What do you collect and why?

[stickem]

I collect mostly for my sega consoles; Saturn, genesis, sega cd, and dreamcast. Had a good nes collection years ago and sold everything for lack of wanting to play 8 bit anymore. I wanted to collect for the snes a few years back but I wasn't wanting to drop the cash on all the games a new system brings. Since I already had a good amount of gems for those sega consoles, I stick to those, buying games I'll play and high dollar games I can afford. I also collect for ps3, xbox, ps2, and 3do. I've pulled the reigns back for awhile buying any retro games. I seem to have phases where I'll get titles I want in my collection vs tired of the skyrocketing prices and taking a break. I don't filler games much anymore. My collection isnt as big as alot of you guys, only around 600, but is it quality over quantity.

[Ziggy]

[BoneSnapDeez]

Answered this before, though I guess my answer changes a little each time.

I essentially just purchase games I want to play and ones I find interesting. I don't go for "console sets" but there are certain series/types/genres I will focus on. For instance, I'd like all the classic Micro Cabin console games. There are also specific consoles where I'll buy any game available, assuming I find it in the wild for a low price. The Atari 2600 and NES being the prime examples. I find these games inherently nostalgic and they're always good or at least "entertaining" in some capacity.

I don't purposefully go after rare and expensive games. And I purposefully reject those that are crafted specifically to be collector's items (Limited Run and so on).

[pook99]

@ziggy: when collecting for cd based stuff I greatly prefer having the case, instructions are nice but I'm not as focused on that. For cartridges I don't care, my n64 collection is purely cart only and I am totally fine with that.

@stickem: quality over quantity is always the way to go, even though I know I will never play every game I own, I at least have an intent to play every game I own which counts for something

@Bone: I also hate the whole limited run thing, there are so many games I would like a physical release for but refuse to pay an artifical price to get a purposefully limited run game.

@syndicate and Note: since you guys mentioned wii/xbox 360 be sure to check out gamestop before its too late, they have buy 2 get 2 free on retro games $10 or less, you could stack up on some great games for dirt cheap right now. It is very easy to spend less than 30 dollars and walk out with 8-12 games.

[Gunstar Green]

@ziggy: when collecting for cd based stuff I greatly prefer having the case, instructions are nice but I'm not as focused on that. For cartridges I don't care, my n64 collection is purely cart only and I am totally fine with that.

Same. I've never been bothered by loose carts (though I enjoy Genesis clamshells) but I generally don't like going for loose discs unless it's just not feasible to get a complete version. I don't necessarily need the manual for disc games but it bugs me if I don't have it.

[stickem]

For some reason when it comes to genesis cib's I'm drawn to the cardboard box variant. I find it fascinating the cardboard boxes have held up for 35 yrs, at least the ones I pick up. I dont get why the clamshells are more in value when they aren't near as easy to keep nice. I mean you can just swap clamshells and artwork , you cant cardboard. Doesnt make sense to me.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I don't ever buy loose discs unless we're talking about PC games that originally had "big box" packaging. So hard to find those complete these days. For years my local Goodwill perpetually seemed to have PC games in otherwise empty jewel cases. Got a bunch of those.

There's the price differential too of course. I grabbed a disc-only Knights of Xentar on eBay for $50. Complete copies are $300 or so.

[o.pwuaioc]

For some reason when it comes to genesis cib's I'm drawn to the cardboard box variant. I find it fascinating the cardboard boxes have held up for 35 yrs, at least the ones I pick up. I dont get why the clamshells are more in value when they aren't near as easy to keep nice. I mean you can just swap clamshells and artwork , you cant cardboard. Doesnt make sense to me.

I think it's because the cardboard box variants were later reprints. Plastic boxes look nicer too since most cardboard is frayed. Personally, I prefer a nice sturdy shell to keep the games safer.

[Ziggy]

I think it's because the cardboard box variants were later reprints.

They also had black and white manuals but earlier releases in hard shell cases had color manuals.

[Gunstar Green]

For some reason when it comes to genesis cib's I'm drawn to the cardboard box variant. I find it fascinating the cardboard boxes have held up for 35 yrs, at least the ones I pick up. I dont get why the clamshells are more in value when they aren't near as easy to keep nice. I mean you can just swap clamshells and artwork , you cant cardboard. Doesnt make sense to me.

The weirdest is 32X which released right at the cusp of the changeover so you've got a tiny library with a handful of clamshells and the rest are cardboard. It's like a visual indicator the chaos Sega was going through at the time.

I have some less-than-good cardboard Sega boxes but some of them are really nice like my copy of NFL 98 which somehow looks like it came straight from the factory.

I don't ever buy loose discs unless we're talking about PC games that originally had "big box" packaging. So hard to find those complete these days. For years my local Goodwill perpetually seemed to have PC games in otherwise empty jewel cases. Got a bunch of those.

There's the price differential too of course. I grabbed a disc-only Knights of Xentar on eBay for $50. Complete copies are $300 or so.

Yeah not only is collecting big boxes a pain but I don't have anywhere to put them. I've only got a select few I keep around.