Ever since the first commercially successful video game, “Pong”, was released in 1972 by Atari, people have been avidly collecting these fun, fantastical games. Today, vintage video games are a true collecting niche, with some folks amassing large, valuable collections.

Whether you’ve just started collecting or have been enjoying it for years, there are two questions many vintage video game collectors have. The first is how to identify the most valuable video games to buy and collect. The second is how to store vintage video games so that they stay in pristine condition for years to come.

If you’re asking those same questions, the good news is that the answers are down below! Read on to find out how to identify and store retro video games. It’s all brought to you by the storage specialists at NSA Storage!

1. Search for Vintage Games in the Right Spots

You can find vintage video games online quite easily. Just go to eBay or other online portals. However, you’re likely to pay a premium for these as most sellers know their value. To find vintage video games at reasonable, or even cheap, prices, be sure to look in the right spots, including:

• Thrift Stores and Pawn Shops
• Garage Sales
• Estate Sales
• Flea Markets
• Gaming CONs
• Online Forums
• Retro Video Game Stores

2. Improve Your Video Game Knowledge

Improving your vintage video game knowledge is highly recommended before you start buying and collecting. The more you know, the better choices you’ll make when buying. Below are a few places you can start:

• YouTube
• Online Price Guides
• Video Game Collecting Books and Guides
• Online Collecting Communities
• Conventions
• Retro Game Stores
• Video Game Collector Websites and Blogs

3. Check the Age of the Video Game

The word “vintage” can mean different things for different people. When it comes to video games, vintage usually includes the following years:

Video games from the 1980s and 1990s are some of the most sought after. This is the time period when video games and video game consoles really took off in popularity. Also, generally speaking, most collectors consider video games made before the year 2000 as “vintage”.

4. Inspect the Video Game Thoroughly

As with any collectible, video games in good condition are worth more than those in poor condition. The better the condition, the more valuable the video game will be. What you want to look for includes:

• The game works without any problems or glitches
• The game cartridge itself has minimal scratches and outer damage
• The cartridge label is in good, clean, undamaged condition

5. Look for Complete Games

A rare, vintage video game cartridge will usually be valuable on its own. However, the same rare cartridge with the original box and manual will be much more valuable. 

The most valuable retro video games? Those are the ones that are in the box and sealed. If you can find one of those, you’ve got the cream of the crop! Collectors call this a “CIB”, which stands for “Complete In Box”.

6. Look for First Releases

Like comic books, baseball cards, and other collectibles, the first release of a video game is usually the most valuable. To determine if a video game is the first release, look for:

• The product code, which should be on the cartridge label
• The cover art; colors, styles, and so forth can help you identify a first release.
• Limited edition stickers and other identifying features

How To Store Vintage Video Games

Below are some top vintage video game storage tips to help you keep yours in mint condition:

• Use Plastic Cases– Several manufacturers make plastic game cartridge cases and covers that will protect your games from dirt, scratches, dust, etc.
• Store Video Games in a Cool, Dry, Dark Place– Sunlight and moisture are the enemies of your video game collection. Be sure to store them in a cool, dry, dark place for the best protection.
• Store Game Boxes Upright (Like Books)– Don’t stack video game boxes flat as they might get crushed over time. Store them upright, like you would with a book collection.
• For Large Video Game Collections, Consider Climate-Controlled Storage– Climate controlled storage units are specialized to control the internal conditions of the unit. For delicate electronics like video game cartridges, this type of storage is typically the best. That’s especially true for large vintage video game collections.

How To Pack Vintage Video Games

If you have a large video game collection and want to pack them in boxes before storage, these tips will help:

• Wrap each video game separately in bubble wrap or clean packing paper.
• Don’t overpack your video games. This can damage the box and even the cartridge. Keep them relatively loose.
• Use heavy duty cardboard boxes. 
• Using medium sized plastic bins will protect your video games from moisture.
• Label all of your boxes as well so that you can find a particular game if you need it.

Store Your Vintage Video Games with NSA Storage

What’s better than playing vintage video games? Collecting vintage video games that are valuable and rare! To that end, we hope that the information provided today will empower you to become a cool, competent collector.

At NSA Storage, we help collectors store their valuable collections every day. That includes vintage video games, Barbie, Lego, action figures and so much more! Our safe, clean storage units come in various sizes to fit any size collection.

You can reserve a storage unit online to store your collection and it will be ready when you arrive. Even better, reserve a climate controlled storage unit for the very best vintage video game protection. Until next time, have fun finding and collecting your favorite vintage video games!