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Looking for a way to catalog my growing collection.. what do you use?

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Polioliolio

Member
I'd prefer not to use an online catalog.. (but might be able to be convinced)

Really I'd just like something that does for games what Media Monkey does for my music..


I downloaded Sisimizi, but it's so barren and confusing when you start it up. Where are the platform informations, etc.. Do I have to load a preference file of some sort? I'm irritated by this. :|


If I could just insert data such that can be brought up in searches under 'title, region, release date, developer, publisher, etc etc...' It'd be nice to manually put this information in, along with a notes section were I could detail the condition, number of copies I own, etc..

I feel like it ought to be incredibly simple, and yet GCstar and Sisimizi seem unintuitive, too complicated in ways I don't care about, and too restricting in others..


Care to share what you guys do?



edit: Sisimimizi seems like it could be just what I'm looking for it I could wrap my mind around it. I admit I'm really tired right now and might be overlooking how simple it could be.. But aren't there some templates I can load up?
I dunno. Have at me, recommend whatever you want and tips are always appreciated.
 
I use backloggery but there is no way to do a search option on it. Have you tried using a spreadsheet or google document?
 
Ouren said:
Im cataloging with Raptr.

Pulls down all modern games automatically, all you have to do is add the older ones, really.


98% of my collection is 25 years old, so maybe I should keep looking?
Can you tell me more about Raptr and why you like it?


http://raptr.com/Ouren/games
Click to expand...

Koppai said:
I use backloggery but there is no way to do a search option on it. Have you tried using a spreadsheet or google document?
Click to expand...

See, I originally thought I'd just use an excel sheet, but I want to do more than I had in my original alphabetical columned, outdated sheet.. Excel scares me now, but if someone had a good template, I might be down for that.. Would still like to be able to resort and search like you can in Media Monkey with songs.

I also figured there'd be something great out there a lot of you guys might be using, and it may be the simpler, more attractive option.
 
Polioliolio said:
See, I originally thought I'd just use an excel sheet, but I want to do more than I had in my original alphabetical columned, outdated sheet.. Excel scares me now, but if someone had a good template, I might be down for that.. Would still like to be able to resort and search like you can in Media Monkey with songs.

I also figured there'd be something great out there a lot of you guys might be using, and it may be the simpler, more attractive option.
Click to expand...


Like I said! Raptr pulls down everything from 360/Steam/PS3/Ps3/Vita/Xbone automatically, that's a huge chunk of my current collection.
 
Nobody else?

I'm linking this into the retro threads, in hopes of getting some more answers.
Thanks for all who posted so far. Will check those options out.
 
I know you said you don't want an online catalog, but Backloggery is so good.

Really easy to use. Everything is sorted by system, and you can quickly view what's unfinished/beaten/completed, and there's a separate wishlist (so many games I would have forgotten about if I hadn't added them to my backloggery wishlist
after seeing GAF harp on about them.
)
 
I'm using rfgeneration. They have an impressive database covering different variations (less so for recent stuff) and adding something to the database isn't a massive pain in the arse. I think they have something for Android/iphone too. I haven't put my recent DS/3DS stuff because they don't have the regional variations and I can't be bothered to add all my games one by one yet. I like how I can keep a list of my wanted games too.

I also have a spreadsheet which is actually my primary list, I can access it offline, print it easily, it's always up to date, adding a title is as easy as writing its name in a new cell.
 
Personally I use Bruji's Gamepedia, because it looks fantastic, runs well, and has a lot of features.

