I am done...

Talk about just about anything else that is non-gaming here, but keep it clean
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Epoch
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I am done...

Post by Epoch »

...collecting video games. That's it. Finito. Zakonshino.

Well since I started an entire thread to say that I guess I should explain myself a little. (Though I'm not sure if this section is appropriate considering there's an eBay plug coming up near the end, but... eh, mods, do what you must if necessary.)

So here we go... my confession begins...

I think it was roughly around the year 2000 that I decided to actively start collecting video games. I did collect games prior to that but it was in a more passive manner where I would simply not sell the few games I did manage to buy. Over the years I amassed quite a large collection for various consoles, though my collection wasn't nearly as insane as some people's because my goal was not to collect every single damn game ever released for every freaking console out there. My goals were pretty specific, I only collected games that were either fun to play or had nostalgic value to me so there weren't really any "shitty" games in my collection such as Superman 64 or the like. If I didn't enjoy playing a game it was off to eBay with it. (Spiderman for the Gameboy holds the record of being the only game I ever detested so much that I simply threw it into the trash. :x To this day I still don't regret doing that.)

*fart*

Some consoles such as the Dreamcast had unique collection goals in mind but for the most part my collecting was fueled by nostalgia and the desire to fulfill my childhood goal of having every game I ever wanted. Well, I finally feel like that desire has been satisfied. I've had the opportunity to own and play many many great classic games, and it's been a fun ride while it lasted.

As for nostalgia, well, like most of you guys and gals I have many fond memories of the games I grew up playing or hearing/reading about. Having the physical copies of the games that were special to me was like having the physical manifestations of my memories in my hands to cherish. But you know, while nostalgic thoughts are wonderful things to have I often felt that I was too stuck in the past. I honestly feel I impaired myself in life as a result--it's like I didn't want to move forward in time because the past was so much better, yet one certainly can't rewind life back to the good old days. And so my life has mostly stood still as I continued to cling on to the past.

This isn't all an emotional choice though, there are very practical reasons for this decision.

My video game spending was gradually getting irresponsible, and while I was not exactly what one could describe as poor, I would often find myself tight on money for things that really mattered because I had gone on an eBay shopping spree spending $500+ on imported Dreamcast games, for example. Or walking out of Best Buy with 5 or 6 $30+ DS games that I certainly didn't have the time to play but bought any way for fear that they will be hard to find later on. :|

Game collections also take up a lot of space and this makes me a less mobile person. This is important to me because I still haven't physically or mentally settled down in life and have to be able to move about this planet on a whim as I continue to search for a purpose. Having a game collection the size of a room to haul around doesn't help.

And lastly... this will probably sound weird and a little hippie, but, parting with my game collection is also a decision resulting from my ongoing efforts to detach myself from materialism; specifically, to as much as possible stop relying on material things to be happy as it's only brought me misery and grief in my life. Over the years I've been working on where to draw the line, and unfortunately having a huge collection of games crosses it. I won't say more as it's one of those deep philosophical subjects that is better off with a thread of it's own :?

I do wonder if maybe one day I might regret doing this... that perhaps further down the road, maybe when I'm 50 or 60 I'll wish I had kept everything. But honestly, for the philosophical reasons I stated above I highly doubt it.

So I think that pretty much explains it for the most part... it's even more complex than everything I wrote but I'll spare everyone all the detailed inner thoughts of my brain.

------

Well, if you actually read all that, congratulations. If you didn't, you suck hairy monkey balls... :evil: j/k :P

Meh I don't care if anyone actually reads all that or not, I'm still glad I wrote all of that out as it served the purpose of writing a business plan well: if it still sounds like a good idea after you've written down all your thoughts and thought about your decision in detail then go for it.

That aside, I also just wanted to give all of my fellow gamers/collectors on here a heads up in case some of you are interested in expanding your collections. My auctions are mostly for games but I do have some accessories for sale that are probably ending soon. About a year ago I sold off nearly half of my collection so I don't have nearly as much as I used to, but there's still too much to list all at once so while I don't have any exact schedules set but I'm trying gradually listing a bit at a time each day.

I do still kind of care about my games in the sense that I'd rather they go to someone who would value them than to some random soccer mom who decided to buy a cheap game for her little johnny (if you know what I mean), so if any of you guys win an auction just let me know that you're a Racketboy member and I'll take 15% off any purchase amount on top of the free shipping I already offer to everyone. Sorry if that seems stingy but that's the best I can do unfortunately as I've been jobless for almost a year now... :(

:arrow: A-U-C-T-I-O-N-S
Last edited by Epoch on Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
vlame
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Re: I am done...

Post by vlame »

tl:dr

but if you're giving up being materialistic, why aren't you giving up money?
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Epoch
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Re: I am done...

Post by Epoch »

vlame wrote:tl:dr

but if you're giving up being materialistic, why aren't you giving up money?
Well I am in the sense that I'm giving up any ideals I've had that having a lot of money is in itself going to make me happy. I could give it up entirely and become a levitating Tibetan monk, but money can also be a useful tool. That's what I'm working on really, drawing a line... trying to figure out at what point is the money I have or the things I do with it just useless empty vanity. :|

I think we're going off-topic now though. :P
aaron
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Re: I am done...

Post by aaron »

i admire this, but you'll probably relapse. i've done this at least 2 times in my short time of game collecting (basically for the last 8 years). i do wish you luck, though. i'm trying to streamline my collection a little better. it's not easy.
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Bikeage
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Re: I am done...

Post by Bikeage »

Wow. I've been in a similar place with comics. I quit my comic book habit of 20+ years and started collecting video games.
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Alpinex2
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Re: I am done...

Post by Alpinex2 »

This is why I love having kids, I have an excuse to never sell my games I'm going to pass them down one day when my collection is worth 4 - 5 times what it's worth now
nate
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Re: I am done...

Post by nate »

someday you'll hopefully find your purpose and a place to be. you can emulate the games on a pc and enjoy the freedom money can buy you if you use it right.

I collect stuff too and used to spend alot cause I had alot of backtracking to do. now I save most of my money so I can afford to not work for a while if I need to.
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Luke
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Re: I am done...

Post by Luke »

pm sent
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noiseredux
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Re: I am done...

Post by noiseredux »

I never ever thought I'd bid on a manual. I hate the idea of it. But it was literally YESTERDAY that I said to myself, "damn! I'll proably never find the manual for Battletoads for Game Boy." Sigh.
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Unleaded Logic
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Re: I am done...

Post by Unleaded Logic »

I'm actually stopping myself shortly after the Midwest Gaming Classic. Will I be giving up buying video games completely? No! I'll still be buying new releases, but I'm going to cut down on the retro stuff unless its a amazing deal to be had.

My reasons for doing this? I've got one more credit card to pay off and two that I want to pay off and keep. After that, I will be debt free which is awesome.

After that, I want to finish my basement so I can move my game stuff downstairs. So any extra income will go to finishing the basement.

I'm actually thinking making Feb/March my retro game purchasing months every year to divide things out better, but who knows.
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