What "fad" would you equate VG collecting to?

[boatofcar]

If you think classic video game collecting is a fad, what would you compare it to in terms of scope and/or public hysteria?

[YoshiM]

What, no pet rock option?

[Ed Oscuro]

Ch-ch-ch-game.com!

I wouldn't say game collecting is a fad. It's mass-market, for sure, but I'd say the proportion of games to population is more on the order of old books to their population - especially with less common titles (games, that is).

The market can go up or down depending on how the hypeBay machine goes, and even crash, but at the end of the day there will always be somebody there waiting to pick them up. Barring, of course, some fundamental change in human mentality (i.e. we all become fun-hating cyborgs).

I do like the 1980s option, though. For me, there are a few factors to determine how collectable a game is - artistic style (the total package + contents), humor (both intentional and camp - camp like Mystery Science Theater 3K, not like CampZone), fun, and sometimes a bit of mind-bending puzzles/intelligence/wow factor plays in.

Out of all the options, nostalgia is my favorite.