Worthiest New Collector... You Vote!

[digitalpress]

I have something I've got to share with you.

In a recent Tips & Tricks column I offered up a PlayStation Suikoden II complete with strategy guide to the person who in 100 words or less wrote the best "why I deserve this in my collection".

The results were just great, and earlier today I selected my favorite from the finalists (shown here). I'll share my pick with you later. Which one would you have chosen?

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Dear Mr. Santulli,

My son has always wanted to start a video game collection. He lives and breathes to play. The problem? Parents that have low paying jobs and many medical bills. He does keep a few favorites, he has Suikoden I and III, but sells games to buy new ones. He gave us money from an insurance settlement to pay bills instead of starting his collection. Now I want the chance to help him get Suikoden II to start off his collection right. It would mean the world to him. And to me.

Thank you,

“Mom”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I see 2 kinds of game collectors. Some are on ebay, selling games they were too busy protecting to enjoy. I began collecting because, like many others, I want to hold on to the feelings that these video games gave me forever. I am a gamer that cares only about that in 10 years I could experience these emotions without a cheap computer emulation. Unfortunately, because many other gamers feel the same way, true rarities are never bought by the average "bargain bin" gamer. Many of my poor gamers will soon give up. But I want to continue.

“Nostalgic”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I never considered myself a collector, but I've always kept my games in good condition. The difference was, I did this so I could get a lot of money out of them when I sold them.

But, when I thought about it, game developers and publishers put out a lot of money, time, and effort to produce and sell a video game. I began to feel guilty about selling away my games. Why wouldn't I want to hold onto the results of their hard work?

I want to change my ways for the better. I want to be a collector.

“Converted”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Why would I want to start collecting video games? One simple answer, stress relief, others turn to crime or illegal substances. I find comfort in a world full of polygons and pixels. If developers spent so much time on great games I could do little things like help the elderly across the street. Games make me want to be a better person. I thank the game companys by seeking and buying what could be the greastest treasure of this century. I'm a modern day Indiana Jones of the electronic world. Let the games begin

“Indy”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Why do I want to start collecting video games? I want to get back at all those jerks in school who called me a nerd and laughed at me over my passion for gaming. I am hoping to have such a vast, extensive and complete collection of games to put their claims to shame. Just think of how much a good, complete collection would fetch, like baseball cards. They would envy the "wealth" I would have! I wouldn't really sell anything, though I would make them think it. They don't read T&T, so I'm pretty safe!

Sincerely (and I mean sincerely),

“Vengeful”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Dear Tips & Tricks (Collector's Closet),

I'm starting awfully late I suppose but, when I picked up this magazine I read it back and forth. I stared at the rare games page and thought to myself "why is it I have nothing to show for all the games I have played?" I know it seems silly but, I still expect if I start now, the games I collect will be inherited by my children when I am older. Honestly, I would be very grateful if I should get a kick-start. I hope to become the ultimate game collector of my generation.

“Prodigy”

[chadtower]

Mom sounds like an attempted scam, and the rest are mostly people wanting 'value' (monetary) out of their stuff. I suspect none of those would have written if you offered a great but inexpensive game.

Nostalgic, on the other hand, sounded like he just loves the games. He got my vote.

[sku_u]

It was a tough call between Nostalgic and Vengeful. Mom sounded too whiney to be legitimate.

[Jibbajaba]

I agree. Mom sounds scammy, and the others all sound like they arent true collectors. "I wanna get back at people who made fun of me" just sounds stupid. Everyone had some ulterior motive for wanting the game, except for nostalgia man. It sounds like he collects for the same reason I do; to get back that feeling I had when I first played the games that I have. He got my vote.

None of them sound like they are real game collectors, though. Shit, I would just be happy to know that the game would go to someone who will actually play through it. After that, I don't care what he/she does with it.

Chris

[blissfulnoise]

Sorry if this sounds jaded (and it does), all of these people have weak cases for free games.

My experience, albeit limited to specifically my own, with mothers tells me that mom's don't randomly pick up magazines, read the letters section, and submit essays on winning their son a 100 dollar game.

Vengeance? You're going to get back at the guy who bullied you by winning Suikoden II? That might be the most absurd thing I've read all week. To put that into perspective, I just read that the FED is raising interest rates a quarter point!

"I'm a ebay reseller and now I want to win a free copy of a highly desired and expensive game to turn my evil ways around and start playing the crap I buy!" That's a pantload. If he got the game, I bet you there's one more copy of Suikoden II with a strategy guide with a $175 BIN on eBay.

