RF Generation Message Board

Episode 17 is live!

Aw man! You beat me to it. I was going to reserve episode 17    :(

All right, now I can unleash my latest work of… I don’t know what. ANYhoo, here we go:

Inspired by SirPsycho’s little fanfic on the Episode 11 discussion thread (sixth post down at http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=11204.0), as well as a certain scene from a certain movie (see if you can figure out which one), I’ve banged out a very rough script for a scene that (hopefully) will appear in the upcoming CollectorCast motion picture.
----

And now we cut to Wildbil52 in his bedroom as he acts out his depraved fantasies with his favorite toys:


[img width=81 height=120]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/bayoubillythumbnail_zps00d8bdc8.jpg[/img] So, Duke.Togo… at last, I have you in my clutches… to have my way with you… the way I want to!

[img width=110 height=97]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/ScaredDuke_zps9cc078b5.jpg[/img] NO! No, please, let me be!

[img width=81 height=120]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/AngryBilly_zps8d8034a7.jpg[/img] NO! YOU ARE MINE!

[img width=69 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/avatar_1848_zpsfa9515b7.jpeg[/img] NOT SO FAST BIL!

[img width=81 height=120]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/bayoubillythumbnail_zps00d8bdc8.jpg[/img] Crabmaster 2000!

[img width=69 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/avatar_1848_zpsfa9515b7.jpeg[/img] Yes, it’s me! I’m here to save my cohost/life-mate! Hiya, snookums…

[img width=81 height=120]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/AngryBilly_zps8d8034a7.jpg[/img] TASTE MY BLADE, POUTINE-SWILLER!*Stab*

[img width=69 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/DeadCrab_zps031ba5c7.jpg[/img] *Gllllghk* *THUD*

[img width=81 height=120]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/bayoubillythumbnail_zps00d8bdc8.jpg[/img] GAME OVER, BITCH! NO 1-UP FOR YOU!

[img width=147 height=140]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/bradpitt-Copy_zps7012a911.jpg[/img] All right, what’s goin’ on here?!

[img width=81 height=120]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/SurpriseBilly_zps05b82c03.jpg[/img] Holy crap, it’s Brad Pitt!

[img width=147 height=140]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/bradpitt-Copy_zps7012a911.jpg[/img]What didja do to that Canadian guy with the creepy man-crush on me?!

[img width=81 height=120]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/bayoubillythumbnail_zps00d8bdc8.jpg[/img] The same thing Kevin Bacon did to the teenage version of you in Sleepers!

[img width=147 height=140]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/Surppitt_zps5ed838b5.jpg[/img] Oh my God, that’s disgusting-- hey, speaking of Sleepers, you look familiar…

[img width=81 height=120]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/AngryBilly_zps8d8034a7.jpg[/img] DIE, PRETTYBOY! *STAB* STAB* STAB* STAB* STAB* STAB* STAB*

[img width=135 height=118]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/deadpitt_zps1f206685.jpg[/img] You… inglorious bas--*Gulllgkl* *THUD*

[img width=81 height=120]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/BillySunglasses_zps98364b81.jpg[/img] Looks like that hero took a big fall! Say hello to Angelina’s headlights in the afterlife for me!

[img width=81 height=120]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/leeringbilly_zpsaaa4252d.jpg[/img] Now, where was I—oh yes! Now, Duke.Togo, at last we are alone!

[img width=110 height=97]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/ScaredDuke_zps9cc078b5.jpg[/img]  NO, I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU—yet, I find you oddly appealing for some reason…

[img width=81 height=120]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/bayoubillythumbnail_zps00d8bdc8.jpg[/img] But of course! Podcast hosts are often attracted to complete boxed game collections and Sega 32x setups! And I have both! And you KNOW it!

[img width=110 height=97]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/ScaredDuke_zps9cc078b5.jpg[/img]  No, leave me alone!

[img width=81 height=120]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/leeringbilly_zpsaaa4252d.jpg[/img] NO, KISS ME! WITH TONGUE!

[img width=110 height=97]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/ScaredDuke_zps9cc078b5.jpg[/img]  NO, NO, NO, YES, NO, YES, YES, YES!!! OH, OH, OH, OHHH!

[img width=110 height=97]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/DukeLove_zpsfc68a8d3.jpg[/img] Ohhh… your goalie stick is sooo thick…


All of a sudden, SirPsycho bursts into WildBil52's room!


