Post by wafflerevolution on Sept 9, 2013 16:55:24 GMT
Subject: BigC43, CCU Member since February 2008
Some basics first:
Number of Systems: 4
Number of Games: 345
When did you start collecting? 2007
What was your first system? PlayStation 2
What was your first game? Treasure Mountain (PC)
When did you feel a tipping point from gamer to both gamer and game collector?
Last year I realized that I had accumulated quite a few games for my 360 that I just didn't want to part with. After joining CCU, I started nabbing a bunch of last gen games that I wanted to play, but never got around to. After the big haul I had earlier this year, I decided that I was becoming a collector and decided to snag rare games just to have and maybe play some day.
But something else must have happened, surely. I mean, you must have found something new about acquiring games that activated some level of satisfaction that previously you were not getting. I mean, it's not normal (outside the CCU) to buy games "just to have".
Well, it's probably because I never really collected anything before. Sure, I had some small and mostly meaningless collections such as ticket stubs and various bottles and cans, but there's just something about collecting games that just feels right. I love playing them and looking at them sitting on my shelf.
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 any set goals per say such as collect all PS2 games or anything like that, but my feeling is that if I see a rare game that I'd actually like to play, I'll buy it. I do like to keep building up my current gen collection, especially 360. One thing I will say that I would count as a goal is nabbing collector's editions of games. For me, if there is a limited edition of a game I want, I'll get it. Because of that, I have quite a few rather nice LEs and a few fairly rare ones. I also have a pretty big gaming box collection...
Do you have a favorite console box?
I still have my original Xbox box that has the stickers for the NCAA Football 2005/Top Spin bonus on it. That's also the box I have in the best condition for it's age.
How many games, systems, etc. are "enough"?
When I run out of room... In all seriousness, I'd have enough games or systems if they consumed my life in any way. Gaming is an awesome hobby, but I can't let gaming or game collecting get in the way of real life.
That's a healthy view. What's your proudest moment as a game collector?
Probably my giant haul from Hollywood Video. I added at least 50 games to my collection because of that.
What's your least proud moment as a game collector?
When I returned Digital Devil Saga to Gamestop, only to buy it again later on. I should never have risked loosing that game in the first place.
Yeah, I didn't think that was characteristic, it seemed odd. Amongst your non-gaming friends are you proud of your collection or is it something you don't bring attention to?
Whenever I invite friends over, they always stop and marvel at my gaming collection. At least compared to my real life friends, my collection is massive. My Gamestop co-workers think I'm nuts to have so many games that I've never played, but I figure someday when I'm broke, I'll pop one of my old PS2 games in and enjoy it.
Working at GameStop, to me, for a collector would be a blessing and a curse. I mean, #1 I'd be spending more than I'd be making, but at the same time, there must be people who bring in old games that the store can't accept, but that you can. Have you had any times when that has come up with a customer?
A good chunk of my recent games I got due to Gamestop not being able to take them, and the customer want them thrown out, so I snagged them instead. One man's trash is another man's treasure.
So what else can you tell us about GameStop. Do you guys get any advance notice on when the B2G1F sales are going to happen?
We are informed ahead of time about promotions and sales, so we can plan accordingly, and I can let all fellow CCUers know about them too.
Is there any limitations on what you can and cannot buy from the store?
There isn't a limitation on what we can and can't buy, but we have limitations on what we can use our discounts on. New systems are the big exclusion, but there are other promos that our employee discounts don't stack with such as buy two get one deals and the like. I'd say my best use of my discount was for my 60 gig PS3. I got that 25% off because our discount was boosted from 15% to 25% off for an employee appreciation weekend. Along with a few minor trade ins, I ended up paying about $200 for a used 60 gig, which is darn good now.
Worst customer experience?
I've not been involved in any especially sour customer issues, but I have witnessed several. One was where a man actually threatened one manager's life because he had to wait until the end of the line for Madden 08. Not a pretty sight.
What's your favorite part of your collection?
Probably all of my LE 360 games, although my PS2 collection is probably my biggest achievement.
What would you like to improve in your collection?
I'd like to keep looking for rare PS2 games, but I'd most like to increase my current gen collection. My Wii and PS3 collections could use some more additions.
