I’ve been collecting video games for 32 years and I can honestly say that the internet has been both beneficial and detrimental when it comes to collecting. Why? Simple, the internet puts a lot of information at our fingertips; lets us know the value of a game we’re thinking of purchasing so we don’t over pay. But it works in reverse too; the seller knows the value of the games they have and that means everyone gets market value. In short, it’s getting harder to find great deals.
When I began avidly collecting games I had to walk barefoot and uphill in the snow BOTH ways to get to the local swap meet! O.K. not really. However, when I started collecting, the internet wasn’t as prevalent as it is today and E-bay certainly wasn’t the juggernaut it is now. Cell phones were pretty much nonexistent too; they were huge bricks that you couldn’t just stuff in your pocket. And the gaming community wasn’t as solidified as it is today. Back then, if you were searching for a certain game, you either had to have friends that had the game, know people who were avid collectors, search the local newspaper for people selling their games or hit the streets and search every thrift store, garage sale, antique shop or rental store in the hopes of finding it.
Sometimes you got lucky and found the game right away and sometimes you didn’t. When you didn’t it could take a really long time to find it. Now a days, if you really want a game, you jump on the internet, pay the price, push a few buttons and presto! It’s at your door in a few days.
The local swap meets were like the Wild West back then. I have fond memories of arriving early and leaving with bags of games for really cheap prices. I’m not exaggerating here, I used to stuff a garbage bag in my back pocket because there were that many games laying around. Many sellers didn’t know what they had nor did they care, they just wanted to get rid of them.
The gaming community was nothing like it is today. There weren’t let’s play videos, forums, chat rooms, walk through’s or places gamers could go and be heard. Hell, I can’t even tell you how many times I was stuck on some level, didn’t know where to go or what to do, none of my friends did either so we’d haul ass to the nearest store that carried game guides and read about it. I once went back to a store THREE times to get past levels on Zelda. I think the store owner thought I was trying to work up the nerve to steal that guide because I’d walk in, grab it, flip through the pages put it down and run out the door. That was my equivalent of an internet walk through.
That’s how it was back then. Gaming tips, advice etc. were relegated to word of mouth or magazines. Gaming groups consisted of your immediate friends. T.V. commercials got you salivating over the next big game (no chance of spoilers there.) And shopping for hard to find games could send you anywhere and everywhere.
Now, fast forward to today; the internet provides a wealth of information without having to touch a library card catalog or encyclopedia. You can make a phone call or search the internet from anywhere If you stumble across a game at some random store without cash; you can use a debit card instead of having wait for the bank. And if you’re on the hunt for a game the internet can provide information on local businesses that may have what you’re looking for or you can just purchase it online or join some gaming forums to trade with other like minded collectors.
It’s a wonderful time to be a collector but there is a price to pay. Games and good deals are scarce at the local swap meet. Why? Many of those vendors are selling online now, where they fetch top dollar. That option wasn’t available to them 30 years ago. Now, more often than not when you do come across games at the swap meet many sellers are asking for market value because again, thanks to the internet they know the value of what they have. My point? The internet raised the prices at your local flea market so it’s harder to get a really good deal now.
It may sound like I’m complaining here, I’m not. I’m simply pointing out how things have changed on the collecting landscape. The internet changed the game and mostly for the better. For example, after years of collecting, I amassed various tidbits and odd gaming things that I was never certain of. I mean, I had my suspicions but nothing more. Thanks to the internet I was able to determine what they were and discovered prototypes, limited editions and so forth.
The internet has also saved me from paying too much for a game. I used to shoot from the hip and pull the trigger with certain game purchases, especially if I wasn’t too familiar with the format. Now, I just pull the information up on my phone and I immediately know if it’s worth my time and money. And on the other hand it helps me to determine what I should sell something for so I can get top dollar for my collection. Very nice.
Thanks to the internet the gaming community is thriving and stronger than ever. Many individuals are making a name for themselves through various social media forums; videos, websites, blogs (like this one). Gamers and collectors now have a voice that is heard far beyond their immediate friends. They have an identity and an internet fan base. Whereas previously it would’ve been them just rambling away to others who might’ve thought they were a little off or just super nerdy. The internet has literally empowered many gaming enthusiasts who couldn’t connect with anyone locally but now, watch out! They are internet famous with a legion of followers making money off of what others thought was a waste of time.
So for me, as a collector and a business owner the internet has been more of a blessing than a curse. It’s definitely changed the retro collecting landscape in terms of information and pricing and it’s certainly pulled the gaming community closer and definitely helped me run a more efficient business.
But honestly, when I interact with today’s gamers and then look back I’d have to say, “You guys don’t know how easy you’ve got it these days!”
