16bit collecting anonymous! Anyone else out there?

[neorichieb1971]

In the past 18 months i've just gone beserk on 16 bit collecting.

I'm one of these sorts of people that writes a list of must haves and then goes about shortening the list by purchasing said items until none are left. The problem is, I never knew the 16bit libraries were so vast and varied and everytime I seach the net I find another 3 or 4 titles I want.

And they aren't cheap titles.

I was going to get an OSSC but I keep putting my £160+ into games instead of converters.

I think I've bitten more than I can chew here. Along with my blu ray steelbook collecting i'm going in 100's of £££££ a month quite easily. Luckily I ain't interested in other eras at the moment.

Any others out there collecting shiny Nintendo cardboard boxes or Sega Clamshells with manuals?

[Sumez]

I don't limit myself to specific generations, and my collection features massive amounts of games from Famicom to X360 and PS4.

In the 16 bit generation I have nearly 100 PC Engine games, even more on MegaDrive and almost 200 for SNES/SFC, so I guess I could say I feel your pain. Fortunately I was out early, and got most of my collection around 15 years ago. Still, I was stupid enough to primarily go for the "biggest hits". While I did manage to pull off some great investments, I regret not having focused more on the smaller curiousities and "hidden gems" that have since grown more than tenfold in eBay asking price. Especially Nintendo platform prices have reached absurd amounts at this point.

[MintyTheCat]

For me I had to balance it all out against other things: books, music, synthesisers, horror films, etc. Videogames are one part of what my interests are but not the only thing. I see no point in owning all the games as I cannot really play them all and I have a large backlog to play through as it is Like Sumez I too got most of what I wanted a long time ago. No way I would be paying top dollar these days.

[Bloodreign]

I collect for more than the 16 bit systems (328 NES/FC games so far to my credit), but I'm at 172 Genesis/MD titles (which I only have 4 MD games so far), and 160 SNES/SFC games (which I have started to pillage more lately, but now running into a problem of mostly what's left is either too expensive, or is a JRPG in Japanese). I have a feeling I'll be more Gameboy, PS1, and Saturn focused going forward, though Saturn has become increasingly difficult to collect for due to prices (52 Saturn titles though isn't bad, 43 are imports). I have a decent amount of PS2, but not heavily collecting for that. PS3, Wii, DS, not even going to try, and SMS is hard to find locally, and not a huge want list for it either (been sitting at 26 games for it for awhile).

All and all, the 8,16, and 32 bit systems have mainly become my focus for collecting.

[kitten]

Any others out there collecting shiny Nintendo cardboard boxes or Sega Clamshells with manuals?

i have no interest in collecting snes/nes boxes. they're really shitty cardboard, too big, and the advertising is typically quite ugly.

there's some nice fc/sfc boxes, though (their gb boxes are wayyyy better, as well)! smaller, sturdier, nicer packaging, better manuals, better box art. even then, though, it's such a price gulf between the game by itself and the extras that i just can't afford it. i often do not mind when the cartridge has light yellowing, an etched name, a few dings or scratches, but i try to draw the line at label damage. i try to - if possible - get nicer copies, but it's often that i can find a good deal for one with minor condition issues that i'd rather save the extra money and have a cartridge with a bit of character. i clean all my carts when i get them (to remove dirt, markings, etc.), but i will sometimes leave names written in marker on them for character. i usually leave non-retail stickers on, too, sometimes they're really neat. i think one of my copies of akumajou special: boku dracula-kun (i somehow ended up with two lol) has a japanese retailer sticker on it, but it has actual cute anime artwork on it and is really neat, so i deliberately leave it on.

yahoo auctions japan game collectors care a lot more about condition than ebay, and i mean a fucking lot. they will list the most minor flaws and price accordingly, and it heavily affects what people pay in the majority of instances. americans often don't care, and something with a half-torn label and severe damage to the plastic will sometimes go for just as much as a really nice copy. ebay feels like a bunch of rabid dogs fighting over scraps, and bidding is extremely stressful. i cannot tell you how many times i've watched an auction for a week, only to watch it end up going for more than a buy it now in BETTER condition just because of bid war fever. i've set ALARMS to get up on time for some of these, and it's so infuriating! YAJ, in general, is a much more pleasant experience - less bid wars, more accurate condition descriptions, lower prices, etc.

