VGCollect Forum
General and Gaming => General => Topic started by: dhaabi on September 15, 2025, 09:55:13 am
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It's that time of the year with holiday spirit soon to be in the air! Presenting a tradition many here have come to love, I introduce VGCollect's 2025 Secret Santa gift-exchange, now thirteen years in the running! I'd like for the event to go as planned without any issues or hurdles, so I politely ask that this introduction post be read in full. Additionally, we as a community have established that all who are interested to have been members of the forum community for at least three months prior to this announcement topic alongside some sort of site activity. Generally, all are welcome, and we hope that longtime participants return and new ones take part.
Like with previous years' events, I've decided to streamline steps so that most everything I need as the organizer is supplied all at once. With that said, I've created a Google Form for those interested in participating to fill out. For those concerned, the form does not collect e-mail addresses, and completing the form does not require a Google account. Be aware that to formally join the event, the attached form below is needing to be completed. With that said, for the sake of the establishing further interest and community discussion, please be sure to also post in the forum topic if you're planning to take part.
VGCollect 2025 Secret Santa Sign-up
https://forms.gle/r3EAG9xjpvFv4kEQA
Feel free to publicly discuss what you think should be the expected budget, any updates you'd like to share with everyone participating, or anything else related to Secret Santa. As is typical, I think everyone would appreciate any and all discussion to help raise excitement and to maintain engagement. Toward the end of the sign-up period, I will publicly post what the agreed upon budget that has been selected by most participants is. If the budget becomes more than you originally were planning to spend, or if there is any reason you need to withdraw from the event whatsoever, please let me know via PM so that you are formally withdrawn. At the latest, please let me know by the end of Sunday, October 5, as wish list information will be sent to each Santa the following day.
I would like for there to be enough time for anyone interested to see this topic, so the sign-up period will run for approximately three weeks until the morning of Monday, October 6. Following the sign-up period, I will assign each participating Santa their giftee by forwarding wish lists and mailing addresses, and the actual fun will begin!
Something I will mention is the agreed upon budget. As one should assume, this budget tends to be more of a guideline. Evident from the past, many participants personally decide to exceed the budget, although no one should feel as if they themselves or their Santa are required. This hasn't been any major issue in the past, but it's worth addressing, nonetheless. On that note, many participants in the past have gone above and beyond in curating their gifts and mailing them with care, so continuing with that attitude would be fantastic to see.
In regards to how participants will be paired, the state of world trade (specifically relating to the United States) has impacted this event. As a result, participants living in the United States will only be paired with other US citizens. Here is a previous post (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,12658.msg210010.html#msg210010) where I've discussed the matter at some length.
2025 Santas
1. dhaabi
2. NickAwesome
3. kashell
4. Cartagia
5. telly
6. ferraroso
7. puddingm
As it's needed, I will publish follow-up posts while also updating this initial topic post below:
October 06 Update (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,13104.msg210303.html#msg210303)
The expected budget should be around $60 USD.
As stated above, this is now the thirteenth year the VGCollect community has celebrated this Secret Santa event! Below are past topic discussions for each previous year:
Secret Santa 2013 (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,4178.0.html)
Secret Santa 2014 (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,5554.0.html)
Secret Santa 2015 (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,6559.0.html)
Secret Santa 2016 (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,7734.0.html)
Secret Santa 2017 (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,8571.0.html)
Secret Santa 2018 (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,9354.0.html)
Secret Santa 2019 (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,10417.0.html)
Secret Santa 2020 (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,11096.0.html)
Secret Santa 2021 (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,11567.0.html)
Secret Santa 2022 (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,12036.0.html)
Secret Santa 2023 (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,12565.0.html)
Secret Santa 2024 (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,12889.0.html)
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I'm in. I don't see much of a reason to upset the apple cart in terms of general guidelines, but probably be fine with any changes we need to make.
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Chalk me up for my 11th year!
We should probably unpin last year's thread too ;)
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I'm excited for another year!
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Glad to see everyone's interest so far! As a reminder, all those wanting to participate will need to formally sign up to the event using the attached link in the topic post (https://forms.gle/r3EAG9xjpvFv4kEQA). Filling out this form gives me all the information I'm needing at once instead of it being relayed here or having to deal with PMs.
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I signed up. I've dubbed this year as a "self-inflicted, chaotic kick in the d***" so some much needed joy with Secret Santa will help end the year on a good note.
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I'd appreciate if the shipping date would be December 5th for Domestic U.S. people. Black Friday is when all my local game stores have sales and often solid inventory for the holidays so it's the best chance to find something locally or take advantage of great sales online. December 5th gives enough time so that if I do order something that requires shipping- it will likely arrive by then if ordered the week before. Hopefully the 5th would not interfere with persons trying to do a group opening event later in the month.
Since the matter of a specific date when parcels should be shipped seems rather dependent on each calendar year, I'm directing conversation to this year's topic.
For context, Black Friday for 2025 is on November 28. Personally, I think it may make more sense to have a specific date when items should arrive (or be projected to arrive, as mailing systems aren't fully reliable) instead of when they should be sent.
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For those who are planning to have their VGC Wish List be a shopping guide for their Santa, it's worth mentioning that the Priority function works now ever since certain site features were reverted earlier this year.
