To new collectors from an old collector... Don't do this.

[fishsandwich]

I'm 37 years old have been collecting games since I was in my early twenties. I've spent countless thousands of dollars on stuff I hardly played. I would buy anything in years past... and I mean anything! My "collecting" bordered on "sickness" for many years.

Things have changed as I have gotten older and what was so vitally important to me is no longer so important.

My father died this year and my mother has decided to move to a smaller home. This means that the handy storage unit I had (the attic) is about to close so I had to go home for Christmas and sort it all out.

I found four loose intellivisons. A couple of 2600 clones. Two 5200's. Two new steering wheels for PS1 and Saturn. An original Odyssey. An Odyssey 2. An Astrocade. Piles and piles of stuff. And hundreds upon hundreds of magazines. I really hated to let those go but I had no place to store them and they are HEAVY. I sold the whole mess to another DP member and I hope he loves those magazines as much as I did.

This was not the first time I went home to clean. My last trip I brought back home five nes consoles, four Genesis, two Sega CD, two Jags, another 5200, an Intellivision with no power cord, two master systems, an Atari XE, a 7800, a CV with all the attachments, and only God knows how many games and controllers and LOOSE WIRES oh my God.

I have several thousand games sitting in a friends basement. Lots of boxed Saturn, N64, Master System, SNES, Genesis, PSX, and who knows what else. I tried (and failed) to complete the entire Saturn and N64 domestic libraries and came quite close before I just lost interest. God bless my friend for storing them for me. What on earth will I do with them? I HATE selling on Ebay and I'll never get what I paid for them but I hate to see them just sit there until a bomb blows us all up. I have tons of games at home, too... lots of handheld games (why on earth did I feel the need to complete the libraries for the the N-Gage, Zodiac, Gizmondo, and NGPC?)

I have loads of stuff that I never play and am too busy to sell. They have become a great big monkey on my back. Why have 5 Intellivisions? 6 NES? God knows how many Genesis consoles? Why do I have 3 32x's AND a Megadrive 32x AND a Japanese 32x? THIS WAS INSANITY.

My current gaming habits consist of GBA, DC, and emulation on PC. That's it.

Part of my problem lies in the fact that I have no storage space. I live in a small loft in Midtown. Things would be very different if I had a large house with a BASEMENT... or would they?

Do I really want to be a 60 year old man with a basement full of old videogames and tons of duplicate consoles? What will I do with them? Stay in the house until I die and then leaqve my poor relatives to dig through the piles of junk?

Bottom line... this hobby can drive you crazy if you let it. Don't let it own you! It's far too easy to spend lots of money and acquire lots of things that take up lots of physical space. I really wish I'd kept control of myself and tried to see where I would be in 20 years. Don't buy for the sake of buying! Make sure you have space to store your crap! That stuff you buy today will NOT be an investment tomorrow!

Embrace emulation. It's so much neater.

[tom]

Do I really want to be a 60 year old man with a basement full of old videogames and tons of duplicate consoles? What will I do with them? Stay in the house until I die and then leaqve my poor relatives to dig through the piles of junk?

Yes, and wait til they argue over what is theirs. That's the best part.

[Cornelius]

I appreciate the advice, as I've already learned a couple of better ways to go about collecting on my own in the short time I've been a 'collector'. Fortunately I've avoided what it sounds to me were your two biggest pitfalls:

1) don't buy new stuff if you aren't going to play it (and if you aren't one of those wacko sealed games collectors). Even if it is a great deal now, say, Mario Galaxy for 30 bucks, in just a few short years it won't cost squat. I've also done well on new stuff buying it, playing it, then selling it while it is still in its prime. You can then play a great game for ~$5 and the pick it up on the cheap when you come across it later.

2. Don't let stuff pile up. Get rid of those extra consoles as you get them. If you are like me, you still can't pass on a working NES system for less than $15, but pick out the games you need and sell the rest. If you didn't pay too much to start with, you can sell it below market value (quickly) and still break even or make a buck.

