VIDEO GAME COLLECTING - Happy Console Gamer
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 พ.ย. 2024
- Johnny talks about why he collects and what's changed with Video game collecting since youtube started.
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Join Johnny Millenium The Happy Console Gamer as he discusses new video game news and reviews forgotten games that not many people know about but should!
“If I lost everything I’m ok, what matters is people”
Man you’re great. Most people should learn from that.
Cheers!
I’ve watched your channel for a while, John. We’re the same age, and we grew up with the same affinity toward the hobby. It’s your passion and nostalgia that kept me returning to your channel. I lost my marriage this year through no wish of my own. My entire collection, even my coveted SEGA master system, lost all value to me. I don’t have any of it any longer. I couldn’t cherish it any more because the important things like family were gone. It’s hard for me to sit down and play anything these days. I do agree that there was a negative and unintended outcome to the video game market. However, I don’t find every TH-cam channel at fault. There is nothing wrong with sharing your passion. I don’t believe Picasso created his work and shared his passion thinking about the ridiculous prices his pieces would one day draw. He shared because that is what he did. Markets are uncontrollable and evolving beasts. As individuals, we choose whether to participate in that market or not. For some of us, life changes and takes us out of it. As your example, if it went all up in a flame, your memories aren’t gone. I hope that never happens to you, but it is good that you realize that there are more important things in your life. I wish you, your family and friends, and your channel the best.
I'm sorry to hear about your lost in the marriage, I too had lost my marriage a year ago of something I personally didn't do anything to really caused it to end...
But in life it's best to always cherish the good memories, and forget the wrong only learn from your mistakes and move on for what God has in store in your life, we all have a purpose in life and we have that Free Will that God has giving us to make the choices we want to make hopefully that we make the right ones this time...
I've been on and off with gaming myself cause I kind of lost myself any interest over the years cause as I'm getting older I don't have that mentality and that youthful drive like when I was 12-18 years old when I was soooooo in to gaming, I'm 34 years old and watching videos like this especially from Johnny I'm blown away his love and enthusiasm for gaming and made me go back in time when games where the medium to explore and have a great time so I come back to gaming because of this channel, Nostalgia is a beautiful thing to relive and I got some games I need to play and get back to it, especially with Metal Gear Solid series one of my All time favorite game nothing can beat my love for that series cause I became a hardcore gamer because of this game, like Johnny is to Phantasy Star, I'm with the MGS...
God bless you man be strong and have faith man you will succeed in life let all your troubles in God's Hands he loves you more than anything he will never fail you...
Take care and happy gaming 👍💪
I think a big problem is people just have a collection for no reason than to say they own,And that's quite a sad thing,I collect things i like and enjoy
@CoffeeNinja Essentially.
I don't object to people collecting for the sake of collecting. There will always be those who just like owning things and they, just like the gaming collectors, want to pay as little as possible for their collections. It's the people who collect for profit who drive up prices and attempt to artificially inflate and control the second hand market that I have a problem with. Not the guy running a hobby level reselling business, or even a used game store, that I see as a service that is invaluable. I will happily pay that guy to scour garage sales and flea markets for games that they clean, test and resell so that I don't have to spend the time doing that. No I'm talking about the choads who try to buy up every copy of a rare game so that they can double or even triple the selling price as they slowly resell them over time. The people who are attempting to manipulate the otherwise free market for their own personal gain. Those guys should get a visit from the sodomy bikers.
Scott doesn't play his games
I honestly don't play every game and have some still sealed, but I do sell those games to make money to buy more games I enjoy in the future.
I don't collect just to collect, but to call it a "big problem"? People are allowed to enjoy what they enjoy.
This is why I love you Johnny you don't collect for the sake of collecting, you collect things because they have meaning to you. And that's why everytime you talk about a part of your collection your passion for that certain series really shows.
Always a good day when there is new Happy Console Gamer content
"If you see a game that's super expensive, go play the god-damned ROM!" 😂 Well said man!
Sadly, there's a barrier of entry for that. I've delved in recently and lack of solid education on it is daunting.
Go on reddit.com/r/ROMs or reddit.com/r/emulation. Android and PC are the best platforms to start emulating, but you can try a Wii. Some other consoles can too. But android and pc is the easiest.
start with a psp. easy to unlock, easy to find tons of emulators like nes snes genesis even a lot of turbografix16 games play super well. check it out man, follow guides you find by googling. couldn't be easier man @@personavisceration371
@@personavisceration371 It's super easy. Just download your emulator of choice (the most popular for whatever console should be fine in 99% of cases), download your rom, then open it up and play. It can really be as simple as you want it to be.
At least for cartridge based consoles there's everdrives flash carts.Also for discs based consoles optical drive emulators are becoming a thing.
