What do you think about our list of things to watch out for before collecting retro games? Is there anything you'd want to add? Let me know in the comments!
Most of your video tips make sense advise to collecting in general of just about any hobby, not just retro games. Only one that may be a little shaky ground is the try before you buy as it may not be reasonably feasible or even applicable dependent upon the collecting hobby in question.
Something that really helped my collection out was simply sharing about my hobby via social media. As a result, I’d receive offers from family and friends out of the blue to either sell me their old games or more often than not, gift them to me knowing that they’d go somewhere where they would be appreciated.
Pat, how about watch out for people who are merely looking to exploit others for selfish gain. Maybe that sounds a little too Marxist for you, but don't blame me for attracting far-right radicals to your show. That's victim blaming at its worst. You have blamed leftist for attracting far-right radicals to the discussion. Other than that keep up the great work.
#7 - Have fun! And share the joy you got out of these “old” games with your kids and their friends. I firmly believe that if a game was good and fun when it first came out, odds are it still has that playability factor today. :) Appreciate you guys!
I stopped collecting retro games. At the moment I’m a diehard Switch collector. It’s just a fun console to play on and the games are nice to have on the shelf and you can still get them relatively affordable and easily.
Collecting is great for learning about the history. I haven’t regretted getting into cartridge collecting 12 years back. Def don't be a completionist. That's the biggest trap. It's too costly and you won't care about most of the games you pick up just to check off a list.
Meh. You can say that about any expensive hobby. if you enjoy it, do it. I will agree however that you are probably ten years too late thanks to the artificial collectors' bubble we are experiencing.
I've had the collecting bug before. Not for games, but for other pointless objects. I think I learned my lesson. It was a headache to collect, lots of anxiety, FOMO, and at the end of completing my collection, I didn't feel anything. So I agree 100% with your comment, 'DON'T'.
@@stephenthomas1492 As a recovering collector, the best thing I ever did was buying ODEs and flash carts for all my consoles. For the first time in years I'm actually playing games instead of putting them on my shelf and staring at them.
Yeah, if it was 20 year ago, I’d have a very different opinion. I’ve been gaming since 1988 and have never resold any of my games. But if I’m being honest, I haven’t used any of my physical games for older consoles in YEARS. And it’s not because I don’t play retro games. I’m not a collector though, never have been. I’m a gamer. Collecting was just the byproduct of wanting to play games. You don’t need to own games anymore to play them.
One piece of advice I'd give for collecting higher priced systems like Saturn. I often will buy the games in pieces. I'll find a cheap manual and case without the game and I'll sit on that until i find a cheap disc only copy. I got my Albert Odyssey for much cheaper than a complete copy would have cost me. I just had to be patient. It took about a year and a half to put it all together.
Collect what you care about and want to play. Otherwise, over time, you just waste a lot of money and just realize it's collecting dust and a lot of people end of getting rid of it. Curated collections are always more impressive and interesting than people that just buy everything unless it's a full set for a console you really love.
I can’t imagine getting into collecting nowadays. I quit collecting at this point over 5 years ago because I felt at that time the hobby had been ruined by speculators and resellers. It was already at the point you’d almost never find something good in the wild by then, and prices were absurd
I totally agree. If I were to start today, I'd just have the console, whatever physical games it came with, and an Ever drive for everything else. I also can't imagine how a kid or teenager could get into the hobby with just an allowance or minimum wage job. I think I bought Mario Bros 3 when I was a kid for something like 8$, and inherited an NES from my uncle.
In reference to #4: Man, if only there was a trusted source that provided information on an entire library, like the NES or SNES. Maybe with reviews and in an easily digestible format.
I've been going the buying lots route. It's honestly the best way to collect or resell. Keep what you want, flip the rest for profit or to recoup costs. Keep it moving to the next.
@@richterbelmont5506 Nah! It can also be fast -- you sell off the good priced items that move fast, then lot up the rest and sell that off. The best part about lots for collecting is that it averages all the expensive games down from hundreds of dollars to tens or ones.
Being cool to game store owners worked for me. They know me and know I spend money at their stores and they know giving me a slight deal, I will buy more.
Saturn is expensive if you're looking into long box. Most of the Daturn games I had were Japanese, and honestly, better than the Amaerican versions. Some examples are Castlevania SOTN, Resident evil...
From someone who has been collecting for nearly 5 years now with the way prices are I would say if you were smart just avoid it entirely because it can get unaffordable quick.
I just emulate these days, or play things on my Switch/Xbox. I have a few of the mini consoles, but they are mostly decorations on the shelf these days.
I'd hate to just start collecting right now. Majority of the ship sailed away years ago. I remember 10 years ago finding hundreds of retro games at flea markets for $1-$10. Rare ones. Now a 80yo grandma at a flea market wants $20 a pop for sports games
Buy stuff in pieces, if it's easier. Say a game complete costs $100. A lot of people want the convenience of having it complete so they'll skip over cart/cd, manual, box/case only listings. This in turn makes the people trying to sell those individual items sell them for less. So you may find each piece, game, box and manual, for $15-$20 a piece. Being patient and doing it that way instead of getting it complete for $100 you can get it for $45-$60 instead. Being patient and doing your homework like that can make things a lot easier. Granted, some systems like the NES, the box (especially if it's in great shape) can cost more than the game and manual combined, sometimes double or triple. It's not foolproof, but it's worked for me personally more often than not.
13:49 this is a great tip; I befriended the manager of my local GameStop, and I was able to secure a special edition of Metroid Dread fairly quickly thanks to them holding one for me.
