The thrill is gone.. away.. or so it seems.

[Jasoco]

Lately I've been thinking about my hobby. Am I collector, or a gamer? Lately I've been thinking I'm more of a gamer. Recently I haven't been into collecting as much as I used to. That includes all consoles. For a time I would grab up any cheap game I came actross I didn't already have that cost around or less than $5.

But lately I haven't had the drive I used to have. I'd been putting serious thought into selling off every game I won't actually want to play. And in my collection, that's a lot. I have over 600 games. I'd say probably less than 100 I actually want to play. And I've kept the option open. I haven't decided yet, but I'm afraid it might come to the point I'll have to weed out the excess.

As a Collector, I will grab what I can, if it's cheap, get it. I'd been doing this with even my more modern consoles lately. But recently I started thinking, why bother? I will never ever have a complete collection of any console. For the simple reason that every console has at least one really rare game that is very hard to find, so that makes me think "Who am I trying to impress?"

I got into collecting because it made me happy. That boxed Super Mario 3 I found a year ago started me on this quest. But I think the journey may be ending.

Now, it seems what does make me happy isn't collecting every game and spending hundreds every paycheck on useless unplayable games. It's the one expensive Cube or Xbox game that brings me joy now. And I think that's a good thing.

So the decision is whether I really want to keep collecting. I did it for the look on peoples faces. For the reactions they give me. But I can't help think maybe the thrill is gone. There are a ton of games coming out soon that I will have to get. Most of them at full price of $50 or $30 each. So it would be easier to not spend all the money on cheapo useless games, but rather on that one game I will get pleasure from.

I foresee a lot of fun in my future. DOOM 3, Halo 2, Fable, Donkey Konga, Pikmin 2, Mario Pinball, the DS.. there's enough right there to keep me happy and gaming for months.

I guess I haven't decided yet, but don't be surprised if one day my games all end up in the Buying and Trading forums.

If it doesn't bring me happiness anymore, why keep it?

I gotta go back to work, I haven't made any final set in stone decisions, but I just had to get that off my chest.

[dbiersdorf]

DON'T DO IT!


Meh, I guess its up to you, even though I don't play a lot of my games the fun of collecting is all worth it to me.

[Kid Ice]

If it doesn't bring me happiness anymore, why keep it?


I get in that frame of mind occassionally. My solution is to look at my collection as if it's someone else's, or as if it's an incredibly awesome garage sale I just stumbled upon. After all, I wasn't always accustomed to having 100s of games like I am now. It's human nature to take the things you've had for a while for granted.

When I think about selling I think about what I'd actually do with the money, and most likely whatever I did with it, it would be forgotten in a matter of months. Classic games are more enduring than that.

Think ahead. In 1984 I had a ton of complete 2600 games, a little Vectrex collection, and a load of Vic 20 stuff. All sold by the end of '85. Why? I wasn't playing it. It was collecting dust while my C64 had my complete attention (a few years later most of my C64 stuff was sold for the same reason). Yes, I got it all back (minus the C64 stuff), but at a cost of time and money. So think ahead 20 years...at the worst, your collection will be worth what it is today, but chances are it will be worth a little or a lot more. If you decide to sell, wouldn't that be a better time?

[wisekrak]

Keep buying the games you want and leave the junk behind. The trick is to just not get rid of anything. This is how I have been collecting for the past 10 years. I am almost up to the big 400 and have 16 consoles to collect for. I have always looked for game that I have WANTED to play and thats what I have in my collection. I do have a few commons for various systems that I got in larger lots but I haven't gotten rid of them because I don't have them. I would say probably 95% of my collection was purchased full price (usually on relese date) and while I only have 400 games, I have some VERY collectable games.

If you just stick with this system of collecting and you won't be sorry. A few years from now, you will be happy you kept them all.

P.S. If you want to give that Neo-Geo away, I'll send you my shipping address LOL

[maxlords]

Personally, I buy ONLY what I either want to play or can resell or trade quickly for a profit. I don't ever buy games just because they're cheap. I buy the stuff I want for me. I got rid of everything I didn't think i'd ever want to play about a year and a half ago...and I still have 700 games :) I think that if you sell off everything you'll NEVER want to play, you'll still be ok. Just be SURE before you sell things....some stuff is hard to replace!

