Collecting Tips - How to Collect on a Budget

In this economy, most people are on a budget, especially those in my age range. I just graduated with my undergrad, but as everyone knows, jobs don't come crawling to you. In fact I have been living at or below the poverty line for some time. There have been times where $25 was the budget me and my husband had for "entertainment" (movies, games, museums, etc.) for the month.
This does NOT mean you cannot collect games though. Here are some ways to collect on a budget. Sure, the games might be a little worn, but playing them is what counts when you need some fun in your life!

1) Go old school: Dust off those older consoles and buy games for them. Remember that the PS2 has the biggest gaming library of any console for example. Search around online for games that were under rated and did not sell well. I cannot tell you how many times I have bought a game for under $5.

2) Price check/compare all the time: While you may think that Ebay and Amazon are going to have the best deals, this is not always the case. Retail chains like GameStop and 2nd and Charles that sell used games are now trying to stay competitive with online retailers. If you see a game you like, pull out your phone and check all the major websites for their prices. In addition to this, retail chains will mark down games even more if they think they are too damaged. Ask to take a look at these super marked down games. There have been countless times where the game was actually fine besides one or two minor scratches that, for some reason, someone thought were major issues.

Here are some quick tips about scratches: If you can run your fingernail across it and it doesn't catch, it usually will not be a problem. Use common sense for these on the underside. Also, remember that scratches on TOP of the disc are the ones that are going to make it unplayable. Often, the underside will be fine, but the staff will miss these marks on the top. It is a good reason to check any disc.

3) Check out local stores, thrift shops, Goodwills, and flea markets/swap meets/bazaars (whatever they are called where you live): You will be surprised at the little treasures you can find on occasion. Sometimes people simply do not know what they have or what they donated to the Goodwill and you can find some rare stuff super super cheap.

4) Don't let a dirty/beat up box deter you: If the box is dirty, they can be cleaned with the right solutions. I will have a blog dedicated to that soon. For now, non-acidic cleaners (water and a little Dove soap) and Goo Gone for the stickers. If the box is beyond repair, but the disc is okay, you can find replacement boxes online (usually) for a couple of dollars, unless it is a super rare game. In that case, go ahead and buy that thing if you find it cheap and screw that ugly box!

5) Keep all receipts: I know this one is common sense, but they are easy to lose. To not do so, keep them inside the box with the game until you play test it. If you don't want to do this, create a folder for them.

Once again, thanks for reading! Next week I will be talking a bit about my experience selling video games and how we were not all just high pressure sales demons. We can actually be quite helpful!

Collectible Consoles: The PS3 (Part II - The First Three Generations)

Quick Note: I am sorry about how the layout looks. Blogger.com decided to erase ALL my images for ALL my posts as well as my entire template. I am working on the problem. 

I am releasing this blog a tad bit early since I will also be releasing the blogs for Part III ("Slim" PS3) and Part IV ("Super Slim") this week. As mentioned in my update blog, I have broken this up because this project ended up being larger than I anticipated.

For this blog I will present each PS3 released and its cosmetic differences as well as some of its specs, the generation it belongs to (those model numbers will begin to become handy), and their rarity. As previously stated, I will only be covering the first 3 generations of the PS3 for now. The other 2 will be covered in the other blogs. If I missed a PS3 by chance, please let me know in the comments and I will add it!

CECHBxx - 20GB

I thought it would be appropriate to start with the first PS3 released. This is the CECHBxx, otherwise known as the 20GB launch PS3. As discussed in my previous blog, it was discontinued shortly after production. This was most likely due to the lack of Wi-Fi support or a flash memory card reader. It has four USB ports and like all "fat" PS3s, a main On/Off switch in the back. One major cosmetic difference between it and the other standard black PS3s to follow is its all black trim. This would soon be replaced with a chrome trim for the 60GB model made during the same generation. Perhaps this look didn't test well?
Keep this trim in mind though. I have seen many sellers try to scam people on Ebay with 60GB PS3s. A CECHBxx will always look like this. No exception. Speaking of trying to find one...most I found were being sold for parts. Basically, if you are looking to find one used, be prepared for either a scam or a broken console. On the other hand, there are plenty of new ones still out there. The problem is that they will run you about $1000-2000.

