Another end of the year and it's time to go over all my pickups of 2020 and list thirty of my favorite pickups from this past year.
This list is based on a mix of rarity, value, just because I was hunting for it or maybe a good story behind it. Just my personal favorite pick ups.
Please list some of your best or favorite pick ups from 2020, I don't expect 30, just list as many you fell where your best from this last year.
First a few honorable mentions...
32. Atari VCSThe system isn't the best I know, but after two years, so many delays and so many people saying it would never come out... it finally came in the mail. I don't expect to use this console much, I honestly expect it to be a future failure, but happy to add it to my collection.
31. Ra-One (PS2)This is a hard game to come by, it was only released in India. I picked up the PS3 version some years ago and saw one on Ebay for the longest time not selling. The seller contacts me with an offer and I countered and he accepted. The odd part of this game its has "promotional copy not for resale" printed on the game and the back of the box. So this might be a review copy.
Now on to the TOP 30 PICK UPS of 2020...
30. Pachiokun Special 3 (Super Famicom)This is one of the rarest Super Famicom games, it rarely shows up on Ebay and when one popped up for $6 I snatched it up ASAP. While the game is super rare, its just a pachinko game and there's not a high demand for it so it usually goes for pretty cheap.
29. Album Club: Mune Kyun Saint Paulia Jogakuin (Sega Saturn)I saw this game played online and it made me laugh at the crazy Japanese game. I looked up what a copy goes for and see one copy going for $300 and thought I can wait. I put the game on my watch list and it took almost two years before another copy appeared, this time the seller was asking $60 or best offer. (i had too) I offered $50 and he excepted. The game is dumb as hell but it was weird Japanese enough for me to want to own.
28. Pokonyan! Henpokorin Adventure (Super Famicom)While I was on a Super Famicom hunt I came across a copy of this game way under priced. This game sells for $80-$100 and this seller was asking $40. Other then a discolored back it looked it good shape. I bought it and after a long wait I get it and it's fine. Not going to complain. Glad it wasn't one of the games I lost in the mail due to Covid.
27. Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword Wii Remote (Wii)I didn't buy Skyward Sword when it first came out, I got the game later on but I always wanted the Wii Remote. I was at my local used game store and they get one in in perfect edition. They where asking $40 and I had to get it.
26. Camp California (TurboGrafx CD)I went out game hunting to several new game stores I've never been to before and the first store I get too had a large lot of TurboGrafx 16 games that just came in. I picked out three games and they had a coupon for 20% off sale going on. I never played this game and to be honest had no idea what kind of game it was. It reminds me a lot of Wally Bear for the NES. The game isn't that great but a rare T16 game for my collection.
25. Radirgy (Sega Dreamcast)This was an odd shooter I was looking for and I see one on Ebay for a decent price and he had that Make an offer so I got it even cheaper.
24. Steam Hearts (Sega Saturn)This rare shooter is mainly known for it's "Adult" cut scenes, as a shooter its not bad and its usually a very pricy game. I found a copy and made an offer with the seller and got it a lot cheaper then it usually goes for.
23. Time Bokan Series: Bokan to Ippatsu! Doronboo Kanpekiban (Sega Saturn)This is another goofy weird Japanese shooter that usually goes for way over $100. I find a seller who took way under that and had to pick it up.
22. Sparkster (SNES)I recently sold an extra copy of Mega Man 7 and used the money to get this game I've wanted in my collection.
21. DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou (PS2)Early in the year I was looking for one of those crazy Japanese bullet hell games, I was able to pick a copy up on the cheap online and paid about half what it goes for today.
20. Espgaluda (PS2)Another Japanese shooter that I wanted, biggest issue I had was finding a copy with the Soundtrack at a good price. I find one that was a good price but they show a stock photo. In description they list it as complete with box, manual and two discs. So I took a chance and the game came in like new shape with the soundtrack. Glad I took the risk.
