Counting your collection

[Curlypaul]

So I've set about creating a database of all the games in my collection and I've hit a few dillemmas along the way.

Firstly, do I count collections of games on one disk, a la Sonic Jam, as one game or many? Really its only one, but one of the things I want to track is how many games I've finished and how many I've still never played.

For the same reason, do I count pirates that I've inadvertently picked up over the years? I still want to count them as finished or whatever, but I dont really consider them part of the collection. Likewise, i dont really count the handful of wiiware titles that I've got - without a box it just doesnt feel like I own them.

Do you guys count your collection? what things do you include/exclude? what is it that drives you to now exactly how many N64 games you own and how many have a box?

[noiseredux]

I use RFGeneration to track my collection. You can make note of manuals, boxes, etc. Therefore, it counts one collection as one game. Now, if I picked up a pirate cart (not knowing it was a pirate) then I'd just count it personally. If you've got burned CDR's or whatever, then I wouldn't count those. That's just me.

[pepharytheworm]

I need to start a database of all my games. I am on RFgeneration.com but I haven't statred yet. I haven't bought something twice accidently, but I might if I don't start keeping track soon.

I wouldn't count collections as seperate games but I might count pirated games if I paid for them. I don't count burned games. There are other websites that instead of your collection keeps track of what you played which seems more what you are looking for.

[Reverend]

My collection took me a good chunk of a day to get recorded. It's a word file divided in two halves, Handheld and Console. Each half has sections for specific systems. Each system is split into games and System Itself/Accessories/Remotes, etc. Next to each thing is the amount I have and assorted notes are either in the title of the section (such as "Complete unless otherwise stated), or in parenthesis.

For example, here is the Gamecube section of my database. The whole database is currently 11 full pages.

Nintendo Gamecube

Systems/Accessories
[1] Jet Black Nintendo Gamecube
[1] Nintendo Gamecube AC Adapter
[1] Nintendo Gamecube AV Cables
[1] Off Brand Gamecube AV Cables
[1] Nintendo Brand Memory Card (1019 Blocks)
[1] Nintendo Brand Memory Card (59 Blocks)
[1] Mad Catz Brand Memory Card (59 Blocks)
[1] Nintendo Brand Indigo Controller
[1] Nintendo Brand Jet Black Controller
[1] Nintendo Brand Platinum Controller (orange spice shell)
[1] Nintendo Brand Orange Spice Controller (broken with platinum shell)
[1] Broken Nintendo Brand Controller (orange spice with platinum shell)
[1] Unknown Brand Counterfeit Orange Controller (broken R button)
[1] Nyko Brand Star Pad Controller
[1] Game Boy Player
[1] Game Boy Player Start-Up Disk
[1] Datel Action Replay Max/Freeloader Disk

Games (complete unless specified)
[1] Super Smash Bros. Melee (Player's Choice)
[1] Sonic Mega Collection (Player's Choice)
[1] Sonic Gems Collection
[1] Mega Man Anniversary Collection
[1] Mega Man X Collection
[1] Battle Stadium D.O.N. (import)
[1] Alien Hominid
[1] Mario Party 5
[1] Digimon Rumble Arena 2
[1] Viewtiful Joe
[1] Viewtiful Joe 2
[1] Ikaruga
[1] Spider-Man 2 (Player's Choice)
[1] Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
[1] Dragon Ball Z Budokai 2
[1] Dragon Ball Z Budokai (disk only with replaced box and art)

[Flake]

I use Backloggery. It has a mechanic for treating games in a compilation as separate games but clearly places them under the umbrella of the compilation disc. It also allows you to denote a game as a re-release by providing a space to list the games origin.

For example, Super Mario 2 on the SNES could include that it was part of All-Stars and was originally on the NES.

[Pichu]

I use BackLoggery.

I don't count pirated games, and I may switch to something else. But
the Backloggery works excellent, and is easy to use.

[fastbilly1]

Ive got a backloggery, but it is not as updated as it should be. My biggest dilemma is having it when I am out in the field. I know Ive bought NES games more than once accidentally (those three copies of Contra were intentional). I would go for a spreadsheet or txt document but my palm pilot is out of action now.

I like backloggery's setup with compilations (as flake has pointed out). Typically I just count compilations as such.

[Curlypaul]

Yeah I joined both of those site some time ago and started adding a few games, they are both cool sites but I was turned off them though since neither of them seem to have the european exclusives or alternative titles.

Burned games def dont count, but pirate carts fall into a black area for me.

Thats a good idea about the compilations and I could build that into my db. Cool

[Luke]

I also use backloggery, but I am 100% sure it isn't 100% up to date.

[MrPopo]

Yeah I joined both of those site some time ago and started adding a few games, they are both cool sites but I was turned off them though since neither of them seem to have the european exclusives or alternative titles.

Burned games def dont count, but pirate carts fall into a black area for me.

Thats a good idea about the compilations and I could build that into my db. Cool

Backloggery's nice because the template is very free-form. You type in the title, pick a region, and you're good. There's also a notes section where you could add stuff like "Pirate Copy" and if you want you can have them not be tracked in your completion status (I do that with my multiplayer only games like TF2). I recently converted all my compilations from one entry to the compilation style, and it makes it much easier to keep track of.