Post by wafflerevolution on Sept 7, 2013 20:15:12 GMT
Subject: CodingGenius, member of the CCU since May, 2005.
The Basics
Number of Systems: 13
Number of Games:472
When did you start collecting? Got my first game in 1987.
First system? The first system in my house was the Intellivision. The first system that was mine was NES.
First game? The first game of my own was Super Mario Bros. The first game I ever played was probably Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack (INTV).
When did you feel a tipping point from gamer to both gamer and game collector?
I started collecting after seeing my dad accumulate Intellivision games. I don't think he was collecting so much as buying to play, but we had a bunch of games for the INTV. My first system was the NES, but games were too expensive for me to "collect". I started buying but not being able to keep up with games after I got my first real job, during the last gen, so about 1999.
Do you know much about why your Dad was into gaming? It was an unconventional choice of hobby back then.
I don't know if it was because of colleagues at work, his brother (who had one as well) or just curiosity. He's always been a bit of a gadget freak, and he used to play until quite late at night.
"My Messy Setup" - This is my current setup. I'd organize it more, but I'll be moving in a few months and will figure out what to do once I move. My 360 is hooked up on the right, on top of 2 rubber bins that hold some of my older systems' games. The black binder on the 2nd shelf on the far left contains all of my last-gen games, because their cases are in storage.
What are your goals as a game collector, how have you developed them, and how do you feel about your progress toward them?
My initial goal was to replace the Intellivision games brutally sold in a yard sale.
Then, it became picking up the games I didn't have growing up – the ones I had played at friends' houses but never quite finished. Once the GC/PS2/Xbox consoles dropped in price, I picked them up one at a time to play through games that intrigued me: GC - Luigi's Mansion, PS2-GTA3, Xbox- KOTOR.
Do you think, on some kind of psycho-babble level, that that sale influenced your current collecting habits? Or was it not as traumatic at the time as it is now in retrospect?
Oh, no, it was traumatic as heck then. It's better now, because I think I've replaced all of the games. My family has since said that they wouldn't have sold it if they had known that I was still interested in it.
How many games, systems, etc. are "enough"?
NEVER ENOUGH! *cough* I think I have enough now to hypothetically take me through to the year 2983, were I to play all to 100% completion. I buy games that I want to play. As long as I have a desire to play, I'll keep buying games.
What's your proudest moment as a game collector?
My proudest moment was finding my complete SNES Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and Nintendo Power Strategy Guide. I hadn't seen it in a long time, but was happy with how well it had aged and that I hadn't lost it after several moves.
That's a truly awesome game, one of my favorites. What's your least proud moment as a game collector?
When my father sold his Intellivision and 40+ CIB games for $10 at a yard sale
Amongst your non-gaming friends are you proud of your collection or is it something you don't bring attention to?
I am proud of it, but I don't think people realize how many games I have since many of the cases are currently in storage.
What's your favorite part of your collection?
My favorite part of my collection are some of the promo items I've picked up over the years, including my:
• Intellivision poster with box art all of the games released for the system
• Parappa the Rapper hat
• Small Katamari Prince figure
What would you like to improve in your collection?
I would like to improve its storage and display. Once I move this summer, I plan on creating a game room and office that will house my entire collection, including boxes, systems, etc.
What would you like to get rid of in your game collection within the next year?
I would like to sort through and take a complete inventory because there are a few older games that are not in my online collection. Also, there are a few games I own that just irk me, that I would like to get rid of. I would like to sell them or give them away.
Which games irks you so much that you want to get rid of them?
Oh goodness. I think I've expunged all of my current irritations. My least favorite game ever was Bram Stoker's Dracula for the SNES, but I can't get rid of it because it was a gift. Check out my review as to why I think it is horrible.
What do you think was your best deal while game buying?
My best deal was a huge sale I was turned on to by Aspro, total was around $220
That was the one with the video rental store was gettting rid of their pre-PS2 inventory. What do you feel is the most valuable and/or rare item in your collection?
The most valuable game is probably the complete Super Mario RPG with strategy guide. Since it turned me onto RPGs, it has more sentimental value than cash could ever replace.
What item in your collection do you feel you overpaid for?
2 for 1 sale (total of $100): Rocky Legends (Xbox), Tony Hawk: American Wasteland (PS2), Burnout (Xbox)
What do you feel is the strangest or weirdest item in your collection?
The weirdest item is probably the handmade Prince figure from Katamari Damacy that I bought on eBay from someone in Germany. It boggles my mind why there hasn't been more KD merchandise, and I love that franchise, so I had to resort to fan art.
