HOW TO COLLECT VIDEO GAMES IN 2023 (Video Game Collecting tips and how I collect! 2022-2023)

Join me as I share some tips about collecting and how I go about collecting on a more "budget" focused mindset. I share some tips and tricks as well as some different ways I go about making collecting more fun and affordable.
TIME STAMPS:
INTRO: 0:00
WHERE TO START: 1:54
LAST GEN GAMES: 2:31
SUBSETS/SERIES/COVER VARIANTS: 4:15
BAD CONDITION=GREAT PRICE: 6:08
GAME AND MANUAL ONLY: 8:13
RENTAL COPIES/GREATEST HITS/NOT FOR RESALE: 11:12
COLLECT UNIQUE STORIES: 13:29
TRADE UP WITH GAME STORES: 15:20
RESTRICTION CAN BE GOOD: 17:20
OUTRO: 18:50
"Bossa Antigua" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
#collection #videogames #nintendo #sega #memories #tips #howto

[@AngryBananas]

This is probably the best advice for new upcoming collectors, don't let the market discourage for now wanting to start now. You can always have a mind set goal on collecting things now and wait for the jump in collection to go up and resell that to get the collection of your dream.

[@32bitmusician]

I love that! If there's anything I've learned over the past 10 or 15 years, it's that prices just continue to go up in the long run. For ALL genres of games. In the end, I just try to focus on what makes collecting fun!

[@TwoGendersOnly]

Time to stock up on obscure horror and RPG games for PS4 and 5. Will have games to play all year and they will end up going up in price. I picked up dragons dogma dark arisen for PS4 and GameStop for 19 bucks and it's being sold for double that on eBay already. Plus dragons dogma 2 is coming out so a lot of people will learn about what a great series it is. The original was very obscure.

[@sithis7426]

A great tip I learned recently that helped me save some money is collect games that either you had as a kid, wanted to play as a kid but never had, or games you missed out on because you werent around, or a combination of all 3. Really helped me not spend money on games I realized I didnt really care about

[@32bitmusician]

That's a great idea! I definitely do all 3 of those! It's such a great experience to be able to relive those memories!

[@pickyourbattlescollecting]

Buy and play what you want, condition be damned. If you are getting to experience the games you love, that is what matters. I am 100% with you that I love signs of history that come with some games. Rental store stickers, handwritten notes...I LOVE those things! And yes, the time for 7th and 8th Gen collecting is NOW. 360, PS3, and Wii (to a lesser extent for the time being) are already trending upward. This was a great video and your advice was spot on!

[@32bitmusician]

Thank you so much for your kind words and comment! I really do believe there is no "wrong way" to collect. Just collect what you want! I lucked out by preferring the rough condition games, so at least that saves me a little bit of money! But yes! The history with the stickers/notes is really fun! I definitely need to pick up a PS3 at some point since I really do think that will be one of the more expensive systems to collect for from that generation!

[@joeyisabsb1]

The restriction i put on myself is buy what you will want to play and never sell so I have to be okay with the price since I will never make money off of it.

[@32bitmusician]

I love this mentality! I also tend to do this seeing as how I RARELY ever sell.

[@marcrics]

I think modern collections are always a great way to start too. Even just the Mana collection or the Valid collection will get you the games physically and save you soooooo much money.

[@32bitmusician]

I agree! The Mana Collection is GREAT. I'm also a huge fan of the genesis collection that was released on the modern platforms! Plus, sometimes convenience wins over having to pull out a system for a specific game!

[@KitDoctor]

I appreciate this video - it's given me a new perspective/appreciation for game collecting.

[@pickflip4429]

Great tips!

[@32bitmusician]

Thank you so much!!

[@apanapane]

I actively avoid complete in box games. Not only are they much more expensive, but I get worried that I might damage the cardboard which makes me worried to actually take the games out and play. So by buying games that don't have the box I don't have to worry about that. And, hey, that leaves the boxed copies to the collectors who actually do want them.

