How do I become featured "Collector" in game mag

[Gemini-Phoenix]

What do you have to do to be featured as a certain game mag's monthly collector?


I regularly read "Games tm (http://www.gamestm.co.uk/)", and every month they have a different collector, with a short Q&A section, and a load of pics of the collector's collection...

This month they have upgraded the section to a double page spread (Which is nice)


However, a majority of collector's they tend to feature have a load of crap. And so many of them tend to waffle on about how they scour car boot sales and the pre-owned sections of GameStation etc... It gets a bit boring after a while to be honest...

The people they feature may have decent collections, but they are all teh same ~ Ie, a shed load of NES carts, a few rarities like Radiant Silvergun, and then they show off their Neo Geo AES collection... Boooorrrriiiiiinnnnggggg. Every. Single. Month.

Pah, and this month the guy goes on about how he found a 32X copy of Primal Rage for a few quid... He then wasted no time in quoting Anagrama's auction which sold for over £300 recently...


Have they never heard of variety? Where do they find these so called "Collector's" anyway?


I would sure like to feature as their featured collector one month, and show them what a real collection consists of! And I think I have worked a hell of a lot harder to aquire some of the rarities that I own, more than just pot-luck at some car boot sale...

[anagrama]

The guy who edits the GamesTM Retro section posts on a few UK gaming sites, and was asking for volunteers to be part of it recently.

And to be honest, I'd be much more interested in reading about the stuff that people have found and gathered in the wild, rather than some rich kid who buys anything he wants but refuses to actually open or play any of his games. But maybe that's just me...

[djb1986]

And to be honest, I'd be much more interested in reading about the stuff that people have found and gathered in the wild, rather than some rich kid who buys anything he wants but refuses to actually open or play any of his games. But maybe that's just me...

You're not alone. I like hearing about a person that gets lucky and finds an R10 for 25 cents or some other insanely low price. Then again, I like seeing people's collections with a lot of rare and interesting stuff in them also.

[Jumpman Jr.]

And to be honest, I'd be much more interested in reading about the stuff that people have found and gathered in the wild, rather than some rich kid who buys anything he wants but refuses to actually open or play any of his games. But maybe that's just me...

You're not alone. I like hearing about a person that gets lucky and finds an R10 for 25 cents or some other insanely low price. Then again, I like seeing people's collections with a lot of rare and interesting stuff in them also.

I'm interested in hearing what both types of people have to say. The only thing that bugs me (like Gemini-Phoenix said) is that it is very similar from week-to-week. I love hearing about storys of people finding an R10 for a buck, but I also love hearing about a guy spending $4000 for an NWC cart.

[RJ]

I & several people here got into Tips & Tricks thanks to Joe Santulli (who runs this site!) I sent him some pix of my collection w/ a few blurbs about its highlights & BAM! A few months later I was published! I thought it was pretty cool, others I know/showed- somewhat less so. :roll:

Maybe he's still doing it using pix from the Collectors' Page?

[Cauterize]

And to be honest, I'd be much more interested in reading about the stuff that people have found and gathered in the wild, rather than some rich kid who buys anything he wants but refuses to actually open or play any of his games. But maybe that's just me...

BURN! Damn that was Hot! LOL LOL LOL LOL

[Daft Punk]

I & several people here got into Tips & Tricks thanks to Joe Santulli (who runs this site!) I sent him some pix of my collection w/ a few blurbs about its highlights & BAM! A few months later I was published! I thought it was pretty cool, others I know/showed- somewhat less so. :roll:

Maybe he's still doing it using pix from the Collectors' Page?

No , joe no longer runs that column. :(

[Gemini-Phoenix]

And to be honest, I'd be much more interested in reading about the stuff that people have found and gathered in the wild, rather than some rich kid who buys anything he wants but refuses to actually open or play any of his games. But maybe that's just me...

BURN! Damn that was Hot! LOL LOL LOL LOL

Yes, but I asked for that I suppose, and is the same response I have gotten over at Games Tm... Still, it was to be expected.

Personally, i'd like to hear stories about people who have been after their own personal grails for years, and finally get one, at a huge cost though...

Or stories about how people have had to go to extraordinary lengths to aquire something, Ie, travelling halfway across the country to collect something which they want really badly; Or having to bypass a few federal laws in order to aquire a piece of hardware that technically they shouldn't have imported...


I want to read stories where people have an especially rare game (Ie, Primal Rage 32x) and have perhaps gone to huge lengths to preserve the condition of that particular game...


I'm also interested in people who have similar collections to mine, where they have rare games in even rarer condition (Ie, Sealed) and how they treasure them above anything else they own as they know they are irreplaceable...


Reading articles where people drone on about how they have this and that Japanese import, or how they paid £50 for an AES game that is worth £250 is boring, and the story is repetative after reading it month after month, albeit from different peoples perspectives...

[importaku]

How about you take some pics of your collection so we can see what your on about?

Or do a room of doom using the gallery feature.

We hear you bragging but we never see what you have, come on dont be shy. :D

[Gemini-Phoenix]

How about you take some pics of your collection so we can see what your on about?

Or do a room of doom using the gallery feature.

