Genre Collecting

[bargora]

It seems like the most common collecting model is to collect all carts (discs, etc.) for X system. Less often, you hear about collecting for only a genre within a system or across systems. For example, I like to collect shooting games. Who else here collects primarily within one or more genres, rather than trying to assemble a complete collection for a system or systems?

Also, for those of you who collect in a genre, what resources do you use to determine what goes in your collection? While it's usually not difficult to figure out the domestic releases, it can be a little harder if you also collect imports. In my case, I find that the "xenocide files" at http://www.classicgaming.com/shmups/ and the Shooter Database at http://www.starbase299.com/ (now online again) are a good resources.

How 'bout alla youse?

[Gus]

I collect strip mahjong games. I don't have to worry about choosing between domestic and import versions very often.

Also a sucker for anything that's excessively cute, or weird. Think Nitoshinden, Pocket Fighter, Keio Flying Squadron, Cotton, Puyo Puyo... parts of my collection could give you cavities from the surplus sugar.

[chadtower]

You need a copy of Toilet Kids! Great game.

[bargora]

You need a copy of Toilet Kids! Great game.

No shit...?
I have long dreamed of shooting flying turds and toilets.

[chadtower]

You need a copy of Toilet Kids! Great game.

No shit...?
I have long dreamed of shooting flying turds and toilets.

It's one of my very favorites...

[Kroogah]

Bemani and music games, of course. ^_^

[ClubNinja]

While much of my collecting is based on the entire library of a given system, I do have a sub-collection of fighters. Mostly 2D, but 3D is allowed into the fold as well.

There are two key factors that I consider when possibly adding a game into that collection. First, I only do Dreamcast and back, which eliminates PS2, XBox, GameCube, and even GBA stuff. Second, the fighting must be tournament-style, with power bars, special moves, and all that jazz. Beat em ups like Double Dragon don't count (though I have lots of those as well.) I should keep track of how many I have, but I don't. Crossing into imports has really made the whole concept scary though - tons and tons of fighters (some very very good ones) fall into the import category. While many of them can be had on the Neo Geo, I can't afford to bother with that beast yet, so Saturn imports are pretty much the only way to go.

Also, I have a pretty large selection of hockey titles, and I just keep adding them. Least expensive collecting goal ever!

I have sub-collections of Sonic and Mega Man, too, but they don't really count as genres, do they?

[Atari7800]

Another shooter fan!!!

I recentlly completed a genre-specific goal... collect ALL the shooting games for the Sega Saturn. Corridor shooters like Quake didn't make the list, nor did gun shooters. Just 2-D (Radiant Silvergun), track-based pseudo 3-D with sprites (Afterburner), track-based psuedo 3-D with polygons (Panzer Dragoon), and true 3-D shooters (Wing Arms) plus a few oddities like puzzle/shooting hybrids (Twinkle Star Sprites), classics (Tempest), platform shooters (Metal Slug), and Mech 3-d shooters (Gun Griffon.)

I'm pretty sure I got all of them... took a hell of a lot of research. Some of the folks on this board were really helpful and told me about several that I had missed (like G-Vector, Night Striker S, and Tukaii Slot Shooting)

I also collected all the Capcom fighting games for the Saturn. Did you know that the horrid Final Fight Revenge was the only 3-D fighting game Capcom ever did for the Saturn?

[girth305]

I am definitely a shmup fan. I collect them for a bunch of systems. I have been playing the crap out of ikaruga on GC. I also collect nes games. It seems I can't have enough nes carts stacked in my room to be happy, hahha. In terms of Genres I can't think of many others that I actively collect for, though I think puzzle would be a neat one to get into.

[Steven J. Lumas]

I collect young girls (female gender)! I have 7 right now. No, wait, 6. Ernestine escaped.

[hydr0x]

mainly systems but also genres, but i do collect genres first because i know it will take me too long to complete a system and so i collect rpg's first, then shooters, then jump&run or whatever to achieve full system piece for piece

[scooterb23]

Bowling games...I'm an absolute sucker for bowling games...I need to find the two really horrible bowling games for Game Boy Color...and I need to get back a copy of 3d Pro Bowl for PC (that one was sooooo wretched...I returned it the next day.)

