'Collectards' and the state of the classic gaming hobby

[Gypsy]

Too right. One of the collectards didn't even really watch the video because he was acting like people were accusing Ebay executives of driving up prices. I can't even be asked to reply to any the crap, I'm just watching the world burn.

[bartre]

I see too many collectards defending price fixing, gouging, etc and do the whole "you don't understands evonomics!" / "free market" b.s....  but also turn to forums/social media regularly to ask what stuff is worth, how rare items are, what items actually are, etc. They are experts who understand "collecting" better than you do, just not much about the actual subject they are collecting.

a lot of what I'm seeing is that people's egos get wrapped into this crap, personally

[CrackTiger]

It's like the intro of Idiocracy. The so-called free market that collectards claim is naturally balancing itself no longer exists. Just as humans have fully stepped out of the natural selection cycle. Collectards are the white trash who can't keep track of who they're knocking up and credit cards sustain collectards artificially longer, just as medical science saved Jim Bob(?)'s testicles after he jumped a jet ski into a swimming pool.

Just as scary as it is how rapidly we're catching up to the future society seen in Idiocracy (much faster than we've been progressing towards the future seen in BttF2), we are also racing towards that kind of inevitablity in the world of video games on general, but particulary the "retro" scene.

Frito is a perfect representation of today's collectard. His explanation of how he's good at sex is much more articulate that the average collectard's forum comments. His befriending of the hot coffee guy is accurately encapsulates collectard encounters. "Wow, you like games and money too? We should hang out!"


"The years passed, collectards became stupider at a frightening rate. Some Pcenginefx members had high hopes that updated price guides would correct this trend in evolution, but sadly the greatest minds and resources where focused on realistic bootlegs, Posterity Editions and Magical Game Factory gems."


"Unaware of what kind of forum it was, xcrement5x wandered the threads desperate for game discussion. But the collectard language had deteriorated into a hybrid of grade values, rarity, haul pickups and various grunts. xcrement5x was able to understand them, but when he spoke using reason and facts, he sounded pompous and faggy to them."

[xcrement5x]

It's like the intro of Idiocracy. The so-called free market that collectards claim is naturally balancing itself no longer exists. Just as humans have fully stepped out of the natural selection cycle. Collectards are the white trash who can't keep track of who they're knocking up and credit cards sustain collectards artificially longer, just as medical science saved Jim Bob(?)'s testicles after he jumped a jet ski into a swimming pool.

Just as scary as it is how rapidly we're catching up to the future society seen in Idiocracy (much faster than we've been progressing towards the future seen in BttF2), we are also racing towards that kind of inevitablity in the world of video games on general, but particulary the "retro" scene.

Frito is a perfect representation of today's collectard. His explanation of how he's good at sex is much more articulate that the average collectard's forum comments. His befriending of the hot coffee guy is accurately encapsulates collectard encounters. "Wow, you like games and money too? We should hang out!"


"The years passed, collectards became stupider at a frightening rate. Some Pcenginefx members had high hopes that updated price guides would correct this trend in evolution, but sadly the greatest minds and resources where focused on realistic bootlegs, Posterity Editions and Magical Game Factory gems."


"Unaware of what kind of forum it was, xcrement5x wandered the threads desperate for game discussion. But the collectard language had deteriorated into a hybrid of grade values, rarity, haul pickups and various grunts. xcrement5x was able to understand them, but when he spoke using reason and facts, he sounded pompous and faggy to them."

You have just encapsulated it all good sir.  I feel like I should probably just leave work now, go home and pour myself a drink, and watch Big Trouble in Little China or something. 

[EmperorIng]

This has been happening for five or more years now (probably more; I wasn't buying older games before then), so I'm surprised that there is still so much butt-fluster going on about it. The "retro" market touches everything eventually. I'm glad I saved my Gamecube games so I can make like a bandit once the wave has -really- hit (and it's just starting).

[Gypsy]

Mentioning credit cards reminds me of what I told myself around 2008 when I started rebuying games from my childhood and moreso holding onto games to replay them (I rotated games a lot before that because college student etc...). The way I figured back then is as long as video games weren't negatively impacting my life and bank account it was fine to hold onto them. I determined that if I ever even thought about using a credit card to acquire more video games that I would need to take a long look in the mirror and consider selling off games and consoles.

