Let The Game Collection Begin!

Out of pure curiosity I decided to begin expanding my modest game collection, fuelling my already habitual need to fill those pesky storage gaps on the shelves. I’ve accumulated a rather expansive library over the years, largely consisting of PlayStation games and it’s various iterations, utilising my antisocial behaviour effectively but sadly deficient in many of my childhood endeavours. Most of the classic games I played as a younger man are safely secured in my mother’s loft, with an estimated value of roughly £10 trillion (at least by my standards). As ever I, being the concerned son that I am felt obliged to appropriate this collection of clutter from my mother’s house. Yet despite my gracious and fervent protestations to procure them my mother, having technically purchased the majority of these games…..that by rights should have reverted to me!…..*cough* excuse me, declined my generous offer. So until I can deploy an elaborate scheme to acquire them without her consent, all I’m missing is peppers, paint, a camel suite and a copy of Time Out magazine to accomplish it, I felt it was time to branch out on my own and I’ve got to say that logistically speaking it’s very difficult to begin.

You immediately attempt to acquire those obscure titles you have vague recollections of as a kid. “Oh yeah I need to get that one with the corpse, mummy…..thing that threw skulls, or something? Or the one with the Coca-Cola insignia on a beach that exposes crustaceans underwear, wore trendy sunglasses and was a complete commercial whore?” These primitive notions emphasis you’re puerile affection and incentives, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You certainly don’t want to be making random purchases that share no affinity with you’re nostalgic predilections, but at the same time it makes things rather more difficult, by which I mean expensive. After you’ve isolated what platform you wish to start a collection, which is no easy feat and determined what games specifically you wish to bolster you’re collection, you then have to decide precisely what it is you want from the games. I know you’re probably nodding courteously the way a parent humours a child talking about a monster hiding under the bed, but hear me out.

“Cool Spot: dealing with crabs, product placement and plagiarism. 

You’re be observing several retailers for the best deals, with many trusted proprietors extending very generous prices, yet at the same time deceiving the goods by subverting the additional postage and packaging fees. A specific game, maybe valued at say £5 or the equivalent could have an attached P&P of the same price. All of a sudden that bargain has escalated. It’s still affordable but still a little jarring. Purchasing old games requires a cautious degree of restraint so as not to make a decision based purely on spontaneity. You have to consider a litany of aesthetic variations too. The cartridge may be in full working order, yet may contain a tear on the box or worse devoid of any case at all. It’s far cheaper and easier to purchase just a cartridge/disc, but there’s certain romanticism about having the original facilities like the case and booklet. It’s also worth noting that you may fraternise with various titles and which to get first, but more than likely the most desirable software is reasonably priced, which is odd considering their popularity. I don’t know why but you’d expect the likes of “Sonic The Hedgehog” to be more valued as a collector’s item than say “Mega Turricane” (whatever the hell that is?) but it’s the more abstract titles that are worth there weight in pixilated gold. I guess that’s because people with any sense already own Sonic The Hedgehog, but I digress. The majority of your purchases will likely be submitted through on-line suppliers, making it difficult to certify the quality of the product beyond the vaguely defined surmise written by the distributor. What the individual would consider acceptable maybe less than suitable for you so as much as anything you’re taking gambles, making this hobby something of significant risk.

I guess initiating a new hobby isn’t as straight forward as I thought it would be. I’m still conflicted on where to start, how to start and what a start entail? A new hobby that will be funded on a shoestring budget in between those pesky spells of domesticity and fatherhood, but one I’m excited to comprehend. Sure it may take sometime to amass a collection worthy of being deemed a library and something that will be advised on in a limited capacity, but that’s part of the appeal. It’s like getting a sticker album for the first time, slowly dedicating time and money to invest in its expansion. Filling in the gaps, getting that shiny you so desperately craved, before the euphoria of finally completing the entire book. Much like any embellished story; it’s not about the conclusion, but the journey. Now, to Mordor!

What games would you like to add to you’re collection? Let me know in the comments below. Cheers.