I did multiple purges when I was younger and regret it, my "collecting" is only buying games that I used to own because I want them back. Now I buy new games because I want to play them. I have played/beat almost every game I own
100% I did buy/trade for a few higher value games. FF3(SNES) but I played it and enjoyed it and was glad to have it back, if you are dropping money on a game but play it and get 80 hours out of it, its fine.
@@ninjasec Agreed, you are playing it and thats what gaming should be about. Never understood people that mass collect just to have it on the shelf and never play them.
TH-cam and social media has given retro gaming far more exposure, and thus, there has been an increase in demand and consequently prices have surged. Another great vid, Johnny! Great content as always; keep it up! 👍😁
I'd love to play arc the lad, lunar, panzer dragoon saga... And unless I win the lottery I'll be emulating, ebay sales don't benefit the original studios so heh whatever
Hell no, infact social media have attract the slum to retro gaming. Scalpers skyrocket the game prices and people just collecting for popularity or monetizing.
It's actually the amount of retro game stores that surged the prices. These places buy ALL of the games and set the price trend. The demand isn't as high as you might think outside of the store owners.
8:58 The absolute truth. Friends & family will always matter most. And the memories that we have of our games will always be with us. You can take away the game but you can't take away the nostalgia. Also, love the Landstalker music that kicked in just then. I have so much nostalgia for that game playing it as a child with my late father. Cheers!
I'm kind of like the guys from My Life in Gaming: I want to play the games on original hardware as much as possible and as high quality as possible. I think of my collection as a library, where I only keep the ones that I love, know I will love, or are interesting for some reason. I trim what's in it regularly, and I like the social scene.
This sounds like a similar situation to the comic book boom in the 90's, where people who weren't even heavy comic readers would buy anything up as an "investment". I'm like you Johnny, Not specifically for video games. Although I have been playing since I got an atari in a yard sale in the 80's. I get the things that I have a connection with.
Dreamcast got me into wanting older games again around early 2013 when I was in my mid/late 20s. Dreamcast is my favorite. Shenmue 1 has always been my favorite game.
I only collect games I like or games that I’ve heard are good and want to play. Complete collections aren’t something I’d be into
Me too. I love collecting Wii games I like. Though, a complete Wii games collection would rather be embarrassing with all the awful shovelware games ^^
i'm the same way.
I regret selling a lot of my games when I was teenager. They always pull you back!
I was a bit of a collector back in the day, but as I’ve got older I’ve decided to keep the things that mean the most to me and get rid of the rest.
I mostly buy digital. I got out of collecting physical just after the retro boom took off. Prices started to get crazy and I started to question why I was collecting all of this stuff. I’m fighting the urge to buy physical media as I find it too inconvenient. It’s great to have a collection that only takes up space on a hard drive. Having said that, I’ve made sure to keep the games and systems that mean the most to me.
I also felt a frustration with retro collecting “losing its fun”. The magic for me was being able to acquire a part of my childhood and bring back some old memories. It’s akin to looking through old photos.
You don’t need to justify having a large collection of games. Every one of your TH-cam videos is testament to the fact each item has meaning to you. You usually have a fun story behind the item. The item is just a reminder of past times. Like signposts through your past.
I can look at most of the physical games I do have and evoke so many awesome memories.
It was great that TH-cam allowed me and others like me to connect and share common stories about games that, until TH-cam, I had no idea other people were experiencing.
Unfortunately, like most things in consumer society, they get out of control and it all becomes about money and stuff, but underneath all that, there is meaning. It can be hard to keep track of it sometimes.
Great Video. Keep up the good work and stay safe.
Well said!
The mini consoles for me have been great in that the cleanse my appetite to play games from certain eras easily and with modern hardware. I don't have the time or desire to find an old console, try to fix it and find the games. I'm also one of those types that the games they include are good enough for me, I don't need to "hack it" to get another 500 games, 490 of which I probably will never touch honestly.
Boom. ^ this a thousand percent
Same here. I regretably hacked my NES and SNES with all of the games I wanted. I wish I didn't and kept the mini consoles stock to their original games. I have a Genesis Mini and PC Engine Mini and I am good with leaving those mini consoles with their stock games.
As a kid my family didn't have a lot of money, so when I finished a game I'd usually end up trading it in for another at a local comics and games store. As a result, I couldn't amass a collection. Now I have adult money and you better believe I have surrounded myself in glorious retro gaming treasures🤣.
Back in the early 2000, I made stupid decisions to sell all my PS1 video games. But as my memories of “fun” still intact, I want them back again in my collecting. So, in 2006, I start collecting again in the beginning of PS1-PS2/GC/Wii games in most cases. I collect video games that I want to play & enjoy the contents/story/characters development. Since my room space is very limited, I’d have to pick digital versions of new video games in current generations. I feel pleased with some retro games coming from VC, mini consoles, ACA NeoGeo series, & Arcade Archives. Kind of fun playing old games via current consoles & they are of course very affordable prices.