We hear you bragging but we never see what you have, come on dont be shy. :D

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=58239

I have pictures, but not doing a Room Of Doom until I actually have a room to show. Everything is all boxed up at the moment.

[PDorr3]

Really I think its based on your collections uniqueness. Big thanks to zmeston for landing me a spot n the VideoGameCollector magazine #4. He said he just really liked the way my collection looked and it caught his eye.

Now my collection isnt overflowing with games, and I dont own many rarities, but I arange and display it in my own unique way.

I just got a NeoGeo AES, new shelving, more games, and alot more systems after I submited the info and pics for the magazine, but it is still my collection.

[GrayFox]

The guy who edits the GamesTM Retro section posts on a few UK gaming sites, and was asking for volunteers to be part of it recently.

And to be honest, I'd be much more interested in reading about the stuff that people have found and gathered in the wild, rather than some rich kid who buys anything he wants but refuses to actually open or play any of his games. But maybe that's just me...

Oh Anagrama, where would this world be without you?

In the pooper of course.

[googlefest1]

you probbaly have to spread'em to get your collection in a mag

or be friends with the guy that "interviews" the spreaders


NEXT?

[Wavelflack]

I've found that it's helpful to take a picture of yourself wearing shades (indoors, of course) and wearing a power glove.

The sheer coolth eminating from such a photo never ceases to open doors in the gaming media world.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

I've found that it's helpful to take a picture of yourself wearing shades (indoors, of course) and wearing a power glove.

The sheer coolth eminating from such a photo never ceases to open doors in the gaming media world.

Lol, know what you mean just by viewing a few pics in the "Room Of Doom" area! ;)

It also helps to have an AES and a bunch of really stupidly rare games (Like NWC or Primal Rage...) :roll: ~ And I guess it also helps to actually have things on shelves, rather than in box's in a spare room :embarrassed:

[§ Gideon §]

Did someone say shades and a Power Glove (http://gc.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=5511)?

Gemini, start with the DP WIRE! I love that section of the newsletter...

[Poofta!]

so you showed us a couple pics of the supposedly sealed games you have, yeah *supposedly*, youre the guy trying to fence that resealed tomba for like 6months already.

just cause people dont wanna and have no reason to pay ludicrouse prices for sealed stuff (that they wanna play, not masterbate to) doesnt make their collection any better or worse than yours (just like have a MIB/CIB is any better than loose -- something that i was in a very heated debate over some time back).

games are meant to be played, if you want yours to remain unopened, fine, but dont throw a hissy fit when a "GAMING" magazine features actual GAMERS over somebody who pays insane amounts for stuff he wont even use/open. when theres a magazine called "shiny sealed box collector", im sure youll make the front cover. :roll:

[digitalpress]

Though I left the magazine back in January, Tips & Tricks still run "Room of Doom" photos every month. Send your pictures in to the magazine. I just talked to the editor-in-chief this weekend at CGE - they're always Jonesin' for new pictures.

[ManciGames]

I never did understand some people's critical view of collecting sealed games. That's like criticizing a guy because he'd rather have a mint Mickey Mantle than one that was ran through bicycle spokes "like it was supposed to".

I understand the appeal of both sides...

[davepesc]

I never did understand some people's critical view of collecting sealed games. That's like criticizing a guy because he'd rather have a mint Mickey Mantle than one that was ran through bicycle spokes "like it was supposed to".

I understand the appeal of both sides...

I don't think that's the same at all. You can enjoy the perfect baseball card more than the bicycle spoke card. The purpose of the card is to show you a picture of a baseball player. The purpose of a game is for it to be played. Now I don't care a lick if someone wants to collect sealed games, whatever floats your boat and all, but to me, that's like Buying a DVD and never watching it or buying a ham sammitch and never eating it.

[ManciGames]

I don't think that's the same at all. You can enjoy the perfect baseball card more than the bicycle spoke card. The purpose of the card is to show you a picture of a baseball player.

That's my point. If the purpose of a baseball card is to show you a picture (and to provide stats), then what does it matter if it is "mint" or "good" condition? Just because a corner is bent, doesn't mean you can't see the picture or read the stats. Yet, we all know that the mint card will sell for a ton more than the good card.

[starchildskiss78]

Okay....time for my two cents on the subject:

I think the ratio of so called "gamers" on here is higher than those who are strictly "collectors."

Gamers enjoy their games regardless of the fact that they got it looses, complete, or anything in-between.

Collectors mainly collect for one of two reasons (sometimes both): 1) to have something to display for others to see [like a painting] and 2) to sell and make a profit over what they paid for it.

I think it is everyone's prerogative to do whatever they wish with what they have spent their hard earned money on. Myself I buy my games to enjoy them and I don't strive for MIB or CIB games (hell, I'd say 90% of my games are loose with no instructions) but I won't criticize people who do collect just to have a conversation piece or something that will allow them to make some extra money.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

No one says that "That" particular copy of the game has got to be played though... I am sure that if someone wanted to play "The" game, they can do so quite easially by just tracking down either another copy (Buy from boot sale or shop / Borrow or steal from a friend / Rent Etc), or by getting a ROM or ISO of that game to simply play.