As a person who got into game collecting during 2015, I completely agree with this list. Budget is key and should be taken seriously because if you can't afford to collect, then don't do it. Be responsible. I unfortunately wasn't good with my finances during 2016 and I ended up selling over half of my game collection to pay for expenses. Patients is also key because there are so many listings online for a lot of these desired video games. The prices can be pretty steep at times, but if you are patient, then you might find a good deal perhaps in person at a local store or yard sale. I found EarthBound at a local store in 2020 for $150 (not cheap, but way better than what it goes for now). I never thought I would own a copy of EarthBound, but my patients paid off by simply enjoying my time collecting locally, instead of trying to buy an expensive and possibly fake copy online. I never really got into emulation, but I agree that that is a great way to test a game out before buying it. This would be ideal for expensive games since sometimes these pricey games are actually not very good, but simply desired for the sake of a person's collection. As for sellers, I bought quite a bit of stuff off of Ebay, and I can attest that sellers are mostly just interested in making quick money. I tried asking some people about a certain listing posted and they basically told me next to nothing. While I don't recommend taking shots in the dark with purchases, depending on what it is, sometimes you might have to take a risk if you truly want something. I bought stuff that I wasn't hundred percent sure about, but in the end, most of my purchases were well worth the risk. When it comes to game lots, I used to buy most of my games individually, but now that I have most of the desired retro games that I want, I try to buy in lots on Ebay, especially for systems that I am not familiar with. That is how I got into collecting and playing Atari 2600 and Odyssey 2. Just be careful with console lots because I noticed that quite a few listings don't specify if the console is in working condition (sometimes these lots are easy ways for people to dump a bunch of poor conditioned stuff onto another person). Lastly, making friends either in person or even just listening to people on the internet is very helpful. If it wasn't for Pat and Ian as well as a bunch of other people on UA-cam, I wouldn't have half of the knowledge that I do with video games and collecting. Thanks Pat and Ian.
Patience is so important. Perpetually broke I have been able to get my favorite items cheaper because I thrift and wait. Those days make my nerdy heart sing
This is a great video for anyone starting out collecting. I think more people need to know these things before jumping into the deep end of collecting.
Selling my collection was one of the best things I ever did. I definitely had/have a hoarding problem and consumed way too much game collecting content that just changed the way I valued games. I would buy things constantly, because I would catch great deals or they were hard to find. I ended up with a collection that was worth thousands and I had a serious struggle selling them, and never played them. I still collect some games, but I've just started getting a game I want to play. I like the idea of having physical media for the future and now my collection is at a point that I could pick something out at random and want to at least play it for a bit.
He's an OB, LA mesa guy. If you lived out here you would see this is the norm. I've met Ian before at Luna. I never told him I know his channel with Pat. I wanted to see if he's for real. To be honest, Ian was chill. He was respectful to my wife and myself. He's a good guy. A little pretentious with games IMO, but I liked him.
I have been collecting games all my life, but it wasn’t intentional until about 2012-2013 when I started to actually have money I earned. I feel like I got in right at the tail end of when you could find really good games for really affordable and when lots were easier to find because for a lot of people it was just a box of stuff they found in their garage they no longer wanted. I was fortunate that as a kid my siblings and I rarely ever traded in or sold games so most of the really popular titles for the consoles I had as a kid I already owned and had either gotten brand new or used at lower prices, I have nearly every mainline Pokemon game, only missing 3 from the DS, and with the way the prices are now I doubt I will be getting them any time soon. My advice stay focused, whether it’s for a couple specific series, specific consoles or whatever don’t try to get into everything all at once, a few years ago all of my Genesis stuff got sold and I haven’t questioned it at all because I used that to get games I actually wanted and have played a couple times since bringing them home, and right now my Dreamcast, Xbox and Xbox 360 collections might be going soon too.
I've been collecting games around back in 2008 or 2009. I know there's people who has been collecting way earlier than me. But I got some consoles and games that I own, we're cheap.
Making friends with one of the employees at my local Games For Less in the early 2000s is the reason I have so many of the rarer NES titles and accessories. He knew I liked the system and would save them for me when I came in. It's how I got things like the Power Glove, R.O.B., and even a complete copy of Panic Restaurant, each for $20 or less.
I ended up being on pretty good terms with the guy who ran the store I used to go to most frequently when I first got into collecting, he knew what consoles I had and would regularly keep an eye out for specific items he thought I’d like for my collection, I’d go to his store once a week and if he had anything he thought I’d be interested in he’d set them aside at least until I had the chance to look at it.
Mine If you plan on hitting expos and conventions on your collecting journey- bring cash, and don't be afraid to barter within reason. Many sellers I've met are super nice about it if you do it right, and over time you can save money. And if you only care about actually playing the games, and appearance isn't an issue, most cartridge based games will work perfectly fine so long as the contacts are clean. A number of times I've seen mint copies of a game sell for more, but if I'm only concerned about playing it, then I'll opt for a slightly cheaper copy that might have some scuffs or marks on it.
I collect games on Atari 2600, Atari 5200, NES, Game Boy, Genesis, SNES, Saturn, PlayStation, N64, Dreamcast, PS2, Game Cube, Wii, Wii-U and the Switch. Every time I go to the video game store, I'll look for 4-5 random games on any of those consoles.
The whole fraud situation with Wata and Heritage auctions almost made me give up wanting to start game collecting when I move out. After things died down and watching your videos on the auction prices dropping I started to gain more confidence in it again. And now I’m planning on collecting a Super Nintendo library once I’m in my own place. Just got the SNES guide book in the mail today so I’ll have a nice reference guide to at least start out from when looking for games.
My best advice to collectors to save money: Learn how to properly open the games and consoles, clean them. Learn how to solder. Ive been doing this 15 years now and sold everything. I run straight emulator now. Is it the same? No. Can it be? Yes. The reason i like to emulate is because there are all kinds of tricks you can do to the game to make them look authentic. MAME, i put in scan lines and filters to make it as authentic as possible. Games like sonic the hedgehog; I have fun messing with latency to make sonic even faster. I probably spend more time making the games to my fit, by adjusting the settings. You cant do that in original games without hardware upgrades.
Ians add on to number six is so true. There is a small shop in an indoor flea market i used to go to alot. And the owner would give me a cheap game free or knock off a few bucks just because i bought fairly regularly. That and id buy games that obviously werent going anywhere so she was probably happy to get some space back. I havent been there recently but have veen getting the itch lately since the outdoor market near her store should be opening up again soon.
#7. Stay Focused. Don't just buy everything you run across. Maybe focus on one console or a certain era or a certain type of game. Don't let the collection get out of control ...because it will.
