Ever get bored of collecting a certain system?

[Jeckidy]

These days, I'm pretty bored with collecting NES, SNES, and Genesis carts. I'm even tired moreso of looking at the ones with the dirty, faded labels. Love the games, but I have to admit I've been pretty bored of collecting the originals for some time now despite having occassional collecting phases but I lose enthusiasm quickly so I try to refrain. And being an artist myself, I am even less motivated to buy games with ugly artwork (the aesthetics tend to be the biggest appeal of even owning the originals in the firstplace).

Right now I'm only collecting Gamecube and Master System games for various niche reasons.

Although for personal and philosophical reasons I deliberately make an effort to change my course every now and then and just put less focus on collecting and more on gaming, thanks to the NeoMyth and Xbox emulation.

Anybody else ever experience these kinds of phases?

[Nunzio]

You gotta get over the box art thing, I am also an artist and crappy box art amuses me to no end! Half the reason I own many games is because the art was so bad... it had to be a good game! And very often that's how it works.

I think you're just looking at it like a task, and not a hobby. If you pack everything up for a couple years, your Genesis will not feel bad. Your NES won't put on weight. It'll all be there for when you want it, and more importantly when you need it.

Sounds like you need to try something new for awhile, maybe fly fishing or poker. Just something new!

[Jeckidy]

You gotta get over the box art thing, I am also an artist and crappy box art amuses me to no end! Half the reason I own many games is because the art was so bad... it had to be a good game! And very often that's how it works.

I think you're just looking at it like a task, and not a hobby. If you pack everything up for a couple years, your Genesis will not feel bad. Your NES won't put on weight. It'll all be there for when you want it, and more importantly when you need it.

Sounds like you need to try something new for awhile, maybe fly fishing or poker. Just something new!

Well, I know what you're saying about box art. For example, some would find the artwork to Flicky (one of my favorite Genesis games) to be a joke because it looks too real and doesn't fit the cartoony look like the japanese artwork does. I however, see it as an interesting, surreal interpretation of the actual subject. I am actually considering moving my Genesis collecting to complete or at least boxed copies like I do for SMS just to admire the artwork. If there was an artbook of Genesis/MD releases though, that would be nice to have too. Although my reasons for what and why I like to collect can be a bit complicated, personal, and philosophical as I mentioned, I agree sometimes putting it away does wonders, though there is some stuff that I just don't care to keep (like Warrior of Rome for example).

Absolutely. Well I've never really been collecting just for a particular system, just bought interesting stuff that has come along for a good price, but I guess I've had some systems as main points of focus and those have changed over time.

But nowadays I'm not so big on collecting actual games anymore. These new copiers that use SD/CF cards that can fit the system's entire library of games in it at once are where it's at. Owning the original has never been that important to me anyway, always found pirate bootlegs more interesting than originals for example. Especially with these 20-year-old games where it's not like the money goes to the developers anymore if you buy an original copy. But don't get me wrong, sure owning a large library of originals would be neat, but time and money are limited and there's a lot of things that would be "neat".

Of course collecting the systems themselves and copiers for them gets addictive and expensive too. So far only have the Everdrive-MD and NES PowerPak but hope to get more in the future.

What you mentioned about second-hand sales being arguably counterproductive to benefiting the original authors in both the present and future is right on and part of my argument against anti-'piracy' critics. Simply put, whats legal is not always benificial and whats considered 'lllegal' is not always bad, and I have alot of philosophical problems with the current setup of the copyright system, etc. That topic, I can write an entire essay on.

But to keep on the actual subject, in regards to sentimental reasons for collecting, I find that if there's a good reason to give up something you are attatched to that gives more benefits and advantages, its often worth it. So I wouldn't mind switching entirely to flashcarts.

On a more personal note, however, I am collecting Gamecube originals because I like the titles, the tiny discs are adorable, and also due to the hassle I'd face in regards to modding a wii/gc to play bootlegs, etc., which I am not interested in doing at this time. As for SMS, I like the cuteness of the cartridges/box format generally and also the library, and because its somewhat novel to me right now.

[JackieBogard]

I took a break from genesis cart collecting to focus on improving my fighting game skills. I love genesis but fighting games are my first video game love.

