I want to go for a complete Dreamcast collection - Suggestions?

[NayusDante]

I've long wanted to have a complete collection for a system, and I've long neglected Dreamcast. I have 9 games for Dreamcast, including a demo and browser, so I'm basically starting from the bottom. I still have my launch Dreamcast, which really hasn't seen very much use beyond Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi, so I'm excited to see what else it has to offer. I've thought about going with Saturn instead, but there's not as much there that interests me. Dreamcast has more quirky and original titles, and (to my knowlege) fewer insanely-priced rarities. Overall, I think it would be the most interesting console to go for completion, without having 400+ games to find.

Here are the criteria that I'm going to use:

-Complete games - Disc + Case + Manual + extras, if applicable, like microphones, soundtracks, demos, boxes, etc.
-Condition negotiable - As long as it plays and the case and manual aren't terribly damaged
-No duplicates - Sega All-Stars and regular releases are interchangeable. PSO and PSO V2, however, are separate releases.
-US Region - I'm just going for what was released over here, no imports or PAL stuff.
-Licensed games - No homebrew, no post-discontinuation releases


My questions for the community are:

Where should I be looking for games? Is it better to look on Amazon or Ebay? Should I stick with lots or just go down the list individually? How much should I be paying for common games? What are the hardest games to find? What games should I expect to pay a lot for? Most importantly, how much should this cost me, when it's all said and done?


I'm not in any hurry, I'm just deciding now that this is my current collecting goal, after a long time of collecting aimlessly. I'd like to set a reasonable goal for myself like 2-3 games a month minimum, which should take a few years.

[Blitzwing256]

my first reaction is "don't"


if its not really a system you're passionate about ,you aren't going to enjoy collecting for it, it doens't help that about 90% of the games for it are shovelware crap that makes most of the stuff on the wii good (well..maybe not that bad....)


I see lots and lots of dc games at thrift stores for cheap (about the same amount as I see psx) now that the gameMONOPOLYstop doesn't take those older games in ,you can get pretty lucky. posting an ad or two on craigs list will help you a great deal (random person looking through the ads might remember they have some in thier basment and might let em go for fair prices)


overall collect what makes you happy and something you'll enjoy, not just something that is easy.

[NayusDante]

Yeah, DC is something where I can see myself really enjoying the road to a collection.

I actually don't think it's going to be easy in my area, since I almost never see DC stuff in thrifts and such. I see PSX stuff once in a while, but not a whole lot, and when I do it's more than likely just controllers. My main source will be online and Play N Trade.

[carlcarlson]

The way I built my NES collection was to buy lots and then sell the systems. I was always able to make my money back and more often than not I would even turn a profit. In the end I had over 1000 NES games and had made money getting them.

Of course I was able to sell NES system for $40-$70 each. Last I checked Dreamcast systems only run about $20, so that method by itself won't work out the same way, but you're still better off buying lots than buying games individually.

[PapaStu]

The easiest way to do it is buying lots, (not alot but bundles) parting out what you need and reselling the rest to keep costs down or to pay for itself. The big bulk of my collection was built before everything had disappeared from stores and thanks to a few big lot purchases that gave me the bulk of my games. Expensive at the time, but it also got most of the demand titles out of the way.

As for variants you've got to ask yourself if you're going to bother with the Hot!New! re-releases that Midway did with their launch titles, since those are the versions that actually 'work'. Not that going after all variants adds alot to the systems count. 16 SAS releases (with one very small super anal variant), 4 Hot!New! (with 3 variants) and something like 8 Not For Resale pack ins over the lifespan of the system on top of the grand mega total of 249 games isn't a huge space/bank breaker.

[Joe West]

the only thing about buying lots, you get a 1000 of the same sport games.....the best way is buy the rare games first, then commons will come easy......oh and the resale vaule isnt very good...............

[smork]

I was in the market for a full set. I tried to work out a deal with someone on these boards to buy their set in total but they stopped answering my mails. I take that as a sign and have stopped pursuing one.

I do collect full sets, but generally only smaller and more obscure sets.

[tubeway]

You now have our permission to pursue an aspect of your hobby.

You may proceed.

[garagesaleking!!]

you could buy the entire dreamcast us game release on ebay pretty often, i think it went for 2500 last time i saw, lol.

or just buy lots on ebay and resell what you dont need like others have said, and keep an eye out on craigslist for cheap stuff.

[Darren870]

I did it in about 6 months. I had a complete collection a few years ago but wound up selling it off and keeping the good stuff.

Like most people said do it in lots. The hardest game to find is a complete Sonic Adventure: Limited Edition. And thats if you even care since there is no difference between the two besides something printed on the front.

