Does Anyone collect for ONE system only?

[kiwimike]

...Or specific group, be it tabletop games, calculator games, G&Ws...or a specific console?

I'd like to collect again, but rather than a mish mash of stuff in general, thought I'd be specific and collect for one specific console. My immediate thought is Vectrex, or to a lesser degree Colecovision as they were the objects of my desires in my younger days!
But looking for inspiration: What's a good machine to collect for, and why? I like the idea of console over computer, with software on cart rather than magnetic media.

[DreamcastRIP]

I'd say great consoles to collect games for are those which didn't have tons of titles released... unless you really feel the need to collect every last PSone, GameBoy, PS2 et al game.

By that measure I'd recommend collecting for the likes of Neo Geo Pocket/Pocket Colour, Lynx, Jaguar, 7800, Mega-CD, Gizmondo, Virtual Boy, 32X, Vectrex, Neo Geo MVS and Neo Geo AES.

I've never gone in for collecting for collecting's sake like completists do. Saying that, I could more readily understand someone collecting games of their favourite genres, e.g. all shmups on Mega Drive/PC Engine/Saturn/Dreamcast. Or perhaps games by certain favoured devs and/or publishers, e.g. all games by the likes of Raizing, Treasure, Llamasoft et al.

I've only ever classed myself as a collector in the sense I only generally buy games there's a realistic chance I'll like. That doesn't mean playing it safe by only buying the games commonly perceived of as being the best as I'm quite happy buying titles that are a little 'different' too. Given how many home and handheld consoles I own (see sig) it's been a 'policy' that has served me well as I've amassed a substantial collection of generally high quality games across a wide variety of formats.

The only times I've perhaps gone a tad too far in sometimes buying games purely for collecting purposes would be in some of lesser quality Jaguar games I've bought and the folly of ever thinking it was worth starting an Amstrad GX4000 collection!

[Mootown]

I only collect for my Japanese Saturn, in the sense that I've owned it since it was launched and never sold any of the games and still buy for it. So I've naturally built up around 180 ish games.

Everything else I just have the odd few games here and there that I don't count as collections. My one US Megadrive (Genesis) game and no console to play it on is one example!

[eRetronic]

I collect for the original XBOX if you want to be a completist then it is within anyone's reach.
It has also got some of the finest games you would like to play and also has some cool special editions

[ALK]

I collect for as many systems as I can, but my main goal is a complete N64 Game Collection, as I have fondest memories of that system.

[Lorfarius]

Yep, NES for me with a picture here:

http://www.nes-bit.com/?p=3223

I used to collect for pretty much everything (for those who watch my Youtube channel should know) but I soon came to realise that I had piles of games and very little time to focus on each. In the end my focus went to a single system and I've found I enjoy it a lot more. Hunting down a rare cart, buying one or two every so often rather than a load is so much more fun.

[bensonrad]

It comes in phases with me, I try and whittle down and keep going purely with Snes as my main collection, but Nintendo is where my main love is and I can never see me parting with my Gameboy or N64 stuff. Most other systems I own I have tried to purge down to just stuff I would play. (still crates and crates of stuff though.

Magazines I collect were very specific, CVG, Total, Super Play, Mean Machines, NMS, pretty much the main mags that would take in the Snes/GB, thankfully I have them all now aside 14 issues of NMS and then I can shut the hunting side of my mind down.

[kiwimike]

Thanks guys, great advice.

Yes, I used to get old TV games from local trade mags, online auctions etc, and I ended up with a room, basically of crap.Tons of stuff, not complete, bits here n there, etc. But I did keep my g&w's, and the Tabletop Coleco Pacman!
So by going for a specific unit, that might be fun and make sense to do that. NGPC is a great suggestion, requires little room and is an excellent unit with top games. I had thought of Lynx as well, I always loved that.
Colecovision came to mind as did Vectrex because not only did it have top notch games, but the bits n pieces & peripherals like screen overlays, expansion modules etc may be fun to seek out.

Magazines also came to mind too- The original '80s Electronic games mag would be something I'd love a set of

[Lorfarius]

I still get the urge to buy masses of crap at times After reading the Lynx article in this months RG I was staring at the console for ages on eBay. MUST RESIST!

[DreamcastRIP]

I still get the urge to buy masses of crap at times

That's a given when considering you're a NES fan!

[TwoHeadedBoy]

After reading the Lynx article in this months RG I was staring at the console for ages on eBay. MUST RESIST!

Go for it! The majority of the games are very cheap, and the majority are also very good

[The Laird]

After reading the Lynx article in this months RG I was staring at the console for ages on eBay. MUST RESIST!

Go for it! The majority of the games are very cheap, and the majority are also very good

Agreed. The Lynx is easily my favourite machine.

Its easy to collect for, you can still get a lot of games brand new and there are only about 5 crap games in the whole library. While the selection of games isn't massive its quite well rounded and has the best good to bad games ratio of any system out there IMO.

[Timothy Lumsden]

in 2012 - yes - I will be DreamCasting only.

[kiwimike]

Dreamcast! That's another for the possible list!

The Lynx as mentioned is a terrific contender. I've had a couple now off and on, I can't even remember what happened to the second one! (The first one I swopped for a Megadrive). It has some fantastic games for it, which stand up surprisingly well over time compared to other machines of the time, especially of course handhelds from the era. Chip's Challenge kept me going for months, and I could play Blue Lightning till the eyes bled.

Was also thinking maybe a top draw 2D machine...Neo Geo of course, but other contenders could be PC Engine, Mega drive, SNES, even a Saturn.

My list of possibles is growing...I can see it returning to a room of crap...

[kiwimike]

The other point about Lynx's, is they are a good cheap system to collect for (aside from some rarities here 'n there). Games are cheap and easy to find...and I love those snazzy Lynx carry bags as well