One of the biggest misconceptions about game collecting is that one can amass a huge collection extremely cheap. Truth is this hobby takes a lot of time and money. Yes, there are deals to be had but during your journey you will fork over some serious cash.
Ya. I've got a weekly budget on what I will spend on retro games. I'm not looking for a complete collection for any system, but I'm not being picky either. If I see a CiB Sega game I want and it's within my spend I'll buy it.
One tip I'd give is to not be afraid to piece together the expensive games. It might take a year or longer but, when i'm buying saturn game, I'll often start with the disc. Then I'll look for cheaper copies of the manual and case later. I often save money this way.
I'd say that's a much better tip of Gameboy than just about any other library. Fragile Saturn discs sold as disc-only are going to give you problems half the time, and then finding a loose manual can be very difficult. Just need to know the key component that is the toughest to find, and if you can start with a good deal on that component, the rest can come easy. For CIB cardboard, it's almost always the box that's the hardest to find. Manuals come cheap and easy (except for rentals). For genesis and GameCube, PS2, Dreamcast etc (disc based) it's the manual that's hardest to pair up. If you can start with for example a rule of rose manual for an awesome deal, you're going to easily catch an auction for a missing manual copy that goes cheap because nobody wants an incomplete copy... You're only competing with people who decide to settle for incomplete and that's fewer people and less aggressive people. ***If you start with the key component, the rest is easy!
I am the type of person who will just print out a cover and throw it in a DVD case, of course it won't be as valuable but it looks nice and keeps it protected
I strongly agree with the last tip to not give up on a game too soon or move on to the next game to quick. I find if I leave a game too long that when I finally go back to it I have no attachement to my save file and want to start over.
Also avoid any idea of going for a full collection - way too much shovel ware on all systems. I'd personally avoid any super tatty games, scratched discs and damaged cart labels I'd steer well clear, the prices of those games will not hold up well in the future. Agree it's a good idea quickly watch a short video online of any retro game I'd see for sale before buying. Note: all reviews are somewhat biased.
There's only a few libraries where full set either makes sense, or is just a fun long-term goal. My examples for small sets that to simply have a collection means you're more than half way done with the set would be 32X, Virtual Boy, and Neo Geo Pocket Color. Of course the rarest few games will come at a premium because so many people need it for their set, but those games will likely always hold their value. Point being that 6 turd games for the NGPC is much more justifiable if it brings you to a full set than 1000 turd games on the Wii. If you really love the console and it's a manageable set size, it can be a fun pursuit. The other libraries that makes sense to me for full setting are NES and N64 cart set. If you enjoy the hunt and get a little dopamine from watching that progress bar grow steadily and cheaply, these libraries are very doable and you'll get 80% there on a budget. Looking out for lots that have a lot of titles you're missing, selling or trading off the duplicates. To a lot of people, this is the hobby of video game collecting! I've met a lot of people that enjoy the hunt more than they enjoy playing the majority of their games.
First rule for people that want to become a retro collector from 2023 onward: JUST DON'T, become a retro PLAYER instead. If you want to keep your sanity and some money, buy the console(s) you ACTUALLY want to play with, buy a handful of good/cheap games and/or Everdrives/ODDs for each console, select a nice shelf setup that you like to look at, and that's it, stop there. Forget about complete sets, having all models/colors of certain consoles, having CIB games/consoles, etc. Everything is getting more expensive/rare/older/harder to find as years go by, so you'll find yourself trying to achieve an impossible goal and waste most of the time doing it instead of just enjoying playing the games on original hardware, with some money to spare. THAT is my only recommendation for newcomers into the RETRO scene.
@@user-dr6ru9vn8v nah , where's the fun in that? I know emulation is the future, but as long as my consoles work, I'll continue to play on original hardware and controllers + Everdrives/ODEs/Jailbreaks.
@@wettuga2762 same I agree with you, although I don’t have a flash cart/everdrive for my Genesis and SNES and so I just emulate games that are really expensive such as Pocky and Rocky 2 and I emulate games to try out and to play rom hacks for those systems
Great advice! I think you gave the best advice, just be yourself when collecting! You inspired me to get into collecting 10 years ago, and you still inspire many others to this day!
My biggest tip has to do with how you acquire your collection. Unless you can go back to 2006 (or there’s something you REALLY want specifically), try to avoid eBay and game stores. For me, it’s way more fun to hit the thrift stores once a week and treasure hunt. The dirtier and unorganized thrifts are often the best. You may find a Saturn console in the electronics section because they think it’s a CD player. Or PlayStation 2 games among the DVDs. It takes a while this way, but it’s a lot of fun.
That also depends on the country you live in. USA has it good in that regard, but countries like the UK... nope that wouldn't work. If you stuck to the thrift store policy in the UK you'd be limited to a game collection of games like Fifa soccer and call of duty as well as fitness/dance games that are priced beyond their current retro game market prices.
I like getting the specific games for the systems I want. I have zero desire to thrift and would rather develop my want lists and patiently wait for killer deals on eBay (yes they happen all the time).
Great point about not doing too much research and approaching the game with no more than what the cover offers you. It really does heighten one's sense of discovery and makes the experience more fun.
I started collecting retro games and consoles back in 2008, I realized a lot of the games were just collecting dust so I have been downsizing and honing my collection to the ones I actually enjoy instead of keeping games I don't play
Some games are expensive and pretty common. Examples like Conker, Def Jam NY, DBZ Tenkaichi 3, Silent Hill 2, Smash melee (literally the most common GameCube game ever made)... These are the expensive games that are easiest to catch for a deal, even just looking out for auctions and staying vigilant. The two most important metrics to consider if you're going to pay "retail" (maybe feeling some FOMO) are 1. How many copies are being listed on eBay (does it rarely come up for sale?) 2. Is it a quality game that if given a little more exposure and a few more people start wanting a copy, 10 sales on ebay could completely wipe out supply. Those are the games that you want to get now while prices are pretty tame in general.
Regarding walkthroughs, if it’s some random game, then I absolutely agree. When it comes to well-known games, like Zelda, I’d recommend getting stuck on how to move forward exploring every nook and cranny. You’ll stumble upon things you’d never have discovered if just going through a guide, and the sheer elation you’d feel after triumphing over a puzzle that has you stumped for possibly days is a reward unto itself. Sometimes the adventure is part of the fun, even if that means getting lost from time to time.
