Getting Started

[bearmetal]

I just really got started collecting back in February of this year. I've hit a few good lots but I'm wanting to start focusing on a specific console (of course not turning down good deals on other ones). I just don't know which is a good console to start with so I'm looking for some advice...

Here are the consoles I have:

Playstation 1
Playstation 2
Playstation 3
NES
SNES
Nintendo 64
Gamecube
Sega Genesis
Atari 2600
XBox 360
Nintendo 3DS
PSP

I don't care too much about cardboard but if I come by it I think its a cool addition. I'm leaning more towards SNES Genesis or Gamecube to get started. Thoughts?

Also, any tips on hunting for games? How to know if its a good deal or I'm spending too much?

If it helps at all, I'm a huge RPG fan and I'm always looking for a great RPG game, so the more RPG games I have the happier I am.

Thanks for any and all advice!

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Genesis is very cheap to start with if you don't care about cases. I would suggest using VGPC for a baseline price for loose titles, and haggle for ~80% of that price.

[bombatomba]

Like Shadow said, keep VGPC handy.  If you plan on hitting thrift stores and flea markets turn it into a habit and be patient.  If you loose heart too easlily you can miss out on all the good stuff.  Also, if at all possible, make friends with vendors and employees at local game shops, consignment stores, as well as the thrifts and fleas.  Having someone on the inside looking out for you will increase your chances of good stuff (and sometimes good deals too).

Also post in the "Keep An Eye Out For Me Thread" if you have specifics in mind.

[nupoile]

Patience is such a big thing when it comes to collecting. Lots of us have been doing this a long time, that experience helps when; knowing when to pass on things, when to make offers, when to go big and buy it all, and when to take a break and just enjoy what you have.

Enjoy the hunting part of game collecting. It can be just as rewarding as getting more games. Don't think you are behind other people with bigger collections or think having tons of games is a competition. Hanging out on sites like this one puts you in an extremely niche group of people, one were people have lots and lots of games. I think for the most part, people here just enjoy the fact you also enjoy this hobby, so don't feel like you have to acquire more and more to be a part.


If I were to have recently started collecting games and was going to concentrate on just one of the consoles you listed,
SNES
Genesis
PS2
Would be ones I would consider.

Actually, thats way to hard to decide, just one console? 

[bearmetal]

Thanks for all the tips! @nupoile Ok good so I'm not crazy then wanting to focus on a couple consoles to start out. I'll probably be going SNES and Genesis then because those are the two I'm most interested in. Genesis is the first console I ever owned, and SNES, well, honestly I really like the look of the carts. Plus they both have some pretty awesome games.

[jansolee66]

SNES seems to be at a crazy high price point right now (i.e., some carts seem to have jumped 60% in price), so I'd almost advise against collecting for it right now. That being said, despite the sky high prices, I'm not sure it'll ever be coming back down.

[bearmetal]

I would love for the prices to come down, but if they don't I'm still just getting started so at least the crazy expensive ones like Earthbound can wait a while, though I really want to try that game to see why people say its such a great game.

[Fleach]

RPGs tend be to expensive because people hold on to them so they end up being in demand. Keep an eye out for those games as it seems like you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of them. SNES has a lot of RPGs as you probably already know.

Genesis is cheaper to collect.

My advice would be to set your standards. Do you want to collect CIB or cart only? Budget your spending so when you splurge it doesn't feel terribly bad. In terms of game prices VGPC is good as well as looking at completed listings on ebay. And of course, like everyone else is saying, be patient. Eventually you'll find what you're looking for.

[russlyman]

Good advice here. Yeah it all depends on what kind of games you are looking for. Man if you grew up playing sports games and want to find those your in luck. They are everywhere ha. But yeah def check Goodwills, Savers, Salvation Armies, hit up Craigslist every day and see if anyone list anything. You have to be quick on there because now there are so many people looking and know about craigs list the stuff goes fast.

I have found just recently a ton of good deals over at Nintendoage.com  There are a ton of nice people there selling stuff and most of them said they would rather sell there first before going to eBay.

With eBay, yes you can get the game faster but you might pay a higher price. What I have been doing recently on eBay is if I find a game I want and it has a buy it now price I send the seller a message and ask them if they would take a few dollars cheaper. 8 out of 10 times they say OK and adjust the price for me. So try that too

[bearmetal]

@Fleach, yeah I figured RPGs would be more expensive, but those are my favorite games so I know it will be worth it! I don't require Boxes, I'm perfectly fine loose cause I love the look of carts. But if a box were to come my way fairly cheap then I would have no problem with that. I just won an auction last night for Donkey Kong Country CIB with all paperwork and all that for 15$ plus 5$ for shipping so something like that I can deal with having the box. But to pay an bunch extra? no thank you.

@russlyman I'll have to see what thrift shops are around where I live. Not too familiar with many of them. The main store I go to is called the Exchange which is a used media store. Sometimes I find good deals, others they price them a bit high. I'll have to check nintendoage out.. haven't been over there yet. Thanks for the ebay tips!

[Crabmaster2000]

Since you're into RPGs and its on your list I'd say its a good time to attack the PS2. Its pretty cheap to collect for at the moment and there are a TON of good Role Playing Games on the system. No matter what system you're collecting for find out which publisher puts out the games you're most interested in. For example if you went PS2 you'd want to familiarize yourself with companies like Atlus, NIS, Squaresoft/Enix, etc. That way when you're out in the wild hunting you can be confident to pick up games you'll likely enjoy even if you aren't familiar with them.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

As a rule of thumb, systems that are ~20 years old will start to increase in prices due to that generation starting to join the workforce. Also, August is the best time of the year to purchase games - many people are looking to make money before returning to school, and it's the slow part of the year.

...just friendly hunting tips for those not in the know. 

[bearmetal]

Atlus and Squaresoft/Enix make great games! I typically really enjoy anything that comes from them.

@Shadow, Really? I never would have guessed that August is the good month for game hunting. I'll keep that in mind!

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Before VGPC, a friend and I were watching eBay trends on Neo Geo AES sales, waiting for them to dip low enough to purchase. Invariably, August was the low point of the year for 3+ years, and it appears to be that way for most sales. I don't know how telling it is for lower-cost items, but the higher cost items had a noticeable dip.

[Crabmaster2000]

Before VGPC, a friend and I were watching eBay trends on Neo Geo AES sales, waiting for them to dip low enough to purchase. Invariably, August was the low point of the year for 3+ years, and it appears to be that way for most sales. I don't know how telling it is for lower-cost items, but the higher cost items had a noticeable dip.

I think that trend holds true for most items across any system other than the super rare stuff.