CECHAxx - 60GB

Even though this is a picture of a launch 60GB (CECHAxx) PS3, this is what any Piano Black "fat" PlayStation 3 is going to look like, regardless if it is generation one, two, or three. There are a couple of details that will change over generations. The most noticeable is that by the third generation there are only two USB ports instead of four. These are fairly easy to find and generally won't cost much, although it depends on what generation you are buying and if you are buying new.

The first one is called Ceramic White while the second is called Satin Silver. Both were Japan exclusive releases and were third generation models. Originally released as 40GB consoles, they were later released with 80GB. Their model numbers could be CECHHxx (most likely this one) and/or CECHJxx and CECHLxx. As far as prices: Used, they can go for as little as $300-500. New, in a bundle, they can go as high as $2500.

MGS4 Gun Metal Black -  40GB CECHHxx

The Metal Gear Solid 4 Gun Metal Black 40GB bundle was sold in the US and in Japan exclusively, although it was not region locked. The system had a matte finish. In tiny writing at the bottom of the console reads "Metal Gear Solid 4 - Limited Edition". Finding one of these can be simple...but finding one working, undamaged, or in a box is a bit more tough. For ones that simply "work" I have found consoles for as little as $300. If you manage to find one that has not been taken out of its box, it will set you back about $800. There seems to be no in between with this one. (Where are the "lightly used" ones you guys?)

Piano Black Resident Evil 5/Biohazard 5 - CECHLxx 80GB

This was released only as a bundle and was not region locked, although it seems to have been sold exclusively in Japan for a very limited time. It is a third generation 80 GB in standard piano black with matte stencil of the Tricell logo on the bottom of the console. While rare, they CAN be found on Ebay, Amazon, and Craigslist. However, be willing to shell out some money as I have not seen them run under $2,000 in the time I have been looking. I will however, update this if I see anything lower.

Cloud Black 160GB - CECHQxx

The Cloud Black was released alongside Advent Children in Japan. It is 160GB and its model number is CECHQxx. This means that it was produced at the tail end of the third generation. It was only released as a bundle, but they seem to have made plenty of them. Finding one on Ebay is fairly simple and they go for about $400-500. If you want a sealed version, it will run you about $800. For the limited releases, this one is probably one of the cheaper ones as far as the first three generations go.

Yakuza 3/Ryu uga Gotoku 3 Satin Silver - CECHLxx

While not region locked, this 80GB PS3 was bundled with Yakuza 3 (Ryuu ga Gotoku 3) and sold exclusively in Japan. I'm going to insert my personal opinion in here...out of the first three generations, this is the most awesome in my opinion. Sadly, only a limited number of these were made and I haven't seen ANY listed. If this changes, I will edit this and post the price they were listed for. I will go ahead and say that anyone looking to buy one should probably be ready with a couple thousand to spare.

The Ultra Rare Red!
Now we are getting into PlayStation 3s you most likely cannot buy yourself. These were either personally made for people or in this one case, the result of a contest.

Contest from June 2007 - Generation 2-3

I have only found WHEN the contest took place, which is not a huge help in determining whether or not these are generation 2 or 3. I will be doing some further research to find one of the winners or even just the specs. If I do, I will edit this post.

Hideo Kojima/Yumi Kikuchi Signed PS3

CECHAxx 60GB Modded and Signed MGS themed PS3

This is not an official Sony PS3, but it is rare and AWESOME. It is actually a modded version of the 60GB CECHAxx (generation 1/launch PS3). It has been fitted with LEDs and backlights and best of all is signed by Hideo Kojima, the brain behind the Metal Gear series and Yumi Kikuchi, a voice actress in MGS4. This was signing was apperently luck as the seller got them to sign it during their MGS World Tour in New York. This is not the end of the awesomeness though. The controller is also backlit and custom made. Eight more rare items were included, a list of which can be found here.

The Ebay seller pledge to donate 15% of profits to Child's Play. a charity I will discuss in more detail in the next blog. Wondering how much all of this sold for? $17,100.

NBA All-Stars Sony Event Suite 2007 (Las Vegas) 
I am just going to throw this out there right now. I am not a sports person...well, I can enjoy sports, but I do not follow teams except my university's football team. So please forgive me if I do not fully know the importance of the people I mention. All I know is that occasionally Sony likes to throw an after party where NBA stars, and some other sports legends, test their skills in games, drink, party, and get gifted personalized consoles. It is difficult to know exactly who all attends these things because the general public is, of course, not invited. These pictures were part of Sony's blog and are very selective.