Putting moderately to heavily worn cardboard game boxes in plastic collector boxes is actually a good thing to do in my experience. It gives them more structural support and actually brings it up a notch in visual quality. At least to my eyes.
When I buy video games at a game store, be it retro or modern, I just take a look at it, see if I am willing to pay the price for it, then I buy it and plan to play it. I don't personally like looking at information online to see if a game is worth adding to my collection. It kind of takes away from the fun of discovering something unique. My top advice for anybody collecting is to have a budget. At the end of the day, video game collecting costs money and no matter how little you spend, it does add up over time. I can't stress enough that money management is a big part of the hobby, and I know not everyone, including myself at times, is good at handling money.
Something I've had to come to terms with is realising my set up is good enough, that I don't need a Retrotink 5X when only really 1 console (ps2) will see noticeable improvements compared to using what I've got now (OSSC). Another tip I would give is try to at least soft mod every region locked system, imports are great.
I hear ya. Dont spread yourself thin. In any aspects of life. I started collecting back in 2009. In a matter of about 4 years, i accumulated 24 different consoles. WAS THAT OVERWHELMING. Every video game store you go into. Gotta hit every section. Sheesh. Now. Down to 5 systems. Feels good to only be attracted to a certain set. Famicom. Super Famicom. OG PlayStation and 3. Switch. Someday might turn into 1! Only time will tell. Thank you for the topic. Peace!-)
for me when i started collecting i didn’t care about boxes or manuals or being CIB. i just wanted the game to eventually play. i made lists from metal jesus hidden gems usually and went after those. mostly it was ps2 and ps3. but also 360 and og xbox. then some wii and ds obscure games with a focus on M rated games and the xSeed company for wii (last story,fragile dreams, pandoras tower) i also did manage to get some CIB games including for gamecube (twin snakes, paper mario, cthulu, lost kingdom) i haven’t really bought many in the last couple years as i kinda have what i wanted. i did want haunting ground, rule of rose, kuon, and blood will tell for ps2 but they are too expensive now so i just emulate them.
To your point about going in blind to new old games, I think it’s also worth considering that if you research any game enough, you’ll likely end up discovering the whole spectrum of opinions-folks who love the title and folks who hate it. Needless to say, I agree with your approach! Your content lately has been so enjoyable, Pete, thank you
Appreciate the thought and tips! I would also say that staying in a budget is important - the games will always be around, at least longer than your own expenses and needs. Only buy what you can afford in the longterm. If you can, make the choice to buy something and then sit on it for a day or two and see if it's still something you want in your collection.
Taking a chance on a cheap interesting box art game is awesome. I also like browsing those youtube videos of "every dreamcast game" etc including all the imports and jotting down every one that looks like something I'd want to play. Actually quite hard to find anything beyond the same 20~ games if you just look at all the "top 10 games for x console" videos or articles.
Back in 2008 when I started collecting I just want to play all the games I missed as a kid. I think I got in just in time before prices went up to insane levels.
As long as the game media (disc etc) is in good condition - I'm fine with it. I actually buy to play and physically own, not look at (I prefer my 'display' shelves to be a smaller rotating display of game cases I like). I like playing games I like from the original media first of all, and just having the game 'to hand'. This is just a fundamental facet of video gaming to me, so I 'collect' for this reason now. Similar to why I have so many books. I do use a kindle quite a bit for some things, but having the physical copy of say, lord of the rings, for example, is kind of important part of the experience and vibe creation. And cases like PS2 can be swapped for better condition ones very easily. Also, on quite a few games, there's practical reasons for owning - I recently re-bought Lunatea's Veil because something about the audio and other things with that game ONLY plays exactly right from the original disc.
When it comes to collecting, I don't collect everything. I simply collect from the genres I know I enjoy. Sometimes it gets expensive, sometimes cheap. Unfortunately for me, the games I enjoy tends to cost a lot.
I have been collecting games for a long time with the plan of playing all of them. So know why you are collecting them. Don't just collect because everyone else is collecting. I have always been collecting because I love playing video games. Know that there are other ways of playing these games becaides having the actual copy. If I was starting from scratch now, I wouldn't have anywhere near as many games as I do now. For retro games, I would have a standard that I am willing to pay for each game. My standard has always been that I don't pay more than $60 for a game. I would separate the games I want into tiers of which ones I want the most. I would also get an everdrive or emulation console.
Thanks for the video Pete! I always enjoy your videos because of your calm yet passionate demeanor and because you are very articulate with what you convey.
Other suggestions I'd like to add: - Be patient. FOMO can make us buy stuff we're looking for unreasonnable prices. Very often I went for a deal because I thought it was my last chance at finding it ever again... to find a better deal not so long after that. - Like Pete said, Pricy does not equal fun but also, collect for you! There's no obligatory piece for any collection. Curate stuff that mean something to you only. Me and many collectors in my circle have downsized their collection simply because at some point I realized that I had no attachment to a lot of games I owned. Of course, fullset collections and huge librairies are cool and impressive, but it might not be what really want. There's more efficient ways to play video games than storing chunks of plastic and swaping discs in and out of consoles (Flashcarts, emulations, digital services etc.). I can point at every game I owned and tell a story like that time I rented it as a kid, the moment in my life when I played it, the funny way I found it or when my gave it to me at chrismas. Collect games you have a story with.
I used to spend every last dime on "BUILDING MY COLLECTION" by filling up my bookshelves with useless junk that would look impressive. No heart or soul, except for the game consoles themselves, which I still have and will keep forever. But I haven't made a serious attempt on expanding my collection for about 7 years now. I'd rather spend the money on something else.
I'm playing Zelda twilight princess. I'm in the temple of time, and I'm stuck on getting the boss key. So far I've done the whole game completely by myself and want to finish it that way because I almost never manage to do that. Also I want to be quick with it so I can get back to newer games. Starting to drive me mad.
If someone is just hoarding a bunch of games that they never intend to play, then they are doing it wrong, and it's part of what made the retro game scene get so out of hand. Buy what you actually have an interest in. If it sucks and you don't get rid of it, then that's different. You didn't buy it intending to just throw it on a shelf. You gave it a chance. Us old retro collectors (for the most part) amassed our collections over the course of years and decades simply by just buying what we actually have an interest in. Being a player first is most important, and that translates into being a collector. People who buy anything and everything just to show off aren't collelctors. They're hoarders, and they ruin it for the real gamers and collectors.