I'd say if you need to get rid of a bunch of stuff quickly and don't want to get totally boned on the deal, Craigslist is going to be your best option as long as you have at least a bit of a CL scene. Put it up for a good price and it will sell quick, likely to an eBay re-seller, but maybe to someone like me, who'll keep some and sell some.

[mailman187666]

The way I look at it, anything that I aquire and don't sell in the future are for my kids whenever I have them. I may not be into the oldschool vids in 5-10 or maybe as long as 15+ years, but I'm going to keep them just for the fact that I don't buy many duplicates, nor do I lack the space for them. Whatever lasts until my children are at a certain age, is going to them some day. Whether they decide to sell them, keep them, play them is up to them. Whatever they can gain from it will make me happy that I collected in the first place. Its a part of my history, as well as a part of the world's history.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

I have found myself in the same situation, buying stuff because I thought it looked neat or wanted it for some reason. Most of this stuff just sits there once I get it. I then usually wind up selling stuff at a loss to get rid of it so that I can buy more stuff. I am hopefully on the way to recovery, though since I got rid of most of my Genesis and SNES stuff. There will probably be a lot more of my stuff going up for sale in the future.

JY

[G-Boobie]

Sounds like your video game pack rat urge got the best of you, there.

As long as you can A) Afford your games and B) have a healthy life outside of games, I don't see the problem. Friends and relatives are going to be picking through your crap when you've gone 'post-corpus' anyway... They may as well be picking through good stuff.

[DaveD]

Hey Fish....this is almost the story of my life as well....I did not buy as many duplicate systems as you did but I had some...You can also try listing it here and sell it off piece by piece like I am doing, but it takes alot of time and patience...

The key early on would have been filling that emptiness with establishing better and stronger personal relationships, doing more physical activity, even religion (!)...Today, in retrospect, I can see that amassing huge amounts of "stuff" (not just video games) is at it's core a spiritual issue...now, unfortunately, at age 47, I could really use all that money spent foolishly over the past 27 years, and now I also have alot of "catching up" to do on life-issues and "important" things from all those years spent obsessing over playing and collecting games....

Sound advice to the "next generation" from those of us who have been there......
or just keep playing video games 24/7 and see what happens....

[Greg2600]

I hear you man. I'm too much of a pack rat also, can't throw anything out. Collected sports and non-sports cards for many years, which take up about a third of my closet. Honestly, I doubt the value will go up at all, and if I had the time and patience, I would get rid of almost everything other than the non-sports sets, because they're cool to read and look at. Then it was mini-electric race cars (Tyco, AFX, etc.) which didn't go far because the tracks were a pain to set up. Then it was micro machines Star Wars and Star Trek vehicle models, although luckily Galoob only released 4 or 5 full boxed sets of them, so that's all I have. Tried my hand at Star Wars Kenner figures, which I still have a few unopened I can't even give away for free. When the web opened up, I bought some cheap comic books (mostly adaptains of scifi movies or tv shows), never read them.

Last but not least video games. I saved some of my games and systems over the years, but had traded or given most of them away. So over the last 2 years, I have been quickly reacquiring them. When I say them, I mean games I had, or perhaps borrowed from someone for a while, or rented several times, or even enjoyed on an EMU. I only get games I like. Often I may not even bother with sequels, and only get one of the games. Exceptions would be Mario (still have all my originals) or Sonic. I have also purchased several of those cheasy Sega or Nintendo official game trays, that hold two dozen games or whatever. My personal limit is that I will not get more games that fit in those. I just want to have a good and fair representation of the game systems and the games I like to play. Now my personal preference precludes RPGs, puzzle, and fighting games for the most part, because I don't play them. Plus I simply cannot play any stick and ball sports game produced after the 16-bit era ended. They're just too complicated for me.

[gepeto]

Hey Fish....this is almost the story of my life as well....I did not buy as many duplicate systems as you did but I had some...You can also try listing it here and sell it off piece by piece like I am doing, but it takes alot of time and patience...