If you are collecting or starting to my #1 tip would be to first make sure youre taking care for your future. If you're able to open a Roth IRA, do that before collecting. Be able to max that out at $7000 in the year. If you can do that, and still have money to buy games, then buy the games. Especially if you don't have a job with a 401k. You'll be nearing 40 before you know it, with nothing to show for it in regards to retirement. Unless you plan on being the old guy or gal at walmart, take care of that first before spending thousands and thousands on games. If your in your 20s reading this, Google about it and set it up asap. Your future self with thank you.
I just maxed out mine and I’m not happy about the money taken out of my paycheck to be honest but having that money into savings is a good thing for the future and being able to have money put aside for games is something that is exciting for me
Related to your advice, have an emergency fund. It gives you peace of mind. Unexpected events just become financial annoyances rather than emergencies. Don't live on the edge.
Most of the heavy hitters that I have I actually enjoy, at this point it’s too expensive to buy every rare game that I may not even enjoy. I agree with the guy with the beard , most of the games I got in the early 2000s I usually tried on an emulator first because I didn’t work and money was hard to come by. I agree with pat on doing homework on a console because it makes you more aware what’s good and valuable for that particular console.
Space will become a concern real fast if you start collecting consoles made for home use. That's why I love portable handhelds. They take up very little space and can easily be modded to hold tons of retro games.
So at least in 2023, being able to buy NES lots was HUGE for building my collection up at the lower end of cost - but through the whole process I kept meticulous notes about what was being listed, what I had, how much average asking price of each game was, and what my upper limit was for each lot. Any duplicates would be excluded from that max limit calculation, so if I did win it meant the duplicates would either be a condition upgrade or their trade-in value would be used to 'buy' free games - the full NTSC collection (exc. Stadium Events) nabbed for around 70% of current Pricecharting, with the number of duplicate games purchased to around 20 after the full collection was filled out. Not seeing the same deals in 2024, but it's not like I am obsessively looking for NES lots anymore either.
I’m currently living in Japan and can vouch for the savings of buying the Japanese versions. I’ve managed to find boxed copies of Chrono Trigger and Super Castlevania IV which is something I’d never even think of finding and affording in the states. Even collecting RPGs is a bit more feasible as there’s many translation patches available for a good number of text heavy games.
I'm sure everyone could nibble around the edges of this list but it's pretty comprehensive. I was under the console scene I moved into the arcade world years ago and I'd say these are pretty much the same especially the last one knowing how much room you have for arcades but I guess it could go for any hobby really for myself I'm at my max for everything
Waw! Everything you say in this video is true. I'm making a video on a friend's YT channel (in French) about how you can complete fullsets (because it's my "speciality") and we'll be giving the same advices! (except emulating, as it's only applicable when you collect to play, not for fullsets because you'll end up buying everything nonetheless).
I'd like to add a tip that is a bit counter to something that was said in the video about "learning all about consoles before collecting", and it's to NOT load yourself up with encyclopedic second-hand knowledge about a system. Instead, go in blind. I mean it! Now, don't go in blind on buying $300, $500, $1k games or anything stupid like that, but if your goal in collecting is to find personal joy in the retro video gaming hobby, you're not going to find what you're looking for through acquisition. The joy is in the discovery. Find a console whose era interests you and whose games don't break the bank (ex. the Atari or NES, the 16-bit era, or the Wii/PS3/360 era) and just find games that look cool or interesting to you. Focus on the $5 - $30 range, and try stuff out! You might you've bought a stinker. Whoops! Well, that's a fun story even if it was a waste of money, and that's fun to talk about with others. You might enjoy a classic everyone likes. Nice, that's cool, too. You might also come to some unorthodox subjective conclusions, and find "Gotcha!" or "Silkworm" for the NES is suddenly your favorite game of all time. You would never have discovered that game you love to pieces but is nothing special to everyone else if you relied on someone else to compile your "hidden gems" list -- a list that, because it's wached by 5 million other people, probably led to their subjective favorites being stupid-expensive by the time you find it. So, yeah. Find an era you like, stick to affordable games as you're learning your way around, and try a mix of common and weird stuff. Be your own explorer, draw your own conclusions, and enjoy the journey on a road trip of discovery you accomplished your way.
If your brain will let you collect cartridge only if definitely recommend Genesis. You can get pretty much everything for a decent price if you don’t need that box and manual.
A lot of good points. Been meaning to look into how to buy Japanese lots. The reason why I've specifically stuck to collecting loose GB games is because they take up almost no space. I've had other collections I've abandoned, given away or sold off because of the space they are taking up. Even as someone with disposable income I would still recommend the be patient point. The fun part of collecting is the chase. I could get 90% of the games on my to buy list off eBay today. But it's fun to travel to meets and markets and talk to people, haggle and be upset about how overpriced Pokémon games are.
I've been doing a lot of this stuff since I was a kid. But yep I do agree with last one number 6. Besides video game collecting, I've also collect mascot suits for video reviews and cosplaying, have made friends were they would let me know like hey this person got something for sale or someone that wants to give me 1st dibs. There were times I had friend send me messages of others letting go video games. Take up space I also agree because recently there were times I had to put a cap on my collection and if I got too much then let go a few.
Just set your budget very very low. It will prevent you from collecting too much games. Remember that you probably won't care that much about your collection after a few years. Things happen in life, you will have other interests, you probably won't even play that many games from your collection.
Not the most efficient way to do this, but I’ve been playing Japanese RPGs with the help of Google Lens on my phone. I just aim my camera at the screen and it auto translates the text. It’s amazing!
Speaking of befriending the folks at you local game store, I would stop by one that was on they way home after work. I realized the kid that closed would have to wait an hour for the bus after the store closed. I offered him a ride. All the guys hooked me up. Or he would give me a cheap game if I gave him a ride.
I remember my favorite pickup ever where the owner was clueless, I picked up mint cart Mighty Final Fight and DuckTales 2 for 30 dollars total. (This was like 2008).
