Collecting complete system libraries.

[retrosportsgamer]

Ack - what's the total # for sports titles for the SNES? With EA doing little on the system after '94, there are a lot of niche one-off titles that are pretty neat.

[Crabmaster2000]

I think Ack has hit the nail on the head fairly well with describing several reasons it can be enjoyable to go for a full set on a particular collection. I'm currently working towards a complete licensed NES set myself and am getting into the home stretch with less than 150 titles to go.

Like Ack already mentioned it can be very enjoyable (and educational) playing through your library. I've actually played and beaten the single player campaigns on several cheap-o (and one not so cheap-o) baseball games on the NES now and I find it to be a VERY interesting experience so far. Its really cool to see how many different ideas can change from game to game when sticking to a strict guideline that has to resemble the source sport. Legends of the Diamond is vastly different from Bases Loaded, which is vastly different from Baseball, which is vastly different from Baseball Stars, which is vastly different from Dusty Diamond's All-Star Softball, etc. They all have the same basic formula but some of them do some very cool things to keep it fresh and different.

And what better way to discover hidden gems than to play them yourself? Not only do you get to play an awesome game you get a great feeling like you discovered it yourself and no one else knows how delightful it is beyond yourself.

And to echo Ack yet again, "bad" games are subjective. I've beaten Hydlide and Back to the Future now, and while I recognize their flaws I've been able to find joy in each experience.

One thing I'd like to add for myself is that collecting can be as enjoyable as playing the actual games. I have just as much fun hunting for games, completing goals, restoring games, researching games, haggling over prices, scoring great deals, finding rare titles, displaying games, discussing games, and on and on and on. Its one of the best hobbies in the world IMO because I can interact with the product in countless different ways. Collecting is just one extra way to keep the good times coming!

[8bit]

At a 1000 games already spread across so many systems I can imagine trying to get a complete collection for any system... takes up too much space and there are just too many junk titles or games that were already done better on the same system.

However, there is an exception to almost any rule.... mine would be I am currently interested in collecting complete set of Working Design games. I already know I won't play all of the games to completion but their is something charming, almost magical, about the now extinct company that brought unique games with exceptional quality and resale value to the US.

I also wouldn't be opposed to have a complete set of the US released virtual boy games... haha!

[AppleQueso]

I think my personal criteria is that all the games I get are notable or interesting for some reason. Be it a classic, a hidden gem, a mediocre/odd entry in an otherwise great series (Castlevania 2 and Contra Force are good examples), a bad game that's gained notoriety (Shaq Fu, Action 52), just something outright bizzare (Color a Dinosaur, Super 3D Noah's Ark, various unlicensed NES games), or any other number of reasons. It's arbitrary, for sure, but I don't find generic cash-in licensed titles or sports games particularly interesting, so I don't like owning them.

I don't think I could own a complete set of any console (unless it had a tiny library or something), simply because I can't stand having a bunch of filler. Too many games wouldn't meet my criteria.

[harper]

My reasons for working towards a complete N64 set:

1. The N64 is my favorite console.

2. It has a relatively small library, so not only do I see it as "attainable" for me, but it also will not take up an insane amount of space once I'm finished with it.

3. Like Ack said, I'm interested in seeing what the system has to offer. Bring on the "crap" titles and such, I want to see them for myself and make my own opinion about them. There are already several games I own and love that I may not have even tried if I believed other people saying they suck. And there a lot that I never would've known existed if it weren't for me wanting to acquire all of these games.

4. The N64 was my first 3D console so I'm sort of fascinated with the graphics and explorable worlds in many of the games. I know when I was younger and would play Super Mario 64, I wanted to discover every secret, explore every corner of every world, and do everything there was to do in the game, and I still have that curiosity.

5. The only games that I know I will not go back and play are Football and Strategy games. Not even because I dislike them, but I just really don't understand them. haha
But for people who want to make the argument of sports games just being "fillers", I happen to find the soccer, basketball, baseball and hockey games to be quite enjoyable. Yes, I know there are several different titles of each but it's always fun to try new ones out and see how they differ from eachother.

6. All of the different variations in hardware and software make it a fun and colorful system to collect for.

I'll probably think of more after I post this, but yeah, that's pretty much the gist of it. And I agree with pretty much everything Ack and Crabmaster2000 have said.

[Damm64]

It would be awesome to have a complete collection for X system, but where the hell i'm going to keep all those games?! I don't see myself doing this though.

Lot's of love for the snes but nothing for genesis?

[8bit]

My reasons for working towards a complete N64 set....

You had some good clear concise reasons for wanting a complete n64 set so I definitely respect that.

Lot's of love for the snes but nothing for genesis?

There are plenty of people here on racketboy who collect for the genesis but IMO that would be the absolute ugliest system to do a complete collection for. Nothing matches... not the boxes, artwork or even the cartridges. Put it all together and it would just look like a mess.

p.s. I understand the point of games is to play them but I also think it would be nice to actually have something pleasant to the eye when you are going to be proudly displaying something.

[AppleQueso]

Lot's of love for the snes but nothing for genesis?

If I were to do a complete set, I'd probably go for both SNES and Genesis. The libraries compliment each other really well and it's just such a cool part of history.

[mjmjr25]

I've found it quite unfulfilling when i've completed libraries. It's sort of the let's climb the mountain feeling. You reach the top of the mountain, look around, and say, "Well, that was fun. What now. Oh right, time to climb down :/ "

I've found the process enjoyable but the end result a complete let down. But, I wouldn't have come to that conclusion w/o having done it, so to be fair, my personal thoughts on this have done a 180.

And yes, the space involved is the largest of the concerns. Niche things like 32X or PS1 longbox don't leave a massive footprint, but something like SNES / GCN / Wii just take up such large swaths it is a problem for most of us.

And really, it is the "trying to complete this library" that keeps many game values artificially inflated. No one wants the box for "3 Ninja's Kick Back" (SNES), the coverart (if you call it that) is weak and the game, in most opinions, is meh - yet "I need the box to complete my SNES set..." so for that reason a limited run box fetches huge dollars. I much prefer seeing items catch huge dollars because they are "good and rare", not just "rare".

[dunpeal2064]

A good point Mike, the hunt is definitely what its about.

I went for every Cave port, and once I had completed it, I was... bored.

Those games are just too in depth though, so owning that many was just a hinderance

Now I have 3 Cave ports, and I play them more now than I did when I had them all.

But, that is just me, I can't handle owning too many games, or I end up spreading my gaming time too thin