How Do You Keep Track Of Your Games?

[Trebuken]

You can do some amazing things with Excel if you really get into it. Most people only use about 10% of it's functionality I'd guess.

I do not like putting my list of games online. Why wait for it? I believe Game Collector is the best option though hardly perfect. They are beginning to make some progress again on adding games automatically (it was cooler when AllGameGuide.com allowed them access).

If you only add a couple games at a time (after you've entered your collection) it's great. You'll need to steal cover scans and such from the sites already discussed, but does not take long if you keep up with it. (OK, I'm wayyy behind in updating myself...)

Later,
Trebuken

[Truffle]

Ew, I hate the idea of storing all that info on someones site.
Ive seen alot of data erased over the years, including in DPs database. I loath having to re-input loads of data...

I keep all my games listed in a dayrunner (little office binder)
I find it more enjoyable to write stuff down than type something in/click on a box.

Plus if I die, my family can just look in my easy-to-find dayrunner for a complete index of the contents of my Game Room.

[Gapporin]

Damn, all these answers sound like work.

That's why you start cataloging it while your collection is small. :P

For the record, I use Excel with my own template (Title, Box, Manual, Extras, Notes and Rarity).

[GarrettCRW]

Damn, all these answers sound like work.

That's why you start cataloging it while your collection is small. :P

It passed "small" long before I switched to Mac.

[keiblerfan69]

I use IGN and Gamespot. IGN is much better because you don't have to be exact on the name and they have imports too.

[Mayhem]

am i the only person who remembers what i've got in my noggin? the only thing is i can't remember what has manuals etc. so when i get a job lot of games, i check them accross with the older copy to check out condition/manual etc.

Nope, it's almost all in my head too. And Excel spreadsheet for a few just to confirm from time to time. No mean feat when I've got over 2,000 games in my collection

[PapaStu]

am i the only person who remembers what i've got in my noggin? the only thing is i can't remember what has manuals etc. so when i get a job lot of games, i check them accross with the older copy to check out condition/manual etc.

No I carry my stuff in my head as well... my mind has always been good at remembering covers and has helped my so many times find variants that I didn't know existed.

However you get to a point where you've got a few thousand games (before variants) and your mind doesnt remember what you've got all that well.

[Rockman Neo]

Cripes, am I the only one who uses GameSpot? You can't track boxes or manuals with it or anything, but it's a pretty redundant feature if you ask me, since I already have all the boxes and manuals for all of my games archived in the attic (exlcuding my GC, XB, and PS1 games. They stay in my room).

At first, archiving crap on there is a tedious practice, but it's not too hard if you're just adding 1 or 2 games.

[Speedy_NES]

I started off with Excel, then moved on to a personalized database using Cardbox, and finally ended up at www.rfgeneration.com. Easy to track your collection and keep it updated, and as some have mentioned before, games get added fast

[Joker T]

Have one on IGN, works fine for me.

[fishsandwich]

I have all my crap in Word documents. I wish I'd used Excel, but I'm not real good with it.

I forget to update from time to time. My buying has really slowed. Once in a while I'll buy something I already had but forgot to record. Dammit.

I need to re-do mine but I don't have the time.

[rolenta]

I use a Word document to keep track. The list is arranged alphabetically by manufacturers and then subdivided by systems. Then I use software called Clickbook to print the document in booklet form. Right now the booklet runs 32 pages.

[djbeatmongrel]

i use ign for everything except Wonderswan, their database is weak on wonderswan.

anyone know a good place thats often updated like ign with new games but has an indepth database like the digitalpress one?

[cyberfluxor]

I can generally tell someone if I own a game or not, but I do store a highly accurate TXT file. Aside from that, I do update my digitpress "games owned" section when I remember to. There was a point where I wanted to start a spread sheet of all the games I own and the prices I paid, ect. and decided not to because of the tough work required and the lack of data I have collection from a few hundred I never recorded prices. All in all, I have a general feel on what I bought things for and only store the list.

[evg2000]

I use access, with a java app that creates my web pages on my site, and also creates a list that loads into ListPro so I have a custom copy of my list on my pocket PC.

later,
Charles

[GuilewasNK]

I used to use a spreadsheet in MS Works before I found out about IGN collections. I tried using Gamespot's version but it just isn't as robust as IGN. It doesn't differentiate between limited editions and regular, doesn't list demos, etc.

[Trebuken]

I use access, with a java app that creates my web pages on my site, and also creates a list that loads into ListPro so I have a custom copy of my list on my pocket PC.

I do something similar (no webpage, just the exporting).

I export from Game Collector to a text file (formatted through trial and error), that I can then copy to my PSP and open with CNReader (text reader for PSP).

Your method sounds cooler, but mine works OK for generatinf a portable list anyways.

Later,
Trebuken

[InsaneDavid]

Damn, all these answers sound like work.

That's why you start cataloging it while your collection is small. :P

For the record, I use Excel with my own template (Title, Box, Manual, Extras, Notes and Rarity).

Or sit down one day and go "I'm going to get this done" and do a little at a time, things will only continue to grow.

I use Excel for everything, only list the game title and condition (cartridge only, with box, with booklet, complete, etc.) as any other information such as manufacturer can always be looked up or I can just pull out the game and look. Different revisions are noted in the game title. I then copy / paste into a table over at my site so I'll have an online reference. Yeah it's not super detailed but it's only supposed to be a public supplement to the Excel hardcopies.

And of course all data (as well as web development) gets archived to CD media every week - I've learned the hard way about backing up your data...... all that technical documentation I wrote in high school.. all gone.

[Slate]

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.

[FullCircle]

I use collectorz.com's game collector software and a hacked cuecat. Then I add whatever info to the games that it doesn't pick up from its database. Then it will publish the lists to HTML and I use Zoom search engine to index them.