Well im considering it... again.

[Ack]

I agree with andymol's sentiments, especially concerning getting too many games too quickly. I've been developing a personal system however that allows me to spend some quality time. I play one game a week. Spend a few days with a game and you should have figured it out, at least a bit. You may not have unlocked nearly everything(or even half), your scores may be garbage, and you might not have even completed the game. But you will know more about it, and it won't feel so alien to you. Afterward, stop and think about it, and decide if you really enjoyed it.

It's worked for me so far, though I haven't done it with many games yet. Just alternate consoles every week or two, too.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

The fact that you are "toing and froing" so much over your decision on console gaming suggests that it isn't really for you. It's like high diving, if you don't jump off the first time you climb the ladder, chances are you will never jump off!

I agree that you may have overwhelmed yourself with systems. I know I'm having that problem right now, especially with Saturn and Dreamcast. Being able to burn 30 different games means that I don't really play any one for more than 10 mins, which massively detracts from my perception of the system.

Also, the divide between console gaming and PC gaming isn't black and white, i.e there's no need to only play one or the other! I play a lot of on-line FPSs (mainly The Ship at the moment, cant recommend it highly enough), but still sit down in front of my TV to play a bit of DC or Saturn when the feeling takes me. You already have a very fast Dell, and a Macbook, so it's not like you'd be selling your consoles to fund a new computer purchase... I just don't see what your getting at!

It might be an idea not to completely sell of your systems, but instead to just keep them in storage and just keep the ones that you enjoy playing out. It isn't cheap buying and selling systems, and I bet that your parents aren't too happy with you taking up a hobby like collecting Retro stuff only to drop it 2 months later and ask for a blindingly fast computer instead. Oh, and didn't you try to sell your Dell XPS 410 on eBay recently?

And this is the second time you've had this dilemma!? If it wasn't right the first time, give it up as a bad job!

I must admit, it's your money, your life and your decisions.

I tried to but after it DIDNT sold my dad said for me to stop and it got me thinking. Nobody is ever going to pay even a quarter for what ive put into it so I may as well keep it and am damned glad i did. In the end I will probably put them down in storage and may sell a few of my games few and far between. I honestly have always prefered the PC to the console (my first system was actually a Compaq P2, 600mhz, 128mb RAM, 10gb HDD,) which was soon fallowed by a Playstation. Besides, that way if I get the urge to play some console games I dont have to go and search again =P.

[andymol21]

You sold it then kept it? Damn I'd hate to be the person buying off of you!

If your Dad has already told you to stop then I would take his advice. It is so much better to suddenly find an old console in the back of a drawer in 10 years or so, plug it in and play some old games from your childhood than to sell it all now for a pittance and regret it later, like you have already done before!

[General Chaos]

I agree with andymol's sentiments, especially concerning getting too many games too quickly. I've been developing a personal system however that allows me to spend some quality time. I play one game a week. Spend a few days with a game and you should have figured it out, at least a bit. You may not have unlocked nearly everything(or even half), your scores may be garbage, and you might not have even completed the game. But you will know more about it, and it won't feel so alien to you. Afterward, stop and think about it, and decide if you really enjoyed it.

It's worked for me so far, though I haven't done it with many games yet. Just alternate consoles every week or two, too.

That's very similar to my system, but I try to devote a month to each game. I have a very small "currently playing" list of one console, one pc and one handheld game that I try to play for a month solid, as to accomplish as much as I can in each game over that period. It's a good way to manage a large and ever growing collection while not losing sight of the fact that I am still a gamer, and not just a collector.

More on the point of Ryan's dilemma; it sounds like sage advice to consider putting some systems "out of sight and out of mind." You're not losing money by selling them, but they aren't pulling your attention in their direction and distracting from the games you're currently truly interested in.

[Niode]

Maybe you should stop being so fickle and just be grateful for what you have?

You are 14, it's not possible for you to have had any real sentimental reasons to be a retro-gamer. Which is what most people, especially the people who are on these forums are here for. Yes there are a few people on here that are a little young. They don't pretend to be what they are not though.

This is just a fad for you. This entire thread proves that. Just stick to the modern consoles, play them. Then in 10 years you may have sentimental thoughts about the consoles of yesteryear. You don't know what it was like when all we had was 2D games, you don't know that feeling of the next best thing in gaming coming out. We have seen video gaming evolve. A few of us have even been there since the very beginning (i'm talking pre-atari days). You weren't there when things like parallax scrolling was a big deal. Even having more than 4 sprites moving at once on screen was amazing to see. The jump from 2D to real 3D. The introduction of analogue controls. You don't have anything to compare this to these days. Just bigger and badder graphics chips that push more and more polygons. There is no fundamental improvements. It's just the same but more.

All you are doing is buying these consoles for one reason. To try and fit in with a group of people, or make yourself stand out with your friends. It's little more than a superficial façade to gain popularity.

In fact... sell your consoles, go buy a PC. I hope it brings you happiness for the short time before your next fad comes along.

Or you could do the less selfish thing and give those consoles you obviously don't care about to under-privileged kids rather than for yourself you selfish brat. At least they would appreciate them more.

[racketboy]

didnt you just sell all your stuff and buy it all back again?

and wow, you must have like, money in place of blood or something.

nope, ebay store, my job, and thrift store bargaining take care of that.

Enjoy it while you can -- before you have rent, car, kids, etc
Actually, it's good to save a little here and there -- I'm glad I did when I was younger.