The way I view my collection is thus:

I have a nice sealed and exceptionally rare game (Take your pick, it could be anything for the sake fof this example) ~ My mate also has the game, unsealed, which he plays regularly.

So, why open your perfect copy (Which "Could" be the only one remaining), when you can just as easially borrow th egame to play from your friend?


Personally, I am not loosing out on any gaming enjoyment, as I can still "Technically" play the games, albeit in a very roundabout fashion. Meanwhile, I have something nice too look at, which will retain it's value for years to come, and possibly become a very valuable collector's item in the future...


Ie, do you think all those people who still have a factory sealed Radiant Silvergun are kicking themselves and regretting that they never opened it to play? Course they aren't, because the game itself in that condition is worth a small fortune! ;)

But I bet that pretty much most owners of such a game in that condition have still played it somehow...


This is an age old debate that will be around for years to come, without ever getting to a conclusion. I would lay good money down right now and state that in a few months time I will be posting something similar in yet another thread based on unsealed vs sealed games... And every time, we will have a good discusson about it, and every time we shall leave it unsettled ready to return to months later...

[squidblatt]

I don't think that's the same at all. You can enjoy the perfect baseball card more than the bicycle spoke card. The purpose of the card is to show you a picture of a baseball player.

That's my point. If the purpose of a baseball card is to show you a picture (and to provide stats), then what does it matter if it is "mint" or "good" condition? Just because a corner is bent, doesn't mean you can't see the picture or read the stats. Yet, we all know that the mint card will sell for a ton more than the good card.

For the record, I don't care if someone collects sealed games. But in your example, I'd argue that a card is a physical article of interest while a game is defined by an intangible experience. Keeping a game case sealed eliminates the possibility of that particular item from providing that experience and, therefore, is probably stripped of the quality that made it a game in the first place. You can make a good argument that a sealed collection, which is to remain perpetually sealed, is simply a collection of packaging material. You couldn't say that about a baseball card kept in mint condition.

I'm not saying I don't understand the appeal of sealed items, but I would argue that sealed collectors are in a different business than people who allow their games to be played. And I can understand why people interested in gaming collections would not care about sealed collections.

[ManciGames]

I think your point is well stated, and I agree. I believe that the basis of our miscommunication is the fact that (like Gemini said above) most people who collect sealed games also either have a "loose" copy of the same game, or have played it in some other way.

I agree with you 100% in that I don't understand a person who collects sealed video games, but has very little interest in actually playing video games. On the other hand, I think that type of person is few and far between, which is probably the reason why the price-guide mags aren't really taking off.

[anagrama]

I have no issue with the fact that some people like to collect sealed games - don't understand it myself, but each to their own.
However, it's the constant bragging and the "my collection is teh bestest becuz it's sealed" sub-text to G_P's posts that really does my head in - yes, we all know you've got a limited red PS2. Well done. But do we really need NINE images or references to it accompanying every single post you make on here? Especially when you've admitted yourself that you don't use it and instead keep it boxed away from all that evil corrosive air.

[anagrama]

Sorry, TEN references - I missed the custom rank.

[Poofta!]

anagrama -- youre the man.


gemini -- youre right, you CAN play the game elsewhere, and how you collect is up to you. my grief isnt how you collect, its how you consider your collection to be better or more worthy of being displayed than anyone elses. thats bullshit. especially in the case of a gaming mag, if it was a collector's mag, then maybe you could stick your nose out and say a sealed collection is better, but in a gamer's mag, your collection is worth about as much as the cellophane used to cover it.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

I am impressed that for once we are actually all having a civilized conversation, and throwing around some very good points and arguments from both sides relating to the sealed vs unsealed discussion! :-P ~ I have never seen it so professionally displayed, with such quality arguments!


I have nothing else to add at this point relating to the current argument, but I am sure I can add to it again further down the line.


I will also apologise if I come across as "Showing off" or "Bragging" about certain parts of my collection being sealed still, and would agree that I am perhaps in a completely different situation than most other collector's.

Not so much playing a different game, but perhaps "In a different league" than most others. I know there are quite a few other sealed collector's here that would possibly be "In the same league" as myself, and as a result, can't really compare my collection to that of a regular gamer's collection.

It's as fruitless as arguing which is better ~ Street Fighter of Mortal Kombat. iPod's or Walkman's. PC's or Mac's. Bitter or lager. Etc...


PS: I have a red PlayStation! Lol!

Ok, sorry. My bad. Couldn't resist!

;)

[Windy Miller]

...but perhaps "In a different league" than most others.



Where I come from, that's just another 'I'm better than you' sort of comment. :/

[Wavelflack]

I guess I might as well inject a little dalight into the "sealed games" discussion. Here goes:


Collecting sealed games at list prices (ie; retail and above) is just stupid.

The rationale offered for such behavior always revolves around speculation of future values of the item. You would be hard pressed to find a copy of Radiant Silvergun that was purchased at a clearance price. As such, all sealed copies in existence cost a minimum of $40-50. That title has gone up considerably in value, but more than 90% (likely closer to 99%) of your average sealed collection will depreciate drastically from what you originally paid for them. This presumes that you are buying them before they are known to be in demand (speculation). If you're buying them after, then you're paying inflated prices and are in worse shape than if you were buying at retail.