                                                         

Thanks to the Youtube video found here (thanks ncroal!)  I was able to find out that the event was held at the PlayStation Parlor Sky Villa at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas during the NBA All-Stars Weekend of 2007. All in all, I could only find 7 of these made for this event. Given the time period during which they were made (February 2007) it stands to reason that these are all second generation and their model numbers CECHExx.

           
           

As far as those that received these consoles, we know for sure that those pictured above did. Clockwise from the top left we have: Brooke and Linda Hogan, Chris Bosh, Michelle Wie, and the Maloofs (not sure which ones :S). In addition, we know that Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant at least attended. The Egyptian-esque looking PS3 also fits very well with Lebron James' "King Tut" persona. In fact, that model has been called "King Tut", although no one is sure who came up with the name and it does not appear in the picture.

Two more things to note about these consoles: The Yellow PS3, said to have been formally owned by one of the Maloofs, that has the event name inscribed on it is currently owned by someone who goes by the user name lim-handek on Gamescollection.net.
The second is that the Nike Air Force One PS3 was being housed in the lounge of the hotel during the event. This leads me to assume that an athlete may not have acquired that one but someone from Nike, if anyone at all. It may have been commissioned simply for advertising.

NBA All-Stars Sony Event Suite 2009 (Las Vegas)

Just like 2007, Sony threw one great big party for NBAs biggest athletes during All Stars Weekend in February 2009. Sadly there are fewer pictures this time around, although thanks to the official PlayStation blog, there is a full list of this time names regarding who stopped by. As this took place in February of 2009, these technically could have been from generation 1, 2, or 3. However, considering these are special made for the rich and famous, it is safe to assume that these were probably the CECHPxx models (160GB).

  

  

 

 

  

     











     
The full list of names that attended is as follows: Nate Robinson, Shaquille O’Neal, Paul Pierce, Kevin Durant, Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki, David West, Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, Devin Harris, JR Smith, Dikembe Mutombo, Luis Scola, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, Brook Lopez, Thaddeus Young, Daequan Cook, Gary Payton, and Brian Shaw.
Note that Brandon Roy is not on that list. However, the Sony blog points out that the "B.Roy" PS3 IS supposed to have been made for him. It is also clear that Lebron James once again received a PS3, because lets be honest...who else is "King James"? As for those posed with the PS3s, clockwise starting from the right: Thaddeus Young, Paul Pierce, Luis Scola, and Al Harrington. Wait...Al Harrington wasn't on that list either. How big was this party REALLY Sony??

The 2007 Super Bowl Party/Sole Magazine PS3s

I have been able to find out next to NOTHING about these PS3s. It seems that most of the credibility that they have as to being official has to do with people on forums saying that they were there at "an awesome party". I would love if someone could provide more sources on these 4 consoles. Even original sources for the pictures would be great!

Whether or not these consoles are official or not, because they are from early 2007 they are most certainly CECHAxx (60GB) first generation PS3s. Like the NBA All Stars PS3s, it is rumored that these were given away as swag for those who attended.

That was a LONG blog. The next two will be shorter, but still interesting. As stated previously, they will be put up this week. Part III will discuss the different types of PS3 "Slim" and Part IV will discuss the "Super Slim". Next week I will be discussing the many types of PS3 bundles.
Thanks again for reading and check back soon!

Sources:
1)http://community.us.playstation.com/t5/PlayStation-Lounge/Playstation-Canada/td-p/9749698
2)http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/02/27/all-star-treatment
3)http://gamescollection.forumcommunity.net/?t=29230772
4)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCs3J7dw8N8
5)http://www.cnet.com/news/playstation-3-at-nba-all-star-weekend/
6)http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/02/17/sony-playstation-at-nba-all-star-weekend/
7)http://www.psu.com/forums/showthread.php/52933-Super-Bowl-Playstation-AF1s-PS3-Party
8)http://www.exophase.com/307/sony-shows-off-ps3-case-mods/
9)Amazon, Ebay, Craigslist postings/personal experience at shops
10)http://www.geek.com/games/kojima-signed-mgs-4-ps3-console-sells-for-17100-610111/
11)All pictures besides the very last four, belong to Sony Entertainment America. The last two seem to belong to Sole Magazine. 