Please get this man to a million subs, best TH-camr hands down.
I consider myself a light collector, I only buy and collect what I personally want to play, (and buy games from my past that I loved). Though I do admit I see people with complete physical collections and I get jealous lol even though I know a lot of it would be games Id never play xD
same here, my collection isnt as big, but I usually play everything I got, and even then, there's a couple of games that I havent touch since purchasing, mostly due to lack of time, for that same reason I do not collect modern games because It would be expensive as hell, only a few ones that manage to get my attention. also, as someone who likes to draw and write, games are something that I now use as inspiration or reference so I could one day create one of my own.
Personally man I don't get jealous, in fact I often dislike seeing those big collections because it kinda feels like they're just hoarding stuff with no real attachment. For people like that 'preservation' is just an excuse.
Same here!!😅
I personally collect what I have nostalgia for or games I would like to try, and sell NONE of it. Anyone that complains about people doing what they enjoy (collecting) just seem like bitter individuals. You still have access to a rom. Prices may go up, but that's the nature of items people desire.
I had a lot of games when I was a kid cause I had some pretty generous parents, but I absolutely regret trading them all in whenever a new console came out. Had some classic ps1 titles but they're all gone now :/
I have a small collection, and I always dreamed that I could go game hunting in the wild with my son when he was born. Then the prices skyrocketed. Then the eBay prices started showing up at swap meets. Now I watch shows like yours to scratch that itch.
Love your show man, and I'm happy you've recovered!
Here’s my story: as far as TH-cam goes, this channel and others kept my spirits up when I was going through a rough time in my life with grad school. It’s over now and I’ve got my degree, but that was a miserable two years for me and your passion for the games helped keep me in a more positive mindset at times. As for collecting, part of it for me isn’t just playing the games but owning a physical piece of the 80s and 90s, from the cases to the media itself to the consoles and machines. I enjoy the history and the sentimental value. Your passion for Sega in particular got me very interested in Sega’s history, and now I enjoy collecting and playing Master System and Genesis/Mega Drive, whereas previously I had a very Nintendo-centric mindset. I likely wouldn’t have played these Sega games, which have since become some of my favorites, if I hadn’t been exposed to them through this channel. So thanks Johnny, and keep doing what you do!
you are the man, johnny! you have the absolute best outlook on "collecting" or "owning a collection" and just enjoying/ appreciating things in general!
Fire 🔥 in my house... grabs child and Castlevania SOTN collector's edition!
Johnny, your channel is what gave me guidance on collecting for me. I'm a lot newer to the scene and had always felt overwhelmed by the thought of collecting literally everything, and almost found that discouraging. You helped me realize that I don't have to aim for the biggest collection out there, but rather make it a collection that's about me. Thank you ❤
This is such a refreshing perspective. Ultimately it's a really similar reason I got into youtubing so recently and doing Let's Play videos WITH the people I enjoy playing games together with. The most fun is the shared experience and you can't do that without the people you care about!
I created my TH-cam channel for my love of games but also because I loved seeing these OG game collectors, their passion and excitement was contagious. I enjoyed watching these stories and hidden gems in the retro world and I love being apart of that community. It gave me a vigor too expand the collection to more uncommon titles. I'm always finding new things I didn't know about and that is the fun for me. The challenge to find games on the cheap has gotten difficult but now when you find something, it really feels special. I still love all aspects of this hobby and I hope the others will too.
I remember back in 2008 when I came on here and showed my game rooms off. They thought I was insane. As the years went on it seemed to become more and more of a thing on here with collectors. Before TH-cam I used to take my parents big bulky camcorder and record my stuff for fun.
I’m an avid collector. I love having all the things that bring back so much great childhood memories. I been collecting for years and years. Toys, comics, video games and table top games as well. You are 100% completely right about how collecting today is not fun. What kills us collectors are the no life price gouging scalpers. Scalpers is what ruined collecting for everyone. For instance. I’m a huge resident evil fan. This past RE3 remake release I missed out on the collectors do to scalpers buying multiple collectors editions and gouging the hell out of them. I finally had to bite the horrible bullet of paying over double the retail price. I’m happy I have the collectors edition now but I’m jaded with it at the same time.
I've been collecting for over 20 years now, but I only buy stuff that interests me. I could go out and buy tons of cheap titles and have a 10k game collection (I have 2,000 or so at present), but there's no point in it. It just makes more sense to buy stuff I'll actually play.
That being said, there's an embarrassing number of games in my collection still in shrinkwrap. I'm gonna retire someday though... :p
To tell you the truth when i found your channel and started watching you renewed my love and passion for this great hobby and got me back into retro gaming again and for that i thank you.
