Post by: Nick DiMola on June 18, 2008, 06:42:23 AM
An addict to collecting videogames, that is. It wasn't always this way; once upon a time I would only get one game at a time and enjoy it until it was entirely completed before I even thought of going after another. Around 4 years ago I must have caught some sort of bug.
I think it was the Virtual Boy; I had always wanted one as a kid, but never did get one because they were just too expensive at the time. On a whim, after the system had randomly popped into my head, I decided to check around and see how much one went for. While perusing the listings on eBay I realized just how cheap it now was and bought one purely for the novel value.
The trend continued from there. Shortly thereafter I was back on eBay looking to see what some of the other gaming stuff out there costs, essentially all the stuff I had missed as a kid. I found a Dreamcast lot and paid around $30 for the system, a full set of controllers, a couple VMUs, and five or so decent games. Needless to say, this wasn't the last transaction I made on eBay. The purchases began flowing as I realized I could experience everything I had once missed by avoiding a few new game purchases. It didn't take long to realize that I was amassing quite the stockpile of videogames. At some point, unconsciously I must have decided that I needed to continue getting everything and anything I could find. I started hitting up local stores for any classic titles that were cheap.
As that list of classics began to dwindle, I started picking up anything that I could find that was reasonably cheap in comparison to eBay listings. All of my auction watching helped me build an internal database of the average cost of games. Typically if I could find a game at a brick and mortar store that was under the average eBay price I would buy it.
Eventually I discovered one of my favorite places in the world, Cheap Ass Gamer. These days, Cheap Ass Gamer helps alert me of every sale existent, the best of which are clearance game deals. Clearance deals often provide me with games for current generation systems for under $10. Just yesterday I picked up Virtua Tennis 3 on the Playstation 3 and Bullet Witch for the Xbox 360 for less than $5 each.
The funny thing is, I don't and can't conceivably play all of the games I now buy. On a daily basis there is just too much to do, and there are definitely too many games to play (at the time of this posting I have 711 games spanning 24 systems). I don't let this stop me though; I hope one day I can really enjoy everything that I've collected, but even if I don't, I like knowing that at any time I can play just about anything good that any given system has offered up.
Are there any readers out there as obsessed as I am with collecting games, accessories, systems and swag? What got you into game collecting and do you like to collect anything in particular? What are your thoughts on digital distribution and the future of collecting games? Let us know in the talkback thread.
Post by: vudu on June 18, 2008, 01:51:01 PM
Post by: NWR_Neal on June 18, 2008, 01:58:32 PM
My big step was not buying the Virtual Boy that at Digital Press a year or so ago.
Speaking of which, for anyone wanting classic games, that store is freaking amazing. Although it's kind of only in Clifton, NJ so that's a killjoy.
Post by: DAaaMan64 on June 18, 2008, 02:03:04 PM
Post by: Nick DiMola on June 18, 2008, 02:03:47 PM
Speaking of which, for anyone wanting classic games, that store is freaking amazing. Although it's kind of only in Clifton, NJ so that's a killjoy.
Sounds like I might need to take a road trip...
Post by: D_Average on June 18, 2008, 02:17:15 PM
All the more reason to have kids, they will help you!
Post by: Nick DiMola on June 18, 2008, 02:21:09 PM
"I don't let this stop me though; I hope one day I can really enjoy everything that I've collected,"
All the more reason to have kids, they will help you!
Exactly how I see it. Without question one day they will get immense joy from the collection. I used a Target coupon the other day to get Viva Pinata Party Animals (360) for free, I figured I'll never play it, but one day when I have kids they probably will.
Post by: vudu on June 18, 2008, 02:23:39 PM
I used a Target coupon the other day to get Viva Pinata Party Animals (360) for free, I figured I'll never play it, but one day when I have kids they probably will.
Not likely. Your 360 will be long dead by then and (assuming Microsoft is still in the console business) the new Xbox's backwards compatibility won't be compatible with the game.
Post by: ShyGuy on June 18, 2008, 02:28:13 PM
Post by: vudu on June 18, 2008, 02:38:22 PM
Post by: NWR_Neal on June 18, 2008, 03:31:53 PM
Speaking of which, for anyone wanting classic games, that store is freaking amazing. Although it's kind of only in Clifton, NJ so that's a killjoy.
Sounds like I might need to take a road trip...
Let me know if/when you do.
They have this really cool NAVA (North American Video Game Afficianados) club/group where they have parties on the last Saturday of every month. I accidentally walked into one of them and it's really cool. Apparently the Angry Video Game Nerd is gonna be there at the one in June.
