Just a question to collectors

[Bodmin]

and on that note I miss Arcades

[vash23n]

I collect consoles because if there is a game I feel the urge to play, I want to be able to. I have some games that I have never and will never play, but mainly because they came in lots. I am only into getting games I intend to play, which is why for most systems I only have a handful of games. When I finish, I look for another one.

[t0yrobo]

I collect because I really like games, and I could never have many when I was younger. I don't buy tons of games for any one system, but I make it a point to only buy games I really like. I don't buy anything simply because of it's value, or how much other people like it. I actually got rid of my snes because I just wasn't feeling it like I was expecting to. Also it doesn't hurt that doing it this way I don't spend as much money, or have so much stuff to store.

[newt42]

I collect games because I simply love playing video games. I will never ever collect something because it will be "worth even more in the future." I only collect things that I know I will eventually play through and enjoy. I have a bunch of games laying around that I havent ever played yet. The satisfaction of having them is that I always know that I will someday, eventually play it. I'm casually building up a collection when good opportunities come around. When I buy a console, I do some research and make a list of games that I want to get for it.

Also keep in mind that I am 15 and just started collecting about a year ago, so the validity in this may be a bit off. Also, if you feel unmotivated, backloggery.com

EDIT: there were also a good amount of important games that I wasnt able to play as a smaller child, i.e. the N64 and Dreamcast.

[Betamax001]

I started off collecting older games because at the time I really wanted an N64, but I couldnt get one. So then I bought one later. Then It was a Dreamcast, then a GameCube, then a Saturn, then a Genesis, then an NES, and then a SNES....it kinda snowballed from finally getting to play games I couldnt play when I was younger and my parents said no to that looks cool. Since I got 4 systems over a span of a year I havent gotten many games for them, so now I'm starting to get some more games for them. The only systems I really want are a PS3, Wii, and Atari 7800. But I can wait for a bit.

[Seyga]

I have been wondering this too. I just got back into retro gaming this year. I started with dreamcast because it was my favorite system and i sold it a long time ago. Now i have 3 dreamcast systems and over 100 games. I will probably only play half of these since i spend most of my time playing call of duty 2, however collecting things is fun and I enjoy playing them when I have time. I have no plans of slowing down any time soon, and I work at a retro game store so it is very easy!

[Dakinggamer87]

I collect games/systems for many reasons but mainly because I simply love playing video games. It's my hobby I grew up with and enjoy. I buy games I plan to play and enjoy and not as an investment. I always get nostalgia just playing the old school retro games with the original controllers and system they were designed for.

[corn619]

Have you ever seen that show Hoarders? Humans love to collect shit for some unknown, instinctual reason. I guess this applies to video games as well.

[mas]

WOW this helps alot guys I thought it was only me doing this kind of stuff and yeah it is cool just to bring out a system and just pick the game and just play. I'm thinking maybe since the snes, genesis, and nes prices have been about the same in a couple of years maybe I should get the gamecube titles that I always wanted to get even if I don't play them right now I have the game and I will eventually play it once I get away from my 16 bit kick that I'm having right now. It's like my nes phase I got the system and 15 games at a flea market for 30 bucks cleaned the system bought games I once had or that i loved as a kid played it and even though there are more titles i wanna get its put away for now but whenever I see a deal I pick the games up and set up my nes and play whatever i want and not trying to find them at a flea market or thrift shop its right there and yes to think about its got a good feeling to it so thanks to all keep posting

[DownSince86]

I'm a hoarder of consoles and computers, so when I started collecting I already had a decent collection.

I collect because gaming has always been my main hobby since I was four years old and there are ton of games I missed when I was a kid. Now I have the cash to buy the things I always wanted but couldn't afford.

Sure there are a ton of ways to enjoy the old games now with emulation... But in my mind nothing compares to playing them on the real hardware. For example it might be easy for anyone to play a 32X game by downloading a rom and emulator. But if you do that you miss out on figuring out how to hook the damn thing up, hooking up 3 bulky AC adapters (if you have a Sega CD), playing with a real 6-button controller, and experiencing the game the same way someone in the mid-90s would have back when it was new.

There is a certain charm to old hardware and it is fun to see it still working as intended. It always brings a smile to my face when I do a cheap/quick repair to an old console and have it working like new the same day I bought it for a few bucks because it was "broken".

A lot of it is about the hunt too. I know most of the collectors here use the internet to track down hard to find games and consoles. I personally do my hunting out in the real world where real good deals are to be found. When you run in to that rare item for $1-$10 at a yard sale or flea market you get that warm fuzzy feeling inside and have to put on your game face so the clueless seller doesn't find out that what he's selling is worth a lot more than he's asking.

and on that note I miss Arcades

I hear ya!

Man it has been ages since I stepped foot in a real Arcade. I'd give anything to find a real arcade with a bunch of 2D fighting experts. I'd take $500 out of my bank account and have it all changed into quarters and just stay there for a few weeks talking smack and kicking ass in SF2, MK2 and 3, VF, KoF, Fatal Fury and Primal Rage. I want my full driving controls and arcade style racers back. I want a REAL BIG GUN and a screen to match so I can shoot Aliens and bad guys. I want to curse Metal Slug as a make a run to the change machine because I just used my last quarter and I only have 10 seconds to put another one in or start all over. I want to smell that smelly smell that all arcades seem to have..

The death of the arcade really hit me hard. I don't care what anyone says about the internet begin a good replacement, its not.

BTW for a long time I thought the arcade business had only dried up locally in the small towns around the farm I live on. Once I got out in the world and visited some of the large cities I was surprised to find that there were no arcades. I've yet to visit Japan...but if I ever do I plan visiting an arcade even if I have to travel miles to get to it.