What would you like to get rid of in your game collection within the next year?
Nothing really. I might have to in order to get a new game down the road, but if it's rare or an LE of a game, I'm not trading it in.
What do you think was your best deal while game buying?
The Hollywood Haul. Nothing can top $2 for rare PS2 and Xbox games.
Rare? Did you really get any "rares" in that deal?
Ok, maybe nothing uber-duber rare, but some harder to find titles. Star Wars Jedi Knight 2, Spartan: Total Warrior, Call of Cthulu and Shadow of Rome were among that group.
What do you feel is the most valuable and/or rare item in your collection?
My PS2 copy of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, complete. I got that new in 2004 for $50. Little did I know that it was really rare...
What item in your collection do you feel you overpaid for?
Several of my 360 games I bought for full price when they came out. Some of them weren't worth it.
What do you feel is the strangest or weirdest item in your collection?
HMM, probably my gaming box collection. I kept a lot of boxes and now have a giant stack of them in my room. Yes, they look weird, but I don't care. They look cool!
What item(s) do you not have in your collection that people are surprised to hear you don't have?
Probably the game that most people wonder why I don't have it is GTA: San Andreas. I am not interested in owning this game, despite really liking GTAIV because of the controversy. Now granted, I could get a Greatest Hits edition, but I'm just not interested.
Where/how do you store it all?
Console games are stored in a rack. Handheld games are in my room and PC is kinda scattered all over the place. Most of those I had before I became a collector.
What percentage of your games are still sealed?
0% I like to open all of my games, which is kinda weird, but I do intend to play them...
You have four consoles. Are you looking to branch out and if so in what direction?
Well, I had two handhelds before one was stolen and I traded the other in for an upgrade, which I haven't gotten yet. Perhaps I will try to collect more handheld games once I get my new PSP (the God of War bundle) in June. I've also acquired a few PS1 games, so I might try to start going after more of those as well.
What percentage of your game have you actually played? Completed?
Completed? Very few. Actually played? Probably half of them. I have a ton of PS2 and a good amount of Xbox games that I've never tried, but I intend to someday.
Thanks for taking the time for the feature BigC.
Some basics first:
Number of Systems: 4
Number of Games: 345
When did you start collecting? 2007
What was your first system? PlayStation 2
What was your first game? Treasure Mountain (PC)
When did you feel a tipping point from gamer to both gamer and game collector?
Last year I realized that I had accumulated quite a few games for my 360 that I just didn't want to part with. After joining CCU, I started nabbing a bunch of last gen games that I wanted to play, but never got around to. After the big haul I had earlier this year, I decided that I was becoming a collector and decided to snag rare games just to have and maybe play some day.
But something else must have happened, surely. I mean, you must have found something new about acquiring games that activated some level of satisfaction that previously you were not getting. I mean, it's not normal (outside the CCU) to buy games "just to have".
Well, it's probably because I never really collected anything before. Sure, I had some small and mostly meaningless collections such as ticket stubs and various bottles and cans, but there's just something about collecting games that just feels right. I love playing them and looking at them sitting on my shelf.
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 any set goals per say such as collect all PS2 games or anything like that, but my feeling is that if I see a rare game that I'd actually like to play, I'll buy it. I do like to keep building up my current gen collection, especially 360. One thing I will say that I would count as a goal is nabbing collector's editions of games. For me, if there is a limited edition of a game I want, I'll get it. Because of that, I have quite a few rather nice LEs and a few fairly rare ones. I also have a pretty big gaming box collection...
Do you have a favorite console box?
I still have my original Xbox box that has the stickers for the NCAA Football 2005/Top Spin bonus on it. That's also the box I have in the best condition for it's age.
How many games, systems, etc. are "enough"?
When I run out of room... In all seriousness, I'd have enough games or systems if they consumed my life in any way. Gaming is an awesome hobby, but I can't let gaming or game collecting get in the way of real life.
That's a healthy view. What's your proudest moment as a game collector?
Probably my giant haul from Hollywood Video. I added at least 50 games to my collection because of that.
What's your least proud moment as a game collector?
When I returned Digital Devil Saga to Gamestop, only to buy it again later on. I should never have risked loosing that game in the first place.
