Are you a collector?

[HatefulGravey]

Simple question, just trying to see how many people here really think of themselves as collectors on any level. Maybe tell us how you define being a collector and what makes a collection of games.

[Ross PK]

I don't consider myself a collector as I don't buy games to collect. I only buy games to play. And if I do end up with a game that I end up not liking, then I'll sell it, or even just give it away.

 

I have amased a 'collection' though, and it does feel very nice to know that I have it and to look at it.

Edited April 21, 2011 by Ross PK

[+jsmith73]

I do consider myself a collector. I buy games to play, but I will keep a game even if I hate it.

 

Like Ross PK said above, it's nice to know that I have it and look at it.

 

If you dust it more than once a day, does that make you OCD?

[Reaperman]

I'm certainly a collector these days.

 

• 
   
  
• I buy games just to have them even when it's a double.
  
• I keep special games new in box.
  
• I spend *far* more time purchasing games than playing them.
  

Edited April 21, 2011 by Reaperman

[BydoEmpire]

Yeah, I guess so, because I have a ton of classic gaming stuff and I keep buying it. =) I'm not a hardcore collector by any means, though. I buy games to play them, although I do occasionally pick up games to fill in a hole. For instance, I picked up a couple Data Age 2600 titles the other week because it got me closer to completing the set - turns out they're a lot of fun! I wouldn't have bought them if I didn't have any interest in them, though. I don't buy dupes or label variants, and don't go out of my way for boxed or sealed games. In fact, I kid of avoid sealed games because I want to play the games but I feel bad breaking the seal. It's almost like I have to buy a loose copy of the game to keep the sealed copy intact, and it's hard for me to justify buying a game twice.

[+save2600]

Definitely a collector of sorts, but have been trying to ween myself of that "status" for over 15 years. Actually, I've kind of come to grips with the fact I like having certain things from the past near me, even if I rarely ever play anymore. Whittling down the systems has helped tremendously, BUT... a BIG part of me wishes I could go back 15 years and modify my behavior when it comes to these things. Guess I'll just leave it at that.

[+Ransom]

I don't consider myself a collector. I don't buy things just to have them, and I consider that the defining characteristic of a collector. I consider myself a gamer. I buy games to play, and consoles to play them on. It just so happens that I have a lot more fun playing classic games than I do playing most modern games. And the best of those can often be had by the bushel for the price of one or two modern games. Thus, the vast array of games that I own.

 

That said, I do have collector tendencies. When I see a game, console, or classic computer for sale that's in perfect condition, I often have a strong desire to buy it even if I already own one that's slightly less perfect. Same goes for things that could complete a grouping -- all games by X company, all games with X label variation, or whatever. But I think that just stems from my need for order and logic in life. I mostly have been successful resisting the urge to buy stuff I don't really have a use for, thankfully.

[Mirage]

I consider myself a collector in the sense that I have a collection of items that either interest me, or that I have memories of from my past, or that I actually use. Usually it's all 3 of those of course. But I'm not a collector anymore in the sense that I want to have complete collections for a system or anything like that, although that's the way I started.

[AtariLeaf]

I'm more of a "playa" these days as I've whittled the collection down to games I enjoy and play and have either sold or are in the process of selling the rest. The idea of just buying for the sake of buying just does not appeal to me anymore.

[Rex Dart]

Sure, I'm a collector, but not a fanatic collector. I don't feel the need to own every ___ for system/company ____, though there are a few I wouldn't mind owning in a lottery-win scenario. I own far more games than I'll ever play. I own games I've finished, some I haven't finished, some I'll never finish and some I'll never start. Some I won't remove from shrinkwrap even though their value is negligible. I do intend some day to set up a small "museum" with my systems & some of the rarer/favorite items for each.

 

C'mon, I've bought a Jaguar, Lynx, CDX, 7800, and a 3DO in the past decade. How's that not a collector?

[atarigal]

I wouldn't consider myself a collector because I buy the games to play them, and I don't buy ones I'm not interested in playing. I also don't have the space for collecting things--maybe if I did, I'd feel differently about collecting.

[potatohead]

I'm not a collector.

 

I do tend to keep some specific things that I value technically, or that I enjoy using. For me, the hobby is about playing games people have written today, specific older ones with friends, or just because, and technical things. Some hardware projects, programming / interfacing are a lot of fun. The old stuff has a lot of appeal at times because it's possible for one person to really understand a lot of what is going on.

