Number one: Know what you want, and why you want it.
This first practice is deceptively simple sounding. It is very easy to get caught up in hunting down new titles, expanding your collection, or owning a “complete library” (every game released for a system/by a company). Something that can lead to a person “burning out”, or going broke. Before you start collecting any games, know why you want them. Why is it personal to you? Nostalgia from your childhood? Missed opportunities to buy them in the past? Just appeals to you? Ask yourself that first. If you want to own every game ever made, and there are a few collectors trying to do just that, that’s great, but why? That answer will help you focus on what your purchasing, and how hard you’re willing to work for those things. If you’re simply buying to buy, then the collection holds little meaning to you. In that scenario it’s likely the gusto which fueled your collecting will fade with time. Possibly leaving you with regret on time and money spent on games you no longer want.
Equally important is knowing what you want. Are you out for just the games and systems themselves, or are merchandise and collectibles based on the games and series also of interest to you? If you’re a die hard Nintendo fan and you want to own everything related to the NES ever made you had better know what you’re looking for. Not just including what titles are rare, uncommon, or common, but what they look like, how to spot fakes/bootlegs, what extras they came with, etc. There are multiple online resources with lists of data regarding video games/systems rarity, releases, publishing, etc. I personally recommend www.digitpress.com or http://uvlist.com/. Digital Press has many detailed guides for just about every system ever released with continual refinement. The Universal Video Game list has a broader, “wiki” style database which can be scoured for screenshots, cover art, etc. I do not know of any databases pertaining to rarity or value of video game merchandise and collectibles though. Merchandise and secondary items have sprung up markets in and of themselves and can be far more difficult to find then the games that inspired them.
Number two: Become an expert in your field
Much of this falls under rule number one, but deserves restating. Once you know what you want, and why you want it, know everything you can about it. This is not only to help you develop your budding library of titles and systems grow, but to help ignite your passion to do so as well. As you begin studying every aspect of the system, genre, or company you’re collecting the passion for that subject grows also. In some cases you may find the fires of your passion cooled by research and mastery of the subject; and that’s fine. Better to know that you don’t really love the “Virtual Boy” with all your heart now, rather than later. That can be an especially painful lesson if you’ve dropped hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars into a system or genre you no longer care for.
Being an expert on what you collect also helps you avoid the dangerous pitfalls of overpaying, or purchasing bootleg copies of games. Once you know exactly what you’re looking for it is easier to avoid getting scammed by unscrupulous sellers and pirates, or overpaying for items that could be had for a smaller price in better condition. Even with expertise, though, it’s still possible to get duped by pirates and crooks. Always beware of sellers or traders you don’t know well.
Knowing the differences between releases of certain games is also important. In most cases a re-release, or reprinting, of a game makes no difference to value or desire; in some cases though it can make drastic differences in value. Often differences between an “original” release and “re-releases/reprints” are very minor, if they vary at all. When the difference between the releases means big money, it pays to know what those differences are. In these cases expertise and knowledge can save you a lot of money, time and hassle, and you’ll be thankful for having mastered the ins and outs of what you collect.
Keeping a checklist handy is also a good idea. If you’re out looking in garage sales or flea markets it’s good to know if you already own a copy of a common game, or if that strange cartridge before you is something you may never see again. I have passed over many rare titles and collectibles that, in retrospect, I would have liked to have bought, but didn’t know what they were at the time. Educating yourself on what’s available will help you more than anything else.
Number three: Always keep an eye out
Again, this seems simple, but you just never know where you’ll come across a great find. While it may seem like the discovery of rare title, system, or collectible “in the wild” is pretty unlikely with almost every “attic treasure” hitting Ebay or Amazon, it does happen. Once you know what you’re looking for, and what it’s worth, go to yard and estate sales, consignment shops, thrift stores and most importantly your locally run game stores. You’ll be surprised at what you find. My personal favorite discovery of a “holy grail” of gaming was in a local thrift store. While perusing the usual selection of “Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt” and “Wrestling” cartridges for the NES I spotted something I’d never heard of before: A NES cart labeled “Solomons Key 2”. Asking to see this particular cart (kept in a case to prevent theft) I noticed a “loaner label” on the back. A “loaner label” meant this game was either a prototype or a “beta” version of the game. I plunked down a whopping $4 for the game and walked out with what I later discovered to be one of only three known copies of the “Solomons Key 2” NES prototype (released later under the name of “Fire and Ice”, NES). Thanks to my knowledge of the NES library, and my continuous vigil of local thrift stores I found a cart I could never have hoped to purchase in the collectors market for only $4. This is far from my only experience like this, most of my rarest and most coveted titles came from junk shops, garage sales, and even a few game shops which just happened to have a good deal on a rare title. Always keep your eyes open to what’s around you, and remember it never hurts to ask if a store has something particularly hard to find in stock. The extra effort may be the difference between you going home empty handed, or with a new gem for your collection.