Patience is important!! I was a thrift store and I saw DKC and Super Mario All Stars. They wanted over 40 bucks a piece for both games it was hard but I waited. The other day I found DKC for 20 bucks and Super Mario All stars for 30 bucks
Do not expect prices to always go up and only pay what you are comfortable with at the time whether it goes up or down. Know who you are as a collector / gamer. For me, I struggle to get into FPS and JRPGs so will tend to avoid even the heavy hitters unless they are under five pounds to give a try. And the person who is more a collector than a gamer may priorise Earthbound for example. Like Emulation, compilations on systems like PS2 and XBOX 360 are great ways to play games you may not be able to play or afford. And if you see a cheap Konami game buy it as for the most part they will be sought after even if they sold well (silent hill in the UK for example) or still great to play if the price does not go up (Tiny Toons on the mega drive).
I'm gamer first but collect games that I actually want to play. I buy mostly from dkoldies, local shop (The Exchange), garage sales and eBay. I am someone who doesn't care if the game is a knock-off of the original as long as it works. I have a few of those sitting on my shelf. Patience is a big one, I looked for 10 years or more for Sonic Shuffle (Dreamcast) and I ended up finding it in a crate at a garage sale for $40.
I stopped collecting retro games like 5 years ago . It’s just not fun anymore and way too expensive. But at the same time I do enjoy going to game cons but mostly I just collect Switch games now .
Laser based game consoles are not a long term great idea. Lasers fail over time. I’m sure to replace lasers will get more and more expensive. I agree that cartridges based collecting is the right path.
I would have thought the most important collecting rule is "games aren't an investment" I'm sure there's people who collect thinking their collections will be worth a lot one day, but the purpose of collecting should be to collect things you actually want, not just because it "might" turn you a profit in the future (which it won't)
The first thing you should know is that you should have started 20 years ago. It's 2024 and even 10 years ago I thought people were crazy to start their collection then.
This is something I heard years ago. When everyone is going left take a hard right. If you see people collecting nes games go for something no one else is buying because the deals will be there
Everything decay and have a life time limit electric component in old console will burn or literally fall apart over time same for disc they will have hole in them/rot etc so what you buy now if already really old will not really take value over time if they decay .
7. If you're not a scammer, know that you're not going to be a millionaire selling your videogame collection. At best you sell to another collector for a small profit, at worst you sell it to a game shop at a big loss. Most likely, you're going to die hording your collection and whoever inherits your collection is going to sell it for pennies. Enjoy your collection, don't sit on it like a dragon. If you're not playing with it, or appreciating it, don't own it.
Everything is very reasonable across the board even on Ebay as long as you're not going for rare obscure games and consoles. Mainstream retro 80s and 90s games CIB are more affordable than people make it out to be. The only problem people will have is going for complete libraries for any given console.
i personally dont agree with #2 Be patient... my biggest regret was waiting and just watching the price go up even higher. i could of got so many games for cheaper if i just bought it
Well one thing is for sure, you can't recreate the past no matter how hard you try. It's never the same! But i'll take some late 80's and early 90's retro 8-16 bit goodness on a CRT rather than nothing, and leaving it all in the past.
Just be aware of the games you enjoy to play. Example, I have a PS2 but I really enjoy PS1 games. Also compatibility, some PS1 games may have issues, just ran into this for a game I just bought.
I bought it in 1999 from a kid that was into PS2. I traded for less than $10. SNES was worthless back then but I still loved it. Ended up selling chronotrigger about 2 years ago loose for $110. I still have it on emulation.
Damn. Used to listen all the time until the whole diablo thing. Just checked in for the first time in years and seriously guys....i know youre computer game lovin nerds but please...get in the gym and eat some decent food!
What do you think about our list of things to watch out for before collecting retro games? Is there anything you'd want to add? Let me know in the comments!
Most of your video tips make sense advise to collecting in general of just about any hobby, not just retro games. Only one that may be a little shaky ground is the try before you buy as it may not be reasonably feasible or even applicable dependent upon the collecting hobby in question.
Something that really helped my collection out was simply sharing about my hobby via social media. As a result, I’d receive offers from family and friends out of the blue to either sell me their old games or more often than not, gift them to me knowing that they’d go somewhere where they would be appreciated.
Pat, how about watch out for people who are merely looking to exploit others for selfish gain. Maybe that sounds a little too Marxist for you, but don't blame me for attracting far-right radicals to your show. That's victim blaming at its worst. You have blamed leftist for attracting far-right radicals to the discussion. Other than that keep up the great work.
#7 - Have fun! And share the joy you got out of these “old” games with your kids and their friends. I firmly believe that if a game was good and fun when it first came out, odds are it still has that playability factor today. :) Appreciate you guys!
I found buying the consoles and games from different regions can be more affordable.(especially on the hardware side.)
Another tip: Buy stuff you actually want to play. You'll regret having space taken up by a bunch of shovelware.
But then I won't have multiple copies of Flingsmash! =O
Don’t come in and just buy every common game. Save for the stuff you want.
I stopped collecting retro games. At the moment I’m a diehard Switch collector. It’s just a fun console to play on and the games are nice to have on the shelf and you can still get them relatively affordable and easily.
Collecting is great for learning about the history. I haven’t regretted getting into cartridge collecting 12 years back. Def don't be a completionist. That's the biggest trap. It's too costly and you won't care about most of the games you pick up just to check off a list.
Everyone knows you should just buy and own many WATA graded games, and never play them if you're a true collector.
1st thing to know: "don't"
Its not a easy as it used to be, but a small collection of well liked games shouldn't be that hard.
Meh. You can say that about any expensive hobby. if you enjoy it, do it. I will agree however that you are probably ten years too late thanks to the artificial collectors' bubble we are experiencing.
I've had the collecting bug before. Not for games, but for other pointless objects. I think I learned my lesson. It was a headache to collect, lots of anxiety, FOMO, and at the end of completing my collection, I didn't feel anything. So I agree 100% with your comment, 'DON'T'.
@@stephenthomas1492 As a recovering collector, the best thing I ever did was buying ODEs and flash carts for all my consoles. For the first time in years I'm actually playing games instead of putting them on my shelf and staring at them.