You can see some screenshots and feature examples here:
http://bruji.com/gamepedia/

A note that this is only available for Mac (although it also interfaces with Bruji's free Pocketpedia app for iOS)
 
I just use an open office spread sheet.
I have the following columns from left to right:

  • Manufacturer (Nintendo, Sony, Sega, etc)
  • System (NES, PS1, Dreamcast, etc also helpful to use separate entries for stuff like eShop or PSN releases)
  • Title (Super Mario Bros, Wipeout, Shenmue, etc)
  • Genre (Platformer, Racing, Action Adventure, etc)
  • Company (can be publisher or developer, usually I put developer: Nintendo, Psygnosis, Sega, etc)
  • Release date (Gamefaqs is useful for finding these)
  • Condition (complete, with box [no manual], with manual [no box], loose, n/a [digital])
  • Qty (helpful for organizing between want/owned by using 0 or 1)
  • Completed (helpful for organizing between finished or not using 0 or 1)
  • Imported (helpful for keeping track of imports using 0 or 1)
  • Total (helpful for keeping track of total number of games in the list)
  • Cost (helpful for keeping track of what I've spent, including grand total)

Here's the bottom of the list said:
ngXVpnd.gif
Click to expand...

Sure, it's not as pretty as some that include box art and whatever but it's concise, can be easily sorted based on what I'm interested in (usually I just sort based on Qty, System, and Title) and you can color code entries to make it easy to read (for example I don't bother listing different regions for consoles but instead colorize the imports [which explains why the Wonderswan / Wonderswan Color games are highlighted blue], and I gray out games I don't own but want), and printed if I want a hard copy. You can also create tallies based on the sum of a column, such as the total number of games owned, completed, or spent.
 
I use backloggery as well. It does have a search feature, though i get the feeling it may not be as robust as you need. Searching or sorting by year, for example, is not something I'm sure it can do. Genre or publisher would likewise be out. For what it does, title and system, it does well.

Re-reading the OP, this is definitely not a useful suggestion. Lo siento
 
I use Game Collector Pro combined with the CLZ Barry scanning app for my smartphone.

Apparently the guy who sold the world's largest gaming collection recently used it as well.

Game Collector has great features for cataloging. Don't like the look of the software though (could look a little cleaner, bit more "2.0"), but it does it's job well. Great way to catalogue all my shit.

To be fair I love to catalog stuff. In love with my Doxie, Evernote and every other thing which cleans up my life from the clutter.
 
Timely thread! I'm thinking of building my own application to learn some programming languages. I have the same constraints as the OP: don't like managing Excel lists and don't want to rely on a website. I looked at the various suggestions in this thread and it's motivating me even more.
GCstar hasn't been updated in long time and is in Perl... I can't contribute to that.
Sisimizi has a lot of nice features but looks stuck in the 90's
Gamepedia is Mac only and I'm not a fan of the iTunes layout anyway.
RFGeneration is only and is also stuck in times gone by.

Can't say I can do better but the bar is not that high.

Wasn't there an app to manage libraries of books, movies, games using a bar code scanner? (edit: see above)

There's always Access to build a quick and dirty Windows app.
 
StevePharma said:
I use Game Collector Pro combined with the CLZ Barry scanning app for my smartphone.

Apparently the guy who sold the world's largest gaming collection recently used it as well.

Game Collector has great features for cataloging. Don't like the look of the software though (could look a little cleaner, bit more "2.0"), but it does it's job well. Great way to catalogue all my shit.

To be fair I love to catalog stuff. In love with my Doxie, Evernote and every other thing which cleans up my life from the clutter.
Click to expand...
Hmm, not too bad, but I just ran through a bunch of JP Saturn games and it really doesn't seem to find as many as I'd like. In many cases they just use the US cover.

That's become the biggest issue for me; finding something that can handle more obscure games and JP releases.
 
dark10x said:
Hmm, not too bad, but I just ran through a bunch of JP Saturn games and it really doesn't seem to find as many as I'd like. In many cases they just use the US cover.

That's become the biggest issue for me; finding something that can handle more obscure games and JP releases.
Click to expand...

