Grizzmeister
Smash Lord
I’m noticing a very troubling trend were people who claim to be gamers and collectors are crossing the line and becoming flat-out hoarders. Maybe you've seen their videos? They’re easy to identify as you usually have a guy with shelves chock full or old games, peripherals, figures and plushes telling you about the games he recently purchased. Often times these types are also subtly trying to convince you to start collecting and to ignore the fact that retro game collecting has gotten outrageously expensive.
There are many possible explanations for the video game hoarding phenomenon. One is that several game genres themselves tend to promote excessive collecting. This can quickly become the catalyst for the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) of purchasing hundreds if not thousands of games that will never actually fulfill their intended purpose of being played.
Another possible reason for this disease that is even recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the fact that many gamers are getting older. Nostalgia can also spark the desire to hunt down an old favorite game and suddenly the susceptible gamer decides to purchase every game for that console or from that particular era. Perhaps the gamer realizes that their skill has diminished and rather than give up on the hobby entirely they hoard to still be involved in the gaming scene.
That leads to the final reason. Many gamers have their identity tied to the inherent excesses surrounding video gaming as a hobby. Often times, to become a skilled gamer one must posses an almost unnatural competitive spirit which can even spill over in to bragging rights as to who has the most games in their collection.
Whatever the reason, I’m getting the sense that these hoarders are driving up retro video game prices beyond the natural law of supply and demand. As we all know, when that happens a bursting bubble is sure to follow and I fear that the time for such a correction is near given the harsh realities of present day global economics. So my advice to you is this; before you order that old game you've always wanted from Ebay, stop for a moment and weigh out its true potential cost not only to your wallet but also to your psyche.
There are many possible explanations for the video game hoarding phenomenon. One is that several game genres themselves tend to promote excessive collecting. This can quickly become the catalyst for the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) of purchasing hundreds if not thousands of games that will never actually fulfill their intended purpose of being played.
Another possible reason for this disease that is even recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the fact that many gamers are getting older. Nostalgia can also spark the desire to hunt down an old favorite game and suddenly the susceptible gamer decides to purchase every game for that console or from that particular era. Perhaps the gamer realizes that their skill has diminished and rather than give up on the hobby entirely they hoard to still be involved in the gaming scene.
That leads to the final reason. Many gamers have their identity tied to the inherent excesses surrounding video gaming as a hobby. Often times, to become a skilled gamer one must posses an almost unnatural competitive spirit which can even spill over in to bragging rights as to who has the most games in their collection.
Whatever the reason, I’m getting the sense that these hoarders are driving up retro video game prices beyond the natural law of supply and demand. As we all know, when that happens a bursting bubble is sure to follow and I fear that the time for such a correction is near given the harsh realities of present day global economics. So my advice to you is this; before you order that old game you've always wanted from Ebay, stop for a moment and weigh out its true potential cost not only to your wallet but also to your psyche.