What item(s) do you not have in your collection that people are surprised to hear you don't have?
I don't have most FPS games or PC games. Friends are surprised I don't have the Command & Conquer series, Diablo II, or World of Warcraft.
Where/how do you store it all?
Some is in my living room, some is in storage.
Is there anyway you'd ever stop collecting?
If I stopped enjoying games, I would stop collecting. I only collect because I have fun. I actually stopped collecting and playing during part of college, and I don't think I missed much.
Do you have a funny story about your collection?
The funniest story is probably having kids come to my house and watching their eyes open wide. Also, having grown men look confused when I join in on gaming conversations and school them on upcoming releases.
Yeah the hobby is still mostly male-centric. It's amazing that the industry has gotten as far as it has while ostracizing more than half of the population. Do you have any female friends that understand your collection? I know you lead a gaming-gender union...
Yes, I do. It's the Women Who Game union, but it is pretty dead at the moment. I think it's because women who play games would rather talk about them than each other. I don't have many female friends that game, but most understand collecting something that we enjoy doing. Many of my friends collect something, whether it is books, CDs, DVDs, sports memorabilia, or gadgets, so games are just another way to collect.
Have you ever had to move your collection to another house? What was it like?
I've moved it 3 times since it was 200+ games. I usually put the systems and their cables in large plastic bins, moving them first myself. This makes sure that they aren't crushed or jostled by movers or well-meaning friends. I haven't lost anything, but I have accidentally put games in cases and then the cases in storage.
If you're significant other told you no more games, what would you do?
If someone I was dating didn't understand and appreciate one of my few hobbies that costs money, they wouldn't make it to significant other status.
What percentage of your games are still sealed?
Still sealed right now? Probably fewer than 25.
What percentage of your game have you actually played? Completed?
Now, in terms of games I have opened or bought used, but never played, there are about 150. Many of these I got as part of INTV and NES lots, and have no real intention of ever playing.
In terms of completed, I think that for those games that can be completed, it would have to be about 75-100. I guess I'll have to count some day!
Thanks for taking the time for the interview CG.
"Prince Figure" - This is a hideous and ugly picture, but this is a handmade figure of the Prince from the Katamari games. I bought it from someone in Germany, and it makes me smile every time I see it.
The Basics
Number of Systems: 13
Number of Games:472
When did you start collecting? Got my first game in 1987.
First system? The first system in my house was the Intellivision. The first system that was mine was NES.
First game? The first game of my own was Super Mario Bros. The first game I ever played was probably Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack (INTV).
When did you feel a tipping point from gamer to both gamer and game collector?
I started collecting after seeing my dad accumulate Intellivision games. I don't think he was collecting so much as buying to play, but we had a bunch of games for the INTV. My first system was the NES, but games were too expensive for me to "collect". I started buying but not being able to keep up with games after I got my first real job, during the last gen, so about 1999.
Do you know much about why your Dad was into gaming? It was an unconventional choice of hobby back then.
I don't know if it was because of colleagues at work, his brother (who had one as well) or just curiosity. He's always been a bit of a gadget freak, and he used to play until quite late at night.
"My Messy Setup" - This is my current setup. I'd organize it more, but I'll be moving in a few months and will figure out what to do once I move. My 360 is hooked up on the right, on top of 2 rubber bins that hold some of my older systems' games. The black binder on the 2nd shelf on the far left contains all of my last-gen games, because their cases are in storage.
What are your goals as a game collector, how have you developed them, and how do you feel about your progress toward them?
My initial goal was to replace the Intellivision games brutally sold in a yard sale.
Then, it became picking up the games I didn't have growing up – the ones I had played at friends' houses but never quite finished. Once the GC/PS2/Xbox consoles dropped in price, I picked them up one at a time to play through games that intrigued me: GC - Luigi's Mansion, PS2-GTA3, Xbox- KOTOR.
Do you think, on some kind of psycho-babble level, that that sale influenced your current collecting habits? Or was it not as traumatic at the time as it is now in retrospect?
Oh, no, it was traumatic as heck then. It's better now, because I think I've replaced all of the games. My family has since said that they wouldn't have sold it if they had known that I was still interested in it.
How many games, systems, etc. are "enough"?
NEVER ENOUGH! *cough* I think I have enough now to hypothetically take me through to the year 2983, were I to play all to 100% completion. I buy games that I want to play. As long as I have a desire to play, I'll keep buying games.