my collection spans from as early as famicom to as recent as the switch, and i try to be very selective in what i'm bidding on and typically avoid bundles or impulse purchases, unless they're at an amazing price. a huge portion of my fc collection was purchased at a great price from a friend, and i was glad to give his carts a loving home. my priority is play over collecting, and very few things i have stay sealed or unplayed. except shit in steam, because i'll spend like 5 on a humble bundle for one cheap game in it and not touch the other stuff but hey, that's not even physical. i tend to consider the majority of my purchases to be pretty well curated, but my famicom collection has a lot of junk because of my extreme passion for that console.

i feel like md/sfc has a lot of uninteresting trash, so my collections are a bit smaller and more selective toward the better stuff. i recently started collecting for pc engine, which feels like famicom 2 in fun and interesting offbeat stuff. i've found that when most stuff in the md or sfc library are bad, it's in really samey and disappointing ways. i can spend hours on a shitty game for the famicom or pce, but often end up losing energy and getting depressed playing one of the five thousand awful sfc platformers or belt scrollers.

i'm not well off, and this is pretty much my only hobby i spend money on.

[Xyga]

Anyone else out there?

Way too many.

[FinalBaton]

I personnally don't have many games I only play physical copy yet I only have around 45 games(across 8 systems) or so. Yes I am very frugal but it makes me really enjoy the games I have! I like this approach. besides I still haven't played them all so I don't have the urge to buy many more at the moment.

I like my collection! it's small and growing very slowly, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

[BIL]

Having started my pre-32bit collection relatively late and finished all my FC/MD/SFC/PCE short-lists a couple years back, a survivors' counselling group would feel more appropriate tbh. 3; Glad I got out when I did, John McClane diving headfirst out of an exploding skyscraper-ish.

This hobby is my only vice, and I'm strictly only into stuff I'll actually play (I enjoy keeping a beefy but trim FC-current library - fuuuck I feel bad for those fullset guys, "BABY PLEASE DONT YELL, I'M TELLIN YA, PAL MADDEN 93 REALLY TIES THE ROOM TOGETHER") - so I don't have any regrets or want/need to sell up, thankfully. Pry my Natsume CIBs outta my cold dead hands you fucks!

I do wonder where things will go from here. I'd rather the market (at least the one I observe on Western forums/eBay, etc) crash like a motherfucker than continue the slide towards Neo AES-style inane prices and high-end counterfeiting. Not the happiest scene altogether atm, imo.

[Shoryukev]

I've got a decent sized collection (probably somewhere in the 5-600 cartridge range over several systems), but my collecting habit has dwindled down over the past 5-6 years. As an AES owner in the united states I feel your pain BIL!!!! I haven't bought a game for that system in at least 10 years lol.

I have my rules, but I still like to collect. I don't go for anything CIB that is cardboard, I just can't store it and take care of it well enough to care....and frankly the prices of loose carts for nintendo systems are high enough. I have about a 50/50 split of loose vs. clamshelled genesis stuff....all my SMS stuff is CIB, I guess it just depends on the system and how much of a difference in cost there is between loose and boxed. I recently started collecting Turbografx and loose hucards don't bother me. I have two loose hucards and I've simply printed CD case inserts and they look fine on the shelf....I'm more interested in the game inside the box anyways.

This hobby is not my only vice and is much cheaper than sim-racing or my electric guitar hobbies, so I usually get a couple games a month...but it's not like it used to be. Back in the late 90's and early 2000's I'd buy stuff just to expand my collection, but my days of buying Sega 32x lots and shitty NES games I'll never play is long gone. If I buy something today....it's because I want to play it.

[FinalBaton]

fullset guys

omg, I will never, EVER try that poop

[BryanM]

I do wonder where things will go from here. I'd rather the market (at least the one I observe on Western forums/eBay, etc) crash like a motherfucker than continue the slide towards Neo AES-style inane prices and high-end counterfeiting. Not the happiest scene altogether atm, imo.

A market without a growing supply can only inflate, so, no crashing in sight.

At least it's not $900 for a single shiny piece of cardboard.

[azmun]

I too had been acquiring 16-bit era software over last few years. Mostly, stuff I missed back in the day and/or regretted selling. I only like to buy games I feel are worthy of my time and enjoy playing so I do a bit of research before jumping the gun. That said, I've had to bite the bullet on some purchases--Alien Soldier, Contra The Hard Corps. and Musha Aleste.

Thankfully, I've gotten almost all I've wanted. Having an Everdrive has also curbed the apetite. It is a small collection. For PC Engine, I have less than a dozen and for Mega Drive and Super Famicom a few dozen. When it comes to Super Famicom games, I buy em loose and have not had to pay unreason amounts. For some reason, I don't like buying MD or PCE games loose and much prefer them complete or at least with the case, manual and wonderful artwork.

[Skykid]

Did it all when it was cheap. My favourite gaming era so it was a no-brainer.