[o2william]

You know, I've heard similar tales from many collectors over the years, and I've found that there's only one thing to do to restore happiness and balance to your life, and that is...

Donate Your Games to o2william

That's right, when you Donate Your Games to o2william, you can easily weed out those games you just don't need any longer -- and more too!

You have games lying around you don't want, that are taking up too much space, or that you're just sick of looking at? Then you should...

Donate Your Games to o2william

Do you feel that you just take, take, take? Your cup runneth over? You're not giving enough back to your community? You ought to...

Donate Your Games to o2william

When you Donate Your Games to o2william, you'll immediately feel a warm sense of relief, as all that extra clutter is magically whisked away. You want to bring a nice look to other people's faces? Think of how they'll admire your generosity when you look them in the eye and say, "I Donated My Games to o2william. Why don't you Donate Your Games to o2william too?"

Join me for next self-help post, entitled, "Donating Your Credit Cards to o2william: The Quick Path to Debt Relief."


Big :D, of course. I think your situation is very common among collectors and if the collection is starting to bug you, maybe it is time to part with it. My advice (which you'll probably hear from many others too) is just to do it slowly. Pick something you're REALLY sure you won't miss first and sell it off. Then wait a little while, make sure you're not having second thoughts, then move on to something else. Unless you're moving or having money troubles, there's probably no hurry in excising the collection, so don't move too quickly or you might regret it later.

On a side note, the reason I started writing "Found & Lost" was to try and combat this "collecting ennui" by encouraging folks to go back and really enjoy their collections. I like Kid Ice's suggestion about viewing your collection like it was somebody else's -- makes it seem fresh again.

[jgenotte]

I have also given this a lot of thought and I came to the following conclusion:

I collect because I love the hunt. I love looking for games and better yet finding them cheap! I also love the reaction I get from people about my collection. My favorite thing to do with my collection is to have someone come over and let them pick out ANY game from their childhood and play it. The look on their face is so priceless. That feeling of nistalgia is somewhat rare and I think that most of us take it for granted.

Anyway, what I decided to do about the huge crazy collection is this:

I will collect a system to completeness. Admire it for a while. Then sell it and start over. I will most likley make a profit and will get to hunt again. I feel that this solves my problem of getting bored with the hobby.

Just my 2 cents.

-james

[digitalpress]

I doubt this will be much help to you at all, but I have never ever, even for one moment felt that way. In fact, when I see or hear of collectors getting bored with collecting or with video gaming in general, I tend to circle about them, much like a great gaming vulture.

So maybe this doesn't help at all, but if there are others like me, expect to see us circling about overhead.

I'll be watching your every post. Especially those in the Buying & Selling forum.

:)

PS it's all about enjoying the games, so collector or not, do whatever you think you should do to keep the fun going. It's instinct. You'll do the right thing.

[YoshiM]

I've traveled down that road many atime. I've mentioned in the past the tales of my Genesis and TG-16 acquiring then selling the acquiring again.

Like other mentioned, just get what you like or you think you might like. It may be cool to own everything for a particular platform sometimes you gotta ask yourself why bother buying the crappy sports game you wouldn't have played back in the day. Or Superman 64 (other than to remind yourself that you are indeed mortal).

If you are truely serious, sit down and evaluate your collection. Haul out everything and play everything. Don't rush this as that puts a bias of "gotta sell, gotta sell". After you discover your general likes/dislikes, store those dislikes away for a couple of weeks or maybe a month. If you don't find yourself dipping into storage then maybe you may never play those games.

[YoshiM]

So maybe this doesn't help at all, but if there are others like me, expect to see us circling about overhead.

After reading that, I imagined a buzzard body with a blue Otto head bobbing away as your avatar.

