In Too Deep: A Collectors Reflection Upon Life

[Xtincthed]

After the big succes of PlaystationCollecting.com's article about the only collector in the world with a full sealed PS2 set we've decided to put more attention into the weblog.
Our newest piece is written by the well known collector Gemini-Phoenix who reflects upon his life after more then a decade of collecting video games.

In my opinion this piece really covers the motivations, inspirations and doubts every collector has and I think a lot of people will recognise some of their feelings and/or doubts in this article

link: http://www.playstationcollecting.com/general/in-too-deep-no-regrets

enjoy the read :)

[Queen of Mudcrabs]

A good read *thumbsup*

[twistedsymphony]

interesting read.....

I can relate to some aspects of it, but on a whole I'd like to think I have a good balance in my life.

I'm in my late 20s, I have a wife, we own a house together. and collecting games is really my 2nd hobby... my first is building cars, and general electronics tinkering.

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I've only collected games since the end of 2004 when I got the Halo 2 metal pack and though "this is cool, I want to own more of these" I've collected other things in the past, transformers, legos, playing cards, etc. In nearly all of those instances I got bored of the hobby and sold off my collection.

In a lot of ways collecting games for me has been a way to consolidate my collecting habits, it gives me an outlet where I can exercise my collecting habits but at the same time not let it spread into every other aspect of my life.

Starting CE.o was a big part of this for me as well... it gave my collecting somewhat of a purpose and a societal value beyond my own personal satisfaction.

[asiak75]

Nice read...I agree. And you guy's make me feel extremely old...since I am in my mid 30's.
I also have a wife and a kid and it never was a real problem to collect stuff as far as i remember...its well said your doing it more for the rush to have something just a few have.
At least for me that defines the idea of collecting.
Funny you mention the Lego...hehehe best invention ever I am still wondering if the new generations are collecting these kind of things.

[Mike1888]

Nice read, I certainly know what you mean when you say sense of completion. I can't just have 1 thing, I have to have them all, the hole set. Its been that way since I was an 8 year old collecting hockey cards, lego and beer caps lool...

[Gemini-Phoenix]

I know the author of that article personally, so I can totally relate to everything he says! :)

[vhal_x]

Great read, I'm 19, have a son and a boyfriend, and rent (although want to get a mortgage but our addiction to CE's prevents that!) and have only been collecting myself for about 6 months (but been helping my boyfriend for about a year and a half) but I can totally relate to that feeling of completion, hence the fact I've preordered basically every game that's coming out this year and have been on the hunt for many more :haha: xx

ETA: I think I have an addictive personality, as I am way more obsessed with collecting CE's than my boyfriend is, even though he's been doing it longer. And come to think of it, I've always collected something at any stage of my life. As a kid, it was pokemon cards, then TYs (beanie babies) and then books, then normal games, then Me To You bears (just before my son was born) and now CE's. But this is one that has truly gotten a hold over me, the rest weren't anywhere near as addictive as CE's! xx

[mosavon]

Interestings :think: Im not too sure where i place myself amongst everyone here...i sure know i dont have a fraction of a collection to "fill a room" but way to go Gemini i hope someday i can fill a room, im also late 20's Vhal makes me feel old :nea:, been gaming 25 years, i have owned at least 1 console from every generation, i sense you feel collecting to this level is somehow weird or whatever, like a waste of time? well there are worse things to throw money at in life

Keep up the Good Work

[AJLareneg]

I am not sure how I feel I fit into this either. I guess I have a much more specialized collection though. I do like collecting other CE/press kits for games I really enjoy. I definitely do not have enough to fill a room.... i don't think enough inFAMOUS stuff exists even if i managed to get a copy of the game from every region.

I've been solely collecting inFAMOUS for a year and a half now, but I've always had some kind of collection... none as much as this though.

I also wasn't as much into gaming as I was after I got my PS3 in late 2008, most of the games I had were just a title here or there per console (of which, were never mine, but the family console i would share lol) so it doesn't really count, I don't think.

there is a lot of people that do not get collecting though. i've seen some threads on other forums where people made fun of me because of my inFAMOUS stuff, saying it was a waste of time and that it wasn't worth anything so what is the point. (and others saying things about me personally that were kind of out of line) ...so there's always going to be the negative people no matter what. but anyway there are worse things to spend money on...and everyone has some kind of hobby.

plus, i like it, and as long as it isn't hurting anyone, why does it matter?

[twistedsymphony]

It seem to me that most people don't "get" collecting... but I look at my belongings, not just my collection but everything that I own... and it's clear to me that I value quality. Most of the things I own, be it furniture, electronics, tools, etc. are all good quality items that will hold their value.

I look at the belongings of the people who typically don't get Collecting and it's all cheap stuff from Walmart, the discount DVD player, the off-brand HDTV, the cheap couch that doesn't hold up and looks 10 years older than it actually is.