Yeah, if it was 20 year ago, I’d have a very different opinion. I’ve been gaming since 1988 and have never resold any of my games. But if I’m being honest, I haven’t used any of my physical games for older consoles in YEARS. And it’s not because I don’t play retro games.
I’m not a collector though, never have been. I’m a gamer. Collecting was just the byproduct of wanting to play games. You don’t need to own games anymore to play them.
Ian looks like a 70 year old hermit who lives in the mountains
I've always got the school teacher from Beavis and Butt-head vibes from him. He looks like he smells of cat pee.
Wow and he got fat too
He’s definitely weird enough to fit that profile
Thumbnail looking like Eustace Conway.
@@stephenthomas1492lol I didn't think of that. At least Mr Van dreesen was a kind person tho. Especially considering what he had to put up with!
Collecting takes a lot of space. And it grows fast...
You can say that again 😂
Is that a swipe at these guys getting fat?
Mini consoles are a great to collect as they are hdmi ready and have a good selection of that consoles games.
Absolutely!
Yikes. Pat looks like he has the mumps and Ian looks like Randy Quaid when he was on the run for that tax evasion thing.
One piece of advice I'd give for collecting higher priced systems like Saturn. I often will buy the games in pieces. I'll find a cheap manual and case without the game and I'll sit on that until i find a cheap disc only copy. I got my Albert Odyssey for much cheaper than a complete copy would have cost me. I just had to be patient. It took about a year and a half to put it all together.
Smart
Collect what you care about and want to play. Otherwise, over time, you just waste a lot of money and just realize it's collecting dust and a lot of people end of getting rid of it. Curated collections are always more impressive and interesting than people that just buy everything unless it's a full set for a console you really love.
I can’t imagine getting into collecting nowadays. I quit collecting at this point over 5 years ago because I felt at that time the hobby had been ruined by speculators and resellers. It was already at the point you’d almost never find something good in the wild by then, and prices were absurd
I totally agree. If I were to start today, I'd just have the console, whatever physical games it came with, and an Ever drive for everything else. I also can't imagine how a kid or teenager could get into the hobby with just an allowance or minimum wage job. I think I bought Mario Bros 3 when I was a kid for something like 8$, and inherited an NES from my uncle.
Also, collect what you like and don't collect because you think this stuff will be worth something. Collect because you love games!
In reference to #4: Man, if only there was a trusted source that provided information on an entire library, like the NES or SNES. Maybe with reviews and in an easily digestible format.
Some sort of video game guide book perhaps?
#1 - Invent a time machine and travel back 20 years or so and buy up EVERYTHING!!!
My advice is try an everdrive or sd modded console first and for most people that’s enough. Especially if you’re not financially established.
Anbernic RG552
You’re completely missing the point of collecting
@@GeorgeZimmermen no. Just depends on if you’re a gamer or collector or reseller or maybe all the above.
I've been going the buying lots route. It's honestly the best way to collect or resell. Keep what you want, flip the rest for profit or to recoup costs. Keep it moving to the next.
@@richterbelmont5506 Nah! It can also be fast -- you sell off the good priced items that move fast, then lot up the rest and sell that off.
The best part about lots for collecting is that it averages all the expensive games down from hundreds of dollars to tens or ones.
Being cool to game store owners worked for me. They know me and know I spend money at their stores and they know giving me a slight deal, I will buy more.
Saturn actually does have alot of games that are less than 100 dollars. I built my saturn collection over the course of about a year and a half
Saturn is expensive if you're looking into long box. Most of the Daturn games I had were Japanese, and honestly, better than the Amaerican versions. Some examples are Castlevania SOTN, Resident evil...
From someone who has been collecting for nearly 5 years now with the way prices are I would say if you were smart just avoid it entirely because it can get unaffordable quick.
I just emulate these days, or play things on my Switch/Xbox. I have a few of the mini consoles, but they are mostly decorations on the shelf these days.
I'd hate to just start collecting right now. Majority of the ship sailed away years ago. I remember 10 years ago finding hundreds of retro games at flea markets for $1-$10. Rare ones. Now a 80yo grandma at a flea market wants $20 a pop for sports games
Buy stuff in pieces, if it's easier. Say a game complete costs $100. A lot of people want the convenience of having it complete so they'll skip over cart/cd, manual, box/case only listings. This in turn makes the people trying to sell those individual items sell them for less. So you may find each piece, game, box and manual, for $15-$20 a piece. Being patient and doing it that way instead of getting it complete for $100 you can get it for $45-$60 instead.
Being patient and doing your homework like that can make things a lot easier. Granted, some systems like the NES, the box (especially if it's in great shape) can cost more than the game and manual combined, sometimes double or triple. It's not foolproof, but it's worked for me personally more often than not.
The friend thing can't be understated. A lot of my buddies link me stuff because they either know I buy lots or there's something I'm looking for.
13:49 this is a great tip; I befriended the manager of my local GameStop, and I was able to secure a special edition of Metroid Dread fairly quickly thanks to them holding one for me.
As a person who got into game collecting during 2015, I completely agree with this list. Budget is key and should be taken seriously because if you can't afford to collect, then don't do it. Be responsible. I unfortunately wasn't good with my finances during 2016 and I ended up selling over half of my game collection to pay for expenses. Patients is also key because there are so many listings online for a lot of these desired video games. The prices can be pretty steep at times, but if you are patient, then you might find a good deal perhaps in person at a local store or yard sale. I found EarthBound at a local store in 2020 for $150 (not cheap, but way better than what it goes for now). I never thought I would own a copy of EarthBound, but my patients paid off by simply enjoying my time collecting locally, instead of trying to buy an expensive and possibly fake copy online. I never really got into emulation, but I agree that that is a great way to test a game out before buying it. This would be ideal for expensive games since sometimes these pricey games are actually not very good, but simply desired for the sake of a person's collection. As for sellers, I bought quite a bit of stuff off of Ebay, and I can attest that sellers are mostly just interested in making quick money. I tried asking some people about a certain listing posted and they basically told me next to nothing. While I don't recommend taking shots in the dark with purchases, depending on what it is, sometimes you might have to take a risk if you truly want something. I bought stuff that I wasn't hundred percent sure about, but in the end, most of my purchases were well worth the risk. When it comes to game lots, I used to buy most of my games individually, but now that I have most of the desired retro games that I want, I try to buy in lots on Ebay, especially for systems that I am not familiar with. That is how I got into collecting and playing Atari 2600 and Odyssey 2. Just be careful with console lots because I noticed that quite a few listings don't specify if the console is in working condition (sometimes these lots are easy ways for people to dump a bunch of poor conditioned stuff onto another person). Lastly, making friends either in person or even just listening to people on the internet is very helpful. If it wasn't for Pat and Ian as well as a bunch of other people on UA-cam, I wouldn't have half of the knowledge that I do with video games and collecting. Thanks Pat and Ian.
