Video Game Collecting - Approaches

Approaches

Full sets: some collectors may strive towards collecting a complete set of games for one console or computer, such as the NES, and the Commodore 64. It is up to personal preference whether to include imports, unofficial or unlicensed games, prototypes, etc. While cheaper games can be bought readily, rare titles become increasingly sought after for the sake of completion. Collectors may also choose to include manuals and packaging as a preference.

Consoles: the console itself may be collectible, especially if it includes its original packaging. Some consoles may be sought after for rarity or limited release, limited editions and variants, hotel consoles, display consoles, odd or interesting consoles, or prototypes and cancelled consoles.

By region: many video game collectors only aim to collect video games in their region due to the difficulty of buying games from other regions and due to the fact that many consoles and computers have regional lockout chips.

By generation: many video game collectors may collect video games from different consoles and computers of the generation they grew up with. For example, a video game collector who collects video games from the fourth generation would strive to collect games for the SNES, Sega Genesis, Neo Geo, and Turbo Grafx 16.

By type: a collector may choose to collect video games encompassing a specific publisher, developer, producer, artist, genre, or series. RPGs often retain or increase their value by their quality, length of gameplay, and niche popularity.

Game: some video game collectors strive to collect different version of a single video game. They will collect different versions such as: regional versions, updated versions, remakes, console ports, PC ports, arcade ports, limited editions, beta versions, prototypes, etc. Many video game collectors also collect expansions, mods, ROM hacks, DLC, tool kits, level editors, and memorabilia of their favorite video game as well.

Arcade: arcade games can also be collected. Many arcade game collectors usually buy used arcade games from restaurant, and arcade owners. This is becoming more common due to the increasing decline of arcade gaming.

Imports: a game may be more valuable in one region for its limited release after it has been localized. This commonly affects RPGs and shooters. For example, shoot 'em up games for the Sega Dreamcast are particularly sought after and can be expensive to purchase. Games in this category include Border Down, Ikaruga and Under Defeat.

Memorabilia: Memorabilia includes any merchandise related to video games, such as toys, giveaways, or promotional items. It can also include retail displays that were previously unavailable for purchase.

Accessories: Accessories includes special controllers, lightguns, memory cards, add-ons, or other devices. An accessory that has found very limited release will be more collectible, such as the Dreamcast broadband adapter. Online modems or network equipment for retro consoles may be collected for completeness despite their official inoperability. Many PC video game collectors collect video cards, sound cards, keyboards, joysticks, and other computer hardware. Third party accessories may also be of interest.

Unlicensed Games: video games that are not licensed for their respective video game consoles are considered collectors' items since they're not very common unlike the licensed games. One example is Bible Adventures for the NES. Most Christian video games for consoles are unlicensed because many console manufacturers do not want religious video games on their systems, such as was the case with Nintendo). Homebrew and ROM hacks might also be an interest.

Bootlegs: Bootleg games, systems, and add-ons may be desired for their unofficial status. Also, video game collectors can get rare video games on a reproduction cart, so they can still have them in their collection. Since, this may violate the copyright law, these can be considered black market collectables.

Prototype and development release: games and equipment may become collectible by virtue of its unavailability. This includes games availably only in prototype form, which may have left the company in several ways (bankruptcy, liquidation, theft). Games that were not released to the public are still of interest to the gaming community, as their software can be copied and distributed over the Internet. Because these titles are not supposed to leave their respective companies, they can also be considered black market collectibles.