[raskar42]

i think if you actively buy games you know you aren't going to play - your a collector.

[gooch3008]

I collect games I want to play or have played in the past and enjoyed. I am a game player first.

[HatefulGravey]

i think if you actively buy games you know you aren't going to play - your a collector.

 

Oh, I play them all. I can't say I play them all as much as the ones I really enjoy, but I play them all.

 

I blame the HSCs. I just wanted to play the real game on real hardware and one things lead to another.

[Cebus Capucinis]

I'm sure I'll get in trouble for saying this, but I'm definitely a collector....

 

 

but not an Atari or video game collector.

 

I'm a board game collector, though! Just bought 3 new ones, but all my games do get played on a rotation. The 2600/CV/INTV/5200/7800/A8/Apple/whatever else, not so much.

[tz101]

I never buy a game or system thinking, "This is just to set up and display, not to play". My intent is to play everything I purchase. Reality never matches intent though. This must classify me as a collector. Job and school time take too much these days to allow much left over for playing games. Forget RPG's, they just eat far too much time in my busy schedule. I do buy RPG's, but cannot find the time to play them through.

[atari181]

I got that fever. Somedays I just decide "I have to have game X" almost always for Atari 2600. I dont play them all and prefer sealed games. I am definately a collector I have bought games for a shit ton of money and done nothing more than test them.

 

Hello my name is Dave, and I am a collector.

[atarigal]

Hello my name is Dave, and I am a collector.

 

Hi, Dave.

[sheath]

No, I only buy games I want to play and I get rid of ones I don't like to play unless they sell for less than $5. The amount of games and systems I own qualifies me to be a collector in most circles, you know the ones that don't require 10,000 games to be accepted. I also don't call myself a gamer anymore either since I play games maybe an hour or two a week.

[Tr3vor]

I'm a bit of collector and a bit not. There should be a "in the middle" option. I have bought atari games, like bowling and basketball, just to have it. Played those a couple times, then I havn't touched them since. when it comes to games over 5$, I don't buy them if I don't wanna play them.

[Lendorien]

I never considered myself a collector, but when I hit about 550 games I decided that I have to be one, even if not a terribly serious one. I mean, a casual gamer doesn't have 550 games for 14 systems.

 

I'm pretty haphhazard in my methods and I am by no means a completist. Complete in box only matters to me with GC, PS1, PS2 and PS3 games. Loose carts for other systems are fine. I don't spend a lot of money on individual games, which means I will never own any of the rare items unless I find them in the wild.

 

I don't collect sports games and I've gravitated towards RPGs/Adventure games and quirky titles for the most part. I've also moved away from the Atari 2600 in the past year. I still play a few games here and there, but not like I used to and sicne interest has waned, so has my will to buy games.

Edited April 22, 2011 by Lendorien

[HatefulGravey]

I'm pretty haphhazard in my methods and I am by no means a completist. Complete in box only matters to me with GC, PS1, PS2 and PS3 games. Loose carts for other systems are fine.

 

CIB is almost a pain in the butt for me on carts. I do have a few 2600 games (maybe 35) CIB/NIB but I stopped buying those pretty fast once I noticed the room they take up.

 

I have to be a collector. I wasn't thinking about collecting when I started, but I got some cheap games here and there and then I would learn about another cool game so I would get it and before long I had a pile of 2600 games. I'm not drawn to games because they are rare but if a good game happens to be rare I'll buy it if I have the money to spend.

 

I also have a habbit of buying a game I've never heard of just to see what it is as well.

[AtariLeaf]

No, I only buy games I want to play and I get rid of ones I don't like to play unless they sell for less than $5. The amount of games and systems I own qualifies me to be a collector in most circles, you know the ones that don't require 10,000 games to be accepted. I also don't call myself a gamer anymore either since I play games maybe an hour or two a week.

 

Yea I'm the same way. I have a couple bins of loose 2600 games that I don't really play but they aren't worth selling

[A_Locomotive]

I'd call myself a collector definitely, I'm a bit more casual then some collectors with a focus on only games I think/know I'd enjoy as opposed to getting every game possible for a system(passed up a couple of N64 games recently as none looked fun, mostly sports titles) but even still my collection far surpasses that of the average gamer.