Games played: Shinobi III (0:01), Sparkster (0:27), Strider (0:56), Paper Mario (1:09), NFL Blitz 2000 (1:48), Saturn Bomberman (3:20), Time Crisis 2 (4:00), Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (4:40), Super Smash Bros. (6:20), Altered Beast (8:20)
I will say yes I am a shelf collector. Depending on the mood I am in, sometimes I will be really happy with how many games I own for a variety of systems when I can play them when the world stops but other times it can make me feel sad when somebody talks down on them. Especially grandparents and after what happened in Buffalo they quickly blame video games & continued to bash how many I own & how “violent” It's difficult to speak to people you know won't change their minds & try to remain respectful knowing they have no idea what video games are because they will never hold a controller in their hands.
Hi! You use to be super annoying to me, I’ve wanted to unsub several times. Sometimes i’d see you on my sub stream thinkin “wth, I thought i unsubbed this dude.” Lol. You’ve grown on me like beer or idk if something changed with your voice and retard exaggerated faces you make. It was super annoying but it’s not anymore, although you’ve always made good points. ✅
@1:45 = playing FOOTBALL, NFL. on the Dreamcast and NOT playing NFL2K series? That is an insult to the best football game EVER. I bought the dreamcast for those games, honestly! Also for Soul Calibur 2, and Ready 2 Rumble. All those games are incomparable to others created after them! The ports on other consoles of each of those pale in comparison!
@2:45 = honestly, we had a Hot Tub / Spa in my teen years... used it maybe 10 times in 6 years personally. BTW : I'm not a shelf collector, but I am a Hard Drive collector : I collect digital games on steam i barely play 5-10 of them.
I never started out as a shelf collector... However, between work and home responsibilities, I have very little time to do what I love and that is playing video games!!! I'm very close to my retirement years and I have a back log sitting on my shelf!!! Guess what I'm going to be doing in my golden years??? Yup!!! Playing many video games...:)
Ha, I hope so for your sake. But you may still find ourself too busy. Respond to my comment after you beat five games, so I can keep tabs on your playing.
I can't wait. I want to accomplish much first but, I can't wait till I get my reward in 35 years at age 67 chilling on some island somewhere with a summer house with a sunroof just playing all the day long.
I pull games off the shelf to play them all the time... but it's also a wonderful feeling to have a well-curated game shelf. An "all killer no filler" shelf is a thing of beauty.
@@PostTraumaticChessDisorder well, I suppose there are quite a few good third party games from reputable developers/ publishers. But I think filler is a more than appropriate word to describe a large portion of the library. Maybe not technically trash, but there are certainly a lot of objectively bad games.
My backlog is about 20+ games so I definitely feel this lol. I literally have 0 gaming friends so I don’t buy for status or anything. I buy games that I know I’ll enjoy with the mindset of “get it now before it becomes rare, scalped, and/or hard to find.” It does get annoying sometimes, especially when a bunch of games come out around the same time like the holidays, but I’m ok with it because I know I’ll get to them eventually. It just takes time which, thankfully, is something I’ve been blessed with.
I feel like everyone is a shelf collector to some extent. There are countless games that I've always wanted to play that I still haven't gotten around to, things are just harder as an adult
as part of my Collectors Anonymous entry, I was definitely a shelf collector at some point due to sales and thoughts of "oh it will be more expensive in the future so I better get it now". This created a large backlog that was overwhelming so I sold pretty much all the games that I felt I wouldn't get around to apart from a select few and it feels so much better as my collection reflects the games I've cherished/treasure the most by having played them
- Came in wanting to make a dad joke about collecting shelves - Remembered that this is a Retro Bird video - Was not disappointed! More on topic, I have felt a touch of embarrassment as I've had people over to play my games, and then didn't know how to play some of those games myself. Most often, it's just that I never got around to playing it ("yet", I'd say). Hopefully, they didn't judge me any more harshly for it than I did!
I enjoying displaying games, a lot of games have nice artwork, and for my favorite games of all time, having them up for display is nice. You walk into the room and bam, soak in the memories of your favorites games of all time. There are some games I play digitally now even though I own my original copy from when I was young. Most of them are just out of convenience though. Super Mario Galaxy is easier and looks much prettier upscaled in dolphin than playing on my Wii. But I think it's important when collecting, even when you don't have time to play a game, you buy games intentionally with a knowing of what the game is about and knowing that was the reason you bought it. There are games on my shelf I haven't played, like anyone, but I can look at them with excitement knowing that as I chip away at my backlog, I'm gonna reach this game, so I picked it because I thought it was good and it looked fun to play. That's just my two sense though. I curious if anyone else feels the same way.
Agree with pretty much all points here. :) I can look at any of my physical collections or digital libraries and think, "man, there are so many cool games I can play (or replay)"! Unfortunately, I might not end up getting to play through all of them, but it's the thought that counts, right? 😅 And with how good most games look in emulators like Dolphin, there's no going back! Especially when a game has long loading times, or runs at only 30fps on console. Having the physical copy is nice, but for anything between PlayStation and Wii, I don't often spend much time playing that copy.
Sometimes I buy a game knowing very little about it so that I can form my own impressions on it as I play through it. That has been the case with me for most SNES games, as I was born midway through its lifespan and didn’t start collecting it until last year. Chrono Trigger lives up to the hype! As does Super Metroid! Both great games I went into pretty blind last year.
Given that we can't go to the store and buy this stuff off the shelf anymore, I think there's something to be said for putting it on your own shelf so you have it ready when you want it.
I guess I could be considered an “evil shelf collector.” I have nearly 3,200 games across more than 20 platforms, and yes, I have a LOT of rare, expensive games. Thing is, I’ve been gaming since I was able to manipulate an Atari 2600 controller. Many of those games were bought when they were brand new. Others I had to rebuy after a house fire. And yes, some of them were purchased secondhand for market value. The difference, to me, is that nearly every game in my collection is something I was familiar with. Maybe I rented it in my youth. Maybe I played it at a friend’s house. Maybe I owned it at one point and traded it in. Less than 2% of my collection were blind buys based on the fact they just looked or sounded cool. Now that I’m an adult making good money, I’m simply fulfilling a childhood dream. I still play games as often as life allows, and I have indeed beaten most of my rarest titles. In most cases, they were games I had special attachments to but just never got to own until adulthood. Will I play everything to completion before I die? Unlikely. But the idea behind collecting was never about status or even value. I just love games. Funnily enough, I almost NEVER play digital games. I have GamePass, I’ve bought plenty of digital games over the years - but I play them once then forget about them. Out of sight, out of mind. When I want to play something, I go into my room, find a physical game, and play that.
I don't think you qualify as a "shelf collector" according to Bird's definition (which includes the idea that they never or rarely play the games they display). It sounds like your collecting life sounds almost exactly like mine (3000-4000 games, collecting since the Atari 2600 era, most new, some bought later). But I play games from my retro collection all the time: none of it is just displayed on a shelf, with no intention of being played. I'm a gamer with a lot of games I have loved playing and will love to play or re-play (or watch my kids play), and of course I am a 'collector' of those games ... but not a "shelf collector". For me, games are fun to play!
Similarly I tend to be a “data hoarder”. For most of my collection you could pull it off the shelf and I’d have a personal memory to speak of for it, but I still have many that are there because it’s in my backlog. I’ll display it as part of my collection but I do feel bad that it’s not one that I haven’t invested the appropriate amount of attention to for it to be part of the collection. For what it’s worth, I don’t feel so bad that I feel the need to remove it from my collection at all.
Holy shit, those are impressive numbers. Also: losing all that stuff in a house fire is the worst thing. New stuff you can easily replace. Old stuff, not so much.
