Post by wafflerevolution on Sept 12, 2013 20:03:29 GMT
Basics
Member of the CCU since April 1, 2009
How many games do you currently have in your collection?
My gamespot account says 911 but counting duplicate games and games I have forgot to add its probably around 940.
How much have you seen your collection grow since joining the CCU in 2009?
I have seen it grow a lot. I can tell mostly by what little storage room I have left.
How many systems do you own?
I own 13 consoles and 8 handhelds.
When did you start collecting?
I think I have always been a collector since I never traded any games in.
So you've always preferred to keep your games rather than trade them in for new ones. Some of us had to learn the hard way about the value of not trading their games in..How did you happen to avoid this mistake?
One time I traded a game in that I hadn't played in a while and a few days after I traded it in I wanted to play it. It was probably because mentally I knew I didn't have the game anymore but since then I never trade in games.
What was your first system?
My first system was the classic NES.
What was your first game?
I would have to guess that it was probably Super Mario Bros./ Duck Hunt that came with the system.
Was the NES the first console that you purchased for yourself? If not, what was the first console that you purchased?
The Playstation was the first console that I purchased for myself.
When did you feel a tipping point from gamer to both gamer and game collector?
Probably when I was around 14 or 15 I realized I was really the only one out of my friends who still had and played older games.
What do you do for a living?
At the moment I work in a warehouse for amazon.com. I have a lot of days where I see so many different video games I want go through there I almost consider spending my whole paycheck on the website.
Where does your screen name come from? Does it have something to do with 9/11?
Well my buddy made a gamertag "A Liberal 10" and I thought it would be funny to be "A Republican 11" since we played Halo 2 together all the time. We would always get funny comments in the game lobbys. It has nothing to do with 9/11.
Let's talk about your collection
What are your goals as a game collector, how have you developed them, and how do you feel about your progress toward them?
I don't really have an overall goal. I don't think I will ever say "Yep, I have enough games" and quit collecting. But a goal I have told myself a few times is that I will eventually own every US released X360 game.
That is a great goal-one that I can definitely relate to. I think there are 850+ retail titles in the Xbox 360 catalog now. With 240 titles in your collection already, you are on your way.
What's your favorite part of your collection?
My favorite part would have to be my Metal Gear Solid collection. I have every game they have released since MGS on the PS1. I also own the MGS4 Collectors Edition, MGS HD Collection Collectors Edition, and the MGS Peace Walker Collectors Edition all factory sealed as well as the MGS4 Collectors Edition strat guide still sealed.
To go along with that I have the second set of action figures from MGS3 and MGS4 still in the packaging.
What would you like to improve in your collection?
My PS3 collection. I own three games for it and I have had it for a few years. Its quite sad actually.
How many games, systems, etc. are "enough"?
Sounds like a trick question, one can never own "enough" games.
What's your proudest moment as a game collector?
I don't think I have a "proudest" I can recall but most recent was buying the Metroid Prime Trilogy on the Wii the day it came out. I didn't get around to opening it and now it's a hard to find title so it will stay sealed.
What's your least proud moment as a game collector?
Definitely not keeping the boxes/instructions to my NES/SNES/GB games. But I can't be that mad at myself, I was a kid after all.
What's your biggest game collecting blunder or missed opportunity?
I remember seeing Pikmin 2 in a discount bin years ago and didn't pick it up. I didn't have a clue it was hard to find at the time.
Yeah, I could kick myself for the same thing. I should have made sure I picked up copies of Pikmin, Pikmin 2, and Cubivore on the GameCube while they were still plentiful…Oh well, you live and learn. What item in your collection do you feel you most overpaid for?
I guess I would say the Duke Nukem Forever Collectors Edition. I bought it day one and now I think you can get it new for under $60.
What do you think was your best deal while game buying?
I bought a 60gb PS3 for $300 a few weeks before MGS4 came out. I wanted the backwards compatibility and I really wanted to play MGS4.
How was MGS4? Did you complete it?
It was amazing. I beat it in two sittings and anyone that plays MGS games knows they are hard to put down until you get to the end.
Amongst your non-gaming friends, are you proud of your collection or is it something you don't bring attention to?
My non gaming friends know I collect and they are always amazed when they see the wall of games. Now I don't talk about it to them often since they really wouldn't know anything about it.
I do have two gaming friends who are the only people I loan games to who call me their "personal blockbuster".
