Since I first set out to get Star Wars figures with my dad when I was about 5 years old, I've found myself in the collecting hobby in one form or another. But no field has magnetized me as much as video games. The medium not only has bountiful offerings from thousands of titles and accompanying merchandise, but the interactivity through playing a game makes it unrivaled to other forms of collecting.
Whether you're venturing to a retro-gaming store for your first crown jewel or have already scoured countless garage sales, these are the best video game-collecting tips I have to offer through my 20 years of experience, backed up by fellow collecting experts.
Tip 1: Analyze and Prioritize
Before you consider this wonderful, money-sucking hobby, you should answer three important questions: Is this within your budget, do you have the necessary space in your home, and will your significant other – if applicable – approve? If you can't respond "yes" to each question, then you should reconsider your priorities. If you have passed the first test, then move on to the secret fourth-most-important question: What do you want to collect? One of the best ways to answer this is to look back at your past with video games. Do you fondly recall playing Super Nintendo games as a kid with your dad? Search for your favorite SNES games. Is horror your favorite genre? Seek out the titles that make even the calmest gamers wet their pants. Center your collection around the aspects you love most about gaming. For example, 2016 marked the Nintendo 64's 20th anniversary. To honor the birthday of the console that got me into gaming since I was 4-years-old, I decided to get all nine editions of the N64 that released in North America – which you can look up on the handy Console Variations website along with many other special edition systems.
If you still need an idea of where to start, Brett Weiss, author of numerous video game reference books, says that PlayStation 2 and original Xbox games currently are the way to go. "You can get really good games for $1, $2, $3 apiece because people just dump that stuff," Weiss says. "Ten years from now, [those values] could be a very different story because you have some quality, really desirable titles that are dirt cheap for the Xbox and PlayStation 2."
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Tip 2: Where to look
From games to $300 statues, collectibles come in many shapes and forms, meaning there are numerous places to comb depending on what you seek. Sites like eBay and Amazon, as well as stores tailored to selling games, are obvious locales, but unconventional spots increase your chances of beating the collecting competition.
Did you know antique stores are slowly beginning to take in older electronics, and sometimes have video games? Facebook has its Marketplace side, but there are tons of Facebook classified groups – on local, national, and worldwide scopes – created solely for buying and selling games. College students in need of cash will often post gaming items they are selling on campus peg boards, particularly inside student centers. Some websites sell retro-gaming loot crates that contain randomized games based on what you're looking for, though you should sign up for one at your own risk. Take a look at classifieds in your local newspaper, or arts and culture papers, and see what people want to toss out. You can also try placing a small, cheap classified ad to inform readers you are looking to buy video games. It's an out-of-left-field way of reaching an older audience who might still have video games their now-adult kids used to play. For someone trustworthy, ask your family and friends if they are looking to get rid of anything game related.
Jason Lindsey, aka YouTuber MetalJesusRocks and owner of more than 7,000 physical copies of games, recommends retro-gaming conventions above all else. "You can spend every weekend for a year scouring garage sales to maybe find a few crappy games, or you could probably find every game you've ever wanted in one weekend," he says. "And most vendors accept trades, too, so if you are low on cash but still want that copy of EarthBound or Little Samson, trade a stack of games you never play."
On the other hand, YouTuber "Lithium" who runs a Nintendo Collecting YouTube channel says to shop locally as much as possible. "This saves a lot of money on shipping and import fees," he says. "Garage sales, flea markets, and pawn shops are your best bet for getting deals." You can certainly see he put his money where his mouth is in his bonkers tour of his Nintendo room and collection.
Tip 3: ALWAYS meet at a safe location
Contacting a stranger through something like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist always carries risks, such as being paid with fake bills or getting robbed at gunpoint. Always, always, always (did I mention always?) ask to meet during the day at a safe, highly populated location like a popular retailer, which often have cameras and security guards on the premises. Try bringing a family member or friend with you as an extra safety net. If the seller wants to make the deal in an area that doesn't meet that criteria, don't bother meeting at all. Your safety is not worth any collectible – not even CIB (see collecting terminology on Page 2) Stadium Events for NES.
Tip 4: Know your worth
With hundreds of thousands of games and consoles out there, it's impossible to know the value of everything. Price Charting and Game Value Now are like bibles for collectors because they calculate the average listings of a game or console sold on eBay. Price Charting is slightly more robust because the website not only has more console and accessory values listed, but also has its own market where users – at no cost – can sell their items. Those sales are then factored into an item's worth. Don't ignore GVN or other similar websites, though. Multiple inputs on an item's value is vital, and it never hurts to quickly go to several sources. For example, the game 2 For 1 Power Pack: Winter Blast/Summer Sports sounds like a shovelware title (and it is), but it's exceptionally rare and valued at approximately $300 CIB, according to the average value between Price Charting and GVN. If you find something worthwhile but don't care about it, snag it. Then you can trade or sell it later for something you desire more. I sold The Croods: Prehistoric Party on Wii U at a profit back when it was going for $90.
Tip 5: Keep track of everything you buy
Organizing a list of all your gaming goodies might take as much work and patience as it does to acquire collectibles, but it has a few benefits. A list makes you aware of how much money you have spent and acts as a budget reminder. If someone breaks into your home and steals your possessions, a detailed catalog is something you can easily give to your insurance provider, as well as pictures of your collection that should be taken every few months. Create multiple lists so things are less jumbled. Make documents for different categories like Sega, Xbox, action figures, etc.
I recommend creating a sheet on the cloud-based Google Docs. It's free and robust, and you can update it on the fly if you have a smartphone (Android and iOS), and you won't have to worry about losing it on your computer or a flash drive. Download this handy collectibles organizer I created on Google Docs if you need a jumpstart.
Tip 6: Thrift stores are your friends
Thrift stores and resale shops are useful beyond being a venue to find video games on the cheap. They are excellent avenues for acquiring shelves or displays at little cost, and they're commonly stocked. If you find a shelf that's beaten up, perhaps you can turn it into a fun side project by painting it with some ideas from Pinterest. Thrift stores are also a great way to acquire original cases for games. If you have something like Futurama on Xbox with a beat-up shell, buy another Xbox game with a sleeker case and swap the cover art. Afterward, sell that spare game you bought to get some of your money back.
[Up Next: You never know if you don't ask, terms of endearment, and how to spot fakes.]
from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/04/04/how-to-waste-money-properly-a-guide-to-collecting-video-games.aspx
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