Topic: Game Collector's Forum

I was just searching the forums looking for a good collector-focused thread to post in, but it seems there actually aren't any. Which is rather surprising, tbh, but in any case, I'm making one now.

This can be for any game collecting on any system- not just retro, or just Switch, or even just Nintendo. I don't think there's enough interest to segment collecting discussions like that.

Anyways, what I wanted to post about was PriceCharting.com

It's a website I only recently discovered, but I'm super impressed. I entered all 800+ physical games in my collection, and all my amiibo, special systems, etc. At least, I think I did. I didn't actually look at my collection, I just went down the list for each system and added whatever I saw that I know I own. So it's probably 90% correct, at least.

It tells you your collection's overall value, or the value filtered by system. And you can see pricing from real historical data which is updated as sales trends change over time, for item only, CIB, new and sealed, graded, etc.

Just wondering if anyone else has used this site for managing their video game collection? It opened my eyes to the value of my games. It's a LOT more than I realized.

@JaxonH Haven't used that site in particular, but I do use the Gameye app which appears to do a similar thing, although the the pricing doesn't go into as much detail as Pricecharting.com - just giving a current value for Loose/CIB/Sealed for each game rather than the trends over a period.

It also has a barcode scanner feature which it quite handy for adding stuff quickly especially when you first start using the app and have a stack of games to get through, and apparently it also has a 'cart scanner' too so you can scan loose carts - I haven't used that feature so can't comment on how well it works (or not).

I tend not to put too much detail in the entries other than whether its physical or digital anyway, but you can enter price paid, condition, whether its complete etc. I 'm not really that interested in how much they are worth though, it's just a convenient way to keep track of what I have - and given a fair amount are digital they don't really have any intrinsic value anyway.

I can see the appeal of doing this sort of thing, but as someone who's been face-down in the retro games market for the past 8-10 years, I've found I don't enjoy the valuation side of it. I've bought a lot of games, many of which might have risen in perceived value over the past couple of years, but I find all that does is introduce mental uncertainty - in the 'I don't want to sell my games... but maybe I should while the price is high' kinda way. Plus inevitably they'll be some games I've paid a bit more than necessary (not least Switch games sitting sealed on the shelf dropping gradually over time) and some that fall in value due to porting etc. Which I can't help but find a bit grating.

But if I ignore the value, I just feel the enjoyment and satisfaction of my collection. It's not the sort of collection to rival the likes of some, but I've got well over a thousand of the very best games from the past 25 years, which is a dream come true for me. Selling it all is a hassle I don't want to contemplate, so the value of them is kind of irrelevant, it'll be some time before any of them individually reach a value needing insuring.

@gcunit
I never plan to sell my collection. Entering into PriceCharting was more a curiosity and a way to catalogue my games to know what I have and what I don't (I love the wishlist feature). Price wasn't really a factor at all, but once everything was entered, I couldn't help but notice the total value.

Buying games isn't a financial investment for me, so I take no issues with the price fluctuating over time. The fact any value is retained at all is a bonus in my view, since every game was purchased with the intention of enjoying it for personal use and keeping until my death.

But it is nice to get an idea of where you stand, in terms of the collection's value. Even if never selling, it helps put into perspective how much money was invested into it. My collection is valued well above $50k which is mind boggling to me. I didn't realize I'd spent so much money on video games these past 10 yrs. In January 2013 I had 2 3DS games, and that was it. I can't believe how far it's come in just one decade.

Tbh, I was kinda curious about the price of my Mario Kart 8 Limited Edition from the NYC store, and my sealed copies of Fire Emblem GBA, Fire Emblem Sacred Stones GBA and Fire Emblem Path of Radiance. But I was shocked to learn my sealed copy of Devil's Third was selling for hundreds of dollars. I didn't mean to keep it sealed, I just never got around to playing it. But now I'm definitely not gonna open it.

Obviously those are exceptions rather than the rule. Most games are worth less than what I paid, especially since I buy almost all Switch games day one. But still, it's worth more than I expected. I thought everything would be like.... Idk, $10k tops.

I don't collect retro games though. Most my stuff is from DS, 3DS, GC, Wii, Wii U, NSW and Vita. Retro collecting is too hard-core for me. Having to worry about batteries in cartridges, cardboard box condition, extremely high prices... I wouldn't be able to afford retro collecting.

But anyways, I still think sites like that are a great way to keep track of what you have, and at least get an idea of total value, just to know.

@JaxonH I only go as far back as PS1/N64 collection-wise, and for those consoles my collection is minimal and I don't expect to add many (if any) more, but I think you'll find a consensus that says GameCube is retro by now, so you're in the club 😜

I'm sure you realise but I'm gonna point it out anyway - you've said one thing and yet are actively doing another: you bought Devil's Third to play, but now you're purposefully not playing it only because of the value of it (and the whole having a gajillion other games to play thing). I too have a couple of sealed games I'm avoiding opening, but I bought them with that intention.

