Becoming that which you despise..

[thehistorian]

There is a collector in my town that has at lest 10 top loading NES units. Whenever he comes across one he buys it. Now why on earth would you need so many, I wondered. Hoarding just seems so wrong.

"Share the wealth. Let others enjoy as much as you do", I'd say.

And yet...

This past week I picked up my third copy of PS2 Rez. I can't seem to part with it, and I find myself looking for more on ebay.

Why this one game? It is a good game, but why the need to have as many copies as I can get. Especially knowing that there may very well be a re-release. I just don't know. I had two copies of Tengen Tetris and let one go without much trouble. But Rez seems to be my vice of choice...

Anyone else with this problem? Do you have an excessive amount of one item?

Is there a 12 step program?

Corrected spelling and grammar...

[Gapporin]

I seem to have been snapping up Game Gears like crazy...I have no idea why, but suddenly, I find that I have three of them!

[Cleatis]

I have quite a few NES's. I look at it like Im preserving history. There are going to be fewer and fewer NES's left because theyll all end up in someones garbage. Not many people keep an NES after its come down with a case of the *blink*. I'll fix them up and some day I'll pass them on, one at a time, to people who deserve them. :)

[NE146]

I think the most I have of one thing is about four or five 5200's.... but then again they were collected over a period of about 20 years with my first bought at release and my last bought a few months ago so I guess that aint too bad :P

[Lady Jaye]

Well, in my case, it's not the exact same thing, but close...

I own several versions of Pac-Man / Ms. Pac-Man: Pac-Man 2600, Ms. Pac-Man 2600, Pac-Man Tengen (NES), Pac-Man Collection (GBA), Ms. Pac-Man (GBC), Namco Museum 1 and 3 (PS1)

And then, there's Defender/Stargate:

Defender 2600, Stargate 2600, Stargate NES, Defender Entex handheld, Midway Arcade Treasures (both GameCube and PS2). (and I used to have Midway Arcade Greatest Hits for the GBA, the worst version of Defender I've played)

Of course, it can be argued that these ports are not quite the same from one version to the next, but still...

Is there any wonder that my avatar is a picture of Eugene Jarvis? :D

[Half Japanese]

I don't really hoard anything. If I don't need it, I give it away, trade it or sell it. The only mild exception to this rule is the Neo Geo Pocket Color, I've got:

- Stone Blue US Version w/ box
- Camo Blue JP Version complete
- Clear w/ Green Buttons (not color) complete

I can't be bothered to sell any of them as I like them all. :D

[mr_jiggles_13]

i got 4 sealed copies of amplitude

does that count?


i just got them for cheap and couldnt pass it up(its a good ass game too)

[anagrama]

I had 8 or 9 Mega Drives at one time, but I traded in 7 of them at a local game store for £15 apiece, which is more than loose units would sell for on eBay.

[stuffedmonkey]

Somehow I have 4 turbografxes. I kept finding system lots that were way underpriced versus the games they came with. I usually ebay the dupe games, but I haven't done anything with the systems yet, or anything with the half dozen extra controllers. Also I think I have 7 loose Kieth Courages :)

[qbertandernie]

i, sadly, am currently a hoarder.

i have 60+ systems sitting in the ebay room in my basement, along with about 500 games. these are extras. i plan to sell them, but havent felt like doing anything since business slowed for the winter.

i originally had everything in boxes so i didnt know what i had, and $10 a box purchases at garage sales apparently added up. i found all of these when i last moved and decided to display everything.
i had hoped to open a game shop, but i have no time to run it during the summer, as i work long hours then. this would be a disaster, and would simply end up a hub to store stock and buy.....thus leading to more hoarding.

i plan to repent! i just need some motivation...anyone want to open a game store in toledo? i cant work it, but ive got some stock!

roast me, hang me, drown me...

[christianscott27]

just tell yourself they're back ups. i've got a handful of items that would trade rather nicely if only i could risk having just one, for god sakes what if i should wake up and find myself with no way to play 5200?

i'm guilty of hoarding 3 vectrex right now, cause ya never know, its a flakey system...

[puxley]

Oh, so THAT'S where all the games are going!

Here's my two cents -
And I know I'm a bit odd by many collector's standards -

I don't have duplicates of anything! If I have a working console that I like, I don't get another one unless it is a different model or something - and then I can sell the extra one.

I don't keep anything wrapped. If I get something that minty, I'll sell it - because I only want playable copies of games and consoles.
If it doesn't work, it gets liquidated, unless I think I might need the parts for something.

What about a game with different names or labels?
I look out for the one I like best, and if I ever find an upgrade, I sell the extra one. Every time.
I'm only interested in the game itself, not cosmetic variation.
Still, I always prefer a picture label to a plain one and things like that.
For instance, I'll buy a Sears Atari cart ONLY if it has the Sears artwork on it (and I don't already have that one).

If I see a game or console in the wild that I already have a copy of - I leave it for the next guy, who might really want it. I always thought that was good karma!

About the only time I ever speculated on anything, I bought 3 Adventurevision games just to sell them, since there was basically no chance of me scoring a console anytime soon. But that situation was once in a lifetime.