[@32bitmusician]

I honestly really like that mentality. That's actually why I tend to go for games in REALLY bad condition. Not only are they way cheaper, but I actually get to enjoy opening the boxes/looking at the paperwork and booklets without feeling like I'm damaging a piece of history!

[@hammahead101]

Thanks you for creating this video, I enjoyed listening to your collecting tips. Personally, I’ve slowed down with collecting only now really buying what I want to play.

[@32bitmusician]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I would like to say I've slowed down, but I think I've mainly narrowed my focuses down by a significant margin... Those darn switch sales have me impulse buying way too much, haha!

[@hammahead101]

@@32bitmusician Haha, game sales are always so tempting!

[@GamingLuminary]

Nice tips very true about everything I have been collecting for the past 4 years and over time I went to conventions too I find some vendors even sell low or during those i been to markets where I Made an offer by bidding for an example last year I got pikmin for game cube for 40$

[@32bitmusician]

That's a great deal on pikmin! I tend to find my best deals at conventions or "make offers" on ebay! Even if they aren't "crazy' deals like they once were years back, you can still find deals if you look hard enough for them!

[@tangttsauce3040]

I like rental copies too. Sometimes I can find rental cases with original artwork/game for the same price as loose.

[@32bitmusician]

And there's a story behind each copy too! I love how no two will be exactly alike! Such a fun variant to collect!

[@Zenith_Editzz]

I just started collecting retro video games. Currently I have a game boy and a DSi XL. This video gave me a feel of where to start because I was lost lmao.

[@32bitmusician]

This made my day! I'm so glad I was able to give you a couple ideas of where you could potentially go! The Gameboy and DSI are wonderful! The DSI is actually my favorite DS console. The buttons are super clicky/responsive and the screen looks really good too! The Gameboy Advance is definitely my favorite nintendo handheld. So many great games! You're gonna LOVE retro collecting! Thanks so much for watching and sharing!

[@joserangel7408]

I'm not a fan of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, but if you seek "retro", that's probably one of the least expensive to collect, with some solid games. The first generation Wii is also a good system to pick up, as it is capable of playing Wii and Gamecube games, and PS2/PS3 for backwards compatibility. I'm into lightgun games, so that's what I'm currently collecting. I like to collect with the future in mind, as this current generation may be the last to have physical games.

[@32bitmusician]

I completely agree with you on that! I adore sega, but oddly enough, the genesis is one my least favorite consoles of theirs (still an AMAZING system with great games of course!). I think it's mainly due to the lack of RPGS for me. The Wii is such a good choice. It suprises me that the Gamecube is as expensive as it is despite the fact that there is a better gamecube out there that plays its games (the Wii!). Such a cool thing to collect! Unfortunately I don't have a CRT so I can't play the light gun games, but that's where the Wii is REALLY great. Even the switch has a couple of great "light gun-esque" games. House of the dead remake is the first that comes to mind! Don't say that! I don't want to believe that this is the last generation of physical games, ha! But I agree. I have that same mentality! Thanks for your comment!

[@Groglor]

I like how you like the unique bad condition games. I'm gonna appreciate mine more

[@32bitmusician]

You absolutely should! The way I see it is that a bad condition game is STILL just as much of a game as one that's pristine!

[@32bitmusician]

@Rein I absolutely love things like that! I love seeing how a kid played games back then! Really makes that game priceless to me!

[@stashmerkin9576]

I also kept manuals while pitching the boxes. Luckily I hung onto the manual for my SNES copy of Chrono Trigger. Adds almost a hundred bucks to the overall value.

[@32bitmusician]

Isn't it crazy how a manual can add so much? It's cool to see I wasn't the only one to do that! A lot of people either kept everything or nothing at from what I've discovered!

