Collector’s Log: Transition

I didn’t plan on writing another Collector’s Log piece, but…

When I got my Nintendo Entertainment System earlier this year, I began thinking about expanding my cartridge-based consoles and game libraries. A SEGA Genesis console followed soon after, and now the Super Nintendo Entertainment System is here (Thanks to Retro World Games for setting me up with all three!) . It’s been a considerable change in my collecting focus, and one that’s seen notable downsizing in my libraries of games for later consoles– notably Gen6 (PS2, Dreamcast, Gamecube)– for the capital to make this change and the storage space to execute it.

So… why the change? There’s a few drivers here.

The first is that I really found myself missing the experience and familiarity that comes with playing NES, SNES, and Genesis traditionally. I tried to convince myself that emulation was enough, but there’s something to be said for inserting original cartridges into their original consoles, using original controllers, and playing on a CRT TV. Emulation was absolutely cost-effective, and the laptop I bought in 2025 handles it fine… but it just wasn’t the same. Now, especially with the hardware models I own (like the top-loading NES), there’s less concern about reliability and cartridge-reading… so I can enjoy my games with less worry.

Speaking of worries, “newer” consoles like Dreamcast and PS2 have reliability concerns– especially for someone like me who doesn’t have the skill to repair them. I’ve gone through several PS2 consoles– including a brand new one– since 2011, simply because of the amount of use. Not that older, cartridge-based consoles don’t have their own issues… but I’ve historically had fewer issues with them. The exception (original PlayStation) is somewhat overcome by the fact that I have secured several backup consoles since 2015, and prices for replacements haven’t gone up too much.

Finally, it’s a return for me to a special time period, when I was just getting into console video gaming. NES was late 1990, SNES was a year later, then Genesis a year after that. So many special memories and things I miss, like going to mall arcades, buying games with manuals and goodies inside, and just a different time in terms of game development and concepts. These games also make me feel younger, even if it’s only a feeling, as muscle memory can still take over when trying out games I spent hours on back then.

My SNES library starts with 31 games, all of which have some kind of personal significance. Of course, sports games make up a little less than half of these. The superior 16-bit version of Tecmo Super Bowl is a game I spent hours playing. NBA JAM and T.E. handle great with an SNES controller– though only T.E. has battery backup. NHL ’94 needs no introduction. Super Bases Loaded is a game I played for review for a book project, and finally played “the perfect game”. There’s still quite a bit for me to pursue in this genre, but it’s a solid start.

The other half of my starting library is decent mix of genres. Final Fantasy II and Final Fantasy Mystic Quest are the first two RPGs I ever played. Turtles in Time (Turtles IV) is one of the most fun beat-’em-ups that I’ve ever played. Super Mario All-Stars & Super Mario World are some of the best platformers around, and the Donkey Kong Country games are also special– notably the first, which came around at a time in my life when I needed joy the most. F-Zero, Pilotwings, and Gradius III represent the launch era of the SNES. Star Fox remains one of my favorite games on the console.

What happens now?

I’ll be spending some time to go through my PS2, XBox, Gamecube, and Wii games and dedicating one shelf apiece to each platform for its most-played games. I also secured some small plastic storage trays and will use those for easier access to other games that I’ll be going back to more often. This process will clear one shelving unit, which will be used for expanding my NES, SNES, and Genesis libraries. My original XBox library is the next one up for looking at which games I’m going to play and which ones I may think about cutting. My XBox console was recently re-capped, so it should last awhile. I’ll be maintaining a decent library of games for it, just maybe not as many. I still have a bookshelf that I need to build and fill. I think I’ve mentioned before that it’s targeted for Nintendo 64 games, with remaining space likely dedicated to SNES games once it’s assembled.

In terms of collecting, focus will be on five platforms: NES, SNES, Genesis, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64 from here on. PlayStation is at the bottom of that list, as my library is already very deep and any remaining games I’m looking for are very costly. On the N64 front, I may be looking for a few more complete-in-box games. Like the PlayStation,. though, that library is plenty deep and most of the games I’m interested in tend to run high in terms of asking price. SNES and Genesis are the two more likely collecting focuses, with NES still in the mix. I’ll also be looking to further expand my library of video game magazines from the 1990s, filling any holes in my Nintendo Power set that I can. My upcoming trip to RetroWorld Expo in September may turn up some interesting collection finds.

I’m excited. I’m invigorated. Let’s go.