This first practice is deceptively simple sounding. It is very easy to get caught up in hunting down new titles, expanding your collection, or owning a “complete library” (every game released for a system/by a company). Something that can lead to a person “burning out”, or going broke. Before you start collecting any games, know why you want them. Why is it personal to you? Nostalgia from your childhood? Missed opportunities to buy them in the past? Just appeals to you? Ask yourself that first. If you want to own every game ever made, and there are a few collectors trying to do just that, that’s great, but why? That answer will help you focus on what your purchasing, and how hard you’re willing to work for those things. If you’re simply buying to buy, then the collection holds little meaning to you. In that scenario it’s likely the gusto which fueled your collecting will fade with time. Possibly leaving you with regret on time and money spent on games you no longer want.
Equally important is knowing what you want. Are you out for just the games and systems themselves, or are merchandise and collectibles based on the games and series also of interest to you? If you’re a die hard Nintendo fan and you want to own everything related to the NES ever made you had better know what you’re looking for. Not just including what titles are rare, uncommon, or common, but what they look like, how to spot fakes/bootlegs, what extras they came with, etc. There are multiple online resources with lists of data regarding video games/systems rarity, releases, publishing, etc. I personally recommend www.digitpress.com or http://uvlist.com/. Digital Press has many detailed guides for just about every system ever released with continual refinement. The Universal Video Game list has a broader, “wiki” style database which can be scoured for screenshots, cover art, etc. I do not know of any databases pertaining to rarity or value of video game merchandise and collectibles though. Merchandise and secondary items have sprung up markets in and of themselves and can be far more difficult to find then the games that inspired them.
Number two: Become an expert in your field
Much of this falls under rule number one, but deserves restating. Once you know what you want, and why you want it, know everything you can about it. This is not only to help you develop your budding library of titles and systems grow, but to help ignite your passion to do so as well. As you begin studying every aspect of the system, genre, or company you’re collecting the passion for that subject grows also. In some cases you may find the fires of your passion cooled by research and mastery of the subject; and that’s fine. Better to know that you don’t really love the “Virtual Boy” with all your heart now, rather than later. That can be an especially painful lesson if you’ve dropped hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars into a system or genre you no longer care for.
Being an expert on what you collect also helps you avoid the dangerous pitfalls of overpaying, or purchasing bootleg copies of games. Once you know exactly what you’re looking for it is easier to avoid getting scammed by unscrupulous sellers and pirates, or overpaying for items that could be had for a smaller price in better condition. Even with expertise, though, it’s still possible to get duped by pirates and crooks. Always beware of sellers or traders you don’t know well.
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| "Castlevania IV", SNES. Top: the original Konami release in a darker, more sturdy box. Bottom: the lighter, lower quality, box is a late nineties rerelease by Majesco. |
Knowing the differences between releases of certain games is also important. In most cases a re-release, or reprinting, of a game makes no difference to value or desire; in some cases though it can make drastic differences in value. Often differences between an “original” release and “re-releases/reprints” are very minor, if they vary at all. When the difference between the releases means big money, it pays to know what those differences are. In these cases expertise and knowledge can save you a lot of money, time and hassle, and you’ll be thankful for having mastered the ins and outs of what you collect.
Keeping a checklist handy is also a good idea. If you’re out looking in garage sales or flea markets it’s good to know if you already own a copy of a common game, or if that strange cartridge before you is something you may never see again. I have passed over many rare titles and collectibles that, in retrospect, I would have liked to have bought, but didn’t know what they were at the time. Educating yourself on what’s available will help you more than anything else.
