Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Choose a focus for your collection. Rather than just randomly buying retro games, choose a console to collect games for. Collecting should be fun, so choose a console you perhaps have fond memories of from when you were a kid! You could consider more recent consoles, in the hope that games from those consoles will increase in value as time goes on.
Buy the console if you don’t already have the console you are collecting for. You will need to test the games you buy to see if they work, and you may want to play them! Make sure the console is in good working condition, clean and preferably with the original box.
Make a wish list of everything you want to collect for your retro game collection. You can find game release lists for old consoles online. It’s satisfying having a list of items to check off.
Shop for retro games. You can buy old video games at used video games stores or on the Internet. The eBay website is the obvious and best place to start; many people sell old games for very low prices when they simply want to clean out their closets. More collectible games fetch higher prices, but there are bargains to be had, and prices are likely to be lower than in shops. Always check the description of a game and the seller carefully, for example: (a) What is the condition like? (b) Does it come in the original box with the instructions? (c) Does the seller have good feedback? Checking these details carefully can prevent you from wasting money.
Track down bargains. Car boot sales, yard sales or secondhand shops can be a great way of finding bargains. Retro game shops and sellers on eBay usually know the value of what they’re selling, and you’re competing with many other collectors. However, if you uncover a game at a yard sale, you may well get a bargain!
Find a safe, dedicated place to store your collection. You might want to show off the collection in a glass-fronted cupboard or shelves, or you could pack it away in boxes. Make sure your storage place is dry and not too warm.