[Atari and Beer]

I think most collectors go through what your going through. I know I have. The best thing to do is just step away and take a break. Thats what I do...just give it a rest forseveral weeks or even months. But dont get rid of anything. Afetr a break if you still have lost the passion for it then maybe you should sell off what you dont want. But chances are very good, you'll get right back into it, and you'll be glad you didnt get rid of anything. I know I am! 8-)

[MarioAllStar2600]

Dont do it. I had this problem a few months ago. You have just had to much gaming. Give your hobby a break for a month or two. Dont come to the boards, just leave it alone. Then the urges will come back. But dont make the mistake of selling. You will end up rebuying most of it.

[ManciGames]

If it doesn't bring me happiness anymore, why keep it?

I gotta go back to work, I haven't made any final set in stone decisions, but I just had to get that off my chest.

Ya know what? I'm going through a bit of the same thing now. It's a little different in that lately it seems like I enjoy reading about games more than I actually do playing them. I think it has something to do with the fact that I actually prefer shorter games (think Sonic 1 and Super Mario Bros.) and that is certainly not the trend nowadays. Heck, people called Resident Evil "short" because it was only 10 - 15 hours long...

Anyway, I have also been in your situation with my old Star Wars collection. I even went so far as to post it at a $500 premium on ebay once, with the thinking being that if I was going to sell it, I'd at least get a lot of cash out of it. However, it still sits in my stoarage shed...

Now, to answer your question: I'd say that whenever a collector has the urge to sell, he or she should just hold onto everything for at least a year. If you still feel the urge to sell after a year, it's probably a safe bet to get rid of it. I've been here before (with the reading vs. playing/collecting thing), and I always end up thanking God that I didn't sell off my game collection. Sometimes it takes a week or two to come to that realization, and sometimes it takes a half-year or more.

Okay, enough rambling. Hope that helps!

[Aussie2B]

I have one simple rule:

I buy games that amuse me.

Now, that can be taken in many ways. First and foremost, I want the amusement to come from actually playing the game and enjoying it. I ALWAYS care most about getting games that I actually want to try, and hopefully will end up liking.

If enjoyment from the game itself seems unlikely, I consider amusement that may come from other things. Hilariously bad cover? Sure, throw it in the pile. If it's really cheap, then it's worth it to just be able to whoop it out, show it to a friend, and watch them chuckle over it. Pretty cover? That'll at least look nice among the other games.

Sometimes it's a bad game AND it has dull packaging, well, does it seem like a cool addition to the collection? A game made by a company I like? A genre I like? Does it complete some "mini-collection"? Is it on one of my favorite consoles? If I can say "yes" to any of those questions (or any other qualities that may be of interest), then it has its place.

Almost all my collection fits somewhere in there. What little that doesn't was stuff that I didn't purposely seek out and buy. You know, free stuff, stuff in lots, etc. That stuff is almost always worthless, so I may as well keep it just to watch my number of games grow bigger and bigger.

[RetroYoungen]

I've had the same problem as of late, thinking that maybe my collection just isn't thrilling me as much as it has in the past. I still buy games, but I didn't really get excited over them. Hell, I'll admit I was only barely excited when I heard about the $5-a-game Circuit City sale a little bit ago. But, after a while gone from these boards and a kind of stand-off-ish stance on actually collection, the thing that's pulled me back in was remembering the DP Advance Guide coming out soon, and the fact that it was one of the first things I wanted to pick up at CGE. That got me pulling out all my printed lists, my DP Guide 7 and all those times I'd found lists online and wrote them out by hand, and got me back into the game.

Every once in a while, like other people have said in this thread, you just need to take a break from it. I got back a little bit into comic books and music and DVDs, yours is whatever else you're interested in. So my advise is just to take a step out of the loop for a little bit, focus on something else that makes you happy, and come back to us with a fresh feeling and we'll gladly let you in on what you might have missed. :-)

[ManciGames]

Hilariously bad cover? Sure, throw it in the pile.

This is classic. LOL

[Sylentwulf]

Posts like this always remind me of MMORPG message board posts when someone says they're quitting. Usually they don't, sometimes they do. My post is always the same.

"Can I have yer stuff?"