[img width=110 height=109]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/avatar_4684_zps5bb22f90.jpeg[/img] HEY, BIL!

[img width=110 height=96]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/BilWat_zpsa99d9e60.jpg[/img] GAAAH! WHAT?!

[img width=110 height=109]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/avatar_4684_zps5bb22f90.jpeg[/img]  I just got over my writer’s block with a vengeance! I have a killer fanfic—

[img width=110 height=96]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/MadBil_zps7570fcb5.jpg[/img] FOR THE LOVE OF NEIL PEART, PSYCH, WOULD IT KILL YOU TO KNOCK FIRST?!

[img width=110 height=109]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/SorryPsycho_zps7ecf94bd.jpg[/img] Whaa? Oh... um, yeah… sorry ‘bout that… heh.

[img width=110 height=96]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/WorryBil_zps76da679c.jpg[/img] Errrr… did… did you see anything?

[img width=110 height=109]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/psychoglare_zpsb780f6d3.jpg[/img] No, Bil, I didn’t see you do freaky pervy gay stuff with your CollectorCast action figures again.

[img width=110 height=96]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/avatar_4995_zps318e9677.jpeg[/img]GOOD! Now gee-tee-eff-oh before I kick you in the d-pad!

[img width=110 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/awesomepsycho_zpsa96e0fa6.jpg[/img] You betcha!

*SLAM*
----
So, whattaya think? Should I get a Kickstarter going for this, or what?

Now I know what you’re thinking:  I spent WAAAAY too much time on this bullshit. And you would be correct.
I even went so far as to make a couple gifs that show off my mad MS Paint skillz::

[img width=110 height=96]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/output_9KDvL2_zps2e395b66.gif?t=1378189251[/img]

[img width=110 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/output_yupJeR_zpsbd226b9b.gif?t=1378189251[/img]

BTW you’re more than welcome to use these as you see fit, Misters WildBil52 and SirPsycho. I'm giving you the gift... of gif.


‘Late

Zag wins the internet.

I dunno, the way the Crabmast2000 figure died was a little bit overacted I think.

Shh. My super secret special guest appearance was supposed to be super. And secret.

You might have a point there; if anything, Crabs is well known for underacting. But, like I said, it's a very rough draft. Besides, if we really have to, we can tweak it in post-production with some CGI.



Sorry, bud-- you know how it's danged near impossible for spoilers to stay secret on the internet.

There are days where I don't think we need to even do a show. This is much more entertaining!
[img width=110 height=97]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/DukeLove_zpsfc68a8d3.jpg[/img]

Oh, the latest episode is live!

Don't tell me, let me guess:

when you started reading my spec script, you were all [img width=110 height=97]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/ScaredDuke_zps9cc078b5.jpg[/img], but then you were all [img width=110 height=97]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/DukeLove_zpsfc68a8d3.jpg[/img].

Right?

BTW feel free to use those, er, enhanced avatars in any way you see fit.


I'll be sure to check that out later tonight.

Until then...


'Late

can't wait to have a listen tonight!

Hey now!

The XBox game manager, brought up at 23:25, is a combo game storage case/surge protector with bonus controller holders. Got it CIB at a Goodwill for Just under four bucks.

[img width=700 height=326]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/XBoxMgr1_zpsd68eaf7e.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=300]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/XBoxMgr3_zpsa7ccd333.jpg[/img]

[img width=581 height=390]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/XboxMgr2_zpse79ad273.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=587]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/XBoxMgr4_zps0bd86674.jpg[/img]


When I first caught sight of it, I thought that Goodwill had somehow acquired CIB XBox One console, months before it was set to release. I really liked the price, so I grabbed it. I came back a week later, and they had another one, complete and boxed... for just $20.99.



BTW I'll keep an eye out for you on Chu Chu Rocket, Bil...



'Late

Certainly a very odd peripheral, if you could even call it that.

 - bil's air conditioning wet ceiling story is identical to what is happening at my work right now. i'm at a library that's in the same building as a rec center, every year they shut down for 2 weeks of maintenance. someone goofed and screwed up the air conditioning, it started leaking all over the building. amazingly it didn't damage any of the books, it just soaked the carpets.

 - i can be the third fan of futuristic fast paced racing games. love me some extreme-G, wipeout, and episode I racer.