[Gentlegamer]

The post is completely serious.

He got upset when I called him 'collectard.'

Is this that Needler guy who has like 6 different collectarding threads running on sega-16?

Man, there are some annoying people on Sega16 now.
There are some really cool smart people as well, but the turds kind of turned me off and I haven't been back to the site for awhile.  It's still not as bad as seeing Facebook retro groups though. 

I realized I was getting super stressed out a couple months back and I'm pretty sure it's because I was reading all the collectard garbage that shows up on FB.  It's 90% look at my pickups, look at what I'm selling, or how much is this worth threads.

I recently shared the Ebay price fixing youtube video on a FB group to see what would happen and it devolved very quickly. Many collectards saying YOU DONT UNDERSTAND ECONOMICS!!11one and such.

Link the video

[Gentlegamer]

On Nintendo Age, there is a button to display recent topics or recent posts.

I just checked recent topics, there are six new topics not about buy/selling/collecting... out of fifty.

[Gypsy]

The post is completely serious.

He got upset when I called him 'collectard.'

Is this that Needler guy who has like 6 different collectarding threads running on sega-16?

Man, there are some annoying people on Sega16 now.
There are some really cool smart people as well, but the turds kind of turned me off and I haven't been back to the site for awhile.  It's still not as bad as seeing Facebook retro groups though. 

I realized I was getting super stressed out a couple months back and I'm pretty sure it's because I was reading all the collectard garbage that shows up on FB.  It's 90% look at my pickups, look at what I'm selling, or how much is this worth threads.

I recently shared the Ebay price fixing youtube video on a FB group to see what would happen and it devolved very quickly. Many collectards saying YOU DONT UNDERSTAND ECONOMICS!!11one and such.

Link the video

It's from June. DragonmasterDan posted it here in the turbo ebay gouging thread then, I'm sure you've seen it.

[esteban]

On Nintendo Age, there is a button to display recent topics or recent posts.

I just checked recent topics, there are six new topics not about buy/selling/collecting... out of fifty.

I will pity you (you bastard): https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=8477.msg410656#msg410656

[wildfruit]

I confess i like holding physical copies of games. 99% of what i have is because i like it but i must admit i have made the odd cheap purchase just for the sake of it. ofI have a threshold of £50 though new or old if it's more it doesn't get bought.

[CGQuarterly]

I don't think that preferring physical copies of your games in any way makes you a "collectard", and I don't think that anyone is suggesting otherwise.  Buying games *purely* for shelf-candy is what makes you a collectard.  Just about every game that I own, I have for a reason.  Usually because I like playing it, sometimes it's because it has some historic significance or sentimental value.  But having shit just because it's "teh rarez"?  GTFO.

I used to have a LOT more games.  And I am so much happier now with a slimmed-down, but more meaningful collection/library.

[Otaking]

I have a threshold of £50 though new or old if it's more it doesn't get bought.

But to get a copy of Dracula X would require more than £50 and that game is utterly essential if you're a PC Engine fan, would you not break your rule for that game?

[wildfruit]

I have a threshold of £50 though new or old if it's more it doesn't get bought.

But to get a copy of Dracula X would require more than £50 and that game is utterly essential if you're a PC Engine fan, would you not break your rule for that game?

Totally would. I would break for chi no rondo.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Just about all of us are at least mildly collectarded.  I know I am, as you gotta be pretty 'special' to drop coin on a IllustBooster / PrintBooster/ PhotoReader set.

[esteban]

Just about all of us are at least mildly collectarded.  I know I am, as you gotta be pretty 'special' to drop coin on a IllustBooster / PrintBooster/ PhotoReader set.

The Artist Tool trio has been very good for encouraging your inner artist to blossom. NOW SHARE SOME MORE ART WITH US!

[Nazi NecroPhile]

There's only one TurboDoodler!

Even if I had the skills, a bucket of old, broken crayons is a much better tool for the job.

[Gentlegamer]

I have a threshold of £50 though new or old if it's more it doesn't get bought.

But to get a copy of Dracula X would require more than £50 and that game is utterly essential if you're a PC Engine fan, would you not break your rule for that game?

I bought mine for $80 so that's doable.

[ClodBusted]

But to get a copy of Dracula X would require more than £50 and that game is utterly essential if you're a PC Engine fan, would you not break your rule for that game?