I've got 4 games in my sale thread if you want to start

Feel free to PM me also with any questions. I only went for the 252 titles on the dreamcast list. I didn't go for different versions like sega all stars/not for resale/Green Tag Hot New Version). The Sonic Adventure 1 LE was on the 252 list so i went for it...

[Trebuken]

Some of the pricier games...

Marvel vs. Capcom 2
Powerstone 2
Giga Wing 2
Sonic Adventure 2
Bangai-O

Nothing too incrdeibly expensive...

[Kitsune Sniper]

if its not really a system you're passionate about ,you aren't going to enjoy collecting for it, it doens't help that about 90% of the games for it are shovelware crap that makes most of the stuff on the wii good (well..maybe not that bad....)

The biggest issue I have with the Dreamcast is that many of the games are ports or available across several systems. On the other hand it does have its fair share of "best versions around", like Grandia II.

If you're interested in buying or trading for stuff (mostly the easy to get sports games), I've got a ton that I got in lots and have no real interest in, so I'll let them go for a few games or something.

[garagesaleking!!]

dont forget project justice, that is pricey.

[NayusDante]

I can pick up a lot of the common sports games at Play N Trade. I've got a few lots that I'm watching on Ebay, so we'll see how those go.

[NayusDante]

Alright, I'm actually over 10% now, once all my recent eBay stuff arrives. I've picked up a few that I've been REALLY wanting (Grandia II, Virtual On), and also a lot of stuff that I wouldn't have picked up normally.

I'm going to be keeping a spreadsheet of everything, publicly available. If anybody with expertise on the matter could look at this, I'd like to know if I'm missing anything important or if my list has any mistakes. The best list I could find had 248 titles, but I'm not entirely sure it's accurate.

As for trading, I really don't have anything I want to get rid of right now. I'm more inclined to flat-out buy, but I'm trying to stay at or below the DP rarity guide prices, which means I'm not in a hurry to take the first deal I see. I'm trying to avoid tons of lots, since I really don't have the ability to ship and sell things (yet...).

I've pretty much memorized that list of "expensive" games, especially after watching eBay for a week. I'm definitely taking it slow finding a good deal on those. What I'm really wondering about now are the games that are really NOT worth much. What are the $5 and under titles that I should avoid overpaying for? The DP guide lists a lot as being low, but I've yet to see those kind of prices in actual listings. Everybody seems to think that everything's worth at least $7, closer to $10, when in actuality, the guide prices are lower than shipping.

[mobiusclimber]

The guide on here is wrong more often than not, and I apology to anyone who is offended by me saying that. The other thing to remember is (I believe) part of those prices are based on insanely good deals that end up throwing off the curve. Your best bet is to do a completed auction search on Ebay for the game in question and see what price it has consistently sold at and just go with that.

I think from a purely collector standpoint the Dreamcast is a great system to go for completion on. Small library with a lot of great games most of which can be had fairly cheaply.

But the only games I know of that I can say are super cheap are, obviously, the sports titles. And racing games. And Rainbow Six. Otherwise I almost never see a DC game as low as shipping.

[GrandAmChandler]

I did my set in one year flat. The games are out there, but you really have to be persistent. Off the top of my head some obscure games that gave me trouble finding a complete copy in good shape / not resurfaced:

Ferrari F355 Challenge
NBA Hoopz (Not kidding)
Prince of Persia: Arabian Nights
Hoyle Casino
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Maximum Pool
Sports Jam
Dragon Riders: Chronicles of Pern (Last Game I needed for my full set, took me the longest to find.)

Obviously the hardest game (and most expensive!) to get is going to be a complete copy of Sonic Adventure: Limited Edition (Note the condition of the manual in that auction). Once you get that, it's all downhill from there.

-GAC-

[carlcarlson]

I would also warn against using the DP guide prices. They've never been accurate for me. Mobius is right, if you really want to see the value of something just run a completed listings search. That's the only true way to see how much something is worth.

Nice spreadsheet by the way.

[PapaStu]

I did my set in one year flat. The games are out there, but you really have to be persistent. Off the top of my head some obscure games that gave me trouble finding a complete copy in good shape / not resurfaced:


NBA Hoopz (Not kidding)
Hoyle Casino
Sports Jam

Don't ask me why either but those three are all quite annoying to get ahold of (through non-ebay channels, ebay makes it a *bit* easier).

[PapaStu]

I'm going to be keeping a spreadsheet of everything, publicly available. If anybody with expertise on the matter could look at this, I'd like to know if I'm missing anything important or if my list has any mistakes. The best list I could find had 248 titles, but I'm not entirely sure it's accurate.

My personal list also has 248 titles, but I know your list isn't the same as mine since mine has both Sonic LE and Shenmue LE.

You are listing Sega Swirl for one. That never got a stand alone release. It only ever came on some of the Official Dreamcast Magazine discs, and on one of the DC online discs. I didn't look long enough to find the other potentially rogue title.