[sisko]

I've never found myself really *bored* with collecting, but I sometimes question the logic of it. What purpose does this have? By the time I'm 80, I probably won't even be able to play these games, so why bother? By the time I'm 80, these cartridges will be all rotted out, so why bother? Then I realize that that's 60 years into the future, so who gives a schmuck? And I proceed to buy anything of interest.

Every one of my 700+ games (minus some DC games....going for completeness there) that I am not trading/selling, I keep because I will play them eventually. Be it tomorrow, or five years from now. Eventually, some of these will be very tough to find and replace.

I'll be watching your posts too. Hopefully I can get some much needed games :)

[ManciGames]

I've never found myself really *bored* with collecting, but I sometimes question the logic of it. What purpose does this have?

Now that's a question I have asked myself a lot lately about the Star Wars stuff. Games can be justified because they can be played. But the majority of my SW stuff just sits in big boxes collecting dust.

I think a lot of people tend to go on collecting binges (not the normal game here and there mind you, I'm talking 10 game binges) when they are going through a rough time in their life. I went through some really tough times about 4 years ago and have 2 Lynx units in the box along with about 50 games to show for it. :) I've talked to a few other collectors over the years who don't even realize they are also like that until I point it out and they go, "Ya know, I think you're right."

[Kid Ice]

By the time I'm 80, I probably won't even be able to play these games, so why bother?

Do you think so? Why? Bad eyesight? Arthritis? Poor reflexes?

Elderlies tend to regress into a childlike state, which for me spells
A T A R I :)

[christianscott27]

i recently went cross country and visited a collector friend of mine who had "gotten out". his quitting was kind of a bummer since he had encouraged me early on in my collecting. he said after the move he had gotten bored with collecting all that dead weight, all the hunting, when he could just use things like emus and roms. all of his stuff was going to ebay and so on. so i come into town and sure enough we hit a goodwill with a load of 5200 stuff, he demures and tells me to have at it, i just got a few games since i was low on cash. i went off to hunt some more and next thing i know he's in line buying the rest of the 5200 lot. we get back to his place and he's hauling out boxes, he ebayed nothing! he started comparing labels and thinking of trades...just a few days ago he was emailing me about some awesome 2600 score at a record shop. i gotta feeling he has the bug back and thankfully he held onto his awesome collection.

my advice, box it up and throw it in the garage for a while, beats starting from scratch when the bug bites again.

[Kejoriv]

my advice, box it up and throw it in the garage for a while, beats starting from scratch when the bug bites again.

Yea I agree. The collecting bug will come back. It happened to me a few months ago. Thank god, I didnt sell anything.

[qbertandernie]

i was kinda getting bored too, til i took out all my stuff at once and looked at it. its a damn fine collection and makes me feel good to have it, and i think thats most important. i saw every game i have laid out on the floor and just sat for a minute...it kind of started things up again.

but i have also stopped and not shopped for games for a month or so. it makes it much more fun, as i tend to find 5 great games when i go out for the first time, as opposed to 1 game every 5th time i go out. everything gets old on occasion, but if you truly enjoy it, itll probably be something youll truly enjoy sometime in the future.

but im circling anyway, just in case....

[Jasoco]

I'm wondering if maybe I just ran out of cheap ass games to find.

Either way, I want to focus on gaming, TV and movies. That is where my money will be going for a while. Games I want to play, DVD's I want to watch. Maybe I'll be able to put money aside to buy a new computer. Maybe this is a good thing.

I won't sell anything, sorry guys. Tell the vultures to go circle someone else. I'll keep it for a while See if I get back into it. I just won't buy something unless my mind urges me to. "Ooh, oh! Get that! It's so cool looking."

Thanks for all the advice, guys. It's just what I needed.

[Daria]

It's just what I needed.

My brain will forever read that in Mario's voice. LOL

Anyway it's already said but if you feel the thrill of the hobby is gone, take a break, buy the games you really want to play for awhile. But don't sell the collection. Keep in on the shelves, put it in storage. See how long it is you can go until you're sure you don't want the games. Chances are you're just in a rut and you'd seriously regret selling a collection you worked so hard so far to aquire.