Who is REALLY wasting their money? Sure I paid twice as much for my stuff, but 5-10 years down the road most of my possessions still retain a respectable portion of their original value.

Take a lot at our grand parent's generation and the generations before them. A lot of them owned furniture, jewelry, and other things that were high quality and they were able to pass down to their children... They valued quality... look at what most people buy today, do you think those cheap things that people buy will even last long enough to be passed on, never-mind have any use?

In 50 years how much will your CEs be worth? in 50 years how much will those downloaded games be worth? how about the grungy standard edition with the cracked case and the missing manual?

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Another thing... CE.o isn't the only forum I run, I run a car forum, I'm also on the staff of a few fairly large gaming forums....

This forum has, without question, the kindest, most modest, and most level headed people I've ever seen ANYWHERE on the internet. I never see any flamewars, I never see fanboy arguments, I never see anyone talking down to anyone else, I never see people typing up illegible and unintelligent posts. Everyone here is interested in helping each other and enjoying the company of like minded people.

It's damn refreshing, and even though this isn't anywhere near the largest site I've created, it's my most proud because of the attitude of the community we have here.

What I'm getting at... if someone makes fun of you because you're a game collector: don't let it get to you. I'd rather be associated with game collectors than any other group on the internet.

[vhal_x]

It seem to me that most people don't "get" collecting... but I look at my belongings, not just my collection but everything that I own... and it's clear to me that I value quality. Most of the things I own, be it furniture, electronics, tools, etc. are all good quality items that will hold their value.

I look at the belongings of the people who typically don't get Collecting and it's all cheap stuff from Walmart, the discount DVD player, the off-brand HDTV, the cheap couch that doesn't hold up and looks 10 years older than it actually is.

Who is REALLY wasting their money? Sure I paid twice as much for my stuff, but 5-10 years down the road most of my possessions still retain a respectable portion of their original value.

Take a lot at our grand parent's generation and the generations before them. A lot of them owned furniture, jewelry, and other things that were high quality and they were able to pass down to their children... They valued quality... look at what most people buy today, do you think those cheap things that people buy will even last long enough to be passed on, never-mind have any use?

In 50 years how much will your CEs be worth? in 50 years how much will those downloaded games be worth? how about the grungy standard edition with the cracked case and the missing manual?

---------------------------

Another thing... CE.o isn't the only forum I run, I run a car forum, I'm also on the staff of a few fairly large gaming forums....

This forum has, without question, the kindest, most modest, and most level headed people I've ever seen ANYWHERE on the internet. I never see any flamewars, I never see fanboy arguments, I never see anyone talking down to anyone else, I never see people typing up illegible and unintelligent posts. Everyone here is interested in helping each other and enjoying the company of like minded people.

It's damn refreshing, and even though this isn't anywhere near the largest site I've created, it's my most proud because of the attitude of the community we have here.

What I'm getting at... if someone makes fun of you because you're a game collector: don't let it get to you. I'd rather be associated with game collectors than any other group on the internet.

I have got to agree completely with you!

The things I own will pretty much all retain their value, I own good quality furniture (with the exception of a couple of shoddy shelves that I bought when I first moved house as there was no room to store anything!), good quality clothing, and shall be renewing my kitchenware soon for good quality stuff (as all the kitchen stuff I currently have was just meant to do me whilst moving in, which was in March :facepalm:).

And I also agree with what you say about the forum TS, I am also a member on a baby forum, and wow. For being a place where mothers and fathers are supposed to go for advice, and talk to each other about their kids, there are so many arguments and so much tension between members it's unreal.

And I've been a member on the baby forum for over a year now, and have just over 500 posts, whereas here (where I feel far more comfortable, and at home), I've been a member just over a month and have nearly 350 posts :haha:

It's insane :haha:

Good work on the forum TS, never let it die! xx

[bbki]

Interesting read :D, Sometime I think that too.
When my Fiancé try to bring out an argument about my game hoarding habit.
I just look at her fancy ass monster bag collection of LV and Chanel which one bag may equal to 20 of game collector edition combine in value
Instant win.

[vhal_x]

Haha, my boyfriend used to use that argument on me, but now I've given up the designer stuff for CE's, he can't :haha: xx

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Looking at my pre-order list for the next three months, it really does feel like I'm in so deep now. Nearly all items on my list are CE's of some description (in fact, all of them are), and they already take up one side of an A4 page! My urge to buy every CE released is stronger now than it has ever been, and as they increase in quality and hype, the more compelled I am to buy them - Even if they're for games I would previously never have had an interest in!

