So if you ask me the question "How far are you from SELLING your collection?" then I would tell you I would sell everything if the price is right. If you manage your collection well, you should be able to break even or make money with these classic games. With new games that is hard to do as they quickly go down in value.
I think the original question is actually part of a much larger question "What are you doing with all of your stuff?" If you are not using it, then are you just hoarding it? Or is this some sort of investment? Or is it something else?
I'll share my general theory on owning stuff with you. If you haven't used it in a year and don't plan on using it then it is time to get rid of it unless you are keeping it as an investment. For example, when I go through my closets full of clothes and I see stuff I haven't worn in a year I either donate it, throw it out, or start wearing it again. (Sometimes a cool shirt gets hidden in the closet when you have too much stuff).
This is an excellent point. In my case I still have games from my childhood, I did beat the bejesus out of most of them but I haven't gone back to some in quite a while. I'd like to sell and thin the heard to a point that I'm only left with my most favorite games and just emulation for the rest. I would def maximize on what I love the most, like SF for example, I'll always play it, so I'm not gonna let go of my ST or CPS3 stuff, things like that.
I don't think of video games or hobbies as an investment, I just think of them as fun, I wanna play them and enjoy them, that's it. I should sell but haven't due to being lazy, that's the truth, I don't find that the money is worth a while for me to put up with the hassle, like I said, if you wanna come and buy easy peasy, by all means come down and get a load off, but I'm just not the type that has the patience to go through the ordeal of selling, I sold a bunch of games in the past, that's when I cleaned myself from all RPGish stuff and just kept the genres I love but it was a pain in the ass...later I sold some cabs, that was a pain in the ass and I also regret selling some of my cabs.
I will sell and get rid of some of the games I just don't go back to as much as I should, I mean I'm pretty happy with my selection now, there are a couple turds here and there but that's mostly with new gen stuff 'cause sometimes it's hard to tell if a game is gonna be great or not ie: Shadow of Mordor and not for like of trying, it's just not great, I thought it would be, I wanted it to be but no cigar, so in that sense selling a game like that is a loss just like you said. I don't mind loosing, after all I did open and played the damn thing.
Arcade wise, yeah I got some stuff I could def part with, I don't need all the Neo Geo futbol (soccer) games, as much as I love them I'd be just fine with the SS series, that's more than enough, tecmo '96 and Goal x 3can go, same thing for Brawl and the others. Keeping Neo Cup '98 it's basically a SS game anyway and it's my favorite. I'd keep all the KOFs, just 'cause I don't play '96 as much as '95 doesn't mean I'm not gonna play it, I will, if at least to play with Geese and Krauser legit, you just can't abandon that. So it's a pickle, choosing is tuff, at this point 90% of what I own I actually love and 60% of what I own I'm actually pretty decent at, other stuff like shmups is what I play mostly nowdays but I'm still very mediocre, not for lack of trying though, I could use more focus but I hate loosing my edge on other games, sometimes I feel I spread myself too thin and end up not getting real good at some games.
Here's a good example. Prehistoric Isle 1930, I love the game, everytime I play it I get transported to that time I played it for the first time and in turn I start reminiscing of the old days and how great it plays and how it's such an avant-garde type of game, it's a cheapie, I don't consider it a collector's prize nor none of that crap, so if I enjoy it so much but haven't played it in a year, should I let it go? Should I keep just 20 games and rotate as I play them, selling and buying and being perpetually attached to a fluctuating market? I just don't see that as a wise option. I rather keep it, it's not like people are looking for it and it's not really hurting me keeping it.
I've never consider myself a collector, I don't just get something 'cause is well rated or because is desirable, I just get something 'cause I have a genuine interest in it, I want to play it, I want to learn it and ideally I want to master it, commit, all that stuff, solely for my personal growth as a player, to hone more skills, to learn something new, to get that thrill of a new stage, a new level, a new wall, the challenge, all that stuff. I understand not all people feel the same way, some people just buy because it's rare, or because the chase of an obscure game thrills them, some even buy because it's a brand thing, or a certain developer, we all have our reasons and we all don't have to agree with one another as to why we do what we do, nor seek approval for our choices. It's your life, it's your money, it's your time and it's your damn game, you can toss it out the window, I've done that before...
Just m y 2 cents on the matter.
I have discovered personally the game play is more authentic and nostalgic especially on my cart TV. Therefore, I will never sale.....and probably not purchase, as I have reached my limit for investing in games..lol
