Actual gaming time vs. Time spent collecting?

[Technosis]

I'm just wondering what the general ratio of actual game playing time vs. time spent building a collection is for most people? By this I mean the time spent actually playing video games vs. gaming web forums, eBay, game reviews, magazines, searching in the wild, etc. Do you find that as your collection grows that you spend less time actually gaming and more time "collecting" ???

[scorch56]

I know I'm not the norm; but for the last 5 years I've spent 10 times more time collecting, than actually playing the games I collected. One of the reasons I decided a few weeks ago to entirely dump all of my pre last-gen (XBX,GCN,PS2) games.. and why I am currently trying to sell the entire lot of 450 games.. all at once. Looking back.. I now regret all that time wasted amassing all of this "stuff". Out of those 450 games.. I'm lucky if I actually played 5% of them.. ludicrous. I am currently looking forward to being able to devote a MUCH greater part of my spare time to things a LOT more meaningful in life.

[Steven]

2004-2005 were my biggest "collector's mentality" years... where I bought lots of games, and never so much even tested them. These days I've reverted back to gamer-collector, where I'd like to be for the rest of my gaming days. Not only am I playing my games more, but I find myself actually trying to beat them as well.

[stargate]

I have found being online to be extremely addictive. so much so that I spent the better part of the past 2-3 years dicking around online, buying games on ebay, researching games, reading reviews, and posting in forums. honestly, I would go months on end without even picking up a controller.

then I got pissed with myself and now I force myself to spend some time gaming at least a few days per week. I say "force", but what I mean is that I make sure to shut off the tv and computer and sit down and enjoy some of the many many games I have collected. I love it and once I get going I am psyched I did, but I do have to shut off this friggin computer which I seem to be addicted to...

[cyberfluxor]

Most likely more collecting. It takes awhile for me to get around to all the stores I venture off to. It may take around 4 hrs to visit most of the stores and come up with nothing game related. On a weekly basis, currently I'm spending around 4hrs gaming, 2hrs searching. Next week is spring break, so it'll most likely be 20+ hrs in the week gaming and 4-5 hrs searching, then another 15+ hrs watching DVDs and anime. I also plan on reading a lot of books to play "catch up" in classes. :D

[50s Brawler]

I have found being online to be extremely addictive. so much so that I spent the better part of the past 2-3 years dicking around online, buying games on ebay, researching games, reading reviews, and posting in forums. honestly, I would go months on end without even picking up a controller.


What he said.

And as far as gaming time goes. I only really have time for arcade games or giving no more than an hour or two every night (if I'm not working) after the wife and kid have gone to bed. Lately I've been playing quite a bit, but like stargate said... I too can go months without powering up anything.
:drinking:

[agbulls]

I think its inevitable that the more you become a collector, the less you find yourself playing. That is assuming you're a working adult. When I was in college--which was only 5 years ago--I found I could do both. Now my wife just says "Hey, you gonna get off Digital Press TODAY?"

I've made a major effort to dump off the shit I'm never going to play this month, and will likely continue to do so. I think the hardest thing is deciding what to actually own games for and what to just pass on. I find myself actually wanting another system hooked up to my 50" Sony. And you know what? I currently have 8 systems running through it right now with shit sitting all over the place. I've barely played Sonic on the Wii---even though I want to and actually just bought MLB on 360.

It's coming to a critical fucking mass where I MUST ask myself WHY.

I don't even have any collector friends to show my shit off to. Isn't that part of the fun?

I think I'm close to hitting my breaking point again (I did a few years back). Either that, or my wife is going to break ME. When I tell coworkers how many games I have they often look at me and say "you have all that? wow, you must play all the time." Between life, work and collecting my Saturday's have become my sliver of gaming time. Its around 4 hours or so, whereas it once was 12-15. I'm sure I'll get back there again soon. After all, God of War II is just around the corner and I need to make it comes home so it stares at me ruthlessly from the shelf taunting me to actually play it.