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I think there were 8 participants last year. The list gets smaller and smaller each year. I get it, but it's definitely jarring seeing it compared to a decade or so ago.
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Sorry for not being very participative in the forum recently, but I'm still here.
Thank you for your message, dhaabi! I'll be happy to participate this year as well!
Looking forward to go shopping!
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I think there were 8 participants last year. The list gets smaller and smaller each year. I get it, but it's definitely jarring seeing it compared to a decade or so ago.
I think there are a few different reasons for event participation decline this year alone which is disappointing to see, but fortunately there is still any interest in it. There are still about two weeks left, and some members who traditionally participate have not visited the forums since this year's topic was posted. With that said, and as was implied by ferraroso's post, I did send out a mass message mentioning that this year's event is now live to a few people while hoping that they had e-mail alerts turned on.
Glad to have you, ferraroso! Hopefully one other person outside of the US is wanting to join.
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Hey we may just have 6 right now but it's 6 really great people all the same! :)
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I've also signed up :)
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I think there were 8 participants last year.
I didn't go back to double-check this when I first responded, but I did just now. There were actually only seven participants last year including myself, and now we're at seven once more. Maybe 2025 will have increased participation?
I've also signed up :)
Great!
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I didn't participate last year because of international travel, so there's at least one person missing from last year.
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There's about one week remaining for the sign-up period!
https://forms.gle/r3EAG9xjpvFv4kEQA
With that said, this is what everyone thinks about what amount this year's budget should be. Of course, this could change if others wanting to participate sign up. What do you all think so far? In hindsight, perhaps I should have added more options, such as $70.
(https://i.imgur.com/D5W1cpP.jpeg)
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So to clarify the OP, we have to have been members and active in the forum for at least three months prior correct? I've just joined recently and want to make sure I'm understanding before I try to jump in! :D
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So to clarify the OP, we have to have been members and active in the forum for at least three months prior correct? I've just joined recently and want to make sure I'm understanding before I try to jump in! :D
First, welcome to the site nintenguy99! And yes, that is correct. Stick around some and engage with the community while interacting with the site, and next year you'll be able to join.
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Sounds like a plan, gives me something to look forward to next year
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Posting a general reminder to all that the sign-up period for 2025's Secret Santa event ends in just a few days!
https://forms.gle/r3EAG9xjpvFv4kEQA
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Information has been forwarded to all participants! This year, we're a group of seven. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a PM.
As I mentioned last week (https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,13104.msg210222.html#msg210222), this year's budget should be around $60 USD.
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Let the games begin!!! :)
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It's tiiiiiiiiime!
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My site wish list should be all updated now too!
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Just started the hunt today!
Make sure you have your Wish Lists up to date! I'll try to finish shopping early this year.
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Off to a riproaring start - a vendor sent me the wrong game. Insert facepalm emoji here.
At least the second game that I found was correct and looks good.
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Yikes that stinks :-\ Thankfully we're still early in though!
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Off to a riproaring start - a vendor sent me the wrong game. Insert facepalm emoji here.
That's a bummer and an annoying hassle. I've had mailing mix-ups before too, and usually what happens is that the seller just accepts the loss with letting the buyer keeping both items. Hopefully the situation works out in a way that it's not any more of an inconvenience for you!
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I think it will be fine. I (nicely) messaged them, and they were very apologetic. They even refunded me and said they'd send me the right game.
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Alright. New game is en route. Another game has arrived and looks great. I hope my recipient enjoys them and the theme I've come up with.
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Got all my game shopping done in one fell swoop this morning! Not to find extra goodies to add.
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I can corroborate this story.
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Sounds like a team effort was had ;) I'm going to start looking sometime this weekend! Been really swamped right now.
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Gifts wrapped. Note written. Swag added. Box sealed.
I'm going to wait a bit before shipping, so I'm placing the gift out of sight until November. I don't want to wait too long to ship since I'm guessing shipping prices will increase as Christmas gets closer.
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Gifts wrapped. Note written. Swag added. Box sealed.
Wow, you are on it!
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Anyone else going to ship their gifts soon? I'm probably gonna head to the post office on Saturday or Sunday.
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I'm still in the gift-gathering phase, though hopefully I'm not the only one at this stage.
It was mentioned before but never gained a response, but should we agree on a specific deadline for when items should be delivered?
I'd appreciate if the shipping date would be December 5th for Domestic U.S. people. Black Friday is when all my local game stores have sales and often solid inventory for the holidays so it's the best chance to find something locally or take advantage of great sales online. December 5th gives enough time so that if I do order something that requires shipping- it will likely arrive by then if ordered the week before. Hopefully the 5th would not interfere with persons trying to do a group opening event later in the month.
Since the matter of a specific date when parcels should be shipped seems rather dependent on each calendar year, I'm directing conversation to this year's topic.
For context, Black Friday for 2025 is on November 28. Personally, I think it may make more sense to have a specific date when items should arrive (or be projected to arrive, as mailing systems aren't fully reliable) instead of when they should be sent.
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I'm going shopping this weekend! ;D
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Yep! I'm going to be shipping this weekend, as well!
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I'm all done shopping! I hope my recipient will like their gifts, also I hope they will catch the silly theme I came up with for their items. ;D
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Done and done. The package is on it's merry way.