The key early on would have been filling that emptiness with establishing better and stronger personal relationships, doing more physical activity, even religion (!)...Today, in retrospect, I can see that amassing huge amounts of "stuff" (not just video games) is at it's core a spiritual issue...now, unfortunately, at age 47, I could really use all that money spent foolishly over the past 27 years, and now I also have alot of "catching up" to do on life-issues and "important" things from all those years spent obsessing over playing and collecting games....

Sound advice to the "next generation" from those of us who have been there......
or just keep playing video games 24/7 and see what happens....

I totally understand. I grew up in the videogame apple atari and commodore era. and it holds a special place with me. around the psx era I was looking around and thinking man I am a official collector and then the hunt started.

Sometimes I start feeling overwhelmed but I would put the total value of money spent on my collection at 25,000. people have a fleet of cars that cost way more. Leno has what 80 cars. Some people are our age and have nothing to show for there money. Some people saved and have millions.

If you don't want to do it slow like darth vader maybe we should this summer have the mother of all NAVA's a fewday event to unload stockpiled stock

[briskbc]

Don't let it own you!

I'm not keen on emulation but this quote right here... LIVE IT!

Dont let it own you!

I've collected many things over the years and all to often I've become almost obsessed with whatever it happened to be at the time. I'm keeping things down to 3 systems and that's it. My demo collecting has slowed considerably and will carry on but in moderation.

[guitargary75]

Where you went wrong is you should have collected games to play them. That's what I do. Games are like anything else, you don't collect them to make money. So don't bitch that you can't get your money back. These damn things aren't stocks for Gods sake. Plus, like anything else, the older it gets the more it will be worth. If video games continue to be a multi billion dollar a year industry the prices on the older stuff will always rise in price. So when your about 60 and ready to retire, you won't be bitchin then when have to sell them. So just play em and quit your bitchin. I'm sick of all the whiney bastards, I'll never get my money back, well boo freakin hoo. Anyone who collects crap just to collect has a disorder anyway and needs to seek out therapy. I'll give ten fish sandwiches for your collection.

[ROTS MKII]

You could do a drawing to people on this website where you give out the items as prizes. Remember it is only object and soon I too need an aprentice to pass down my stuff. That is what a family is about. All items attach and merge with each other. IN the begining everything starts out as a idea.

poor relatives

You need to sell off your collection and invest the money into something that
will gain in value that you like and will get you a place for your family.
I have many stuff I want to get rid of also and I will but for the most part it is all worth it in the end and even after the end and new begining.

That stuff you buy today will NOT be an investment tomorrow!

You have to know how to invest your stuff that you have brought over the years. Save and invest is allways the key to fourtune.

Personally I have stopped playing newer systems since I beleive there is barely any creativity in them. The games I admire and that inspired me is on the Saturn and SNES.

I know my limit, I know my likes, and more importantly I know what I am about. Videogames along with other things is like a serpant that is strangling my exsistance and constantly bitting me that prevents me from persuing other activities in life.

However I learned to live with the serpant while shining brighter every day.
You must learn to live with your demon that controls no but demands you to aquire these items.

Life you must live with no vain and go into the future perfecting your abilities. Everybodys life is perfect and you being 30 should know yourself and wants along with needs so well. Rise and live life free with no doubts or fears. You know the junk you consume will be the end of you so you have nothing to fear but fear itself.

I am able to point out things that I could not see before and with that power I am greater then I could ever be. You have all this stuff and call it a mere hobby. There must be something that relates to you that you can do that will allow you to make use of this material.

Be free of your wants and live with your needs.

[8-bitNesMan]

I know my limit, I know my likes, and more importantly I know what I am about. Videogames along with other things is like a serpant that is strangling my exsistance and constantly bitting me that prevents me from persuing other activities in life.

However I learned to live with the serpant while shining brighter every day.
You must learn to live with your demon that controls no but demands you to aquire these items.

