOX360 (I own these) and DC, BCN, Wii (I don't have these/my sister has some of these): These all require box, manual, and disc because it would make no sense to throw any of that out. The only game that I don't have complete is GTA:3. It, along with about 8 of my games, got stolen by some friends of my sister (I know have a lock on my bedroom door). I replaced it at EBgames but the box I handed the guy (normal box) wasn't what I got (greatest hits version - no manual).

[chrisbid]

complete is when you are finished collecting for system x