19. The Rumble Fish (Atomiswave)I swear I'm slowly going for a complete Atomiswave collection. I got Rumble Fish 2 last year and was looking for part one at a good price. I find one WAY under priced but it had one thing that worried me. The seller was in China. He had pics of the board and it all looked legit and the serial number wasn't a fake one. Usually when I see a game coming from China I pass due to they are noted for selling fakes. I took a chance and bought it. Took a month to get to me and I checked it out. Works great and its the real deal.
18. Choujikuu Yousai Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie (Super Famicom)As you can tell from this list I like Shooters, I was on Ebay looking for cheap Super Famicom games when I found a copy of this shooter going for low price. I save it to my watch list and the seller sent me an offer even lower. I had to buy it. Glad this wasn't one of the games I lost in shipping when I ordered a bunch of Super Famicom games. (lost 3 out of 21 games, Thanks to Covid 19) Many of the Super Famicom games took over six months to get to me.
17. Soldier Blade (TurboGrafx 16)Second of the T16 games I picked up from that game hunt (that I all spent my gaming budget at the first store) This is a fine shooter for the T16.
16. Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ (NDS)In May I was out of town game hunting and stopped at a hole in the wall game store. I was looking around seeing nothing then I see this rare DS game in their cabinet. I was under priced. I had to ask if they would a lower price (not by much but at these mom & pop stores something they make deals) He guy said he'd look it up and at that point I knew I wasn't getting lower. He sees it goes for about $80 more online and tells me he can't go cheaper then what he had listed and I knew if I didn't buy it he was going to correct the price. This is a good shooter, I'm glad I picked it up.
15. Gamepark GP32 This was a handheld console I always overlooked because I thought it was a emulator system, later versions where but the GP32 had its own library of games. I find a loose system for a very good price and got it, but now I need a game for it. Games are not common and most want over $100 for even a loose game. I'll get a game for it when I can.
14. Tchibo Tele-FeverThis was a rare console that was a random find on Ebay. I was looking up rare game consoles and after going through a ton of stuff I don't consider "rare" I see a system called the Tele Fever. I looked it up and find out its a rare German version of the Arcadia 2001 and it had its box and one game with it. The seller already had a decent price for it, but he had that "make an offer" so I had to. He excepted and took a month to get to me, only issue was the box got water damaged in shipping but the console survived just fine. Another odd console in my collection for sure.
13. Microsoft XBox Series XI always pick up the newest game consoles nowadays and on the day this systems where taking pre-orders I got off work at 3am and rushed to my nearest Gamestop, Found the first one had way to many people camped outside so I rushed to a smaller store not to far away. They had three people in line and they said there was four Series X's available to pre-order so I camped out there. I got my pre-order in and got my console as soon as I could pick it up. Been playing it more then the PS5 to be honest.
12. Sony PlayStation 5Sony kind of dropped pre-orders with no warning and I was at work. I thought I was screwed. I was on my phone at every free moment trying to get a pre-order in. Every site was crashing and running at a snails pace. Many times I had it in my cart only for the site to crash and I'd have to start over again. I missed the first wave but knew Best Buy wasn't taking pre-orders yet so I kept checking their site. at about midnight my time they appeared up for pre-order and again, the site crashed so bad it barely ran. I kept getting the system in my cart then crash. start over. Finally after three hours of this I get one in my cart, pay for it and right as I hit confirm order the site crashed. I thought I was back to square one. I try again but the site told me I couldn't add to cart due to there was a limit. I checked my purchases and it got through. The system came two days after launch but I got one and I was happy. I feel bad for those trying to get a PS5 now, good luck guys. This is the main reason these new consoles make the list, because how hard it is to get one right now, I feel blessed to be able to get both at launch.
11. Neutopia II (TurboGrafx 16)The third of the T16 games I found on that game hunt. This was the game I had to buy. I love Zelda games and this was its clone for the T16. I was always close to pulling the trigger on this game on Ebay but never found one at a good price I wanted to pay. I was shocked to find a copy in the wild and at a decent price. (plus that 20% off)
10. The Space Adventure (Sega CD)Of the hardest to get games for the Sega CD this was the last one I needed. I've been trying to get a copy for $500 or under for a long time. I see a copy go up on Ebay for $600 or best offer. I had to make an offer. I tried my luck at $450 and the seller countered with $500 and I had to buy it. Most sellers want $600+ for this game.