Life you must live with no vain and go into the future perfecting your abilities. Everybodys life is perfect and you being 30 should know yourself and wants along with needs so well. Rise and live life free with no doubts or fears. You know the junk you consume will be the end of you so you have nothing to fear but fear itself.

Man... I don't know what the hell you just said, Little Kid, but you're special man, you reached out, and you touch a brother's heart.

[Cambot]

I can still fit my entire collection along one wall in my small office.

And a few boxes in the closet.

Thanks for the advice.

[ssjlance]

I'm 15 and I find myself doing similar things. I never buy new games (unless it's just an amazing game, or one of a series I like) but I have found countless duplicate systems. My collections is miniscule in comparison to many DP members, but any time I have a friend over we always go through the "OMG how long have you been collecting this crap?" I've been in the process of weeding out extra games and consoles, and so far so good.

[blissfulnoise]

I hear you fish. I'm having a crisis of conscious about my collection now. 4500 games some 50 or so consoles. I haven't even actively buying classic games for some time. Frankly, I've got about 90% of the domestic games I'd ever want to own. There are still quite a few imports that I'd like to pick up at some point, but the hurry is gone. So now it comes down to keeping all these games I'll more than likely never play just for their historical value.

My other big problem was/is arcades. I got the bug bad and ended up with 19 machines at my high point. I've cut back some by selling a few off, but I've got a long way to go. How in the hell would I move across the country with 19 arcades?

A big turning point for me was listening to a story on NPR about a guy in Chicago who made a resolution to live simply. He added up every "thing" he owned and came up with 7500 things. He first strived to cut it in half, then in half again. His current goal is to get down to 500 things in his life. To me, this is an admirable goal.

What I'm strongly leaning towards is boiling the collection down to around 1000 essentials and 5 of my arcades. Games that I'll definitely want to play/replay at some point or games that are particularly interesting or important to me. I'll probably use the money I make from the sale off to take a whirlwind tour of Europe with my wife for 2 weeks.

But where I'll deviate with you is on new games. There are many amazing games coming out now that are well worth the full cost to play immediately.

Sure, you can wait to buy games like Super Mario Galaxy and Mass Effect when they hit $5.00 new but why? Say what you want, but all games lose some degree of magic after their time has passed. I guess if you can live in a gamer bubble and not keep up with anything new and live 5 years behind the curb it can work, but who could do that and truly call themselves a gamer? Rabid sharks riding bears would have to tear me away from buying Fallout 3, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, and No More Heroes on day one.

Besides, most new games drop in price so quickly you can easily jump in at the $20 - $40 mark within weeks (or in the first one if you stay on top of sales) and not have to necessarily break the bank.

[Nico87]

I can still fit my entire collection along one wall in my small office.

And a few boxes in the closet.

Thanks for the advice.

Hah, same here!

[Aussie2B]

Interesting topic. Seems like it may explain the disappearance of some regulars of the past.

I think the most important thing is to not get caught up in the "I gotta leave with something" mentality. I know it can feel like a waste of time or gas or whatever to leave a place empty-handed, but you'll be glad in the long run for not weighing yourself down with items you wouldn't have purchased had you found something legitimately good. Same goes for eBay. Don't get yourself so wrapped up in the idea of purchasing something that when you lose the auctions you really wanted to win you just come up with something else to buy. When I make a purchase for the collection, it better be a good deal and something I legitimately want or something I intend to sell off within a few months tops. If it's a dupe that's not cheap/valuable enough to make a worthwhile profit but still a good deal, then I just think "I hope someone else who will appreciate and enjoy it will snap this up." No sense in hoarding duplicates for no reason at all.

