How to Start a Collection?

[eSPy]

for me i got my NES with Dr. Mario at a garage sale several years ago and now have well over 100 games for it. also have a few other systems with some games, but not near as many as with my nes. Found it great as most games ive picked up over the years have been about $1-5 so its been a great system to start a good size collection. That being said, never bought anything online for it. all my finds have been at yard sales or second hand shops/thrift stores or pawn shops. Best find was about 30 to 40 games at one garage sale, most of which were in the original boxes with manuals. some even had selowrap on them ...though it was ripped off at the top to get the games out pretty sure they were from a rental store from the stickers on them.

so yea...hard to really suggest what you should do. just collect what you like. i enjoy it still because im not in it for the $$. if i did buy online, kinda takes away from the "thrill of the hunt" in my opinion. finding an odd title at the bottom of the bin in some cheep shop seems that much more satisfying

[BlackDS]

Well, What I usually do when it comes to collecting for a system is that I buy lots off of ebay, but I make sure that it has mostly games that I want. I usually view every page, and filter it down to the ten I want the most. Buy whatever ones are cheap, and bam, my collection has started.

[Beak]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I searched a lot of small CD/DVD stores and found myself some good deals; I got a ton of Genesis games all in their original boxes for less than 15 bucks. Now I can officially say I have a collection started.

[scrotumwound]

good on you
during the non winter months i suggest going to the flea market
you can easily find people selling games

[Beak]

I'll do that!

[shaolin242]

Here is my 2c.

Firstly - i dont like collecting games i either dont like or wont play, even if they are valuable. Also, each day you wait you will find that game rarer and harder to come across.

For me, i have a few systems that are boxed, but im not going to buy any games for them unless i see them very very cheap.

For me, the Dreamcast was a big one - and i believe i have the best dreamcast games out there and i wont buy anymore. (Shenmue I and II, Skies of Arcadia, SFIII, SNK vs Streetfighter, KOF (all), Grandia 2, Bangai O, crazy taxi i and 2, jet set radio, DAytona, Sega Rally 2 etc etc) cbf listing them. now that i own all these, i have to find the time to play them. difficult when u are playing the latest PS3 and X360 games as well...

my big regret was selling off my SNES collection YEARS ago - i only kept a few titles. So rule number 1, DONT sell anything! to compensate for this i can get these games on emulators but it really isnt the same.

also, dont get in over your head, for example, i would not start with an AES collection as you will run out of money.

For me - something like the Dreamcast is great to collect for - you will need about 30 games and you willl have everything you need, same as Saturn. However you will have to pay big bucks for hte "Holy Grail" games - Panzer Dragoon Saga, Shenmue I, Guardian Heroes etc..

In summary:
1) Set goals and budgets to align with those goals
2) start off small and let it grow
3) keep everything in good condition.
4) scour - learn how to look for things and KNOW your prices - one day you might get lucky with a machine/cartridge etc (I found a 3DO, Saturn US, Saturn Japan and 32x all for around $15USD each...all boxed and sealed)
5) Research LOTS
6) Dont spend too much cash..you cant own everything unless you are pretty well off....

[CantStrafeRight]

I tend to start with buying a console that comes with a selection of games on ebay and then buying the games I want after that.

[crux]

I think the best rule possible for collecting is not to collect. It's ok to hold onto games and amass titles, but proceed with the goal of collecting and one will soon find themselves in a place where the collection is the game instead of the games themselves. I personally view it as an enormous waste of resources and time, and this is coming from a person who has wasted plenty of both on video games. Buy what you'll play, sell what you won't. Let the collection come naturally.

[tahoe2]

I have just started going back to vintage games as well, and want to start a collection. But when i think about the snes, i only think about non rare games like donkey kong country. And when i think about the ps1 i think about soul reaver. And when i think about n64 i think about super smash bros. These are the only games i really want, even though the idea of having a huge load of games is cool. I only have an nes, ps2, wii, and a bunch of game boys.

[Alpinex2]

I agree with the user that said not collecting what you won't play.

I do not collect any old atari, colecovision, or any thing pre nintendo nes because imo it's old and ugly and not playable. I collect what I would play, I do not collect any digi mon or pokemon or anything like that, i've come across pokemon box that gamecube game thing that is rare but I sold it because I don't play Pokemon. So I collect what I would play at the end of the day.