Hell maybe you should just spend some time playing some of the games you already have and have never taken the time to fully appreciate.

[Jasoco]

Actually, I don't want to put it in storage. I like it on my shelves. It looks cool looking. I like the games looks. Even if I don't collect, I still like having it all shown.

There are dozens of games coming out in the near future that I will be buying. I guess it just came at the right time. Especially if most of them are bought at full price release.

[Cmosfm]

Glad to hear your not selling!

I never want to sell, although I do lose the urge to HUNT a lot. I find that the less and less I find good deals...the less and less I want to hunt. I get annoyed. BUT, what really helps that out is hunting for other things as well. I also hunt for records and toys from my childhood. It keeps the fire burning to get "out there" more.

But I know the feeling to not want to try anymore, I've tapped my town dry almost. I used to come home with boxes of NES stuff for 20 bucks (including systems, 20-50 games, accessories, etc) about a year or 2 ago...now....I come home with a bag of 4-5 NES games I spent 30.00 on. kinda sad really. Once you realize you tapped out all the "great" sources such as rental stores, then you know it's time to head outta town!

enough of my 1/2 asleep insane/asinine posting. I need REST!

[ClubNinja]

This may be going against the grain, but I say do it. Cut that crap loose! Seriously.

I starting doing this over a year ago, after having collected *everything* for six or so years. I just didn't care about that drawer of 2600 commons I never played, or all the terrible terrible NES games that are out there (and were taking up my space). Since then, I've focused on playing the games I love and buying more games *only* because I will enjoy them on some level. Still, I do collect. The completist in me will never go away; now, it's just regulated to a few select platforms that are important to me, as opposed to every game ever. I consider my collection to be less about quantity and more about quality now. And I like it that way.

It's been over a year since I started cutting games loose that didn't *really* matter to be, and I certainly don't regret it. For the sake of maximizing my enjoyment of this hobby, it was the best decision I've made in ages.

[downfall]

. . . cutting games loose that didn't *really* matter to be, and I certainly don't regret it. For the sake of maximizing my enjoyment of this hobby, it was the best decision I've made in ages.


That's exactly what I'm in the process of doing. It feels weird having not done that previously, but it also feels good too. Get rid of some stuff and actually be able to buy something that I want and will use instead of these games that I'm never going to put in a console again.

I think it will do exactly what ClubNinja said, and that's maximize my enjoyment of the hobby.

As of right now, I have 5 or 6 systems that I have less than 5 games for (if I have any games at all). And in a year of collecting, they're systems that I've yet to see any games in the wild for. Just taking up space and everything else.

And I find myself passing up more and more stuff. I could have easily doubled (maybe even tripled) my collection this past year with all the games and systems I've passed up, but at the expense of what? Stretching my already thin money even more thin? Filling up a room full of stuff that I'm honestly not going to play? Just to say that I have it. Eh...

Here's how I can explain it:

If I went in a thrift store and found a copy of Stadium Events, what would I do with it?

A. Keep it and display it proudly.
B. Sell it and reap the benefits.

And while I'd keep it just long enough to show a few people and snap a few pictures, I'd sell it in a heartbeat and take the money and put it into something I'd be able to sit down, play, and enjoy. Like an arcade cabinet that I've always wanted. Some cobalt flux DDR pads. Or whatever. Maybe that doesn't make me a serious collector then, but if that's the case, then so be it. I personally want to enjoy what I've worked hard for. Just looking at it all jammed into my shelves and closets doesn't give me much joy.

[Cmosfm]

I guess it varies from person to person, the collector in me would enjoy OWNING a Stadium Events cartridge more than having a game I love to play. I'd get more of a thrill out of it, I love collecting! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE playing too, but I believe the fact that I'm never at home to play affects that as well. I do emulate a lot at work, it's not the original by any means, but it passes time at least.

[Tritoch]

While there is a bit of collector in me (I still have a closet full of old baseball cards), I've always been more of a gamer. Thus I've always focused on getting stuff I either (a) want to play or (b) can resell/trade, with only a few small relapses into buying stuff for collection's sake.