Did you ever have to defend your collecting to someone, and if so, how?
I remember a co worker overhearing me and a few other people talking about gaming and said it was "childish and for kids". But then five minutes later I hear them talking about Jersey Shore and realize they don't have a sound opinion.
What do you feel is the most valuable and/or rare item in your collection?
I have the MGS3 Subsistance Limited Edition for the PS2. It's not in the greatest condition, but I only paid $30 for it used right after it came out.
Yeah, that is a good buy. I see that new copies of that game are starting at $140 and going up to $260 on Amazon at the moment.
What do you feel is the strangest or weirdest item in your collection?
The strangest item I have is probably the Resident Evil 5 "sand globe" that I got from Game Crazy when I pre ordered it. Its just what it sounds like, it has Chris and Sheva standing in it, and its a sand globe.
What item(s) do you not have in your collection that people are surprised to hear you don't have?
I have a friend at work who was shocked when I told him I don't own Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic. He still demands I buy it and play it.
Your friend is right. This game needs to find its way into your collection. Do you have a funny story about your collection?
I do remember having a conversation with my buddy about my collection and they asked what would I do if someone stole my collection. I responded immediately with "I would probably kill them." He laughed and said, "Damn your games are like your kids". Hell I guess they are.
Where/how do you store it all?
I have it all stored in a DVD stand, some random shelving, a few drawers, and some chests in the closet and I'm still running out of room.
What gaming resources and game collecting tools do you use?
Gamespot is the only website I have my collection added to. When I go out "hunting" I can usually remember whether or not I own a certain game but recently I have bought a few dups, so I need to start checking my account on my phone before buying anything.
Have you ever had to move your collection to another house? What was it like?
Thankfully I haven't yet but I know soon that I will so I will climb that hill when it gets here.
Can you recall which of your games was on your "hit list" for the longest time? The game you knew you wanted, but took you the longest time to acquire?
I remember wanting Fatal Frame 1 and 2 on the PS2 for a while and finally got them at a gamestop. They were both in mint condition and there was a B2G1F sale so I couldn't pass it up.
Nice. Finding games in mint condition at Gamestop is a miracle in and of itself. But the odds of finding both Fatal Frame games mint in one B2G1F sale is akin to getting struck by lightning on the way to cashing in your winning lottery ticket…
What's at the top of your game wish list right now?
I am really looking forward to Metal Gear Solid Revengeance.
In addition to collecting games, do you collect any other game related paraphernalia?
I have started collecting strat guides and I do love buying funny video game shirts but that's about it.
Is there any way you'd ever stop collecting?
Only reason I would quit collecting would be for financial reasons.
What would have to happen financially for you to stop collecting permanently?
I guess if I have to choose between eating or a new game, but I would still probably have to think about it.
What are you going to do if physical game media become a thing of the past?
Cry, then keep collecting from older generations.
If your significant other told you no more games, what would you do? Or does your significant other collect as well?
At the moment I'm single, but I have never ran into that problem before. They really don't care.
Let's talk about the gaming side of this hobby
How many of your systems are hooked up and ready to play?
I always have my 360, PS3, and Wii hooked up, then a random fourth retro system. Right now thats the SNES.
What kind of audio-video setup do you experience your games on? (For example, 40 inch LCD tv with surround sound?)
I have a 42 inch LCD TV and I have the Turtle Beach x41 surround sound headset.
How is the Turtle Beach X41? I have the TB DPX21 and it has its good and bad qualities..
They are great they really do make a difference in multiplayer games when you can hear someone behind you.
What percentage of your games are still sealed?
I would say under 5%, probably even less.
What percentage of your games have you actually played? Completed?
I have probably played 75% of my games and completed around 25%.
That's pretty good for having a collection of over 900 games. As a gamer, do you have many opportunities to play games co-op?
Yeah I usually do online co-op with my friends I graduated with or from work and whenever my brother comes over we have to play Gears of War split screen.
Where do you get your gaming news?
Mostly from Machinima.com but also from gamespot and from the escapist magazine.
Of the current generation consoles, what do you spend most of your time playing? Collecting for? Why?
Definitely my 360. It's what most of my friends are on so I always buy my multi-plat games for it.
Do you consider yourself unbiased with regard to the other systems on the market?
For the most part I am unbiased. We all have a system we prefer to another but each system has its pros and cons.
