The modern console collecting topic (PS2 to PS3)

[ReaXan]

I collect for all mentioned systems(including the Dreamcast). The Xbox is far and away my favorite system to collect for. It has an awesome collection of games not available on any other system and they were made even better due to XBL(another experience none of the other systems came close to last gen). Xbox live pretty much filled the void left by the death of arcades in the US and we no longer had to be in the same room/building as our friends in order to be able to play with them. XBL also gave multiplayer games such as Halo 2 and Burnout 3 infinite replay value. Even when you factor in third party multiplatform games the Xbox received several PC ports that neither of the other two systems got. Collecting wise the Xbox's games don't hold their value as well as Nintendo's first party games but theres a handful of titles that still go for $20+. Plus that also means that now is a great time to complete your game library on the cheap.

I didn't get my Gamecube until after that gen ended. I have a small collection of games for it but most of them are still sealed(you see where I'm going here). Like the N64 before it the GC does have some good games worth playing, especially if you're into their first party offerings. But for me I like a nice mix of first and third party titles. The Gamecube's third party titles were few and far between and the kiddy image was made even more visible in comparison to the other two systems. But collecting wise(if you are just in it for money) it's definitely the system to pick up games for, specifically first party games. And since 90% of my GC library is still sealed I expect to do pretty well once I cash out.

I always liked the PS2 and that was the system I was set to get after rocking my PS1 for the previous six years when preparing to make the jump to next gen. It had a huge collection of games, both third and first. And it was the most mainstream system of it's time. But I always felt it was missing something. No, not Halo. Well yeah it was missing that too but what it really lacked was a unified online multiplayer system like XBL. You could still play games on PS2 but it just wasn't the same and thats probably because Sony didn't base their console around the idea of online mutiplayer like Microsoft did. Not that this takes away from any of it's single player games but I've always felt the PS2 would have been so much better had Sony taken online multiplayer serious back then. For instance, if Tekken Tag Tournament had online multiplayer at launch I might have gotten the system at launch instead of waiting so long. As far as collecting for it, mine is mixed between US and Japanese games. It also doesn't have as many money worthy games as the Gamecube. Where as almost all PS1 rpg's were worth good money at some point in time that isn't the case for PS2 rpg's. You really have to pick and choose. Still, the PS2 currently goes down as Sony's last good system(I prefer the PS1 over the PS2 but both are good systems).

As for the handhelds, I collect for the Psp but it doesn't have much worth playing that didn't also get ported to the PS2 or PS3. The GBA and DS both have an overabundance of good games, made even better by the region free nature of each system. I also collect for all current gen systems but most of my gaming takes place on the 360. I haven't touched my Wii since 2011 and(no surprise) most of my games for it are still sealed. Thats actually a good thing as far as Metroid Prime Trilogy and a few others are concerned. Same with my PS3. Last year I gave it a good run with beating several of it's exclusives but this year I've pretty much only used it for a bluray player. Knowing that this gen isn't over and that all three systems already have some pretty big money games I think that people should start picking up games for each as soon as each systems libraries start to get clearanced, which I suspect will be in another 2-3 years once all the other systems have been out long enough to become established.

Its good to see someone getting good luck and collecting the way I have always wanted to collect.

To be honest, at least here in the South(Tennessee) it usually takes last gen systems almost 2 full cycles to go down in price to where I would even consider buying the games I want for them. Game shops around here are notorious for charging 17.99-24.99 for old XBox/PS2/Gamecube games, most of which are dirt common/ multiported/already on PC or are basically shovelware in my opinion. These gameshops got smart and now look online and know the current going price for almost every game so its kinda ruined the fun of going game hunting for me .Really the most I want to pay for a retro game if it isn't rare is 9.99 with full cover and box with the other majority being 5.99 or something like that.2.99 on your dirt common if you want me to clean your shop out of games and buy something I don't even need for you not being evil. Not to say I wouldn't pay more if it was a true classic and rare but who wants to pay $14.99 for Soldier of Fortune 2 on Xbox? That is honestly the trend with PS2/Xbox Collecting with Gamecube being even worse when it comes to Mario related games. Yeah I want Silent Hill 3 on PS2 but why is it still 24.99 when I know it will just be ported in a Silent Hill collection pack on PS4/One for like 39.99. Why spend that money if its taking away your current gen gaming budget and gaming experiences.

As for flea markets down here I usually can find an old worn out NES or subpar overpriced loose PS2 games by a stingy vendor who thinks what he has is pure gold. I have been to many Goodwills around Memphis,TN and I can safely say in this city you won't find people throwing anything of value out or a majority of the population never even had it to begin with. The most rare thing I found in the wild was a Gamecube Broadband adapter, thats it. Even Goodwill will overprice a PS2 more than Gamestop and mark it "as is". Its almost laughable to try to be a collector in this state.

I recently started the pawnshop routine but its seem the systems you find they always stuff that people have worn out to where it barely turns on, like the original 360 for example and they still want 40 bucks for just the system no accessories. You can't go through and test every system like you want to because some guy on drugs wants to sell his lawnmower and hold up the sales associate. They really want to take the junk someone passed onto them for 10 bucks and have you buy their broken electronics for triple the price. Its like its engrained in pawn shops to prevent you from getting a good deal so I am now done with them.

Basically,because the market has gotten so greedy on even the common games from that generation and just from overall disappointment in 10 years of collecting I have been forced now to softmod and emulate . I have no problem spending money if the price is fair but its been like this for years and years and doesn't seem to be getting any better in all honesty. All I can say to the new gen of collectors is good luck. Every vendor has his iPhone ready so you can't get that deal anymore.