People of RF Generation: People of RF Generation: wildbil52

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Name(First only):
Bil, yep, with one L

Location:
Sandy Hook, CT

Where does your screen name come from?
My manager at Babbage’s helped me build my first PC. I attended a few LAN parties at his house to play the Beta version of Counter Strike. I would come around the corner with either a pistol and surprise the more experienced players and my buddy Eric gave me the nickname WildBil. I added the 52 because it’s always been my hockey jersey number.

How did you find RFG?
Needed checklists. I was just starting to collect NES games and I committed the sin of buying a game that I already owned. I vowed to never let this happen again. I found RFGeneration when searching for printable checklists because I wanted to keep a binder in the car while I was hunting. The checklists are also how I learned about variants. I lurked for awhile and eventually started posting on the forums.

What made you stay and become part of RFG?
The welcoming embrace of Shadow Kisuragi, singlebanana, Duke.Togo, and Crabmaster2000 are why I stuck around and I’ve met many great members since then like my Secret Santa Bro Techie413, everyone’s favorite Zag, Mr Norch, Fleach, Pam, and Will up in Canada, GrayGhost, Izret, bickman, Eric from Germany. There are so many that I feel bad that I can’t list them all in this short space. Just know that I am thinking of you all.

Have you ever met or personally know anyone at RFG?
Again, hope I don’t miss anyone but through the Expo that I organize I have met Duke Togo, Crabmaster2000, singlebanana, Fleach, Will, Pam, Bickman, Izret, and ericescapade. At another local expo I have met NeoMagicWarrior and WaynePe. I’ve met Shadow Kisuragi a few times when we travel down to Florida (the first time to give him a copy of Time Gal and a Genesis rental case). I live pretty close to Russlyman so I see him whenever I can.

Number of Games Owned(at time of printing):
Unfortunately the collection is shrinking due to our evolving financial situation but there are a few things that I can’t give up. I own 293 games on Steam (294 Once Civ VI gets Mac support) Every US 32X game except for Spiderman, about 50 big box PC games, the collection of Hockey games has topped 60 and I’ll be keeping some favorites across the systems I played when I was a kid. Most of the rest of it will be unloaded.

Number of Games on Wishlist(at time of printing):
I keep a Google Calendar of video game release dates and right now the nearest ones are Final Fantasy XV, Skyrim Special Edition, and Crackdown 3. As far as older stuff, I’d love to get Spiderman for 32X to complete the collection but I don’t have that kind of cash lying around right now. Other than that, big box PC games and hockey games I don’t already have.

Number of Systems:
About 30ish

When did you start collecting?
In about 2005. I started grabbing some of the games I used to love when I was a kid and once I scored my first big CIB NES haul I was hooked.

What was your first system you owned?
We got the Nintendo

What was your first game?
Super Mario Bros

What was your first game you bought yourself?
I want to say...something for the NES at FuncoLand when I have birthday money or something. When I got a job around 1996 it was probably something on the PSX, maybe Gran Turismo?

What made you decide to buy that particular game?
Reviews. I remember caring so much about EGM reviews. I didn’t read the words, just looked at the numbers. They loved that game so I had to buy it. Same reason I bought Metal Gear Solid. 10s? I want it.

First game you ever beat?
Super Mario Bros. SMB 1, 2, and 3 are some of the only games we finished when we were kids. We just got frustrated a lot and didn’t stick with most games but we always finished SMB

Have you ever broken anything due to frustration from a game? Be honest, we won't tell…
I don’t think so. I’ve never been a controller thrower. I just exhale and walk away.

Are you collecting now, if so what anything specific?
I collect Big Box PC games, not all of them, just ones I used to own or think are interesting. I also collect and CIB Hockey game that I don’t own. I thought the pickings would get slim pretty quick on hockey games but there are a ton I still don’t have.

When did you feel a tipping point from gamer to both gamer and game collector?
When I spend more time working on my collection than playing it. Cleaning games, cataloging, making checklists, checking craigslist. Its part of why I’m not actively collecting anymore. Yeah, it was fun and I met a lot of great people but, man, is it time consuming. I’m playing more games now and that makes me happy.

What are your goals as a game collector, how have you developed them, and how do you feel about your progress toward them?
I used to have goals to complete certain sets but now my goal is much more general. Get cool stuff and play stuff that I think if fun. I do have one set that I would like to complete, though..

How many games, systems, etc. are "enough"?
I think most collectors would tell you that there is no “enough”. We don’t do it to finish it, we do it because it’s fun. There will always be another goal, even if you reach the one you laid out for yourself.

What's your proudest moment as a game collector?
I love being able to hook buddies up with crazy stuff. I normally don’t toot my own horn but the story I always bring up is the one where I scored a Little Samson cart for Duke. It makes me happy that I was able to put something like that into a friend’s hands.

What's your least proud moment as a game collector?
Missing bill payments because I spent money on games instead of being an adult. It’s a careful balancing act.