[@matthewwind7419]

My advice (if i may) is to collect what games tailor to you and what catches your eyes, i've been doing that collecting ps4 games and i really am proud and enjoy my collection cause it's games i wanted. (P.S nice video i just discovered your channel)

[@32bitmusician]

That's great advice! Why collect things you don't even have any interest in! Congrats on your PS4 collection! And thanks so much for the kind words! :)

[@li0nhart4477]

I'm a retro collector, anything Gamecube and earlier. Although i collect to play these games & consoles also. So i don't see the point in collecting last /current gen (at least in the same respect as i do older consoles) as several years down the line you wouldn't be able to play them anyway due to either the full games are not always on the disc or require online/updates. So these last few generations of games & consoles heavily reliant on online services (with few exemptions) will doubtlessly not be held with the same regard.

[@32bitmusician]

I totally understand that. I definitely find the most enjoyment in collecting games up to the Wii era. As you said, a lot of games don't ship completely on disc which is incredibly annoying. When it comes to modern/last gen collecting I usually just stick to the games that I'm super interested in; however, I will only buy them physically if the full game is on the disc (such as Fallout 3 Game of the year edition) or if it is dirt cheap. Otherwise, I'll just buy them digitally!

[@stashmerkin9576]

Good advice! I'll buy games that I'm not interested in if they're from a popular series and cheap. That way you have good trading material. I do not like the Rune Factory games but found a clean copy of the 1st game on DS for only fifteen bucks CIB (pre pandemic). Now if I meet someone that likes it and has something I do want that's about 50 bucks of value nowadays on a trade.

[@32bitmusician]

That's a great thing to do! I tend to do the same! My issue is that I never end up actually trading/selling though! 😂 Most of my collections are pretty curated; however, my switch collection is definitely NOT so that tends to be the first collection I go to to either trade or sell for other games! Great find with that Rune Factory game by the way!

[@TucBroder]

Quality over quantity... You can still be a collector with a small number of games. Buy the games you want to play, and don't spend money on filler games. Some people think, that to be a collector, they need a complete set or just hundreds upon hundreds of games. You don't. :) Also, it's okay to sell from your collection to fund new games. I personally don't sell my games, but it's more than okay to do so.

[@32bitmusician]

Absolutely agree! Most of my collections are completely curated. If I'm going to spend money, I might as well spend it on something I enjoy! I am so jealous of people who are able to sell a bunch of their games to fund new ones! Every once in a while I'll get a pile of ones I have zero interest in to sell, but that doesn't happen too often 😂

[@SoulforSale]

Cease and desist You're giving away all of my secrets

[@32bitmusician]

Ha! Well, I definitely like your thinking! 😂

[@DirtyDanOfficial]

Maybe im the oddball. I love collecting alt art and misprints but i may stand alone on this. I personally dont misd spending a lil bit more for a pure mint copy of a title. I think its just ocd

[@tivelsalida]

I would say collecting got easier when I figured out what I’m really into. For example: I like collecting all the dynasty warrior games becuz they look good stacked up together I’m also a big fan. I also love collect weird controllers (dq slime controller, freak series ps2/Xbox controllers, etc.) Yes.

[@32bitmusician]

I completely agree! Most of my collections are pretty curated since it's almost too overwhelming to go in and collect everything. At least for me! I love that DQ slime controller! The DQ metal slime 2ds is also super cool. Lots of cool slime related merchandise!

[@cdoty]

Exactly. F'k complete collections. I've accepted that there are systems and games that I will never find and/or be able to afford.

[@32bitmusician]

At least for me, it's almost too overwhelming to go in with the mentality of collecting everything. I mean, if I had that kind of income I definitely would, but it's just too unreasonable these days. I've always wanted to get into NEO GEO AES collecting, but you have to be a literal millionaire! That's why I've been finding a lot of joy collecting for the "undesirable" as of late like the 360! It reminds me of the cheaper days of collecting 😂

[@cdoty]

@@32bitmusicianYes, same. I have the AES and one game. 🤣

[@hardmancanada]

Panzer Dragoon Saga is worth like 1500$ . I would like to have that game to play it one day. I alsoo refuse to play it on emulator, that way if I ever have the chance to buy it , it will be a special moment in my life.