@3:40 = I imagine you Retro Bird, creating the "staring at games" package: a book to note the visits at the door, and leave messages by guests when they visit. A report cart for every game, when you play or take them out, note it on the card like at the library with stamp ink and make ribbon receipts for transactions when you buy and or sell games... rent them to yourself for a dime... create an entertainment game library market for hobbyists who crave that feeling James Rolfe gives off with his video club setup ! All your products would be adorned with RetroBird logos. "The complete Retro Bird guide to video game watching"
Hey @Retrobirdgaming I'm only two year late to the party. I think objectively, I'm a shelf collector these days. I've got a family, a kiddo, and a dog. I think staring at my collection (hilarious by the way) is all the time I can spare on gaming, other than the odd game of Mario Kart 8 that I get requested to play. I have pared down my collection over the years, really keeping the most sentimental and meaningful games in my collection, and shifting more to the Everdrive/ODE methods to play the games IF I want to play them. Case in point, when the iron was hot on Dreamcast collecting, it was hard to justify keeping the low print run Capcom games in the collection when some were nearly $300-$500 games. This is a great channel and I'm excited to check more out!
I didn’t start out as a shelf collector, but life turned me into one. Once we started having children, I found that I have less and less time. I have just started selling my collection this year. I figured It will bring someone else some joy and I can recoup the money / time I spent collecting them over the last decade. I will most certainly be keeping a curated collection of games that means something to me. And if I have sellers remorse on something I’m sure I will find it digitally somewhere.
Really enjoyed this one! Great topic. I think we are all a little guilty of being a shelf collector, what's important is that we make a good effort to play our games.
Im a shelf collector between the Gamecube, PS3 and PS4 I have over 400 physical games. I love playing games but not as much as I used to when I was younger. I'm an adult now, I get out of work and most of the time I'm too exhausted to play anything because my job is so mentally demanding. But my hope is that when I retire I can enjoy them all with the time they deserve.
That's a lot of games. Yeah everything you do had more passion when you were younger. The thing is you have to cut down on things to enjoy them. So for example if you played video games 8 hours a day on weekends cut that down to like 3 hours on 1 day a weekend. Don't watch every sports games, watch lesser tv & movies.
Part of the problem is definitely quantity. Now it kinda feels like you're racing to play your games before the internet spoils you on them, and then because you have money now you have so many of them to go through. When you're a kid, your parents buy your games so you have less of them, but you have more time to explore them and squeeze every drop out of them, and truly love them.
You hit it on the head. I am a shelf collector more than i want to be purely because i have to adult all the time. Sometimes i think i need more money but honestly time really is the most precious commodity.
IMO, concern around shelf collecting is rooted in someone’s health. Hoarding, over-spending… habits that can reflect serious problems. Doesn’t feel right to celebrate that type of situation with someone. And then there’s hyper-consumption, fomo, self-defining through buying. It’s not a doubt in love of games, ultimately. It’s whether that love is being saturated with toxic baggage.
I have a collection of games I'm interested in playing, some of which i havent gotten to yet, which could make me a shelf collector. Some people could consider some of my games filler, especially since I like sports games although I try to stick to one of each series per console, but frankly, it doesn't matter what other people think of me or my collection because I haven't played some, I like my collection, and that's all that matters in the end
I was falling behind on my bills one time so i sold a good percentage of my collection and I decided to keep only the games I am actively playing. I sold games that were the best games I ever played but already beat and don’t want to replay, and even games I bought recently that were my favorites when I was younger but couldn’t get back into nowadays. It really helped me curate my collection and I don’t feel as much of a shelf collector as I did 😁
Wow you brought back some memories about pools and video games. We lived in Central Kentucky and my neighbors had a pool. During summer break in the early 80's when it was summer break we'd swim most of the day until we got tired or thunderstorms popped up then we'd head up into his room, plop down on beanbags in the A/C and play Atari 2600 games or PC games the rest of the time. His dad was a mettalurgist at IBM so it seemed he always had the latest IBM to play games on.
@@letsplayclassicgames5024 Yup, that's where he worked but I believe they became "Lexmark"? (Edit) I believe they (IBM division) got bought out in the late 80's becoming Lexmark because his dad made a butt-load of money from taking his early retirement. I was only 15 or so at the time so never paid much attention to this stuff.
I buy only what I play.. but yes I put them on a shelf afterward and looking at that shelf gives me joy. It’s essentially my library and it’s fun to dip back in or even admire some art work.
You nailed it dude. I don't love that I am a shelf collector, but with a full time job and various other hobbies and personal relationships etc. it just becomes a necessary evil. Maybe one day when I am retired I can truly appreciate the collection.
i used to be a shelf collector, back 10-15 years ago. having that many games and feeling chronically overwhelmed by the sheer volume of them when i wanted to game took a real toll on my mental health. I've since sold off most of what i owned (and regret a few losses, like a copy of Hagane i got for ten bucks in 2009 before anyone knew it was worth a liiiiittle bit more than that) but overall my outlook on gaming has improved significantly since doing so. these days i own a pretty curated collection, and make a point of trying to beat each game at least once. in fact, just today i gave my friend my Sega genesis with a copy of sonic 2, because she was simply feeling nostalgic. what did i lose in doing this? nothing. i own a retron 5 and can play sonic 2 literally a hundred different ways if i so choose. if anything i have gained SO MUCH in bringing joy to someone i care about by donating something to them i no longer use and know they will cherish.
"having too many games to choose from was taking a serious toll on my mental health" Have you ever faced genuine hardship in your entire life? This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. Touch grass.
Reading the comments wondering how at 31 I have not made it to adulthood at all. Haha I am still underemployed and living in a studio, you bet your ass I'm getting the most out of my dollar copy of epic Mickey.
Love this video and all your content! Long time collector, and I think i've turned into a Shelf Collector and have found other avenues of playing games i already own (yeah, even the bad ones.). But I've been on the fence for a few months about liquidating some, if not all of my shelf-stuff just because of the fact that i'm sure another person may appreciate it more, and i could really use some more of that space. (and whatever cash i could get from hoards of old things.)
One of the biggest things that makes me more of a shelf collector than I'd like is watching UA-cam videos, so I'm looking right back at ya on this one. I also spend a lot of time on games I've already played and love over playing new ones. Part of it is I kind of see it as having an encyclopedia collection I can reference whatever whenever I want to. It's nice to be able to just pull anything off the shelf to show someone, particularly family. It's a bit of a decentralized library as well, who knows maybe one day I'd end up with the only working copy of a game so I'd like to preserve it as best I can. I also do see it as valuable art I can hold for value to hopefully pass to my kids to enjoy and experience one day, or in the absolute worst case least holding some value vs. inflation.
The reasoning that all games in a game collection should be played is ludicrous. That's like saying that if you have a busy life (like me; full time teacher, part time entrepreneur, father of two, house, cars) you should be excluded from collecting. And if you haven't finished your previous purchase, you're not allowed to take that bargain? I get the whole meme around it, but come on, some people tend to be salty about.
When it comes to organizing the games, the hardest thing for me to decide is whether to organize by console or franchise. If there's a franchise that I really like and have been collecting for across several consoles, I want to be able to keep all of them together, but keeping them all together means my collections organized by console will be incomplete and missing my favorite games.
@@diegog1853 Yup, that's another frustrating thing. Some games in trilogies with longer titles don't even line up nicely, either, in chronological order.
I do put up my collection on my shelving unit, I love how they look and love how easy they are to grab and play. I wish I wasn't a shelf collector. Although adult life sucks... Even on my days off, I don't play much, I clean dust and organize them! But seeing family members (mostly youngsters under my guidance) and buddies enjoying them makes me so happy! I do pitch in at times but I'm glad that I can share them.
