The composition of your collection.

[Slimedog]

How do you distinguish what does and does not get into your collection? Do you collect all games for a system, or just a subset? I see a lot of posts from people here to collect every game, even if they have no intention of playing them all and it seems like a lot of people don't buy unless they are actually going to play it. Where do you stand? Also let me know if there are any choices that are blatently omitted and I'll try and add them.

[DoubleJJ]

I mainly just collect what appears to be interesting, or fun. No specifics, even though the majority of my collection is RPG's.

[Ed Oscuro]

I still have a problem picking up junk because I don't want to leave Goodwill empty handed, but I've gotten pretty good with limiting myself to games I want to play. I don't really care about awesome tech (though hardware is good, always good) so much as I do the games; same goes for "unique" or "historically valuable" stuff. It better be fun.

[Kevin Listwan]

If the price is right I will pick up any game. But for the most part I tend to be on the lookout for games that are interesting/odd or just plain good ones.

[Roi]

For now I'm trying 'All games released for a system domestically.' for my Cube.

[RetroYoungen]

For the most part I collect domestic games. For my Pocket Color in particular I love the imports, as they're really easy to just pop in and play (as in no little extras or adapters to worry about). But mostly I just stick to games I know I'll be able to play in my native tongue, and those games are a helluva lot easier to come across around here.

[Sylentwulf]

All domestic released games for systems up to and not including the N64/ps1, no handhelds.

Although I DO pickup dreamcast, and non-gameboy handheld games if they're $1 at a flea market or something for example

[Slimedog]

All domestic released games for systems up to and not including the N64/ps1, no handhelds.

Although I DO pickup dreamcast, and non-gameboy handheld games if they're $1 at a flea market or something for example

Thats probably another topic all together. What systems you collect seems to have a lot to do with when you started gaming, but not always. Even though I started gaming in 1980 on a 2600, my collection starts with NES and later (excluding the 7800) for all US released consoles and portables. I know I'm missing lots of great stuff by not getting imports, but they just cost so much I need to draw the line somewhere.

[chrisbid]

ultimately, i would like to own every domestic game for every sega system, but for right now, when i go to gamestores, i look for any games from the more difficult systems to shop for in the wild.

for example, if i see a box of VCS games, i will go for those first, as few stores carry anything prior to NES anymore.

the only exception, is that right now im on a trek to find every complete dreamcast game i can in the city that isnt overpriced (under 10 bucks). i loathe ebay, so i will only go there once ive taken every other measure possible to complete my DC collection

[MegaManFan]

Actually that poll pretty much screws me over, because I can answer a different way for each system I own. On TG and SMS I collect all the domestic games, plus imports (my US SMS collection is complete). On N64 and Dreamcast I'm only working on complete sets of US titles. On 2600 I don't actively seek out imports, but I will collect them for curiosity's sake and if the price is right. Genesis I will only go out of my way to purchase import Mega Drive titles for if they were never released in the US (although I've accidentally bought a few that were). Saturn I don't really collect hardcore for on either domestic or import, but imports always seem to catch my attention and they are easier to store due to not having the stupid breakable oversize case. 7800 I have a complete set of games for, including an "import" I bought modified to NTSC (Sentinel). The list goes on and on. There's not one hard and fast rule for my entire collection - it varies system to system.

[Jumpman Jr.]

I collect Nintendo home-based cartridges. They are the only games that I can stand playing

[Aussie2B]

I know I'm missing lots of great stuff by not getting imports, but they just cost so much I need to draw the line somewhere.

You'd be surprised just how cheap imports can be. o_O For example, nearly every RPG in existence is cheaper Japanese than in English. And even the Japanese-exclusive ones tend to be dirt cheap.

Anyway, I'll buy games for virtually any system, and I buy both imports and domestic titles. I try to avoid PAL, though, just because that's a whole 'nother can of beans I don't feel like opening (and there are very few titles I'd want that weren't released in Japan OR the US). I'm also not into PC/calculator/cellphone/what have you games. I have a small stack of PC games, and I don't even include them on my collection list. I don't even fully know what I have. o_O Nothing special and nothing that interests me, I know that much.

Even though I'm open to just about anything, I don't collect with a mass-hoarding mentality. I go for games that I think will amuse me in one way or another, whether it be an excellently designed game or a game so terrible that it's hilarious (if it's the latter, I won't pay much, though). There's only one system that I actively want a complete US collection for - the Neo Geo Pocket Color, and I got no problems with that since nearly the entire library is great.

[Crazycarl]

i only collect games that i want to play, or seem weird that i want to give a shot. So my collection has no real fluidity, just a mish mash of diff. games that seemed like a good time.lol

[Lady Jaye]

I'm mostly a gamer, rather than a collector, so the bulk of what I have is what I consider "classic must-haves". I'm by no mean a completist.

[Emily]

For me its standard to try and obtain all domestic releases for the systems I collect for...
But systems I really favor ( GB, Vectrex) Ill buy up imports. I like importing games for systems that dont require any modifications to play them.

[Slimedog]

My collection comes from a list of game I would ever possibly play. I kind of have it down to a formula, but its pretty convoluted. It starts with a complete list of all games available for the system that were released domestically (US).

Remove the sports games. I leave on any future sports titles that don't have directly the same rules as a current sport, for example Ball Blazers is in, Cyberball is out.

Remove any edutanement, such as anything Barney or Telletubbies.

Remove board games and game shows that have a real life counterpart. Monopoly is out, Top Shop is in. Casino games also get the boot unless they have a significant component from another genere.

Non-game applications also get kicked off, such as GBA videos and organizer software.

Finally some nitpicking that falls under personal taste. Driving/Racing/Filght sims (Gran Turismo) are out, arcade equivialents (Ridge Racer) are in. Obviously this is the greyest area of the rules.

This usually leaves 75-80% of the games for a system for me to attempt to amass. I've done this for all dead systems NES and later and thats the list. Single spaced, double columns it is currently 42 pages long. 42 is a nice number. God now that I see the rules all written down, I realize what a tragically sick bastard I've become.

[AlexKidd]

Generally I only collect games that i'll eventually play. However I would like a complete U.S. collection for my nes and turbo grafx.

[dieourumov]

I collect games for the NES and SNES, and i have one import game. i usually tend to stay away from fighting games though.

[tholly]

I buy or have games from any US released system.

If I'm out shopping, I find something I don't have, and the price is right, I'll buy it.

I stay away from imports though....I want stuff that I can actually understand without some sort of translator dictionary or something.

[squidblatt]

I'm going for a complete US Xbox collection, and I may end up upgrading to imports as well.

For the rest, I just get what interests me or looks like a good, cheap deal.