That and the fact that I still have debt from college means I'm constantly going over my collection and purging anything I no longer need or want. If it's sitting around and you don't play it, get rid of it! If you regret it later, you can always hit eBay and buy most games back at a similar price.

[Captain Wrong]

Correct me if I'm wrong Jasoco, but didn't you just start collecting fairly recently. (I may have you confused with someone else, there's a lot of people here. :)) If that's the case, maybe you just need to slow down a bit. I think it's possible to go too fast when you're starting out and you run the risk of burning out.

Also, I whole heartedly agree with Club Ninja. While I think it's damn cool that there's people here who practically have a museum of gaming, I realized a while back that just wasn't for me. When I found myself looking at the Channel F and Studio 2, consoles I know I'd hook up once and put in a closet, I decided it was time to take a good look at where I was going with this.

Selling down to the stuff I actually play has made my life a lot better, I think. There were some thing I was kind of sorry to see go because I know I'd never find them again for what I paid for them, but you know what? I haven't missed any of them.

Plus, selling down means I'm out hunting less so I have more time to actually play the games I have. After I got me Neo (which I'd wanted since 1990) and I realized I was spending more time running all over town digging for cheap NES and 2600 carts I'd probably never play, that was kind of a tipping point.

There's nothing bad about trying to collect 'em all, it's just not for me.

[Jasoco]

One year ago on this past Monday was my anniversary. In fact, I posted a thread about it. Maybe I just blew out my tires collecting too fast. 600+ games in a year. I dread the day I figure out how much I spent. It brought me happiness. It still does, but collecting doesn't seem to anymore currently. I don't get the huge enthusiasm I used to get when I go to the PSX shelves. It doesn't drive me to look for cheap games anymore. The only game I go to look for now is N2O and Long Box games. But there was a time I would go to get anything under $5. Hell, I haven't even been able to bring myself to buy the dozens of $1 sports games I had wanted to get last time I did a real PSX collecting run.

I think it's partly in the fact that I can't find NES games anymore. Except from EB whose prices are way to high even when they do sales on them. And all the GS has left is games that no one else wanted. Not good games. Badly taken care of markered dirty worn out label games. Faded. The SNES too. And it's STILL 30% off! Hasn't gone higher in a long time. (And this store is out of space and has no PS2 Kiosk. I thought I heard them say they were shipping them out to make room. Guess not.)

Nope. Seems these days I get more excited going to the current systems and looking for a new game to actually play. Seems I get a better high buying a single $30-$50 game I will get a lot of playtime with than a dozen or so $1-$5 games I will put on the shelf never to play.

And I like it this way. I can use my off-time to build my Cube and Xbox library. (And when someone smart finally designs a PS2 controller that doesn't suck ASS, maybe I'll buy some PS2 games too.)

Yeah. I'm happy. I can use all the money to buy:

Harvest Moon: AWL
DOOM 3
Halo 2
Fable
Pikmin 2
Donkey Konga
Mario Pinball
A DS
A bunch of DS games

Yes. That's a lot of gaming right there. I should have a lot of fun this holiday season.

The way I see it, the only things I can see myself buying to collect will be Long Box PSX games, boxed NES games I don't have and games that catch my eye because they look cool. Other stuff, I'll probably hold off on.. Too bad I haven't seen the first two in a few months now.

[digitalpress]

*double back*

*is now circling overhead counter-clockwise*

[Jasoco]

Were you circling Clockwise before? Also, is that Counter-Clockwise looking up from the ground? Or down from the air? Also, hope your wings don't tired out because I'm not selling anything... yet. ;)

[digitalpress]

Were you circling Clockwise before? Also, is that Counter-Clockwise looking up from the ground? Or down from the air? Also, hope your wings don't tired out because I'm not selling anything... yet. ;)

I doubled back because I was circling clockwise before (commonly known flight pattern of the classic gaming vulture aka Classicus Carnivorous).

It's counter-clockwise from the air. It's from my point of view because you are the prey.

As for getting tired, don't worry. I've been circling like this for 25 years. Your single-day change of heart is but a few beats of my mighty wings.