No idea why anyone would pay the prices they cost now, but I said that about Neo Geo stuff when it was half the price.

[Bananamatic]

I only collect high scores
ain't got time for that hoarding shit

[neorichieb1971]

I'm only buying what I want to play.

The thing is I like 2D platformers and shooters .

What I did not realize is that some of the post 1994 stuff looks almost as good as PS1 and Saturn stuff. And unlike some of you I like western releases as well. I'd rather get an English set of something rather than the Japanese counterpart. Although if text isn't an issue i'll always go for the Japanese version.

The problem with eBay is that it is setup in the favor of the seller whilst the bidding is ongoing. You have certain conditions where it gets a bit silly.

1) Sniping at last second

2) If you do put a high bid early on, someone will creep up the bid amount until it says "you have bid the same amount as the highest bidder", which tells the incrementing bidder what the highest bid is. This is heavily abused and should be illegal. You should have 3 bids maximum to prevent this happening.

3) I find quite a lot of auctions I get arrive with some deformity which is not illustrated in the pictures. Its kind of hidden by a crappy camera, or the placement of the item covers it up.

4) There is so much reproduction stuff on ebay its actually wear and tear that actually makes something look authentic, or someone has 10 copies of Alien Soldier for the Megadrive. Or a copy of a game is being sold for a region it was never released. I actually took a risk and bought from Russia and China and got authentic goods quite a bit cheaper, but its hard to tell sometimes when your buying from dodgy countries.

But once the item is sold on ebay. The buyer has all the powers. So you've paid the highest price and then have all the powers at your disposal since ebay rarely if ever supports the seller when it comes to a complaint.

[Koa Zo]

My 16-bit collecting wrapped up years ago. Thankfully I was grabbing SFC games when they were a few dollars each.

Recently had my car totaled in a snow storm here, someone came up behind me spinning 360's on the interstate (maybe 70-90 mph) and took me out. Got some insurance money but not enough to buy a replacement car without a loan.
...so now looking to sell some of my higher value games
Anyone want to pay me top dollar for mint Twinkle Tale, Pulseman, sealed Genesis Splatter Houses 2 and 3 or Rolling Thunder 3? lol
Shit, a Twinkle Tale recently sold for $650, I'll sell you mine for $700 and throw in the Beep Megadrive guide pamphlet!

[neorichieb1971]

Oh well, if nothing else i'm keeping your products in high value.

[Skykid]

I only collect high scores
ain't got money for that hoarding shit

Fixed, but yeah, games should be bought to be played first and foremost. A collection does have it's own uplifting element of fun - as acquisition of things you want usually does - but most would be better just to flashcart out their consoles these days and enjoy the experience of git gud, rather than do the mad man thing and follow the decimated market eBadders have left behind.

[MintyTheCat]

I really do not understand why people are obsessed with "high value videogames". If you are setting out to make money just get into something better as an investment.
I own a hell of a lot of games and some are valuable but they are not "investments" - this is bizarre to think them as being so. They are games - games that are fun, hold memories and appeal to me. Honestly, people, please do yourselves a favour and grow out of this "get rich through videogame collecting" obsession. I have seen people literally pass over their rent and food cash to buy games in the shitest condition. Something has to be wrong with a person when this occurs. If you want to invest buy some stock, sit on it and plan when to sell it but do not harp on about how valuable your games are. If you do you are either immature, do not understand the value of money or mentally ill. You are begging someone to take advantage of you financially.

[Casey120]

Love the 16 bit era but the retro freak is all I need !

[FinalBaton]

I own a hell of a lot of games and some are valuable but they are not "investments" - this is bizarre to think them as being so.

Yeah, I also don't get that. There are way safer investments out there so picking retro games is just odd

[kitten]

I really do not understand why people are obsessed with "high value videogames". If you are setting out to make money just get into something better as an investment.
I own a hell of a lot of games and some are valuable but they are not "investments" - this is bizarre to think them as being so. They are games - games that are fun, hold memories and appeal to me. Honestly, people, please do yourselves a favour and grow out of this "get rich through videogame collecting" obsession. I have seen people literally pass over their rent and food cash to buy games in the shitest condition. Something has to be wrong with a person when this occurs. If you want to invest buy some stock, sit on it and plan when to sell it but do not harp on about how valuable your games are. If you do you are either immature, do not understand the value of money or mentally ill. You are begging someone to take advantage of you financially.

did you know that people do this with lego so badly that there is a very highly active forum specifically for investing and making money off of buying/selling valuable sets?

https://community.brickpicker.com/

it even has portfolio building options:

https://www.brickpicker.com/bpms/brickfolio.cfm

nutty

[neorichieb1971]

I am not buying games because they are expensive. Believe me I'd rather pay less than more.

