Should I collect for something I won't play?

[+RangerG]

I am in a classic gaming crisis . I decided awhile ago to collect for the major pre-NES systems. So far I have a 2600, 5200, and a Colecovision. These three systems are great(especially the 5200 with Wicos sticks)and I regularly play them. I just bought a great looking Intellivision to go with the games I have found for it. I don't really like sports game so I knew it probably wouldn't be the best system for me, but it has some arcade games. Well -- my Intellivsion works great, but it is just not fun to play. The controllers hurt my thumbs and the overlays make the games too complicated. We all have our favorites, but I just can't see myself playing this system very often. I think I'll just focus on the other three (and I still want to try an Odyssey2). Do you collect for systems you never or seldom play?

 

[ 05-21-2002: Message edited by: RangerG ]

[Pitfall Harry]

I don't understand why this is a crisis. Is videogame collecting a hobby for you? If it is, then you should collect whatever you like.

 

Ben

[KAZ]

I think he's like some of us where it is sometimes more pleasurable to COLLECT for systems, than to actually play the games.

He's feeling guilty that he doesn't play on the systems he collected. That's ok, they can just be for show too-it is perfectly alright just to say that you have the systems and games too.

 

Collecting can take on a life of its own, and he's probably asking what stuff would be good for a collector to have from the pre-NES systems.

 

Who knows when you might get an itching to either play or collect for the Intellivision. A day might come up where you want to examine a game that you bought, to compare it to a game on a different system, or whatever.

 

I have a 5200 4 port and a 2600 vader, and I want to COLLECT a 5200 2 port (so it can have the VCS adapter capability), and I want to get a heavy sixer 6 switch 2600 also, just cause they look neat, and the buttons are configured differently.

 

[ 05-21-2002: Message edited by: KAZ ]

[Lemmi]

Hello, man its been ages since ive posted on Atariage, but life's been shitty and very busy for me, also the week and a half the phone company shut off my phone line didnt help matters any

 

I had this same crisis before, I actively collect for 20 different systems/formats

 

--Atari 2600 - 255 games ( still play from time to time on my 7800)

--Atari 5200 - 32 games (NEVER play cause i hate this system)

--Atari 7800 - 49 games ( play quite abit still)

--Atari 800xl - 7 games ( never play)

--Atari Jaguar - 28 games ( dont play often)

--Colecovision - 27 games (dont play)

--Intellivision - 34 games (dont play)

--Odyssey2 - 16 games (dont play)

--NES - 247 games *(play alot)*

--SNES - 26 games (only play 1 game Mario RPG)

--N64 - 5 games (only play 1 game Aero Gauge)

--Dreamcast - 19 games *(play alot)*

--Game Gear - 11 games *(play alot w/ sega master converter)* Thanks Liquid sky

--Sega Master system - 29 games (play alot on the game gear)

--Genesis - 44 games (play every now and then when the hockey bug hits me)

--Sega CD/32x - 53 games/7 32X games (play often - Lunar 1 & 2)

--Saturn - 80 games (play a TON- in the middle of Dragon Force & Shining the Holy Ark right now)

 

--Panasonic 3DO - 110 games w/38 doubles (play A TON - only need 60 more games for the complete collection of US released games)

 

--Philips CD-i - 15 games and 2 movies ( play once in awhile)

--TG16/CD - 35 HU cards - 1 CD game (play often)

 

 

As you see i have alot of systems i collect for but in the end it all about what you like to play or collect for, i went the way of collecting for everything i could get my hands on

 

As for the Odyssey2 their arent many good games to play on it, but if you can find a cheap working system i would recommend giving it a try

[Atarinvader]

Uhu, I agree with what people are saying here...

 

I consider myself as a 'Videogames Historian', I have my 2600, Mega Drive, Master System and Jaguar for collecting and my Dreamcast for playing.

 

Sometimes I feel like a right geek for spending more time collecting than playing, almost kinda guilty for studying rarity guides and release lists, but thats just the way it is.

[+RangerG]

Thanks for the great answers. I think Kaz grasped well that I do often like collecting more than playing, but do feel guilty having systems I just buy and look at. However, you guys are right -- the historical importance is true and since I get all my games in the wild (so far) then why not have a fairly inexpensive hobby highlighting multiple systems. Also, glad to see you back Lemmi and I hope your troubles are over!