Nowadays, most retro consoles can be (soft)modded fairly easy and cheaply. So what I'm doing is: get every Sony+Nintendo+Microsoft console from gen 4 up to gen 8 and mod them. (except for gen8, which imho are not convenient enough yet to mod.) Perhaps grab a few spare ones for the consoles you really care about in case they'd break in the future. After all: the hardware itself is never rare, so the prices are still affordable to do so. And for all these consoles, buy the games I have a personal connection with. This way, the set of games I'm actually buying per console is limited and personal and I still get to play every game I'm interested in for every console. Another thing I'm doing is to set a budget of max €50 per month and save up a few months if the thing I want is more expensive. Alternatively, it's even cheaper if you just buy some mini pc with one or more large hard disks or retro emulation console and go full emulation. A big advantage of that approach, aside from not having to buy every console and all those games, is that you don't have to worry about scalers and such to get the best image quality (looking at you, PS2 and NGC). Emulation will already provide that for you. The downside is obviously that it doesn't cater as much to your nostalgia.
Here is a better tip, go for collections using modern consoles. That way you don't have to buy the expensive original format game, which saves you money. Even buy re-releases where possible on more modern systems (even those same retro systems), it ultimately saves you money again. If you don't have to get an original format game, then don't. Diversify as much as possible using generations as a tactical advantage, now that it is too late to ever enter on-time.
Can you make time stamps when you make a list? This is what I got out of your video: 1. Don't need to get mint condition games 2. Price doesn't equal how good the game is 3. Don't research games too heavily. Leave something to the imagination. 4. Do your own research 5. Stick to a focused group of consoles 6. Don't try to replicate what other collectors have 7. Don't play your games too fast. Savor them I am not a new collector. I would say I'm a gamer from the old days who realized I have a collection. Good list of points. I have some more to add. Actually more like guidelines than mistakes 1. Have an idea of how much space you are willing to set aside for games because space is a problem. I want to add on an example to Pete's #3 of don't research games too heavily. I was at a vg convention and a guy next to me picks up an NES game to buy. He was talking out load and said, "this looks like an interesting game". I said that game required a light gun. He said "oh" and put it back. So do enough research to know what the game is and how it plays. I got a SNES game a long time ago and it needed the superscope which I didn't have.
@@warehousedave7937 No, it was To the Earth. I never heard of Laser invasion until just now. For NES games, its a real gamble for me. I would have to look up video footage if I don't know about it. I don't really pick up NES games anymore unless I come across a good deal. I generally stopped when I picked up cheap games from Funcoland like Dick Tracy, Dr Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. The last games I picked up were about a year ago. I got RC Pro Am, Tecmo Bowl and Wheel of Fortune JR for $3-5 each at a garage sale. I already knew what they were.
What I find, that helps a little more, is public opinion. Throw on that RUclips review but don’t watch it. Head straight to the comments and find the underlying truth to what’s good/better than the rest. I don’t know personally but I won’t pick up Devil May Cry 2 to get the complete series on PS2 because public opinion is that it sucks. It’s also not needed for the story since 3 is a prequel to the first. Nice video Pete. Keep them coming. Your voice has a very ASMR quality about it. Very chill.
I would 100% say buy games only if they're CiB, sure you'll get more games if you also buy non-CiB... but when you're serious enough into it you'll end up spending double trying to get complete copies of those games. That's where I am... I have about 60 games to get CiB copies off. That's basically paying double. I wish I had stuck to buying CiB only copies from day 1. As for reviews etc... it's not just the content being spoiled, but some games have a hive mindset about it and a lot of people sharing that view haven't even played it. Ex: I wanted Knuckles Chaotix since my childhood. I had no idea what it was like... all I knew it was from the Sonic universe and I wanted it bad. However, my parents never got a 32x then. Fast forward to adulthood I hear all this bad stuff about the game. I ignored it though, got the 32x, got the CiB copy of the game and let myself form my own opinion of it. I like it. It's not amazing, but it's fun enough and the music is great.
two suggestions. start retro collecting one or two generations of consoles back. its the cheapest. right now I'm building up PS4 and Xbox 360 games. never paying much more than $20. second, along with Pete's recommendation about sticking with a couple machines to start, start collecting in a genre or two like. For me, Its RPGs and side scrolling level jumpers. seems to me that "complete collections" are more about "collecting" rather than "gaming".
Having to have this video, truly shows how unintelligent the people in this hobby are. "Buy what I like? Be myself? Don6 do what other people are doing and pretend to have the same.opini9ns cuz others have em and you wanna be cool?" This is like 7th grade type behavior, and having to even speak this stuff, means other are totally in that mindfulness based on experience or the video wouldn't have a need to exist if not for Pete's first hand experience. Social media really has turned everyone into children
On JRPGs that are too long plus heavy driven, I have a habit to simply complete the game fast. Now not as fast as The Flash of speed of light on JRPGs that are too long, I mean as in, I mainly focus on the main story and avoid the side quests unless there's a side quest that's required for a specific boss or for the final boss, then fine. other than that, I try to beat a too long jrpg game as fast as I can cause time is short. In general, most games I wanna beat fast; but only on one's that are too long like Metal Gear Solid 4 *ahem those cutscenes
You definitely can't rely on certain RUclipsrs on here because many are on just to get them views and not share their passion for gaming. I especially like what you stated about "hidden gems" because many times they really not that hidden at all.😆 I really miss the old days of gaming and collecting. Just ain't same in today's world with many unfinished games that get released and patched for the next few years or more.
Good video! It’s taken me over 20 year to build a collection of just over 2,000 games. Collecting hardware and physical game guides is rewarding too. Remember handhelds also. Currently enjoying Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass on an original DS, even though I have a new 3ds. Just enjoy collecting, it shouldn’t ever feel like work👍
Really happy to see you putting out content on RUclips again Pete. I used to follow allgen gamers podcast and would watch your stuff since 2010, you haven’t aged a day from what I remember 👍🏼
I like the tip about not researching the game. I wish I heard this tip in the beginning. Yes, you can have a game spoiled, but you can also build a certain expectation about the game before going in. I have always had the best experiences with games that I’ve gone in totally blind. You’re right, it gives you the same feels as when you were a kid renting a game based on box art.