So you have ten sealed games, that you invested $500 in, and if you're lucky (or prescient), one in ten will go up in value in the future, while the rest are worth pennies on the dollar, even in sealed condition. Being generous with the prices, let's allow the "undesirable" games to be worth $10 each in a few years. That gives you $90 out of $450 spent on those 9 games, or .20% ROI. Your one desirable game will have to appreciate more than 800% for you to even break even on your initial investment.

So if you want to talk about how great collecting sealed games is because of the money angle, you should probably find something else you like about them. The smell of cellophane, perhaps. Because even dumping your $500 in a conservative money market account will be a better financial strategy than buying sealed games for their future worth. In fact, even putting your money in an interest bearing savings account (with it's miserably tiny interest accrual) would be better, because you'll still do better than breaking even.

I find that my collecting habits are worthwhile, because:

A. I pay miniscule amounts for the games I purchase.
B. Which means that if they are worth $5 or more anytime in the future, I have made a sound investment at $1-2.
C. ...and if they don't, I at least have had the satisfaction of the game's original intended value, which means actually playing it.
D. ...and have only lost a dollar or two, in the financial picture
E. And have the satisfaction of actually discovering treasures, rather than simply having the honor of being the one person out of the entire world's population willing to spend the most money on the game.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

But... If you pay big bucks for a sealed rare game (Ie, any of the top American PSone games, or like you said, Radiant Silvergun or similar) then chances are that particular game will retain that value, and perhaps increase as time goes by...

Ie, I have a bit of a weakness for my sealed black label American PSone RPG's... And have paid a fair whack for a number of them, but I know that they will retain the value that I paid, and in the terms of games like FFIX, will probably go up in value in years to come, as FFVII and VIII have done recently...

Same goes for many of my rarer DC games. The common ones I tend to buy for a matter of pounds. We all know they won't increase in value. But things like Rez, Samba De Amigo, or MoHo (To name just a few) are sure to increase in the next few years, especially when copies start to get scarce, and especially sealed copies...

I have also learnt over the years that RPG's tend to make up the majority of rarer games, mainly due to demand outweighing the supply. Hence, why I tend to keep a majority of my current gen games sealed ~ I am hoping that my black label FFX will one day increase in value, but seeing as I only paid budget price for it in the first place...


Which brings me to my next point ~ I very rarely pay full price for any new release. I have learnt that if I wait a few months, I can get a new release on eBay for around £15. Most will still be worth between £5 and £10 in the future unsealed, so that's not much of a loss, and there is a chance that a sealed copy will be worth more in the future...


I was lucky enough to buy a PAL copy of Space Channel 5 Part II last year for about £12 (Sealed) ~ The last sealed copy to sell on eBay went for £75! I also paid about £7 for a sealed Gitaroo Man from my local Tesco, and lately that has sky-rocketed!


One last point ~ Steel Battalion. Those who managed to get hold of one on release are lucky. I would say the average price is about £160-£180 for a used one, with sealed ones going over £200 almost every time. And I am pretty sure that is going to be one hell of a sought after game in the future!

[digitalpress]

So Gemini-Phoenix... at what point are you going to "cash out"? Since it's clearly your ultimate goal at what point will you do it? To raise cash to buy a house? To retire on? Not to be overly morbid but It would be a shame if you just died and never got to play any of them. I assume you have a plan.

[Wavelflack]

"But... If you pay big bucks for a sealed rare game (Ie, any of the top American PSone games, or like you said, Radiant Silvergun or similar) then chances are that particular game will retain that value, and perhaps increase as time goes by..."

Which is fine if you're actually playing the games, but what is the point of buying a sealed game that will just retain it's value?

"I spent $50 on that game, and in the future, it'll probably be worth $50!"

Would you buy a house, never set foot in it, then sell it again a few years later for the same price you paid for it? You're supposed to buy a house for a low amount, enjoy it, then sell it at a higher price down the road.

[dogbert]

Strider, the editor of the GamesTM Retro section, regularly posts on the RLLMUK forum (http://www.rllmukforum.com) & NTSC-UK looking for volunteers for the section in the magazine. It's also getting an overhaul to be spread over two pages & have more personal questions.

If you're keen to show off your collection of sealed games, feel free to drop him an email on one of those sites or post in his once a month threads. [/url]

[ManciGames]

I guess I might as well inject a little dalight into the "sealed games" discussion. Here goes:

<snip>

Wavelflack, I don't think you really understand how the "collector's market" works. I'm not slamming you, I just don't think you understand it.

On the other hand, I don't particularly collect my sealed games for value. First, let me state that I've got all kinds in my collection: sealed, complete, cart only, and in the case of one copy of Panzer Dragoon Saga, scratched to hell and unworking.

Now, let me try to explain to you the appeal, as a GAMER, of the sealed game. It's hard to put into words, but I'll give it a try. The appeal in a sealed game lies not within its inherent or future worth. It doesn't lie in the fact that you can show it off. It doesn't even lie in the fact that it makes some people angry. No, the real appeal of a sealed game for a GAMER is that it is a rarity. It's knowing that there were probably only 1,500 copies of Spider-Man: Web of Fire manufactured, and you've got one of them. And not only do you have one of them, but it's never been touched by another human. There might only be 10 copies like that in existence. And I don't care if it's worth $1.00 or $1,000.00, that's pretty special to me.