It sounds like you aren’t the “bad” shelf collector in this video. Do you display games that you don’t or have no intention of playing for the sole purpose of flaunting that you own said game? If not, you’re in the clear. Collecting on a shelf is good, collecting only for display on said shelf and nothing else… possibly not as good
I’ve definitely become a digital hoarder. I do buy games, but a lot of games do things that _compete_ for my time, have play styles that are more involved than I have a heart to give, and are obtuse in terms of what is a standard for difficulty. I usually also end up playing games later. I didn’t like Doom Eternal at first, then I plowed through several Bethesda shooters which left me wanting more and then I completed Doom Eternal, learned something about myself through the game and it became one of my favorites. We won’t play everything in our lifetime, nor should we, but it’s our choice, and it’s nice to have games waiting on a shelf when one is curious and ready to try them. Great Stuff, as always.
Well, I'm doing something special...💁🏻...and I've been doing it for years...💯✔️ I collect physical media of all kinds, and I collect what I love, what I hear and watch from others that recommend games as well, because I know one day I'll get around to playing them and enjoying them...but I'm also doing it for an apocalyptic scenario as well...👌🏼 I wanna make sure I have a good amount of things to enjoy in case something bad happens or the internet goes away, and I want media that doesn't need to run or rely on constant updates and access to an internet connection...👍🏼
I am the polar opposite of a shelf collector. I only buy games I'm interested in, clout be damned. In fact, for those real expensive games, I'll just use an Everdrive. I beat every game I buy and only let my backlog get 10 deep to ensure I actually keep up. Also, this topic was fantastic and your videos just keep getting better and better. I love how you delve into the philosophical aspects of gaming!
Fab video as always. The ceiling wallet had me cackling. I know I probably acquire games at a faster rate than I can beat them. But I do try to beat, say, one in every five. And I'm not afraid to abandon anything that doesn't click with me.
I'm definitely a shelf collector. I bought all the games I played and loved in my formative years. But now I actually play them with flash carts, its just easier and the save systems are more convenient.
The more evolved form of the shelf collector is the cabinet collector. The doors on the cabinets that can be left open or closed are a genetic adaptation allowing the cabinet collector to blend into his surroundings whether he is entertaining gamers or non-gamers.
I sure feel guilt everytime i buy a new game knowing that i have a ton of other games that i havent even put in my consoles yet. The pure joy of just having the games that i might play (most likely when i retire) is good enough investment in my oppinion. This video hits all the reasons why people "shelf collect" and why its totally ok to do so. And also a reason why i love watching you videos hahaha
Like most commenters on this channel, I wish that life allowed me more time for gaming (like things were back in carefree school days!). But I do play games from my retro collection regularly, and my kids play them too. I don't display any of them on shelves -- they're in storage boxes in the house to protect them from the elements (dust, sunlight, and the tiny droplets of cooking grease that float through the house ... that's what makes old boxes/cases sticky). So even though I have quite a sizable collection from many console generations, I differ from most 'shelf collectors' in two primary ways: 1. I don't display them, and 2. I only have bought games I want to play, and I still play all kinds of games from my retro collection on a regular basis. Bird, you sounded skeptical that a "storage box collector" like myself could feel like the games are accessible enough to play easily. For me, the solution is keeping complete lists of the games I have in my various console collections. So when I'm ready to play a game, if I don't have a particular game in mind, I browse (let's say) my Saturn list and find three or four games I'd like to play .... then I walk over the Saturn stack of storage boxes, pull em out, and walk over to the Saturn for a few hours of fun! My collection is big enough that it's imperative to keep it organized that way -- otherwise I'd feel anxiety that I don't know what I have or where it is! That's one thing I can definitely respect about the people who put their collection on shelves -- you can eyeball and see everything you have. Three side points: 1. My wife greatly prefers games to be stored away too. If our entire entertainment room were lined with shelves of videogames, she'd feel pretty trapped by my game collection. As things are, she thinks it's cool and enjoys playing occasionally herself! 2. This has come up in other videos -- but with this topic I bear in mind that the true "shelf collectors" (as you define them, including rarely playing games, seeking out expensive games, etc.) are often just smart and lucky investors in retro games. If you want to spend $50,000 on a safe, long-term investment, it's hard to imagine a more "fun" thing to invest in than a retro videogame collection that channels the joy of your childhood. They get no resentment from me ... except I do get upset when speculators push up the price of games for those of us who mostly just want to play them. 3. Some commenters are saying: "Just emulate. Why open a box and add wear to a game?" I do emulate some things (especially games I can't find or can't afford to buy). But I just find the experience much more fun handling the physical game, handling the real console and controller, sitting in front of the TV and playing like we always have. Emulation is the future of retro games of course ... but I'm holding onto the full experience for as long as I can. Disc rot has affected none of my collection yet (including plenty of those early disc games from the mid 90s), so I'm hoping I can play those 90s games until my dying day. I have more problem with cart games (especially things like GBA) whose battery die so they can't hold a save ... so in those cases I probably will be switching over to emulation as an easy/workable alternative.
@14:25 : I am currently still looking (2 years later) for my Paladin's Quest and Brain Lord... bought them under 40$ each... check the prices now... yeah. Can't buy them back (but bought them super famicom japanese versions though ;) until I find them again)
Once again, interesting topic! I echo a lot of what has been posted already. It's a natural progression for any passionate retro gamer to build up a shelf collection. It's the nature of the hobby realistically speaking. Games continue to be released. New generations and so on. Those, like myself, have held onto everything and added to it throughout the years. Compared to most avid collectors, my collection is modest. I like a variety for each platform and that usually is around 25-50 games per system not including the NES or Xbox 360 which which have more. I am constantly playing my mid and back logs. So, it may have the appearance of a shelf collection, but I don't just sit and admire them.
for me personally yeah i probably am a shelf collector but I collect games for numerous reasons. 1. so that I can play and someday i can pass down my collection to my kids. 2. to be that one guy with the "pool" who collects just about everything and let's anyone come over to play them. One of my favorite things to do with my friends is to say " pick a random game and we will play it". Ive discovered so many great games and created so many fond memories playing obscure games with friends. Growing up as an adult some friends come and go but the memories will always be there and gaming is a great way to create them.
We're all shelf collectors. After you decide to collect games and get to the 100-200 mark, I don't care who you are, you have not played all of those games and each new purchase just extends the backlog. How long does it take to beat a game? Generally, anywhere between 5 to 70 hours or so? How long does it take to buy a game? The length of time required to click a mouse a few times. It makes sense why collectors have an enormous backlog of games and therefore a shelf of unplayed stuff. New stuff is always coming out, indie games, then you might find a retro game for a good price, or just say screw it I've wanted this game forever, I'm taking the plunge. My issue with collectors in general are probably the ones that are bent on owning every game for multiple systems. That's excessive and it's just going to inflate the price. But like you said, they buy it, they can do what they want. I think I'm at around 600 games physical right now and yeah, just wish I had more time. I love RPGs which consume alot of time. If I could invent a way to play games while I sleep, or a hyperbolic time chamber to play games in, I'd do it.
oh yeah i ended up being a shelf collector. my collection just grew as i grew up. now its buying games for less than $30, and if i want to play it i will think about buying it. but that has ended me with alot of games that i have yet to play, but just don't have the time. i want to but i can't. and i do hold a sort of pride for my old games. games that i beat or games that i played in my childhood. i love video games, and i am passionate about the hobby. if you were to randomly pick out a game from my collection i probably have a story or two to tell you about that game. 🙂
I'm the worst kind of collector I have some kinda expensive games that sit hear there and everywhere 😂😂😂 I will now go organize my collection. Thanks for this video. You have a new subscriber.
Only problem I have is "prop" collectors. Mostly streamers who will buy very expensive rare games then just have them on display behind them on camera to show off how rich they are. I absolutely hate the creepy comic book idea of fetishized sealed collections. Games were meant to be played, not sealed in plastic only to collect dust forevermore. Sure most games are missing their boxes and bashed to heck from rough childhoods and passing between second hand sales shops, but there is a healthy middle ground of people who just look after their games and boxes. It's also all rather farcical in the modern era, with every game of the past available if you are willing to emulate.