At least you got to experience the golden days of collecting now a days us young collectors have to spend 50 on silent hill 2
I like watching your show and other retro gaming channels, because I get a lot of enjoyment seeing how passionate you are about games.
And I also learn a lot. Especially about games I've never heard of. It makes me want to check them out myself.
I played Neo Geo in the arcade but you stoked my absolute love for the games. Gotten so much more into them now. Forever grateful for that. Your enthusiasm rubbed off. Great video. I don’t have the space to display what I have but not selling the games I grew up with and enjoy playing now. TH-cam turned me onto so many games I missed. It also made me realize to collect/buy what I enjoy and not worry about value. Having sold my collections in he past only to reacquire some things I should never have sold has showed me to just buy/collect for the fun of playing.
Hi, John! Been some months since I knew your channel through my YT recommendations page and it's my first time commenting in one of your videos. I really love your passion, your opinion, your honest thoughts and how you express your feelings for this hobby. I am in my 30s now and I am not a collector but I do have a bit of a video game collection that grew up through all these years since my childhood days. I started with Game Boy, then Sega consoles, PlayStation ones, Nintendo, etc. All of those games were the ones I've played and never seek anything about 'having the entire library of the console', only as you also have like collecting video games from the series I love like Final Fantasy or JRPG sagas. And totally agree with you about 'if I lose my games somehow', I will be feeling very sad but I will be okay because what matters for me is family, friends, and all that nostalgia. Thank you always for being such a great humble video game fan. A huge high five from Spain!
My Nintendo Switch and channels like this got me into retro gaming. I actually love retro games/ retro styled games because their easier to pick up and play then modern games, generally cheap. Plus my kids love em too. Win-Win for everyone.
I didn’t realize how many games I had played in the past and even the fun I had until I started watching TH-cam. I’m now trying to collect old games I missed playing when I was younger but at an affordable price.
I am 100% with you on what I collect. If I had to boil my entire collection down, I'd say I focus on 3 main franchises - Castlevania, Zelda, and Final Fantasy. Everything else is great and I love many of the other things I "collect" dearly (Dragon Quest, Gundam, Warhammer, etc.), but those main 3 franchises are the ones I cherish the most because those were the games my mom and I played together from the 80s to the early 2000s.
I, too, have changed the way I 'hunt' for things. Me and a couple friends make weekend events out of it. We live in the greater Pittsburgh area and we set aside a few weekends throughout the year where we travel the tristate area hitting mom and pop shops, yard sales, and open markets just to see what we can find. We hold no expectations of finding things at "steal" prices, we just enjoy our time together and see what we can see. Hell, we have the most fun at Too Many Games, and the prices there are almost always at market price, but again, it's the time we spend together that matters.
You said it best - these are just games. The times in our lives we experienced them in and the people we share them with are what matters most.
I sold my retro video game collection about two years ago when I was having a hard time finding a job. The good thing that came out of it is that I appreciate playing games more. If I want to play a game that I felt I miss out on I can go to Nintendo eshop or Playstation Store to download it and take the time to play it.
Your enthusiasm for games is massively contagious Johnny and it's one of the reasons I'm big on collecting these days, but likewise each game I get is one I want to play and own, but at the end of the day they are just materialistic, it's a hobby, a very fun one!
Sold most of my games when I left home but still have a fair few PS1 games. My childhood the cases look awesome and brings back so much nostalgia.
I've learnt so much about retro games from your channel alone. I don't think I had even heard of a Neo Geo before binge-watching your videos a while back. All I knew was Nintendo, Sega, Microsoft, Sony (born late 90's)
Would like to eccho Johnny's sentiment regarding materials vs loved ones, coming from an old times gamer who has lost his life collection and his two wonderful boys...I miss my children non stop, but will always have those memories. Also Thank you Johnny, Have been a long time fan, I wish you, your family and friends long lasting happiness. I hope to continue watching your vids for years to come.
I have stated collecting Arc System Works games. God I remember going to a pawn shop in Alberta back in 2004 and paying $10 from both the Legend of Zelda and The adventures of Link gold cartridges.
I got out of video games for awhile and I got heavily into tabletop roleplaying games. Love to binge this channel to bring me back to my roots, especially Phantasy Star related stuff.
I love watching videos of other people who go crazy with collecting video games as I financially can't go crazy so I'm loving vicariously through you guys. I only buy games I'll definitely play and I prefer the physical medium so my collection is limited but I'm satisfied...for now.
I never regarded myself as a collector until maybe the past year or so. I looked at my shelf, with all the various generations of PlayStation games that I got back in the day and realized I probably fit the description. Enjoyed your take on this topic John.
