Is there hope for me?

[Genesis Knight]

Right now I've got extremely limited resources. I'm 16, so duh. I very much see myself becoming something of a collector in a few years (lets say five). My question is this...is it going to be feasable by then?

Prices are going up everywhere I can see, and it makes sense - the more time that passes, the more games get damaged or disappear or settle into someone else's collection. By the time I have expendable income, will things like NiGHTS, Christmas NiGHTS, and other such games (I'm thinking mostly Saturn here, but I also am interested in the N64) have become impossible to find for a reasonable price?

I sort of feel like I'm going to miss the boat by then.

[David J.]

It can happen. You just gotta gotta have patience. A LOT of it. Setting limits also helps.

Set limits on:
condition (loose or complete? cart label damage, scratched cd, etc)
price (can you find this cheaper if you wait or look around)
how much you are going to buy a month (think about bills)
and how many games you are going to get for a system

That and money. I started working when I was 16, so start looking for a part time job.

[Joe Redifer]

If you are interested in N64, I would say there is no hope for you since that system makes me sick to my stomach with its piss-poor graphics and lame gameplay.

[Demonic Weasel]

I would say that that last statement is only mostly true as there were some good games for the N64. Not many but a few nice gems. Anyway as far as things stand you should probably get some sort of job. Even if it's just working for your Grandparents or Uncle or some such thing it helps.

And then you need to prioritize. Do you want to start with the Genesis, Saturn, or PSX etc.

The most important thing in collecting though is to watch and wait. It's what I learned and thus far it's served me well.

[Zebbe]

When I was 16, I had a weekend job (dealing out local magazines, a job which I hated from the bottom of my heart) and didn't use any money on partying. That way I could buy at least one expensive game per month.

[Genesis Knight]

For one thing, I have a sort of attachment to the N64 since I used to play it a lot when I was younger. As for getting a job, I'm working on that. Thanks for the tips, though, guys.

[j_factor]

There's always the lucrative world of prostitution. Your income will go way down when you hit 18, though.

[Elusive]

If you are interested in N64, I would say there is no hope for you since that system makes me sick to my stomach with its piss-poor graphics and lame gameplay.

And dude, don't even go near the Mega-CD. All those FMV games, Christ.

Seriously, though. You're not missing the boat on anything by taking time out from buying videogame stuff - things like earning enough to get buy are more important than missing an eBay auction or three. Get a job, earn some decent money, then you can start buying stuff again, it'll still be there once you return - it's lasted this long after all.

[Demonic Weasel]

There are some things that do fall mostly through the cracks though. It doesn't happen all that often, and usually the ones that are lost deserve to be lost but all the same it can happen. And when the Mega-CD had a game of quality on it, it was high quality.

[mish]

When I was 16, I...didn't use any money on partying.
read: 'When I was 16, I didn't party.'
:P


And dude, don't even go near the Mega-CD.
I'm contemplating kicking your ass. That's a written threat.