Do I or don't I?...

Slapaham · 14-07-2009, 5:17 PM

... sell the gaming and computing collection I've accumulated over the years...?

I've had a massive sort out of stuff over the last week and well, I am having serious thoughts about selling off the collection bar a few bits and pieces. It simply takes up too much space and I don't utilise a lot of it!

Thinking of keeping what I use and am likely to use (i.e. the arcade cabs, current gen, modded xbox (emulates most of the oldies anyway!) plus a few other bits and pieces)

It's not likely to happen for a while yet but what do you guys think?

pault2007 · 14-07-2009, 5:31 PM

I'm not an expert in retro gaming but I'd say only get rid of the things you know you're not going to want to buy back a couple of months later/things you know you're not going to miss.

I haven't got many things by way of old console equipment (Platinum Game Boy Advance and 6-button Mega Drive joypad, a couple of untested Mega Drive games) but I've got a lot of HD-DVDs and Xbox games I need to sort out and possibly get rid of (currently have 60 HD-DVDs and around 45 Xbox 360 games).

I've got a box of Amiga A500 and Spectrum games but, as I can't test them, I doubt anyone would want to buy them.

Slapaham · 14-07-2009, 5:53 PM

I don't know, you can probably sell them in a job lot and getting a few quid for them is better than them collecting dust in my opinion.

I'd agree with your opening comment... I've got plenty of time to consider my options but this is the first time I've truly felt that I wouldn't miss some of the stuff and that I'm better off with the money (and the space)

Having such large collections of music and video games has finally got too overwhelming... I guess I should focus on the stuff I truly want to keep.

pault2007 · 14-07-2009, 6:23 PM

I could try that - what's the betting that at least one of the games works OK?

I really have been getting this retro bug lately.

I'm seriously considering buying a Sega Game Gear and letting my Sony PSP gather dust on the shelf.

It's just that I've no longer got the patience or energy to spend an hour or two playing a game (i.e. Call of Duty, World Snooker Challenge or Tiger Woods Golf).

I want pick-up-and-play games, where I can play for 20 mins and feel I've really got something out of it.

I don't know - maybe it's me (getting old!).

Slapaham · 14-07-2009, 6:44 PM

Nope... its not only you... I know a lot of people feel the same... I'm 25 and that's how I feel.

Perhaps thats why I've got the Arcade bug - those games had to be pick up and play otherwise they wouldn't really have worked!

Like you, I haven't got the patience to play a lot of the newer games. Don't get me wrong... there are some I enjoy but a lot of them get left on the shelf.

pault2007 · 14-07-2009, 7:23 PM

A few of the games I've got are pick-up-and-play e.g. sports games and racing games but I just can't be bothered with other genres (did love Gauntlet, Airwolf, Robocop and Jet Set Willy on the Spectrum, though).

I haven't played an actual arcade game for about 15 years now.

Used to love sitting in the Out Run cab and loved the Motocross game, where you sat on a bike (obviously!) but also moved the handlebars.

Other great arcades I remember are: Ridge Racer, Chase HQ, The Simpsons and Rainbow Islands.

I don't know how I'm going to sell my old computer stuff because I don't like the thought of selling on eBay and would rather sell the stuff to somewhere local.

Slapaham · 14-07-2009, 7:47 PM

I get what you mean... ebay is, well, not my favourite place. However, if you're wanting a decent amount for what you're selling it's usually one of the best places to sell. Either there or on various specialist forums, I find.

My favourite arcade games have to include Bubble Bobble, the Mortal Kombat games, Metal Slug series and various shoot em ups. It's not until you start delving deeper into arcade games that you find some hidden classics. I absolutely love Taito Cup Finals and Great 1000 Mile Rally and they were 2 cheapy jamma boards I picked up! May not be classics in the true sense of the word but I'd much rather play them over most games nowadays!

When I collected one of my cabs, the guy who I collected it from had an absolute pristine Outrun 2 player, sit down cabinet - it was literally new... awesome machine! Perhaps you should hunt one down!

Arcades have pretty much died out now. Mainly jackpot machines now. Hence why collecting them is good. However, it's not cheap and it takes up a lot of space!

pault2007 · 14-07-2009, 8:09 PM

It's a shame about the demise of arcades - you can't help but feel that people these days would still play them (such is the popularity of retro things).

We used to go on holiday to a seaside resort called Hunstanton in Norfolk and it had about 3 arcades there.