In any case, I think that none of these jokers should have won the game. The guy who wrote in and said, "I'd like it because I don't have the money to buy it and it looks like a fun game to play" should have won (which is essentially the "Mom" story minus a huge spoonful of melodrama... medical bills, that's as cliché as my dog died, or I have 6 kids to feed...)

Regardless, nice thing you did Mr. Digitalpress. Hopefully the proceeds received by my recent ordering of both DP Collector guides will help offset your expenses from feeding the Jackals.

[captain nintendo]

Mom sounds like an attempted scam, and the rest are mostly people wanting 'value' (monetary) out of their stuff. I suspect none of those would have written if you offered a great but inexpensive game.

Nostalgic, on the other hand, sounded like he just loves the games. He got my vote.

I agree with Chad on the mom thing and on Nostalgic as well.



Without a doubt. Nostalgic sounds like the right one to me.
Nobody is even close IMO.

[Queen Of The Felines]

Blissfulnoise has read my mind.

None of them really convinced me of their desire to really collect...like Chad said, if you offered, say, a box filled with common yet complete games you'd probably get more honest responses. But since I have to choose, I'd go with Nostalgic as well.

Kristine

[sisko]

Sorry if this sounds jaded (and it does), all of these people have weak cases for free games.

My experience, albeit limited to specifically my own, with mothers tells me that mom's don't randomly pick up magazines, read the letters section, and submit essays on winning their son a 100 dollar game.

Vengeance? You're going to get back at the guy who bullied you by winning Suikoden II? That might be the most absurd thing I've read all week. To put that into perspective, I just read that the FED is raising interest rates a quarter point!

"I'm a ebay reseller and now I want to win a free copy of a highly desired and expensive game to turn my evil ways around and start playing the crap I buy!" That's a pantload. If he got the game, I bet you there's one more copy of Suikoden II with a strategy guide with a $175 BIN on eBay.

In any case, I think that none of these jokers should have won the game. The guy who wrote in and said, "I'd like it because I don't have the money to buy it and it looks like a fun game to play" should have won (which is essentially the "Mom" story minus a huge spoonful of melodrama... medical bills, that's as cliché as my dog died, or I have 6 kids to feed...)

Regardless, nice thing you did Mr. Digitalpress. Hopefully the proceeds received by my recent ordering of both DP Collector guides will help offset your expenses from feeding the Jackals.

I agree with this almost exactly.

Indy almost had me. Thats the same reason I play games (stress relief). But "games make me want to be a better person?" What a load of crap :roll:

Out of all of these, "Nostalgic" is the least smelly, so it gets my vote

[tholly]

my vote is for either vengeful or prodigy....

vengeful because i feel bad for him that he thinks he will get back at people that made fun of him by collecting games

and prodigy because he said they would go to his children eventually


the mom one sucked....what are the chances he has 1 and 3, but not 2....she just wants it so she can sell it on ebay

[captain nintendo]

my vote is for either vengeful or prodigy....

what are the chances he has 1 and 3, but not 2....she just wants it so she can sell it on ebay

I dont have Suikoden 2 , yet I have 1 and 3 :o
I just wont pay ebay prices for it ;) I will find it in the wild first.

[kainemaxwell]

"Nostalgic" seems like he'd fit in here if he visited so he gets my thumbs up.

[Keir]

Those were the finalists? I'd hate to see the what the others were like. :o

[RetroYoungen]

I also voted for Nostalgic. The rest just sounded like people who wanted to win something, not caring just what, while Nostalgic seemed like he wanted to win for personal reasons, and for the spirit of the contest.

[-hellvin-]

I would keep suikoden II and send "JUST KIDDING SUCKERS" to all these fools.

So in turn, I did not vote.


I just wont pay ebay prices for it I will find it in the wild first.


I just found it the other day for 20 bucks =D. Guess where it is?

[GameBoy]

Yea Mom is a total scam, and Vengeful.....Well, he doesnt make any sense.... I guess my vote goes to nostalgic...

[maxlords]

I rather liked Indy myself. I wasn't moved at all by any of them though...and I didn't care for Nostalgic's "unfortunately since others are looking, I can't find it" shtick. Prodigy reminded me of a few people right here on DP but Indy gets my vote.

Personally, if those were the best, I'd have sent em all a form letter saying they didn't deserve it.

[Dahne]

Yeah, those really aren't very good entries...