What's your proudest moment as a game collector?
My proudest moment was finding my complete SNES Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and Nintendo Power Strategy Guide. I hadn't seen it in a long time, but was happy with how well it had aged and that I hadn't lost it after several moves.
That's a truly awesome game, one of my favorites. What's your least proud moment as a game collector?
When my father sold his Intellivision and 40+ CIB games for $10 at a yard sale
Amongst your non-gaming friends are you proud of your collection or is it something you don't bring attention to?
I am proud of it, but I don't think people realize how many games I have since many of the cases are currently in storage.
What's your favorite part of your collection?
My favorite part of my collection are some of the promo items I've picked up over the years, including my:
• Intellivision poster with box art all of the games released for the system
• Parappa the Rapper hat
• Small Katamari Prince figure
What would you like to improve in your collection?
I would like to improve its storage and display. Once I move this summer, I plan on creating a game room and office that will house my entire collection, including boxes, systems, etc.
What would you like to get rid of in your game collection within the next year?
I would like to sort through and take a complete inventory because there are a few older games that are not in my online collection. Also, there are a few games I own that just irk me, that I would like to get rid of. I would like to sell them or give them away.
Which games irks you so much that you want to get rid of them?
Oh goodness. I think I've expunged all of my current irritations. My least favorite game ever was Bram Stoker's Dracula for the SNES, but I can't get rid of it because it was a gift. Check out my review as to why I think it is horrible.
What do you think was your best deal while game buying?
My best deal was a huge sale I was turned on to by Aspro, total was around $220
That was the one with the video rental store was gettting rid of their pre-PS2 inventory. What do you feel is the most valuable and/or rare item in your collection?
The most valuable game is probably the complete Super Mario RPG with strategy guide. Since it turned me onto RPGs, it has more sentimental value than cash could ever replace.
What item in your collection do you feel you overpaid for?
2 for 1 sale (total of $100): Rocky Legends (Xbox), Tony Hawk: American Wasteland (PS2), Burnout (Xbox)
What do you feel is the strangest or weirdest item in your collection?
The weirdest item is probably the handmade Prince figure from Katamari Damacy that I bought on eBay from someone in Germany. It boggles my mind why there hasn't been more KD merchandise, and I love that franchise, so I had to resort to fan art.
What item(s) do you not have in your collection that people are surprised to hear you don't have?
I don't have most FPS games or PC games. Friends are surprised I don't have the Command & Conquer series, Diablo II, or World of Warcraft.
Where/how do you store it all?
Some is in my living room, some is in storage.
Is there anyway you'd ever stop collecting?
If I stopped enjoying games, I would stop collecting. I only collect because I have fun. I actually stopped collecting and playing during part of college, and I don't think I missed much.
Do you have a funny story about your collection?
The funniest story is probably having kids come to my house and watching their eyes open wide. Also, having grown men look confused when I join in on gaming conversations and school them on upcoming releases.
Yeah the hobby is still mostly male-centric. It's amazing that the industry has gotten as far as it has while ostracizing more than half of the population. Do you have any female friends that understand your collection? I know you lead a gaming-gender union...
Yes, I do. It's the Women Who Game union, but it is pretty dead at the moment. I think it's because women who play games would rather talk about them than each other. I don't have many female friends that game, but most understand collecting something that we enjoy doing. Many of my friends collect something, whether it is books, CDs, DVDs, sports memorabilia, or gadgets, so games are just another way to collect.
Have you ever had to move your collection to another house? What was it like?
I've moved it 3 times since it was 200+ games. I usually put the systems and their cables in large plastic bins, moving them first myself. This makes sure that they aren't crushed or jostled by movers or well-meaning friends. I haven't lost anything, but I have accidentally put games in cases and then the cases in storage.
If you're significant other told you no more games, what would you do?
If someone I was dating didn't understand and appreciate one of my few hobbies that costs money, they wouldn't make it to significant other status.
What percentage of your games are still sealed?
Still sealed right now? Probably fewer than 25.
What percentage of your game have you actually played? Completed?
Now, in terms of games I have opened or bought used, but never played, there are about 150. Many of these I got as part of INTV and NES lots, and have no real intention of ever playing.
In terms of completed, I think that for those games that can be completed, it would have to be about 75-100. I guess I'll have to count some day!
Thanks for taking the time for the interview CG.
"Prince Figure" - This is a hideous and ugly picture, but this is a handmade figure of the Prince from the Katamari games. I bought it from someone in Germany, and it makes me smile every time I see it.
