Gaming systems you love, but wouldn't collect.

[prfsnl_gmr]

I would love to collect TG-16 games, but since they are cards, I would only want complete games. They are just too expensive and rare in that condition; so, I never started collecting them. I would rather spend my money picking up more 2600, 5200, 7800, GB, GBA, GBC, NES, or SNES carts.

I am also thinking of starting a 360 collection (even though I do not yet own a system), and I would limit myself to certain exclusives (and particularly exclusive compilations). The games are really, really cheap right now; so, I may just start picking them up.

I'm actually surprised that Master System games are not more expensive, as I never ever see them in the wild.

Collecting for the Master System is really fun. I am only 30 games away from a complete NTSC set (but I will probably buy an import copy of Sonic the Hedgehog). Moreover - and with the exception of one really expensive game - it probably will not cost that much for me to round out my collection.

One of the most exciting things about Master System collecting, to me at least, is finding games in the wild. The system was very popular in Europe and Australia; so, when I do find games, they are typically mixed in with a few imports.

[ExedExes]

Right but that was Japan only I believe, Master System was the first in the US and Europe.

Correct, the SMS was the 3rd revision of the SG-1000, called the Mark III. In Japan the original SG-1000 and the Famicom were released on the same day in 1983. (talk about an early console war!)

[Stark]

I would love to collect TG-16 games, but since they are cards, I would only want complete games. They are just too expensive and rare in that condition; so, I never started collecting them.

I get not wanting them incomplete, but couldn't you do the "homemade" case method? There's a fella on PCEngineFX forums that does repro stickers for putting on CD cases that look great.

(I will probably buy an import copy of Sonic the Hedgehog).

I assume you already know that there is no good reason not to do this.

[Yukima]

For me, most of Sega's systems outside the Saturn. I like a lot of Genesis, Sega CD and Dreamcast games, but collecting the consoles and games don't have much appeal for me. Although, I wouldn't mind getting a Nomad, CDX, X'eye or even a model 1 Wondermega, along with virtually every variant of the Saturn ever made, if I could ever find (let alone afford) them! So, I guess I would want to collect the weird and obscure Sega console variants and not the stock ones... Oh, and maybe buy some games so I can play something on all those consoles...

That being said, my first Saturn was a Japanese model 1 V-Saturn. My second one was a modded US Saturn. And I collect strictly Japanese Saturn games. My Sega collection is NOT typical at all!!

[bryan_65]

I have to say SNES. Just some great games but the prices. I should have bought Dracula X when it was $60, lol. Good deals can be had as I have found an SNES for 50 cents then got a DKC for $3 followed by Zelda LTTP and Super Metriod for $5. I since sold all those since I just don't have the space right now, or the money for Dracula X.

Maybe when the crash happens I'll stock up.

[BEERS AND VIDEOS]

Wow - I definitely don't feel alone now. Great responses, I'm still reading through them. Just wanted to say thanks and that I'm really digging all the different factors that everyone has for making a system collectable or not.

Earlier I was thinking more about this and definitely find earlier systems more collectable for some reason, generally. Maybe it's my fondness for sprite/pixel art (over 3D or rendered graphics), or that I really like cartridges... Optical media just doesn't do anything for my collecting spirit.

[BEERS AND VIDEOS]

I would totes love to get into SNES, TG-16, and Saturn, but the monetary barrier of entry is all YOU SHALL NOT PASS.

I am so glad I started hunting and buy for the saturn and snes many many years ago before the prices got to where they are today. Its crazy what has happened the past 3-4 years on these platforms. Flea markets, craigslist, and pawn shops use to be so much fun to hunt for games at but nowadays its seems like most of these places are all dried up from demand. Plus retro gaming is more popular than ever, almost to the point where i think its a just a fad for many people, and its over inflating the cost of games.

My "lucky strike" was with the Turbo / PCE stuff. I started collecting heavily about 4-5 years ago and had picked up a new Turbo Express back in 2001 which I got a total deal on. I also collected a lot of NES back around 2009-2010, but sold it all a few years ago, as I was moving and needed the cash. I'm still pretty heavy into my Game Boy collection too, with a handful of Game Boy Light limited edition consoles (Famitsu, Astro Boy), which I friggin love and which have all been priced out of my budget since purchasing.

Thing is, sadly, I don't think any of these prices are going down. Even Game Boy stuff has seen a spike in the last year or two and on fairly common games. I'm noticing in the last few months that Genesis gear is also going up in prices in general and specifically the rare stuff like Crusader of Centy recently selling high, I think about $140 if not mistaken, last month on eBay.

[bryan_65]

I think it will still get a bit worse till we start to retire and unload or we die and our children unload our stuff. Who knows really.

[ninjainspandex]

(I will probably buy an import copy of Sonic the Hedgehog).

I assume you already know that there is no good reason not to do this.

heh I imported the Japanese versions of sonic 1 2 and 3, they were just a couple bucks each for nice complete copies and the box art is just oh so much better than the ones we got.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Right but that was Japan only I believe, Master System was the first in the US and Europe.

Correct, the SMS was the 3rd revision of the SG-1000, called the Mark III. In Japan the original SG-1000 and the Famicom were released on the same day in 1983. (talk about an early console war!)

Speaking of the SG-1000, it's tough to collect for a console when the console itself is so damn expensive. What's a SG-1000 worth these days? $250 or so?

This is why it took me so long to get into the Vectrex and MVS. Took forever just to save up for the systems, let alone the games.