ordicio

Collecting guide

How to Collect Video Games and Consoles

Games, consoles, handhelds and accessories.

Retro games went from bargain bins to auction records within a few years. Region, completeness and condition decide a game’s value, and sealed, graded copies of famous titles are now collected like rare books. Even for loose cartridges a careful record pays off.

Getting Started

Most collectors choose a platform, a series or a region. “Full set” goals - every game released for a console in one region - are popular and give a collection structure.

What to Record

Condition and Grading

Sealed games are graded by Wata and CGC Video Games on a 10-point scale for the box, with a seal rating from A++ to C; VGA grades too. For ungraded games, describe the box (crushing, creases, fading), the manual, the label of the cartridge and whether the game works. Batteries in old cartridges that save games may be dead or leaking - note it.

Care and Storage

Store games upright, out of sunlight, in a dry room. Protect boxes with clear plastic protectors. Keep consoles dust-free and remove leaking batteries promptly.

Mistakes to Avoid

Kinds of Video Games & Consoles

The Data Sheet for Video Games & Consoles

The 26 fields worth recording for video games & consoles, grouped as in the ordicio app.

Identification

Title Text
The title or name the object is known by, as given by its maker, publisher or catalogue.
Platform Choice, or your own
System the game runs on.
26 choices
  • Atari 2600 / 7800
  • NES / Famicom
  • SNES / Super Famicom
  • Nintendo 64
  • GameCube
  • Wii / Wii U
  • Nintendo Switch
  • Game Boy / Color / Advance
  • Nintendo DS / 3DS
  • Sega Master System
  • Sega Mega Drive / Genesis
  • Sega Saturn
  • Sega Dreamcast
  • Sega Game Gear
  • Neo Geo
  • PlayStation
  • PlayStation 2
  • PlayStation 3
  • PlayStation 4
  • PlayStation 5
  • PSP / PS Vita
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
  • Xbox One / Series
  • PC / home computer
  • Arcade
Region Choice, or your own
Release region; consoles and games are often region-locked.
  • NTSC-U/C (North America)
  • NTSC-J (Japan)
  • PAL (Europe / Australia)
  • Region-free
Publisher Text
Publisher, e.g. Nintendo, Capcom, Square.
Developer Text
Developer studio.
Year Year
Year of making, issue or publication when known exactly.
Product code Text
Product code on the label or spine, e.g. SNS-MW-USA, SLES-50366.
Reference link Link
Web page about this object or its reference entry (catalogue, database, sale).

Completeness

Completeness Choice
Which original parts are present.
  • Sealed (new)
  • Complete in box (CIB)
  • Box and game
  • Game and manual
  • Loose (cartridge / disc only)
  • Box only / manual only

Grading

Grade and holder of a graded item.

Grading service Choice, or your own
Service that graded and encapsulated the game.
  • Wata / PSA
  • VGA
  • CGC Video Games
  • Not graded
Box grade Number, 0.5 to 10
Grade of the box on the 10-point scale of Wata/PSA or CGC (VGA uses 10 to 100).
Seal rating Choice
Rating of the factory seal of sealed games (Wata / CGC).
  • A++
  • A+
  • A
  • B+
  • B
  • C+
  • C
  • CIB (not sealed)
  • Not applicable
Certification number Text
Number on the grading holder (slab) or authentication certificate, to look it up in the service's database.

Condition

Condition Choice
Overall condition in plain terms; domains with an established grading scale use that scale instead.
  • Mint / as new
  • Excellent
  • Very good
  • Good
  • Fair
  • Poor
Condition notes Text
Faults, wear and damage in detail.

Acquisition

How and when the object came into the collection.

Acquisition date Date
Date the object came into the collection.
Acquisition method Choice, or your own
How the object came into the collection.
  • Purchase
  • Auction
  • Gift
  • Inheritance
  • Exchange / trade
  • Self-collected / found
  • Commission
Acquired from Text
Seller, auction house (with sale and lot number), donor or place where it was found.
Purchase price Amount
Price paid including fees and premiums.
Provenance Text
Earlier owners and the object's history, oldest first, with sources (labels, invoices, sale catalogues).

Value

Estimated and insured value.

Estimated value Amount
Current market value as estimated.
Valuation date Date
Date of the current value estimate.
Valuation basis Choice
What the estimated value is based on.
  • Own estimate
  • Recent sales / auction results
  • Dealer offer
  • Catalogue value
  • Professional appraisal
  • Insurance valuation
Insured value Amount
Sum the object is insured for.

Collection record

Your own inventory data.

Inventory number Text
Your own number or label for the object, e.g. C-0042, as written on its label or album page.
Storage location Text
Where the object is kept, e.g. room, cabinet, drawer, album and page, box.

Standards and References

The data sheets follow the standards collectors, dealers and museums use:

Updated October 24, 2026