Number three: Always keep an eye out
Again, this seems simple, but you just never know where you’ll come across a great find. While it may seem like the discovery of rare title, system, or collectible “in the wild” is pretty unlikely with almost every “attic treasure” hitting Ebay or Amazon, it does happen. Once you know what you’re looking for, and what it’s worth, go to yard and estate sales, consignment shops, thrift stores and most importantly your locally run game stores. You’ll be surprised at what you find. My personal favorite discovery of a “holy grail” of gaming was in a local thrift store. While perusing the usual selection of “Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt” and “Wrestling” cartridges for the NES I spotted something I’d never heard of before: A NES cart labeled “Solomons Key 2”. Asking to see this particular cart (kept in a case to prevent theft) I noticed a “loaner label” on the back. A “loaner label” meant this game was either a prototype or a “beta” version of the game. I plunked down a whopping $4 for the game and walked out with what I later discovered to be one of only three known copies of the “Solomons Key 2” NES prototype (released later under the name of “Fire and Ice”, NES). Thanks to my knowledge of the NES library, and my continuous vigil of local thrift stores I found a cart I could never have hoped to purchase in the collectors market for only $4. This is far from my only experience like this, most of my rarest and most coveted titles came from junk shops, garage sales, and even a few game shops which just happened to have a good deal on a rare title. Always keep your eyes open to what’s around you, and remember it never hurts to ask if a store has something particularly hard to find in stock. The extra effort may be the difference between you going home empty handed, or with a new gem for your collection.
Number Four: Set limits, stick to them and be patient.
This may be the most important rule so far: set limits for yourself. Without setting limits on how much money, time and effort you put into your new found hobby you can quickly break yourself, financially, socially, and emotionally. It’s important to know exactly how much you personally are willing to spend, money and time wise on any particular item. Set yourself a realistic and reasonable threshold on how much you’re willing to spend, and never exceed that. I know of one collector who made the goal of never spending over $100 on any title, ever. He has one of the most impressive libraries I know of, with many games that are valued well over his $100 limit. How did he do this? He was patient, and built up an infrastructure of contacts and friends and searched continuously for the titles he wanted.
Time can be just as big a factor as money though, and many will repeat the old adage “time is money”. For the purposes of what we’re talking about time and patience are two different things, but are closely interlinked. Time can be the amount of time you spend any given day searching for titles at a reasonable price, or just how much time you spend looking for games or collectibles in general. Either way the time you spend looking is time you could be doing other things, perhaps even making money to purchase the items you want. Don’t let collecting get in the way of your daily life. Certainly set aside time to do so, maybe even a certain amount of time every day, but don’t spend every waking hour obsessing over your next “acquisition”. Let your collecting be balanced out by other aspects of your life, and be patient for your next purchase. You literally never know when you may get that big chance. I have, at times, waited literally years for a single purchase or trade of a rare item I could not afford otherwise, and my patient attitude really paid off.
Along with this I recommend budgeting a small amount for purchases and keeping a small amount of cash on hand at all times. Doing so, combined with a patient attitude, can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, not to mention your sanity and health. Ask yourself, is it worth spending $100 now, when I may (reasonably) be able to find it for $40 later? If it is worth it to you, by all means go for it, but if you feel you can wait, then the choice to wait may pay off in the long run. Remember though be reasonable, if you see a game valued at thousands of dollars for a cool fifty bucks, then the choice is fairly obvious.
Number Five: Make Friends and Contacts
I can not understate how important this rule is. Following all the above rules will get you by, but making friends and contacts with fellow collectors, store owners, gaming buddies, etc, will help you as much as all the above combined. When frequenting local shops, or even estate and garage sales you may see some “regulars”, or get to know employees. These contacts can be great when looking for especially rare or hard to find titles. My greatest finds, aside from a few lucky finds in thrift stores, etc, have all been through contacts. When people know you, and know what you are doing, they are generally willing to help you with your goals and objectives. Gamers and collectors are no different. If a fellow collector is looking for the same items as you it can create some rivalry, but letting that rivalry be friendly will benefit you both. If you know said collector is looking for a particularly rare title for a system you don’t collect for, and you alert him to it’s location, or even purchase it in order to trade it to them (in a reasonable trade) it builds bonds of trust and friendship. Among many collectors there is a “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” mentality, and being friendly, open and honest, will get you a lot further than backstabbing your way to the top and dirty dealing. If you’re searching for the same “one-of-a-kind” rarity as a fellow collector, it doesn’t mean you have to kill each other in order to get it; in fact it probably means you have a lot of similar tastes, and probably quite a bit in common. Some of my best friends have been my closest “competitors” for certain titles, and items, but we have never let our hobby come between our friendships.