I am a shelf Collector...but I turned into one...and I think that is how it happens to a lot of us. I grew up collecting and playing games. I kept everything I played...and now have a ton of stuff that sits on a shelf because of all the things that more important (and way less fun or rewarding) than playing games. But It all comes full circle for those of us who may have kids. My son is 4 and he's learning to read. AND...now he's playing games. So my collection is slowly being put back to use as he becomes a better reader and discovers more games that he can play. I find myself playing less and watching more.
Shelf collector? Guilty as charged. Spending more time rearranging my game room than playing? Guilty. Lost a game or two in my room? Guilty. Am I ok with it? 👍 Even being “retired” I don’t have enough time to game. So I’ll just go and improve my Tetris skills so I can find a place to display my latest collectible. BTW, you crack me up. I continue to love your wit and take on things. Game on, or shelf on, and be happy! 😃
Listen, I will shelf collect forever. I dont care. Because i have a strong connection to the games i own. I have all the games systems AND boxes for the consoles i owned growing up. Including my 32x and Jaguar. I go for games i have memories with because either i rented them a lot, or played with friends and have vivid memories with them. Simply looking at the games will invoke said memories and its enough to make me smile and remember better days
@7:15 = any takers? If it has microsoft games like Mine Sweeper and HEXiC ? I want it! I want legit physical copies of these games for my consoles to get my personal top scores. Bought digital download games of them on Big Fish loader and on the Windows App store. Also an Hexic clone on iphone that let me down a little. The OG HEXIC is amazing. Need to buy ZUMA and Bookworm too! Also need to find anre that CD of the SEGA Swirl game for PC or playstation :S
Bro you got me laughing with your bit at 4:30. I have home and auto repairs in the back of my mind that i can't even focus on gaming. Lmao keep up the great work!
The only shelf games I have are my original NES games. Because the 500 in 1 Cartridge hardly comes out now a days. Still playing my NES just not all my games. The only other console to have this issue is my Switch. Those games are so tiny you have to put your games in a holder & I lose that all the time. Now I have it in a safe spot, but it's out of sight & out of mind. I hardly play my switch games because of this reason. I've just recently started to keep my cases to my Switch games, so I can see them & so those games do get played more then the ones in my holder.
I use to be a semi shelf collector...but then we had money troubles and I sadly was forced to sell most of my older games just to pay the house bills when we didn't have any money
I used to be more of a shelf collector than I wanted to be, just because i didnt have time and i enjoy having games others might like to play that I dont necessarily have any interest in myself. Now I'm worse. I became a dad, and shortly thereafter became a box collector. My opinion is they're mine, I can do whatever I want with what's mine and you can do what you will with whats yours. Personal property is just that, and nobody but it's owner is entitled to it in any way.
One of the reasons I've kept my collections for each console on the smaller side is because they're easier to display that way. Ideally, I'd like to be able to have enough room that I could have a small collection with all of the games facing forward on shelving so the cover art shows, something that's really only feasible with a smaller collection. I personally find it much more satisfying seeing 50 of my favorite games on a shelf all showing off their cover art than looking at a shelf full of 500 games all stored on their side. Sort of like how having a small selection of your favorite photos all framed on your wall can be way more satisfying than just a bunch of photo albums all stored on your shelf.
I guess you’d say I am only somewhat a shelf collector. Because I am a teacher, I have little time during the school year to play games… but PLENTY of time during the summer vacation. In a way, it is like being a kid again :) Plus, some of the games I don’t get to play immediately end up getting lent out to friends, so they can try them and let me know how they enjoyed (or didn’t enjoy) them. The only issue when it comes to collecting is apartment space, but maybe that’s something we can “see ya in the next video” for!
I do this with my film collection. Anime, sci-fi, action, etc are all in categories. I only buy limited edition physical versions of games and buy a digital copy of that game in the digital sale. So my games are still unboxed and shrink-wrapped. It reminds me of that episode of The Big Bang Theory when Sheldon has a rare Spok toy, " do I open and risk devaluing the toy? or keep it sealed?". Oh the dilemma" : )
I'm a shelf collector, but collecting games to play with the kids when they get old enough. Right now they are playing sesame street games for the nes, got to move them up the ladder on gaming
I definitely relate to not having time to play. Mine are all in drawers too so I’m not even displaying them! I am considering selling them now that I have flash carts and minis. I have a lot of 90s era stuff that I just don’t get to use :(
haven't found any shelves I like for displaying yet(don't really look) but I do have a huge dresser that that I use to keep each different system and games for it in.
I was a shelf collector for quite some time when I was game collecting. I am highly likely going to have to bid farewell this year to this hobby due to a financial crash for myself. I collected for over 38 years, I never, NEVER would have thought it would end this way. I obtained over 600+ games over the course of a little over 25 years (mostly by myself) for my enjoyment. My family hasn't really been that supportive, which doesn't help. Over 30+ years, thousands of dollars, and hopes of just having a fair collection are all ending for me in just a matter of months. Never did get Earthbound, and now I never will. 😢
How I can enjoy staring at my collection, trying to decide what I want to play for 45 plus minutes all while babbling to myself like an idiot is still a mystery I can't even figure out! But I am grateful that I can -- because being a dad and working full time with a collection of over 100 games I think it's inevitable that some games don't get played as frequently as others. Whether I'm playing them at this exactly moment or not, it makes me truly happy to know that I have a collection of some of my favorite games from my childhood that I can access anytime I want （now if only I could just make up my mind on what the heck I want to play!）
I have a fairly large game backlog, but I’m slowly working my way through them. It helps that I am not purchasing any new games. There were only certain systems I wanted to collect for, and over many years, I have picked up all the games I am interested in.
Games played: Shinobi III (0:01), Sparkster (0:27), Strider (0:56), Paper Mario (1:09), NFL Blitz 2000 (1:48), Saturn Bomberman (3:20), Time Crisis 2 (4:00), Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (4:40), Super Smash Bros. (6:20), Altered Beast (8:20)
Thanks as always for these !
I will say yes I am a shelf collector. Depending on the mood I am in, sometimes I will be really happy with how many games I own for a variety of systems when I can play them when the world stops but other times it can make me feel sad when somebody talks down on them. Especially grandparents and after what happened in Buffalo they quickly blame video games & continued to bash how many I own & how “violent” It's difficult to speak to people you know won't change their minds & try to remain respectful knowing they have no idea what video games are because they will never hold a controller in their hands.
Hi! You use to be super annoying to me, I’ve wanted to unsub several times. Sometimes i’d see you on my sub stream thinkin “wth, I thought i unsubbed this dude.” Lol. You’ve grown on me like beer or idk if something changed with your voice and retard exaggerated faces you make. It was super annoying but it’s not anymore, although you’ve always made good points. ✅
@1:45 = playing FOOTBALL, NFL. on the Dreamcast and NOT playing NFL2K series?
That is an insult to the best football game EVER. I bought the dreamcast for those games, honestly!
Also for Soul Calibur 2, and Ready 2 Rumble. All those games are incomparable to others created after them! The ports on other consoles of each of those pale in comparison!
@2:45 = honestly, we had a Hot Tub / Spa in my teen years... used it maybe 10 times in 6 years personally.
BTW : I'm not a shelf collector, but I am a Hard Drive collector : I collect digital games on steam i barely play 5-10 of them.
I never started out as a shelf collector... However, between work and home responsibilities, I have very little time to do what I love and that is playing video games!!! I'm very close to my retirement years and I have a back log sitting on my shelf!!! Guess what I'm going to be doing in my golden years??? Yup!!! Playing many video games...:)
Ha, I hope so for your sake. But you may still find ourself too busy. Respond to my comment after you beat five games, so I can keep tabs on your playing.
A true motivation for retirement! Hopefully it ends up being everything you dream it will be.
Words of inspiration! You sir, are a role model to follow!
