Video game collecting can be a strange thing, no?

Here's my reflection that produced the above thought (not that its the first time I came to said conclusion.)  I just finished the DLC chapter of Dead Space 3, called Awakened.  I completed the game once solo and a second time co-op, which is how I played the latter.

The DLC chapter was well written for what it was, quite short (2 to 2.5 hours or so), and mostly served as a story lead-in to a theoretical sequel, since DS3's original conclusion brought a sense of definitive closure to the series.  I'm glad I played it, and given my head-shaking, nope-nope attitude toward gaming's digital future (and present) I'm glad I waited until the DLC was on sale before picking it up. 

As a consumer, I have sent the message to Microsoft and EA that I absolutely refuse to purchase digital-only gaming content... unless I really want it and I can get it for cheap.  Looking back, that's the story of my purchase history.  Fair enough.  I may be hypocritical, but at least I'm consistently so. 

What I find even more strange is my willingness to purchase retro games for much more than digital content, even games I know I will likely put little to no time into playing.

A rough but telling example; both me and my DS3 co-op buddy refused to pay more than $5 for the Awakened DLC.  It is something we desired to play, but we likely would have never budged on our plan if the content did not go on sale.

And yet if I ever saw Cheetahmen II or, heaven forbid, Stadium Events, for $10, Of course I'd buy them.  Or $15, or $50, or... yeah.  Keep in mind, if I bought them, I would not 'flip' them, selling at profit, so I would not be operating under the obvious financial motivation.  It would be part of the media collection we use to connect with people. 

Now, I'm well aware of how awful Cheetahmen II plays, and that I already own Stadium Events in all but name and cart-label with World Class Track Meet.  Therefore, aside from morbid curiosity, I have no desire to play either.  I would not be interested in selling them.  I don't consider myself a hoarder. (Why are you laughing?) I also do not like the idea of flaunting physical possessions in the face of someone who desires but does not own such things.

So why on earth would I pay much, much more for something I would not play, and inversely I am reluctant to purchase something I am ready and willing to enjoy?

Its easy to use the ''because I don't want to support digital instead of physical copies" excuse, but that doesn't apply to the games that are already out on disc, and I am awaiting a sale or price-drop.  Of course money is the next, or even first excuse, but why then do I still spend money on old games I won't play?  I'm sure I'm not alone on this site when it comes to occasionally scouring the 'net to find some retro games for cheap, even games I have no desire to actually play through. 

For some, it can be a fun meta-game, looking at huge collection numbers, comparing or even competing on collection size or subgenre completion.  Much like achievements or trophies, these arbitrary numbers are part or even most of how these gamers enjoy gaming.  Why?

For the same reason an RPG fan is at a loss to explain how grinding and random-looking number screens are fun when discussing such with a non-fan.

Or when an MMORPG player is discussing guilds and patches and expansions to someone who thinks Azeroth is a term they forgot in Geometry class.

Or when telling a Battlefield fan how their preferred game is a sub-par Call-of-Duty clone, and witnessing how virtual violence can in fact translate to IRL violence.

Or the annual Madden/Fifa fan discusses at length to me how great/disappointing their game/franchise/team/player/mascot is this year.

Or the same reason I still go to movie theaters, despite having a home entertainment system that outclasses many of them:

We are all wired to not only enjoy different things, but also with preferences on how we enjoy them.  And not just for acquiring or collecting; some of us have a favorite chair/couch/plastic crate/floor/nimbus cloud that we game from, and cannot fully enjoy otherwise.  Some refuse to play on anything but original hardware, including arcade cabs; some will not pay more than $10 for any video game period, and for some of us, the hunt for cheap retro games we'll probably never play is a game itself, and is as fun as actually playing a game.

My current 'Holy Grail' gaming search is for a CIB Beyond Shadowgate, the last game of my youth that was stolen and never replaced.  And yet, even if I could, I wouldn't trade for it a single memory of the gaming hunts my beloved and I have enjoyed.  And we've shared countless ones.

Some things are just far more valuable to me.

Video game collecting can be a strange thing.

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