Tips for a Beginning Collector

[StarKnightX]

I've been a huge video game fan most of my life dating back to the atari 2600.
After visiting this site and much deliberation I've decided to start actually "collecting" video games. I've already got a pretty decent collection going but since their are so many games out there I wanted if anybody had any tips for me. Some thoughts I've been tossing around are like should I start off buying just games that are good , or buy anything that's kinda rare if I see it (my local blockbuster has quite a few uncommon games for the N64 and PSX but I've heard they are not very good).

I'm having to teach my gaming mind over again since most major gamers naturally train themselves not to acknowledge a game at all if it's bad no matter how rare it is , now I have to remember that if it's rare and a good deal , then buy it.

Sorry If I sound like I'm rambling , I'm new.

[MattyXB]

My tips:
1. Buy game, which you will play, and which you like. Buy your favourite games.

2. When you have money, try everytime first to get Ultra Rare games. Maybe you will never get the chance again.

[chadtower]

Yard sales and thrift shops are your friends. People say flea markets are too but I have never seen proof of that. Don't just buy what you need or want, buy what you can and if you don't want it or need it you can trade it. Tradebait is very important. Let's face it, you're only going to find certain things in the wild over and over... but someone else is finding something else over and over... trade with them!

[The Collector]

That point cannot be stressed enough, thrift shop can be goldmines!

[Kid Ice]

I've been a huge video game fan most of my life dating back to the atari 2600.
After visiting this site and much deliberation I've decided to start actually "collecting" video games.

Good decision!

You've come to the right place. Browse these forums frequently. Keep your eyes peeled for those games everyone around here seems to want.

And buy a Collector's Guide.

[digitalpress]

Check into the "Buying and Selling" forum frequently... that's been a major source of my collection lately. Also stay tuned to local events! New collectors can really clean up on these - mention that you're new and looking for common stuff and just WATCH what happens

Welcome to the party, pal!

[Predatorxs]

Another Collecting Tip on the funny side, you'll also need a bottomless pit and alot of money to fill it with :/

[Kid Ice]

Another Collecting Tip on the funny side, you'll also need a bottomless pit and alot of money to fill it with :/

I disagree. I was very poor when I first started collecting. I had no trouble amassing a nice little 2600 collection from hitting flea markets, garage sales, thrifts, and pawn shops. A pawn shop down the road from where I used to live sold carts for a dollar apiece, and at the time had many uncommons and rares, plus the manager would give me a discount if I bought more than 10 carts at a time.

A couple years later I started a 3DO collection. I bought the FZ 10 for $100 and picked up brand new games for 5 or 10 bucks a piece.

It's not as easy today as it was back then (about 7 or 8 years ago), but there are still a few cheap and easy systems to collect for. Even Gamestop has NES games for a dollar or two, and lately I've really been loading up on cheap PSX titles.

[Q-Bert]

1) Buy the @!#?@!ing be-all-and-end-all of guides from DP
2) Don't @!#?@!ing pay over the odds for games based on the guide

[Predatorxs]

Hi,

I didn't mean, you have to have a ton of cash or be rich (i'm not :/ )
to collect, and your right about picking things up at a good price, but it's places like ebay that can some times get you spending more than you should, if your like me and your bidding on a ton of items at the same time..

(NOBODYS FAULT BUT MY OWN - It's more of a case sometimes i look back and say why did i buy that, I don't get into any money trouble lol, sometimes somethings i buy sound and look good at the time but after i'm left thinking WHY?!? )

But for the next few months i'm leaving ebay alone, i'll still keep an eye out for, things that might only show up once in a blue moon.

Apart from that my wallet needs a rest?!? lol

Also i don't collect for the sake of it or just as a hobbie, it is a hobbie but i have been a huge snes fan from day one and it's a system i'm pretty fond of and a system i still love to play today!! (it's more the memorys of video games from 10 to 12 years ago!! ahhhhhhh the good old days!!)

[cessnaace]

I have a warped mind! You see, I buy whatever I find a good deal on, even if I don't have the console to play it on. I had a good 20 Intellivision games (all COMPLETE) before I even bought an Intellivision. x_x

My latest bug is the 3DO, which I bought on Ebay boxed for about $60. It came with about 15 games, all boxed (although some of the boxes were pretty bad). Anyway, that was too good a deal to pass up. x_x

Kind of reminds me of the time 9 years ago when I hit an outlet mall in St. Augustine, FL. They had come agross a wearhouse in Mexico slated to be torn down, inside were tons of Atari 7800's, plus games too. The deal at hte outlet was, a boxed 7800 (never opened), plus a huge box of 20 sealed 2600, and 20 sealed 7800 games. Price: $80. I snapped one up, then returned the next day to buy another package (they had had them stacked to the ceiling). One day later, and they were all SOLD!!! x_x

[Balloon Fight]

Buy games and systems from your childhood. Reliving memories is a wonderful thing.

Search for random fun things and conversation pieces, and buy game you like to play also. Flea Markets are my personal favorite place to shop at also.

I like to collect odd systems, such as import Sega Master Sytem consoles. Maybe you may be interested in import also.

Most important thing is have fun.

And buy the DP Guide. An invaluable resource.

[cessnaace]

I buy everything! I must admit, however, to having a weekness for the SMS. It wasn't my first console. That was the Atari VCS, which I bought in 1979. I hated the VCS at the time! The graphics were the main problem for me.

The SMS was my second console. I loved it from the start! Plus, the verson that I bought had HANG ON built right in. Turn the system on with no cart or card inserted, and you got HANG ON, which iwas so cool. As a side note, that SMS still works like new! I've gone through 3 model 1 NES's, all of which died. I finally bought the much sought after model 2. Not only is it better designed (I.E., not failing), it has no lock-out chip, so it will play all NES and FAMICOM carts!

[nesuser2]

look for stores that tried selling gaming stuff but quickly lost at that game. chances are they were overpriced...so people stopped even going there and you can make an offer on everything. i bought 500 "pieces" of gaming acc, consoles, adapters.....games.....etc for about a grand and used it as trade bait and have sold it to fund all the rest of my gaming. i still have a ton of cash and a ton of system

i happened to find a REALLY good deal......but if you look you will find......trade bait.....you need it cuz i want it.....

my last tip on starting a collection.....check out my page i'm longing to get rid of the rest of my stuff at a good price