I've learned a ton over the years from reading and watching videos about video games. The one thing I've learned, there a ton of people that love the same things I do and that makes me happy.
I don't collect physical games at all, never have, but people like yourself were among the first I ever watched on this website because a lot of game collecting channels had a lot of interesting info about games, showed games I'd never heard of etc, top 10 lists and shit like that weren't really a big thing at the time I don't think.
I don’t really collect things because I get overwhelmed if I have too much stuff. I do enjoy seeing people’s collections though. Vicariously experiencing the joy plus hearing people reminiscing about games I enjoyed is very satisfying!
I remember watching you, Splattertrigger, and Retropocalyse and a few others talk about "hidden gems" like Ys or why Phantasy Star is amazing all the way on the Ds and PSP era of gaming. It was a special time where learning about all sorts of incredible Rpgs and games that were niche in some ways but grand in the experiences they gave. This video triggered that nostalgia for learning and discovery of games and for me showed how long I have followed the hobby and have grown in my tastes. It's a special time to celebrate!
It's nice to hear a larger channel recognizing that collecting isn't fun like it used to be, and prices have gone from dumb to dumber. Great episode, brought back a lot of collecting memories for myself as well.
Loved hearing you talk about this John. I love retro gaming and by actually not knowing that I later would regret it, I gave my Megadrive and games away. Some years ago I bought myself another Megadrive+games (again), and started to not sell my games of my other consoles (at least those I really wanted), however like you said at the end, the most valuable thing is the nostalgia and the times spent playing with friends. Till this day one of my fondest memories I have is after school (like 7 or 8 years old) and getting stuck on Streets of Rage or Golden Axe till late in the evening with the same friends we still know until this day. thank you for sharing. :)
My most recent happy collecting moment is snagging a factory sealed copy of Phantasy Star Online Episodes 1 & 2 Plus for only 100 bucks! I had the game originally, but had lent it to a friend, then I moved cross country and never got it back. I love that game. I collect only the games I loved playing when I was younger. So to have that one again makes me smile.
It was so satisfying to hear you say that about roms. Most ‘tubers shy away or even dissuade others from them.
Until quite recently, I've always been the type to sell stuff when I'm done with it -- not just games but pretty much everything, it was like a weird compulsive habit. I guess I was just too short sighted to realize I might still want to enjoy them again years later. As a result I don't really have any treasured childhood possentions, and most things I own are things I've bought within the last few years. It feels oddly lonely to look around my room and see nothing that I have any sort of history or connection with, not even in storage anywhere. It's so sterile.
I really respect people who realized from a young age the importance of cherishing and holding onto the things that bring them joy, whether that's games, personal creations, or human relationships. And at the same time it's great that you aren't too attached to the material objects themselves but rather the experiences they brought you and the relationships they fostered. You've stuck a great balance between treasuring the objects themselves without being overly attached to them, and I feel like I can learn a lot from that. Thank you.
I have to thank TH-camrs like you for showing me games and consoles, that I missed back in the day or that I didn't even know existed. And the retro gaming community offers great opportunities to talk about this sort of thing. After all, I don't know a single person irl that still plays older games and no one really cares about them either. So it's really great to at least talk about retro games online.
As for collecting, I personally set my goal to one day own a physical copy of every officially released console RPG and to ideally have played every one of those games at least for a while to get an idea what they're about. I don't know if I'll ever accomplish this goal, but in this case the road is the goal.
I totally agree...I've had cars and games that I've loved stolen and or lost. You'd be surprised how easy it is to say "meh...I dont really care" and move on with life. It's nice to have things and enjoy them in the moment but realizing your "alive and capable" in times of loss is what really matters. Great words of wisdom dude
TH-cam rekindled my love for video games 5 years ago. Finding guys like yourself, MJR, Dreamcastguy and even Gameranx made me love the hobby in a while new way and opened my mind to so many different kinds of games. I initially wanted to collect any and everything, but right now I just play current gen. I do want to go get certain old games that I actually want to play or have memories of from childhood, but it's not an urgent thing.
I've really enjoyed watching your show for the past 11years Johnny, plus AVGN, Metal Jesus Rocks, and many more. I enjoy watching shows about
video games, as much as I like playing them.
As a 41 year old gamer part of the fun for me is scanning Johnny's wall and seeing games I remember renting or wanting to own back in the day.
I've learnt so much from yourself and many veteran gaming youtubers.
Prices may have gone up but your information and passion is priceless. :D much respect.
Hey Johnny ✊🏼
Here in Germany the retro scene is booming for years especially on or cause of youtube.
Therefore Prices for Snes, N64 or PS1 are exploding like in your region.
It took me 2 years to get my childhood games back and like you said Nostalgia was the biggest motivator to get these.
I love to watch your show and share the same passion with you and the audience.