Post by: Nick DiMola on June 18, 2008, 03:36:58 PM
Speaking of which, for anyone wanting classic games, that store is freaking amazing. Although it's kind of only in Clifton, NJ so that's a killjoy.
Sounds like I might need to take a road trip...
Let me know if/when you do.
They have this really cool NAVA (North American Video Game Afficianados) club/group where they have parties on the last Saturday of every month. I accidentally walked into one of them and it's really cool. Apparently the Angry Video Game Nerd is gonna be there at the one in June.
Wow, awesome! I think I might have to do that then, just gotta talk to the wife. My brother would probably want to come too if Mr. Rolfe is going to be there.
Post by: Plugabugz on June 18, 2008, 04:04:00 PM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on June 18, 2008, 04:05:16 PM
Post by: vudu on June 18, 2008, 04:06:20 PM
Post by: Ceric on June 18, 2008, 04:52:29 PM
Post by: ShyGuy on June 19, 2008, 02:13:21 AM
Post by: NWR_insanolord on June 19, 2008, 03:54:01 AM
Post by: Nick DiMola on June 20, 2008, 01:06:12 PM
Where's UncleBob....
QFT, shouldn't he have had something to say in here by now? I'm pretty sure his collection of games/gaming stuff absolutely dwarfs everyone's collection.
Post by: animecyberrat on June 20, 2008, 01:07:43 PM
Post by: NWR_Lindy on June 21, 2008, 02:56:30 AM
1) No kids + "Real Job" = disposable income
2) Amazon Prime
3) Cheapassgamer.com
I figure I buy about a game a week nowadays. My total collection is up to about 275 right now...my backlog is immense. I just can't resist. Pretty much anything that gets review scores of 8/8.5 and above is on my radar for any system (I currently have 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, and DS..I'm not too much into legacy stuff, thank God). For example, the games on my radar right now are Ace Combat 6 (360) and skate (360). skate is looking tempting at $39.99, but I'll hold off since I have so many other games to play.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on June 21, 2008, 07:45:42 AM
Post by: Nick DiMola on June 21, 2008, 08:55:11 AM
Post by: NWR_Lindy on June 21, 2008, 10:51:54 PM
Lindy is into seriously good games only.
Corrected.
Post by: Nick DiMola on June 22, 2008, 03:45:13 AM
Seriously, I need help.
Post by: NWR_insanolord on June 22, 2008, 04:09:53 AM
It has been 3 days since I posted this article and over the course of those 3 days I managed to pick up 9 new games, 2 new wavebirds, 2 Gamecube broadband adaptors, and a PS3 Memory Card Adaptor.
Seriously, I need help.
Words can't describe the feeling that gave me.
Post by: Shift Key on June 22, 2008, 04:21:10 AM
Seriously, I need help.
Well you've done the first step - admit the problem. What's next?
Post by: Nick DiMola on June 22, 2008, 04:26:32 AM
It has been 3 days since I posted this article and over the course of those 3 days I managed to pick up 9 new games, 2 new wavebirds, 2 Gamecube broadband adaptors, and a PS3 Memory Card Adaptor.
Seriously, I need help.
Words can't describe the feeling that gave me.
They were by far the best acquisition I have made in recent times. I got them for $15 each which just made it sweeter, oh and they are the platinum ones so they are super sexeh. So now I have a full set of Wavebirds, which is awesome.
Seriously, I need help.
Well you've done the first step - admit the problem. What's next?
Buy more games?
Post by: NWR_insanolord on June 22, 2008, 04:35:53 AM
It has been 3 days since I posted this article and over the course of those 3 days I managed to pick up 9 new games, 2 new wavebirds, 2 Gamecube broadband adaptors, and a PS3 Memory Card Adaptor.
Seriously, I need help.
Words can't describe the feeling that gave me.
They were by far the best acquisition I have made in recent times. I got them for $15 each which just made it sweeter, oh and they are the platinum ones so they are super sexeh. So now I have a full set of Wavebirds, which is awesome.
So you got them for less than half the original MSRP, they're the superior Platinum version, and you now have 4 of them. Are you trying to make me hate you?
I'm looking for one, my second, and I would settle for a used gray one if it worked and I have yet to find one, I'm considering paying $50+ on eBay for one (I have one, I know it's worth that).
Post by: Shift Key on June 22, 2008, 05:07:38 AM
Buy more games?
No no no no no no! I'm fairly certain it involves apologizing to someone for past wrongs. Did you steal someone's VCR to support your gaming habits?
