How is your Dreamcast gaming going on?

[Blu]

At a standstill here, and perhaps in need of some advice.

I'm about 50 games away from completing my US set. Some of those happen to be pricey for about 10 of them (Mars Matrix, the first Gigawing, D2, Bangai-O, EGG, the rest are common to uncommon.

Reading through a lot of past threads, I've seen some collectors get so far, only to either get stonewalled through prices to finally complete those collections, or come to realize that a majority of those games will never get the playing time they deserve, or be worth the space they take up.

The Dreamcast has no shortage of excellent, great, and very good titles. Most of the Sega 1st Party Stuff is fantastic, the Capcom titles are great, and even some of the 3rd Party stuff outside of that is worth playing. Still, there are a number of titles that I've yet to play or have zero interest in playing. NFL QB Club 2000? Nope. Rainbow Six? There's better shooters out there.

I have about 180 of the US titles, and out of those, I'd say there are 50 or so that I see myself investing time in the near future. I'm torn because I have invested a decent amount of cash into this part of my collection etc, thinking that it'd be neat to have a complete US collection but I'm starting to have my doubts. What would you all say or do in this situation? I've rarely purged any of my games, so this is somewhat new to me.

[noiseredux]

I'm... in a similar spot. Reluctant to sell DC stuff cuz I have re-bought in the past, but also at a bit of a standstill.

[mjmjr25]

@Blu - i've completed N64-US, cart and then CIB (yes, even Sculptor's Cut), DC-US, and was a few sports titles away from SAT-US.

Each time you get there - you snap a pic, think, "This is awesome!" and then...you hit this wall of, "Great, look how much room this is and only 30% of it is playable." Now, with DC, i'd say that number is higher, probably 70%, but the idea is still mostly the same.

I'd say you are fortunate - you've made the realization before completing - you have the empty feeling already - that's good!

Whenever I start collecting a library it's exciting, then 40, 50, 70% through it becomes like this chore and the only reason i'm doing it is to say i've done it but then what? Like you said, you might play Rainbow Six, even though you know it's inferior, but if you do play it, and find out it's "ok" or it "sucks" you def. won't play it again - so then you just relegate yourself to the fact you have this unplayable game, which may or may not be worth some decent money, sitting on a shelf...and now for how long?

If you're already feeling this dude - i'd get the ones you want and will play and start scrapping the filler. The only libraries I collect now are arcade / cart based, because they are (A) small, (B) all playable / enjoyable.

[mjmjr25]

I'm... in a similar spot. Reluctant to sell DC stuff cuz I have re-bought in the past, but also at a bit of a standstill.

You don't have as much as Blu, so you can make a decision sooner than later and without as many "regrets", if you will.

I like what you've done - you've given a lot of afterthought games some attention that you wouldn't have if you'd not gotten into going for the library - that's cool. Ultimately do what you do, but don't collect - the stuff you get, try it out, if it's something you may come back to, keep it, if it isn't, just move it along.

[Blu]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the thoughtful posts, and your perspective is helpful. I've been diligent about playing through the ones I've already picked up. There's titles that are decent, like Record of Lodoss War, but have become lackluster due to age and improvements in design in other more recent games. It's tough because I'm a fan of the library for these few reasons:

1. First Party Sega Titles are Above Average to Excellent.
2. Second Party, like AM2 and Sega Sammy provide excellent pick-up and play Arcade titles.
3. Third Party Titles from Capcom, Midway, and to a lesser extent, Ubisoft, are all noteworthy.
4. In this regard, all of the exclusives available on the platform are worth playing, with few exceptions.
5. Multiplatform titles are almost always best on Dreamcast.
6. For family's sake, there's a lot of great titles that I could get youngsters playing and have it be appropriate, enjoyable, and a classic I could share with little ones some day.

So I'd say out of the 190 or so I have, I'd probably hang on to 80, maybe a few more and know I'd be able to get the same level of enjoyment each time I picked them up. I'd probably pick back up the few that I think should really be in my collection, trim the rest out and call it a day.

[CD AGES]

I've been on Dreamcast and investing in its solid library of titles since the console was still alive relevant in retail. I've mentioned more than a few times here on RB in my interest in going for a complete US library. Considering my location in the US, its almost effortless for me to obtain a complete a US library with very little capital (I've owned much of the more expensive titles way before they became expensive). Thing is, I've known from the beginning that its never been a goal of mine. I'd rather just focus my money in buying more DC hardware (consoles and its vast catalog of accessories) and imports of amazing games that never made their way out here.

I don't find much appeal in games like Spirit of Speed, Roadsters, TD6, The Ring...

Blu, do what you believe is most beneficial to your gaming experience with the system.

[ExedExes]

My DC collection now stands at 70 games with my weekend pickup of Re-Volt. This makes 68 NA titles, 1 JP and 1 EU. It is also my 2nd most collected console behind the Atari 2600. There was just too much good stuff to pass up when it was out. Many great (and exclusive) arcade ports, as mentioned, the best multiplatform stuff of the PS1 and N64 age, memorable output by Sega, Capcom, Midway and many other companies, groundbreaking sports titles, lots and lots of good fighting, racing, shmups, and other games. I love my DC and everything I have for it.

[TSTR]

I would be happy to freely take CIB DC games off anyone's hands if said games are causing undue distress.

[bryan_65]

Maybe even 2 years ago I was at the point where I have more Naomi games then Dreamcast ones. Kinda the same right.

[shallowgamer]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the thoughtful posts, and your perspective is helpful. I've been diligent about playing through the ones I've already picked up. There's titles that are decent, like Record of Lodoss War, but have become lackluster due to age and improvements in design in other more recent games. It's tough because I'm a fan of the library for these few reasons:

1. First Party Sega Titles are Above Average to Excellent.
2. Second Party, like AM2 and Sega Sammy provide excellent pick-up and play Arcade titles.
3. Third Party Titles from Capcom, Midway, and to a lesser extent, Ubisoft, are all noteworthy.
4. In this regard, all of the exclusives available on the platform are worth playing, with few exceptions.
5. Multiplatform titles are almost always best on Dreamcast.
6. For family's sake, there's a lot of great titles that I could get youngsters playing and have it be appropriate, enjoyable, and a classic I could share with little ones some day.

So I'd say out of the 190 or so I have, I'd probably hang on to 80, maybe a few more and know I'd be able to get the same level of enjoyment each time I picked them up. I'd probably pick back up the few that I think should really be in my collection, trim the rest out and call it a day.

You nailed it. Keep the gems and enjoy the quality of your collection. I love the DC with an unhealthy passion, but there was a LOT of crap shoveled out by 3rd parties on that machine.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to playing Sydney 2000.