[ecresto]

from working 45 hours a week , and having a one year old its hard to find time to play my games . i at least try to play my new stuff and beat it . like for the ps3 and 360 . i ocassionaly play my older stuff but there just isnt enough time in a day . on my 2 days off a week i spend 75 percent of the day going all over town searching pawn shops , game stores , and thrifts . i just started collecting
in feb last year ((for real)) ,and have 650 plus games . but i just love to collect , ive been doing it all my life . i really wish i didnt sell my stuff before , because i would have thousands of things .

[Steve W]

Lately, I don't spend much time playing games. I definitely spend a lot more time collecting them, though. All the time I put into thrift store shopping, wandering around flea markets, and hitting stores looking for dirt cheap modern games, isn't balanced too well with the amount of time I put into popping them into a console and getting some enjoyment out of them. But I have fun looking for games, so I'm not too concerned. In the past couple years, it's the thrill of the hunt more than enjoying the plunder.

[dgdgagdae]

then I got pissed with myself and now I force myself to spend some time gaming at least a few days per week. I say "force", but what I mean is that I make sure to shut off the tv and computer and sit down and enjoy some of the many many games I have collected. I love it and once I get going I am psyched I did, but I do have to shut off this friggin computer which I seem to be addicted to...

Doesn't that make it hard to play? Unless you're going after a REAL challenge!

[kaedesdisciple]

Well, like many of my fellow working stiffs here, I find myself with less and less time to play. Work + grad school + planning a wedding + trying to lead some semblance of a normal healthy life doesn't leave much time for gaming. But since I do get some time at work during lunch and I have time to read on the train after I finish my grad school reading, I find myself keeping up with the industry through its journalism.

I have about 250+ games (small potatoes compared to many people here) and sometimes I consider selling off a system here or there. It's actually my fiancee that tells me not to sell anything and encourages me in meeting the goals of my collection. She realizes that it's my hobby and it's important to me. I always meet all my obligations, don't go into debt for it and can save money for later. Of course she's more important than video games, and it helps that she enjoys picking up the controller, too.

I don't have any collector friends locally that I can show this stuff off to either, and it's not like I have enough space to show off the whole collection at once anyway. Bah, I'll probably just wind up passing it on eventually...

[alexkidd2000]

I find that I enjoy collecting, and reading about classic, current or future games and systems then actually playing them. I am prolly 90% not playing, its really strange. I think I like the boxes more then the games haha.

[stargate]

Doesn't that make it hard to play? Unless you're going after a REAL challenge!


ha ha. yes, actually I do have to turn a tv on, but I have a different one in my gaming room for that.

wow, I am surprised so many of us are in the same boat. I just sort of assumed I was one of the few who spent more time collecting than actualy gaming.

agbulls said, "I don't even have any collector friends to show my shit off to. Isn't that part of the fun?"

this is a good point. I have NO friends into classic gaming. I am 35 and I have like 1 or 2 friends who enjoy next gen type gaming, but I can't even force them to play a classic game with me and they sure as hell don't want to hear me talk about it so that kinda sucks. I basically just enjoy it by myself and of course will you all on the forums.

[TurboGenesis]

I regret that I seem to be compiling more games rather than playing them :( I am currently working 6 days a week and have a family so game time is pretty much limited. I pretty much play shoot them ups the most as these games can be enjoyed for about 30 minutes or less a day. So all my shooties plus any new ones I pick up get played. On the other hand I enjoy RPG's but time does not allow me to play them much and I continue to get more. I have a fair amount of my latest acquisitions still sealed as I have a huge backlog of RPG's. When I was off work for 2 months a few years ago I finished 3 RPG's - long games too like Star Ocean 3 Til the end of time, Xenosaga, and Y's VI. I wouldn't mind having another 2 month vacation just to sit home and play games :)

I'll still go by the ol' saying - 'when I retire, I'll play through them all!'

[agbulls]

\ I wouldn't mind having another 2 month vacation just to sit home and play games :)

We can all dream my friend, we can all dream. :)

[AlphaNerd01]

Now that I'm a full time student, and I only work at GameStop once a week, I'm actually PLAYING the games I collected between 2004-2006... but for the last couple years, I spent a lot more time hunting for games than actually playing them. Reading the other replies I feel a lot less guilty about that now. :)

[whoisKeel]

Meh, I go through phases like the rest of us. I've certainly been guilty of chasing deals on the internet and scouring information in lieu of actually playing games, but this comes and goes.

