This hobby has gotten real strange the last few years.

I've been collecting since about 2003 but since about 2008 or so and on. I've seen a huge influx of new collectors like i've never seen before and it seems what an item costs or how much of a deal they got is as important as or more so then the games themselves. Back in the early days it was about the games now it just seems like it's about the money side of the hobby. Like who got the best deal at a garage sale or at the thrift store. Like what's with that? I've seen so many people out there get into this hobby because there is money to be made etc... IMO retro collecting has lost it's innocence.

Retro collecting for me is to play the games I missed. Such as Parasol Stars, Super Star Solider, Mario RPG legend of the seven stars. I could have bought Sega Saturn with 2 controllers and 3 games for $50.00 but sigh I didn't...

So sometimes it can be about the great finds... But for me it is about being able to play games I missed. It is impossible to play them all.

I collect games, but will buy a game to sell if it's a good price and I don't want it (or already have it).

Hey whatever works for you! I personally love finding great deals, I think it is one of the more entertaining parts of the hobby (obviously the games are the best). I still think my best buy ever was Aero Fighters for the SNES--bought it for $5 I think. One of the toughest finds for the system! For each their own!

I've been collecting since about 2003 but since about 2008 or so and on. I've seen a huge influx of new collectors like i've never seen before and it seems what an item costs or how much of a deal they got is as important as or more so then the games themselves. Back in the early days it was about the games now it just seems like it's about the money side of the hobby. Like who got the best deal at a garage sale or at the thrift store. Like what's with that? I've seen so many people out there get into this hobby because there is money to be made etc... IMO retro collecting has lost it's innocence.

NewOrder79

here

I like to buy older games just to play and own them. Money is going to be a factor in anything that is worth collecting though.

I like to buy older games just to play and own them. Money is going to be a factor in anything that is worth collecting though.

lensflare15

Agreed. But just like television shows like "Storage Wars" have turned the practice on it's ear with people out to score treasure and now every Tom, Dick, and Harry is glutting the auctions, video games creeping into the socially exceptable circles of more and more people has made finding some of those diamonds a bit harder...

... But I'm with the post about hunting; I still love the hunt no matter how sparse the game (pardon my pun) is becoming out there. Makes that Big Find all the more gratifying!

:)

games haven't been getting harder or more expensive to get in the past 10 years, on the contrary with now retro gameshops that you could only dream of 15 years ago and there aren't more collectors, otherwise prices would be goin up and I have yet to find any evidence of that

That problem is present with every hobby that involves collecting really.

I don't collect just rare or valuable games, I collect games that I enjoy or think I'd enjoy. For me it's not about how much my collection is worth, or how rare the games in it are, but how much I love the games that are in it. Yes, I fancy a lot of rare games, but I don't collect them just because they're rare. And what's wrong with getting excited about getting a great deal on a game you'd otherwise have to pay a lot more money for? It's a big deal when you find Earthbound at a garage sale for $5 or Panzer Dragoon Saga at a flea market for $3. Buying games, whether you are a collector or not is expensive, and finding good deals just means we have more money left over to buy more games because we love them so much :)

That problem is present with every hobby that involves collecting really.

naju890_963

this...

people bragging about the deals they got happens in every hobby.

I buy old games because:

a) I was young when they were released and had no steady income so I didn't get to play some games that interested me. Now that I can buy them, I will.

b) I sold them and regret it because it's a game I have really fond memories of.

c) I'm suddenly interested in them because of playing games by the same developer and realising that I should've ignored all the reviews because I happen to like that sort of game. I've ordered King's Field 4 because of how much I love Demon's and Dark Souls, though the magazine I used to buy gave it 60% or something. I used to look at reviews and take their word for it. Now I realise that it's better to trust your instincts and buy games based on how interesting they seem. There's lots of sub 80% on metacritic games that I consider some of the best games ever.

I like to buy older games just to play and own them. Money is going to be a factor in anything that is worth collecting though.lensflare15

[QUOTE="lensflare15"]I like to buy older games just to play and own them. Money is going to be a factor in anything that is worth collecting though.Ashley_wwe

(To be said in an old-west prospector's voice)

"Lawks-A-Mercy! Thems sounds like HOARDIN' words!"

:D

Someone's gonna come home one day to find Ashley dead under a collapsed pile of NES carts...

:lol:

(I only jest thusly, as I fear a similar fate! Happy New Year, Ash!)

;)

I don't know, really. I don't consider myself a collector, because I easily sell games to be able to buy other games. So it's more of a "recycle to play more games" for me :PDudersaper

I collect to own and be able to play great games.

Aaaaand Happy New Year, Rustola!

:D

Aaaaand Happy New Year, Rustola!

:D

MonkeySpot

[QUOTE="Ashley_wwe"][QUOTE="lensflare15"]I like to buy older games just to play and own them. Money is going to be a factor in anything that is worth collecting though.MonkeySpot

(To be said in an old-west prospector's voice)

"Lawks-A-Mercy! Thems sounds like HOARDIN' words!"

:D

Someone's gonna come home one day to find Ashley dead under a collapsed pile of NES carts...

:lol:

(I only jest thusly, as I fear a similar fate! Happy New Year, Ash!)

;)

LOL. I totally agree. I find it VERY difficult to convince myself to sell any games in my collection. I might let people BORROW a game if they are a close friend, but I know that most of my games arent worth much $ to sell to a store. Also, soon after I sell a game, I will want to play it again. So why not just keep them? It's funny because I feel I am on the edge of hoarding games.

my newyear's resolution is to buy fewer games this year. If I had a HUGE house, I'd probably fill several rooms with games that I still want. However that's not the case, so I need to be carefull to not die under a pile of NES carts and PS2 cases! LOL