Thanks for the tips. I needed this, since this not only applies to games but just purchases in general for anything you collect. Thanks guys.
Patience is so important. Perpetually broke I have been able to get my favorite items cheaper because I thrift and wait. Those days make my nerdy heart sing
This is a great video for anyone starting out collecting. I think more people need to know these things before jumping into the deep end of collecting.
Selling my collection was one of the best things I ever did. I definitely had/have a hoarding problem and consumed way too much game collecting content that just changed the way I valued games. I would buy things constantly, because I would catch great deals or they were hard to find. I ended up with a collection that was worth thousands and I had a serious struggle selling them, and never played them. I still collect some games, but I've just started getting a game I want to play. I like the idea of having physical media for the future and now my collection is at a point that I could pick something out at random and want to at least play it for a bit.
Ian, wtf hes looking like he's going on 70 😮
Looks rough, time to lose that nasty beard
He's an OB, LA mesa guy. If you lived out here you would see this is the norm. I've met Ian before at Luna. I never told him I know his channel with Pat. I wanted to see if he's for real. To be honest, Ian was chill. He was respectful to my wife and myself. He's a good guy. A little pretentious with games IMO, but I liked him.
That's what running your own business for years does to a guy
@@wdavis911A haircut wouldn't hurt, either.
Ian is Santa
I have been collecting games all my life, but it wasn’t intentional until about 2012-2013 when I started to actually have money I earned. I feel like I got in right at the tail end of when you could find really good games for really affordable and when lots were easier to find because for a lot of people it was just a box of stuff they found in their garage they no longer wanted. I was fortunate that as a kid my siblings and I rarely ever traded in or sold games so most of the really popular titles for the consoles I had as a kid I already owned and had either gotten brand new or used at lower prices, I have nearly every mainline Pokemon game, only missing 3 from the DS, and with the way the prices are now I doubt I will be getting them any time soon.
My advice stay focused, whether it’s for a couple specific series, specific consoles or whatever don’t try to get into everything all at once, a few years ago all of my Genesis stuff got sold and I haven’t questioned it at all because I used that to get games I actually wanted and have played a couple times since bringing them home, and right now my Dreamcast, Xbox and Xbox 360 collections might be going soon too.
I've been collecting games around back in 2008 or 2009. I know there's people who has been collecting way earlier than me. But I got some consoles and games that I own, we're cheap.
Hi from Greece, I am a collector of pc big box classics and nes lover/collector
Disconnect the ten pin connector in your nes to make it region free. It's easy.
5:54….exceeeept, I’m STILL kicking myself watching Panzer Dragoon Saga go from 450 to over 900 thinking this way😂
Making friends with one of the employees at my local Games For Less in the early 2000s is the reason I have so many of the rarer NES titles and accessories. He knew I liked the system and would save them for me when I came in. It's how I got things like the Power Glove, R.O.B., and even a complete copy of Panic Restaurant, each for $20 or less.
I ended up being on pretty good terms with the guy who ran the store I used to go to most frequently when I first got into collecting, he knew what consoles I had and would regularly keep an eye out for specific items he thought I’d like for my collection, I’d go to his store once a week and if he had anything he thought I’d be interested in he’d set them aside at least until I had the chance to look at it.
Mine
If you plan on hitting expos and conventions on your collecting journey- bring cash, and don't be afraid to barter within reason. Many sellers I've met are super nice about it if you do it right, and over time you can save money.
And if you only care about actually playing the games, and appearance isn't an issue, most cartridge based games will work perfectly fine so long as the contacts are clean. A number of times I've seen mint copies of a game sell for more, but if I'm only concerned about playing it, then I'll opt for a slightly cheaper copy that might have some scuffs or marks on it.
Patience, also "I think I'll pick up Snatcher and Neo Turf Masters today I need them asap" 🤪
Is neo turf masters expensive? I have the MVS cart
I collect games on Atari 2600, Atari 5200, NES, Game Boy, Genesis, SNES, Saturn, PlayStation, N64, Dreamcast, PS2, Game Cube, Wii, Wii-U and the Switch. Every time I go to the video game store, I'll look for 4-5 random games on any of those consoles.
The whole fraud situation with Wata and Heritage auctions almost made me give up wanting to start game collecting when I move out.
After things died down and watching your videos on the auction prices dropping I started to gain more confidence in it again. And now I’m planning on collecting a Super Nintendo library once I’m in my own place.
Just got the SNES guide book in the mail today so I’ll have a nice reference guide to at least start out from when looking for games.
My best advice to collectors to save money: Learn how to properly open the games and consoles, clean them. Learn how to solder. Ive been doing this 15 years now and sold everything. I run straight emulator now.
Is it the same? No. Can it be? Yes.
The reason i like to emulate is because there are all kinds of tricks you can do to the game to make them look authentic.
MAME, i put in scan lines and filters to make it as authentic as possible. Games like sonic the hedgehog; I have fun messing with latency to make sonic even faster.
I probably spend more time making the games to my fit, by adjusting the settings. You cant do that in original games without hardware upgrades.
Step 1: Buy steam deck
Step 2: Don't buy inflated plastic
Ians add on to number six is so true. There is a small shop in an indoor flea market i used to go to alot. And the owner would give me a cheap game free or knock off a few bucks just because i bought fairly regularly. That and id buy games that obviously werent going anywhere so she was probably happy to get some space back. I havent been there recently but have veen getting the itch lately since the outdoor market near her store should be opening up again soon.