 - grape vs atomic purple:
Grape:
(https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/jjgames-static/images/179.JPG)

Atomic Purple:
(https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/jjgames-static/images/29.JPG)

 - metroid prime 3 on gamecube? lol

 - just got to the part about my sculptor's cut, did you ever manage to get highwind's working crabby?

 - i'm big on the CoD single player now, trying to own/play every game. i used to be really big on the multiplayer but i don't really care for it so much now that i've switched full time over to battlefield. i did put over 500 hours into CoD4 multiplayer on PC though, and almost a couple hundred on modern warfare 2. lots of World at War zombies/split screen multiplayer on PS3 too. i still have a lot of fun with multiplayer when i jump back in occasionally.

You killed me AND the ever lovely and amazing and dreamy and intelligent and athletic and sexy and unobtainable Brad Pitt?!?!!?!!?!? To quote a horse I know "no sir........I don't like it".

Listened to some of the episode this morning on the subway. I hope people didn't think I was weird for smiling at funny parts they obviously couldn't hear.

And I found Collectorcast on iPP Podcast Player for Android. It searches and downloads from iTunes onto Android devises.

Haven't listened in yet.
But there was one of those APC Game Managers listed on my CL for awhile.
Could never really figure out what it was since the pictures where shoddy and it looked like it was missing bits.

What do you care, you're dead now.

Two mentions in the finds part? Damn, must be famous. ;)

I'm still working my way through rest of the podcast, long one this month.

I think Zag just spoiled the ending to Breaking Bad with his little comic.  Thanks jerk.

Can't wait until i can hear this 'sode.  Looking forward to work tomorrow!

I will pitch in a million dollars on the movie, Zag.  Will you take a very, VERY post-dated check?

That'll cover the Brad Pitt cameo.

Now to fund the special effects...

BTW how many Brad Pitt movie references can you find in my rough script?

I can't believe I didn't see this til now.  I've been out of town for work with limited Internet access and what do I find when I check up on the forums?  Spaceballs references and I'm in them!  You've outdone yourself, zag. 

Wait 'til I show you and your fellow CollectorCasters my next big idea!  :evilhappy:

BTW I'll keep an eye out for that CIB Dreamcast Chu Chu Rocket! you've been longing for, bud.


UPDATE: Looks like I'm not the only one who's ripped off paid tribute to the Dark-Helmet-plays-with-dolls scene from Spaceballs:

http://soniceggs.emeraldcoastcomics.net/36

It looks like I had a brain fart, duke totally did send me a chu chu a while back, it just slipped my mind cause I haven't had a chu chu party yet:(

You keep it up with the lapses, and I'll write you out of the movie altogether.

Then you won't be able to make your triumphant return to the Hollywood scene...


'Late

Although the name is odd, give Infinite Undiscovery a shot. It may have dropped in price quickly, but it seems highly underrated to me. Fantastic RPG, still remains as one of my favorites.

Good to know.  Square Enix is good at silly names.

So you think my Embryon pinball machine is creepy do ya?  Then I suppose you're not too keen on this key fob I made for it.:

(https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q84/r270/s720x720/565039_662452263780081_1964807001_n.jpg)

This takes disturbing to all new levels. Mental scarring accomplished.

Happy to be of service. :P

I don't think you'll have any problems losing your keys...or finding them.

Mental scarring indeed!

Put a smiley face on that keychain and no more nightmares.  ;D

Howzabout this instead:

[img width=649 height=308]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/key_zps1e5644c5.jpg[/img]

Figured I'd give it the wide-eyed-look-of-horror expression like I did those avatars in my rough script.

Speaking of which: for some dumb reason, I've been inspired to "touch up" the avas of several notable RF Gen denizens:

[img width=110 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/noiseredux-surp_zps494c232c.jpg[/img]
"Whoah, am I really feeling myself up?!"

[img width=90 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/Nupoile-Surp_zps2b5a29e3.jpg[/img]

[img width=110 height=84]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/Fleach-surp_zps8cf358a8.jpg[/img]

[img width=69 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/Crab-surp_zps1be34f70.jpg[/img]

[img width=90 height=90]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/Shadz-surp_zpsc5179cf8.gif[/img]
Gotta make the irises bigger, so they actually show up. (Sorry, Shadz)

[img width=75 height=75]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/izret-surp_zps990b85a2.jpg[/img]
Izret's Scorpion ava is rather Cartmanesque.