I think the best advice I can give, is think about what your goal is as a collector. Do you want to play the games? What condition? Do you want it complete in box/case? Greatest Hits or Black Labels? Know what your end goal is or you will end up hunting for pieces and bits and bobs later on. I'm in that process now.
Right now is a good time to start, because, the cost of living crisis, is forcing some people to sell off their collections at lower prices than during the pandemic. I didn't think it would happen, but i also didn't expect the pandemic or the aftermath. I would advise UK buyers to go after original Xbox games whilst they are still cheap (I know this is different in the USA). It is the black sheep for collectors, so because of this, prices of games have not changed much in almost 10 years.
“Collect in poor condition.” What a terrible piece of advice! Most game stores and eBay sellers DON’T take condition into consideration. They just use price charting, meaning you’ll pay virtually the same if it’s mint or poor. Jeez. 🤣🤣🤣
I do have some fun expensive games, dont get me wrong. However, some of my favorite games are the affordable ones. So i agree. Price does not equal fun.
Working at an old game store as a second job is the only way I've really been able to collect the big hitters in the past two years. Came across Rule of Rose, Mars Matrix, lots of things I would afford without discount. Otherwise I try to sell old stuff I don't care about like Madden whatever or Bayonetta I have on two other systems and slowly build up for those Mercari buys.
Loving the collector info videos. Will you be making one on reproductions? Im not sure if that was a hint you mentioned here. If not then it would be really cool to see.
Could you do a video on full collection collecting? Completions collecting? I'm a collector usually for unique games that I'd be interested in playing. But over the last couple years I decided to go for a complete 3ds collection. Being a system I have so much affinity for.
I would recommend a flashcart if possible over unboxed games stacking up or games in damaged card packaging. For disc systems I enjoy collecting promo copies as these come in a plastic sleeve or cd single type case and therefore take up less space and look nice say in a PlayStation logo disc holder.
I wish, but unfortunately not. I hope to make it back there one of these years, but that trip tends to be very expensive for me so haven’t been able to get there in recent years.
The lesson I had to teach myself is money you have is always cheaper than money you don’t. If you miss out on a $20 game and have to pay $60 for it later, it’s not the end of the world even if it feels bad. Of course it makes sense to prioritize getting games that are likely to appreciate, but don’t over leverage yourself doing so.
The only thing I would disagree is to buy games with markers on them. Unfornately the games just turn into junk when markers are written on it. If you try to resell the game hardly anybody will buy it. They are basically worthless. Nobody wants to display Billy's name on the shelf.
By far the biggest mistake is starting to collect retro at all. Seriously. That ship has sailed. One would have to be rich or dumb to consider it. For those of us who aren't rich, the smarted thing to do is get a small handful of the retro stuff we had as kids and forget the rest.
When I started, I stuck to the NES and had to force myself to not even consider buying a Genesis for a year or so. Then my self control walked out on me. A narrow scope is good advice!
Wonderful advice. I like seeing gameplay of games not to much to spoil but just to see If It's good. Also trying the games out if possible before buying helps a lot so you know for sure what your getting into. Cool video. ^_^
What I’ve always liked about you Pete is you find good in some of the worst rated games going because you havnt followed the herd and made your own decision definitely the way to go :)
I had to sell a good portion of my systems and rare games but I still have a okay big amount but sold some rare games NES chiller was one and others streets of rage 3. Including virtual boy xbox ps2 snes sega Genesis games game boys NES games but still got a good healthy amount of retro stuff
Yeah I agree that price does not always equate to fun, there's a couple games I've spent almost $200 or more on and I really don't even like them that much. Then I'll go right back to playing the same game I love that was less than $100 over and over. Sometimes games are just expensive because they haven't been re released or released in limited quantities. BUT there's also games I've spent a lot on that I also love and play all the time (a lot of what I'm talking about is Sega Saturn and Neo Geo).
I’d definitely second all these recommendations. The thing I would personally emphasize is please play your games. A smaller curated collection full of new and old memories is worth 10x more than a collection for the sake of itself. I thought I wanted to collect SNES when I got into the hobby 6ish years ago, but I didn’t grow up with it and I’m plenty happy now with the SNES Classic. Instead I expanded into the DreamCast which I got to play at friends’ houses as a kid and it’s fun to realize the what-if of owning one now. The only amendment I’d make for the list personally is buy for the condition that you’ll be happiest with. Agreed that most people should forego the idea of gem mint copies, but if you’re a lil ocd like me and you bought a particularly sun faded clamshell and game cus it was cheap but now it stands out uncomfortably- maybe don’t buy it twice. Save up a lil more and get the cleaner copy.
Building a large collection takes time and money. Sure you can go and max out your credit card or you can just buy what's within your means over time.
One of the biggest misconceptions about game collecting is that one can amass a huge collection extremely cheap. Truth is this hobby takes a lot of time and money. Yes, there are deals to be had but during your journey you will fork over some serious cash.
Ya. I've got a weekly budget on what I will spend on retro games. I'm not looking for a complete collection for any system, but I'm not being picky either. If I see a CiB Sega game I want and it's within my spend I'll buy it.
One tip I'd give is to not be afraid to piece together the expensive games. It might take a year or longer but, when i'm buying saturn game, I'll often start with the disc. Then I'll look for cheaper copies of the manual and case later. I often save money this way.
I often do that with GB games since finding boxed and complete gameboy games are expensive/difficult to find.
I'd say that's a much better tip of Gameboy than just about any other library. Fragile Saturn discs sold as disc-only are going to give you problems half the time, and then finding a loose manual can be very difficult.
Just need to know the key component that is the toughest to find, and if you can start with a good deal on that component, the rest can come easy. For CIB cardboard, it's almost always the box that's the hardest to find. Manuals come cheap and easy (except for rentals). For genesis and GameCube, PS2, Dreamcast etc (disc based) it's the manual that's hardest to pair up.
If you can start with for example a rule of rose manual for an awesome deal, you're going to easily catch an auction for a missing manual copy that goes cheap because nobody wants an incomplete copy... You're only competing with people who decide to settle for incomplete and that's fewer people and less aggressive people.
