Inheriting a collection from my dearly departed best friend.

[GrayGhost81]

I always wanted to have something so great to post that the small scores thread just couldn't hold it and I would have to create a new thread. Well this isn't quite what I had in mind. The word bittersweet comes to mind for sure.

As some of you know, my lifelong best friend Jesse passed away two weeks ago after a two year battle with cancer. I've known him since kindergarten and we've been inseparable ever since.

We shared in many hobbies and activities over the years. We were in a band together that we started in high school and didn't stop playing until he physically couldn't do it any more. We loved talking about books and movies, and he changed me from a person who hated going to the beach to someone who couldn't wait to ride the waves of the Atlantic.

The one thing we bonded over above all other things was video games. Even when we were kids I remember if one of us got a new NES game it meant an automatic "Can I come over after school?" from the other.

If you want to hear more about how he and I grew up as gamers, check out the first episode of our podcast Eight Generations.

So fast forward to our adult life, every time I was at Jesse's house to play video games, record the podcast, or just hang out, I had to browse his collection and shamelessly ask him to give me stuff out of it.

You see, he didn't consider himself a collector. He just said he kept games he either loved and replayed often or games he hadn't played yet. I didn't believe him for a while because so many of his games were rare, valuable, or otherwise noteworthy.

Then one day I told him that if he ever was going to trade out his copies of Persona 1 and 2 to please give me first crack at them. His reply: "Oh, you can have those." This score got me and Jesse mentioned on the Collectorcast and he got a kick out of that. Let's take a look at those beauties again.

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When he gave me these games just for asking I knew he really didn't give a shit about collecting for collecting's sake. I really had to respect that. He knew what these games were worth. He just didn't like them, so he let them go.

Last night while hanging out with Jesse's wife she asked me if there were any games of Jesse's that I would like to have. Again, the word bittersweet does not do the situation justice. I had borrowed some awesome games from his collection and he had given me some others. It was always a crazy dream of mine to have the freedom to just take whatever the hell I wanted and add it all to my own collection. Of course I never thought it would happen, and when it was actually happening it was completely surreal.

So here are the games that I chose. These pictures do not represent his entire collection because for now I only took things I did not have already.

Before I start "showing off the goods" I just want to note that I know one hundred percent that Jesse would want me to have all of this stuff, and that he would love me showing it off to you guys. Like I said he didn't consider himself a collector, but he respected the collecting culture.

There won't be a ton of retro stuff here either. He didn't collect carts, he was big into emulation.

Anyway here we go.

First here is his copy of the premier issue of Nintendo Power. This was actually given to me by his parents a few days after he died.

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Here are some NES and SNES carts. Like I said he wasn't really into them so there weren't that many, I'm not even sure why he had these, though I did find a Retro Duo while going through his things so maybe he just couldn't resist the feel of cold gray plastic in his hands after all.

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Next some XBOX 360 games. He typically didn't hold on to these after he was done with them so like I said he either really liked these or hadn't played them yet. He had tried to get me to borrow Asura's Wrath in the past but I wasn't interested. I started playing it this morning and I can totally see why he liked it and I am having a blast with it.

[img width=700 height=559]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h32/grayghost81/IMG_20140504_094116_140-1_zpsfc1dadd0.jpg[/img]

Some PS2 games. He had told me he would probably give me that sweet deluxe edition of Persona 3 because he knew how much I worship that game.

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Original XBOX and PS3 games.

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A few Wii and Gamecube games. He had recommended Chocobo's Dungeon to me so I am excited to try that one out.

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Here's the grand finale. My man had all the absolute best PS1 games.

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And if he had ever told me I could take only one thing out of his collection for myself, it would be the following. I borrowed it from him two years ago and playing through it was a life-altering experience. I lost my sister in 2006 so the story in this game has monumental significance to me. This becomes, automatically, the best piece in my collection regarding both actual value and sentimental or emotional value.

[img width=700 height=632]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h32/grayghost81/IMG_20140504_093213_963-1_zps92cb5a6c.jpg[/img]

While I was taking these pictures I started to get excited to fold all these games into my own collection. However, after each photo was taken I put the games on an empty bottom shelf and when I was done and they were all together, I decided to leave them there for now. It feels like I can leave his gaming identity intact for the time being this way and his collection becomes a sweet little corner of my collection.