[img width=110 height=80]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/SaintPain-surp_zps23bf2717.jpg[/img]
OH MY FReaKING gOD WHAT TEh HeLL AM I LOOKiNG AT

[img width=106 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/Shoboni-surp_zps33b80cb7.jpg[/img]
Shoboni's expression when he found out his subscription to Hot Plots magazine had lapsed.

[img width=110 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/RetroRage-surp_zps4edc22d9.jpg[/img]
RetroRage's Dumb & Dumber Jim Carrey ava looks better with a smile IMHO.

[img width=70 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/Engel-surp_zps2469f414.jpg[/img]
Engel's was the easiest one, since the mouth was already spot on.


I'd have made one for Razor Knuckles, but he beat me to it:

[img width=68 height=110]http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=6134;type=avatar[/img]


I have way too much spare time on my hands.

[img width=90 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/Nupoile-Surp_zps2b5a29e3.jpg[/img]

If you add color, that'd be pretty much what I look like in real life.





I'm surprised Bil and Mr. 2000 didn't know about how monkeys and beer went together. Duke clearly knew.

[img width=700 height=525]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3825/9887304585_f9ef59a8af_o.jpg[/img] (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nupoile/9887304585/)

Mmmmm... monkey beer.

Even better, it's space monkey beer!

[img width=700 height=437]http://ayay.co.uk/backgrounds/nintendo_games/donkey_kong/mario-and-donkey-kong-share-a-beer.jpg[/img]

Now you know what was in those barrels.

BTW you'd think Mario would be a bit more cheerful. He's got a gallon of suds in one hand and a smoke in the other for goodness sakes. Live it up a little, champ...

I wait a few days to come back, and THIS is the first thread I come to.  :paranoid:

Nice use of my keychain Zag, though I must admit, I feel a little left out without a sweet avatar mod. Here ya go. Make me purtty.

[img width=277 height=340]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3156/2591300672_4bb9b9bba6_z.jpg?zz=1[/img]

This seems to be the oddest show thread yet. I don't think one comment is actually related to anything in the show.

I beg to differ. Techwizard posted a few comments on page 1.

Who are you kidding? You don't have any color in real life.


Yeah, there is a lot of unrelated stuff going on here, but that's only because I eat a lot of peanut butter.




Brace yourself...

[img width=477 height=640]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/MadBanana_zps96eee321.jpg[/img]

My most professional-looking effort yet.

But wait, there's more:

[img width=102 height=110]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/Bick_zps1e41042e.jpg[/img]

[img width=110 height=78]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/Link41-surp_zpse7077b04.jpg[/img]
OMG! What are you doing to that chicken, Tingle?!

Well done, sir.

I'm just not sure any edit can out do the sheer rage of the wise Egbert Aethelbald against his arch rivals the FILTHY GODWIN DEVILS!

I only wish i was able to do yours justice. I've tried a couple more times, but the irises simply refuse to show up after I save and zoom back out to normal size.

On a note that's actually related to the show: You did the right thing by leaving the Macho Man alone in the Episode 17 cover artwork. If you'd had done otherwise, I would have had to end our association right then and there.

Aaand at 22:25: Bil's going the dristance... he's going for spreed...  :P

It would be folly to attempt to improve perfection.

Just got to my mention in small scores. As always I appreciate it.

I love the irony of getting ribbed for getting a Vita by a guy who is trying to collect every 32X game.  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Looking forward to the main topic. Someday I'll get there.

OHHH YEAHH!!! Macho Man Randy Savage is THE number one wrestler. DIG IT?


I'm glad Bil can entertain. ;)

Excellent main discussion. If you couldn't tell by the multiple threads I've written about it, this is something that fascinates the hell out of me. I'll have to finish it tomorrow, but so far, so good.

Do you think you'd see a dramatic spike if Silent Service was released on virtual console?

Glad to hear it. It's certainly something that makes some collectors upset, but obviously you can hear my opinion.


The eShop would crash from all the users trying to download it at once.

It does not make me mad as a collector at all as I never pay asking price for a high value game.

I'm very interested in market economics and of course video games, so where the two things converge I love learning about it. I think you guys did a great job with this one.

That means a lot, thanks. I think we try to have a healthy view of the hobby, and see it for what it is. Topics like these let me geek out a little, and the other guys seem to tolerate it enough. ;)

This was a very realistic look at collecting and the take-home is that this is just a hobby/something fun to entertain us and is by no means an investment or race to get and flaunt the rarest items. The market analyses and chart comparisons drive those main points home.