Funny coincidence. I was just playing Suikoden II again, and thinking about how when it first came out and I got it, I felt kind of bad because my dad had just bought me a game that I'd picked out on a whim. Needless to say, I didn't regret it for long. :D

[Tank]

Nostalgic sounds pretty deserving :)

[D_N_G]

prodigy sounds sincere

[Lemmy Kilmister]

These people all sound like fruit cakes to me. I'm going to guess it's to late to put my two cents in. :(

[ianoid]

They all sucked. Man, is that the level of letter writing you have to contend with? Of course it is! Yikes. I don't even get letters- at least any forwarded to me- at Digital Press. So you say this game is valuable? I guess I should be looking out for it?

I didn't like any of them, but Nostaljerk seemed like he might actually keep it. Nah, each of them is STRAIGHT TO EBAY, I'm certain.

[musical]

Nostalgic sounds like me.

I don't collect for the sake of collecting. I collect to play the game and relive the 70s/80s of my youth.

[Spartacus]

Mom- "He gave us money from an insurance settlement to pay bills instead of starting his collection."
Mom's too busy telling everyone about the sorry lot in life they have to go to night school and actually improve their situation. Mom's full of it. Next!

Converted- "...I did this so I could get a lot of money out of them when I sold them."
Bleagh! So sell some and buy the damn game, ya cheap #%$!&! Next!

Indy- "If developers spent so much time on great games I could do little things like help the elderly across the street."
Yeah right! Since when do REAL do-gooders plead for freebies? Next!

Vengeful- "I want to get back at all those jerks in school who called me a nerd..."
No No No! Our nerd quota is full! Sorry. Next!

Prodigy- "why is it I have nothing to show for all the games I have played?"
Uhhh, cause you sold them? You'll sell this one too! Next!

Nostalgic "...I could experience these emotions without a cheap computer emulation."
Now this guy belittles the ROM sucking, ISO burning, CDR ripping members of our community. We dare not let this go unpunished!
(He get's my vote)

[Stark]

“Nostalgic”
The others sound too cheezy.

[Azazel]

I really didn't like any of choices that much but I would have to go with converted if I had to make a choice.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

Wow, I wish I knew about it. I could easily of written a better essay than that. :D
I voted for "Mom". While its highly unlikely, its still an original way to do it.

[classicb]

Wow, I wish I knew about it. I could easily of written a better essay than that. :D
I voted for "Mom". While its highly unlikely, its still an original way to do it.

What's so original about it? Why would you reward that.

[punkoffgirl]

Nostalgic sounds like he already IS a collector.
I vote for Prodigy.

PS- These aren't the original letters to you, are they? They sound like paraphrased ones to me.

[LiquidX01]

I vote "Nostalgic".

That "Mom" one seems pretty fishy to me also and I find it odd that "Mom" if indeed a mom, was reading that column in "Tips and Tricks". I mean not that its not at all possible, but how many moms you know read that magazine?

[SegaAges]

somebody in here said something about offering up a box full of common games. i wouldn't mind giving you an essay on why i should have a box full of commons, hehehe.

nos got my vote for the sole reason that he seemed more like a person that would actually play the game. hell man, i got a mountain dew skateboard and am teaching myself to skate on it instead of selling it which i could.

if somebody is going to give you a free game from a contest, you could at least play the game. i have played every single game i own. you never know, that kat could pop it in for 1 quick round, and end up playing through it and really enjoying it.

[tholly]

my vote is for either vengeful or prodigy....

what are the chances he has 1 and 3, but not 2....she just wants it so she can sell it on ebay

I dont have Suikoden 2 , yet I have 1 and 3 :o
I just wont pay ebay prices for it ;) I will find it in the wild first.

well, i retract my previous statement.....sorry

[digitalpress]

PS- These aren't the original letters to you, are they? They sound like paraphrased ones to me.

These are the ORIGINALS (except I've masked their names and addresses of course).

Remember, it was "100 words or less".

For the record, I voted for "Prodigy" as well. It seemed the most sincere to me, knowing so many collectors myself it is often this kind of attitude that spawns really dedicated ones. I wasn't looking for the best writer, or the best gamer, or the nicest person. I was looking for the most likely, "worthy" new collector. This one just fit the best.

[Sniderman]

You might as well call the winner Joe. I honestly cannot see how any other nominee could make up the difference to catch up to Nostalgic.

[digitalpress]

You might as well call the winner Joe. I honestly cannot see how any other nominee could make up the difference to catch up to Nostalgic.

I did select a winner.... yesterday. Before the poll:


earlier today I selected my favorite from the finalists (shown here). I'll share my pick with you later.

And it wasn't "Nostalgic". See above!