***If you start with the key component, the rest is easy!
I am the type of person who will just print out a cover and throw it in a DVD case, of course it won't be as valuable but it looks nice and keeps it protected
I strongly agree with the last tip to not give up on a game too soon or move on to the next game to quick. I find if I leave a game too long that when I finally go back to it I have no attachement to my save file and want to start over.
Also avoid any idea of going for a full collection - way too much shovel ware on all systems.
I'd personally avoid any super tatty games, scratched discs and damaged cart labels I'd steer well clear, the prices of those games will not hold up well in the future.
Agree it's a good idea quickly watch a short video online of any retro game I'd see for sale before buying.
Note: all reviews are somewhat biased.
There's only a few libraries where full set either makes sense, or is just a fun long-term goal.
My examples for small sets that to simply have a collection means you're more than half way done with the set would be 32X, Virtual Boy, and Neo Geo Pocket Color. Of course the rarest few games will come at a premium because so many people need it for their set, but those games will likely always hold their value. Point being that 6 turd games for the NGPC is much more justifiable if it brings you to a full set than 1000 turd games on the Wii. If you really love the console and it's a manageable set size, it can be a fun pursuit.
The other libraries that makes sense to me for full setting are NES and N64 cart set. If you enjoy the hunt and get a little dopamine from watching that progress bar grow steadily and cheaply, these libraries are very doable and you'll get 80% there on a budget. Looking out for lots that have a lot of titles you're missing, selling or trading off the duplicates. To a lot of people, this is the hobby of video game collecting! I've met a lot of people that enjoy the hunt more than they enjoy playing the majority of their games.
First rule for people that want to become a retro collector from 2023 onward: JUST DON'T, become a retro PLAYER instead. If you want to keep your sanity and some money, buy the console(s) you ACTUALLY want to play with, buy a handful of good/cheap games and/or Everdrives/ODDs for each console, select a nice shelf setup that you like to look at, and that's it, stop there. Forget about complete sets, having all models/colors of certain consoles, having CIB games/consoles, etc. Everything is getting more expensive/rare/older/harder to find as years go by, so you'll find yourself trying to achieve an impossible goal and waste most of the time doing it instead of just enjoying playing the games on original hardware, with some money to spare. THAT is my only recommendation for newcomers into the RETRO scene.
Or u could just download emulators and roms on ur pc and buy 8bitdo controllers lmfao
@@user-dr6ru9vn8v nah , where's the fun in that? I know emulation is the future, but as long as my consoles work, I'll continue to play on original hardware and controllers + Everdrives/ODEs/Jailbreaks.
@@wettuga2762 same I agree with you, although I don’t have a flash cart/everdrive for my Genesis and SNES and so I just emulate games that are really expensive such as Pocky and Rocky 2 and I emulate games to try out and to play rom hacks for those systems
I'm loving all these uploads, Pete!
My smile and optimism: RESTORED
He’s on fire, I hope it lasts
Great advice! I think you gave the best advice, just be yourself when collecting!
You inspired me to get into collecting 10 years ago, and you still inspire many others to this day!
My biggest tip has to do with how you acquire your collection. Unless you can go back to 2006 (or there’s something you REALLY want specifically), try to avoid eBay and game stores. For me, it’s way more fun to hit the thrift stores once a week and treasure hunt. The dirtier and unorganized thrifts are often the best. You may find a Saturn console in the electronics section because they think it’s a CD player. Or PlayStation 2 games among the DVDs. It takes a while this way, but it’s a lot of fun.
Going to all those stores takes time and gas which all boil down to money, does it not?. It's not the definitive way to game hunt.
Only single young guys can do that lol
That also depends on the country you live in. USA has it good in that regard, but countries like the UK... nope that wouldn't work. If you stuck to the thrift store policy in the UK you'd be limited to a game collection of games like Fifa soccer and call of duty as well as fitness/dance games that are priced beyond their current retro game market prices.
I like getting the specific games for the systems I want. I have zero desire to thrift and would rather develop my want lists and patiently wait for killer deals on eBay (yes they happen all the time).
Great point about not doing too much research and approaching the game with no more than what the cover offers you. It really does heighten one's sense of discovery and makes the experience more fun.
I started collecting retro games and consoles back in 2008, I realized a lot of the games were just collecting dust so I have been downsizing and honing my collection to the ones I actually enjoy instead of keeping games I don't play
Your advice to just collect what jumps out is why I found so much weird Wii stuff - it is just fun to discover games you never knew
Pete I am loving the amount of uploads! Feel I’m reliving my youth!!
Hope you’re well 💜
Some games are expensive and pretty common. Examples like Conker, Def Jam NY, DBZ Tenkaichi 3, Silent Hill 2, Smash melee (literally the most common GameCube game ever made)... These are the expensive games that are easiest to catch for a deal, even just looking out for auctions and staying vigilant.
The two most important metrics to consider if you're going to pay "retail" (maybe feeling some FOMO) are 1. How many copies are being listed on eBay (does it rarely come up for sale?) 2. Is it a quality game that if given a little more exposure and a few more people start wanting a copy, 10 sales on ebay could completely wipe out supply.
Those are the games that you want to get now while prices are pretty tame in general.
You inspired my fiance to start a collection years ago ❤ now we have our own video game room & a whole retirement fund😂
Regarding walkthroughs, if it’s some random game, then I absolutely agree. When it comes to well-known games, like Zelda, I’d recommend getting stuck on how to move forward exploring every nook and cranny. You’ll stumble upon things you’d never have discovered if just going through a guide, and the sheer elation you’d feel after triumphing over a puzzle that has you stumped for possibly days is a reward unto itself.
Sometimes the adventure is part of the fun, even if that means getting lost from time to time.
Putting moderately to heavily worn cardboard game boxes in plastic collector boxes is actually a good thing to do in my experience. It gives them more structural support and actually brings it up a notch in visual quality. At least to my eyes.
Great advice! The most important thing, HAVE FUN!!!!
When I buy video games at a game store, be it retro or modern, I just take a look at it, see if I am willing to pay the price for it, then I buy it and plan to play it. I don't personally like looking at information online to see if a game is worth adding to my collection. It kind of takes away from the fun of discovering something unique. My top advice for anybody collecting is to have a budget. At the end of the day, video game collecting costs money and no matter how little you spend, it does add up over time. I can't stress enough that money management is a big part of the hobby, and I know not everyone, including myself at times, is good at handling money.