If I see a box of accumilated game stuff (the best kind of find!), I might buy it and take it home. I'll check it all out and take anything that might be an upgrade to my collection - and sell everything else.

So, in short, my collection is constantly being weeded out, any duplication is reprocessed to make the money and space to acquire games that I DO want. I don't like repitition or redundancy.

I don't usually save cardboard boxes for games, either - I'd rather help a collector who cares fill in his collection and get a little something in trade.
I DO collect manuals, though, so I'm always on the look out for those.

The weirdest thing about my collecting? I don't have an NES or an SNES. That generation just passed me by, I don't have any enthusiasm for those consoles at all.
So - the next time find a big pile of Nintendo games at a thrift stor eor garage sale in my area - help yourself, friend!
But if you already own an Arcadia 2001 that works, leave that one at the Salvation Army behind, okay? It'd make my day!

[bargora]

I thought I had an extra Trance Vibrator, but then I discovered that the PS2 can power two of 'em at one time. Ooh!

[Cauterize]

Im like this with Classic Gameboys in different colours, i wanna have every colour :evil: :evil: :evil:

[qbertandernie]

90%+ of my extra games and consoles came in a garage sale bundle where i needed 1 or 2 games in the box, and the box full of games and a system was cheap. it all added up.

i dont have a vectrex yet though :roll: <---not sarcasm, simply looking up the thread to christian scott

im also currently without an rca studio 2...after those two systems i think ill be done with all the systems i care to own.

Cauterize: got an extra blue original? or a pink original?

[Cauterize]

Cauterize: got an extra blue original? or a pink original?

Nope :( those 2 and Green are the only ones left which i need, although i have what i think is rare, a White one with Grey buttons (not a normal grey classic one!)

[MarioAllStar2600]

I have like 100ish SMB/DH. I don't think im hurting anyones colelction by doing it though. ;)

[Cryomancer]

I plan on starting a collection of Space Harrier ports soon.

[izret101]

I keep almost everything i get.
I have returned on game Pokemon Snap and gave DKC 2 and 3 to my cousin for XMas.
And my mom sold our first genesis with todays equivelent of $150 in games for 20 bucks
Other than that i hoard everything.
I got all of this in under 2 months.
4 NES, 3 SMB/DH. my 2 loose Gameboy, second copy of Space Channel 5, 2 copies of each the blockbuster Exclusive games 1 to open 1 to keep sealed.

I won't even get into the "free take one" stuff.
I usually end up taking one a few times before i am satisfied for that shopping trip.

[dbiersdorf]

243 Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt's, they'll become rare and valuable mark my words/

[izret101]

I have like 100ish SMB/DH. I don't think im hurting anyones colelction by doing it though. ;)

243 Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt's, they'll become rare and valuable mark my words/
Sounds like you guys are in competition. LOL

[Aussie2B]

I have two of nearly all the systems I have, but there's a reasonable reason for that - each is on opposite sides of the country. However, there are a few that I have three of, and I just can't part with the extra. I have three original PlayStations all in excellent condition, and since I'm paranoid that one will break down someday, I can't see a reason to sell ones in great condition when I'd get nothing for them anyway. I also have 3 SNES systems. I found a second original model this summer for free, and my boyfriend wanted to bring it back to NYC. He likes it better than the second model, so we keep that one put away unless we want to play imports.

[YoshiM]

Funny this topic should come up.

I recently picked up my second Genesis-a model "1.5" (original 1989 case, 1991 updated security code). I've already got a model 2 but I like the original case better but still it's another Genesis. I also have a 32X (sans the cords) but purchased a complete unit from Krazy Kamino but I don't plan on getting rid of my extra. Not too long ago I picked up another N64 and an Expansion pack along with a duplicate Mario Kart 64 and a Star Wars Episode 1 Racer. At the moment I'm fighting the urge to go buy Kirby 64 for $10 at a local store as I already have the game.

I think I'm following similar mindset as Aussie2B: what if a system dies? However any extra carts I get will probably be stored and traded/sold/given to those who need 'em now that I have room.

[MarioAllStar2600]

I have like 100ish SMB/DH. I don't think im hurting anyones colelction by doing it though. ;)

243 Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt's, they'll become rare and valuable mark my words/
Sounds like you guys are in competition. LOL

nah most of mine are glued together to make a table.

[qbertandernie]

MARIOALLSTAR2600: ive heard rumors of this table. do you have a scan? sounds like its the coolest!

[jonjandran]

My hoarding :

Atari 2600 --- 5
Colecovision - 2
NES --- 4
Atari 5200 -- 1
Atari 7800 --- 2
TurboGrafix -- 2
Genesis --- 9
Snes ----- 5
Sega CD --- 4
PS1 ---- 5
PsOne----- 5
Saturn --- 6
N64 --- 5

Controllers for the above systems --- 126
Power cords --- 60
T.V. hook-ups ----- 50

All of that stuff in one room --- PRICELESS

[izret101]

I would also like to see this table.