Post by: Nick DiMola on June 22, 2008, 11:03:20 AM
Buy more games?
No no no no no no! I'm fairly certain it involves apologizing to someone for past wrongs. Did you steal someone's VCR to support your gaming habits?
Haha, VCR, what would that pay for, 1 game? Go big or go home. I stole people's children and sold them as slaves.
Post by: Shift Key on June 22, 2008, 08:53:20 PM
Go big or go home.
Conflict Diamonds?
Crown Jewels?
The Holy Grail?
Post by: Nick DiMola on May 12, 2009, 08:43:58 AM
So I just hit GAME 1000 (Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2). Epic day.
PS - For those keeping track, that's 289 more games in less than 11 months. Addiction FTL.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on May 12, 2009, 12:27:22 PM
Mega Bump.
So I just hit GAME 1000 (Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2). Epic day.
PS - For those keeping track, that's 289 more games in less than 11 months. Addiction FTL.
Wow you count how many games you have? lol.
I'm scared to count mine.
Post by: Nick DiMola on May 12, 2009, 12:38:17 PM
Post by: EasyCure on May 12, 2009, 01:30:31 PM
Where's UncleBob....
QFT, shouldn't he have had something to say in here by now? I'm pretty sure his collection of games/gaming stuff absolutely dwarfs everyone's collection.
QFF
Everyone knows 'Bob doesnt post anymore cuz he's out BUYING ****
Post by: Stratos on May 14, 2009, 01:46:54 AM
Post by: Nick DiMola on May 14, 2009, 06:41:46 AM
Post by: Peachylala on May 15, 2009, 12:24:39 AM
Quote
Everyone knows 'Bob doesnt post anymore cuz he's out BUYING ****Bobbu-kun doesn't need to buy brown ass-chocolate.
Post by: Mop it up on May 16, 2009, 02:14:44 AM
I doubt I've played half of the games I own, but I've no choice but to resign to the fact that I'll just never get around to them all.
Post by: NWR_insanolord on May 16, 2009, 03:28:46 AM
I doubt I've played half of the games I own, but I've no choice but to resign to the fact that I'll just never get around to them all.
It's always nice to see someone worse off than you are, I only own a couple hundred games but there's only 20 or 30 of them I haven't played and most of those were bought this year.
Post by: Mop it up on May 16, 2009, 04:05:19 AM
It isn't as bad as it might seem, since I enjoy simply owning games. So it isn't like I haven't gotten anything out of them.It's always nice to see someone worse off than you are, I only own a couple hundred games but there's only 20 or 30 of them I haven't played and most of those were bought this year.
I doubt I've played half of the games I own, but I've no choice but to resign to the fact that I'll just never get around to them all.
Post by: NWR_insanolord on May 16, 2009, 04:16:27 AM
It isn't as bad as it might seem, since I enjoy simply owning games. So it isn't like I haven't gotten anything out of them.It's always nice to see someone worse off than you are, I only own a couple hundred games but there's only 20 or 30 of them I haven't played and most of those were bought this year.
I doubt I've played half of the games I own, but I've no choice but to resign to the fact that I'll just never get around to them all.
I feel the same way. Also, if the industry crashes again I'll still be able to play games that are new to me for some time :).
Post by: Stratos on May 17, 2009, 04:00:52 PM
...though, I DO have an unopened copy of Rayman 2 on the N64 that I found at a good deal a while back and haven't had a chance to play it. I almost don't want to open it because it is the first boxed (read, paper/cardboard boxed) game I've had in a long while and I kind of miss those since I saved them for the longest time when I was younger. I have a whole full wall book shelf filled with boxes of games for all manner of games and systems before my parents convinced me to get rid of them. I wish they hadn't convinced me :(
But I still have all the manuals and such!
Post by: Mop it up on May 17, 2009, 04:28:31 PM
...though, I DO have an unopened copy of Rayman 2 on the N64 that I found at a good deal a while back and haven't had a chance to play it. I almost don't want to open it because it is the first boxed (read, paper/cardboard boxed) game I've had in a long while and I kind of miss those since I saved them for the longest time when I was younger.It isn't very difficult to find a sealed copy of Rayman 2, so if you did open it you could always buy another. Or you could buy just the cartridge, it isn't a valuable game or anything so it is pretty cheap.
Post by: Stratos on May 17, 2009, 04:32:50 PM
Post by: Mop it up on May 17, 2009, 04:44:39 PM
I don't like to have dupes of games either, I don't want to be a game hog. That would make one less copy of a great N64 game to go around, potentially depriving someone of the joy it could bring.