I also don't get where you get the idea that games are investments in any shape or form. The price is going up because supply is drying up whilst demand is going up. So whether or not you want to look at it as an investment is a moot point.

I started late collecting 16 bit because my first console was the 3DO in 1994. I had an Amiga before that. I'd never bought a cartridge before 2001 and i've only got a few Sega games from 2003 that are worth anything of note. Musha on Genesis I picked up for $50 complete.

But I did sell a whole lot of stuff that is probably worth a lot now. I sold the whole Neo geo pocket collection in English clamshell for $1100. Chotetsu Bri'kinger Neo CD $220, Radiant Silvergun $150, Battle Garegga Saturn $70 ish. So if I knew then what I know now, I would of kept them. To play though, I only really want RSG back.

[BIL]

This thread and another elsewhere on the forum kinda opened my eyes, tbh. Wasn't easy, but just finalised the sale of my FC, MD and SFC collections to an old dealer buddy. The latter was the toughest... many of the SFC's priciest games are a bit lacking, so I never bothered with 'em. A Gimmick! or Alien Soldier, Majuu Ou is most certainly not. Relatively cheap Ninja Warriors Again and Wild Guns, otoh, are near my heart. More sentimental than monetary value in that set. I figured it was better to go for a clean sweep, though.

Took a last snap of the shelf for old times' sake - might do some individual item pics later, if anyone's interested:

Spoiler

APRIL FOOLS LMAO

PRY 'EM OUTTA MY COLD DEAD HANDS YOU FUCKIN LOUSY PRICKS

*EAT PUSSY SIGN*

[Sumez]

Impeccable timing old chap

[BIL]

Thanks bud - I appreciate it, coming from a fellow hardcore collector. Like you say, the timing was right.

[MintyTheCat]

did you know that people do this with lego so badly that there is a very highly active forum specifically for investing and making money off of buying/selling valuable sets?

https://community.brickpicker.com/

it even has portfolio building options:

https://www.brickpicker.com/bpms/brickfolio.cfm

nutty

Yes, but then there's gold, uranium, bio-engineering, nano-technology, etc. that will most likely beat the pants off LEGO. If I offered you a kilogram of Gold or a Kg of LEGO which would you go for?

I also don't get where you get the idea that games are investments in any shape or form. The price is going up because supply is drying up whilst demand is going up. So whether or not you want to look at it as an investment is a moot point.

I am not sure how often you rub shoulders with gamers outside of forums but you may find out that this is a common feeling, and I must say, it appears to be amongst the 20 or so year olds. Older gamers tend to be a bit more aware. Supply is not drying up. Very few games are truly rare.

[Koa Zo]

I really do not understand why people are obsessed with "high value videogames". If you are setting out to make money just get into something better as an investment.
I own a hell of a lot of games and some are valuable but they are not "investments" - this is bizarre to think them as being so. They are games - games that are fun, hold memories and appeal to me. Honestly, people, please do yourselves a favour and grow out of this "get rich through videogame collecting" obsession. I have seen people literally pass over their rent and food cash to buy games in the shitest condition. Something has to be wrong with a person when this occurs. If you want to invest buy some stock, sit on it and plan when to sell it but do not harp on about how valuable your games are. If you do you are either immature, do not understand the value of money or mentally ill. You are begging someone to take advantage of you financially.

Who are you responding or speaking to here?
Did anyone speak of their games as investments or in any manner related to what you're going on about? I must have missed that even when re-skimming to figure out the basis of your reaction.

[WelshMegalodon]

Yeah, I also don't get that. There are way safer investments out there so picking retro games is just odd

Yes, but then there's gold, uranium, bio-engineering, nano-technology, etc. that will most likely beat the pants off LEGO. If I offered you a kilogram of Gold or a Kg of LEGO which would you go for?

I'm inclined to attribute that to people knowing more about games and LEGO sets than uranium or nanotech. Fatass Middle-aged Collector Man is too dumb to know about uranium or uranium suppliers but will remember Super Mary-Oh or Classic Space because he played with them when he was a little boy. There's obviously a much lower barrier to entry for the latter.

I am not sure how often you rub shoulders with gamers outside of forums but you may find out that this is a common feeling, and I must say, it appears to be amongst the 20 or so year olds. Older gamers tend to be a bit more aware. Supply is not drying up. Very few games are truly rare.

I would assume he's speaking in the context of CIB and MIB games.

[BIL]

Classic Space