The Perfect Hobby

My first post will answer the question "why is collecting video games a great hobby", or at least try to answer it anyway.

The best hobbies are ones that everyone can share in. Video game collecting has so many variations and so many entry points that just about anyone can move in and start. Due to the massive video game industry, chances are everyone that reads this will own at least one video game. Like collecting Tea Pots or Vinyl records, you can have a respectable collection for very little money.

From Game Collecting with Rick

Anyone born in the past 40 years likely has some memories on video games. With technology like it is, every couple of years a new format comes out and an old format starts to decline, this is PERFECT for spawning a collection industry. Not only are there rare games, but many times these rare games are also really great to play(like Chrono Trigger). On the flip side, many times the really common and really remembered games are very cheap as well(you can get Sonic 2 for 3 bucks).

From Game Collecting with Rick

The amount of games out there is staggering. Just like glassware, you can find games at yard sales, flea markets, Good Will, Pawn Shops, and even the new stuff at retail stores. New games are very collectible. If you want to stay away from vintage stuff, you can collect special editions of new games. Then there are things that are not even games. You can collect the hardware. Special or funky controllers, failed game concepts, gaming posters or store displays. Even if you focus on one game format(system), you would have lots of stuff to collect at all price points.

From Game Collecting with Rick

You do not even have to play video games to have fun finding, collecting and trading these games with people.

Collecting as an investment is currently a speculator's game, but if you are savvy and know the industry you can usually spot what is going to be worth more later. Unlike comics and baseball cards in the 90's, there are still some specially made collector's items that WILL be worth more later, not simply produced in the millions.

Yes, I believe video game collecting is currently one of the best new hobbies anyone can get in to. For fun. For profit. For nostalgia. For rarities. For commons. Expensive and cheap. It all depends on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go.

This blog will chronicle my own collection, my own thoughts on the hobby, and give some advice on it as well.