[dgdgagdae]

this is a good point. I have NO friends into classic gaming. I am 35 and I have like 1 or 2 friends who enjoy next gen type gaming, but I can't even force them to play a classic game with me and they sure as hell don't want to hear me talk about it so that kinda sucks. I basically just enjoy it by myself and of course will you all on the forums.

The question from a friend at work today, when I told him I just bought an Atari (knowing there was no point in saying "2600" at the end of that) - "Why"?

[PallarAndersVisa]

what exactly goes "in" to collecting? You browse ebay, buy some shit, open the mail and throw the game in a stack or on a shelf. I spend hours upon hours playing xbox 360 every week, way more than time spent "collecting."

[coinheaven]

i really dont play any games when i am at home. i brought a controller into work, so i just play emulators during my lunch break, which is an hour and a half. and you can save your state. but i still collect like crazy, which i find is really fun. going to flea markets instead of gaming isnt a bad thing, its exercise and its gets you outside. its such a good feeling showing up to one and seeing a ton of people, you never know what you are going to find.

[agbulls]

what exactly goes "in" to collecting? You browse ebay, buy some shit, open the mail and throw the game in a stack or on a shelf. I spend hours upon hours playing xbox 360 every week, way more than time spent "collecting."

I'm not trying to be rude or anything--but you ARE in a classic gaming collectors forum :). Take a look at the main page and you'll see what I mean. The 360 is great and all (I have one) but I highly highly doubt many--if any--of us can or choose to spend hours playing it.

I'd rather run through Super Metroid again :)

[Drag0nsfyre]

Like the rest of you, I work full time. I do manage to try and get some game time in though. I have all my classic collection and systems in my bedroom. While the last gen (minus the GC which is in the bedroom) and my 360 are set up in the living room. So usually while I'm relaxing in bed I can put something in and play for a bit or I'll play something on the handhelds. (GBA/DS) I either do that or relax and browse through an old (or new) gaming mag. I'm also single and have no kids so that is not a factor at the moment. Other spare time is spent online checking out things on Ebay and here or hunting around for things when I'm out and about.

[theshizzle3000]

It depends how much free time I have during the week. If I am lacking things to do I probably go out and try to find stuff to get, but if I am at the house its probably time spent gaming.

[ACCarl]

I think it is more of an obsession to just collect something instead of actually playing video games. I remember I used to collect games and then they would sit on my shelf untouched. I was never satisfied and I always wanted to collect more and more crap. I was sitting around watching a show on people that collect weird crap like happy meal toys and old signs from the 60's. These people would wake up at 5am in the morning every Saturday to be the first people at the swap meet to collect this crap before everyone else. These people had their houses full of this junk and I just laughed at them thinking they were stupid. I then realized i was doing the exact same thing except it was with video games. Look at the Digit Press guy. That guy collect stuff just to collect ane never is satisfied and always wants more. It woudlnt' matter if you were collecting stamps, bottle caps or baseball cards. People just have a need to collect something. I then decided to sell all the crap I never really played like the Saturn, Genesis, Gameboys, turbo grafx etc and just kept the stuff from my childhood like the nes, SNES, and N64. I eventually sold that stuff as well because I think it wsa hurting me and I dont' want my son playing games. I do check this board once a year because I think you guys have good discussions.

[agbulls]

I think it is more of an obsession to just collect something instead of actually playing video games. I remember I used to collect games and then they would sit on my shelf untouched. I was never satisfied and I always wanted to collect more and more crap. I was sitting around watching a show on people that collect weird crap like happy meal toys and old signs from the 60's. These people would wake up at 5am in the morning every Saturday to be the first people at the swap meet to collect this crap before everyone else. These people had their houses full of this junk and I just laughed at them thinking they were stupid. I then realized i was doing the exact same thing except it was with video games. Look at the Digit Press guy. That guy collect stuff just to collect ane never is satisfied and always wants more. It woudlnt' matter if you were collecting stamps, bottle caps or baseball cards. People just have a need to collect something. I then decided to sell all the crap I never really played like the Saturn, Genesis, Gameboys, turbo grafx etc and just kept the stuff from my childhood like the nes, SNES, and N64. I eventually sold that stuff as well because I think it wsa hurting me and I dont' want my son playing games. I do check this board once a year because I think you guys have good discussions.