Pete was one of tge first channels I ever subscribed to. So glad he's back.
Something I've had to come to terms with is realising my set up is good enough, that I don't need a Retrotink 5X when only really 1 console (ps2) will see noticeable improvements compared to using what I've got now (OSSC). Another tip I would give is try to at least soft mod every region locked system, imports are great.
I hear ya. Dont spread yourself thin. In any aspects of life. I started collecting back in 2009. In a matter of about 4 years, i accumulated 24 different consoles. WAS THAT OVERWHELMING. Every video game store you go into. Gotta hit every section. Sheesh. Now. Down to 5 systems. Feels good to only be attracted to a certain set. Famicom. Super Famicom. OG PlayStation and 3. Switch. Someday might turn into 1! Only time will tell. Thank you for the topic. Peace!-)
for me when i started collecting i didn’t care about boxes or manuals or being CIB. i just wanted the game to eventually play. i made lists from metal jesus hidden gems usually and went after those. mostly it was ps2 and ps3. but also 360 and og xbox. then some wii and ds obscure games with a focus on M rated games and the xSeed company for wii (last story,fragile dreams, pandoras tower) i also did manage to get some CIB games including for gamecube (twin snakes, paper mario, cthulu, lost kingdom) i haven’t really bought many in the last couple years as i kinda have what i wanted. i did want haunting ground, rule of rose, kuon, and blood will tell for ps2 but they are too expensive now so i just emulate them.
To your point about going in blind to new old games, I think it’s also worth considering that if you research any game enough, you’ll likely end up discovering the whole spectrum of opinions-folks who love the title and folks who hate it. Needless to say, I agree with your approach! Your content lately has been so enjoyable, Pete, thank you
First! Pete Dorr is the best!!!
A true gamer
Appreciate the thought and tips! I would also say that staying in a budget is important - the games will always be around, at least longer than your own expenses and needs. Only buy what you can afford in the longterm. If you can, make the choice to buy something and then sit on it for a day or two and see if it's still something you want in your collection.
Taking a chance on a cheap interesting box art game is awesome.
I also like browsing those youtube videos of "every dreamcast game" etc including all the imports and jotting down every one that looks like something I'd want to play.
Actually quite hard to find anything beyond the same 20~ games if you just look at all the "top 10 games for x console" videos or articles.
Back in 2008 when I started collecting I just want to play all the games I missed as a kid. I think I got in just in time before prices went up to insane levels.
Love your videos man! I’ve been watching since high school, almost ten years ago!!
As long as the game media (disc etc) is in good condition - I'm fine with it. I actually buy to play and physically own, not look at (I prefer my 'display' shelves to be a smaller rotating display of game cases I like). I like playing games I like from the original media first of all, and just having the game 'to hand'. This is just a fundamental facet of video gaming to me, so I 'collect' for this reason now. Similar to why I have so many books. I do use a kindle quite a bit for some things, but having the physical copy of say, lord of the rings, for example, is kind of important part of the experience and vibe creation. And cases like PS2 can be swapped for better condition ones very easily. Also, on quite a few games, there's practical reasons for owning - I recently re-bought Lunatea's Veil because something about the audio and other things with that game ONLY plays exactly right from the original disc.
When it comes to collecting, I don't collect everything. I simply collect from the genres I know I enjoy. Sometimes it gets expensive, sometimes cheap. Unfortunately for me, the games I enjoy tends to cost a lot.
I’m fine with quality reproductions, I collect for me, not for “what it’s worth”
I have been collecting games for a long time with the plan of playing all of them. So know why you are collecting them. Don't just collect because everyone else is collecting. I have always been collecting because I love playing video games. Know that there are other ways of playing these games becaides having the actual copy. If I was starting from scratch now, I wouldn't have anywhere near as many games as I do now. For retro games, I would have a standard that I am willing to pay for each game. My standard has always been that I don't pay more than $60 for a game. I would separate the games I want into tiers of which ones I want the most. I would also get an everdrive or emulation console.
Thanks for the video Pete! I always enjoy your videos because of your calm yet passionate demeanor and because you are very articulate with what you convey.
Other suggestions I'd like to add:
- Be patient. FOMO can make us buy stuff we're looking for unreasonnable prices. Very often I went for a deal because I thought it was my last chance at finding it ever again... to find a better deal not so long after that.
- Like Pete said, Pricy does not equal fun but also, collect for you! There's no obligatory piece for any collection. Curate stuff that mean something to you only. Me and many collectors in my circle have downsized their collection simply because at some point I realized that I had no attachment to a lot of games I owned. Of course, fullset collections and huge librairies are cool and impressive, but it might not be what really want. There's more efficient ways to play video games than storing chunks of plastic and swaping discs in and out of consoles (Flashcarts, emulations, digital services etc.). I can point at every game I owned and tell a story like that time I rented it as a kid, the moment in my life when I played it, the funny way I found it or when my gave it to me at chrismas. Collect games you have a story with.
I used to spend every last dime on "BUILDING MY COLLECTION" by filling up my bookshelves with useless junk that would look impressive. No heart or soul, except for the game consoles themselves, which I still have and will keep forever. But I haven't made a serious attempt on expanding my collection for about 7 years now. I'd rather spend the money on something else.
Good advice for game collecting.
I'm playing Zelda twilight princess. I'm in the temple of time, and I'm stuck on getting the boss key. So far I've done the whole game completely by myself and want to finish it that way because I almost never manage to do that. Also I want to be quick with it so I can get back to newer games. Starting to drive me mad.
Pete Dorr RUclips videos are my favorite
Awesome job with the videos Pete!
If someone is just hoarding a bunch of games that they never intend to play, then they are doing it wrong, and it's part of what made the retro game scene get so out of hand. Buy what you actually have an interest in. If it sucks and you don't get rid of it, then that's different. You didn't buy it intending to just throw it on a shelf. You gave it a chance. Us old retro collectors (for the most part) amassed our collections over the course of years and decades simply by just buying what we actually have an interest in. Being a player first is most important, and that translates into being a collector. People who buy anything and everything just to show off aren't collelctors. They're hoarders, and they ruin it for the real gamers and collectors.
Nowadays, most retro consoles can be (soft)modded fairly easy and cheaply.