Obscure titles are always going to be a problem. I ran into that with my Game Gear collection. Thankfully the program lets you create custom fields and stuff, so you can add those titles manually. You could even make a separate group for obscure stuff, like that guy who is quoted on the product page:



Collectorz website said:
"Picked up the Game Collector program several months ago. I collect riichi (Japanese mahjong, not that solitaire title matching game) titles from several outdated, foreign consoles. The program is exactly what I've been looking for.
I also collect various mahjong video game related items (promo swag, soundtrack cds, etc.). While those things aren't actual video games, I just customized a category for them. For example, I have several character figures that were only given out as promo items in Japan. I just made a custom "promo item" spot for these types of items in the "console" description. Used a nice photo of the figures themselves, instead of a cover image and, still able to catalog these things, right along side the rest of my video game collection.
Thanks for a great program."
Click to expand...
 
mltplkxr said:
Timely thread! I'm thinking of building my own application to learn some programming languages. I have the same constraints as the OP: don't like managing Excel lists and don't want to rely on a website. I looked at the various suggestions in this thread and it's motivating me even more.
GCstar hasn't been updated in long time and is in Perl... I can't contribute to that.
Sisimizi has a lot of nice features but looks stuck in the 90's
Gamepedia is Mac only and I'm not a fan of the iTunes layout anyway.
RFGeneration is only and is also stuck in times gone by.

Can't say I can do better but the bar is not that high.

Wasn't there an app to manage libraries of books, movies, games using a bar code scanner? (edit: see above)

There's always Access to build a quick and dirty Windows app.
Click to expand...

Go for it man. And keep me updated.
I don't mind an organizer as simple looking as notepad or excel. I'd just like plenty of search/organization options.

Do you guys know what I mean when I say I'd like the functionality of Media Monkey?
I could make garbage mp3 files and sort my game collection that way.. maybe more trouble than it's worth.


All check out everything you guys mentioned. Thanks.
 
Uncle Rupee said:
I just use an open office spread sheet.
I have the following columns from left to right:

  • Manufacturer (Nintendo, Sony, Sega, etc)
  • System (NES, PS1, Dreamcast, etc also helpful to use separate entries for stuff like eShop or PSN releases)
  • Title (Super Mario Bros, Wipeout, Shenmue, etc)
  • Genre (Platformer, Racing, Action Adventure, etc)
  • Company (can be publisher or developer, usually I put developer: Nintendo, Psygnosis, Sega, etc)
  • Release date (Gamefaqs is useful for finding these)
  • Condition (complete, with box [no manual], with manual [no box], loose, n/a [digital])
  • Qty (helpful for organizing between want/owned by using 0 or 1)
  • Completed (helpful for organizing between finished or not using 0 or 1)
  • Imported (helpful for keeping track of imports using 0 or 1)
  • Total (helpful for keeping track of total number of games in the list)
  • Cost (helpful for keeping track of what I've spent, including grand total)



Sure, it's not as pretty as some that include box art and whatever but it's concise, can be easily sorted based on what I'm interested in (usually I just sort based on Qty, System, and Title) and you can color code entries to make it easy to read (for example I don't bother listing different regions for consoles but instead colorize the imports [which explains why the Wonderswan / Wonderswan Color games are highlighted blue], and I gray out games I don't own but want), and printed if I want a hard copy. You can also create tallies based on the sum of a column, such as the total number of games owned, completed, or spent.
Click to expand...


Would you be willing to share you template?
That looks great.
 
I use Backloggery for this purpose because you have to manually enter every detail and can choose what region the game is etc. There's a notes section under each title where you can put in more information if needed.
 
Dr. Black Jack said:
+1 for Raptr, super easy to use. If a game isn't on there you can submit it, takes a day or two to get added.
Click to expand...

Necro bumping this because the quote is no longer true; Raptr has decided to become the dollar store version of Twitch and is slowly phasing out game tracking. The app doesn't sync hidden trophies/achievements any more, gameplay can take days to get added and they aren't accepting submissions for missing games anymore. Really disappointing, will probably just manage my own spreadsheet from now on.
 
IGN used to have a pretty neat Collection feature years ago. After some terrible redesign the layout of the collection went to shit so I imported it into an Excel file and have been using the sheet ever since.

It's not very pretty and I have to input info manually but at least I'm no longer at the mercy of any site ruining everything.
 
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