When I see a sealed Atari 2600 game, even a cheap ass one like E.T. or Pac-Man, my heart goes aflutter at memories from my childhood. Of walking into the local toy store (don't have many of those anymore) and seeing the Atari kiosk and all of those pristine, beautiful Atari games lined up perfectly in a row. And I can remember getting that very same sealed Pac-Man game on Christmas morning.

So, like I said, it's hard to put into words, but if I could summarize it in the most simple way, I would say that sealed collecting, at least to me, comes down to two things: nostalgia and rarity.

And finally, I would say that collecting ANYTHING, in general, is a stupid way to secure your retirement. I don't care if I pay $50 for a sealed game that's worth .25 cents 40 years from now because, number 1: That's what my 401(k) is for, and number 2: I don't plan on selling it anyway.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Now, let me try to explain to you the appeal, as a GAMER, of the sealed game. It's hard to put into words, but I'll give it a try. The appeal in a sealed game lies not within its inherent or future worth. It doesn't lie in the fact that you can show it off. It doesn't even lie in the fact that it makes some people angry. No, the real appeal of a sealed game for a GAMER is that it is a rarity. It's knowing that there were probably only 1,500 copies of Spider-Man: Web of Fire manufactured, and you've got one of them. And not only do you have one of them, but it's never been touched by another human. There might only be 10 copies like that in existence. And I don't care if it's worth $1.00 or $1,000.00, that's pretty special to me.

I would say that is pretty accurate, which is half the reason I am privilaged to own one of these red PlayStation's. It is not to be "Different" and neither is it to "Show off" nor as a future investment, but it is a rarity (Limited to only 2000) and I am just content that I own one.

There is also another appeal to owning some sealed games. Chances are the one you own could well be the only one in existence. Eg, I own a factory sealed PAL copy of Paper Mario. Now Paper Mario is rare at the best of times, and sealed ones even rarer, but I may own the very last sealed one in existance... As it happens, I know for a fact that I don't, as I know someone else who also owns one.


It's the same with autographed items. You can take a copy of Duck Hunt and add a Miyomoto signiture to it, and that game instantly becomes a rarity, even though it is probably one of the most common NES carts around. The appeal of owning such an item is that it is a rarity. It may turn out that there is no demand for such an item, and it is worth almost nothing, but it's the fact that it is one in X that makes it worth owning.


I suppose there is a certain element of "Bragging rights" to be had with owning a sealed games collection, but to me, that is not the main reason I collect them.


Take Buffyseason box sets for example. The original ones were numbered. The later ones were not, but some people would rather own the numbered editions than have the rereleases, which may be a lot cheaper. Same goes for the difference between black label PlayStation games and Greatest Hits ones. In the case of games like FFVII, a brand new Greatest Hits one will cost around $15, yet a sealed black label will cost over $100

[Windy Miller]

Strider, the editor of the GamesTM Retro section, regularly posts on the RLLMUK forum (http://www.rllmukforum.com) & NTSC-UK looking for volunteers for the section in the magazine. It's also getting an overhaul to be spread over two pages & have more personal questions.

If you're keen to show off your collection of sealed games, feel free to drop him an email on one of those sites or post in his once a month threads. [/url]

Don't worry. He's already started a thread on the Gamestm forum about how wonderful his collection is.

Give.Me.A.Break. -_-

[Windy Miller]

I suppose there is a certain element of "Bragging rights" to be had with owning a sealed games collection, but to me, that is not the main reason I collect them.





I don't want to attack you GP, but I did a very simple Google on your name & on every forum that you've started this very same subject, you're bragging.

And that's a shame. From what I've read of your posts on various forums across the world, you seem like a nice person who knows their stuff. I think if you just worded your posts a little differently & took some time settling in to other forums people would treat you a lot better. :)

[wibble]

>However, a majority of collector's they tend to feature have a load of >crap. And so many of them tend to waffle on about how they scour car >boot sales and the pre-owned sections of GameStation etc... It gets a bit >boring after a while to be honest...

Seeing as the sum of your collecting stories seem to be "bought it for X amount off ebay" I think I'd go for the boot sale stories any day.

[Daria]

Ie, I have a bit of a weakness for my sealed black label American PSone RPG's...

A weakness because they're expensive of course. Being RPGs really has nothing to do with it, It's hard for a chunk of plastic wrapped in cellaphane to have a genre. Afterall they all play (or rather don't play) the same sitting on the shelf.

[Wavelflack]

I guess I might as well inject a little dalight into the "sealed games" discussion. Here goes:

<snip>

Wavelflack, I don't think you really understand how the "collector's market" works. I'm not slamming you, I just don't think you understand it.

On the other hand, I don't particularly collect my sealed games for value. First, let me state that I've got all kinds in my collection: sealed, complete, cart only, and in the case of one copy of Panzer Dragoon Saga, scratched to hell and unworking.