So what I'm doing is: get every Sony+Nintendo+Microsoft console from gen 4 up to gen 8 and mod them. (except for gen8, which imho are not convenient enough yet to mod.) Perhaps grab a few spare ones for the consoles you really care about in case they'd break in the future. After all: the hardware itself is never rare, so the prices are still affordable to do so.
And for all these consoles, buy the games I have a personal connection with.
This way, the set of games I'm actually buying per console is limited and personal and I still get to play every game I'm interested in for every console.
Another thing I'm doing is to set a budget of max €50 per month and save up a few months if the thing I want is more expensive.
Alternatively, it's even cheaper if you just buy some mini pc with one or more large hard disks or retro emulation console and go full emulation. A big advantage of that approach, aside from not having to buy every console and all those games, is that you don't have to worry about scalers and such to get the best image quality (looking at you, PS2 and NGC). Emulation will already provide that for you. The downside is obviously that it doesn't cater as much to your nostalgia.
I’ve been a subscriber for who knows how long 10+ years, great advice
Here is a better tip, go for collections using modern consoles. That way you don't have to buy the expensive original format game, which saves you money. Even buy re-releases where possible on more modern systems (even those same retro systems), it ultimately saves you money again. If you don't have to get an original format game, then don't. Diversify as much as possible using generations as a tactical advantage, now that it is too late to ever enter on-time.
Killing it with the content!
Can you make time stamps when you make a list? This is what I got out of your video:
1. Don't need to get mint condition games
2. Price doesn't equal how good the game is
3. Don't research games too heavily. Leave something to the imagination.
4. Do your own research
5. Stick to a focused group of consoles
6. Don't try to replicate what other collectors have
7. Don't play your games too fast. Savor them
I am not a new collector. I would say I'm a gamer from the old days who realized I have a collection. Good list of points. I have some more to add. Actually more like guidelines than mistakes 1. Have an idea of how much space you are willing to set aside for games because space is a problem.
I want to add on an example to Pete's #3 of don't research games too heavily. I was at a vg convention and a guy next to me picks up an NES game to buy. He was talking out load and said, "this looks like an interesting game". I said that game required a light gun. He said "oh" and put it back. So do enough research to know what the game is and how it plays. I got a SNES game a long time ago and it needed the superscope which I didn't have.
The NES game was Laser invasion, am I right?
@@warehousedave7937 No, it was To the Earth. I never heard of Laser invasion until just now. For NES games, its a real gamble for me. I would have to look up video footage if I don't know about it. I don't really pick up NES games anymore unless I come across a good deal. I generally stopped when I picked up cheap games from Funcoland like Dick Tracy, Dr Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. The last games I picked up were about a year ago. I got RC Pro Am, Tecmo Bowl and Wheel of Fortune JR for $3-5 each at a garage sale. I already knew what they were.
What I find, that helps a little more, is public opinion. Throw on that RUclips review but don’t watch it. Head straight to the comments and find the underlying truth to what’s good/better than the rest. I don’t know personally but I won’t pick up Devil May Cry 2 to get the complete series on PS2 because public opinion is that it sucks. It’s also not needed for the story since 3 is a prequel to the first. Nice video Pete. Keep them coming. Your voice has a very ASMR quality about it. Very chill.
This was very informative. Keep it up!
I would 100% say buy games only if they're CiB, sure you'll get more games if you also buy non-CiB... but when you're serious enough into it you'll end up spending double trying to get complete copies of those games. That's where I am... I have about 60 games to get CiB copies off. That's basically paying double. I wish I had stuck to buying CiB only copies from day 1.
As for reviews etc... it's not just the content being spoiled, but some games have a hive mindset about it and a lot of people sharing that view haven't even played it. Ex: I wanted Knuckles Chaotix since my childhood. I had no idea what it was like... all I knew it was from the Sonic universe and I wanted it bad. However, my parents never got a 32x then. Fast forward to adulthood I hear all this bad stuff about the game. I ignored it though, got the 32x, got the CiB copy of the game and let myself form my own opinion of it. I like it. It's not amazing, but it's fun enough and the music is great.
two suggestions. start retro collecting one or two generations of consoles back. its the cheapest. right now I'm building up PS4 and Xbox 360 games. never paying much more than $20. second, along with Pete's recommendation about sticking with a couple machines to start, start collecting in a genre or two like. For me, Its RPGs and side scrolling level jumpers. seems to me that "complete collections" are more about "collecting" rather than "gaming".
Having to have this video, truly shows how unintelligent the people in this hobby are. "Buy what I like? Be myself? Don6 do what other people are doing and pretend to have the same.opini9ns cuz others have em and you wanna be cool?" This is like 7th grade type behavior, and having to even speak this stuff, means other are totally in that mindfulness based on experience or the video wouldn't have a need to exist if not for Pete's first hand experience. Social media really has turned everyone into children
My biggest tip now in 2024 is only buy games you want to play or that you like. Or games that have sentimental value from your childhood.
On JRPGs that are too long plus heavy driven, I have a habit to simply complete the game fast. Now not as fast as The Flash of speed of light on JRPGs that are too long, I mean as in, I mainly focus on the main story and avoid the side quests unless there's a side quest that's required for a specific boss or for the final boss, then fine. other than that, I try to beat a too long jrpg game as fast as I can cause time is short.
In general, most games I wanna beat fast; but only on one's that are too long like Metal Gear Solid 4 *ahem those cutscenes
You definitely can't rely on certain RUclipsrs on here because many are on just to get them views and not share their passion for gaming. I especially like what you stated about "hidden gems" because many times they really not that hidden at all.😆
I really miss the old days of gaming and collecting. Just ain't same in today's world with many unfinished games that get released and patched for the next few years or more.
Good video! It’s taken me over 20 year to build a collection of just over 2,000 games. Collecting hardware and physical game guides is rewarding too. Remember handhelds also. Currently enjoying Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass on an original DS, even though I have a new 3ds. Just enjoy collecting, it shouldn’t ever feel like work👍
Loving the videos Pete! Any chance of a new 'Games I bought recently'?
Really happy to see you putting out content on RUclips again Pete. I used to follow allgen gamers podcast and would watch your stuff since 2010, you haven’t aged a day from what I remember 👍🏼
I'm fine with no boxes and just loose carts. At least for NES, SNES, Sega Genesis. My standards go way up when I get to the PS1 and PS2
I rather not have mint condition NRFB games, I do intent to actually use them after all.