I gpt mine from the Wii virtual console. Am I in the cool guys club now?

[HailingTheThings]

But to get a copy of Dracula X would require more than £50 and that game is utterly essential if you're a PC Engine fan, would you not break your rule for that game?

I gpt mine from the Wii virtual console. Am I in the cool guys club now?

Not only that, but you're in the "I have more pocket change than whoever bought this game" club. Yay!

[o.pwuaioc]

I have a threshold of £50 though new or old if it's more it doesn't get bought.

But to get a copy of Dracula X would require more than £50 and that game is utterly essential if you're a PC Engine fan, would you not break your rule for that game?

I bought mine for $80 so that's doable.

I *wish* they were $80 now. I'm waiting until it gets back down to the lower 100s. The current $130-$140 (and higher sometimes!) is just too much.

[BigusSchmuck]

I have a threshold of £50 though new or old if it's more it doesn't get bought.

But to get a copy of Dracula X would require more than £50 and that game is utterly essential if you're a PC Engine fan, would you not break your rule for that game?

I bought mine for $80 so that's doable.

I *wish* they were $80 now. I'm waiting until it gets back down to the lower 100s. The current $130-$140 (and higher sometimes!) is just too much.

Just a suggestion, try to get it in a lot. I managed to get mine and 6 other or so games for about $90 a few years back. In fact, any expensive or "rare" game you usually can get a small price break on in a lot.. As for me, I'll try to get it as cheap as possible. Repros don't bother me too much as long as there isn't a whole lot of drama attached to them (Tobias, translations, etc.) though I only own two lol.

[Gentlegamer]

I have a threshold of £50 though new or old if it's more it doesn't get bought.

But to get a copy of Dracula X would require more than £50 and that game is utterly essential if you're a PC Engine fan, would you not break your rule for that game?

I bought mine for $80 so that's doable.

I *wish* they were $80 now. I'm waiting until it gets back down to the lower 100s. The current $130-$140 (and higher sometimes!) is just too much.

I bought it last summer. On Nintendo Age(!)

[Otaking]

I have a threshold of £50 though new or old if it's more it doesn't get bought.

But to get a copy of Dracula X would require more than £50 and that game is utterly essential if you're a PC Engine fan, would you not break your rule for that game?

I bought mine for $80 so that's doable.

I *wish* they were $80 now. I'm waiting until it gets back down to the lower 100s. The current $130-$140 (and higher sometimes!) is just too much.

I bought it last summer. On Nintendo Age(!)

I think $80 was a lucky deal, I don't think anyone else looking to buy a copy in 2015 could expect to pay that price.

[bartre]

posted some Genesis titles on a fb group, thought this guy needed to get posted here:

[jeffhlewis]

While working the Windy Gaming booth this weekend at VGS, someone actually asked us "Are repros rare?"

[seieienbu]

Dracula X was pretty consistently $100 on ebay for years.  I recall it dipping to around $80 or $90 on ebay right after the PSP re-release but time caught up and now it's more expensive than ever.  Last year I bought it and 4 other games from someone on here for $150.  I could've paid $120 for it solo but that was about $20 more than I  wanted to spend.  I figured I'd buy a few others and ended up happy with the total sale.  Yes it's an excellent game but as it kept going up in price I couldn't see the point in buying a legit copy on  its own. 

Current ebay rates seem to be pushing $200 which is twice as much as I would want to spend on it.  I've often wondered about this game in particular how many copies were sold in Japan and how many of Those copies got shipped around the world out of the country.  Dracula X is in an interesting scenario due to its continued popularity since it's release.  That kept the price high due to people actually having demand to play the game.  As recently nearly everything turbo/pc engine related has gone up in price, Dracula X has finally gone up in price as well.  The price will likely continue to rise as well due to the fact that everything PC Engine is becoming more expensive and it's like, just about the only game on the platform that most people know about.

[wildfruit]

well if anyone comes across a reasonably priced copy and you don't need it yourself let me know $80usd is just over £50gbp so not too bad at that price

[Dicer]

I have a friend that is a "hybrid" collectard, he will collect so much, but he also will pull it off the shelf and actually play it. His overall collection is quite impressive, as he usually insists on having everything complete.

Idk myself as long as I can play something I love I don't care what shape it's in as long as it works.