Software to manage collection.

[[-Sentinel-]]

Hey everybody.
I was talking to a friend today, saying that I bought a game and then I found out that I already had that game in my collection. The problem: I didn't manage my collection untill now. So he said about a software that can manage his Blu-Ray collection and that they had a version for game collection.
It's called Game Collector, by Collectorz.com
Here's the link: http://www.collectorz.com/game/
I downloaded the trial version but I don't have a barcode reader. I tried to add a game manually but my stupid internet connection won't let it connect to the database.
So, my question is: does anyone here use this? Is it worth the price?
From what I've seen, it would fit perfectly what I need.

Thanks!

[SegaAges]

I am pretty envious of what they use. I wrote my own web based one that is in my sig that I use. I am working on updating it, but that software is pretty awesome. I have no heard bad things from it.

[Ed Oscuro]

I don't usually care about other people knowing what I own, but for everything else there's the OpenOffice Calc software. Just a regular spreadsheet. Before that Notepad works.

My biggest problem with all collecting software is that if you're interested in games being as complete as they were at retail you basically need the software to have every last component mentioned in a field to check off. Japanese Saturn games should have spine cards; some games should have extras mentioned where applicable. There's also condition to worry about; a simple checkmark isn't good enough for managing multiples. Honestly, I just keep it all in my head.

[SegaAges]

As a person who wrote a chunk of software and actively makes freelance software like this for people, the one thing that makes it complicated is being able to automate every single extra item for each system. I did the easy way out with an extra comments section for the games, and I am assuming most other software does the same

[Kitsune Sniper]

I tried using it. (The Collectorz software, I mean.) I went back to Google Docs after an hour.

[[-Sentinel-]]

I tried using it. (The Collectorz software, I mean.) I went back to Google Docs after an hour.

Be helpful and list the things you didn't like.

[Ed Oscuro]

As a person who wrote a chunk of software and actively makes freelance software like this for people, the one thing that makes it complicated is being able to automate every single extra item for each system. I did the easy way out with an extra comments section for the games, and I am assuming most other software does the same

As I tried to suggest in my post, there's really no other way of doing it unless you know exactly what came for each game, since it varies from game to game even on the same system.

[ScourDX]

My only complain is the database takes forever to update. Sometimes they don't even bother to update. I had issue with IGN collection list and several other website. Spreadsheet like Excel is the best way to manage your software. It allows you to have total control.

[SegaAges]

As I tried to suggest in my post, there's really no other way of doing it unless you know exactly what came for each game, since it varies from game to game even on the same system.

Trust me, you are not alone in wanting something awesome like that. I tried out seriously about 15 ideas to try and do it and none of it worked out.

The only way to really pull it off is to either have a full on dynamic application (very possible, but very shitty to code) or have it connect to some massive database that has that information.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Be helpful and list the things you didn't like.

The interface was incredibly clumsy, and it took too long to load anything. A text list in Excel or Google Docs works just as well and isn't that much trouble to set up.

SegaAges' one is good too. Simple and to the point. Not the kind of stuff I need, but I liked what I saw. I tried using RFGeneration's website too and it's pretty decent.

[[-Sentinel-]]

The interface was incredibly clumsy, and it took too long to load anything. A text list in Excel or Google Docs works just as well and isn't that much trouble to set up.

SegaAges' one is good too. Simple and to the point. Not the kind of stuff I need, but I liked what I saw. I tried using RFGeneration's website too and it's pretty decent.

What I liked on this software is that you can get a full description on the game and list your games only by the barcode. Sounds much easier.
But I'm starting to think that the Excel file would be good enough...
Geez...

[Kitsune Sniper]

What I liked on this software is that you can get a full description on the game and list your games only by the barcode.

Sometimes a barcode isn't enough. There's game variants that use the same UPC code, even first prints of games which have different cover artwork and contents. And what happens when the site has no idea what the game is supposed to be? Or when the UPC is incorrect?

That program has its use, but it's not for me. I prefer something that lets me input whatever I want and not have to deal with someone's possibly inaccurate database which rarely gets updated (as other people have mentioned here).

[[-Sentinel-]]

Sometimes a barcode isn't enough. There's game variants that use the same UPC code, even first prints of games which have different cover artwork and contents. And what happens when the site has no idea what the game is supposed to be? Or when the UPC is incorrect?

That program has its use, but it's not for me. I prefer something that lets me input whatever I want and not have to deal with someone's possibly inaccurate database which rarely gets updated (as other people have mentioned here).

You can add it manually. Adding by the barcode isn't the only option. And you can edit informations on the games added through barcode (you can even edit the pic, adding, for example, a photo of your game).

[VACRMH]

That program has its use, but it's not for me. I prefer something that lets me input whatever I want and not have to deal with someone's possibly inaccurate database which rarely gets updated (as other people have mentioned here).

You can edit any information in your database after you download it, and upload revisions too I believe. But yeah, sometimes it's a pain in the ass to add a game and have to start editing stuff for it right off the bat.

If anyone is interested, till December 31st the program is 50% off
http://collectorz.com/game2009

[-Sentinel-], I've been using the program for quite some time and really enjoy it. I like having control over every last detail for every game. Only problem is that you have to upload your collection to your own hosting service if you want to share it online, so I still use RFGen for that and my want list.

[aclbandit]

I actually strongly recommend GCStar.

it's available for Windows and Linux, at least, and I think Mac too. I use it to track my game collection. It can automatically grab info from lots of different databases, including MobyGames, Gamespot, and Amazon.

good stuff. Give it a try.

[[-Sentinel-]]

You can edit any information in your database after you download it, and upload revisions too I believe. But yeah, sometimes it's a pain in the ass to add a game and have to start editing stuff for it right off the bat.

If anyone is interested, till December 31st the program is 50% off
http://collectorz.com/game2009

[-Sentinel-], I've been using the program for quite some time and really enjoy it. I like having control over every last detail for every game. Only problem is that you have to upload your collection to your own hosting service if you want to share it online, so I still use RFGen for that and my want list.

I want to try the barcode scan tomorrow, but I might have a problem with my internet connection...
What's this RFGen you are talking about?

[Ed Oscuro]

Trust me, you are not alone in wanting something awesome like that. I tried out seriously about 15 ideas to try and do it and none of it worked out.

The only way to really pull it off is to either have a full on dynamic application (very possible, but very shitty to code) or have it connect to some massive database that has that information.

My point was that it's not really possible, so yeah, I'm not blaming you.

[portnoyd]

I just use Excel.

[megasdkirby]

Game Collectorz for $25? I've been waiting for a price reduction! $50 seemed a bit high, although the program IS worth it.

[Oobgarm]

I used the Collectorz stuff for a good long while. I was able to edit fields to what I wanted and track stuff down to small details. I haven't used it in the past few months, but I'd love to go back and get everything in order again. It was a little clumsy at first, but became really easy to use after a little while.

Personally, I think it'd best to add everything in by hand with it rather than rely on their search engines. But I'm picky about my data.