I like having mint games and playing them,but now days that option isnt viable for alot of people.
I like the tip about not researching the game. I wish I heard this tip in the beginning. Yes, you can have a game spoiled, but you can also build a certain expectation about the game before going in. I have always had the best experiences with games that I’ve gone in totally blind. You’re right, it gives you the same feels as when you were a kid renting a game based on box art.
YES MORE VIDEOS!! :)
I think the best advice I can give, is think about what your goal is as a collector. Do you want to play the games? What condition? Do you want it complete in box/case? Greatest Hits or Black Labels?
Know what your end goal is or you will end up hunting for pieces and bits and bobs later on. I'm in that process now.
Pete is the true guru and master.
We have so much to thank for him
Pete Dorr for president 🎉🎉🎉🇺🇲
Some great advice! I recently started getting back into collecting so this was great!
Right now is a good time to start, because, the cost of living crisis, is forcing some people to sell off their collections at lower prices than during the pandemic. I didn't think it would happen, but i also didn't expect the pandemic or the aftermath. I would advise UK buyers to go after original Xbox games whilst they are still cheap (I know this is different in the USA). It is the black sheep for collectors, so because of this, prices of games have not changed much in almost 10 years.
“Collect in poor condition.” What a terrible piece of advice! Most game stores and eBay sellers DON’T take condition into consideration. They just use price charting, meaning you’ll pay virtually the same if it’s mint or poor. Jeez. 🤣🤣🤣
I do have some fun expensive games, dont get me wrong. However, some of my favorite games are the affordable ones. So i agree. Price does not equal fun.
I collect what I wanted, now it's becoming I want all the games I never got to play 😂
i love video games
Working at an old game store as a second job is the only way I've really been able to collect the big hitters in the past two years. Came across Rule of Rose, Mars Matrix, lots of things I would afford without discount. Otherwise I try to sell old stuff I don't care about like Madden whatever or Bayonetta I have on two other systems and slowly build up for those Mercari buys.
Thanks for all these uploads! I feel like I’m getting back a piece of my childhood watching your videos again 😁
I collect games I want to play. Makes it less stressful.
Love your content Pete!
Loving the collector info videos. Will you be making one on reproductions? Im not sure if that was a hint you mentioned here. If not then it would be really cool to see.
Could you do a video on full collection collecting? Completions collecting?
I'm a collector usually for unique games that I'd be interested in playing. But over the last couple years I decided to go for a complete 3ds collection. Being a system I have so much affinity for.
Loving all the recent uploads Pete youre one of my favourite chanels!
Good tips
I would recommend a flashcart if possible over unboxed games stacking up or games in damaged card packaging.
For disc systems I enjoy collecting promo copies as these come in a plastic sleeve or cd single type case and therefore take up less space and look nice say in a PlayStation logo disc holder.
Unrelated to the video:
Pete, are you going to the Portland Retro Gaming Expo?
I wish, but unfortunately not. I hope to make it back there one of these years, but that trip tends to be very expensive for me so haven’t been able to get there in recent years.
The lesson I had to teach myself is money you have is always cheaper than money you don’t. If you miss out on a $20 game and have to pay $60 for it later, it’s not the end of the world even if it feels bad. Of course it makes sense to prioritize getting games that are likely to appreciate, but don’t over leverage yourself doing so.
The only thing I would disagree is to buy games with markers on them. Unfornately the games just turn into junk when markers are written on it. If you try to resell the game hardly anybody will buy it. They are basically worthless. Nobody wants to display Billy's name on the shelf.
By far the biggest mistake is starting to collect retro at all. Seriously. That ship has sailed. One would have to be rich or dumb to consider it. For those of us who aren't rich, the smarted thing to do is get a small handful of the retro stuff we had as kids and forget the rest.
When I started, I stuck to the NES and had to force myself to not even consider buying a Genesis for a year or so. Then my self control walked out on me. A narrow scope is good advice!
For all you new collectors, good luck with that gizmondo. Or maybe you have connections with the Swedish mafia, then you all good.
Amazing video Pete! Welcome back ❤
Love these tips videos!
Wonderful advice. I like seeing gameplay of games not to much to spoil but just to see If It's good. Also trying the games out if possible before buying helps a lot so you know for sure what your getting into. Cool video. ^_^
What I’ve always liked about you Pete is you find good in some of the worst rated games going because you havnt followed the herd and made your own decision definitely the way to go :)
Awesome video! Thanks!
Ps5 ps4 and Xbox for 7th Nintendo Switch and 64 system I had as a kid
I had to sell a good portion of my systems and rare games but I still have a okay big amount but sold some rare games NES chiller was one and others streets of rage 3. Including virtual boy xbox ps2 snes sega Genesis games game boys NES games but still got a good healthy amount of retro stuff
Great video pete i think the same way after doing this for about 15 years all over again! - gryk_
You are very well spoken Pete! I love these type of videos, keep it up dude! 😃
Golden age of RUclips is back
Pete is back on RUclips . Feels like the old RUclips days
Emulate before you buy on expensive stuff
Yeah I agree that price does not always equate to fun, there's a couple games I've spent almost $200 or more on and I really don't even like them that much. Then I'll go right back to playing the same game I love that was less than $100 over and over. Sometimes games are just expensive because they haven't been re released or released in limited quantities. BUT there's also games I've spent a lot on that I also love and play all the time (a lot of what I'm talking about is Sega Saturn and Neo Geo).
Loving all the new vids. You should shout out your discord too. Really active community talking bout games/showing off pickups.
Good point! I would say create a monthly budget.stick with that.
I’d definitely second all these recommendations. The thing I would personally emphasize is please play your games. A smaller curated collection full of new and old memories is worth 10x more than a collection for the sake of itself. I thought I wanted to collect SNES when I got into the hobby 6ish years ago, but I didn’t grow up with it and I’m plenty happy now with the SNES Classic. Instead I expanded into the DreamCast which I got to play at friends’ houses as a kid and it’s fun to realize the what-if of owning one now.
The only amendment I’d make for the list personally is buy for the condition that you’ll be happiest with. Agreed that most people should forego the idea of gem mint copies, but if you’re a lil ocd like me and you bought a particularly sun faded clamshell and game cus it was cheap but now it stands out uncomfortably- maybe don’t buy it twice. Save up a lil more and get the cleaner copy.