[Oobgarm]

I love picking up racing games and golf games. Side scrolling shumps are also excellent in my book.

[jaydubnb]

It seems like the most common collecting model is to collect all carts (discs, etc.) for X system. Less often, you hear about collecting for only a genre within a system or across systems. For example, I like to collect shooting games. Who else here collects primarily within one or more genres, rather than trying to assemble a complete collection for a system or systems?

Also, for those of you who collect in a genre, what resources do you use to determine what goes in your collection? While it's usually not difficult to figure out the domestic releases, it can be a little harder if you also collect imports. In my case, I find that the "xenocide files" at http://www.classicgaming.com/shmups/ and the Shooter Database at http://www.starbase299.com/ (now online again) are a good resources.

How 'bout alla youse?

No shootie fan should be without the Xenocide Files...great site It helped me discover lots of shooties I didnt even know existed, mainly because they were Japan only.

But to the topic: I focus mostly on shooters and 2D fighters. When it comes to shooters, I've been focusing on all systems and right now, in particular, Genny/Mega Drive and PCE stuff. After readinig about how the NES version of Lifeforce was a remixed version of the arcade game, I've become obsessed with getting the Salamander Deluxe pack for the Saturn which has the TRUE Lifeforce I blew sooo much money on as a kid.


For fighters, I'm focusing on the NEO*GEO right now. I loving King of the Fighters 98 right about now (was playing it in an arcade this weekend) and I'm thinking of getting the home cart.

Between these two genres I have a few scattered run and gun games like Contra and Gunstar Heroes -- lol I guess I just cant stop blowing shiz up

I LIkEZ mE GaMEz GO BOOM BOOM!

[josekortez]

I collect fighting games, shooters, and puzzle games if they're in my price range. I have most of the ones for the Dreamcast, PS1, and later consoles, and I'll buy them for the 16-bit systems when I see them. I need to purchase the Sorcerer's Maze and Puzznic PS1 games the next time I see them.

Also, I'd like to own all the domestic titles for the Dreamcast (excluding Sonic Adventure: LE, which I won't lose any sleep over if I don't get it). It's my favorite system of all time.

If I had to say I'm hunting for something in particular, it would have to be extremely cheap titles for the modern systems. I noticed that my heart starts beating extremely fast when I find a $4.99 game for GameCube, Xbox, or PS2. But cheapo games can't be categorized as a genre, can it?

[RetroYoungen]

I'm not a big fighting game fan, but I've found I can't get enough of them on the NGPC. MotM, Gals Fighters, KoF R-2, and as many others as I can get my hands on.

[Nick Goracke]

Genre collecting is my main focus. IMO, just buying up games because you can is sorta pointless (unless you're aiming for a "complete" system collection - I see the draw there), so I stick to my favorites. I've got just about every domestically released Japanese RPG and shooter. I also make a point to pick up all the quality Japanese-only releases in these 2 genres (trying for a complete collection is just too much).

Beyond that, I ONLY pick up games in other genres that I love playing. I make a concious effort not to pick up titles just because they're cheap, etc...

[Balloon Fight]

I like to collect for complete systems, but i do like to collect weird platform/action games. (Rocket Knight Adventures and Dynamite Headdy spring to mind.)
I am also a HUGE fighting game fan, and am going to start up on amassing a good set.

[evilmess]

I'm just starting my collection(s) (SNES/SFC and Genesis) but thanks to sites like classicgaming.com/shmups/ and starbase299.com I've been bitten by the shmups bug and I'm a sucker for cute games starring cute characters like twin bees, kirby, mega man, mario and of course sonic.

So, I'm kinda bouncing around between those two categories for the most part.

[buttasuperb]

I collect 2D Fighters and Shooters, more specifically 2D fighters and shooters for MVS or CPS2. Actually I pretty much only buy stuff for those 2 systems these days. I just discovered Magical Drop 3 for the MVS, most addictive puzzle game I've ever played, fast paced, digital crack. Recommended to the puzzle fans, whether it be on MVS or MAME. 2 player is most fun though.

I will one day own every CPS2 cart put out in the US market. It's the only complete collection I'm trying to get.