It was fun to listen to a less game-y podcast. Not saying the anecdotal game talk is bad, this was just a nice change.

Finally catching up to the past few episodes. I hadn't listened in a few months, good thing you guys don't put out new episodes often! (Speaking of, a new one should be right around the corner, hm?)

Really good discussion though. I think a good takeaway might be that the factors that contribute to a given game's price are numerous nad it's sort of a fool's errand to try and really predict what's going to happen, though it is pretty fun and interesting to try. It'll be interesting to find out if Earthbound goes the way you expect them to or if PS1 mania actually hits.

Speaking of, I kinda think that if "PS1 mania" was going to happen, it would've happened already. After all, anyone who was a kid (talking around 8-12 years old) when the Ps1 was big is in their mid-late 20s now. I feel like modern Sony fans have embraced the digital age a bit more too. Plus, you know, Genesis didn't really explode the way SNES did, and there's plenty of people who should be nostalgic for that.

I don't know though, there's billions of factors and it's impossible to account for them all. There's really no telling what will happen, but maybe I should be jumping on board the Ps1 train while it's still pretty inexpensive to do so...

Lastly, Zag can't do anything to my avatar because he's already DOING that.

I think it's been said before, but the golden area when games start to increase in value is, incidentally, the age where they're starting to be considered antiques - 15 years old. Once a system is 15 years old, the prices on it starts to climb before eventually plateauing and settling.

The PS1 came out in 1995, so it's already 18 years old at this point. Prices don't seem to have moved much... at least not yet.

It's not for all games for the system, or all systems for that matter... look at the 3DO, for instance. There's only a handful of games that spiked in price.

that formula works best with nintendo i think, but it definitely applies to other companies as well.

Been trying hard to get another episode together, but it has been tough with Crabby working full time and running a store as well. Bil and I are working on something that will hopefully be out before too long...

Sorry for delaying the casts everyone. Duke and Bil are going to give you some sweet ear food shortly to make up for it.

I think you more than make up for the delays by making the podcast six freaking hours long.

I think Collectorcast should shoot for a podcast length world record or something.

Yeah, just do a 24-hour-long presentation twice a year.

Black was SUCH A GOOD GAME.

Still a little behind on the episodes...

I'm sure Bil is still right there with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uatR4I_Wqg

I'm pretty sure there was a print ad with a meat grinder too.
I might be confusing it with something else though...

If you take a shot every time Little Samson is mentioned you will be Russian by the end of the show.

Yep, this was a great segment. Kudos to Duke for coming to the table with varied examples that were each worth discussing on their own. They each built to the general thesis of the conversation.

The PSX collecting talk intrigues me. I definitely agree that there is a pro-Nintendo slant with collectors which increases the market (as compared to both PSX and the Genesis) but for a system (PSX) with so many units moved, and SO MANY titles (to add to a conversation on the show - FIFA 2004 was the last PSX game, similar to how they did FIFA 14 for the PS2) why isn't it as collectible?

Is it cart vs. disc? The fact that PSX games play on PS2 so maybe gamers didn't offload their favorites when the next generation came? Lack of real scarce titles?

I know there's a future episode on PSX collecting (I'm getting there) so really interested in listening.

Favorite small scores segment, Bil going back to the well on the NHL '98 for the Saturn talking point (I agree, it does suck - and the PSX vers is great and one I played a ton of) and catching himself for telling the same story. I mean, it's a 3 hour segment, can't blame it for happening.

I wouldn't count Sony collecting out, it just hasn't gained as much steam. Nintendo has a similar appeal to Disney, and this has helped capture those seeking childhood nostalgia. As time marches on, plenty will want to relive the PlayStation heyday. It's already starting to heat up a bit for key titles.

Yeah there's kids my age that really came of age on the PS1 and PS2 just finishing up with college and getting into collecting. I'm split between SNES and PS1 for the most part since I was young enough to slide in at the tail end of the SNES lifecycle and had friends that owned a Genesis. By the time I was in the middle grades most had upgraded to a PS1, now they're finishing school and getting into careers. The first few years are all about paying off those loans though. I don't keep in touch with too many people from all the way back then, but I wouldn't be surprised if some are getting into collecting given that a handful of my high school buddies are.

Psycho has it right. The market heats up when people get into their latter 20's and seek nostalgia with their newly found disposable income. There's no reason that oldsters like me can't enjoy some great PS1 titles as well. ;)