Game Collecting - I'm just not feeling it anymore

[Thicc Romney]

I remember back in 2015 when me and my sister got a used PS3, I was excited. Finally a new console to collect games for! But I can honestly after two long years, that this console was probably the very key factor contributed to my growing disinterest in game collecting.

 

Now, note that I was never really a "hardcore" game collector. Let's face it, I'm only 14 and the only real game of value in my collecton is Super Smash Bros. Melee. But to me, game collecting was never really about the "monetary value" of games. It was more just about knowing that there will always be an impressive array of games for me and my (nonexistent) friends to choose from. And you know? Overall I think I did a pretty good job at fullfilling these desires regarding this very pastime. But I think that's were the problem starts. Over 4 years ago, I could only ever dream of having a gaming collection with 100+ PS3 games, 40+ PS2 games, and a small but quality selection of Nintendo titles. But now that the dream has turned into a welcomed reality, It just doesn't feel like my gaming experience has gotten better because of my upgrade in selections.

 

I could drag on about my current feelings all day, but I'll just get to the point: Despite my bigger collection, I somehow just don't get the kick or satisfaction from buying games anymore. Game Collecting just doesn't feel as fun as it used to be. Why do I feel this way and what should I do?

Edited June 7, 2017 by Videogames888

[Maxxeine]

*Post deleted.

Edited August 26, 2018 by The7thOne

[luisniko]

If you feel you get a touch with reality, then it's good.

 

I sold every 20-ish hard copy of PS3 games before buying a PS4. I was like "man, these games are so cool, I'm gonna be sad, blabla" and once they turned into money one by one and eventually helped funding my PS4 and future games, I honestly didn't give a sh*t anymore.

 

By then I realize that video games are meant to be used, not collected. Now I have 10 PS4 and 1 Vita hardcopies sitting beside me and I'm already irked by the amount and feeling to sell some of them. (And please don't compare them to food and hence it's not right to sell video games back; video games are infinite, while foods are finite)

 

I have sort of a collector friend. He has full TV-rack-wide of PS3 games and PS4 games. Two layers of video games that the ones he actually liked and played can be counted with our fingers. I told him to just sell the things he doesn't actually play and use the money to buy Collector's Edition in the future, because you know, at least CE is filled with our favorite game's merchandise that meant to be collected and showcased.

 

TLDR: Don't worry, there are collectibles that are meant to be collected and standing around in your house/room. You will find your interests one day. I personally like to collect toys and video game artbooks. They stand way cooler in my shelf.

[Mister Pink]

Maybe you need a break from gaming. We all need breaks from our hobbies. Music is one of my other hobbies and I haven't been driven by it lately. This happened once before where I didn't really listen to new music and it stopped having the same effect on me. It drifted off in to the background. Must have been for 6 months to a year. Now the same has happened and I haven't been manic about hearing new music or listening to it for extended times. I'm not worried that I don't like music any more. I'll fall in love with it again and again.

 

Funnily enough when it came to gaming, it used to come and go in waves but in these last two years I haven't stopped obsessing. I think about games when I wake up, when I'm eating and even when I dream.

 

So maybe you're just going through a phase or a cycle like I did. Or maybe not. Maybe you are growing out of games. When I was your age, I was outside all the time, skating, swimming, sailing and just being with friends. Every waking minute I had was spent being outside. It wasn't until I started renting my own place that I became more serious about gaming.

 

BTW that's a very impressive collection at your age. I would say you are more than a casual gamer. I put it down to your first "hobby-burnout" experience but that's a wild guess. Hard to tell from a single post.

 

Edit: Actually, I googled "Hobby burnout" and it turns out it's a more common phrase than I thought. Found this article. You may or may not take something from it.

 

http://www.stevensavage.com/blog/2013/12/geek-job-guru-the-danger-of-hobby-burnout.html

Edited June 8, 2017 by Mister Pink

[Richard Power Colt]

I have way too many games on Steam and Humble Bundle and barely any interest to even start playing most of them any time soon. I do definitely still enjoy certain games, but overall my excitement for playing games has gone down. A break could be nice, but I'm not entirely sure what else I'd do on my free time then lol.

[Skeever]

the only real game of value in my collecton is Super Smash Bros. Melee

Well sh*t, you weren't kidding. I have Super Smash Bros. for the N64 and Melee for the GameCube, but I didn't realize they were worth anything more than 10 bucks.