Now, let me try to explain to you the appeal, as a GAMER, of the sealed game. It's hard to put into words, but I'll give it a try. The appeal in a sealed game lies not within its inherent or future worth. It doesn't lie in the fact that you can show it off. It doesn't even lie in the fact that it makes some people angry. No, the real appeal of a sealed game for a GAMER is that it is a rarity. It's knowing that there were probably only 1,500 copies of Spider-Man: Web of Fire manufactured, and you've got one of them. And not only do you have one of them, but it's never been touched by another human. There might only be 10 copies like that in existence. And I don't care if it's worth $1.00 or $1,000.00, that's pretty special to me.

When I see a sealed Atari 2600 game, even a cheap ass one like E.T. or Pac-Man, my heart goes aflutter at memories from my childhood. Of walking into the local toy store (don't have many of those anymore) and seeing the Atari kiosk and all of those pristine, beautiful Atari games lined up perfectly in a row. And I can remember getting that very same sealed Pac-Man game on Christmas morning.

So, like I said, it's hard to put into words, but if I could summarize it in the most simple way, I would say that sealed collecting, at least to me, comes down to two things: nostalgia and rarity.

And finally, I would say that collecting ANYTHING, in general, is a stupid way to secure your retirement. I don't care if I pay $50 for a sealed game that's worth .25 cents 40 years from now because, number 1: That's what my 401(k) is for, and number 2: I don't plan on selling it anyway.

1. "Wavelflack, I don't think you really understand how the "collector's market" works. I'm not slamming you, I just don't think you understand it."

I understand it quite well, thank you. I just happen to practice a more efficient and effective methodology.

2. "No, the real appeal of a sealed game for a GAMER is that it is a rarity."

Rarity is the appeal of a sealed game for a SEALED GAME COLLECTOR, not for a GAMER. Whoever heard of a GAMER who doesn't play their games?
Rarity of non-sealed games is what appeals to other game collectors, and again, not GAMERs.
The play value and sentimental value of a game are what appeal to GAMERs, and the first value is incompatible with sealed games, whereas the second value simply has no correlation to sealed games.

3. "..And I don't care if it's worth $1.00 or $1,000.00, that's pretty special to me."

Then why do you suppose "sealed" collectors place so much emphasis on the value of their sealed games?


4. "And I can remember getting that very same sealed Pac-Man game on Christmas morning."

Which presumably you never opened, otherwise the focus of your nostalgia would be the actual game and it's associated memories, rather than the condition of the box and the cellophane wrapper. Unbelievable.

5. "And finally, I would say that collecting ANYTHING, in general, is a stupid way to secure your retirement."

Agreed, but when people point to the value of their sealed game collection, it implicitly denotes their intention to "cash out" some day. If I buy shares in Microsoft to "collect", and have no intention of ever selling them, would I really care what their value is? Perhaps you aren't interested in selling your collection someday, and have therefore never discussed or calculated it's dollar value (or have you?), but I really wasn't addressing you in the first place.

6. "I don't care if I pay $50 for a sealed game that's worth .25 cents 40 years from now because, number 1: That's what my 401(k) is for, and number 2: I don't plan on selling it anyway."

So you are paying $50 (never to be recovered) for a sealed game that will remain sealed? It must just be a fetish, then. You get no entertainment value from your $50 game, because you can't play it. You only get a fractional percentage of the aesthetic value of the game as a physical object, since you cannot view anything other than the outer box. Don't bother to mention the "loose copy" that you also have to play; it doesn't count, because it's not what you paid $50 for. You had to pay extra for a copy to actually play! LOL


Anyhow, if the sealed collectors want to say "Yeah, I know it's essentially wasteful and stupid, but that's my bag.", then that's just fine. Everyone has things they like that aren't rational or part of a greater strategy.

[Promophile]

I think a better example than the card one given earlier would be action figures. They are ment to be opened and played with yet people collect them and some of them are worth vastly more when still MIB.

This conversation is useless. Gamers will never understand the appeal of collecting sealed games no matter how many times it's explained to them. People sink tens of thousands of dollars into their cars and love them to death but to me a car is a way of getting from point A to point B. No matter how much you try to explain the appeal of your $50,000 car to me I won't understand.

[drewbrim]

i've been watching (reading) this thread from the start and now that I've just finished my 12 pack, what better time to chime in?

I see sides to both arguments and although I lean one way I will argue the side that seems to be taking the most flack. Hey, who doesn't love an underdog :) ?

While collecting sealed games may be at the very least unpractical, who here would open a sealed Chrono Trigger or Legend of Zelda if you were lucky enough to find one? Yes, besides you Iron Dragon. I mean what on Gods' green earth would posess you to open something like that? To play it? Come on, be honest with yourselves. Knowing how much it's worth and how easy it is to obtain a loose copy, it would be foolish and borderline irresponsible to defile a treasure such as that. "But were not talking about Zelda" you say. Maybe not, but who's to say that Final Fantasy 7 doesn't become the 90's version of Zelda? A fabulous rpg to the masses, a game beloved by all. Why not keep a sealed black label if possible and play/scratch the hell out of a GH copy?