Thanks Republican11 for taking the time to participate in this interview..
Member of the CCU since April 1, 2009
How many games do you currently have in your collection?
My gamespot account says 911 but counting duplicate games and games I have forgot to add its probably around 940.
How much have you seen your collection grow since joining the CCU in 2009?
I have seen it grow a lot. I can tell mostly by what little storage room I have left.
How many systems do you own?
I own 13 consoles and 8 handhelds.
When did you start collecting?
I think I have always been a collector since I never traded any games in.
So you've always preferred to keep your games rather than trade them in for new ones. Some of us had to learn the hard way about the value of not trading their games in..How did you happen to avoid this mistake?
One time I traded a game in that I hadn't played in a while and a few days after I traded it in I wanted to play it. It was probably because mentally I knew I didn't have the game anymore but since then I never trade in games.
What was your first system?
My first system was the classic NES.
What was your first game?
I would have to guess that it was probably Super Mario Bros./ Duck Hunt that came with the system.
Was the NES the first console that you purchased for yourself? If not, what was the first console that you purchased?
The Playstation was the first console that I purchased for myself.
When did you feel a tipping point from gamer to both gamer and game collector?
Probably when I was around 14 or 15 I realized I was really the only one out of my friends who still had and played older games.
What do you do for a living?
At the moment I work in a warehouse for amazon.com. I have a lot of days where I see so many different video games I want go through there I almost consider spending my whole paycheck on the website.
Where does your screen name come from? Does it have something to do with 9/11?
Well my buddy made a gamertag "A Liberal 10" and I thought it would be funny to be "A Republican 11" since we played Halo 2 together all the time. We would always get funny comments in the game lobbys. It has nothing to do with 9/11.
Let's talk about your collection
What are your goals as a game collector, how have you developed them, and how do you feel about your progress toward them?
I don't really have an overall goal. I don't think I will ever say "Yep, I have enough games" and quit collecting. But a goal I have told myself a few times is that I will eventually own every US released X360 game.
That is a great goal-one that I can definitely relate to. I think there are 850+ retail titles in the Xbox 360 catalog now. With 240 titles in your collection already, you are on your way.
What's your favorite part of your collection?
My favorite part would have to be my Metal Gear Solid collection. I have every game they have released since MGS on the PS1. I also own the MGS4 Collectors Edition, MGS HD Collection Collectors Edition, and the MGS Peace Walker Collectors Edition all factory sealed as well as the MGS4 Collectors Edition strat guide still sealed.
To go along with that I have the second set of action figures from MGS3 and MGS4 still in the packaging.
What would you like to improve in your collection?
My PS3 collection. I own three games for it and I have had it for a few years. Its quite sad actually.
How many games, systems, etc. are "enough"?
Sounds like a trick question, one can never own "enough" games.
What's your proudest moment as a game collector?
I don't think I have a "proudest" I can recall but most recent was buying the Metroid Prime Trilogy on the Wii the day it came out. I didn't get around to opening it and now it's a hard to find title so it will stay sealed.
What's your least proud moment as a game collector?
Definitely not keeping the boxes/instructions to my NES/SNES/GB games. But I can't be that mad at myself, I was a kid after all.
What's your biggest game collecting blunder or missed opportunity?
I remember seeing Pikmin 2 in a discount bin years ago and didn't pick it up. I didn't have a clue it was hard to find at the time.
Yeah, I could kick myself for the same thing. I should have made sure I picked up copies of Pikmin, Pikmin 2, and Cubivore on the GameCube while they were still plentiful…Oh well, you live and learn. What item in your collection do you feel you most overpaid for?
I guess I would say the Duke Nukem Forever Collectors Edition. I bought it day one and now I think you can get it new for under $60.
What do you think was your best deal while game buying?
I bought a 60gb PS3 for $300 a few weeks before MGS4 came out. I wanted the backwards compatibility and I really wanted to play MGS4.
How was MGS4? Did you complete it?
It was amazing. I beat it in two sittings and anyone that plays MGS games knows they are hard to put down until you get to the end.
Amongst your non-gaming friends, are you proud of your collection or is it something you don't bring attention to?
My non gaming friends know I collect and they are always amazed when they see the wall of games. Now I don't talk about it to them often since they really wouldn't know anything about it.
I do have two gaming friends who are the only people I loan games to who call me their "personal blockbuster".
