Tips For Collecting Classic Games

My wallet hates me.

Whatever hobby I get into, it feeds off of every last dollar I have. After I got my own debit card and a job, forget it, saving? Saving is for losers.

When I was a kid, it started small, with little 25-cent football helmets and big-headed basketball figurines. Then the whirlwind that was Pokémon cards hit me like an avalanche and I was swamped before I knew it. Then it was comic books, action figures, sports cards; anything that was collectible was collected by me.

Now, it’s video games.

It’s no secret that games are expensive. Really…damn…expensive. The typical new game is $60, not to mention the systems that are hundreds of dollars and additional charges of online services, add-on packs, etc. This is a big reason why I started to get into classic games, because they are ridiculously more affordable (for the most part).

Part of the appeal to collecting classic games is that you can get a lot for your money. Through my own and others’ experiences in the classic gaming hobby, here are a few things I think new hobbyists should take into consideration before diving into this fun and addictive hobby.

So…Where to Start?

The first thing to decide on is what system(s) you want to collect for. Some people want to relive what they grew up with, so they will pick the system of their youth and replay the games they loved or buy the games they always wanted to try. Some people want the opposite, and want to experience now what they didn’t as a kid. Say you grew up with a Sega Genesis and feel like you missed out on some classic SNES titles, and you’re making up for lost time. Some want both. Either is a fine reason.

Maybe you’re collecting for value and want to find games that will be worth something in the future. It will definitely cost you more and will be more difficult to find stuff “complete” (box / case and all instructions and extra stuff) and in great condition, but in the end it might be worthwhile. Some systems are easier to find in the box (Genesis is easiest and cheapest) and you can even find factory sealed games, but it’s going to cost you.

Systems will be anywhere from $10 to $300, depending on its age, rarity, quality, and popularity. A Colecovision is going to be priced higher than an Atari 2600 because they’re rarer. A SNES is going to cost more than a Genesis because it’s more popular. A clean NES with a new 72-pin connector with an AC adaptor, A/V cable and a controller or two is going to be more than a neglected thrift store system. Generally, unless you’re collecting imported systems or super-rare systems (Jaguar CD, Philips CD-I, etc.), you’re probably going to spend less than $60 on the system and anywhere from $1 to $20 on a game.

One option for the indecisive and money-conscious collector would be to get a “clone” system. There are numerous systems like the FC-twin, FC3 Plus, Retro Duo, etc., made by third parties that can play games from multiple systems. These systems are a good alternative to the actual systems, and work pretty well for the most part. A lot of them can only use the proprietary controllers and accessories they come with, making using an actual old controller impossible. There are also some compatibility issues with certain games and accessories. A few well known culprits are Castlevania III (NES), Virtua Racing (GEN), Star Fox (SNES), and the 32x and Sega CD add-ons. Because they consolidate the original system specs and data onto more modern technology, they are cheaper to make but also don’t work exactly like the old technology. For example, in many of the NES clones, there are some sound issues and graphical discoloration. These are minor gripes and, unless you’re a purist, don’t hamper the actual game playing experience, which is what it’s all about. I myself have a FC3 Plus (plays NES, SNES, and Genesis) and, while I’m not thrilled with the controller (build quality and faulty button-mapping), for $60 it is pretty reliable and is what got me started in collecting. Fincancially, it makes sense…

NES ($60) + SNES ($50) + Genesis ($30) = $140
FC3 Plus = $60

So…Where to Buy?

There are numerous places to buy systems and games. Certain types of items are more common than others, but they’re all not impossible to find.

Option 1: Ebay.com: This is pretty much the best place to find classic game-related stuff. Whatever you’re looking for, it’s 99.9% guaranteed it’ll be on Ebay. It’s basically the world’s biggest flea market. There are things of various quality and pricing, and a lot of times you can find a good deal. People will sell their system with a few games and bonuses all together that might end up saving you money opposed to buying them separate. It’s also a good way to gauge the average price things are going for in order to figure out whether or not it’s a “deal” if you find it somewhere else. Just make sure to read the descriptions carefully and pay attention to people’s feedback status so that you don’t get duped. Easily the best option variety-wise for buying.