I can't wait. I want to accomplish much first but, I can't wait till I get my reward in 35 years at age 67 chilling on some island somewhere with a summer house with a sunroof just playing all the day long.
Good plan, good plan
I pull games off the shelf to play them all the time... but it's also a wonderful feeling to have a well-curated game shelf. An "all killer no filler" shelf is a thing of beauty.
so is your mom
Define 'filler'
@@PostTraumaticChessDisorder remove all of the first party games from the Wii library and you'll have your answer.
@@arcanismajoris so, these games are considered trash?
@@PostTraumaticChessDisorder well, I suppose there are quite a few good third party games from reputable developers/ publishers. But I think filler is a more than appropriate word to describe a large portion of the library. Maybe not technically trash, but there are certainly a lot of objectively bad games.
My backlog is about 20+ games so I definitely feel this lol. I literally have 0 gaming friends so I don’t buy for status or anything. I buy games that I know I’ll enjoy with the mindset of “get it now before it becomes rare, scalped, and/or hard to find.” It does get annoying sometimes, especially when a bunch of games come out around the same time like the holidays, but I’m ok with it because I know I’ll get to them eventually. It just takes time which, thankfully, is something I’ve been blessed with.
How does this channel not have millions of subscribers?
Thank you for that!
That wallet taped to the ceiling had me laughing for a solid 3 minutes lol 😂
It was him staring at the wallet that had me stop the video and come back once I was composed…
I feel like everyone is a shelf collector to some extent. There are countless games that I've always wanted to play that I still haven't gotten around to, things are just harder as an adult
Bird I just can't dislike you, you are always humourous and make a great point. You definitely always give me a good chuckle hahaha 😂
"Show your game collection to nearly anybody outside of gaming... 'Ohhhhh I didn't know you were sick!'"
😂😂😂
as part of my Collectors Anonymous entry, I was definitely a shelf collector at some point due to sales and thoughts of "oh it will be more expensive in the future so I better get it now". This created a large backlog that was overwhelming so I sold pretty much all the games that I felt I wouldn't get around to apart from a select few and it feels so much better as my collection reflects the games I've cherished/treasure the most by having played them
- Came in wanting to make a dad joke about collecting shelves
- Remembered that this is a Retro Bird video
- Was not disappointed!
More on topic, I have felt a touch of embarrassment as I've had people over to play my games, and then didn't know how to play some of those games myself.
Most often, it's just that I never got around to playing it ("yet", I'd say). Hopefully, they didn't judge me any more harshly for it than I did!
Just discovered your channel and I'm having a blast!
Yo dude, your a funny guy. I haven't watched one of your videos without laughing a few times.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you and glad you're enjoying it :)
I enjoying displaying games, a lot of games have nice artwork, and for my favorite games of all time, having them up for display is nice. You walk into the room and bam, soak in the memories of your favorites games of all time.
There are some games I play digitally now even though I own my original copy from when I was young. Most of them are just out of convenience though. Super Mario Galaxy is easier and looks much prettier upscaled in dolphin than playing on my Wii.
But I think it's important when collecting, even when you don't have time to play a game, you buy games intentionally with a knowing of what the game is about and knowing that was the reason you bought it. There are games on my shelf I haven't played, like anyone, but I can look at them with excitement knowing that as I chip away at my backlog, I'm gonna reach this game, so I picked it because I thought it was good and it looked fun to play.
That's just my two sense though. I curious if anyone else feels the same way.
Agree with pretty much all points here. :)
I can look at any of my physical collections or digital libraries and think, "man, there are so many cool games I can play (or replay)"! Unfortunately, I might not end up getting to play through all of them, but it's the thought that counts, right? 😅
And with how good most games look in emulators like Dolphin, there's no going back! Especially when a game has long loading times, or runs at only 30fps on console. Having the physical copy is nice, but for anything between PlayStation and Wii, I don't often spend much time playing that copy.
Sometimes I buy a game knowing very little about it so that I can form my own impressions on it as I play through it. That has been the case with me for most SNES games, as I was born midway through its lifespan and didn’t start collecting it until last year.
Chrono Trigger lives up to the hype! As does Super Metroid! Both great games I went into pretty blind last year.
Given that we can't go to the store and buy this stuff off the shelf anymore, I think there's something to be said for putting it on your own shelf so you have it ready when you want it.
I guess I could be considered an “evil shelf collector.” I have nearly 3,200 games across more than 20 platforms, and yes, I have a LOT of rare, expensive games. Thing is, I’ve been gaming since I was able to manipulate an Atari 2600 controller. Many of those games were bought when they were brand new. Others I had to rebuy after a house fire. And yes, some of them were purchased secondhand for market value.
The difference, to me, is that nearly every game in my collection is something I was familiar with. Maybe I rented it in my youth. Maybe I played it at a friend’s house. Maybe I owned it at one point and traded it in. Less than 2% of my collection were blind buys based on the fact they just looked or sounded cool.
Now that I’m an adult making good money, I’m simply fulfilling a childhood dream. I still play games as often as life allows, and I have indeed beaten most of my rarest titles. In most cases, they were games I had special attachments to but just never got to own until adulthood. Will I play everything to completion before I die? Unlikely. But the idea behind collecting was never about status or even value. I just love games.
Funnily enough, I almost NEVER play digital games. I have GamePass, I’ve bought plenty of digital games over the years - but I play them once then forget about them. Out of sight, out of mind. When I want to play something, I go into my room, find a physical game, and play that.
I don't think you qualify as a "shelf collector" according to Bird's definition (which includes the idea that they never or rarely play the games they display). It sounds like your collecting life sounds almost exactly like mine (3000-4000 games, collecting since the Atari 2600 era, most new, some bought later). But I play games from my retro collection all the time: none of it is just displayed on a shelf, with no intention of being played. I'm a gamer with a lot of games I have loved playing and will love to play or re-play (or watch my kids play), and of course I am a 'collector' of those games ... but not a "shelf collector". For me, games are fun to play!
Similarly I tend to be a “data hoarder”. For most of my collection you could pull it off the shelf and I’d have a personal memory to speak of for it, but I still have many that are there because it’s in my backlog. I’ll display it as part of my collection but I do feel bad that it’s not one that I haven’t invested the appropriate amount of attention to for it to be part of the collection.
For what it’s worth, I don’t feel so bad that I feel the need to remove it from my collection at all.
Holy shit, those are impressive numbers. Also: losing all that stuff in a house fire is the worst thing. New stuff you can easily replace. Old stuff, not so much.
Who's artwork is featured at 9:40? Very cool. And of course, great vid!
@3:40 = I imagine you Retro Bird, creating the "staring at games" package: a book to note the visits at the door, and leave messages by guests when they visit. A report cart for every game, when you play or take them out, note it on the card like at the library with stamp ink and make ribbon receipts for transactions when you buy and or sell games... rent them to yourself for a dime... create an entertainment game library market for hobbyists who crave that feeling James Rolfe gives off with his video club setup ! All your products would be adorned with RetroBird logos. "The complete Retro Bird guide to video game watching"
Could be a big seller!
Love the comedy in your videos Retrobird!
Keep it up man. Thanks for the videos.
Happy gaming!
Happy to hear it and thank you for watching!
Hey @Retrobirdgaming I'm only two year late to the party. I think objectively, I'm a shelf collector these days. I've got a family, a kiddo, and a dog. I think staring at my collection (hilarious by the way) is all the time I can spare on gaming, other than the odd game of Mario Kart 8 that I get requested to play.
I have pared down my collection over the years, really keeping the most sentimental and meaningful games in my collection, and shifting more to the Everdrive/ODE methods to play the games IF I want to play them. Case in point, when the iron was hot on Dreamcast collecting, it was hard to justify keeping the low print run Capcom games in the collection when some were nearly $300-$500 games.
This is a great channel and I'm excited to check more out!
Welcome to the channel!