I think these are excellent tips that can carry over to buying the current gen games also.
#7. Stay Focused. Don't just buy everything you run across. Maybe focus on one console or a certain era or a certain type of game. Don't let the collection get out of control ...because it will.
I think everyone who wants to get into retro collecting should start with the NeoGeo AES. Its very budget friendly.
lol
If you are collecting or starting to my #1 tip would be to first make sure youre taking care for your future. If you're able to open a Roth IRA, do that before collecting. Be able to max that out at $7000 in the year. If you can do that, and still have money to buy games, then buy the games. Especially if you don't have a job with a 401k. You'll be nearing 40 before you know it, with nothing to show for it in regards to retirement. Unless you plan on being the old guy or gal at walmart, take care of that first before spending thousands and thousands on games. If your in your 20s reading this, Google about it and set it up asap. Your future self with thank you.
I just maxed out mine and I’m not happy about the money taken out of my paycheck to be honest but having that money into savings is a good thing for the future and being able to have money put aside for games is something that is exciting for me
Related to your advice, have an emergency fund. It gives you peace of mind. Unexpected events just become financial annoyances rather than emergencies. Don't live on the edge.
Most of the heavy hitters that I have I actually enjoy, at this point it’s too expensive to buy every rare game that I may not even enjoy. I agree with the guy with the beard , most of the games I got in the early 2000s I usually tried on an emulator first because I didn’t work and money was hard to come by. I agree with pat on doing homework on a console because it makes you more aware what’s good and valuable for that particular console.
Space will become a concern real fast if you start collecting consoles made for home use. That's why I love portable handhelds. They take up very little space and can easily be modded to hold tons of retro games.
So at least in 2023, being able to buy NES lots was HUGE for building my collection up at the lower end of cost - but through the whole process I kept meticulous notes about what was being listed, what I had, how much average asking price of each game was, and what my upper limit was for each lot. Any duplicates would be excluded from that max limit calculation, so if I did win it meant the duplicates would either be a condition upgrade or their trade-in value would be used to 'buy' free games - the full NTSC collection (exc. Stadium Events) nabbed for around 70% of current Pricecharting, with the number of duplicate games purchased to around 20 after the full collection was filled out.
Not seeing the same deals in 2024, but it's not like I am obsessively looking for NES lots anymore either.
Budget. Patience. Hope AVGN or Game Sack doesn't feature it. If they do, revert to budget and patience.
I’m currently living in Japan and can vouch for the savings of buying the Japanese versions. I’ve managed to find boxed copies of Chrono Trigger and Super Castlevania IV which is something I’d never even think of finding and affording in the states.
Even collecting RPGs is a bit more feasible as there’s many translation patches available for a good number of text heavy games.
I'm sure everyone could nibble around the edges of this list but it's pretty comprehensive. I was under the console scene I moved into the arcade world years ago and I'd say these are pretty much the same especially the last one knowing how much room you have for arcades but I guess it could go for any hobby really for myself I'm at my max for everything
Waw! Everything you say in this video is true. I'm making a video on a friend's YT channel (in French) about how you can complete fullsets (because it's my "speciality") and we'll be giving the same advices! (except emulating, as it's only applicable when you collect to play, not for fullsets because you'll end up buying everything nonetheless).
I'd like to add a tip that is a bit counter to something that was said in the video about "learning all about consoles before collecting", and it's to NOT load yourself up with encyclopedic second-hand knowledge about a system. Instead, go in blind. I mean it! Now, don't go in blind on buying $300, $500, $1k games or anything stupid like that, but if your goal in collecting is to find personal joy in the retro video gaming hobby, you're not going to find what you're looking for through acquisition. The joy is in the discovery.
Find a console whose era interests you and whose games don't break the bank (ex. the Atari or NES, the 16-bit era, or the Wii/PS3/360 era) and just find games that look cool or interesting to you. Focus on the $5 - $30 range, and try stuff out! You might you've bought a stinker. Whoops! Well, that's a fun story even if it was a waste of money, and that's fun to talk about with others. You might enjoy a classic everyone likes. Nice, that's cool, too. You might also come to some unorthodox subjective conclusions, and find "Gotcha!" or "Silkworm" for the NES is suddenly your favorite game of all time. You would never have discovered that game you love to pieces but is nothing special to everyone else if you relied on someone else to compile your "hidden gems" list -- a list that, because it's wached by 5 million other people, probably led to their subjective favorites being stupid-expensive by the time you find it.
So, yeah. Find an era you like, stick to affordable games as you're learning your way around, and try a mix of common and weird stuff. Be your own explorer, draw your own conclusions, and enjoy the journey on a road trip of discovery you accomplished your way.
If your brain will let you collect cartridge only if definitely recommend Genesis. You can get pretty much everything for a decent price if you don’t need that box and manual.
Ah, but Japanese import Megadrive boxes and manuals are some of the coolest things to collect in all retro gaming. Unfortunately with prices to match.
I collect for Japanese Saturn and I find that patience almost always pays off.
A lot of good points. Been meaning to look into how to buy Japanese lots.
The reason why I've specifically stuck to collecting loose GB games is because they take up almost no space. I've had other collections I've abandoned, given away or sold off because of the space they are taking up.
Even as someone with disposable income I would still recommend the be patient point. The fun part of collecting is the chase. I could get 90% of the games on my to buy list off eBay today. But it's fun to travel to meets and markets and talk to people, haggle and be upset about how overpriced Pokémon games are.
When did Pat get an viking cohost?
I've been doing a lot of this stuff since I was a kid. But yep I do agree with last one number 6. Besides video game collecting, I've also collect mascot suits for video reviews and cosplaying, have made friends were they would let me know like hey this person got something for sale or someone that wants to give me 1st dibs. There were times I had friend send me messages of others letting go video games. Take up space I also agree because recently there were times I had to put a cap on my collection and if I got too much then let go a few.
Just set your budget very very low. It will prevent you from collecting too much games. Remember that you probably won't care that much about your collection after a few years. Things happen in life, you will have other interests, you probably won't even play that many games from your collection.