Wish you all the best,
Greeting from germany
✊🏼Flo
The meteoric rise of retro games popularity is an extremely positive thing and greatly out weights the mere fact that the price of physical copies have gone up in my opinion, especially when there are a lot of free/less expensive options out there.
Johnny, i really respect what you said about not being a big deal if your collection went up in flames. At the end of the day, material things are not what's essential in live. Much respect.
I love video game collecting, I grew up at the same time as John and played all of the same games as him. I mistakenly sold my retro collection (around 2004, or 2005) and I always regret it. I do remember that my collection got so big that I had to put it into storage in boxes and it got too hard to find the boxes pull out the systems hook them up and it just got too difficult to do that every time I wanted to play a game and because of that I convinced myself to sell my collection. I totally regret it because some of the games I sold are worth way more than what I sold them for back then. I love this channel because it helps me remember all the awesome games from my past.
I did the same, I would buy and play what was new at the time keeping up with gaming until the 8th gen started.
The Xbox one and ps4 didn't originally appeal to me so I decided to go back and explore the 16-bit era My Life in gaming style and haven't turned back since. But I branched into collecting for most classic retro systems, gathering whatever I want to complete someday. It's been fun but I'm glad to see that my journey is mostly finished, I have most of the games that I want, completing 15-20 a year has been fun since 2015.
Collecting to have those cool games on display, for yourself and for anyone visiting :)
I only play roms now, collecting is beyond me, i don't miss out on playing great games as i can download any rom of choice....though i've learned loads about some great games or hidden gems through watching channels such as yourself or AVGN.
I'm glad channels like yours exist, so someone like myself can bask in the nostalgia of yesteryear's beauties or find out more about that one game i didn't get to play back in the day.
I love your channel, long may it continue.
I think there's something to be said about acquiring a collection over time as opposed to actually collecting. I've been acquiring videos games for over twenty years, and while some people may look at my collection and think I'm a collector in reality it's not all that impressive when you think about it. Nowadays I buys more games digitally than I do physically, but even when I bought the majority of my games physically at MOST I'd acquire about 12 new games a year, sometimes more, sometimes less. That adds up after a few years.
I'm also a fan of reproductions when it comes to retro games that cannot be purchased in any other format and/or are FAR too expensive.
My suggestion to people would be to just buy what you like. Don't collect just for the sake of collecting unless you're just THAT hardcore into collecting.
I’m a video game player that collects old games I have a connection to, much like you it’s the memories I have with my brother and friends.... I’ll never need a little Sampson or Stadium events, but Mario Kart, Rock N Racing, Golden Eye, NBA Jams, Link to the Past, Sonic.... these games bring me joy.... Im 37 and own every console I’ve ever had (some I’ve had to rebuy) and let me tell you.... when I have company over and they see a Sega Genesis and wanna jump on Sonic or a Group of us is getting nuts on OG Mario Kart... it’s why I have what I have.... I will never understand the guys looking for Complete collections or paying $2000 for a game... Collecting for monetary reasons is... just buy what you love and it turns into a collection.... you sir have done this the right way
Great video. I’m not a big collector but I have a lot of games, both physical and digital. I’ve never sold any games though because I always wanted to keep them. And now that I set up my older consoles again, I’ve just been buying a few games that were either stolen or traded/lost when I was a kid. I’m also picking up a few games that I didn’t previously own but always wanted to try. I just want to be able to play these retro games in whatever form I can - either on my old consoles, new mini consoles, or re-released versions on newer consoles. As long as the games are available in some form (without having to pay a ton for rare cartridges), then I’m happy.
That’s how my collection started too. I didn’t want to get rid of any of my games, and my collection just grew naturally over the years.
Loved this video, Johnny- what you talked about at the end about losing everything and being okay, ive been through that already with the huge music collection i used to have. When my wife and i first moved into our house, we had a flood in the basement and i lost 95% of my 1300 cd's and vinyls i had and i was upset but i realised when that happened what you said. What matters is people, not things. I do have a pretty large horror movie collection now, and if the same thing happened to that collection, i'd feel the same thing. It's okay. Good stuff, Johnny.
I collect the stuff I enjoy using. I don't collect retro games due to nostaligia, so much as that I just still really love playing them. I dig how each gaming era tends to offer different play styles & presentation. Partly for techincal reasons, but also due to ever changing approaches to design. I always play a mix of modern and classic games. I generally derive an equal amount of fun from both the old and the new. I find that the games and systems I own in pyhysical form always hold more special meaning to me - and get more of my playing time - than the stuff I have only in digital form, or on my various emulation devices. Plus, I love looking at the lovely art on the cases and all that stuff.