Collectible Consoles: An Update!

Hello all!

I wanted to give a heads up regarding the ongoing PS3 blogs. Because they are containing far more information and images than I anticipated, they are going to be broken up into 4 more parts, at least.
However, I hope to have the first 3 of these parts up this week. The fourth will be up next week.
They will be broken up like so:
- PS3 "Fat" (Generations 1,2,3)
- PS3 "Slim (Generation 4)
- PS3 "Super Slim" (Generation 5)
Next Week:
- Bundles (at least one part)

Once again, these first 3 blogs are covering aesthetics, release dates, rarity, etc. Generally basic information on each type of PS3.

Next week I will be discussing the various bundles that were released for the PS3. There will most likely be some overlap. If you see that I mention that a PS3 was bundle only in a blog this week, but don't mention what it came with, it is because I plan to go more in depth during the bundles blog(s).

I hope someone out there is enjoying these blogs and I thank people for reading!

Collectible Consoles: The PS3 (Part I)

As previously stated, I wanted to break this up into several parts because it is far more complicated than I anticipated and I am delving deeper than I thought I would. Also, as stated in my previous post, a lot of this info can be found on Wikipedia, however...I have gone a bit beyond that! I decided to take my research further and of course, fact check (I am a historian *insert snark here*). I will be giving a list of sources at the bottom of my post as well.

A quick note about specs before getting started: I will not be going in depth. I will go over the very basics. If people want me to post more, I will. Feedback is always welcome. Onwards...

I will follow this list up with more information on the differences between the main three types of body styles.Now onto the fun stuff! Model numbers...okay. Maybe not that fun. However, when searching for the right PS3 for your collection these are VERY necessary. This is especially true if you are looking for a particular bundle or collectors edition. I have had to find this out the hard way before. When searching on Amazon, Ebay, or other sties, some sellers will make the model numbers keywords, making it difficult to find what you are looking for without having some background info. Also, I know collectors. Just having the same model number again can be enough to deter a purchase. So here is a simple list.

PlayStation 3 ("Fat")
1st Generation:
CECHAxx = 60GB/Fully backwards compatible with PS and PS2 games
CECHBxx = 20GB/Fully backwards compatible with PS and PS2 games
Both = For Japan and North America. Launched on November 11 2006 in Japan and November 17 2006 in North America. EU/PAL did not get a PS3 launch until the 2nd Generation.

2nd Generation:
CECHCxx = (EU/PAL ONLY) 60GB/Backwards compatible with PS and PS2 games (part emulation)
CECHExx = (NA ONLY) 80GB/Backwards compatible with PS and PS2 games (part emulation)
The PAL (European/Australian) launch date, for those curious, was on March 23 2007.

3rd Generation: No more backwards compatibility! Also, I believe this was the end of 4 USB ports and they cut it down to 2.
CECHGxx = (NA/EU/PAL ONLY)40GB
CECHHxx = 40 GB
CECHJxx = (JP/EU/PAL ONLY) 40GB
CECHKxx = (NA/EU/PAL ONLY) 80GB
CECHLxx = 80GB
CECHMxx = (UK ONLY/Region code 03) 80GB
CECHPxx = 160GB
CECHQxx = (JP ONLY/Region code 00) 160GB

PS3 (PS3 "Slim")
A quick note about the name. What most of us refer to as the PS3 Slim or PlayStation 3 Slim was actually rebranded as the "PS3" instead of the "PlayStation 3". Introduced in 2009.

4th Generation: 
CECH-20xxA = 120GB
CECH-20xxB = 250GB
CECH-21xxA = 120GB
CECH-21xxB = 250GB
CECH-25xxA = 160GB
CECH-25xxB = 320GB
CECH-30xxA = 160GB
CECH-30xxB = 320GB

PS3 "Super Slim"
Introduced September 25 2012. This model doesn't actually seem to have an official name from Sony. They usually refer to it as "Slim" or "Slim Chassis Model".

