Retro Gaming Goals & Resolutions - 2015

[dsheinem]

1)Playing: I plan to do the alphabetical challenge....but not all at once. I want to do A-Z from 1979 (the year I was born) to 2004 (the last year before 7th Gen) over the course of the year.

Good progress. Past half way to Z.

2)Playing: I want to make a concerted effort to beat more games on Nintendo platforms. When I look back at my "Games Beaten" lists only a tad over 10% of all games in the past 5 years have been on a Nintendo platform, and more than half of those were on a handheld. I need some more quality Nintendo console time, and would like to finish at least 20 games on a Nintendo platform this year.

Good progress. 8 games finished on Nintendo platforms thus far, 2 in progress.

3)Organizing: I want to figure out some storage solutions for my games that clears out the clutter of my media room. I don't think I want to part with many of the games I have (though I have considered this) but having them all easily accessible at all times is just taking up a lot of room. I think I will merge this goal with creating a spreadsheet of what games I have for each platform that also includes, perhaps, a location where they are stored.

So-so progress. Spreadsheet is almost done, but have not done much with moving games into new storage options. I am now thinking it may be best to keep them on shelves but "two deep" if need be as they are still more accessible that way than they would be if I put them in boxes in the attic...

4)Collecting: I'd like to start looking for boxes for the systems that I own that are missing them. Especially given #3, I think it would be a good idea to store boxed systems with their games.

No progress.

5)Writing: I'd like to have four articles about video games published - with at least one of them going to an academic outlet. I have one of these in the pipeline (and am not counting my book), so this leaves me with three more to get cracking on...

So-so progress. Nothing new written since January. Still need to get three of these drafted up...

[bmoc]

Here's my 1st quarter update.

1. Finish building my new house and get started on my basement gameroom.
Construction loan has gone through. Should break ground this month.

2. Upgrade my soldering equipment so that I can do better/more advanced mods.
Got a new soldering iron with interchangeable tips. It is pretty cheap but I couldn't justify a $100+ Weller soldering station with as little soldering as I do.

3. Make a SNES cable for my multi-console arcade stick which will also allow GameCube/Wii support with my RetroPort adapter.
Done

4. Buy a PS1 to SMS/Genesis adapter and a USB to original Xbox adapter to round out my arcade stick compatibility.
Done and done.

5. Add a Xbox One padhack to my arcade stick by the time I purchase Mortal Kombat X.
Mostly done.

6. Purchase a Wii U before Xenoblade Chronicles X comes out.
No progress.

7. Purchase my remaining highly anticipated games.
Out of the two that are currently out, I have one. Also one has been preordered.

8. Get the last few Sega Saturn fighters that I want (Street Fighter Zero 3 not likely to happen though)
No progress

9. Put a serious dent in my backlog.
Not as much progress as I would like. I've been spending a lot of time on Killer Instinct.

10. Sell the games from my backlog that I finish and aren't worth playing again to help fund the above.
Doing good here. I've sold quite a few games this year already.

11. If by some miracle I accomplish all that I and still have time & money - break into the TG16/PC-Engine scene.
No progress

[BrokenGeode]

1) Beat at least one classic Point and Click

2) Buy more Dreamcast Games, I've not added any more to my incredibly small collection since 2012

3) Make a dent in my PS1 backlog

4) Start picking up all the 3DS games I've missed/got hyped up for


Baby Steps. Am prob gonna update this monthly.

[mas]

Going to do what is needed. After a lot of thought, its time to step back and pretty much giving up on gaming.
Will want to sell almost everything. Thats my new resolution. Will keep you informed.

[bryan_65]

I will be moving in May. I am going to finish out the garage and turn it into my gameroom. That will be my main goal and will take a lot of funds too. My other main goal is to finally dive head first into the 360 scene while game sell for dirt. I have already picked up a few games.

[Nintendork666]

I'm going to actually complete FF6 Advance and Xenoblade this year. I can feel it.

[dsheinem]

3)Organizing: I want to figure out some storage solutions for my games that clears out the clutter of my media room. I don't think I want to part with many of the games I have (though I have considered this) but having them all easily accessible at all times is just taking up a lot of room. I think I will merge this goal with creating a spreadsheet of what games I have for each platform that also includes, perhaps, a location where they are stored.

So-so progress. Spreadsheet is almost done...

So I did some work on the spreadsheet today and am getting close to finally having everything listed. I decided to count some things up.

I own or otherwise have legal access to over 3,000 released games or compilations over 40 distinct platforms (that number doesn't count the individual games in a compilation such as Atari Classics or Sonic's Genesis Collection, etc. - I have most of those that have been released in the past 15 years or so too). About 2/3 of all this is owned in physical form. I also now know that I own close to 100 books about games (only about 15 of which are strategy guides).

So yeah, the numbers thus far are pretty insane - probably a good 30-40% more than what I thought I had. Only a very small percentage of the collection is sports titles or other cheap "filler" titles because I have tried to emphasize quality over quantity...but now I think I have both.

This isn't to brag or anything - rather this thread and this exercise has made me stop and think a bit about the past, present, and future of my collection and its place in my life. If one of the goals of these resolution threads is to take stock of what your own relationship is to your hobby, what you are or are hoping to get from it, etc. then this particular year's thread has succeeded and prompted some serious thinking...

[fastbilly1]

Time for an update
1. Rewire Astro and mount monitor - mostly done, just need to solder in a second light bar
2. Beat Spelunky - Done
3. Beat Lolo 1 - Not even loaded it up yet

New:
4. Build Pinball Machine or arcade tables
5. Pair down remaining doubles and triples

[dsheinem]

this thread and this exercise has made me stop and think a bit about the past, present, and future of my collection and its place in my life. If one of the goals of these resolution threads is to take stock of what your own relationship is to your hobby, what you are or are hoping to get from it, etc. then this particular year's thread has succeeded and prompted some serious thinking...

So today I made a big decision about my storing/collecting tendencies. I have spent most of the afternoon moving all my console stuff up to the attic, out of sight and away from immediate access but close enough that I can go grab something if I want it. I have a spreadsheet of everything that's stored away, so I know what is up there without needing to browse the shelf.

I will keep out a few choice games for each system that's hooked up and rotate them in and out as I play them...but I was mostly interested in clearing space.

It remains to be seen if/how this affects my actual gaming habits or my purchasing habits as regards older games. In any case, it feels like a big change.

[noiseredux]

Dave, after clearing out all that stuff did you feel like you could breath easier? Personally I found that paring down my physical collection really felt like a relief.