And in terms of "obsessive" collecting, like when people go after full sets and variants and what not, I find I can still entertain some little fun obsessions without making a mess of things. I save my obsessions for very obscure stuff, like all merchandise related to particular imports that practically no one knows of. That way there probably isn't much to track down, and it's a good challenge to find those few things. So my "thrill of the hunt" stays thrilling with once-in-a-blue-moon finds, and I like that the obsession is my own special thing. I mean no disrespect to anyone, but if you're, say, tracking down every NES release, well, big whoop, tons of people have done that already, and there are so many games and many are so easy to find that you're just constantly amassing stuff without any real excitement unless you stumble across one of the really rare games. It may not be impressive to very many people, but I'm much more content tracking down Japan-only N64 games, stuff related to tri-Ace games, Wonder Project J merchandise, and my other little collecting projects. And unlike other collector's obsessions, I'm not squandering a ton of space or a lot of money on a regular basis on those.

[Steven]

Bottom line... this hobby can drive you crazy if you let it. Don't let it own you! It's far too easy to spend lots of money and acquire lots of things that take up lots of physical space. I really wish I'd kept control of myself and tried to see where I would be in 20 years. Don't buy for the sake of buying!

Indeed it can. A lot of times, it can be easy to fall into that trap of buying old games for the sake of buying, and for the sake of clinging onto the past. There comes a point where it becomes unhealthy. I mainly play my SNES these days, and when people tell me "But you're missing out on all the good stuff elsewhere!" I say hey, you can't play them all. So I stick to what appeals to me most, and I'm no longer a collector-gamer, right now I'm more of a gamer. It's critical to be at peace with yourself in this hobby. That 'next great hunt' or whatever can be exhausting. I'm at the point where by and large I've stopped hunting, and more busy enjoying what I have.

It's all about being at peace with where you are in this hobby. There were many times where I too felt burnt out, and buried in my own hobby. There's so much more to life than games. Definitely do not let gaming get in the way of a healthy lifestyle. Balance is everything and the best thing one can embrace to enjoy a well-rounded life.

Today my cousins came down from half the country over to visit. My cousin is getting married this weekend -- that is why they've made the special trip down. I haven't seen these cousins in 5 years. Enjoyed a quality day and dinner with them just today. Things like this remind you how insignificant video games are in the big picture.

[Mangar]

Bottom line... this hobby can drive you crazy if you let it. Don't let it own you! It's far too easy to spend lots of money and acquire lots of things that take up lots of physical space. I really wish I'd kept control of myself and tried to see where I would be in 20 years. Don't buy for the sake of buying! Make sure you have space to store your crap! That stuff you buy today will NOT be an investment tomorrow!

Embrace emulation. It's so much neater.

Good advice, and i luckily never fell into this pit. My entire collection was always neatly displayed. Next to my home theater TV, I have two large wooden bookshelves on each side. On each self, was my collection of game consoles, all hooked up into a centralized box/receiver. You hit the button, and thats the system you got to play. All the games themselves were sort of hidden away, and there were no doubles, triples, or variations. The key point being that my entire "collection" so to speak was functional in nature. After I hooked up a PC to my living room TV, and learned that i could essentially place every single game ever made up until the PSX/Dreamcast era on a 1TB drive, and play them all through emulation - I liquidated most of my holdings and original consoles, and moved on.

Emulation is just so far advanced nowadays, that theres almost no need aside from nostalgia purposes to collect older systems. You can configure most emulators to have complete displays of Box Art, Cartridge Pictures, and scans of the original instructions. Not to mention that you are often using superior controls and getting a better picture then you would be with the old Odyssey 2 hooked up with RF cables. This is not to say that I've gotten rid of EVERYTHING, or don't have a couple of "conversation" pieces on display. (Vectrex on an End-Table being a personal favourite) But with no real vested interest or "drive" to own complete collections of this, or 28 different label variations of Atari 2600 Combat - I find that i tend to enjoy what i have left more, and I can also pick and choose from items that I really actually WANT badly. Which when I move to a bigger place will be some arcade cabinets for a dedicated game room

Oh - For anyone curious - I use www.gameex.net to manage my emulation collection. If you are talking a large amount of consoles, and HUGE rom collection - It's just a perfect way to have everything centralized and still look nice. Very configurable and user-friendly.