How do you record your game collection?

[Andrew Armstrong]

Database? Spreadsheet? Text file?

Any recommendations? Any avoidances?

I've not got much more then a set of folders for my windows games (one for each game) with all the files I download for that game (patches, mods etc.).

I really need a good way to record CD keys, disk information and names of software I have, in an easy to sort or search way. I'm not talking thousands of titles, but I've probably got a hundred to two hundred I guess.

If there isn't any decent game database software I might write up my own at some point, it's inspiring when it helps you get work done to do the software side

[RedWolf]

I've considered various databases a few times.  I've thought of making a MySQL DB with a web front end, and now I'm thinking about just setting up an Access database.  Maybe I'll tinker around with it this week.  I'll let you know how it goes.

[Andrew Armstrong]

Cool, tell me how it goes. I've written up some possible specs for a program I'd want, but will start it after I've reinstalled my PC I think.

[RedWolf]

Cool, tell me how it goes. I've written up some possible specs for a program I'd want, but will start it after I've reinstalled my PC I think.

I installed Microsoft Access 2000 yesterday, which I had lying around on CD.  I tinkered around with it a bit, and it looks like it might be ideal for creating a game collection database.  You can design your own interface in the program that lets you enter information into your DB, edit it, and view reports.  If I set up anything cool, I'd be happy to share it with you.

[extrarice]

Check out The Backloggery. Here's my profile.

[Andrew Armstrong]

Ahh, looks pretty neat. What's the full functionality of the site? Just keeping up to date what you've got, played, and left unfinished? Or anything deeper?

[Konata]

Ah, good question man. I used to use a notebook and pen, but these days I trade games back and forth at Gamestop so frequently that I just don't keep track of it anymore.

[Punq4every1]

I have a notepad document, very low tech considering I program for a living. But I only have a list of the games and the condition they are in, I really need to add my completion percentage (estimate of course, unless noted in game) just so I know what I need to get back to later on in life.

[extrarice]

Ahh, looks pretty neat. What's the full functionality of the site? Just keeping up to date what you've got, played, and left unfinished? Or anything deeper?

It You can enter in the keys and so forth that you talk about in your original post, but as far as I know there's not a way to search by those fields. Building a custom system in *SQL or FileMaker or Bento would make sure it does exactly what you need.

[palad]

You could try Collectorz.com and their Game Collector database.  Trial version lets you enter 50 titles, I believe.

[RedWolf]

You could try Collectorz.com and their Game Collector database.  Trial version lets you enter 50 titles, I believe.

I personally would recommend making a local database on your computer that you have complete control over -- not one that's tied to another person's site.  If it goes down, it will likely take your collection data with it.  And for someone with a big collection like me, that would be pretty bad.

[palad]

Sorry for my rather spartan description - I was at work and had to be quick.  The Collectorz.com software is a locally-installed database program designed with games in mind.  It will allow you to export your list as text, html, and xml (I believe, haven't used the newest version).  It also has the added bonus of automatically searching for game data based off of title or bar code, then downloading it onto your pc - including box art. 

I maintain 3 databases total.  The oldest is just an excel spreadsheet with basic title information.  The next is sochl.com, which is an on-line database.  The third is a local game database with full release date, purchase price, etc. information on each title.  From what I've seen of collectorz.com's stuff, I would really recommend them if you can afford it.  ($50? not sure)

[Konata]

Does collectorz.com have any specific benefits or advantages over using a local spreadsheet or text file? Because it sounds cool, I just can't see paying so much for something I can do myself.   

[palad]

Just from a cataloging standpoint, I'm sure you could design the whole thing in Access or Excel (or similar office applications).  One of the things that would be harder to implement would be the online search function.  Type in a game title and hit search, and it will look through online resources like Mobygames and Amazon to find release dates, publisher info, and box art.  (At least, the older version would.  Not sure what sites the newest versions use.)  Put a tick next to the one that matches what you have, and it automatically adds all of that info to your database.  Supposedly you can use bar codes, too (if you have a scanner), so you wouldn't even need to type anything.

[Andrew Armstrong]

Sounds like what I want to build, but I'd do it as a hobby for free since it'd not be supported

Bar codes is something that is good, Mobygames doesn't have them too frequently (well, maybe they do, but not for UK released ones when I just checked) - I wonder where they source them from.

I'll have a look at it. I wonder if anyone has reviewed it and it's feature set