[Ack]

I agree with andymol's sentiments, especially concerning getting too many games too quickly. I've been developing a personal system however that allows me to spend some quality time. I play one game a week. Spend a few days with a game and you should have figured it out, at least a bit. You may not have unlocked nearly everything(or even half), your scores may be garbage, and you might not have even completed the game. But you will know more about it, and it won't feel so alien to you. Afterward, stop and think about it, and decide if you really enjoyed it.

It's worked for me so far, though I haven't done it with many games yet. Just alternate consoles every week or two, too.

That's very similar to my system, but I try to devote a month to each game. I have a very small "currently playing" list of one console, one pc and one handheld game that I try to play for a month solid, as to accomplish as much as I can in each game over that period. It's a good way to manage a large and ever growing collection while not losing sight of the fact that I am still a gamer, and not just a collector.

More on the point of Ryan's dilemma; it sounds like sage advice to consider putting some systems "out of sight and out of mind." You're not losing money by selling them, but they aren't pulling your attention in their direction and distracting from the games you're currently truly interested in.

I understand what you mean about a month, but since many of my games are fighters...most can be be beaten in under twenty minutes. Then again, we won't necessarily have the same collection, and your month rule sounds like a good idea for longer games I may purchase.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Maybe you should stop being so fickle and just be grateful for what you have?

You are 14, it's not possible for you to have had any real sentimental reasons to be a retro-gamer. Which is what most people, especially the people who are on these forums are here for. Yes there are a few people on here that are a little young. They don't pretend to be what they are not though.

This is just a fad for you. This entire thread proves that. Just stick to the modern consoles, play them. Then in 10 years you may have sentimental thoughts about the consoles of yesteryear. You don't know what it was like when all we had was 2D games, you don't know that feeling of the next best thing in gaming coming out. We have seen video gaming evolve. A few of us have even been there since the very beginning (i'm talking pre-atari days). You weren't there when things like parallax scrolling was a big deal. Even having more than 4 sprites moving at once on screen was amazing to see. The jump from 2D to real 3D. The introduction of analogue controls. You don't have anything to compare this to these days. Just bigger and badder graphics chips that push more and more polygons. There is no fundamental improvements. It's just the same but more.

All you are doing is buying these consoles for one reason. To try and fit in with a group of people, or make yourself stand out with your friends. It's little more than a superficial façade to gain popularity.

In fact... sell your consoles, go buy a PC. I hope it brings you happiness for the short time before your next fad comes along.

Or you could do the less selfish thing and give those consoles you obviously don't care about to under-privileged kids rather than for yourself you selfish brat. At least they would appreciate them more.

STFU you self patronizing brit. I work hard for everything I get and I do appreciate older games more than you think. My dad has been making 20,000 a year for about 4 years now due to his old manager running the company into the ground so I get practically nothing from him and work overhours on weekends so I can enjoy the luxuries I have. You call me selfish? I almost always have folding at home running on my PS3 and donate several cans of food to food drives whenever I see one. Mabe YOU should be less selfish and stop pricking about me and worry more about the discustion. I mean seriously, you never seem to have anything constructive to say after any of my posts. If you dont like my posts ignore me. I admit my faults, you do not, if you want my honest opinion you make just as many low and worthless posts as I do. Look in the mirror once in a while would you?

[andymol21]

I agree with andymol's sentiments, especially concerning getting too many games too quickly. I've been developing a personal system however that allows me to spend some quality time. I play one game a week. Spend a few days with a game and you should have figured it out, at least a bit. You may not have unlocked nearly everything(or even half), your scores may be garbage, and you might not have even completed the game. But you will know more about it, and it won't feel so alien to you. Afterward, stop and think about it, and decide if you really enjoyed it.

It's worked for me so far, though I haven't done it with many games yet. Just alternate consoles every week or two, too.

That's very similar to my system, but I try to devote a month to each game. I have a very small "currently playing" list of one console, one pc and one handheld game that I try to play for a month solid, as to accomplish as much as I can in each game over that period. It's a good way to manage a large and ever growing collection while not losing sight of the fact that I am still a gamer, and not just a collector.

More on the point of Ryan's dilemma; it sounds like sage advice to consider putting some systems "out of sight and out of mind." You're not losing money by selling them, but they aren't pulling your attention in their direction and distracting from the games you're currently truly interested in.

I understand what you mean about a month, but since many of my games are fighters...most can be be beaten in under twenty minutes. Then again, we won't necessarily have the same collection, and your month rule sounds like a good idea for longer games I may purchase.

I like the idea, but I'm afraid my execution will not be as thorough as you guys. My worry is that the game will turn out to be a dog, and at the first sign of that happening I run away to a more familiar game, leaving the new backup gathering dust. Still, it might be worth a try... I have been playing more of PSO this evening and it is rather good! Might just keep going with that... although I did sell my MAG

^^Sorry for the off topic, this thread just got interesting... Ryan, don't bring nationality into the discussion, it really doesn't add anything to your argument.

[General Chaos]

I understand what you mean about a month, but since many of my games are fighters...most can be be beaten in under twenty minutes. Then again, we won't necessarily have the same collection, and your month rule sounds like a good idea for longer games I may purchase.

A valid point, to be certain. I don't play many fighters and my collection tends to have more RPGs and Strategy titles in it. Though I will say that even some seemingly more "shallow" games can last me a good month if I get hooked on the mechanics.