Going back and forth on collecting games/systems

So I've been a video game fan since age 5. I like all systems and manufactures. For the last three years I've been slowly building a collection. I have 12 systems now, some retro, some modern.

Sometimes I look at all my stuff and I think "pretty cool", other times I think "I should just sell all of this clutter?".

Does anyone go back and forth like this?

The same day I think of selling everything I find myself browsing the trading forum and ebay. Am I sick?

Emulators and ROMs chief. Know 'em, use 'em, love 'em.

As I'm getting older (39) I'm paring down my collections. I'm a lifelong collector though. It's tough. A recent move has put some stuff in perspective for me though. While we've moved in to a larger house I'm still looking to pare down.

I just have too much stuff. Video games being one of them. It's not out of control but I still have old systems and I've got a pretty decent GBA/DS collection as well as a bit of swag/memorabilia. I think - well maybe my girls will want them some day. Eh - I also think - maybe they won't.

My collections are varied too. Speaker/stereo collection, knife collection, flashlight collection, fountain pen collection, guitar collection, CD (and recently vinyl) collection, art collection (which will continue and is here to stay.) I'm spread thin - all over the place. It really feels like a burden sometimes. But I've sorta decided not to pursue the video game collection thing any longer and will probably start selling what I have off after we settle into the house.

If it's your only collection and you enjoy it - keep doing it. If it feels like a burden then you may want to think long and hard about it. As I said - I'm a lifelong collector - my collection has shifted to art and vinyl now so I need to let go of some of the other stuff.

But I will say - I don't collect for future value any more. I try to not say to myself "this is going to be worth something some day" anymore. I want to use and enjoy my collections. I listen to all my vinyl - if I don't listen to it - it goes. I have tons of art - and I had as much as possible on the walls at our old house and can't wait to get it up on the walls here! If you don't play those games - you may want to think about why you have them. They are meant to be played. That's why I got rid of some guitars and have a few more to go. Same with my knives. I'm ready to let them go. I think

bordjon said:

But I will say - I don't collect for future value any more. I try to not say to myself "this is going to be worth something some day" anymore. I want to use and enjoy my collections. I listen to all my vinyl - if I don't listen to it - it goes. I have tons of art - and I had as much as possible on the walls at our old house and can't wait to get it up on the walls here! If you don't play those games - you may want to think about why you have them. They are meant to be played. That's why I got rid of some guitars and have a few more to go. Same with my knives. I'm ready to let them go. I think

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Have you read this book? http://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308/

Kind of cheesy, but still awesome. It's basically about changing the relationship with the things you own. The whole point is that you physically touch/hold everything you own, and if it doesn't bring you joy you get rid of it. I adapted it to my gaming collection and it's pared it down a ton.

Haha that's funny you mention it - I almost mentioned it myself. My wife has read it twice. I think it's rubbed off on me! I've heard about most all of it from my wife. She is on a couple konmari groups on FB and is really excited to do a full on konmari of our stuff once we get settled in to the new house. It's new age-y and eastern and funky. It seems real neat and the bit about her sort of "relationship" and respect for her first cell phone really got to me. Personification and anthropomorphization of objects is sort of a big deal for me (and a major part of my extensive academic pursuance through undergrad and grad school.)

I use to go back and forth all the time and had about 12 to 15 systems like you.  Then during college I take off a few years and travel the world and then come home and found out my mom dropped it off at the goodwill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  After that i was like screw it i am done with collecting. 

So I've taken a little bit of everyone's advice. I sold off the majority of my stuff at a local retro game shop. With that money and the $175 trade in a Best Buy this week I got a Xbox One. I'm pretty stoked for Fallout 4 so I think I will look forward to new titles from now on. I appreciate everyone's input.

As a gamer I have an issue with getting of most of my gaming stuff.  If it's a movie or music then I can convert and save space with no loss of integrity.

Alternately with games it's debatable at times whether an emulation does a good job in regards to a game or system.

Someone remind me if there's a Marty or Playdia emulator?  I'm not sure if there's a PC-FX, Super Grafx or PC-98 emulator.  The last Saturn one that was competent was bought up from what I heard so these are some of the problems I'm thinking of.