There were quite a lot of non-arcade machines there - like horse-racing ("Place your bets now pulllllease") and the punchbag machine, where you got points according to how hard you hit it).

I remember going into an arcade and thinking, "Wow - these graphics are cool. Wish my computer had graphics this good" and look what we've got now.

I only went in an arcade normally if it was a 30p one - thought 50p and £1 were a rip-off.

Have you seen the arcades here?

Liberty Games - Supplier of home game room equipment - Pool Tables, Arcades, Jukeboxes, Air Hockey, American Pool Table, Outdoor Games, Dart Boards - for sale | Liberty Games

*Haggler* · 14-07-2009, 8:11 PM

Do you two want your own room? I feel like i'm imposing by posting here

I'd get rid of the unboxed stuff first, the boxed stuff is always worth far more and therefore more worthwhile in hogging the space, like you say your xbox will emulate most of the older stuff pretty well, though there is the point of you should own the original version too if you use it.

Obviously the newer stuff will not be properly emulated for a good while yet and never on the original xbox (Dreamcast and newer) and therefore you should keep that for a while regardless, unless you have duplicates of those too, to state the obvious it's what it's worth to you that matters.

pault2007 · 14-07-2009, 9:32 PM

I forgot the thread was open to other people and not just me.

Oooh - I've been browsing the Console Passion site and am deliberating over whether to buy a Sega Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket (no many games, though) or original Game Boy (but black and white).

I'd probably get a retro console if I had a 14" CRT and not a 26" LCD TV.

Out with the new and in with the old.

*Haggler* · 14-07-2009, 9:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pault2007

I'd probably get a retro console if I had a 14" CRT and not a 26" LCD TV.

Out with the new and in with the old.

No need to go so small, a 16 bit retro console or computer, snes, megadrive, Amiga and even a ps1 or n64 will look just fine on a 28" crt with their standard connections, i have a spare room with three of them on desks all coupled up to retro gaming stuff, my only worry is them appearing through the ceiling when i'm sitting downstairs.

Slapaham · 14-07-2009, 10:03 PM

It's interesting you mention Hunstanton, considering I live in Norfolk and have done most of my life... used to go down there a fair bit, to the arcades and do still, now and then. They still had an original Track and Field cab in one of them last time I was down!

Going to Insert Coin 09 this Sunday - giant arcade expo... there's where I'm collecting my new cab from!

They are going to have 100's of cabs set to freeplay, it's going to be good!

To be honest, sites like the one you hyperlinked aren't the best place to get cabs from. They are fairly cheap reproduction and original cabs can be picked up at a snip of the price - plus they are authentic! Nothing like playing the actual Mortal Kombat 2 cabinet you played as a child!

Oooh, difficult one on which to go for on the retro handhelds... I have all 3 and I have to say, the most classic games are on the Game Boy, though the Game Gear looks nicer and can play Master System games as well with the right adaptor! But, I'm a massive Neo Geo fan and say that has the most appeal for me... probably the niche factor!

Haggler... haha, I know the rules of emulation!

I have a lot of boxed stuff... I have always been more of a collector than a player in some aspects... not to say I don't enjoy playing but I've probably enjoyed collecting just as much if not more!

It's going to be a tricky one to decide what to keep and what to flog. I need to be fairly ruthless otherwise it'll be a pointless exercise!

Slapaham · 14-07-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haggler

No need to go so small, a 16 bit retro console or computer, snes, megadrive, Amiga and even a ps1 or n64 will look just fine on a 28" crt with their standard connections, i have a spare room with three of them on desks all coupled up to retro gaming stuff, my only worry is them appearing through the ceiling when i'm sitting downstairs.

I need to get a nice big CRT when I have the space! While my Sony Triniton monitor is nice, it is a little small!

3 28"s!? Christ! I'd reinforce that ceiling!

Slapaham · 17-07-2009, 12:04 PM

Scratch that last comment... I could do with as much room as possible and it may become imperative in the next couple of weeks.

Okay... thinking about starting the sale soon...

anyone give any idea as to how much a collection of 300-500 console mags may be worth? They include all periods... a lot of playstation, quite a few N64, a few Gamecube, some Mean Machines era, a few Zzap-type era... quite a few 360... loads of Dreamcast and Saturn... you get the idea! Lots of the PS ones even have their demo discs.

How much could I hope to get from this lot at a guesstimate?