Nobody who collects sealed games pays $49.99 for them. I have 4 sealed games in my collection. and I bought them all for less than $20. 4 obviously isn't very many and hey, I don't collect sealed games, but when I saw a black label Final Fantasy X for $19.99 after the GH version came out I got one. There's no reason to open it, why? Because I and most everyone else on these boards can grab one for $5-$10 every day of the week. So now I have a sealed copy that I can sell/trade for something I covet more, all while paying a total of $25 for both games,which is half of what many paid for their copy on release. I'm sure I'll do the same with FFX-2, there are a few original left at my local establishments, and I'll probably grab one and leave it sealed. Just in case it follows the patterns as the ones before it. But regardless of whether it does or doesn't I can sleep knowing I will always be able to sell or trade it at its current value.

Why do you think so many people here snatched multiple copies of Rhapsody SEALED from gamequest a 2 weeks or so ago? Is it so they could be the first/only person to play it? Or was it because they were sealed and they were hoping to turn a profit through selling or trading? And those who bought copies paid $50 a piece. If I had bought one I wouldn't even need to open it to play since my backlog of rpg's is so depressing it makes me cry :( . It wouldn't necessarily be that I didn't want to open it. It's just that I'm not dying to play it and as previously mentioned, I could choose from the many other games that I have that I have never played due to commitments and lack of time. So why play it now? Because it's supposedly short and it seems to be only liked by half of the people who've played it? Hardly a strong recommendation. Now, a game that's considered superior like panzer dragoon saga for example, I might have a hard time leaving it sealed due to all the glowing reviews received here and elsewhere. But I hope that if I had a sealed copy I could bide my time with the others I haven't played or have the patience to wait until I found an opened copy.

End of thoughts. Need more beer.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

I suppose there is a certain element of "Bragging rights" to be had with owning a sealed games collection, but to me, that is not the main reason I collect them.





I don't want to attack you GP, but I did a very simple Google on your name & on every forum that you've started this very same subject, you're bragging.

And that's a shame. From what I've read of your posts on various forums across the world, you seem like a nice person who knows their stuff. I think if you just worded your posts a little differently & took some time settling in to other forums people would treat you a lot better. :)

I agree. Although, the DreamCast collection thread went down fairly well on DreamCast History. It is hard to type exactly what I feel without the use of emotion ~ It sounds alright when spoken, but it just doesn't translate to text easially.

I don't think my initial posts on Games TM went down too well either. That'll teach me to type what I think in future! Maybe I should've started out with a few dozen subtle additions to current threads, and then come in with the collection pics and stuff. As it was, I just went straight in at the top, and found myself out-gunned.


The main reason for me posting on Games Tm was as a result of this very thread and a fleeting thought one evening as I was reading the Games Tm magazine... ~ I had a quick thought regarding how "Samey" the featured colector's collections looked, and thought that perhaps I could become a featured collector...

As it turns out, this therad (And the others on Games Tm) have shown me that maybe other people don't quite see things as I do. To other people, they actually want to see collections which all look the same, yet which may have different stories about how they came about collecting them...


And yes, I agree with the action figures analogy. You just have to take vintage Kenner / Palitoy Star Wars figures to se how much the prices vary between a loose figure and a MOC one. But, again, there are different collectors ~ Some who want a collection of sealed MOC C10's, and others who are content with the loose figures with "Play" wear & tear...

[ChronoTriggaFoo]

I am a collector of all kinds. MOSTLY TO PLAY. I AM A GAMER ABOVE ALL. HOWEVER, I LOVE HARD TO FIND ITEMS AS WELL.

To those who swear by constructing "love nests" dedicated to our precious games, consider why we do so besides efficiency: aesthetics. Yes, we can't just have our games just strewn about. We adorn our rooms of doom with an efficient system of display. We share these with others because we are proud of how they look. Collectors AND gamers alike have constructed rooms of doom. Thus, many games not only have gameplay going for them, but a certain aesthetic value applied to them.

I can also imagine a person that strives for perfection would not be satisfied with just a loose cart, but rather a sealed one. To such a person, they would be able to partially satiate that need for perfection through the gradual accumulation of sealed/rare games that few others own.

I understand that the idea being debated here concerns the enjoyment of video games. But there are obviously differing philosophies being defended here. Digital Press has attracted not only pure gamers, but collectors as well. Analogously, apples and oranges. They are both fruits, but quite different. We all love video games, but for different reasons.

Last but not least, I believe collecting sealed games gives some the feeling of having the opportunity at preserving video game history. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT NO MATTER WHAT, THIS ALSO INVOLVES BRAGGING RIGHTS. Why else would one want to fervently display their collection in a gaming mag for all to see?

[Windy Miller]

As it turns out, this therad (And the others on Games Tm) have shown me that maybe other people don't quite see things as I do. To other people, they actually want to see collections which all look the same, yet which may have different stories about how they came about collecting them...




I'm not sure that we all want to see 'samey' collections, it's just that we want some sort of story behind it. I don't really want to see a huge collection of games that have all come from eBay. I want to hear about the person who was on holiday in a far flung state/country etc & by chance finds a mint copy of 'x rare game'. Those are the interesting ones, for me anyway.

Another factor for me is the good old 'are you a gamer or a collector argument'.

I want to read about gamers, not someone who just buys stuff. I want to hear why someone bought that game & how much enjoyment they get out of playing it, not just looking at it. And I'm guessing that on most forums, 99% of members are gamers first & foremost, so they'll maybe never understand your take on collecting.