[@32bitmusician]

That is EXACTLY my mentality with that game, haha. I've even refused to look up any gameplay! Hopefully that doesn't mean I'll never get to play it 😂

[@thepinkchungus]

I began collecting in 2017, initially for the sega genesis (i bought a big box of a sega console with many games most of which were cib for $60) then started collecting for the snes, n64 and 3ds that same year, unfortunately I sold off the few 3ds games I had and the 3ds mario black friday edition for dirt cheap as I felt I had too many games (which I regret to this day). I luckily managed to pick up a handful of main title for the snes and n64 long before the pandemic hit including a cib copy of earthbound for $400 but I hesitated to jump on gamecube games and other great n64 and snes titles which was clearly a mistake because their prices are prohibitively high now. I managed to get into the wii stuff in 2019 and starting in 2020 I began to collect for the 3ds again. Most of my collection is CIB and the condition is good to acceptable but I do have some loose games I could never find a box or manual for a good price.

[@32bitmusician]

The genesis really was a late bloomer in regards to prices, but they've REALLY shot up in the past year. I'm glad you got into the genesis before the big spike! It's crazy how much 3ds has shot up in price. I've definitely regretted things I've sold, but I feel like that's something that just comes along with this hobby 🥲I remember turning down.a complete in box copy of Chrono trigger for 300 dollars YEARS ago, and I'm still kicking myself to this day. I always expect prices to stay the same or go down, but they just keep going up! I always try to get at least the manual with my games since it seems to be much easier to find a box on its own than a manual. I have a couple Working Design Sega Saturn games with no manuals, and I'll probably NEVER find manuals for them! Thank you so much for sharing! I enjoyed reading this!

[@TotemoGaijin]

So, I know that's the SNES version, but you have to look up the Genesis version of the box art for Ys III. Its so infamously bad that they even made fun of it in the anime called Falcom Gakuen. They made him his own character called something like "American Adol" lol

[@32bitmusician]

I had NO idea YS III came out on the genesis! I just looked it up and my WORD that IS hideous! I thought the SNES version was bad 😂 That's crazy they mentioned that in their own anime though! Thanks for sharing that info!!

[@topgame88]

I have been collecting since 2016, didn’t have a lot of money back then but buying job lots of GameCube, wii, 3ds, PS2 and selling the duplicates was how I was able to get a lot of my GameCube and 3ds collection, nowadays I tend to buy what I really want and add to the collection as I don’t have a lot of time to resell and with current prices joblots are few and far between, I’m not in the habit of buying damaged or non original games but it’s quite refreshing to see someone who is 👍🏻 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@32bitmusician]

I'm glad you got to experience a little bit of the "pre pandemic" prices! It was definitely a lot easier back then to find lots. Probably has been a solid 2 years since I bought my last one! I definitely relate to your current collecting habits. When I was younger I always wanted CIB, but could never afford those prices so that's where the damaged cib game collecting started 🤣Every once in a while I'll treat myself to something mint, haha!

[@mckinzie4934]

I just got into Xbox 360, do you really see some of these rarer games, Futurama, Family Guy, etc increasing in value or holding over the next 10 years?

[@32bitmusician]

Hard to say for that period of time. I definitely see them continuing to rise for at least the next 3-5. Steadily, but surely. Especially since the 360 and PS3 era have only just started to inch up in price. Nows the perfect time to snag games from that generation since they're only going to go up from here in my opinion!

[@rizumaki2]

I have a Visteon dockable GBA id be willing to sell if any collectors are interested

[@blackrook29]

Prices are nuts, it’s just slowed me down a bit.

[@32bitmusician]

I completely agree! That's why I started to impose "limitations". It's just not sustainable to keep buying in today's market without them in my opinion! Thanks for watching!