Why do you collect the games? Is it simple nostalgia, the knowledge that the games are a fairly safe financial investment, or something else?

MP: It's mostly nostalgia. At some point, after spending so much money on the games, you can't help it but see it as an investment as well, but if one decided to focus on that aspect alone it would make the process very wearing, because prices change all the time. I try not to think too much about it and enjoy collecting.

AC: The initial trigger for the first purchase was nostalgia. Gathering a small collection after that was a no-brainer, as games generally cost me less than a pound each at car boot sales that I was already visiting. Then, when I found out about how many other games were available, it seemed like a reachable goal to collect them all. After all, fifty-nine or sixty games is easily doable compared to some other types of collections, where there is no real target, or where there are hundreds or even thousands of titles. I never collected for an investment, although being tight I've always bought well, with a couple of exceptions, so I'm pretty certain that I'll always get my money back.

What's the most you've spent on an individual game?

AC: [This was] one of the exceptions I referred to in my last answer! A loose Flagman, which was the last game I needed to get to fifty-nine, cost me $450, which at the time was just under £300. Then, I had to pay import duty and tax as well. All in all, it cost me about $700/£350. At the time it was a tad expensive, but nowadays it's worth less than a third of what I paid.

MP: I think it was nearly $1,200 or so, on my boxed Super Mario Bros. Special Edition. I know it's a lot, but fortunately nowadays prices have dropped considerably, so new collectors shouldn't be put off by this.


What is the upkeep like?

AC: None, so long as you keep them out of the sun and the air. Sun is their worst enemy, and will discolor the cases and destroy the screens, as well as fading the boxes. Airborne dust can get in to the boxes as well, affecting the surface. I keep them all in a couple of metal "flight cases," which keeps them safe. Probably the nicest way to keep them is in a glass display cabinet, as long as it's not open to the air and away from sunlight!

MP: Well, I've placed all my boxed games in plastic boxes and I stored them in a glass cabinet for display reasons. I don't smoke and the weather conditions here are mild, so not much else is needed.

If you could give just one piece of advice to somebody who was thinking of starting up a collection, what would it be?

MP: My advice would be: set a specific goal for your collection and take your time collecting the items. The urge to get all of the games quickly is almost impossible to resist, but waiting for the right time is both more enjoyable in the long run and cheaper!

AC: Easy. Go slow. Don't buy up every game the first time you see it, as more will come along, especially nowadays when you can guarantee to see all sixty games on Ebay in the course of a few days. Finding bargains is great fun and very satisfying, so look out for those rather than buying the expensive ones. Once you get towards the end, the games get expensive and appear less frequently, so the enjoyment is slightly outweighed by the expense!

Also, decide on your ultimate goal before you get too far. For example, if you plan to go for a full boxed collection, then don't bother buying loose games, as you'll only end up selling them and wasting effort and money.

Thanks for your time, guys!