At first, we keep everything in mind. Twenty games, thirty games, all right. Then the collection grows, you come across a good brocante business, and that's the doubt: "Do I already have it? And if so, what version? ». This is exactly the time when a real monitoring method is needed.

Following a collection is not just a list. That's to know, at any time, what you own, what you seek, and the exact version of each title. Here's how you do it, without spending your evenings.

Quick response

  • Always separate three statutes : owned, searched (wishlist), and active hunting.
  • For each game, note platform, region (PAL FR, JAP, US) and state (Loose, complete, sealed).
  • Keep track searchable on mobile, because good deals decide to stand in shop or on Vinted.
  • Avoid the spreadsheet: it quickly becomes unreadable and does not follow you as a brocante.
  • A dedicated app like SideQuest Automatize all this and turn your list into franchise progression.

When a simple spreadsheet begins to limit

Many collectors start with an Excel or Google Sheets file. It's free, fast and sometimes enough for years. The limits appear especially when active variants, status and searches multiply:

  • Variants break logic. The same game exists in PAL FR, NTSC-J, Platinum edition, collector. One line per game is no longer enough.
  • The spreadsheet doesn't follow you. You don't open a 400 line file on your phone in front of an ad or a brocante bin.
  • Nothing alerts you. A spreadsheet is passive: it does not warn you when the missing game appears at good price.
  • The motivation is extinguished. A grid of cells gives no sensation of progression.

The spreadsheet answers "what do I have?". A real method of monitoring also responds to "What do I miss, and what exactly am I looking for? ».

The 4-step method

1. Define your statutes

Before entering any game, set three clear statutes:

  1. Owned He's physically at your house.
  2. Wishlist : you want it, without emergency.
  3. Hunting You're actively looking for him, watching the ads.

This distinction is the basis of everything. Without it, your list becomes an indistinct pile where you no longer know what is acquired or what is priority.

2. Describe the correct version

For a collector, "Final Fantasy IX" means nothing by itself. What matters is:

  • the platform (PS1, PS4, Switch...);
  • the region (PAL FR, NTSC-U, NTSC-J)
  • State (Loose, complete/CBI, sealed);
  • edition (standard, Platinum, collector).

Note these four elements for each title. That's what prevents you from buying a version you didn't want or buying a disguised duplicate.

3. Organised by franchise, not alphabetical order

An alphabetical classification is nice on a shelf but useless to collect. Range by franchise or series : Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Pokémon, Kingdom Hearts, Zelda...

Why? Because that's how collectors really think: "I miss the PS1 episodes of Final Fantasy", not "I miss a game starting with F". You immediately see the holes to fill.

4. Make your tracking mobile and actionable

This is the stage that everyone neglects. Your follow-up must be in your pocket If you're looking at a Leboncoin ad, you need to check in two seconds if you already have the game, and in what version.

Better: your follow-up should work for you by pointing out when a game in hunt appears at an interesting price.

Concrete example: complete Final Fantasy in physics

Let's imagine you want to bring the Final Fantasy together on PlayStation. With a spreadsheet, you list what you have and you pray to remember it in store.

With a real method of monitoring:

  1. You create a collection Final Fantasy.
  2. You mark VII, IX and X as possessed (PAL FR, complete).
  3. You pass VI and VIII hunting, specifying "PS1 PAL FR, complete box".
  4. When an ad matches, you mark it right away: the right version, at the right price.

The difference is not information. It's Action : you know what to look for and you recognize him immediately when he passes.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Note all "owned" without specifying the version. You buy a duplicate three months later.
  • Mix wishlist and hunt. Without priority, you disperse and miss real opportunities.
  • Waiting to have 200 games to organize. The right time is now, as long as it's still manageable.
  • Choose a tool that doesn't fit in your pocket. A collection completes in the field, not in your office.

Follow his collection with SideQuest

SideQuest is designed exactly for this method. You create collections by franchise, you mark each game as possessed, wanted or hunted, and you specify the platform, the PAL FR region and the state. The app turns your list into visible progression And tell you the ads that match what you're really looking for.

No more illegible spreadsheets, no more duplicates: just your collection, clear, in your pocket.

FAQ

Do you need an app to follow his video game collection?

Not necessarily, but it is by far the most practical. A spreadsheet works at the beginning, then quickly becomes unmanageable as soon as you follow the variants (PAL FR, editions, state) and want to consult your list on mobility.

How to follow PAL FR versions and special editions?

Systematically notes the region, platform, editing and state for each game. A dedicated app does it by dedicated field, where a spreadsheet requires you to put everything in one cell.

How to avoid buying twice the same game?

Keep your tracking accessible on mobile and check before each purchase. The "owned" status associated with the specific version avoids duplicates, even when it comes to the same box in another region.

Where to start when we already have a lot of games?

Start with a single franchise or platform, grab it completely, then expand. It's more motivating than attacking the entire collection at once.