Not the most efficient way to do this, but I’ve been playing Japanese RPGs with the help of Google Lens on my phone. I just aim my camera at the screen and it auto translates the text. It’s amazing!
Speaking of befriending the folks at you local game store, I would stop by one that was on they way home after work. I realized the kid that closed would have to wait an hour for the bus after the store closed. I offered him a ride. All the guys hooked me up. Or he would give me a cheap game if I gave him a ride.
I remember my favorite pickup ever where the owner was clueless, I picked up mint cart Mighty Final Fight and DuckTales 2 for 30 dollars total. (This was like 2008).
I remember going to Funco Land and getting Nintendo games for around $5-$10. And they had a Dragon Warrior 4 for $44.
Patience is important!! I was a thrift store and I saw DKC and Super Mario All Stars. They wanted over 40 bucks a piece for both games it was hard but I waited. The other day I found DKC for 20 bucks and Super Mario All stars for 30 bucks
I just want my old nes games back double dragon shit like that and contra
#1 don’t over spend! It’s so easy to try and buy everything but don’t do it! Take it easy dudes haha 🦎🦎
*"get in early"* 😅😂
Do not expect prices to always go up and only pay what you are comfortable with at the time whether it goes up or down. Know who you are as a collector / gamer. For me, I struggle to get into FPS and JRPGs so will tend to avoid even the heavy hitters unless they are under five pounds to give a try. And the person who is more a collector than a gamer may priorise Earthbound for example. Like Emulation, compilations on systems like PS2 and XBOX 360 are great ways to play games you may not be able to play or afford. And if you see a cheap Konami game buy it as for the most part they will be sought after even if they sold well (silent hill in the UK for example) or still great to play if the price does not go up (Tiny Toons on the mega drive).
I'm gamer first but collect games that I actually want to play. I buy mostly from dkoldies, local shop (The Exchange), garage sales and eBay. I am someone who doesn't care if the game is a knock-off of the original as long as it works. I have a few of those sitting on my shelf. Patience is a big one, I looked for 10 years or more for Sonic Shuffle (Dreamcast) and I ended up finding it in a crate at a garage sale for $40.
I stopped collecting retro games like 5 years ago . It’s just not fun anymore and way too expensive. But at the same time I do enjoy going to game cons but mostly I just collect Switch games now .
Laser based game consoles are not a long term great idea. Lasers fail over time. I’m sure to replace lasers will get more and more expensive. I agree that cartridges based collecting is the right path.
Sure, but the lasers are easy to replace. Mostly it's not the laser, it's the motor running the laser or the track it's on.
I remember buying a lot of Saturn games for bargin bin prices when stores where getting rid of it.
I would have thought the most important collecting rule is "games aren't an investment"
I'm sure there's people who collect thinking their collections will be worth a lot one day, but the purpose of collecting should be to collect things you actually want, not just because it "might" turn you a profit in the future (which it won't)
Don’t be a crazy person like me that only collects sealed/ CIB
Wait...that's not Jack Black in the Thumbnail
Ian really looking like a modern day Santa clause
The first thing you should know is that you should have started 20 years ago. It's 2024 and even 10 years ago I thought people were crazy to start their collection then.
Maybe similarly, but you are fine with replacing the CD jewel cases like for the PlayStation 1 games. The discs and manuals tend to be valuable.
Two things i know in life, one, don’t tell everybody everything you know…
This is something I heard years ago. When everyone is going left take a hard right. If you see people collecting nes games go for something no one else is buying because the deals will be there
Excellent Show Gents! Made my usually Boring Friday at work a FRIDAY... at work... 😐😵💫🤣👍
Everything decay and have a life time limit electric component in old console will burn or literally fall apart over time same for disc they will have hole in them/rot etc so what you buy now if already really old will not really take value over time if they decay .
That would have been a cool video idea, too bad its just a small segment of a podcast.
The state of these two lol
recently i've been wanting to get a small collection but it seems like any step i want to take is riddled with just expensive purchases.
7. If you're not a scammer, know that you're not going to be a millionaire selling your videogame collection. At best you sell to another collector for a small profit, at worst you sell it to a game shop at a big loss. Most likely, you're going to die hording your collection and whoever inherits your collection is going to sell it for pennies. Enjoy your collection, don't sit on it like a dragon. If you're not playing with it, or appreciating it, don't own it.
Everything is very reasonable across the board even on Ebay as long as you're not going for rare obscure games and consoles. Mainstream retro 80s and 90s games CIB are more affordable than people make it out to be. The only problem people will have is going for complete libraries for any given console.
Rule #1 go back to 2011
i personally dont agree with #2 Be patient... my biggest regret was waiting and just watching the price go up even higher. i could of got so many games for cheaper if i just bought it
Streets of rage 3 was $70 CIB some years back. I thot it was too high. Now it’s doubled to about $170.00. Ugh guess i can’t buy it
Well one thing is for sure, you can't recreate the past no matter how hard you try. It's never the same! But i'll take some late 80's and early 90's retro 8-16 bit goodness on a CRT rather than nothing, and leaving it all in the past.
How to build a great collection at a fair price… Step 1, build a time machine.
Well flying fluffernutter, I didn't know the podcast was still going-I think Ian's beard needs it's own microphone lol
First thing emulate everything
Just be aware of the games you enjoy to play. Example, I have a PS2 but I really enjoy PS1 games. Also compatibility, some PS1 games may have issues, just ran into this for a game I just bought.
I wish I'd gobbled up Chrono Trigger on SNES when it was still under $100 years ago. I was hoping the price would drop someday, but it's tripled now.
I bought it in 1999 from a kid that was into PS2. I traded for less than $10. SNES was worthless back then but I still loved it. Ended up selling chronotrigger about 2 years ago loose for $110. I still have it on emulation.
Damn.
Used to listen all the time until the whole diablo thing.
Just checked in for the first time in years and seriously guys....i know youre computer game lovin nerds but please...get in the gym and eat some decent food!
Is Ian trying to look like Jack Black? He has succeeded!