5th Generation:
CECH-40xxA = 12GB (These were sold at a lower price. The 250GB models were not sold in Europe for some time for whatever reason, so the hard drive was sold separately as an add on.)
CECH-40xxB = (NA ONLY) 250GB
CECH-40xxC = (EU/PAL ONLY) 500GB
CECH-42xxA = (EU/PAL ONLY)12GB (The difference between these three models are that they stop analog output as of January 1 2014.)
CECH-42xxB = (NA ONLY) 250 GB
CECH-42xxC = (EU/PAL ONLY) 500GB
CECH-43xxA = (EU/PAL ONLY)12GB
CECH-43xxB = (EU/PAL ONLY) 250GB (They finally got a 250GB Super Slim!)
CECH-43xxC = (EU/PAL ONLY) 500GB

This was the first PS3 I ever bought...oh the memories!

Additional Information on the three types of PS3s: 
As far as the first two generations of the PS3 are concerned, most people covet them for their backwards compatibility. They have not been in production for some time, so finding one is quite difficult and/or costly. The last of this generation to be made was the NTSC Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle, making this type of PS3 pretty rare by 2009.
Out of all of these I have found the 20GB to be the most difficult to find, mainly because Sony stopped making it fairly soon after production started. This may have been due to the lack of Wi-Fi support or a flash memory card reader. If you manage to find one, expect to pay roughly $1000 for it new or used.

Onto the "Slim" PS3 and "Super Slim" body styles. The "Slim" PS3 is 32% smaller and 36% lighter than the original PS3. It also consumes on average about 1/3 the power that the original did. I tested this myself to see to make sure. Just the sound alone is a great indication of difference. Both "Slim" versions fixed the ever running fan issue that the original model had. Like the PS2 "Slim", Sony removed a main power switch on the back of the console. This was most likely a money saving and weight reducing measure. The "Slim" was launched on September 1 2009 in NA and September 3 2009 for JA/EU/PAL.
The "Super Slim" PS3 was introduced in October of 2012. It is 25% smaller than the "Slim" and 20% lighter. Instead of inserting discs into a drive, it has a sliding door on the top of it that slides to the side so you can physically place the disc inside.

That is all for now. Thanks for reading! Next Wednesday I'm going to have a fancy blog, full of pics. I will be covering all of the types of PS3s out there, color and design wise. I will also discuss rarity and where to locate some of them. I will also discuss ones that were only made for celebrities.
Get familiar with this list as I gave it to you guys and gals for a reason. Well...I also wanted to educate myself. Next week, when talking about bundles and fancy consoles I will be referring to model numbers.
See you guys (if anyone is reading yet) then!

Sources:
1) https://web.archive.org/web/20080224185451/http://www.us.playstation.com/ps3/about/specs
(I went through this history timeline as much as I could)
2)http://web.archive.org/web/20080119221144/http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4317&NewsAreaID=2
3)http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/09/25/new-ps3-model-out-today-exclusive-first-look/
4)http://us.playstation.com/ps3/systems/uncharted3-playstation-plus-bundle.ht
5) AMAZON and EBAY!! Also, my personal collection.

Collectible Consoles

Here in the states, historically speaking, we have been lucky if a console is released in grey, white, and black. In Japan, however, it has been common practice to release consoles in a WIDE array of designs and colors. Luckily for those not living in Japan, we are starting to get more of these consoles released over here and in Europe as well. As many of these consoles are not region locked (although some of the games are), it is less of a issue if people import the Japanese consoles anyways. *clears throat* Nintendo...exception * By the way Nintendo...you used to be so good about the colors! What happened?! Anyways. Sorry about that mild outburst.

This is going to be an on going research project, so there will be multiple lengthy blogs on various consoles. However, my next blog post is going to focus specifically on the PS3. Why the PS3 you ask? Simple. Because I spotted a pretty Ni No Kuni one the other day and it stuck out in my mind.
I will be discussing the background of the PlayStation 3 a bit and all the wonderful variations of PS3s I can find. I will give details on their specs, release dates, bundle info, and how rare they are. So check back next week!

EDIT: As I want to give proper background on all the various types of PS3s, their model numbers, and a bit of info about them, I am breaking this PS3 blog up into several parts. Yes, some of this can be found on wikipedia, but I have gone more in depth with my research, so stick around!

As mentioned before, this blog will be updated at least every Wednesday. If I have more time I may write two blogs in one week. If there are going to be delays, I will try to warn in advance.