[Nunzio]

Well, I know what you're saying about box art. For example, some would find the artwork to Flicky (one of my favorite Genesis games) to be a joke because it looks too real and doesn't fit the cartoony look like the japanese artwork does. I however, see it as an interesting, surreal interpretation of the actual subject. I am actually considering moving my Genesis collecting to complete or at least boxed copies like I do for SMS just to admire the artwork.

You know, I purchased a cart only Japanese version of Flicky, which had no title and only the ridiculous box art on the label because it was so ****ed up, I had to find out what the hell that game actually was! I mean, what on Earth could the gameplay be like!?

If Salvador Dali did Genesis box art...

[Jeckidy]

Thing is some art is highly misleading like Bio Hazard Battle's US art. It shows a ship attacking the berry monster but in the game you don't use mechanical ships, just monsters.

Now the japanese artwork is much more cryptic and vague, makes me wonder what it could be.

[TheRollingStoner]

I go through phases myself. I used to pretty much only collect NES games, and a few SNES and Genesis titles here and there. I have about 100 NES games, and ever since I hit like 70 or so, I decided to focus more on Genesis games. I have 40+ Genny titles and only about 20 or so SNES ones. For whatever reason, I would rather collect for the Genesis over the SNES, even though I've had an SNES for much much longer. So basically when I'm thinking of picking up some more games, the Genesis is the first system to come to mind.

[Bramsworth]

I try to do something different; just collect only obscure pirates. Out of all the collections you see, you never see one of that kinda stuff, always the exact same official games that every other collector has. I understand combofriend perfectly too, one of the neat things about pirates of official games is the different covers. Spices things up a bit, plus they're typically cheaper. That's one thing that bugs me about games for Genesis, they all look exactly the same with the Genesis sign on the side, that red stripe pattern or the earlier wireframe pattern. Usually with pirates it's just a huge cover of the games artwork, no Sega seal or company logos to get in the way. Just makes it feel like a poster meant for display, rather than a copy of all the others.

I really like pirates =p

[Devil N]

Not so much bored, but once you've obtained all the cheap and easy-to-find games that you want, you're left only with collecting games that are expensive and require a lot of patience to get a good deal on. It's because of this reason that my Mega Drive collecting activities are slowly grinding to a halt, and I find myself focusing more on PS1, PS2 and modern systems recently.

[Markss]

I get bored of collecting retro games but always end up getting back into it somehow

[gamegenie]

I'm pretty much done with Game Gear. I have 3 Game Gears, a TV Tuner, a Master Gear converter, two modded battery packs, and a punch of games. My most prized one is Mega Man.

[David J.]

I'm pretty much done with the following collections:

I have finished my US Saturn and Dreamcast (all regions) collections. There are other games that yes, it'd be cool to own...but not going out of my way.

My US Saturn is my pride and joy and took forever.

[KnightWarrior]

I'm pretty much done with Game Gear. I have 3 Game Gears, a TV Tuner, a Master Gear converter, two modded battery packs, and a punch of games. My most prized one is Mega Man.

Last night I had a dream I was in a small store with about 30 Game Gear Games..all of then was dupes of Common Games, Not one I wanted..

But there was one.... Mega Man for $3.98, I was looking at it...then I woke up

[tz101]

Nope. I collect for every system and when I see titles I do not yet have in the wild I grab them right up. This is how my 200+ Genesis, 150+ SNES, 150+NES, 300+2600, 100+PSX, , 120+N64, 70+Intellivision and 50+5200 collections grew. I keep a mental inventory that is mostly accurate so try to get only ones I don't have yet. Sometimes I get duplicates though, but not too often.

[OldSchool]

I started collecting Old Console Game stuff last Fall (Q4 '09) and I'm already done. Picked up all the NES/SNES/Genesis/N64/P1/P2 games I'll ever need for life. Some prefer to spread their collecting habits out over a long period of time... while others like myself would rather get it over with quickly.

My advice to you sir is nothing new... as with anything in life that gets tiresome.. take a break from it and come back later refreshed with new enthusiasm for said activity. It'll come back to life for you eventually.


: D