I didn’t start out as a shelf collector, but life turned me into one. Once we started having children, I found that I have less and less time. I have just started selling my collection this year. I figured It will bring someone else some joy and I can recoup the money / time I spent collecting them over the last decade. I will most certainly be keeping a curated collection of games that means something to me. And if I have sellers remorse on something I’m sure I will find it digitally somewhere.
Really enjoyed this one! Great topic. I think we are all a little guilty of being a shelf collector, what's important is that we make a good effort to play our games.
Im a shelf collector between the Gamecube, PS3 and PS4 I have over 400 physical games. I love playing games but not as much as I used to when I was younger.
I'm an adult now, I get out of work and most of the time I'm too exhausted to play anything because my job is so mentally demanding.
But my hope is that when I retire I can enjoy them all with the time they deserve.
That's a lot of games. Yeah everything you do had more passion when you were younger. The thing is you have to cut down on things to enjoy them.
So for example if you played video games 8 hours a day on weekends cut that down to like 3 hours on 1 day a weekend. Don't watch every sports games, watch lesser tv & movies.
Part of the problem is definitely quantity. Now it kinda feels like you're racing to play your games before the internet spoils you on them, and then because you have money now you have so many of them to go through.
When you're a kid, your parents buy your games so you have less of them, but you have more time to explore them and squeeze every drop out of them, and truly love them.
You hit it on the head. I am a shelf collector more than i want to be purely because i have to adult all the time. Sometimes i think i need more money but honestly time really is the most precious commodity.
IMO, concern around shelf collecting is rooted in someone’s health. Hoarding, over-spending… habits that can reflect serious problems. Doesn’t feel right to celebrate that type of situation with someone. And then there’s hyper-consumption, fomo, self-defining through buying. It’s not a doubt in love of games, ultimately. It’s whether that love is being saturated with toxic baggage.
I have a collection of games I'm interested in playing, some of which i havent gotten to yet, which could make me a shelf collector. Some people could consider some of my games filler, especially since I like sports games although I try to stick to one of each series per console, but frankly, it doesn't matter what other people think of me or my collection because I haven't played some, I like my collection, and that's all that matters in the end
I'm trying to work, but your videos demand I pay attention and actually watch the screen.
I'm flattered but also feel bad it keeps you from your work.
I was falling behind on my bills one time so i sold a good percentage of my collection and I decided to keep only the games I am actively playing. I sold games that were the best games I ever played but already beat and don’t want to replay, and even games I bought recently that were my favorites when I was younger but couldn’t get back into nowadays. It really helped me curate my collection and I don’t feel as much of a shelf collector as I did 😁
Wow you brought back some memories about pools and video games. We lived in Central Kentucky and my neighbors had a pool. During summer break in the early 80's when it was summer break we'd swim most of the day until we got tired or thunderstorms popped up then we'd head up into his room, plop down on beanbags in the A/C and play Atari 2600 games or PC games the rest of the time. His dad was a mettalurgist at IBM so it seemed he always had the latest IBM to play games on.
Did IBM have plants in KY? Just curious, that was a little before my time.
@@letsplayclassicgames5024 Yup, that's where he worked but I believe they became "Lexmark"? (Edit) I believe they (IBM division) got bought out in the late 80's becoming Lexmark because his dad made a butt-load of money from taking his early retirement. I was only 15 or so at the time so never paid much attention to this stuff.
Talk about a shelf collector, did you see his N64 controllers on the wall? Those are pretty hard to come by any more.
I buy only what I play.. but yes I put them on a shelf afterward and looking at that shelf gives me joy. It’s essentially my library and it’s fun to dip back in or even admire some art work.
You nailed it dude. I don't love that I am a shelf collector, but with a full time job and various other hobbies and personal relationships etc. it just becomes a necessary evil. Maybe one day when I am retired I can truly appreciate the collection.
Funny, informative and entertaining. Tnx!
Thank you as well!
i used to be a shelf collector, back 10-15 years ago. having that many games and feeling chronically overwhelmed by the sheer volume of them when i wanted to game took a real toll on my mental health. I've since sold off most of what i owned (and regret a few losses, like a copy of Hagane i got for ten bucks in 2009 before anyone knew it was worth a liiiiittle bit more than that) but overall my outlook on gaming has improved significantly since doing so.
these days i own a pretty curated collection, and make a point of trying to beat each game at least once. in fact, just today i gave my friend my Sega genesis with a copy of sonic 2, because she was simply feeling nostalgic. what did i lose in doing this? nothing. i own a retron 5 and can play sonic 2 literally a hundred different ways if i so choose. if anything i have gained SO MUCH in bringing joy to someone i care about by donating something to them i no longer use and know they will cherish.
I am ALL about finding ways to help others enjoy gaming in a free/inexpensive way, when I can
@@princessnodak i love that!!
"having too many games to choose from was taking a serious toll on my mental health"
Have you ever faced genuine hardship in your entire life? This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. Touch grass.
@@chopwasp This is a completely unconstructive comment. Thank you for your useless and unwarranted opinion. ❤
mental health problems from having too many video games?
Reading the comments wondering how at 31 I have not made it to adulthood at all. Haha I am still underemployed and living in a studio, you bet your ass I'm getting the most out of my dollar copy of epic Mickey.
Love this video and all your content!
Long time collector, and I think i've turned into a Shelf Collector and have found other avenues of playing games i already own (yeah, even the bad ones.). But I've been on the fence for a few months about liquidating some, if not all of my shelf-stuff just because of the fact that i'm sure another person may appreciate it more, and i could really use some more of that space. (and whatever cash i could get from hoards of old things.)
@2:55 - This seriously had me cracking up, thank you for that!
One of the biggest things that makes me more of a shelf collector than I'd like is watching UA-cam videos, so I'm looking right back at ya on this one.
I also spend a lot of time on games I've already played and love over playing new ones.
Part of it is I kind of see it as having an encyclopedia collection I can reference whatever whenever I want to. It's nice to be able to just pull anything off the shelf to show someone, particularly family. It's a bit of a decentralized library as well, who knows maybe one day I'd end up with the only working copy of a game so I'd like to preserve it as best I can. I also do see it as valuable art I can hold for value to hopefully pass to my kids to enjoy and experience one day, or in the absolute worst case least holding some value vs. inflation.
The reasoning that all games in a game collection should be played is ludicrous. That's like saying that if you have a busy life (like me; full time teacher, part time entrepreneur, father of two, house, cars) you should be excluded from collecting. And if you haven't finished your previous purchase, you're not allowed to take that bargain? I get the whole meme around it, but come on, some people tend to be salty about.
I sure feel sorry for Timmy for losing his copy of Mean Bean Machine!
My extreme ADHD made me a shelf collector. However, I plan on playing every game I own at some point before I die
Same here. ADHD can be such a bitch when trying to complete a game. 😔😔
When it comes to organizing the games, the hardest thing for me to decide is whether to organize by console or franchise. If there's a franchise that I really like and have been collecting for across several consoles, I want to be able to keep all of them together, but keeping them all together means my collections organized by console will be incomplete and missing my favorite games.
Same with alphabetical order, it often doesn't guarantee that games from the same franchise will be together.
@@diegog1853 Yup, that's another frustrating thing. Some games in trilogies with longer titles don't even line up nicely, either, in chronological order.
I do put up my collection on my shelving unit, I love how they look and love how easy they are to grab and play.
I wish I wasn't a shelf collector.
Although adult life sucks...
Even on my days off, I don't play much, I clean dust and organize them!
But seeing family members (mostly youngsters under my guidance) and buddies enjoying them makes me so happy!
I do pitch in at times but I'm glad that I can share them.
It sounds like you aren’t the “bad” shelf collector in this video. Do you display games that you don’t or have no intention of playing for the sole purpose of flaunting that you own said game? If not, you’re in the clear. Collecting on a shelf is good, collecting only for display on said shelf and nothing else… possibly not as good
Wouldn't video games be in the same category as books or dvds?