[DogP]

I buy TONS of Virtual Boy stuff... I've got over 15 systems (I think 18 at last count), and probably a few hundred games (there were only 14 different US and 19 different Japanese games released :P ). I guess it's sorta alright, because of those systems, I have 4 store displays (2 larger ones, one small US and one small Jap), then a bunch of systems that I have dismantled for testing and other stuff, and carts that I've used to make flash carts out of... but I still don't know why I keep buying the stuff ;) .

DogP

[Ed Oscuro]

I had 8 or 9 Mega Drives at one time, but I traded in 7 of them at a local game store for £15 apiece, which is more than loose units would sell for on eBay.
Genesis units...right there's my affliction addiction LOL It's been a while since I bought one, but they're always nice to have (plus I need a number of variations before I can complete that collection - and I'll need to get boxed ones, too)!

Besides that...nope, don't despise myself for using my money wisely.

[Kid Ice]

Nothing wrong w/ keeping extras of stuff. I have a few extra 2600s and NES toasters in case something breaks, and a pair of 3DOs, Dreamcasts, and Saturns. 10 top loaders? Seems a little excessive, but they could conceivably go up in value over time, so it's not such a terrible investment.

[Flack]

What a coincidence -- my wife and I had this exact same conversation after I insisted on stopping by a thrift store at lunch and came out with yet another C64 1541 disk drive under one arm and a Koala Pad under the other. My wife and I almost got in an argument because she wanted me to explain this behavior (I have 4 disk drives already and only use one) and I really couldn't. After thinking about it a bit this afternoon, here's what I came up with.

#1 - Opportunity

While most of us around here were old school gamers, some of us were collectors back then too -- retro before retro was cool, so to speak. I was buying Atari 2600 games from flea markets and thrift stores throughout the 80's and 90's. There were no eBay back then -- you bought games and systems when and where you could. That was the whole idea of having a "trade box", you bought everything you could find (even if it included dupes) and then hoped you could trade with other people to get stuff. Those old habits have stuck with me over the years -- whenever I see Atari games, I get so excited and I buy them, regardless of whether or not I already have them (or even need them). Most of the stuff I get from thrifts now are items I could easily just pick up on eBay if I really wanted to.

#2 - "Good Deal" Factor

I picked up a spare 1541 today because it was $1.50. As a kid, I remember these costing $200. So when I see one now for $1.50, my brain goes "damn, that's a good deal!" Nevermind the fact that I have 4 of them already. They were all good deals too.

#3 - The "limited number"/spare factor.

Another thing I think about like with that disk drive is that should my current 1541 die, I would need a spare -- but where would I get one? Now of course, the real answer is "ebay", but lke I said that old school mentality kicks in. I think to myself, "what should happen if my drive died in the middle of the night?????"

#4 - The rescue factor.

This is a hard one for me too. When I see an Atari 2600 in a thrift store, I feel like by taking it home, I'm rescuing it. I guess I think that I can find a better home for it than the thrift store can. The problem is, more often than not, that home ends up being my garage. Sure, I've given away a few Atari's, some Gennies and all that TI stuff, but that's just the tip of the iceberg of stuff I've picked up over the years, like I'm some sort of videogame adoption agency or something.

[Crush Crawfish]

I almost never hoard anything, except for copies of Megaman 3. Why? Who knows? LOL

[MegaDrive20XX]

at one time, I had 4 Sega Saturns...one white JPN...one grey JPN....one modded...and one USA...why so many? I love them...all of them...regardless of region or color.

then one time I had all three region Genesis...I had a PAL, JPN, and USA Genesis all lined up...I couldn't even use the PAL MegaDrive...but it was just sitting there...*shrugs* I dunno what the hell I was thinking then

[neuropolitique]

Hi, my name's Joe, and I hoard Game Boys. Right now, I'm looking at a stack of three. I'm not sure which, if any, work. One is my original from '89. The other two,..? Then I have two more in their boxes. Then I have a Green and Black in their cases. Sad thing is I plan to buy more. I know of three more packaging variants for US grey Game Boys, then I have the three remaining colors to obtain. Then It's on to Game Boy Pockets. You UK guys are lucky. I wish all those colors got released here. That white one is heli-sweet. It may be the only UK model to make it into my collection, one day. :)

I have unintentionally hoarded Gennies. I'm not even sure how many I have off the top of my head, but it's far too many. They are so cheap around here I found myself buying them almost every time I went out. And I never play them, ever. Can't even remember the last time I played any Genesis game. I just gave on to a kid at work, and I don't miss it at all. I'm contemplating selling, or trading, my entire collection. Maybe keep the Nomad and a few games, otherwise, why keep it?

[qbertandernie]

i wouodnt consider it hoarding if they vary. thats collecting.

now, if you have 8 original game boys...thats something else entirely...

[FlufflePuff]

I typically only buy duplicate consoles if I have one that's on the fritz OR if the one on sale has some item with it that justifies spending the money. For example, I have 3 Pico's, because when I find them at thrifts they always have games in them. Typically they won't sell the game by itself so I just pick up the Pico. I also picked up a Saturn with a backup RAM cart in it that they wouldn't sell loose.