This was a really good episoooode. I'm just like that myself, I'm not a collector, I'm a gamer that just never sell my games 😁
You are a fan 😁 I know you said you were a fan of HCG and I was scrolling through the comments and saw yours here. That’s pretty cool.
I’m glad more people have gotten into collecting and playing games as it is an awesome hobby! The only thing that I don’t understand is some wanting complete sets of everything and keeping games sealed. But to each their own, collect what you love!
I actually became a casual gamer I hate to say but in 2014 started watching your videos and last few watching adam koralik's videos inspired me and got me back into games. I had the newest playstation but both of you open my eyes to sega. Thank you and now I have all sega consoles but the dreamcast
One thing I like about you Johnny is you don't "beg" us to make donations so you can open a video game museum, like certain TH-camrs.
Great video! I am also collecting video games since 1996 and I started with Super Mario Land on the Game Boy. As you I was a child and I had no intention to collect those games but I think at that moment I earnd my own money my passion to collect started. I know that I won't play all of my games in the rest of my life because there are other and more important things, too. So I can agree with your words that the loss of the collection is not as important than friends or family. That really touched my heart. :)
I really agree with your points, and I got into collecting late. I got my old systems out, got nostalgic and wanted to reclaim stuff I sold. Thankfully I kept a decent amount of stuff. I really thought no one else was doing it. Well I quickly discovered otherwise, but about 6 years ago, I was able to build a decent amount via garage sales, friends and co-workers, and trading. However for the last 5 years I have not really added much to my collection, nor am I willing to spend what people are charging. Having a family is a big part too, less time and money. I still love the stuff, and the nostalgia, I actually watched this video 2x today. So I had to comment. I love my stuff, its doubtful I will part with it. I recently started showing my son, , my old toys and games. You are literally so on point with this video,. Thanks for everything. I hope all is going well with Kim, its a big life change but so worth it.
Haven't been on your channel for years -for me, I've got out of the Video Games Collecting Hobby since I've started collectin Vinyl Records wich is my main hobby and just like you said, I'm also in a point where I have everything I've ever needed. Of course there will be always this another game to buy, but I'm no more addicted to geting it imidiatly.
Greetings from Poland!
TH-cam gets me into collecting video game. And I feel thankful and motivated because of videos like this one.
I just bought the latest games growing up and for the most part unlike most of my friends I just kept all my games because of how much I enjoyed the journey playing them kind of created more of a sentimental value and nostalgia over the years. Definitely very glad I chose to keep them it's nice having a catalog of memories within my collection.
I grew up on Nintendo consoles up through the Nintendo GameCube. I had on average 10 games per system and still have most of what I originally owned. I started watching TH-cam in 2015 and got the desire to get and play the games and systems that wish I had as a kid, like the Genesis and later, the PS2. Now, I’ve picked up most everything I want (about 600 games or so) but I’ll still pick up games here and there at thrift shops for cheap if I don’t yet have it and looks fun.
I started five years ago collecting PS1 games which I've always wanted to own as a kid. I have a bucket list from those games. The first thing that I did was to get Crash Bandicoot games for PS1. Even though games are at least 20 years old I feel myself as a kid again when I get a certain game to my collection. By belonging to PS1 game collecting communities and talking about those games face to face (remembering to be 6 feet apart) it's special to feel that there are others doing same thing. A time travel which balances your every day life.
I was a collector, and much like you, I foolishly purged everything around 20-21? I have to admit, a combination of visiting a retro-con (too many games) and TH-cam channels like yours, reminded me of what I had been missing. I have only been collecting about a year and a half, and I am hovering around 175 titles. A fraction of where I was, but good lord, I am happy to be doing it again. My wife, well that’s another story...
I had a moment where I purged my collection in 1997.....23 years later and 5000+ games later, here I am
A really good thought to ponder. I feel like some people just started hoarding the past few years, buying games they never played and buying more than necessary... Making it hard and morr expensive for everyone.
I been gaming since the early 80s and I love video games as much as you Johnny. My wife always jokes I will be a old grandpa playing video games with my grand kids some day lol. I have all my systems and games from my childhood and recently went through it all with my 7 and 10 yr old daughters and they got a big kick out of some of the retro stuff. Im not a collector but just like you I kept everything I owned since the 80s and have lots of stuff. I will always love gaming and its a very serious hobby for me and the family.
I just took good care of hand me downs when I was little and thank god I kept all the boxes for n64.
Those are pretty rare! They got thrown out a lot. Wish I had kept mine. The art for them are very colourful and nice
My focus collecting games has changed over the years. I use to spend a lot of money buying new releases in the fear of missing out on them later on. Now I only purchase the odd new day 1 release on series i love like Dragon Quest or Yakuza. I found running 6-12 months behind release dates saves a lot of money. I collect the games I want to play not for what they're worth. I love walking into my games room of what is my life of gaming and it really hasn't cost me a lot due to collecting smart.
