New To Collecting

[TornadoCreator]

Hey guys,

I'm TornadoCreator, long time gamer, new to collecting. I started collecting video games only last month but I've been playing video games for over 20 years. I've a relatively decent collection so far, but I was always more interested in simply playing the games rather than collecting them, as such my collection all fits on a single shelf and is almost entirely PS2, Xbox and Xbox 360 games.

Since collecting I realised how many classic gems I've had and got rid of, either through selling them, trading them, giving them away or even breaking them from excessive use. I've had such incredible gems as Saturn Bomberman (worth about $60), Intellegence Qube (worth about $50) and my biggest "if only I'd known" Mega Man: The Wily Wars (worth up to $200). All of these games left my collection at one point.

Last month though, I decided I'd revisit my love for video games and start collecting when I saw one of my old favourites on eBay, and I knew it was a collectors peice by now. I was right. Final Fantasy VII, Black Label in near mint condition. No cracks/damage to the case, very slight discolouration to the front page of the manual, but that's all. Discs all in perfect condition... and I got it for $20, it's easily worth 10 times that.

Since then I've started searching for other games and really putting my feelers about. I got the black label copies of Final Fantasy VIII and Final Fantasy IX for $30 each, granted not as good as VII, but they both sell for around the $60-70 mark online. I even managed to get Final Fantasy VI for the PSOne for only $8, so my Final Fantasy collection is my centerpeice at the moment.

I've also got a couple of PS2 games recently. Things like Devil May Cry 3 with the original Monster Hunter Demo disc for $6, and Chaos Legion for only $3.50. Sure it's nothing spectacularly rare like Nintendo World Championships on the NES or one of the 4 known English Mother NES carts that are known to exist... but it's a start.

I'm enjoying trying to find rare or relatively unknown games, and I'm looking forward to building my collection up now that I'm taking it seriously so I thought I'd join here, share my stories, try to get a few tips from people and otherwise share my new found hobby. It's nice to go back some of the older consoles.

CURRENTLY COLLECTING
PSOne
Playstation 2
Sega Saturn
Dreamcast

I know there's a lot of demand for 8-bit and 16-bit collectors peices so I thought I'd concentrate on something a little more recent.

[Gnashvar]

Welcome. This place is great for collectors. Try searching old threads for info on the consoles you're collecting.

[Hazerd]

welcome, and dont forget to post new games in this thread:

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 47&t=10186

also pictures please, because no one wants to read the text of the awesome deals you found! we want to see the awesome deals!

[saturnfan]

You are certainly over exaggerating the worth of those FF games, but happy hunting and welcome to the forums!

[TornadoCreator]

You are certainly over exaggerating the worth of those FF games, but happy hunting and welcome to the forums!

Really? I've seen VIII and IX sell online for around $65 a few times, and racketboy itself lists Final Fantasy VII as one of the "rare and valuable" of the PSOne library, particularly the black label one which is more sort after for collectors (which is the one I've got). It's in near mint condition with the manual and all discs, it's looks practically brand new. I can't see why it wouldn't get as much as $150-200 if it was sold with some proper advertising, after all, they've sold for over $300 before.

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/sony/ps1 ... games.html

Sure I may be new to collecting but I've been gaming for a long time and I'm pretty up on the prices, unless there's been a major change I'm not aware of FF7 has always commanded a high price hasn't it?

[The Last Horseman]

The description is oddly written, because only sealed copies go for as much as your saying. Most of the time you need to judge price by the lower one on the scale, and then anywhere up to the highest price.

[TornadoCreator]

Aaaaah, I see. Well, even the platinum versions sell for over $40 and I've seen incomplete copies or ones with manuals missing/crackd boxes etc. sell on eBay before todays so I'm sure I still got myself a bargin here... becides I'm not buying it for the profit I actually want to collect the games because I like them. It's my second copy of Final Fantasy VII too, so I don't damage the black-label version.

[AppleQueso]

since you mentioned "Platinum" I'm assuming that means you're in one of the PAL lands.

I'm from the US, and I don't know how much this matters I certainly didn't pay anywhere near that much for my FFs (before I later sold them that is). I think I paid $35 for VII and ~$20 or less each for VIII and IX. All black label. I suppose the PAL versions might be a bit more uncommon and valuable there, I wouldn't really know.

but yes welcome to the forums all the same

[dedalusdedalus]

Final Fantasy VII... I got it for $20, it's easily worth 10 times that.

Yup, new to collecting.

Not a bad deal to pick up FFVII for $20, but it's nowhere near the $200 ballpark unless it's factory sealed.

Anyway, welcome to the boards.

[TornadoCreator]

Yep, I'm from UK. I assumed most of the site is from USA so I converted all my £ into $ because... well, no-one seems to know what £'s are worth outside UK, including games manufacturers.

(Little Tip: If you release something for $249.99, we won't pay £229.99 over here... that equivalent to $372 you greedy little sods. Try £159.99 next time.)

But yeah, I'm aware that factory sealed is worth a lot more to collectors, I just didn't realise the difference was so big, so basically if its not sealed it loses most of it's value. That's daft. I intend to actually PLAY my games after all.

I've already been offered £35 (that's $57) for the copy of Final Fantasy VII I've got, but like I say, I'm not collecting for the cash, I'm doing it because I love the games.