I can understand collecting sealed games, especially if multiple copies are your cup of tea. The ones that collect only sealed games I consider bandwagon bastards. I count these as the type that has to follow every trend and have the money to throw around. The reason they collect is simply bragging rights. I have dealt with two of these guys and they both pretty much view it from the same perspective. The only thing I heard about from either one was, how many, how much spent, and why we will never be considered "collectors"because we open the games up. I don't like dealing with these people.
I don't think it should be about how much you spend that makes a collection great, but I do think that the collection should be worth displaying. Imagine if Jay Leno had a garage full of beat up cars or Kevin Smith didn't bag up his comics (ex. missing instructions manuals, no box, scratched discs etc.). I wouldn't say you weren't a collector, but what kind of collection are you shooting for? Sheer volume to me isn't that impressive.
Every hobby is going to cost money. There's no way around it. I personally only know two other people that collect games. They both go for complete copies in good condition. Unfortunately, bragging rights comes with the territory. EVERY collection website I've seen has a form of a way to display your collection along with that "magic number" that shows how many games you have. Don't forget to post your pics of your game room for the world to see either.
I use to collect comics for the cover artwork when I was in elementary school. The inside pages never looked as good, so I lost interest in actually reading them. There may be collectors out there, simply interested in the box art work. "Bandwagon bastards"? Maybe they are, but everybody has a different view on what a collection should consist of. If you're buying games to try to turn a profit or gouge people around the holidays when the latest system comes out, that's pretty sad.
I can understand where you're coming from to an extent. If collecting complete copies was within my budget I would be doing so. There is however a stark contrast those that want a collection that is complete and those that want it sealed. Now I will admit it was foolish of me to judge a group of collectors by my run in with just a couple. For that I admit I was wrong and I do apologize. As for the two
charming individuals I had the pleasure of dealing with in my original post. I can only hope that one day they come to realize the
true value of the blood, sweat, and tears that is just rotting away in the shrink wrap.
On a personal note. I was an amateur illustrator at one time until the years of doing my 9 to 5er caused a severe case of osteoarthritis in my right wrist. It's hard to illustrate anything when you can't hold a pencil or nib holder properly. The point I'm trying to make here is that these developers wanted their games in the peoples hands and being played, not wasting away on a shelf in shrink wrap.
I do realize there are individuals that collect one to play and one to shelve. I'm not referring to them.
And that last statement you made there I agree with wholeheartedly.