I rarely purchase retro games anymore as i refuse to pay stupid prices for a title. Pal PS1 games are crazy expensive here in Australia. I have always wanted to play suikoden 2 but i refuse to pay over $100. I have no shame purchasing a retro title in modern forms if its cheaper. As for strictly limited titles i refuse to buy them. It's a real shame as a lot of the limited titles i could see myself enjoying. Games should be for everyone not to just show off with it value.
One thing people should always remember is collecting should be a fun hobby not something that causes financial burden on you or your family. I have seen a lot of people struggle with that balance especially on youtube when they try and keep up with bigger channels. Be proud of what you have. A lot of big collections were formed over many years not over night. I always have believed that at some stage (not every title) will become affordable if you're willing to hold out.
Thanks for a great topic Johnny. Stay safe.
Gundamruss Gaming awesome comment mate. Would love to hear a similar video from you on your channel
When I was a kid, my mom sold all my NES and Genesis games while I was away at summer camp. She thought that I wouldn't care since I had the Dreamcast. So I've been trying to recollect all my old games over the years. 95% of the way there and actually having a lot of fun doing it.
Smart phones really brought the prices up. Now anybody can just check their phone for prices.
One seller had the balls to pull out his phone in front of me when I asked the price for a game on his shelves.
Obviously googling the Ebay price.
Great video Johnny. I was a SNES and N64 kid and got around 20 games for each of them and played virtually all of them to completion, often multiple times over.
Then at university I had a period where I literally just played San Andreas, Madden, Tiger Woods and Pro Evolution Soccer, and I’ve been trying (unsuccessfully) to catch up ever since!
I’ve amassed another 40 PS2 games, 25 each for the GameCube and Wii, another 40 I downloaded off the Wii Virtual Console, 20 PS3 games, 12 for the Switch and just a couple for the PS4. Out of all those I’ve played about 35 and finished maybe 15, the others are still in their cling film looking good on a shelf, but will I ever get to play them all, I doubt it!!!
I guess I’ve become more of a collector and watcher of videogame shows on TH-cam than someone who actually has enough time to play many games to completion, now that most titles are so much bigger and longwinded than in the SNES and N64 days. I have such great memories of the SNES and N64, I played those games to death (got all of the cheats in Goldeneye, beat nearly all the staff ghosts in F-Zero X, got all 96 exits a couple of times in Super Mario World etc).
Sometimes less is definitely more! (Unlike my long-winded comment perhaps)
I only collect things that bring me joy. I'm a lot like you: I pretty much bought every game from my childhood, and anything else now is just extra. I'm satisfied with my collection. Not only would I not be too sad if my collection went up in flames, my collection DID go up in flames in 2010. We had a huge house fire. I lost a lot of my original copies of games, DVDs, books. I'm just glad that I survived. I ended up rebuying just the games that meant a lot to me. I even held on to my original copies of games that are a bit melted, but survived being in the fire.
The thing that annoys me is the limited games collecting. Not every indie game that's produced in small quantities is going to be a banger, but that's the current hype train for a lot of people. Thanks as always for your videos, John!
Thanks to the internet, many people are playing 'catch up' from their pre-internet gaming days (hell of a back catalogue). The hype exploded with social media exposure. Waiting for the bubble to burst, so true game hobbyists can enjoy a piece of their childhood.
I've always preferred to watch videos of "collectors" who have a passion about the games they own. It's the reason I am watching. To share in the experiences and love for gaming. When I see videos of stacks of games that exist purely to tick a box, it's really soulless and not something I can relate to.
I have never collected games, but I haven't ever gotten rid of anything I've enjoyed, so I have a few hundred. But I am confident that within that are all the games I love. The rest is a backlog that I am so eager and excited to experience. And if I don't enjoy them, I won't keep them. In the end, I hope to have a collection of memories, fun experiences to dip back into, and timeless classics that I can play endlessly.
I still love collecting after over 20 years. The price has gone up and the finds are less often. But at least I know in another 20 years someone will want my collection and enjoy it.
I have only really just got into video game collecting in the past couple of years. The worst thing for me though is that since I was born near the start of the 2000's I basically missed everything GameCube and before, my first console was the Wii and I still don't have every game I want for that console. But the problem I have is that, since I'm a teenager with little of my own income, I am struggling to get the games I missed while also keeping up to date with the new releases. I really want to fill out my GameCube library cause I only have like six games for it but another problem I have is trying to find games like double dash, the Mario party's and smash melee for a decent price and isn't as highly priced as a new game. I still love collecting and I have a great time doing it anyway, the struggle just makes finally getting those games even more satisfying.
This is legitimately one of the best videos you've made, you hit the nail on the head man