This may be the most important rule so far: set limits for yourself. Without setting limits on how much money, time and effort you put into your new found hobby you can quickly break yourself, financially, socially, and emotionally. It’s important to know exactly how much you personally are willing to spend, money and time wise on any particular item. Set yourself a realistic and reasonable threshold on how much you’re willing to spend, and never exceed that. I know of one collector who made the goal of never spending over $100 on any title, ever. He has one of the most impressive libraries I know of, with many games that are valued well over his $100 limit. How did he do this? He was patient, and built up an infrastructure of contacts and friends and searched continuously for the titles he wanted.
Time can be just as big a factor as money though, and many will repeat the old adage “time is money”. For the purposes of what we’re talking about time and patience are two different things, but are closely interlinked. Time can be the amount of time you spend any given day searching for titles at a reasonable price, or just how much time you spend looking for games or collectibles in general. Either way the time you spend looking is time you could be doing other things, perhaps even making money to purchase the items you want. Don’t let collecting get in the way of your daily life. Certainly set aside time to do so, maybe even a certain amount of time every day, but don’t spend every waking hour obsessing over your next “acquisition”. Let your collecting be balanced out by other aspects of your life, and be patient for your next purchase. You literally never know when you may get that big chance. I have, at times, waited literally years for a single purchase or trade of a rare item I could not afford otherwise, and my patient attitude really paid off.
Along with this I recommend budgeting a small amount for purchases and keeping a small amount of cash on hand at all times. Doing so, combined with a patient attitude, can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, not to mention your sanity and health. Ask yourself, is it worth spending $100 now, when I may (reasonably) be able to find it for $40 later? If it is worth it to you, by all means go for it, but if you feel you can wait, then the choice to wait may pay off in the long run. Remember though be reasonable, if you see a game valued at thousands of dollars for a cool fifty bucks, then the choice is fairly obvious.
Number Five: Make Friends and Contacts
I can not understate how important this rule is. Following all the above rules will get you by, but making friends and contacts with fellow collectors, store owners, gaming buddies, etc, will help you as much as all the above combined. When frequenting local shops, or even estate and garage sales you may see some “regulars”, or get to know employees. These contacts can be great when looking for especially rare or hard to find titles. My greatest finds, aside from a few lucky finds in thrift stores, etc, have all been through contacts. When people know you, and know what you are doing, they are generally willing to help you with your goals and objectives. Gamers and collectors are no different. If a fellow collector is looking for the same items as you it can create some rivalry, but letting that rivalry be friendly will benefit you both. If you know said collector is looking for a particularly rare title for a system you don’t collect for, and you alert him to it’s location, or even purchase it in order to trade it to them (in a reasonable trade) it builds bonds of trust and friendship. Among many collectors there is a “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” mentality, and being friendly, open and honest, will get you a lot further than backstabbing your way to the top and dirty dealing. If you’re searching for the same “one-of-a-kind” rarity as a fellow collector, it doesn’t mean you have to kill each other in order to get it; in fact it probably means you have a lot of similar tastes, and probably quite a bit in common. Some of my best friends have been my closest “competitors” for certain titles, and items, but we have never let our hobby come between our friendships.
Number Six: Be honest
Again a simple, and “common sense” rule to go by, but one that cannot be understated in its value. Whether dealing with a hardcore gamer, or a seller with no clue, honesty will always be welcome. Now I’m not saying be a dupe, or be the nicest person in the world, I’m saying always be honest when dealing with people. From personal experience it pays off one time in ten, but that ten percent of the time will not only make you feel better about yourself, but is generally a better payoff in the end anyway.
One great example of this was when I was working for a chain of game stores. A guy came in looking to sell a system and games we didn’t carry. My boss knowing I was interested in the system gave the person my number. The man, who happened to be a former collector, long out of the hobby, contacted me and we agreed to meet. I gave the man an honest appraisal as to the value of the games, and what I could offer to pay him; an amount significantly lower than what it was worth. He declined at the time, but said he’d keep me in mind. While this was a bummer I felt good that I had been honest with him in it’s value. Later on, he contacted me a second time, with different items, and again I told him what the approximate value would be, and again the most I could offer (again significantly less than what it was worth). The second time he agreed to sell them to me, thanked me for my honesty, and said he’d stay in contact with me. Over the next few years he sold me several rare items, and collectibles from his personal collections, all at significantly low prices, and we eventually developed a strong friendship. He even referred friends to me who were selling their personal items, and collectibles. I could have easily ripped him off, and gained in the short term, but having been honest I prospered in the long run, and also gained a friend.