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So yeah that's it. Can't call them "scores" really. I'm just going to take good care of this stuff and enjoy them as best as I can. Rest in peace bro, thank you for all the games.

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[Duke.Togo]

An excellent tribute to what sounds like an excellent friend. I know that loss is difficult, but having a few items like this can always help to take you back to the time spent together. My condolences on your loss, and thank you for sharing.

[Fleach]

That was a great post! It's so nice that you can have a piece of your friend's library and sentimental link to such a special friend.

I know you'll take great care of those games.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

I've been in your position before. It's somewhat cathartic to be able to play through something you and your friend enjoyed at kids, as it allow you to remember the enjoyable times spent together. I have individual portions of my collection set aside prominently as either items given to me in good faith as keepsakes, or items that have great significance to me. slackur can attest to this too, as he has once posted about it in the past.

I still have Izret's boxed SNES set aside, should he ever want it back. I wasn't going to allow him to sell it on eBay after he told me about how he and his grandmother used to enjoy playing games on it together.

[singlebanana]

I know we've spoken in private and I really feel for you having to deal with the loss of your friend. Again, my sentiments go out to you and to his family. After hearing about how close you guys were, I know that he would really be happy to know that you have his games. I know that they will remain as a special part of your collection. Enjoyed the write up. Hang in there buddy.

[GamerNick]

A great tribute to your friend.  I am sorry for your loss, my sentiments go out t o you and to his family as well.  I am sure he is watching down on you knowing you have his games.   He will always be there in spirit and in your heart and mind because a true friend never forgets, especially the memories.  I also enjoyed the write up just remember he is always there and you will always have the great memories. 

[slackur]

Thanks for sharing, and as others have said, my condolences for your loss.  I hope these items will continue to bring joy to your heart in memory of your good friend.

[Izret101]

I like how you left them in their own spot rather than just integrated them immediately into the sea of games.

Like the others have said best wishes.
Cancer is not an easy thing to deal with and it seems like it is becoming more and more prevalent. Or maybe i have just become more aware of it after having seen it show up in various forms in my own family/friends.

I still have Izret's boxed SNES set aside, should he ever want it back. I wasn't going to allow him to sell it on eBay after he told me about how he and his grandmother used to enjoy playing games on it together.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

It's a lot more prevalent these days. Food additives, environment, etc... pick your poison.

[SirPsycho]

This was quite the story and you ended up with some unforgettable mementos of your friend. If I was in your shoes I'd probably be out hunting a nice glass corner display shelf and some easels to make a permanent place for the lifetime of memories.

[Disposed Hero]

I'm sorry for your loss.  I too have a best friend that I've known almost my entire life, and I can only imagine how hard it must be to lose your brother like that.  My condolences go out to you and his family.

It's good to know that some of his treasures ended up in good hands.  If it were me, I know I'd want a close friend to hang on to and enjoy my collection for me.

Stay strong, my friend.

[blcklblskt]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss.  I know how tough it is to lose someone that close to you.  I think you've made the right decision to give his collection its own little space.  Thank you for sharing your tribute to your friend.

[techwizard]

great story and i know i've said it before but my condolences man, i can't imagine losing a friend like that. like izret said i'm glad you set aside his games into their own shelves, that seems to make them even more special.

[GrayGhost81]

I really appreciate the warm sentiment and condolences guys. I'm very glad I took the time to do this write-up.

Since I'm trying to move in the next few months, I'm going to leave everything exactly as pictured for now, and maybe in my new place I'll set up something nice and put Suikoden II on a stand or something.

I'm still playing Asura's Wrath and it's really reminding him. Just the kind of stupid, crazy game he was into, and he was a huge fan of Liam O'Brian. He taught me to appreciate voice actors and the voice acting (and everything else) in this game is awesomely over the top.

[Crabmaster2000]

Horrible way to get some awesome games. Glad that you have a few tokens to remember your friend. I agree that you should keep at least a few extra special games like the Suikoden II seperated from your collection in some fashion to honor your friend. Try out Cubivore when you get a chance also its fantastic.