If books or dvds sit on a shelf does that make you a shelf collector?
I love that my room feels like a retro game store and I can pick a game off my shelf I've never played before and experience it for the first time!
Im Currently a shelf collector, cuz im still waiting for my polymega deluxe bundle since 2021 lol
I’ve definitely become a digital hoarder. I do buy games, but a lot of games do things that _compete_ for my time, have play styles that are more involved than I have a heart to give, and are obtuse in terms of what is a standard for difficulty. I usually also end up playing games later. I didn’t like Doom Eternal at first, then I plowed through several Bethesda shooters which left me wanting more and then I completed Doom Eternal, learned something about myself through the game and it became one of my favorites. We won’t play everything in our lifetime, nor should we, but it’s our choice, and it’s nice to have games waiting on a shelf when one is curious and ready to try them.
Great Stuff, as always.
Well, I'm doing something special...💁🏻...and I've been doing it for years...💯✔️ I collect physical media of all kinds, and I collect what I love, what I hear and watch from others that recommend games as well, because I know one day I'll get around to playing them and enjoying them...but I'm also doing it for an apocalyptic scenario as well...👌🏼 I wanna make sure I have a good amount of things to enjoy in case something bad happens or the internet goes away, and I want media that doesn't need to run or rely on constant updates and access to an internet connection...👍🏼
I am the polar opposite of a shelf collector. I only buy games I'm interested in, clout be damned. In fact, for those real expensive games, I'll just use an Everdrive. I beat every game I buy and only let my backlog get 10 deep to ensure I actually keep up. Also, this topic was fantastic and your videos just keep getting better and better. I love how you delve into the philosophical aspects of gaming!
That shot of you massaging rocket knight adventures made me burst out laughing for 5 mins straight
Fab video as always. The ceiling wallet had me cackling. I know I probably acquire games at a faster rate than I can beat them. But I do try to beat, say, one in every five. And I'm not afraid to abandon anything that doesn't click with me.
This video was way more thorough than I could have ever hoped :)
I'm definitely a shelf collector. I bought all the games I played and loved in my formative years. But now I actually play them with flash carts, its just easier and the save systems are more convenient.
The more evolved form of the shelf collector is the cabinet collector. The doors on the cabinets that can be left open or closed are a genetic adaptation allowing the cabinet collector to blend into his surroundings whether he is entertaining gamers or non-gamers.
I sure feel guilt everytime i buy a new game knowing that i have a ton of other games that i havent even put in my consoles yet. The pure joy of just having the games that i might play (most likely when i retire) is good enough investment in my oppinion. This video hits all the reasons why people "shelf collect" and why its totally ok to do so. And also a reason why i love watching you videos hahaha
Like most commenters on this channel, I wish that life allowed me more time for gaming (like things were back in carefree school days!). But I do play games from my retro collection regularly, and my kids play them too. I don't display any of them on shelves -- they're in storage boxes in the house to protect them from the elements (dust, sunlight, and the tiny droplets of cooking grease that float through the house ... that's what makes old boxes/cases sticky). So even though I have quite a sizable collection from many console generations, I differ from most 'shelf collectors' in two primary ways: 1. I don't display them, and 2. I only have bought games I want to play, and I still play all kinds of games from my retro collection on a regular basis.
Bird, you sounded skeptical that a "storage box collector" like myself could feel like the games are accessible enough to play easily. For me, the solution is keeping complete lists of the games I have in my various console collections. So when I'm ready to play a game, if I don't have a particular game in mind, I browse (let's say) my Saturn list and find three or four games I'd like to play .... then I walk over the Saturn stack of storage boxes, pull em out, and walk over to the Saturn for a few hours of fun! My collection is big enough that it's imperative to keep it organized that way -- otherwise I'd feel anxiety that I don't know what I have or where it is! That's one thing I can definitely respect about the people who put their collection on shelves -- you can eyeball and see everything you have.
Three side points:
1. My wife greatly prefers games to be stored away too. If our entire entertainment room were lined with shelves of videogames, she'd feel pretty trapped by my game collection. As things are, she thinks it's cool and enjoys playing occasionally herself!
2. This has come up in other videos -- but with this topic I bear in mind that the true "shelf collectors" (as you define them, including rarely playing games, seeking out expensive games, etc.) are often just smart and lucky investors in retro games. If you want to spend $50,000 on a safe, long-term investment, it's hard to imagine a more "fun" thing to invest in than a retro videogame collection that channels the joy of your childhood. They get no resentment from me ... except I do get upset when speculators push up the price of games for those of us who mostly just want to play them.
3. Some commenters are saying: "Just emulate. Why open a box and add wear to a game?" I do emulate some things (especially games I can't find or can't afford to buy). But I just find the experience much more fun handling the physical game, handling the real console and controller, sitting in front of the TV and playing like we always have. Emulation is the future of retro games of course ... but I'm holding onto the full experience for as long as I can. Disc rot has affected none of my collection yet (including plenty of those early disc games from the mid 90s), so I'm hoping I can play those 90s games until my dying day. I have more problem with cart games (especially things like GBA) whose battery die so they can't hold a save ... so in those cases I probably will be switching over to emulation as an easy/workable alternative.
@14:25 : I am currently still looking (2 years later) for my Paladin's Quest and Brain Lord... bought them under 40$ each... check the prices now... yeah. Can't buy them back (but bought them super famicom japanese versions though ;) until I find them again)
Once again, interesting topic!
I echo a lot of what has been posted already. It's a natural progression for any passionate retro gamer to build up a shelf collection. It's the nature of the hobby realistically speaking. Games continue to be released. New generations and so on. Those, like myself, have held onto everything and added to it throughout the years. Compared to most avid collectors, my collection is modest. I like a variety for each platform and that usually is around 25-50 games per system not including the NES or Xbox 360 which which have more. I am constantly playing my mid and back logs. So, it may have the appearance of a shelf collection, but I don't just sit and admire them.
for me personally yeah i probably am a shelf collector but I collect games for numerous reasons. 1. so that I can play and someday i can pass down my collection to my kids. 2. to be that one guy with the "pool" who collects just about everything and let's anyone come over to play them. One of my favorite things to do with my friends is to say " pick a random game and we will play it". Ive discovered so many great games and created so many fond memories playing obscure games with friends. Growing up as an adult some friends come and go but the memories will always be there and gaming is a great way to create them.
We're all shelf collectors. After you decide to collect games and get to the 100-200 mark, I don't care who you are, you have not played all of those games and each new purchase just extends the backlog.
How long does it take to beat a game? Generally, anywhere between 5 to 70 hours or so? How long does it take to buy a game? The length of time required to click a mouse a few times. It makes sense why collectors have an enormous backlog of games and therefore a shelf of unplayed stuff. New stuff is always coming out, indie games, then you might find a retro game for a good price, or just say screw it I've wanted this game forever, I'm taking the plunge.
My issue with collectors in general are probably the ones that are bent on owning every game for multiple systems. That's excessive and it's just going to inflate the price. But like you said, they buy it, they can do what they want.
I think I'm at around 600 games physical right now and yeah, just wish I had more time. I love RPGs which consume alot of time. If I could invent a way to play games while I sleep, or a hyperbolic time chamber to play games in, I'd do it.
12:02... Wasn't ready for that kind of gore man....
I gasped at that. Man that was disturbing. I am still shaken by that visual.
My name is Dennis McDonald, and I am a shelf collector. 🤣👍
Putting games on shelves to display is still miles above resellers.
This was a awesome video, you make some great points
Thank you! Glad you liked it.
oh yeah i ended up being a shelf collector. my collection just grew as i grew up. now its buying games for less than $30, and if i want to play it i will think about buying it. but that has ended me with alot of games that i have yet to play, but just don't have the time. i want to but i can't. and i do hold a sort of pride for my old games. games that i beat or games that i played in my childhood. i love video games, and i am passionate about the hobby. if you were to randomly pick out a game from my collection i probably have a story or two to tell you about that game. 🙂
I'm the worst kind of collector I have some kinda expensive games that sit hear there and everywhere 😂😂😂 I will now go organize my collection. Thanks for this video. You have a new subscriber.