*squawks*

[TRO]

Stop collecting is one thing, but try not to get rid of a hard earned collection.

I've sold/traded many games that I now wish I hadn't. Especially now that I see how hard some of them are to re-acquire.

[Jasoco]

I won't be selling. But I do feel like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. I don't feel obligated to do the mandatory "PSX Rack Search" when I walk into a store now. I think if I can stay away from the useless racks unless I know there's a game I want, I will be fine. I can use my money on current games and get some playtime out of them. I no longer have an urge to scour eBay. I I feel happy. I can go into a GameStop knowing what I am looking for, grab it, look a little at the other games and leave. I don't have to stand around for an hour circling the store desperate to spend my money.

I had stated in my Anniversary thread I would try to make it to 700 games by the end of the year. But I don't think I'll do that. Let me take it one step at a time.

8-)

[lendelin]

Jasoco, I think your case is pretty simple: you overate big time. 600 games in one year???? that's a lot. If you eat noodles every day for a long time, are you surprised you get sick and tired of noodles? I have the impression you became obsessed with collecting, and now you are entering a normal phase.

Take it slow, take a break, don't try to impress someone with your collection, don't feel pressured to hunt for games. Do it when you like to do it.

I'm playing since 1989, and I have around 380 games for eight different systems (including the infamous $5 CC sale), do you think for a moment I try to compete with guys who have over 1000 games? Not in the least.

I do hunt games sometimes, but I don't need everything in a very short period of time. There are times I'm on ebay hunting and a bit in used game stores, and there are times you couldn't drag me onto ebay. Be selective, set a reasonable goal, know your limits (in particular finacially), and everything will fall into place.

The second important aspect of your slight doubts about collecting (which is actually a sign of a deep interest for games) is a misconception about collecting and playing games.

Both are not contradictory, they reeenforce each other, but one is done at the cost of the other when it comes to time budgets.

First, collecting is not about playing all the games you purchase, collecting is about the choice and freedom to play different games which are there right at your fingertips. What else is a collector than an avid gamer who wants past and present gamestores in his house? 90% of all the games you collect will never be played in your lifetime, it's impossibe when you reach the 1000 mark, and it's impossible when your collection of current games grows at the same time even at a moderate rate.

Think of your collection as a gamestore, be selective what you play, dig your teeth into ONE game you really like, and you'll appreciate gaming as much as you did before; more importantly, you apprecaiate collecting also more because

Second, collecting is about getting games which represent different stages of videogame development. With many games of different genres, you have the option to visit this past of game development. THis is a more rational reason for collecting if you are interested in game history and game design.

Third, if you get sick of current games, you have the option to get unique game experiences no current game can give you (and vice versa!!). If you crave refreshing and unique game experiences, what better way is there than to plug in an older game or a current game? Think of your game library as a lot of different playgrounds you can visit anytime.

Take a break from gaming as often as you do from collecting. For me games are always on my mind, but sometimes they are pushed to the background, sometimes I hunt down past games, sometimes I don't play at all and just read or think about them or waste my time with lenghty posts on game websites. It's healthy and natural to get a bit sick and tired when you overate. All of the above is part of the game, and gives you variety of gaming; and games are only one part of life which needs lots of variety as well.

[digitalpress]

I think lendelin may be the most eloquent forum poster I've ever "met". That was a brilliant and insightful commentary on gaming and collecting.

[ManciGames]

I think lendelin may be the most eloquent forum poster I've ever "met". That was a brilliant and insightful commentary on gaming and collecting.

Hear, Hear!

[Cmosfm]

I think it's like this...

There are gamers, and then there are gamers/collectors (those who enjoy both).

People come to the forums, they see the collections and post about there finds, and they get hyped and want to join in...like Jasoco did...he had fun for about a year and then realized it just wasn't making him happy. Playing games made him happier than buying stuff he'd never play.

I was a collector before coming here, I started because it was something I decided to do...THEN I realized people online are crazy about it to...so I came here. I've been at it for about 2 years, and I can still go out and spend 10 hours hunting and get the same thrill I did 2 years ago.

