What's your "main focus" when it comes to collecting?

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I just watched a great AVGN video on the Jaguar. Probably wouldn't recommend watching it if you actually wanted it, but he is lenient on some games. Coming from him it must mean something.

yeah it means that the fictional character's script was written to be lenient on some games.

Exactly. It's an act, in his more serious videos he's actually a nice guy, and I believe he's admitted to really liking a quite a few of the games he tears apart.

Anyways, I'm currently in the process of making a fairly strict list of buys for my collection. Narrowing down to only games I really want to play. Of course there will be leniency if I find something that I didn't know about, but I'm trying to keep a very focused collection.

[noiseredux]

Exactly. It's an act, in his more serious videos he's actually a nice guy, and I believe he's admitted to really liking a quite a few of the games he tears apart.

right. In the past, I've gone on and on about not like AVGN. But I think I figured it out. It's not really that I don't like the character -- it's that I don't like how many people seem to not get it. His videos aren't reviews; they're comedic skits. But I feel like a lot of viewers tend to take the script as a review, rather than something intended to make you laugh.

[s1mplehumar]

I guess I really don't have a "main focus" My library is stretched over 33 unique systems. I'm not one to go for complete system libraries (I'll never understand that). As for collecting trends:

Like billy, I'm all about NES finds. It was my first console, and I hold it near and dear to my heart. I try to find vg-minty lots of CIB games. I'm growing tired of piecing stuff together for years to make a complete copy. NA and craigslist have really been a great help in acquiring thrifty CIB NES/Fami lots.

I'm closing in on 150 Dreamcast titles - almost all AA+ titles. Finally have almost all the AAA stuff I want, and am sort of focusing on a few shmups and oddities now.

The last few years it's been; NES, Fami, SFC, Dreamcast, Saturn, and vintage PC stuff.

Miraculously, I've been playing more than collecting these past few months. It's really been a joy!

[fastbilly1]

s1mplehumar, we seem to almost be in the same boat - I prefer my NES and SNES games loose. But I think I have 30 consoles/pcs now (after being given a Timex Sinclair).

NA and craigslist have really been a great help in acquiring thrifty CIB NES/Fami lots.

Really? Ive never seen Famicom stuff on my Craigslist, and never any good prices on NES, CIB or Loose. They are always stupidly expensive - like $10-20 a cart for commons.

[s1mplehumar]

s1mplehumar, we seem to almost be in the same boat - I prefer my NES and SNES games loose. But I think I have 30 consoles/pcs now (after being given a Timex Sinclair).

A Sinclair I do not have. My latest "uncommon" is a Fairchild Channel F. I really want a Bally Astrocade now.

NA and craigslist have really been a great help in acquiring thrifty CIB NES/Fami lots.

Really? Ive never seen Famicom stuff on my Craigslist, and never any good prices on NES, CIB or Loose. They are always stupidly expensive - like $10-20 a cart for commons.

Most of my Famicom finds were on Nintendo Age and Famicom World forums. I should have differentiated between forums and CL. But some of the CIB pickings from craigs, though sparse, have been real easy on the wallet.

[Hazerd]

Mainly focus on SNES games atm, also focus on GCN, but my GCN collection is almost done! (at least for the games i actually want).

[prfsnl_gmr]

I probably enjoy hunting for games more than playing them; so, I am trying to acquire a complete set of NES carts "in the wild" (i.e., from stores, flea markets, Craigslist postings, etc.). I can only expect to find about 100 more titles in the wild, however, and it is getting harder and harder to find games that I do not already own. Accordingly, I only added about 10 or 15 games to my NES collection last year (but - randomly - added six games last week).

I am also trying to acquire a complete set of North American Sega Master System games (but I will add imports to my collection if I find them in the wild). As with my NES collection, there are not that many games that I am looking to add to my collection - and Master System games are hard to find in any event - so, I do not add games to this collection that often.

This may be a different topic, but recently I have had the most fun collecting games for my original Xbox. When my wife purchased the system for me, I thought that I would only pick up a few titles. The games are cheap and plentiful - which reminds me of the early days of NES collecting - so, I have built up a substantial library very quickly and at minimal expense.

Finally, my most "frustrating" collection is my Dreamcast collection. When I acquired a Dreamcast last year, I thought it would be easy to build up a good collection quickly. The ganes have been muh harder to find and much more expensive than I anticipated, however, and I have acquired only a few titles. When I purchased a Dreamcast for my brother nine years ago, people were practically giving the games away - which is whay my brother had literally every fighting game releaed for the console and I have only one.

[Breetai]

It's in my signature.

I want all the "main" systems with games for each. Which games? The games that I have enjoyed and therefore have attached nostalgic value to, games that I wish I had when I was younger and can now acquire, and games that are considered "must-haves" that I have tried and enjoyed. I prefer Japanese games for the Saturn and Turbografx-16 (PC Engine). I will also get Japanese games on other systems if they are cheaper and/or games I want that are not available elsewhere/too expensive elsewhere (i.e. Neo Geo games). I do not collect games that I will not play/have no nostalgic value attached/stupidly expensive. This includes Earthbound. I would rarely play it and do not want to spend the money on it that it commands. Heck, I sold a copy of it last year for that reason!

I like boxes/cases for everything except NES, SNES, N64 and handheld games. It is too difficult to find good boxed copies of those games for good prices. Everything else, I want ONLY boxes/cased copies. I do not mind printing labels and finding a spare case for Genesis games that are loose. They need to be boxed, but not necessarily in their original box.

That is all.

[SteveyMajors]

While I'm always looking to buy back all the PS1 RPGs I sold when I needed textbook money, I focus on the Dreamcast. I've got a list of games that I go out and hunt for, but I'll pick up any crap game if it's for a couple of bucks.

[Zing]

My main focus is Nintendo cart systems, but only games that I will actually play. Part of the fun for me is doing research on a game to see if it would be worthy of adding to the collection. My NES and Super NES collections are pretty much "done", but I occasionally seem to find a game or two to add. I am just now starting the Game Boy collection, but I expect it to stay rather small.