Firstly, paragraphs are always appreciated. Secondly, you might want to read my above post too. :)

[ACCarl]

Firstly, paragraphs are always appreciated. Secondly, you might want to read my above post too. :)
Sorry I have problems with that stuff at times. Good post though!

[incubus421]

When I first got into my collecting of games about a year ago I spent way too much time online tyring to sell off oldies and trade for others and I was definitely using the comp. alot more than playing what I had gained.
Nowadays I have a nice blanance going whikch I hope to stay at as far as time consumption goes.
I spend about an average of 1-2 hours on the computer trading after work each day. I spend probably around another 2 hours running about to all the "in the wild" locations atleast once a week. About 10 hours a week on average trying to gain and collect more gaming items.
On the other side I spend about 3-5 hours a day on average actually playing what I have collected (which surpisingly enough still makes me feel like I've accomplished nothing on what I decide to play). Average of about 25-30 hours a week playing my games.

Ratio = 1:3

[NES_Rules]

I spend a hell of a lot more time collecting than I do playing. The biggest reason, is that my whole collection has come from the wild, so no 5 minutes on eBay to get any game imaginable. This is especially tru in the summer when I spend probably 15 hours per weekend game hunting and working 45 hours during the week.
Also, I rarely play games anymore. I just never have the time to be immersed in a game for hours on end. I'll occasionally play a game for a couple minutes, then switch to another game.

[Poofta!]

i almost exclusively collect now. i rarely play anything, and the stuff i do play, isnt really what i colelct... for instance ill play a little 360, and i only have 3 games for it. some psp thati pirate for, some ds, i also pirate for.


the games i do collect arent like what most of you guys do, i dont buy shit, i dont buy stuff just cause i dont have it. i only go for things i have a personal attraction to (rpgs for instance, and generally good games). so while my collection is close to about 250 or so games, they are all quite playable and enjoyable. i just honestly dont play games much, or at all anymore.

[DarthKur]

I've always been horribly obsessive about collecting all sorts of things, books, albums, movies and, of coarse, games. So it does seem like, a lot of the time, that I spend far more time hunting for stuff than actually using them. Just today the UPS truck droped off another box of goodies, an Atari 1050 disk drive, two Tandy disk drives, one a single unit the other a double, an Atari 410 data recorder, two COCO carts and three TI ones. I can NEVER get enough. I just placed a bid on a retro collection disk for the PS1 and am currently bidding on two 2600 carts. :P That's not to say I never play any of them. Just yesterday I spent the vast majority of the day and early evening on the Atari 7800, Jaguar and 5200.

[scaleworm]

Sounds way too similar.... critical mass.... but my wife is cool about it... she took me to ikea to buy a shelving unit (big one).... then she says last night " it has a lot of stuff in it."... i reply...I need like 5 more of these shelves (between my vinyl and games total)...

oh well... collecting IS fun...but gaming is better...

the bug i have is that the stuff used to be every where out here (not at all sunny seattle)... now it has dryed up... too many retro hunters now.

maybe now i will have more time to game, as collecting is going away (real vs. virtual).

[aaron7]

If I was to make it a ratio... gaming:collecting... 1:10000000

[Sotenga]

I've gained quite a bit of collect time lately, but my game time to collect time ratio is... about ten-to-one. I get them to play them, ya know? :D

[ghostangelofcky]

I used to buy more than I played. Now i'm more of a gamer than a collector.
I don't really watch TV other than the occasional movie.

My nights are listening to music (METAL!) while playing games. My new kick is to play games by system, oldest to newest. I'm currently on the Genny. I buy the occasional game on Ebay but most of purchases are from thrift stores and my freinds game store.

Also with my my music I have been listening to everything alphabetically (sp) I decided I needed more structure in my life I guess

currently on King Diamond!

[Fighter17]

I collect more than play more.

School I guess.