Now some may call me a hypocrite with my $4 dollar thrift store prototype, but I feel it’s worth mentioning the difference. At a store, or even some estate sales, if a person or company is happy labeling a game and getting rid of it for cheap, then so be it. That’s honest, they’re asking a set amount, and you’re willing to pay that. If it is a personal transaction, and you feel that they’re way undervaluing something they have, let them know, or offer to pay more, they’ll appreciate it, and you’ll still be getting a good deal. I have on multiple occasions offered to pay more than the set price at garage sales, explaining why. Sometimes they’ll stick with the original price, sometimes they’ll take the extra money, but every once in a while they’ll offer to find something similar I “may be interested in”. The trust earned on your part will help you make more connections, and in turn may help you find items for your collection in areas previously not thought of. A win-win situation.
Also while it may be tempting to rip off a seller, collector or otherwise, or deal underhandedly, even once, it’s never a good idea. While you may have built up a sterling reputation, it only takes one bad transaction to ruin your good name. No matter how many excellent transactions, trades, purchases or sales you’ve made, it’s the bad ones you’ll be remembered for. To paraphrase an old quote, “it’s not the many acts of good that people will remember, but the one act of evil committed." Nobody wants to deal with somebody they can't trust; and it is far harder to replace lost trust than to build an honest relationship from the beginning.
Tune in next time for more on collecting, and the hobby itself next week in my (thrilling) conclusion.
Until then, lets game.
Again a simple, and “common sense” rule to go by, but one that cannot be understated in its value. Whether dealing with a hardcore gamer, or a seller with no clue, honesty will always be welcome. Now I’m not saying be a dupe, or be the nicest person in the world, I’m saying always be honest when dealing with people. From personal experience it pays off one time in ten, but that ten percent of the time will not only make you feel better about yourself, but is generally a better payoff in the end anyway.
One great example of this was when I was working for a chain of game stores. A guy came in looking to sell a system and games we didn’t carry. My boss knowing I was interested in the system gave the person my number. The man, who happened to be a former collector, long out of the hobby, contacted me and we agreed to meet. I gave the man an honest appraisal as to the value of the games, and what I could offer to pay him; an amount significantly lower than what it was worth. He declined at the time, but said he’d keep me in mind. While this was a bummer I felt good that I had been honest with him in it’s value. Later on, he contacted me a second time, with different items, and again I told him what the approximate value would be, and again the most I could offer (again significantly less than what it was worth). The second time he agreed to sell them to me, thanked me for my honesty, and said he’d stay in contact with me. Over the next few years he sold me several rare items, and collectibles from his personal collections, all at significantly low prices, and we eventually developed a strong friendship. He even referred friends to me who were selling their personal items, and collectibles. I could have easily ripped him off, and gained in the short term, but having been honest I prospered in the long run, and also gained a friend.
Now some may call me a hypocrite with my $4 dollar thrift store prototype, but I feel it’s worth mentioning the difference. At a store, or even some estate sales, if a person or company is happy labeling a game and getting rid of it for cheap, then so be it. That’s honest, they’re asking a set amount, and you’re willing to pay that. If it is a personal transaction, and you feel that they’re way undervaluing something they have, let them know, or offer to pay more, they’ll appreciate it, and you’ll still be getting a good deal. I have on multiple occasions offered to pay more than the set price at garage sales, explaining why. Sometimes they’ll stick with the original price, sometimes they’ll take the extra money, but every once in a while they’ll offer to find something similar I “may be interested in”. The trust earned on your part will help you make more connections, and in turn may help you find items for your collection in areas previously not thought of. A win-win situation.
Also while it may be tempting to rip off a seller, collector or otherwise, or deal underhandedly, even once, it’s never a good idea. While you may have built up a sterling reputation, it only takes one bad transaction to ruin your good name. No matter how many excellent transactions, trades, purchases or sales you’ve made, it’s the bad ones you’ll be remembered for. To paraphrase an old quote, “it’s not the many acts of good that people will remember, but the one act of evil committed." Nobody wants to deal with somebody they can't trust; and it is far harder to replace lost trust than to build an honest relationship from the beginning.
Tune in next time for more on collecting, and the hobby itself next week in my (thrilling) conclusion.
Until then, lets game.
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