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on May 19, 2009, 08:22:26 PM
Mega Bump.
So I just hit GAME 1000 (Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2). Epic day.
PS - For those keeping track, that's 289 more games in less than 11 months. Addiction FTL.
What collector number is on your box?
Post by: NWR_Lindy on May 23, 2009, 12:12:58 PM
Post by: Stratos on May 24, 2009, 01:25:00 AM
Post by: NWR_insanolord on May 24, 2009, 10:59:00 AM
Post by: Nick DiMola on May 24, 2009, 11:06:09 AM
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on May 24, 2009, 11:20:03 AM
I'm hopping on the Backloggery bandwagon. I'm tried of IGN's lame collection pages that never seem to work properly.
I use a Mac application called Gamepedia which links to Amazon's game pages, if the game doesn't exist on Amazon's Game pages then you can make your own game profile with the application, take your own picture for the box art and etc. To make things easier, you can scan the barcode with your Eyesight(webcam), and it will look for the game by SKU. It uses a iTunes interface which is always nice, so you can make a smart collection where games will be grouped under by a specific field. The only problem is that there is no windows version of it, so it's mac and iphone(pocketpedia which links from your game,dvd,music pedias)
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on May 24, 2009, 01:33:56 PM
That is my backlog.
Post by: Stratos on May 24, 2009, 03:01:49 PM
Mine's Stratos like here. It is also linked in my sig for convenience.
I like the fortune cookie feature where you can pick random criteria and it chooses a random game you haven't finished to go back to.
Post by: Mop it up on May 24, 2009, 05:42:07 PM
I'd like to add NWR people to my friend list in Backloggery.I signed up for it yesterday just to ensure that no impostors try to take my username. Since I have it I might as well try to do something with it if at some point, so you (or anyone else here) could add me if you wanted to.
Post by: Stratos on May 24, 2009, 05:45:16 PM
Post by: Mop it up on May 24, 2009, 05:51:35 PM
I'm multi-tasking right now and am about to try adding a few games to it. How easy is it to add games? I don't know if I'm going to be bothered with adding everything I own, but if I do then it is going to take a while...
Post by: Stratos on May 24, 2009, 07:05:08 PM
Your page just says you are playing nothing and has a sad face right now. :)
It also shows me since I am your friend and it shows your friends updates on the right side bar.
Post by: NWR_Lindy on May 25, 2009, 02:04:46 AM
I have Punch-Out!! listed, purely out of spite for Amazon.
Post by: Stratos on May 25, 2009, 02:55:48 AM
I'll add you Lindy.
You know, if we were able to have pictures in out sigs we could have our backloggery top three 'now playing' games listed there. ;D
Post by: Nick DiMola on May 25, 2009, 08:57:18 AM
Your Amazon order running late? That's rare for me. I always get mine early. Never had a late package from them in my life and I order a lot from them.
Salt in the wound baby, salt in the wound.
Post by: NWR_Lindy on May 25, 2009, 10:37:02 PM
Your Amazon order running late? That's rare for me. I always get mine early. Never had a late package from them in my life and I order a lot from them.
The order got here on time. Unfortunately, it was somebody else's order.
Post by: Stratos on May 25, 2009, 11:54:57 PM
Your Amazon order running late? That's rare for me. I always get mine early. Never had a late package from them in my life and I order a lot from them.
The order got here on time. Unfortunately, it was somebody else's order.
Yikes. Are they fixing it for you (and them hopefully)?
Post by: NWR_Lindy on June 07, 2009, 09:46:44 PM
Post by: Sarail on June 28, 2011, 08:38:51 AM
Added myself to this site, too. Feel free to add me to Multitap... I'm "Racht" on there!I'd like to add NWR people to my friend list in Backloggery.I signed up for it yesterday just to ensure that no impostors try to take my username. Since I have it I might as well try to do something with it if at some point, so you (or anyone else here) could add me if you wanted to.
Post by: Nick DiMola on June 28, 2011, 10:51:27 AM
I'm at 1378 games (http://www.pixlbit.com/collections?action=showCollection&userName=Nick%20DiMola) as of right now. Looks like roughly 2 years ago I hit 1000, so that means 378 games in two years or 189 games/year, which is roughly a game every other day. Yup, still an addict, though review copies do pad out those numbers pretty significantly at this point.
Also looks like the Backloggery improved their interface some from the last time I was on there. Seems a lot better now.
