The Ultimate Guide to Classic Game Consoles. Kevin Baker

      CC Image – Flickr.com – Daniel Pisano

      An Overview

      Collecting classic game consoles appeals to people in different ways and people have their own unique reasons for becoming collectors. Some people like to collect classic consoles and games for nostalgic reasons. Maybe you are a fan of a particular game genre and want to collect as many games as possible for that genre. Others collect classic consoles for investment purposes, or perhaps they may be fans of a particular game console company, such as Atari, Sega or classic Nintendo systems which have their own individual feel and style.

      Every collector usually has a personal favourite console that they love. My choice would be the Atari 2600 or the Neo Geo, whereas for others it may be the Fairchild Channel F, the Sega Saturn or even the Vectrex. If you are new to collecting classic consoles or you are considering starting up a collection there are many different approaches you can take. For instance, will you build up a collection of many different consoles and if so from what era? Will you specialise in collecting a full set of games for a particular console, or from a particular games console company, or will you opt to collect rare consoles and games as an investment for the future? Also, keep your budget in mind, as if you opt to collect the Atari 2600 and games for example it will be a relatively cheap endeavour, whereas if you decide to collect the Neo Geo console and games it will turn out to be quite an expensive hobby.

      If you are a classic game console enthusiast and you are speaking to a non-enthusiast I would highly recommend keeping conversation about your hobby to under one minute. For example, if you are at a party and try to express your love for classic consoles to non-enthusiasts, they will more than likely try to drown themselves in the punch bowl through sheer boredom after a while. However, whenever you have the chance to talk to a fellow enthusiast, whether it be online or in person, it is a lot of fun sharing knowledge and experiences.

      When most people think of a stereotypical classic game console collector, images of geeky middle-aged men dressed up as Darth Vader behind closed doors, fencing with their dog using a fake light sabre and speaking fluent Vulcan spring to mind. However, in reality, console collectors come from all different walks of life and it is a fun community to be a part of.

      Where To Start?

      If you are new to console collecting it can be overwhelming as to where to start in the sea of collectable consoles and games out there. A good tip is to maybe start with a console system that you are familiar with, which maybe you had when you were younger. This way you know the console and have a head start. It is also a great idea to have a clear cut goal. For example, you could start out by aiming to collect say a Sega Genesis console and a collection of your top 10 most favourite games. After this, you can of course readjust your goal to collect maybe 50 games and so on. This way you are hitting your goal and it is rewarding, rather than just having a blurred open goal with no focus. Having crystal clear focus and successfully hitting your goal targets is fun and there is the bonus of a feeling of achievement afterward.

      Where To Find Classic Consoles & Games

      So just where can you find that classic console or the games you have in mind? The best places tend to be at garage sales, car boot sales, flea markets, second hand shops, sales ad columns in local newspapers and swap meets. You will maybe even spot an absolute bargain at a garage sale or car boot sale where people are often anxious to get rid of what they see as clutter, thus maybe coming across a rare gem of a game. You can also pick up consoles and games online, such as on eBay or Amazon. To find out what the average price of the console you are looking to purchase might be, you can go online and see what price people are buying and selling it at. Bear in mind that if you spot a classic console at a car boot sale and there is no way of testing the console, you can end up with a faulty console with no comeback.

      Be especially careful if you are ordering consoles to be delivered from another country, as the customs / import tax fees can be higher than what you paid for the actual console in many cases. First check the customs fees that you will have to pay, to gauge whether it is worth ordering a classic console as an import to your country of residence.

      If you do opt to buy a console from another country, make sure that the console model in question was actually distributed there. China, Eastern Europe, Nigeria and Russia are just some of the countries where you want to be especially careful before parting with your money.

      Make a List

      If you are collecting games as additions into a large collection that you have planned, make sure you make a list of the titles that you want to collect. This way you can cross off the ones you have bought so that you will not collect the same game twice. This is something many collectors have often mistakenly done, especially if they have hectic lifestyles which tend to warp memories.

      If you have a smartphone or other device that has an Internet connection, bring it along with you to the garage sale or car boot sale so that you can watch gameplay videos of games that you spot but are unfamiliar with. At flea markets or car boot sales, make sure you get there early, first thing in the morning, right when it opens preferably, or else what you are looking for may have already gone by the time you get there. It always pays to ask people at flea markets or car boot sales if they have any games, even though you might not see classic games on their display table. Often they will nod and pull out a box of games from nowhere.

      Haggle & Bundle

      While it is true that there is usually a benchmark price that you can make a guestimate on by doing research online, the worth of the game or console also depends on how much you are willing to pay for it and what it's worth to you personally. At flea markets and car boot sales it never hurts to politely haggle the price down. If you are buying more than one item you can always try and whittle the price down because you are buying items as a bundle. Never be afraid to start off low and pitch a price well under what the seller is asking for, you may