I suppose at the end of the day, we all do what brings us happiness. Your's is sealed games, so we should respect that. If you don't play games that much, well, that's up to you.

The thing is, what are you going to do when your collection is complete ? Just move onto another one ?

What happens when you've started the same thread on every forum on this planet ? Will you ever be happy ? :/

[§ Gideon §]

Gemini-Phoenix: What made you pick video games as opposed to other collectibles? Do you like how they look? I don't think they're as lucrative as other items, so money isn't the reason.

Oh! Are video games fun to collect for in terms of where you can find them? I can relate to that.

Err... COLLECT ON! LOL

(couldn't resist)

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Video games are something I have always enjoyed. The main reason I got into collecting selaed ones is

A) My dislike of being forced to be content with some shop-soiled product, which had been stickered to hell; And

B) One day, I found that I had been buying more games than I could physically play, due to time restraints (Gotta work after all)

I found myself buying the games, but only actually opening and playing half of them, which would usually be quick and easy games such as Vib Ribbon opposed to some great hardcore RPG's


I also learnt of the existance of eBay in this period. I then learnt that some particular games increase in value ~ Mainly RPG's and puzzlers, so, I decided to keep my current gen games which fitted that criteria sealed. It eventually got out of hand, and obsession took over from rational thought, and I would say I am bordering on obsessive compulsive disorder now...


As I also mentioned before, anyone with a decent amount of cash can just go on eBay and buy each and every DC game. To me, this seemed too easy, and when all is said and done, all I would have would be the same as what many other collectors own. Just a plain simple full set. Hence why I decided to stand out from the crowd and decide to give myself the challenge of collecting a complete sealed set.

After all, it's the collecting that counts, not the items which you collect. If you set yourself some personal targets, it makes it all worth while. Same with any collection.


Plus, I know that if I so wanted, I could possibly resell the games to recoup my money (So technically it would be an investment), or, if I wished, I could open them up and enjoy them as they were intended (Perhaps when I retire)

But to me, I am happy to "View the past" and preserve their original condition. As a set, it becomes more impressive.


DP is as much about collecting as it is about gaming. You have the people who play on one end of the scale, and the people who collect at the other, with fuzzy shades inbetween for those who do a bit of both.

Gaming is as important to our popular culture as much as films or music. I feel content knowing that I am doing my part in preserving a small space of time, whilst all the time, knowing that I have the game there if I ever really felt like playing it.

To me, knowing that I own the game is enough. It is a better feeling than having regrets years later about never having bought the game, and having to rely on trying to track it down...

[wibble]

>As it turns out, this therad (And the others on Games Tm) have shown >me that maybe other people don't quite see things as I do. To other >people, they actually want to see collections which all look the same,

I disagree, what you've got is a load of stuff that isn't THAT had to get, just expensive. There's little in the way of one offs, the condition the collection is in is your show off point - if there were really hard to get games (as opposed to hard to get sealed ones) or titles that weren't seen reguarly then fair enough but there isn't.

If your looking to make a splash your hard sell should be on the US RPG's, those are not seen that much over here so you'd have an "angle" there otherwise it's just a bunch of (pretty much) pal games from the last 7 years and we've seen them albeit without shrinking.

[ManciGames]

3. "..And I don't care if it's worth $1.00 or $1,000.00, that's pretty special to me."

Then why do you suppose "sealed" collectors place so much emphasis on the value of their sealed games?

I was making a general statement, but just like most areas of collecting, I'm sure you are right that some people just like to brag about values. But is that so different than bragging about "how many I have"?



4. "And I can remember getting that very same sealed Pac-Man game on Christmas morning."

Which presumably you never opened, otherwise the focus of your nostalgia would be the actual game and it's associated memories, rather than the condition of the box and the cellophane wrapper. Unbelievable.

Oh, I opened it all right. And I played the hell out of it for like 4 years. But, about 20 years later, I spotted a pristine sealed copy (just the way I remember it looking Christmas day) for $4.00 and snatched it up. It has remained "sealed" ever since.



So you are paying $50 (never to be recovered) for a sealed game that will remain sealed? It must just be a fetish, then. You get no entertainment value from your $50 game, because you can't play it. You only get a fractional percentage of the aesthetic value of the game as a physical object, since you cannot view anything other than the outer box. Don't bother to mention the "loose copy" that you also have to play; it doesn't count, because it's not what you paid $50 for. You had to pay extra for a copy to actually play! LOL

Again, I think this is just where you don't understand the appeal. What about coin collectors? From your point of view, these people are goofy because they are collecting money and not spending it. See what I mean?

[ManciGames]

This conversation is useless. Gamers will never understand the appeal of collecting sealed games no matter how many times it's explained to them. People sink tens of thousands of dollars into their cars and love them to death but to me a car is a way of getting from point A to point B. No matter how much you try to explain the appeal of your $50,000 car to me I won't understand.

lol. I think that's the best example I've heard yet.

[§ Gideon §]

Gemini-Phoenix: Hey, I think I understand you better now. There's nothing wrong with what you're doing. :) Though, maybe some people are jealous.