Has collecting ever affected you emotionally?

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Einhander:
I never thought that this would happen. I had been out of video games for a while. But with the PS4 coming out last year, I got really excited again. But what happened was during the process of waiting for next gen, I started to get a lot of nostalgia and I wanted my old games back. I wanted to start collecting them again.

But it turned into much more. Not only did I get all my consoles and old games back, I started getting consoles and games that I never even had such as the Dreamcast, Saturn, and Genesis. I guess I felt that I missed out on those consoles back in the day and so I wanted to get a chance to play stuff that I never had.

And then it turned into even more, I figured since I got all that, I might as well get some imports, so I got a Japanese PS1 and an Action Replay for Saturn. And I thought I had all the games I'd need, but it has really turned into something my mind cannot control. I want so many different shooters for these imports because I feel that generation was my time and I can't help it. I am attracted to the idea of having shmups in my collection. But what's worse is that I still wanna build my NES, SNES collection and I also have a PS4.

So yes it is starting to concern me. My finances have been affected a little. But on the other hand, I need my games. I love all the games I have collected and I play them. I have got rid of a lot of the games I didn't like, so I'm not the worst hoarder.

Now maybe for SNES, Gen I can try the garage sale thing, I dunno. But for imports, I have to order them on Ebay. I think that's my only option.

I know it's just video games. But I'm not going to lie. I really want to get them all, no matter the cost. I have strong urges, but I feel I genuinely want more and more, not just because it's me, but because I'm attracted to these games and want to acquire them. And eventually I feel I will have almost all that I want for certain systems. But it's going to take a long time. And what I feel is a lot of impatience.

Have any of you ever worked a 2nd job just so you could have extra money for games? Or sold something significant just to collect games? Now don't get me wrong. My goal is not to have a complete game library or to have 10,000 games. I simply want a game when it looks good to me and I'm sure that I'll enjoy it. And I end up feeling like I'm missing something before I do get it.

Sure, PSN has some of these games. But it's not the same. Some games, I just feel the urge to have. When you have several consoles, it starts to become problematic when you want them NOW.

hoverboots:
I feel you are in good company, sir. I am very emotionally attached to games, Nintendo in particular, and that's what I focus on. I have a decent PS1 and PS2 library as well, along with some PS3 titles, but Nintendo is what I was born and raised with. There's just something about them, they've got soul. I also hold on to everything... The last game I traded in was at Game Crazy when I was 13... I bought Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits, got it home, played it and didn't appreciate the style of combat. I took it back and got measly store credit for the new game I had purchased that same day. It's so insignificant, but it really affected me. Back in the day, I also traded in my N64 and everything with it to get a PS2, Kingdom Hearts, and Final Fantasy X. Now, I love those games dearly, they are probably my two favorite PS2 titles, but a part of me still mourns the fact that I don't have MY N64 that I got for my birthday in 1999. Games are more than titles on a shelf, they're adventures we take, friends we make, lessons we carry with us for the rest of our lives. It's sad that so many people can't see that, can't appreciate the passion we have for video games.

Well, I'm just about all out of feels lol... I guess this'll do for my introduction, as well.

aaron-hagel:
I would not say that I was overly emotional on collecting games. However when I was able to pick up a game that I use to have or retrieved from my parents and brother I would be very happy. One of the happier moments I had was when I got my copy of Gun-Nac and Ninja Gaiden Trilogy from my brother. I think that the more emotional one I had was getting my copy of Legend of Zelda from my brother, this was the game that my father and I went out and got together. That one brings up memories of hanging out with my dad.

hoverboots:

--- Quote from: aaron-hagel on December 18, 2014, 10:19:34 AM ---I would not say that I was overly emotional on collecting games. However when I was able to pick up a game that I use to have or retrieved from my parents and brother I would be very happy. One of the happier moments I had was when I got my copy of Gun-Nac and Ninja Gaiden Trilogy from my brother. I think that the more emotional one I had was getting my copy of Legend of Zelda from my brother, this was the game that my father and I went out and got together. That one brings up memories of hanging out with my dad.

--- End quote ---

I still need to pick up a copy of NES Punisher for this reason. And Jackal.

sheep2001:
Yup - pretty much the same story for me. Except i would NEVER prioritise a game or console purchase over something necessary, and i would never put myself in financial difficulty for it (or take an extra job). Apart from my first 2 spectrums, I have worked for and bought everything myself. I saved for months to get my first master system.

I sold most what was left of my childhood collection after i was burgled (3 times in 3 months), as i had the mindset that it wasn't worth having any possessions like this if someone could come in and take what i had worked hard to buy. Luckily for me, my spectrum, amiga and master system stuff was stored away at my parents house - and those are where most of my childhood memories lie.

After i moved in with my partner, and we bought a bigger house, I got myself another PS2, and started getting back all the stuff that was sold or stolen from my collection. Then re-bought a dreamcast and did the same. Then snes, and megadrive. Then it was the games id missed out on, and then systems and games for those. (coleco, xbox, neo geo pocket, original game boy, etc, etc)

Luckily i'm financially stable, and have enough 'disposable' income to spend on my hobby. In the 10 or so years since starting to collect, my collection has grown to over 3200 games across 40 or so systems. I love having this 'stuff', and to me i get the same appreciation someone would get from paying thousands on a piece of art - but if my situation changed, i would have no real qualm about selling it all. Hell, i've got enough extra systems and duplicate games to raise a fair amount of cash already, but i'm a lazy collector, and there aren't any retro stores for me to just take it to.

I honestly don't see me holding on to it all into my old age, but who knows. I would really like to have a huge library, with everything displayed - and I think this will happen.....eventually.

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