So, I collect video games as I'm sure many of you do too. I collect PS3, Vita, 3DS and such, as any modern gamer would; but retro wise my systems of choice is the much maligned Sega Saturn and the Dreamcast, the console that died too soon. Obviously I'm romantisising a little, but I was a Sega kid so these systems mean a lot to me. Whilst I actually grew up on the Master System and later the Mega Drive. I find that compilation discs and emulation serves me well enough there and I have little desire to collect pre-32 Bit.
Now all that aside the point of this topic is rules. What rules do people have for collecting video games. I have many that I try to follow and I thought I'd show them here, get your opinions, compare a little, and perhaps we'll find an idea between us that sticks. So here are the rules I follow when collecting.
1. Only buy a console when it has a minimum of five games you want out for it on the day of purchase, that you can't play on a platform you already own.
This applies both to new consoles and old. It's the reason I don't own a Mega Drive. All the games I want I can play on another platform through the Mega Collection disc on PS3 or PSP, or some more specific collections like the Sonic Gems Collection for example. If I go so far as to add PC as a platform, well I can play them all as emulators are practically perfect for that system. This rule is to stop me picking up new consoles on a whim and severely over-burdening my financial situation. I'm on a fixed income and video games are a luxury I cannot afford. I need to be frugal and this rule is a way to enforce that.
2. I may not buy a new game unless I beat a game I already own from my backlog.
I own over 200 games at this point. This ensures I'll actually play my games rather than simply buy them at put them on a shelf and look at them. That's truly insane. These are not art pieces, they're games, and if they're not being played they're not worth having.
3. Never buy a game on release, wait at least a year and buy the complete edition/"game of the year" edition for less money, that way you get all the DLC free and on the disc and you save money.
This is a way to keep my money in check again. Sure I can buy a game now for £39.99 with an extra £20 spent on DLC over the next year, or I can wait 18 months, play the dozens of games I already own that I've not even touched, and pick up the complete/GOTY edition for £12 on Amazon/eBay. Sure it doesn't sound like much, do it 10 times though and you've just saved yourself the more than the cost of a PS4 at launch... that's something to think about.
4. A game that requires a Day One Patch or features required Day One DLC (ie. not something incidental like character skins), to be playable is not worthy of purchase. If you can't play it from the disc, without an internet connection, it is worthless.
I collect video games. If I can't play this game in 20 years it's fucking pointless. Sure, I could use emulation etc. as I do now for the Mega Drive, but that's not the point. If I want to I can buy a Master System and a copy of a game released in 1987 and it'll work right now, that's a 27 year old game. It works, no fucking patch or server required. I expect and demand the same of modern games. If I buy 'InFamous: Second Son' tomorrow great, but if I buy an old PS4 and the game in 2041 and switch it on I expect it to work. I expect to be able to play the fucking game, because being able to play it is the most important aspect of the game. One thing I certainly don't want is a piss poor pathetic little beta-version of the game to load up that bugs me for an update from a Playstation Network server that's been off for more than a decade. If it's not timeless, it's worthless.
5. Any game I own for 2 years straight without playing, and without the intention of playing it within the next year; should be put up on eBay for sale so someone who actually wants it can enjoy it.
This stops me from hoarding games basically. I hate it when I see "game room tours" on YouTube and there's people with literally hundreds of games on shelves around their rooms that they'll likely never use. Entire collections of PSOne, NES, Mega Drive, etc. that they never even touch. They just sit on their shelves and the gamer feels smug because they own them. That's sad really... if you want to do that, collect fucking stamps or something. Worse still are people who collect sealed games. NO! Sealed games are to be opened and played, this isn't a peice of modern art it's a fucking video game. If you don't play it, it's failed in it's purpose. I understand some people just want to preserve them and keep them nice, but much like comic book collections that never get read, video game collections that never get played seem like such a waste to me.
So, those are my first 5 rules. I do have more, but these 5 are rules I genuinely try to keep to as I feel they're the best at keeping my hobby fun and under control. So what do you guys think? Are my rules sensible or do you disagree with them? Do you have any rules you keep to when you collect games? I'd love to hear more about this as it's a big part of my hobby.