Yeah, I didn't think that was characteristic, it seemed odd. Amongst your non-gaming friends are you proud of your collection or is it something you don't bring attention to?
Whenever I invite friends over, they always stop and marvel at my gaming collection. At least compared to my real life friends, my collection is massive. My Gamestop co-workers think I'm nuts to have so many games that I've never played, but I figure someday when I'm broke, I'll pop one of my old PS2 games in and enjoy it.
Working at GameStop, to me, for a collector would be a blessing and a curse. I mean, #1 I'd be spending more than I'd be making, but at the same time, there must be people who bring in old games that the store can't accept, but that you can. Have you had any times when that has come up with a customer?
A good chunk of my recent games I got due to Gamestop not being able to take them, and the customer want them thrown out, so I snagged them instead. One man's trash is another man's treasure.
So what else can you tell us about GameStop. Do you guys get any advance notice on when the B2G1F sales are going to happen?
We are informed ahead of time about promotions and sales, so we can plan accordingly, and I can let all fellow CCUers know about them too.
Is there any limitations on what you can and cannot buy from the store?
There isn't a limitation on what we can and can't buy, but we have limitations on what we can use our discounts on. New systems are the big exclusion, but there are other promos that our employee discounts don't stack with such as buy two get one deals and the like. I'd say my best use of my discount was for my 60 gig PS3. I got that 25% off because our discount was boosted from 15% to 25% off for an employee appreciation weekend. Along with a few minor trade ins, I ended up paying about $200 for a used 60 gig, which is darn good now.
Worst customer experience?
I've not been involved in any especially sour customer issues, but I have witnessed several. One was where a man actually threatened one manager's life because he had to wait until the end of the line for Madden 08. Not a pretty sight.
What's your favorite part of your collection?
Probably all of my LE 360 games, although my PS2 collection is probably my biggest achievement.
What would you like to improve in your collection?
I'd like to keep looking for rare PS2 games, but I'd most like to increase my current gen collection. My Wii and PS3 collections could use some more additions.
What would you like to get rid of in your game collection within the next year?
Nothing really. I might have to in order to get a new game down the road, but if it's rare or an LE of a game, I'm not trading it in.
What do you think was your best deal while game buying?
The Hollywood Haul. Nothing can top $2 for rare PS2 and Xbox games.
Rare? Did you really get any "rares" in that deal?
Ok, maybe nothing uber-duber rare, but some harder to find titles. Star Wars Jedi Knight 2, Spartan: Total Warrior, Call of Cthulu and Shadow of Rome were among that group.
What do you feel is the most valuable and/or rare item in your collection?
My PS2 copy of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, complete. I got that new in 2004 for $50. Little did I know that it was really rare...
What item in your collection do you feel you overpaid for?
Several of my 360 games I bought for full price when they came out. Some of them weren't worth it.
What do you feel is the strangest or weirdest item in your collection?
HMM, probably my gaming box collection. I kept a lot of boxes and now have a giant stack of them in my room. Yes, they look weird, but I don't care. They look cool!
What item(s) do you not have in your collection that people are surprised to hear you don't have?
Probably the game that most people wonder why I don't have it is GTA: San Andreas. I am not interested in owning this game, despite really liking GTAIV because of the controversy. Now granted, I could get a Greatest Hits edition, but I'm just not interested.
Where/how do you store it all?
Console games are stored in a rack. Handheld games are in my room and PC is kinda scattered all over the place. Most of those I had before I became a collector.
What percentage of your games are still sealed?
0% I like to open all of my games, which is kinda weird, but I do intend to play them...
You have four consoles. Are you looking to branch out and if so in what direction?
Well, I had two handhelds before one was stolen and I traded the other in for an upgrade, which I haven't gotten yet. Perhaps I will try to collect more handheld games once I get my new PSP (the God of War bundle) in June. I've also acquired a few PS1 games, so I might try to start going after more of those as well.
What percentage of your game have you actually played? Completed?
Completed? Very few. Actually played? Probably half of them. I have a ton of PS2 and a good amount of Xbox games that I've never tried, but I intend to someday.
Thanks for taking the time for the feature BigC.