Edited June 9, 2017 by Skeever

[Fireman]

Everything on the N64, including the N64, is f*cking phat cash now, which is really annoying because i don't have one yet.

 

Maybe you should try bargain hunting or collecting only rare games, or (though you're 14) games from your childhood. That works for me.

[HaRdSTyLe_83]

#consoleproblems

 

 

pc collection keeps growing and its always the same no mather the upgrades the pc got

 

 

I remember back in 2015

Lmao, you are making it sound like 2015 was more then just 2 years ago

 

Edit:

 

 

I'm only 14

my bad, 2 years is along time considering it was 15% of your life

 

get a new hobby: sell your Ps3 games and build your own Pc (maybe with spare parts other people have and dont use anymore, since you are 14) at least to me it was/is more rewarding to have built the pc then actually playing some games

Edited June 9, 2017 by HaRdSTyLe_83

[Skeever]

Everything on the N64, including the N64, is f*cking phat cash now

My interest in video game collecting has suddenly been reinvigorated. I had no idea they were worth so much until now.

 

I notice Super Nintendo games (namely my beloved Pilotwings) aren't worth as much as most N64 games. Are SNES games just not as collectible?

[KilnerLUFC]

Everything on the N64, including the N64, is f*cking phat cash now, which is really annoying because i don't have one yet.

 

My N64 is my 2nd to last console I purchased (Switch been the latest one), and fair to say, even before I bought it, I knew it would be the hardest one to buy for - The prices for some of the games are incredible, more so when mintiness comes into play. One of my most desired titles for the system goes for £120 alone, that been Conkers Bad Fur Day. The N64 was a nostalgic purchase for me, and knowing I won't be getting shut of it any time in the near future means I'm not too bothered about the lack of titles I have for it; Currently own 2 titles for it, Goldeneye and Mario 64, so I'm more than happy with them 2 for the time been. Does make me laugh, in a very bad way, about the fact that as a kid I sold off my N64 and full collection of boxed games for a very low price, only for 10 years to pass and see what amazing prices they go for these days.

 

I think that's part to play as why I've amassed a decent sized collection of games and systems though. Browsing through sites and seeing what systems and games go for these days means I've decided to hold on to every game I purchase now, no matter how sh*t it is or what condition the game is in. Hell, I've not even opened, let alone played, over half of my collection, but they're all games I've just randomly bought as the years have gone on and hopefully one day will play through.

 

My actual aim is to purchase practically all of the systems (main ones anyway), and amass a decent sized collection for all of them. Will be nice to have kids one day and let them experience how gaming has changed through the years, the same way I have.

 

For you though, I doubt there's any problem whatsoever with what you're feeling. At your age, I tended to buy a game and sell it on within a couple of weeks or months, depending on how much I enjoyed the game. Gaming was a major part of my childhood, and even a hobby all of my mates enjoyed too, so we tended to blast through games and sell them on. I think my biggest collection at any one time was like 30 games. For me, and probably many gamers around my age, a lot of collection comes from a feeling of nostalgia - we appreciate games a lot more and know as time goes on we'll want to return to a game just for that feeling again - a memorable mission, a boss we died multiple times on, a location we want to revisit...Like I said, the majority of my collection is of games from yesteryear, the PS2 been the 2nd biggest collection I own.

 

I have very little gaming time these days due to work and relationship and, well, life, but collecting games has become a major thing for me.

 

I think as teens we're just fickle people, and especially in today's world where trends and everything else seems to be changing every other day, so collecting games just may not interest you because it doesn't have any meaning to you...

[Mister Pink]

... For me, and probably many gamers around my age, a lot of collection comes from a feeling of nostalgia - we appreciate games a lot more and know as time goes on we'll want to return to a game just for that feeling again - a memorable mission, a boss we died multiple times on, a location we want to revisit...Like I said, the majority of my collection is of games from yesteryear, the PS2 been the 2nd biggest collection I own.

I have very little gaming time these days due to work and relationship and, well, life, but collecting games has become a major thing for me.

 

I think as teens we're just fickle people, and especially in today's world where trends and everything else seems to be changing every other day, so collecting games just may not interest you because it doesn't have any meaning to you...

 

 

I think you hit the nail on the head, mate. Collecting games as I got older became more meaningful for reasons you just described.