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Classic Game Collecting - Pick your Style!Jun 22 '02 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Are you a Casual Collector or an Avid Collector? Figure it out, then start collecting. Classic Games are a great source of fun and a part of our history.
Introduction Classic video games come in many shapes, sizes, and conditions. You will find very collectable, cool games that are also abundant. There are also really poorly written games and poorly designed systems that offer horrible gameplay, but are very valuable to collectors due to the rarity, historical value, or some other factor unknown to most people. Basically, if you think you may want to collect old games, you need to first pick the reason that you are doing so. What is Your Motivation? The reason that 90 percent of us are interested in collecting old games and systems is just for the nostalgia of it. You want to sit down with a functioning unit and play those old games to your heart's content. You want to relive your childhood, or see what it was like back in the dark ages of video games. You're either nostalgic about the past, or curious about learning. If you're one of these people, you're in luck. There are many paths to choose, and most of them are inexpensive and fun. If you're one of these people, you're a casual collector. There is a somewhat smaller group of collectors out there that want to build up a large collection. These collectors appreciate the nostalgia of the systems and games, but are also interested in the history behind it. These people know deep down that they are willing to shell out much more hard earned cash in the long run, whether they are willing to admit it now. These people can indeed develop an interesting and diverse classic video game collection if they live by some basic rules. These people are avid collectors. They will eventually take the role of casual video game historians decades from now. For the 90 Percent of Us: Casual Collecting As a casual collector, you're mostly interested in fun. You want to start with something you can show your friends and that can serve as a source of excitement now and then when you either get it out to play, or find games at a Bargain Store for less than $1. If you are a casual collector, you should probably start with a common system from the past. These machines are easy to come by, relatively cheap, and have an abundance of cheap games available. You will not break your pocketbook acquiring some games for the more popular systems of the 1970s and 1980s. An example of good systems to start with are: - Atari 2600 - Atari 7800 - Nintendo Entertainment System - Sega Genesis - Super Nintendo If you're from the Atari camp, you can get the games brand new and shrinkwrapped for a couple bucks or so at www.oshealtd.com. You can get a variety of Atari games at thrift stores and garage sales. The systems aren't the easiest to come by, but you will see them on eBay and at garage sales as well. If you choose any of the other systems, you are in luck. You can find everything you need at most classic video game retailers. You can find them on-line at many retailers. Your local Funcoland store has everything you could need as well. If you're willing to take risks on these systems, then go ahead and try places like eBay as well. You are probably better off sticking to local places that are well known. If you are a casual collector looking for something more rare or unique than the above systems, then you may want to rethink whether or not you're really a casual collector. You are probably more of an avid collector waiting to come out of your shell. You would probably get more value from this review by reading the next part. For the Rest of Us: Avid Collecting There are things to consider for the Avid collector. The first thing to look at in considering the value of any given system, is to look at what it means to you. Do you know the history behind it? Does it have more sentimental than historical value? The truth is, the first thing you should do about a system you are interested in is to learn a little about it. You can learn about systems on the web pretty easily. There are many classic gaming and classic home computer sites scattered throughout the web. If you're just getting started you can start your quest at a site like this. A decent site is www.classicgaming.com. You will find many other sites hosted and linked there. Once you have a general idea of the history behind your machine, you will also have learned some of the details of how it worked. You will hopefully know the little things you need to get it up and running. (i.e. Power cables, video connectors, joysticks, game cartridges). Some older systems may work differently than you expect. Anything pre Atari 2600 may not even need game cartridges. In addition to the history and the ways that the system interests you and anyone you may share it with, you must also consider the rarity. If you are collecting for value, rare systems are almost always worth more than less rare systems. Also, even for the common systems, it is rare to find complete systems in brand new condition. Just having the boxes, manuals, and packaging can significantly increase the value. The key here is not to bid on the first thing you see out of excitement. Look around and find varying possibilities. Choose the system that gets you the best condition for the money. Don't just buy the $10 one that is scratched and missing everything but the unit. Another tip for the Avid collector: BEWARE OF ON-LINE SCAMS. There are many people out there trying to rip off amateur collectors. They basically purchase something and put it on eBay for an exorbitant amount given the condition, rarity, and historical significance. Whatever you do, do not believe claims of rarity and value posted as part of an on-line advertisement. Go to a legitimate site and do your research first to decide what value is really reasonable. An example of people scamming the collector is the surplus shrinkwrapped games at www.oshealtd.com. They are a few bucks there. People will buy them and try to auction them at more than double what they paid. They will claim that the games are very rare, when in fact they are part of the overproduced surplus left over from Atari's demise. The truly rare games are almost never shrinkwrapped. They are probably not in mint condition. They were probably played over and over back in the heyday of the video game craze, but are valuable today because they played that role in history. The basic premise for avid collecting is this: Do NOT go into this thinking you will profit. You will just end up doing what our friends with shrinkwrapped Atari games do at eBay. Instead go into it thinking of each system and its games as you would a pet or a valuable car. Think of it as something you will treasure and take care of over the years. Twenty years from now, an Atari 2600 may not be as common. Fifty years from now, it may be like your grandfather's mint victrola is today. Regardless though, the main reason for this is to have a piece of video game history in your possession.  |
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