I want to start collecting big-box PC games... where do I start?

[thekosmickollector]

So, I've been watching a lot of MetalJesusRocks and Lazy Game Reviews recently and it really got me interested in collecting old big-box PC games because they look like really cool things to own. But, thing is, the only PC I have is a relatively new Windows 8 laptop, so I have no idea what kind of machine I should use and what peripherals I need to play them etc etc. Anything that plays 5th-gen and back would be fine. So, what kind of thing do you guys suggest I get, and what kind of price would we be talking about?

Thanks in advance

[ronalopolis]

If you don't want to spend the time or money trying to find good condition old parts to build a computer your best bet would be to use dosbox. It will let you play the old dos based games on a modern computer.
check out the link if you want to learn more about it.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/239399/how_to_use_dosbox_to_play_classic_games.html

[fazerco]

Talk to this guy http://www.pc-king.nl/

[thekosmickollector]

Talk to this guy http://www.pc-king.nl/

Fwoo. Biggest in Holland, eh? That's quite impressive

[thekosmickollector]

If you don't want to spend the time or money trying to find good condition old parts to build a computer your best bet would be to use dosbox. It will let you play the old dos based games on a modern computer.
check out the link if you want to learn more about it.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/239399/how_to_use_dosbox_to_play_classic_games.html

Thanks for the suggestion - that'd actually make quite a lot of things easier. I'm just a little worried that my laptop will be able to handle it (It literally dies whenever I try runnung Resident Evil 2 on it) but I'll give it a shot regardless

[90snostalga]

I was in the same boat.  I bought a game laptop with Windows 8 on it earlier this year but for older PC games, I had to build a custom vintage gaming computer.  I multi-OSed mine with Windows 95, 98SE, ME and XP so I wont have any compatibility problems.  Still trying to get parts to make a DOS 6.22/Windows 3.1 computer but thats a long way away.  If you end up building your pc, take pics and stuff.  I'm really into that stuff and would love to see it! 

As far as big box PC games, I started off just getting a couple thrift shopping and then everything turned up from there and now I've got like 15 of them.

[foxhack]

If you don't want to spend the time or money trying to find good condition old parts to build a computer your best bet would be to use dosbox. It will let you play the old dos based games on a modern computer.
check out the link if you want to learn more about it.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/239399/how_to_use_dosbox_to_play_classic_games.html

Thanks for the suggestion - that'd actually make quite a lot of things easier. I'm just a little worried that my laptop will be able to handle it (It literally dies whenever I try runnung Resident Evil 2 on it) but I'll give it a shot regardless

... I was never able to run Resident Evil 2 on anything past Windows 98. The game ... was not programmed to run on all software and hardware.