Your Idea Of Collecting

Post by **abeisgreat** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 3:55 pm

Well I have been collecting video games for the last few years and have a decent collection. But my friend Ian just started collecting games. And he goes on craigslist and ebay and blah blah blah. And he'll pay 300 for an NES, Genesis, 2600 and some games! And I dont think paying that much counts as collecting. I feel in order to be a true collecter you have to go to all the junk stores and dig for bargains not pay hundreds of dollars for games. So I was wondering what you guys thought. I dont think paying big bucks is collecting.

Post by **Curlypaul** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 4:33 pm

Well I guess to be utterly pedantic a collector is anyonewho amasses items of whatever it is they obsess about, but does spending £500 on a mint FFI mean that someone is a 'proper' collector? No, not at all.
Part of the fun for me is searching the car boot sales and last minute ebay auction for a rare item/Classic game going for a couple of quid, but then if I did have loads of money to burn I would be after those more expensive items also.
Anyother standpoint on collecting, is the person who buys current gen games with the plan to complete sets of a particular franchis and keep them mint. Bit of an offshoot, but does anyone here buy new games and keep them sealed as a sort of investment?

Post by **Reyals** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:15 pm

I think collecting is collecting, regardless of where or how you get your games or consoles.

Of course if you pay less, that's always a nice thing.

I get some stuff on eBay, but I also browse yard sales and a local used game store.

Post by **roushimsx** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 6:38 pm

collecting is collecting.

How you go about it doesn't change the fact that you're collecting. Some people like to put in a lot of time looking for stuff on the low end of the price scale while still being in solid shape, some people say "fuck it" and pay big bucks to get the good stuff right away, and some people don't give two shits about the packaging condition and are willing to go for a loose copy right now for around the price that the thrifty dude is paying for good copies. Some people just don't know any better and pay premium prices on the loose copies just so that they can get 'em right now.

If he's serious about collecting at all, he'll most likely gradually shift towards being thriftier and more patient. Otherwise, he'll probably burn out, sell off a bulk of what he's amassed, and move on to another fad.

Post by **GSZX1337** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 6:42 pm

The only game console that I collect games for is the Dreamcast (Hey, I'm a software pirate at heart.) and I think that half of the fun is going to flea markets, estate sales and auctions. Of course, eBay is a lot easier if you're looking for that specific game.

Collecting is collecting, even if you go about it differently.

Post by **abeisgreat** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:11 pm

I like the hunt and thrill of finding a bargain

Post by **pixelbender** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:46 pm

With the fact that downloading for the system or emulation is so easy now with older systems, to me collecting is more about the experience.

Sure, I could get on eBay and buy any Dreamcast or Saturn game, but why do that if I can download it for free? I'd much rather enjoy the "thrill of the hunt" at 5 different Goodwills every weekend and every yardsale and flea market I can get to.

Post by **Perseid** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:55 pm

abeisgreat wrote:I like the hunt and thrill of finding a bargain

Agreed. 15 years ago or so I picked up a fully working Timex Sinclair 1000 with a RAM expansion unit from Goodwill for $3. It was in the toy section because it looked like one of those kiddie computers(and was probably as powerful as one). It wasn't as if the computer was even remotely useful even 15 years ago. It was the mere fact that I got one for $3.

I have noticed, though, that truly retro finds at rummage sales and thrift shops have declined, possibly because the really cool old stuff is now either gone forever or owned by someone who appreciates it. Goodwill used to be a haven of C-64s and Colecovisions and stuff. Not so much anymore.

Post by **abeisgreat** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:59 pm

I know the weekend i went to 43 goodwills I only found a trunk full of goodys

Post by **wyatt** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 10:42 pm

I enjoy getting my hands on somewhat unique Nintendo stuff and Gamecube games but I think collecting games as an investment is a really bad idea. Especially when the format is disc based and easily copied or reprinted. Over a meaningful amount of titles you will be losing money.

My buying habits skew towards just getting them online without a hunt. I just don't know where I can get the stuff I want in real life. Goodwills / Thrift stores are always a bust when my wife drags me to them.