Option 2: Chasethechuckwagon.com: This is a website I’ve been turned on to recently and I think deserves a lot more attention. It’s basically an auction/buying site like Ebay but it’s totally committed to video games. It’s a great community that is out to sell good product rather than deceive buyers. Not to mention there is a forum you can join that is very informative and fun and can lead to some great contacts with the community. Funny name, great website.

Option 3: Craigslist.org: Like an online classified ad, people list things they want to sell and you can buy it for that price or, often, bargain down to something you both find reasonable. It’s really a mixed bag on Craigslist, and with all the negative press it’s gotten lately with murderers and such, it’s gained a bad reputation. Video gamers are a relatively docile crowd though, and I wouldn’t think there would be any issues. Quality and price is probably all over the place, and I’ve never personally bought anything off it so I can’t give any real impressions. It’s pretty bare-bones, but useful.

Option 3: Local Stores: This is a somewhat risky and limited option as opposed to online, but it can really pay off in the end with some patience and knowledge. The most reliable local buying option would be a used video game store. The big chains (i.e. Gamestop) won’t carry anything older than Playstation 2, so you’re going to have to find a smaller chain or a mom-and-pop store that has used games. Some take better care of the systems and games, but if a video game store is selling it, it’s most likely in working order, which is the most important thing.

Anther good local option is flea markets / pawn shops. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and some antique stores (yeah, antiques, sad aint it?) will sometimes have systems and games. There can be a lot of hidden gems in these places, but there can also be a lot of crap. I bought a bare-bones (no cords) Sega Genesis from a Goodwill store for $3.30 that was super dusty and when I opened the serial port, there was a dead bug inside. After some cleaning and “de-bugging” (ha ha), I bought an AC cable and an RF adapter and it works perfectly fine. Sometimes, all these old things need is a little cleaning and they work perfect, which is more than I can say for my Playstations (1, 2, and 3).

So…How to Take Care of Them?

So now if you have a system and some games, how do you keep it in working order? The biggest culprit for older systems and games is dust. Often times, that is the only reason something won’t work and it’s a real easy fix.

For the systems, the easiest thing to do is to unscrew the top of the system and blow compressed air (from a can, not your mouth) around the motherboard and surrounding bits (but not with the can upside down!!!!). You don’t have a warranty to worry about voiding, and it’s perfectly harmless as long as you don’t touch or get anything on the circuitry and chips. That usually takes care of most of the issues. If that doesn’t fix the problem, search online for tips on specifically fixing your problem.

Taking care of games depends on what kind you have. For cartridge games, you’re going to want to use a Q-tip lightly soaked in Windex (or any window cleaner) and rub that on the metal contact points (the part that goes into the system). You should notice the Q-tip turn black, that’s the dust caked on the contacts. Because there’s dust on them, they can’t make a clear connection to the receiving contacts on the system which makes the games unreadable and unplayable. After your Q-tips stop showing dust on them, use a dry Q-tip the same way you used the wet one and dry off the contacts. Make sure to do this with both sides of the contacts and let the game air-dry for a few minutes before trying it. Often times, people think their games or system are broken, when really all it needs is a light cleaning. You can even use a similar method to clean the contacts of the system, by using a thin card (gift card, credit card, etc.) and putting a cloth over it that has a light amount of Windex on it and then drying it with a dry cloth.

CD games aren’t as easy. You’re going to need some solvent and, often times, some kind of scratch fixing device. Some are manual and some are machine-based, and the results can be spotty. Also the lens on the system can be misaligned and will not read the disc properly. If you’re confident with electronics, you can try and fix the lens yourself, but if you’re not, seek someone out who can do it for you or look online for detailed instructions.

So that covers a general introductory overview to the classic gaming world. There are a multitude of systems to collect and experience and the options are basically endless. The library of games available is immense and varied. You can spend as much or as little as you want and you can collect for quantity, quality, or anything in between. If you’re looking for something to collect that you can have fun with instead of stare at behind a case, classic gaming is perfect.