Another one of those threads about overwhelming collecting

[noiseredux]

You could just keep doing what you've been doing...binging and purging in cycles. Hasn't it basically worked for you so far?

yr probably right. And that's probably what it will come down to.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

You could just keep doing what you've been doing...binging and purging in cycles. Hasn't it basically worked for you so far?

...honestly I don't know I'm just having a tough time deciding what to keep and what to purge. I feel a bit buried under my collection and yet keep getting more stuff. I have a tough time decide WHICH port of a game to own... and I know I don't need several ports of a single game.

Keep the one you play most or is on your most played system.

[Czernobog]

I've started doing the thing fastbilly1 was talking about, although I don't use spreadsheets. I have lists of games for each of my consoles of the games I'm most interested in that I change depending on if I learn about new games or find out a game might not be for me. Sometimes, if a list is getting too large, I'll begin cutting back by looking at certain games and thinking "do I really want to play this one or do I just like the idea of owning it..."

Then again, every now and then I'm stricken by the impulse buy bug.

[Zing]

@zing: I'm starting to think a little more about collecting-to-collect, and collecting-to-play...

I guess I failed to mention that I strictly collect to play. I do not own a single game that I would not enjoy playing. If I ever find that I game I own is not worth playing, I get rid of it. The games I do own, I acquire in "collector's condition", and I have my quirks, such as "no greatest hits", but I have no chaff.

[dogman91]

Just throwing in my 2 cents...

I can totally understand something like this becoming an issue. I too only buy games I like... on the flip side I have a wide range of consoles though.

I still think for an individual system the same "over-buying" thing can apply regardless, as there are thousands of games available for say NES or SNES. IMO it is purely psychological.

I tend to think those with only a few particular systems would end up playing inferior ports/versions of a game just because it's "available" on that platform. I say just cut the BS and play the best one, why not... not make it so "black and white" is what I mean. If that's what works for people though, great.

Anyway, the trick for me is to basically NOT be a collector of any sort at all. I think it helps that I really dislike the look and idea of walls covered with games... seems like a huge hassle and while I can see the appeal I would feel sick if I actually had all that in a single room.

PS: A backloggery can help immensely! It's also great to keep track of all the games you have played!

[noiseredux]

"do I really want to play this one or do I just like the idea of owning it..."

this is kind of what I'm talking about. And closely related is the I-have-it-because-I-might-want-to-play-it-someday. Case in point: in 2007 my sister-in-law gave me GTA: Vice City Stories for PSP. I had never played a GTA but figured, hey free game I'll check it out. I found it pretty fun surprisingly, though certainly not "my style" of game normally. Anyway, I had sold my PSP in 2009 along with all the games I had for it. But at some point I found Vice City and Vice City Stories both for PS2 at a yard sale for like a buck each. So I picked them both up and have kept them with the idea that I MIGHT want to play one of them at some point. Of course here we are heading into the last couple months of 2011 and the last time I actually popped a GTA into a console was... 2007.

[MrPopo]

Get a second shelf? I was in a small apartment for my first several years out of college but still amassed a nice collection through purchasing new shelves every so often.

[noiseredux]

Get a second shelf? I was in a small apartment for my first several years out of college but still amassed a nice collection through purchasing new shelves every so often.

running out of room (and need to stop spending $).

[Opa Opa]

Even though UMD was a fail, shame on anyone "destroying" their discs.

edit:
never mind. I read your post wrong.

[noiseredux]

I thought of something else I do that's kind of silly. I hang on to Together Retro games that I didn't even like. It's like just because it was part of our club, I guess I feel a slight attachment or something. But it makes no sense. Why keep Rayman if I didn't like it enough to stick with it that month? Obviously I won't be playing it again. I'm pretty weird.