If Devil's Third sealed was only worth $5 you'd be on it right now; the value is holding you back, which is precisely why I'm trying to avoid monitoring values.

@gcunit
Ya that's true, but only because I accidentally left it sealed, and I have no interest in playing it now.

That's a rare exception because 99.9% of my games are opened. And it's a rare case of a sealed game blowing up to $400+

For all others value is irrelevant because they're already opened (I make a habit of always opening my games right away to prevent that kind of thing from happening later- but when you own as many games as I do, you're bound to find half a dozen still in shrink wrap).

@JaxonH

PriceCharting is only a painful reminder of just how much my partial Saturn and Neo Geo collections (that I sold for $5k back in 2005) are commanding nowadays. No regrets though. It's very difficult to sell legit CIB Neo Geo games these days due to how many bootlegs there are.

Edit - Well, perhaps selling my Saturn collection is my lone regret in this hobby. Radiant Silvergun and Panzer Dragoon Saga remain as two of my top five all-time favorite games. Now those two games alone will cost you a combined $1,000 just for loose copies, not even CIB.

@Magician
Have you heard about an app called GAMEYE?

It's essentially like PriceCharting.com except in app form, also includes pictures and metacritic scores, pulls the values for sold copies of loose, CIB and sealed from PriceCharting, and offers numerous other features and categories, including Toys to Life, Systems, Peripherals and even Print Media (though art books aren't in the database, guides are).

It even has a barcode scanner where you just use your phone to scan the barcode on the back of a game case to automatically enter it. And it does cartridge recognition also for retro games. It's freaking amazing!

I just got my entire collection entered in (took a few days), including all opened amiibo, series 1 set of Animal Crossing amiibo cards, systems, peripherals, guides and games. Only thing not entered is my closet full of extra sealed amiibo. Gotta go through those boxes and get everything entered still. But that's a chore for another day.

I highly recommend this app. They also have a road map of improvements coming such as switching over to their own DB which frees us from the shackles of the official title database and solves issues of regions not matching and stuff, will add price history and a number of other cool features.

@JaxonH

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

The pricing of the box boy amiibo drives me insane.

@Ryu_Niiyama
Ya, you can never predict the stuff that'll blow up in value.

I seem to always get unlucky. Granted, I have had my share of luck, to be fair. I did get the Quby amiibo because I bought every amiibo, importing from JP as needed. And did end up with a sealed copy of Devil's Third, Fire Emblem Path of Radiance, the NYC exclusive Mario Kart 8 CE for Wii U (sells for $990 loose), the original MH Stories amiibo and the Shantae Pirate's Curse CE which is over $400 now, among others.

However, for as much stuff as I buy and as much money as Ive spent, I sure seem to miss a lot. For example, I bought all the Yokai Watch games on 3DS as well as every other notable game that generation. Every single one... except for YW3, and then what happens? It shoots up over $100 a year later. Like, seriously? The ONE 3DS game I didn't buy ends up the most expensive one lol? Same thing happened with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on 3DS. I was collecting sealed copies for the display, and could have bought an extra copy of that game sealed a hundred different times for $10. But as soon as I decide to collect them all sealed, oh now it's sold out and going for $85 new on eBay

There are many more examples like this. Too many to remember. It makes me paranoid and is at least partially why I'm inclined to buy games and merch right away now.

I haven't really got too much of a physical collection myself (I've very much leaned towards digital with the Switch era) but I do have a couple of physical games that I'd like to show off:

I've also gotten two steelbooks from pre-orders: Pokemon Shield and Pokemon Legends Arceus.

I've not been too interested in physical as of late (I've got a bunch of digital games on my plate like Splatoon 3, Inside and Limbo for instance) but between Pokemon Scarlet/Violet coming out in 3 weeks time and some of the truly absurd deals happening at my local Smyths (they're selling Chocobo GP for €10. WHAT), I might be getting back into it sooner than anticipated

(also, sorry for the garbage image quality, my room is currently being done up and these were the best places I could find)

@JaxonH I do understand. I don’t consider myself a collector even though most would disagree about if they saw what I own. (Still unpacking figma) because I buy for me (and I detest the way the second hand market works) but I have learned to accept what I couldn’t pick up at a reasonable price vs what I could if I line someone’s pocket.

I’m so excited that the BOTW statues are almost done though. Got that Lady Urbosa preorder on lock!

@Ryu_Niiyama
Is it just me or are those getting more expensive? I coulda sworn I got my Link statue with the same base as Urbosa for like $79.99 at BestBuy.

That thing is like, $140 early price ($150 normal)? That's nearly double the price of the Link statue a few years ago. Figure prices are getting so out of hand.

@JaxonH so you are partly right. I got my Link statue in BB (on clearance so I only paid 50) as well. But the Urbosa is the exclusive edition with the larger base, collectors box and LED. They have an exclusive edition of link as well. But honestly the prices are decent. Their old OoT pvc/semi resins were like 200 (before they started making larger statues).

My large statues are still boxed up while I try to figure out where they go…