Hi guys!
I’m having a quick break from the holidays by the sea and since I have a stable and strangely fast internet connection I’m finally able to see what happened in this last week.
I spent a lot of time to read all the articles posted lately and they made me realize I definitely need to start a retro games and console collection. It looks like I found a small place where I can get some vintage video game but this is just a drop in the ocean, being Italy not the best place where to get old consoles and vintage games for low prices.
I always look at websites and ebay shops but I need a guide to identify what is good and what is bad, since I know in this world is easy to get lost and get a raw deal.
For this reason I just want to ask all of you more skilled and more expert retrogamers if you have any suggestions for places where I can get what I’m looking for. Both physical and online shops are welcome even if for me will be way better to find a good online proper shop or a flea-market style second hand shop. I’m looking for golden age consoles like Atari 5200, NES/Famicom or other 2nd generation machines, even if I will be more than glad to find some good old pieces such as an Astrocade or an Odyssey. Everyday when I read your blogs and some (retro)news, I feel this big passion for the vintage gamig growing great. Especially everytime Hungry Goriya post something or when Mr. Panda writes his reviews! 🙂
So I’m looking for your help and your suggestion. Every single information will be more than appreciated so I thank all of you in advance!
Keep going retro, guys!
I ❤ Old Games! 
Aww, thank you so much for the shoutout! You’re so sweet! I wish I could offer more help on getting retro games, but I actually don’t currently have an outlet to regularly find them. I used to live somewhere near a lot of second-hand game stores, called Game Craze. However, not only do I not live there anymore, but it’s also not anywhere near Italy. I wish you the best of luck as you look for games, and please let me know if you find any particularly good online outlets so I can check them out too!
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I know, it’s hard to find a good one, now I’m looking for something on ebay and I plan to go in London this November for the London Gaming Market. I hope to find something interesting there!
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The London Gaming Market sounds amazing. Hope you find great things there too! Enjoy the rest of your holiday!
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Oh, I’m so glad you’re heading to London! I have found only ONE retro games store there, but you really need to see it. Head to retrogamebase.co.uk for more information. They had everything when I went… Vectrexes, the 32x/megadrive/mega cd, you name it. They also had shelves of games everywhere. I was in heaven.
They wanted to put the store up for sale at one point, but by the look of the website they’re still going strong!
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Thanks for the tip! Actually I put their website among the bookmarks since I think I’ll hate to browse it very carefully to find the best deal. Maybe when I will be in London I will go and check physically… 😉
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I would if I were you. They seem to have a lot more in-store than they do on their site. It’s a little hard to find but weĺl worth a visit!
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Yes, it looks like a shop where you have to spend a whole day looking on the shelves…
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Thank you for mentioning me here! Collecting games is fun, especially if you are going to play them! Where I live in Canada there are lots of antique shops that sometimes have retro video game consoles and games. I also frequent a number of thrift stores and hock shops as well. The main thrift store I go to is Value Village, but there are Goodwills and Salvation Army stores in cities in my province that are a short drive away that I sometimes frequent. I’m always looking for classifieds ads as well, but I’m not sure what kind of services would be available where you live. Sometimes people aren’t entirely familiar with what they’re selling, and you can get a really great deal! Buying online for me is normally done through eBay because of the buyer protection, but the prices are difficult to swallow on there most of the time. I hope you have some luck!
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I hope it too! at the moment for me ebay is almost the only way to have a rich database. I hope to find something good!
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My fingers are crossed for you!
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I’m a bit ashamed to admit it, but I often use roms and emulators in order to enjoy some retro gaming, because, as you said, it’s exceedingly difficult to find anything. I luck out a little since there’s a store in the mall near me that sells consoles all the way back to Atari 2600. I have no issue paying for my gaming experience (and prefer to so I can support!), but it becomes quite a conundrum when you can’t even find someone to pay.
Amazon and eBay aren’t terrible resources, and with the former you can usually find third hand shops, but just be sure to check their rating. That’s probably the best way not to get ripped off. I’ve bought some old school games from Amazon before, and so long as you buy from a reputable shop/source, the games usually show up in good condition, and it’s not super expensive. However, these games aren’t nearly as old as what you’re looking for (the oldest I’ve gone with is PlayStation level).
Good luck and I hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday!
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I usually use eBay for my retro gaming needs. Flea Markets, thirft stores, and obscure gaming shops are also places where I’ve found some good stuff. Collecting retro games is kind of like a treasure hunt. You just have to keep searching, and you never know what you might find.
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Yes I’m convincing myself ebay is one of the few online stores I can rely on…
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I recently tried a subscription box called Video Games Monthly videogamesmonthly.com they send you videogames from consoles of your choice when you register. You can edit your gaming library in your account so you can get the games you don’t have, i use it to continue my retro games collection.
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Hmmm…I will give a look. Thanks for the tip! 😀
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I suggest looking to sites such as eBay or Amazon. There’s also a good chance that places such as Goodwill (if there is one at where you are) have what you need.
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Thanks! I spent last night checking the shops on ebay. Perhaps I found something interesting…
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