If you had to give part of your collection away for a worthy cause what part would it be, and why?
I’d give my collection to my kids once they realize how special it is to me and if they would promise to keep it and appreciate it. If they aren’t interested, I would try to find good homes for everything. I like to put things in the hands of collectors. Not dirty resellers aaCHOO (Crabby) ooh, bless me. Totally kidding, Crabby is an awesome collector and a very clean reseller with an awesome store.

Where/how do you store it all?
I have very awesome and understanding parents who let me keep 5 Billy bookcases of stuff in their basement. I keep my favorites and my MAME cab in the basement and I keep my PlayChoice in an arcade warehouse that a couple friends of mine own.

What's your favorite part of your collection?
I love my 32X stuff. I love the rental case, that one always surprised people. Most have seen the Virtual Boy, N64 or Genesis rental cases but not the 32X. I also really like my Big Box PC stuff. The big Boxes are impressive at a distance. Also system boxes. I’ve sold systems but kept the boxes because they are so boss.

What about a favorite series?
Burnout comes to mind. So does Elder Scrolls though Oblivion and Skyrim are the only 2 I’ve played. Have to mention Far Cry. 2, 3, and 4 are some of the best open world games ever.

What is your guilty pleasure when it comes to gaming?
I don’t feel guilty about the things I like so, I guess I don’t have one.

What is the most valuable part of your collection(Value or sentimental)?
I have a complete Silent Service for the NES. I could just sell it any pay off the house but I feel like it can only go up in value.

What game do you have the most nostalgia for?
Probably Super Mario Bros. one of the first games we played and we played it all the time. It’s one of those games that you remember every little inch of from the countless hours we put into it.

What would you like to improve in your collection?
I’d like to improve my 32X collection. It’s not complete and it really should be.

What do you think was your best deal while game buying?
I paid like $80 for a boxed complete NES Deluxe set with like 40 minty CIB NES games. It was amazing.

What item in your collection do you feel you overpaid for?
I don’t think I overpaid for anything, maybe paid close to retail for a few things, but I’m a pretty careful buyer (I’m cheap).

Good spending is crucial in collection. What do you feel is the strangest or weirdest item in your collection?
Hmm, strange or weird..Nagzorch got me a handheld electronic hockey game in the shape of a puck being fired through glass. That’s pretty strange and awesome. I love finding random things in games I buy like receipts, hand drawn maps, level notes. Those are weird and awesome.

What item(s) do you not have in your collection that people are surprised to hear you don't have?
Some people are surprised I don’t have Pro Sport Hockey since I’m a hockey game collector, but I’m also cheap.

Is there any way you'd ever stop collecting?
Not completely. I’m in the process of majorly trimming down on some of the excess but I don’t think I could ever give up my boxed systems, 32X games, or favorite titles. I have stopped searching craigslist, going to yard sales, and buying lots to flip so I’m just a much more casual collector than I used to be.

Do you have a funny story about your collection?
I brought 2 of my older cousins downstairs at a family get together to see the collection. They had no idea I was a retro game collector. Once they got to the bottom of the stairs one of them said. “Whoah...Have you ever seen The 40 Year Old Virgin?”

Have you ever had to move your collection to another house? What was it like?
Not actually that bad. Everything went in banker boxes in the order it came off the shelves. Once everything was at the new place, it was unpacked in the same order. Not awful. Moving the kitchen and bathroom stuff was worse than moving the game collection.

If your significant other told you no more games, what would you do?
It would never happen, but if it did, I’d say no more boots and purses and then I’d go back to playing my games.

What percentage of your games are still sealed?
I have a sealed RBI Baseball for the 32X and a sealed NHL game for the Saturn and I think that is it for my sealed guys

What percentage of your games have you actually played? Completed?
Played, maybe 80%. Completed? Far less. Lots of the games I play don’t have an end. There is always another hockey season

Do you own any complete collections?
I feel like we’ve been over this...I’m one away from a CIB US 32X set.

Time to bring out the fanboys! What is your favorite game of all time?
I’d have to say Skyrim. That game is exactly what I am looking for in an interactive experience. You can nitpick the flaws but at the end of the day. I can get lost in that world for any amount of time and that is priceless.

Least Favorite?
The Last Remnant. I bought that piece of garbage expecting a hidden gem, something that no one was looking forward to but me. I was gonna be so smart for loving this game before anyone else did. Then it came out and oh boy, was it a clunker.

Do you collect anything else besides games?
I have a staggering LaserDisc collection made up of 2 movies. Wouldn’t mind adding a few more

What do you outside of games?
I’m a Network Administrator and when I’m not doing stuff for work, I’m organizing events, working on arcade machines, playing with the kids, and recording podcasts.

What other features would you like to see more of at RFG?
A thread where Destiny players can set up gaming sessions. Oh, wait, we have that! http://www.rfgeneration.c...m/index.php?topic=17298.0

Duke.Togo, the previous interviewee, asked, “How do you give back to the gaming community?”

With a few good friends I organize a yearly gaming expo called RetroWorld Expo. It’s an exhausting process but it’s super fun to see the community come together for an awesome weekend of gaming.

http://www.retroworldexpo.com

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Thanks for your time!