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601

General / Re: Isn't video game collecting kinda just hoarding?

« on: May 11, 2018, 05:40:39 pm »

Video game collecting can lead to hoarding, but video game collecting isn't hoarding.  You wouldn't say that someone with a library full of books is "hoarding".

I get that it’s not a direct comparison but some of these collectors do excessive acquisition. And while collecting is distinct in that specific items are being sought out rather than random meaningless objects, the lines surely blur when thousands upon thousands of games are bought with no desire to play or use the item and what amounts to a compulsive purchase that adds clutter to a home. Moreover, these objects take on unusually special significance to the collectors. It’s a source of pride that the collection can never be parted with. In some ways the collecting becomes haphazard - anything and everything is bought just to have it. Strictly speaking it’s just an innocent hobby but isn’t there a sinister undercurrent to whole rooms being taken over by this? I get that a ‘game room’ is a hip thing, but is this not a room filled entirely of clutter with thousands of items the owner has no intention of using but cannot part with?

I know it’s painful to think about.

602

General / Isn't video game collecting kinda just hoarding?

« on: May 11, 2018, 02:44:28 pm »

I initially thought all those 'game room tours' and stuff on YouTube were super cool and inspirational. 

I am a home owner now and my house is super de-cluttered and very much minimalist and now I kinda shudder at looking at 2,000+ physical games.

I like the idea of collecting games but I don't think it's appealing to own any game I come into contact with just because I don't already have it.

I collect games but only the choicey, sought after, much loved, cool stuff. Not every release ever.

Right now my collection consists only of Fallout: Brotherhood Of Steel, Silent Hill 3 and PaRappa the Rapper 2, all on PS2. The former two from a car boot sale and the latter from a goodwill store.

I want every game in the collection to make me feel fuzzy and blow my mind to have it. I don't want a bunch of common games or an excessively large collection.