It's getting to the point where it's ridiculous. The sheer amount of CE's being released these days is overwhelming, especially leading up to Christmas every year. And not only that, but some big releases will receive two, three, or more different CE's! Assassin's Creed Revelations and Batman: arkham City are just two which spring to mind which have multiple CE's on offer from different retailers

Not only that, but the price of CE's keeps increasing. As they become more limited and premium items, the price increases. I have also noticed that a lot of recent CE's are starting to come numbered as well, making them all the more desireable, and increasing the urgency to obtain them upon release in case demand causes their resale value to sky-rocket. I learnt that lesson a long time ago with CE's such as Bioshock and Halo 3: Legendary Edition, and this is one of the reasons why I prefer to buy my CE's on day one


It feels as if my hobby is dragging me under. I feel like I'm sinking in quicksand, and someone's shovelling more in on top of me. Every year I try to convince myself that the next year will be calmer and there will be less of interest to me, but the games industry seems to keep growing and more and more games are being released than ever before! It's getting hard to keep track of them...

Please tell me that the rest of you feel the same way?

[AJLareneg]

I do feel similarly, yes. I guess for me it's easier to try to avoid every CE that comes out because I've kind of specialised my collection.

I still like to get the CEs of games I love though, which sometimes does not come cheaply. I wouldn't be able to afford all the CEs that come out all the time anyway, so it is good that I have some boundaries.

[thefunk007]

Hey Gemini-Phoenix,

To me it sounds more like a compulsion you have to purchase every version of every game, and to some extent I am similar and agree it's getting out of hand. I have been thinking about focusing my collection rather than what I do now which is essentially the same as you.

For some it's an addiction, but would suggest you take a long look at what you are achieving but amassing such a collection, especially if its making you feel the way it is.

My advice for what it's worth, is to try and focus your collection and not feel the need/urge to purchase every collectors edition that gets released.

I am thinking about how much damn money I spend on these things that sit there and don't even look pretty as I don't have the space to display them properly.

Give it some thought mate as I am because trust me I don't think it's going to get any easier.

Out of interest I am thinking about focusing my collection on the Fallout series as it has such a rich history!

But the difficulty is letting go of what I have, and at present I can't :-/

[Gemini-Phoenix]

I compare it very much to an addiction, and yes, it does sometimes feel like a compulsion in much the same way a drug addict or alcoholic feels compelled to consume more. Yet the more they consume, the more they want, and that's exactly how I feel - No matter how many CE's I buy, or how many versions of a game I buy, I always feel that I need to obtain more. I never feel satisfied...

I am openly admitting that I have a serious problem, but the strange thing is I don't want help. I don't treat this like an illness which I need to get better from. In fact, I am proud I am addicted, but I feel that it's something I would rather discuss publicly with others who may have the same problem in order to justify it to myself.

I wish there were some logical explanation as to why I do it. Is it for monetry gain somewhere down the line? Perhaps. Or is it for personal satisfaction of achieving something? Likely. Or is it something deeper than that?

[evilvort3x]

Gemini i feel EXACTLY the same lol...... only been collecting for like 6 or so months but yea its definately an addiction!

[twistedsymphony]

GP I think you need to evaluate WHY you collect....

I can't say that I feel like I'm being dragged down by my collection... there are days when I stop and think "WTF am I actually getting for all this money that I'm spending?"

Recently, stopping to look at my collection I realized that most of my most treasured games weren't games that normally fit in my collection goals... and I've been considering selling off a lot of my collection and keeping only those games which have some kind of personal meaning to me.

The way I see it, you can collect with the intent of your items increasing in value, but that only really serves you if you actually resell them some time later.

You can collect with the intent of preserving history, but that only really works if you're sharing your collection with the public somehow (ie: documenting the details of the games, or having some kind of museum/gallery).

Or you can collect because the games you're buying have some additional meaning for you.

Beyond those three reason, I really can't work out a reason to collect.

[tossin]

For me personally, I collect stuff because it's aesthetically pleasing, and it's more aesthetically pleasing up close than in images.

Is it worth that though? Probably not. I should be saving up for a trip around the world or something. Ah well.

[AJLareneg]

I compare it very much to an addiction, and yes, it does sometimes feel like a compulsion in much the same way a drug addict or alcoholic feels compelled to consume more. Yet the more they consume, the more they want, and that's exactly how I feel - No matter how many CE's I buy, or how many versions of a game I buy, I always feel that I need to obtain more. I never feel satisfied...

I am openly admitting that I have a serious problem, but the strange thing is I don't want help. I don't treat this like an illness which I need to get better from. In fact, I am proud I am addicted, but I feel that it's something I would rather discuss publicly with others who may have the same problem in order to justify it to myself.

I wish there were some logical explanation as to why I do it. Is it for monetry gain somewhere down the line? Perhaps. Or is it for personal satisfaction of achieving something? Likely. Or is it something deeper than that?

This actually strikes me pretty close to home here. Sometimes I wonder if I have an issue too. I mean, even after getting some super rare items (like the amp replica) I end up feeling like "WELL LET'S FIND SOMETHING ELSE"

I still like the stuff I have, sure, but it seems like once I've obtained it the fun of tracking it down is gone so I need something else. I think for me, it's the fun of finding things and getting them...

even some of the CEs I'll be really looking forward to them and once I get them it's time to look forward to the next one. It's a weird feeling indeed...