Confessions Of An Aging Gamer: The Skeletons In The Closet
Monday 18 May 2009 @ 5:15 am | By Sol 11 Comments
If I were a character archetype I’d be a collector. In an RPG I gather everything I can, rarely selling it or leaving it on the ground. I am a pack rat, a junkie. My addiction? Strategy guides and game manuals. Growing up I didn’t read books, comics, or magazines. The money I’d get whoring myself out in summer jobs would be spent on my beat-up car and the crisp glossy guide of the next gaming hit. Most times I wouldn’t even own the game. It was my “me time” to gaze at each map, carefully studying each location, knowing every bosses weakness. When that wasn’t enough and funds we low, I’d go to the local Blockbuster, sometimes driving to multiple locations and casually take out the game manuals for home reading.
Over the years I’ve accumulated boxes of videogame literature. I have to break the cycle of pack rat-ism. Clearing out my storage unit I came across a dusty old box. Atop it, was a reenacted boss battle between my FFX figurines. Opening the lid I discovered a treasure trove of past guides and manuals. I needed to do something with them. Tossing them out or recycling them to be made into toilet paper did not seem a befitting grave for something that has given me so much enjoyment. I wanted to give back. I called up Game Stop and announced my dilemma, sadly no luck. They did however direct me to an old retro gaming store where employees shop and would be happy to take in my goods and would even give me store credit.
Sadly all of my mags only net me $11 (T-T). I can’t say my addiction is cured. Occasionally I still find myself wanting to open the highres centerfold, however I find solace in knowing I’ve given my friends a good home. And you? Is there a gamer skeleton you have lurking in your closet?
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Abraham 'Velcor' Duarte
David 'KidKobun' Bruno
Ivan 'Nahu' Lozano
Random J
I feel ya’ man. I still have loads of old school boxes, manuals and strategy guides in my closet. Not to mention the giant bag of swag from E3s past.
I got a shelf dedicated to my guides. Nothing newer though. It feels like they don’t even make guides now a days.
Good ones at least. For sentimental value I kept Phantom Brave, La Pucelle Tactics and Disgaea.
I still have a box with a lot of N64 game boxes and a binder with a lot of pokemon trading cards. Sadly most of the games are long gone and I know that more sooner than later they’ll meet the trash bin or an avid collector on ebay.
Those were nice collector days.
and what about all your “club nintendo” magazines???
That’s true! I can’t believe I forgot about those.
From issue 80 to issue 200 more or less.
It was fun collecting them until the info on those magazines was 1 month old. . .
I keep all the original boxes and manuals, and occasionally re-read them when im bored.
I would have gladly payed you for some of your FF stuff D:
Oh I still have the figurines. Still trying to think of a good way to get rid/reuse them…
I have some couple N64 games, some 40ish Gamecube games, and guides for both Banjo Kazooie and Banjo Tooie which I recently used for the arcade version. Oldest FF guilde I can find is the one for FFVIII. I only have FFVIII and FFIX for playstation since I sold the rest T_T
My 20+ Transformers i bought between 2005 and 2006 were thrown out of the house by my mom, along with my 3 Morrigan Aensland figures “because she was a demonic whore, and a witch”
Frrrnt, as for gaming, i think my parents pretty much littered everything we had.
ouch, Khaim, I can feel your pain. . .to the point that I had to go live somewhere else to have my anime figures displayed without being bothered about them.