I own two copies of lego Indiana Jones 😂😂 and I have no idea where my need for speed most wanted 05 is 😭 why is this game 60 bucks on ebay.
The wallet bit caught me by surprise and I did one of those sputtering laughs. Thanks Retro Bird!
Only problem I have is "prop" collectors. Mostly streamers who will buy very expensive rare games then just have them on display behind them on camera to show off how rich they are. I absolutely hate the creepy comic book idea of fetishized sealed collections. Games were meant to be played, not sealed in plastic only to collect dust forevermore. Sure most games are missing their boxes and bashed to heck from rough childhoods and passing between second hand sales shops, but there is a healthy middle ground of people who just look after their games and boxes. It's also all rather farcical in the modern era, with every game of the past available if you are willing to emulate.
"Check out my copy of rad racer" I laughed way too hard at that.
2:07 I laughed my ass off at this. Love you Retro Bird, never change 😂
I am a shelf Collector...but I turned into one...and I think that is how it happens to a lot of us. I grew up collecting and playing games. I kept everything I played...and now have a ton of stuff that sits on a shelf because of all the things that more important (and way less fun or rewarding) than playing games. But It all comes full circle for those of us who may have kids. My son is 4 and he's learning to read. AND...now he's playing games. So my collection is slowly being put back to use as he becomes a better reader and discovers more games that he can play. I find myself playing less and watching more.
Shelf collector? Guilty as charged. Spending more time rearranging my game room than playing? Guilty. Lost a game or two in my room? Guilty. Am I ok with it? 👍 Even being “retired” I don’t have enough time to game. So I’ll just go and improve my Tetris skills so I can find a place to display my latest collectible.
BTW, you crack me up. I continue to love your wit and take on things. Game on, or shelf on, and be happy! 😃
I too enjoy rearranging my gameroom, and actually listen to shows like this doing it.
Thank you and I really love having you around the channel :)
@@RetroBirdGaming Aww thanks!
Listen, I will shelf collect forever. I dont care. Because i have a strong connection to the games i own. I have all the games systems AND boxes for the consoles i owned growing up. Including my 32x and Jaguar. I go for games i have memories with because either i rented them a lot, or played with friends and have vivid memories with them. Simply looking at the games will invoke said memories and its enough to make me smile and remember better days
@7:15 = any takers? If it has microsoft games like Mine Sweeper and HEXiC ? I want it! I want legit physical copies of these games for my consoles to get my personal top scores. Bought digital download games of them on Big Fish loader and on the Windows App store. Also an Hexic clone on iphone that let me down a little. The OG HEXIC is amazing. Need to buy ZUMA and Bookworm too! Also need to find anre that CD of the SEGA Swirl game for PC or playstation :S
Bro you got me laughing with your bit at 4:30. I have home and auto repairs in the back of my mind that i can't even focus on gaming. Lmao keep up the great work!
I always set aside time to stare at my shelf and smile.
I'm currently a box collector, I'll be moving soon
I really enjoy the longer videos
The only shelf games I have are my original NES games. Because the 500 in 1 Cartridge hardly comes out now a days. Still playing my NES just not all my games. The only other console to have this issue is my Switch. Those games are so tiny you have to put your games in a holder & I lose that all the time. Now I have it in a safe spot, but it's out of sight & out of mind. I hardly play my switch games because of this reason. I've just recently started to keep my cases to my Switch games, so I can see them & so those games do get played more then the ones in my holder.
Retro Bird. I LOVE your videos!! You are AWESOME!!!!
I use to be a semi shelf collector...but then we had money troubles and I sadly was forced to sell most of my older games just to pay the house bills when we didn't have any money
I used to be more of a shelf collector than I wanted to be, just because i didnt have time and i enjoy having games others might like to play that I dont necessarily have any interest in myself. Now I'm worse. I became a dad, and shortly thereafter became a box collector. My opinion is they're mine, I can do whatever I want with what's mine and you can do what you will with whats yours. Personal property is just that, and nobody but it's owner is entitled to it in any way.
My downfall was when I started to keep my games sealed until I was ready to play them. The excitement of getting a new game has lost its splendor.
reminds me of the phrase "collecting books and reading books are two different hobbies".
I play my games but I do have the "staring at your games time" at least once a week, just stare and admire for a few minutes🤓
Dust is the enemy as much as I wanna display. However I DO stack about collection of band t shirts for decoration
One of the reasons I've kept my collections for each console on the smaller side is because they're easier to display that way. Ideally, I'd like to be able to have enough room that I could have a small collection with all of the games facing forward on shelving so the cover art shows, something that's really only feasible with a smaller collection. I personally find it much more satisfying seeing 50 of my favorite games on a shelf all showing off their cover art than looking at a shelf full of 500 games all stored on their side. Sort of like how having a small selection of your favorite photos all framed on your wall can be way more satisfying than just a bunch of photo albums all stored on your shelf.
That's a lot of games
I guess you’d say I am only somewhat a shelf collector. Because I am a teacher, I have little time during the school year to play games… but PLENTY of time during the summer vacation. In a way, it is like being a kid again :)
Plus, some of the games I don’t get to play immediately end up getting lent out to friends, so they can try them and let me know how they enjoyed (or didn’t enjoy) them.
The only issue when it comes to collecting is apartment space, but maybe that’s something we can “see ya in the next video” for!
I'm always to see a new upload from Retro Bird!
I do this with my film collection. Anime, sci-fi, action, etc are all in categories. I only buy limited edition physical versions of games and buy a digital copy of that game in the digital sale. So my games are still unboxed and shrink-wrapped. It reminds me of that episode of The Big Bang Theory when Sheldon has a rare Spok toy, " do I open and risk devaluing the toy? or keep it sealed?". Oh the dilemma" : )
I'm a shelf collector, but collecting games to play with the kids when they get old enough. Right now they are playing sesame street games for the nes, got to move them up the ladder on gaming
I definitely relate to not having time to play. Mine are all in drawers too so I’m not even displaying them! I am considering selling them now that I have flash carts and minis. I have a lot of 90s era stuff that I just don’t get to use :(
haven't found any shelves I like for displaying yet(don't really look) but I do have a huge dresser that that I use to keep each different system and games for it in.
I find shelf collecting and game collecting go hand in hand! :)
I was a shelf collector for quite some time when I was game collecting. I am highly likely going to have to bid farewell this year to this hobby due to a financial crash for myself. I collected for over 38 years, I never, NEVER would have thought it would end this way. I obtained over 600+ games over the course of a little over 25 years (mostly by myself) for my enjoyment. My family hasn't really been that supportive, which doesn't help. Over 30+ years, thousands of dollars, and hopes of just having a fair collection are all ending for me in just a matter of months. Never did get Earthbound, and now I never will. 😢
How I can enjoy staring at my collection, trying to decide what I want to play for 45 plus minutes all while babbling to myself like an idiot is still a mystery I can't even figure out! But I am grateful that I can -- because being a dad and working full time with a collection of over 100 games I think it's inevitable that some games don't get played as frequently as others. Whether I'm playing them at this exactly moment or not, it makes me truly happy to know that I have a collection of some of my favorite games from my childhood that I can access anytime I want （now if only I could just make up my mind on what the heck I want to play!）
3:13 Cool Victor controller. I have both color variants.
Nice! I like how it has a bunch of different colors incorporated.
The whole video I thought of Scott's old job.
I am a digital hoarder! Great Stuff!
I have a fairly large game backlog, but I’m slowly working my way through them. It helps that I am not purchasing any new games. There were only certain systems I wanted to collect for, and over many years, I have picked up all the games I am interested in.