9. Last Resort (AES)I love Neo Geo AES and always on the look out for new games. I see a loose copy of Last Resort with a make an low offer and was surprised when the seller accepted. Loose AES games are not as popular with collectors but I don't mind. Its a decent shooter for the AES and I had fun playing it.
8. Meteorites (Atari 5200)I was down to missing three games for the Atari 5200, I see a CIB copy on open bid auction. I watch and and to my surprise I win it for less then a loose copy goes for. This is the second rarest game for this system.
7. MissileVader (Supervision 8000)About two years ago I got a super rare game console from Japan called the Bandai Super Vision 8000, only issue it had no games with it. I hate owning a console and not having at least one game with it. I've been looking for a game to appear on Ebay ever sense. A couple months ago one appeared but the seller wanted way to much for it. I had it in my watch list for a long time then one day I get an offer from the seller, I replied with a counter offer and he accepted and I finally have a game to play on this rare console. Its basically Space Invaders. lol
6. Atlantis (Odyssey 2)I figured out I had all but one game for my Odyssey 2, I had to complete it. I hunted for almost a year looking for this last game I needed. I finally find a loose copy on an open auction. I waited and snipped at the last second to win it way lower then it usually goes for. Now I have a complete US game collection for Odyssey 2.
5. Starblade Alpha (PS1)Last year I got every PS1 game but this one, I could never find a copy complete in decent shape and at a good price. I found a complete copy on an online site that I've never ordered from before. The game looked in good shape and it was under what people on Ebay where asking so I ordered it. I got it with no issues. This was the last game I needed for a complete US PS1 collection.
4. Panasonic MSX2 FS-A1 Mk III've been hunting for a good MSX2 lot for some time now, most want $300 for the console and nothing else. I find a lot with three games and a controller and make an offer for it for $250. To my surprise the seller excepted.
3. Atari 2600 - Six Switch Heavy - (Sunnyvale version)I had every Atari variation ever made in the USA but could never find an original Heavy Sixer. I was always hoping to find one at a garage sale. One day I see one online with original box for a good price and I had to pull the trigger and finally get one in my collection.
2. Sharp SF1 This was a story I'll tell for ages how I got this TV/system. In case you don't know its a Super Famicom built into a CRT TV. (It plays SNES games with an adapter)
I've been wanting an SF1 TV for years but they always where way over priced and shipping from Japan was insane. I saw one appear on Ebay for a good price and came with five games. but he had "make an offer" so I had to and got it for $700 + $50 shipping. It was coming from Japan, and took two weeks to get to me. When it finally came it I was excited to open it but found the TV had been badly damaged in shipping. It was in pieces. It didn't even turn on. I told seller what happened and he refunded my money and told me to keep it. Well I knew I had to try and save this rare system. I took it to a game store that repairs consoles and he hesitated to try and fix this just because he never seen and SF1 let alone repaired one. He was a huge Nintendo fan and like me wanted to see this repaired. He got everything repaired but found the tube had issues. So he found a TV repair man that at when I called him and told him I wanted a CRT TV tube repaired he thought I was nuts. Telling me its not worth repairing. But after I explained the Rarity of this TV he took it in and got the tube looking great. In the end this TV cost me about $275. I love this thing, quick and easy way to play SNES and Super Famicom games.
1. Entex Adventure VisionThis was my white whale of game collecting for years and early this year I finally got one. It's a strange tabletop game console from the early 80s that has red and black graphics before Virtual Boy. It also has no screen, it uses a fast rotating mirror to display the game. Hard to find a system at all let alone one that works. I saw one on Ebay for a high price and he had "make an offer" so I made an offer and thought "there's no way he's going to except that price"... To my shock he did.
I now have it on display in may game room next to my Vectrex and Virtual Boy systems.