Jasoco, you gave collecting a shot, and it wasn't for you. Sell what you don't want to keep and start buying what you want to play.

May be wrong, may be right, just throwing stuff out there. :P

Oh, lendelin, A+!

[musical]

I'm a gamer. I don't care if the program is stored on a fancy DVD with amazing art or a flash dongle or a hard drive. It's the game I care about. The collecting of Atari, Nintendo, Commodore consoles is merely incidental.

[christianscott27]

I doubled back because I was circling clockwise before (commonly known flight pattern of the classic gaming vulture aka Classicus Carnivorous).

It's counter-clockwise from the air. It's from my point of view because you are the prey.

As for getting tired, don't worry. I've been circling like this for 25 years. Your single-day change of heart is but a few beats of my mighty wings

cmon joe,

dont you have everything already? i find it somewhat difficult to make new finds, i can only imagine how rarely it must happen for somebody with as many complete systems as you.

[Flack]

Now that's a question I have asked myself a lot lately about the Star Wars stuff. Games can be justified because they can be played. But the majority of my SW stuff just sits in big boxes collecting dust.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with a dusting boxed tribute to Lucas sitting in my garage.

The value of collecting and gaming is different to every one of us, but I can tell you what made the difference in my life.

Just a few years ago, I would passed a loose Genesis by in a heartbeat to get a boxed ... well, just about anything.

Then my son was born. One day, I picked up one of those loose Genesis lots, hooked it up, stuck in a game and fired it up. The light on front of the Genesis came on, Sonic hit the television, and my son's eyes opened wider than I've ever seen them.

A light came on in me that day too. Boxed, schmoxed. Let's play.

[lendelin]

Guys, stop the compliments, it's embarassing, and if I read them a couple of times I'm tempted to belive it. (yeah, right)

One thing I have to add: Like DP, the concept of selling my games never even crossed my mind for one second. It's out of the question. I don't even wanna think about it, it gives me the greebies. I'd rather quit smoking before selling a game or anything videogame related. It's really bad, becasue I'm very addicted to smoking. :)

If hunting is by far the most important part to build a collection, then selling some games is understandable; then to get a lot of games, or even a complete collection, is hell and not paradise. If love and a deep interest for games is the big motivation for a game collection, selling games is hell.

However, Jasoco isn't tired of HAVING the games, he is a bit tired of hunting them, which is understandable.

There is so much you can do with a nice collection of games, small and big:

Comparing individual games across systems or within a system, comparing genres across systems or within a system, comparing sequels, get ideas for or analysing game designs, the possibilities are plenty.

After I finished Metroid Prime and got all the great gameplay elements I remembered from the first two console Metroids, I asked myself how the 2D game play elements were incorporated in a 3D game. I got my binders with the old Metroid passwords, plugged the game in, and played part of the game again.

A game collection is a great opportunity to correct for selective memory, test and analyse what makes a great game (therefore it's even good to have some mediocre or bad games), and get a good overview of game development.

It's great to compare old sports games with new ones, action-adventures, racers, RPGs, ..., there you have a good portion of the history of games and development right at your fingertips. A Ninja Gaiden can sit on my shelves six years untouched, but you bet I'll plug it in after I played the new Ninja Gaiden.

Even smaller game libraries give you these opportunities, but one thing is sure: the more games you have, the more options and freedom you enjoy to take advantage of these opportunities.

Put all this together with the irrational feeling of having authentic pieces of the games past right there on your shelves, fond bonding memories of early game experiences as a child or adult, the experience that sometimes a game draws you completely in, unique game experiences of every game era (different kind of challenge, a different way getting immersed in an artificial world) ...and you have one unbeatable great thing: a nice collection of games.

Just imagine how great it will be in thirty years to plug in a NES Shadowgate or Mega Man in a perfectly working NES, play it with a perfectly working controller, get a great experience out of it compared to the new games no matter how they will look and play, and say to yourselves and maybe to others: That's the first game from 1987, that's how it all started. (becasue Mega Man, as we all know, will still be alive and well in 2034)

Selling my games?? Over my dead body! :)