Did you ever have to defend your collecting to someone, and if so, how?
I remember a co worker overhearing me and a few other people talking about gaming and said it was "childish and for kids". But then five minutes later I hear them talking about Jersey Shore and realize they don't have a sound opinion.
What do you feel is the most valuable and/or rare item in your collection?
I have the MGS3 Subsistance Limited Edition for the PS2. It's not in the greatest condition, but I only paid $30 for it used right after it came out.
Yeah, that is a good buy. I see that new copies of that game are starting at $140 and going up to $260 on Amazon at the moment.
What do you feel is the strangest or weirdest item in your collection?
The strangest item I have is probably the Resident Evil 5 "sand globe" that I got from Game Crazy when I pre ordered it. Its just what it sounds like, it has Chris and Sheva standing in it, and its a sand globe.
What item(s) do you not have in your collection that people are surprised to hear you don't have?
I have a friend at work who was shocked when I told him I don't own Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic. He still demands I buy it and play it.
Your friend is right. This game needs to find its way into your collection.
Do you have a funny story about your collection?I do remember having a conversation with my buddy about my collection and they asked what would I do if someone stole my collection. I responded immediately with "I would probably kill them." He laughed and said, "Damn your games are like your kids". Hell I guess they are.
Where/how do you store it all?
I have it all stored in a DVD stand, some random shelving, a few drawers, and some chests in the closet and I'm still running out of room.
What gaming resources and game collecting tools do you use?
Gamespot is the only website I have my collection added to. When I go out "hunting" I can usually remember whether or not I own a certain game but recently I have bought a few dups, so I need to start checking my account on my phone before buying anything.
Have you ever had to move your collection to another house? What was it like?
Thankfully I haven't yet but I know soon that I will so I will climb that hill when it gets here.
Can you recall which of your games was on your "hit list" for the longest time? The game you knew you wanted, but took you the longest time to acquire?
I remember wanting Fatal Frame 1 and 2 on the PS2 for a while and finally got them at a gamestop. They were both in mint condition and there was a B2G1F sale so I couldn't pass it up.
Nice. Finding games in mint condition at Gamestop is a miracle in and of itself. But the odds of finding both Fatal Frame games mint in one B2G1F sale is akin to getting struck by lightning on the way to cashing in your winning lottery ticket…
What's at the top of your game wish list right now?
I am really looking forward to Metal Gear Solid Revengeance.
In addition to collecting games, do you collect any other game related paraphernalia?
I have started collecting strat guides and I do love buying funny video game shirts but that's about it.
Is there any way you'd ever stop collecting?
Only reason I would quit collecting would be for financial reasons.
What would have to happen financially for you to stop collecting permanently?
I guess if I have to choose between eating or a new game, but I would still probably have to think about it
.What are you going to do if physical game media become a thing of the past?
Cry, then keep collecting from older generations.
If your significant other told you no more games, what would you do? Or does your significant other collect as well?
At the moment I'm single, but I have never ran into that problem before. They really don't care.
Let's talk about the gaming side of this hobby
How many of your systems are hooked up and ready to play?
I always have my 360, PS3, and Wii hooked up, then a random fourth retro system. Right now thats the SNES.
What kind of audio-video setup do you experience your games on? (For example, 40 inch LCD tv with surround sound?)
I have a 42 inch LCD TV and I have the Turtle Beach x41 surround sound headset.
How is the Turtle Beach X41? I have the TB DPX21 and it has its good and bad qualities..
They are great they really do make a difference in multiplayer games when you can hear someone behind you.
What percentage of your games are still sealed?
I would say under 5%, probably even less.
What percentage of your games have you actually played? Completed?
I have probably played 75% of my games and completed around 25%.
That's pretty good for having a collection of over 900 games. As a gamer, do you have many opportunities to play games co-op?
Yeah I usually do online co-op with my friends I graduated with or from work and whenever my brother comes over we have to play Gears of War split screen.
Where do you get your gaming news?
Mostly from Machinima.com but also from gamespot and from the escapist magazine.
Of the current generation consoles, what do you spend most of your time playing? Collecting for? Why?
Definitely my 360. It's what most of my friends are on so I always buy my multi-plat games for it.
Do you consider yourself unbiased with regard to the other systems on the market?
For the most part I am unbiased. We all have a system we prefer to another but each system has its pros and cons.
Thanks Republican11 for taking the time to participate in this interview..