Video Game Collecting Addiction and Ways to Overcome it - RonMan Gaming

In this video, I talk about video game collection addiction. I offer some advice as well as ways to pull back from problematic collecting habits. Please note that I am nothing more than an idiot on KZbin. If you are struggling with any problem, please seek proper help.
#retrogaming #videogames #collecting
Iowa Retro Gamer Dad: / @iowaretrogamerdad

[@DoobieDoctor5000]

I overcame mine when a KZbinr's house caught fire and he lost his collection. I live in a small apartment and had a bunch of games taking up space and not a real good income to keep collecting. I asked him if he'd like a care package, he sent me a UPS slip, and he ended up with a suitcase full of retro games and systems. The cool thing is it started a trend of his fans sending him boxes and boxes of games, and he was able to continue his gaming channel after the tragedy. Now I have a few systems, but even fewer physical games. I have no problem with emulation, and maybe one day if I'm rich, I will collect original hardware again. But that's a BIG "if".

[@RetroDrew]

That's actually an amazing story.

[@DoobieDoctor5000]

@@RetroDrew The real amazing thing is after evacuating and not finding their cat in the process, they found their cat alive and well when they were finally allowed to return. I can only imagine how it felt seeing your home in absolute ruin, thinking your friend is gone, but then finding them waiting there for you.

[@RonManGaming]

I suppose it could help put things into perspective. Why get stuck on collecting games when they could go up in flames in an instant? Thanks for sharing that.

[@IowaRetroGamerDad]

Wow dude! Great video! I'll be celebrating 10 years sober from drugs and alcohol in September so this stuff really touches home to me! I love talking about this subject because it's a really touchy and not a lot of people want to admit they have a problem. " You need to think differently about it. " That really hit. The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. You have to change if you want to remove the insanity. You will find anyway to justify your addiction like you mentioned in the rationalizing. Ron thank you for doing this video and spreading awareness. I always tell people if they think they have a problem, ask for help. The hardest part about addiction is thinking you are alone but you're not.

[@RonManGaming]

I'm glad you watched! I'm glad to hear that you've been clean for so long. Yeah another tough part of addiction is being able to admit it to other people - I feel like I should have mentioned that in the video. Thanks for watching and keep up the great work on your end!

[@ChicagoRetroGamer]

I definitely feel this! At one point, I had like 200 CIB NES games, and I only wanted more :) I eventually came up with the rule that if I owned a specific game, I either had to beat it once or have played it within the past year. It was a good way for me to keep sane.

[@RonManGaming]

That's a great strategy!

[@RetroDrew]

Dude, collecting addiction is real. I definitely had a point where I was just buying to buy but I quickly put a stop to that. But my stance on collecting is collect games you want to play amd on occasion pick up something weird or goofy if you have some extra money in your budget.

[@RonManGaming]

Absolutely! That's not a bad perspective on it at all! Nice to hear from you, Drew!

[@RetroRivals]

Video game collecting addiction is definitely real. We have luckily steered clear of overspending when it comes to video games. There have been times we have had to save up or find creative solutions to get a bigger ticket item, but for the most part we don't incur any debt for collecting. Now renovating and making our game rooms on the other hand 😂😂😂😂

[@RonManGaming]

Hahaha yeah I did a reno to my game room a handful of years ago and it took a bit to pay off. Sometimes, if there's something bigger I want, I'll trade stuff in. I used to never trade anything but space really is limited. I'm happy to sell Playstation stuff and doubles of games.

[@GoodVibeCollecting]

It can be hard to turn something down when you know another one won't show up for a long time. That's where I usually say screw it and buy it. Sometimes it backfires and another one shows up a few days later but most of the time I'm correct. Do I need it? No. Video game collecting addiction is definitely a shopping addiction. Just like any other addiction, it fills a void in your life while releasing some dopamine.

[@RonManGaming]

Yeah exactly. It's only an addiction if it's causing problems and yet, you can't stop.

[@WhatsOnMyShelf]

My favorite anecdote is the trash lady from Labyrinth. Don't we all feel like the trash lady sometimes?? Don't we all feel like Sarah struggling to reject the siren calls of nostalgia or being a clepto?

[@CarlosCruz-kj3ph]

In all honesty that's exactly the way I think when talking about game addiction; if it's not causing you any problems I don't see it as an addiction period but if it does, then things have to change. The ways to overcome that, spot on man, narrowing your scope is a good one, I sold most of what I had and I'm only focusing on ds and original Gameboy and I'm currently still selling stuff downsizing, but again I had never had a problem and like you said if I have money reserved for bills and what not I make sure that gets covered before even thinking about buying anything else.

[@RonManGaming]

Absolutely! Collecting in and of itself is not an addiction, but I can see how it can quickly spiral out of control. Thanks for sharing!

[@COIFISHGAMING]

Fantastic message. Got recommended this, great delivery liked and subbed man. Good luck creating.

[@RonManGaming]

Awesome! Thank you so much. I hope to hear from you again.

[@mersoentertainment5896]

That last point is very important and I'm glad you mentioned because sometimes I need to hear it: "Realize that you will never be able to buy everything and you'll miss out games and on deals. It's going to happen." Very well put and explained.

[@backintheday3097]

This is definitely an interesting topic of conversation. While I myself am far from an addict when it comes to collecting, I've definitely been able to recognize certain addiction like behaviors in some of my collecting habits. I think when you recognize those symptoms early on, it's easier to take control of them before they get out of hand. I personally have never bought into the idea that someone has a predisposition to something simply because they have or have had a family member who has had that problem in the past. I feel like that's just another way to remove any kind of personal responsibility to the problem. I think most addictions are rooted in psychological issues. However, it's hard to deny that we all love that hit of dopamine that we get when we purchase that new game, toy, or whatever else it is that might be collecting. I think you hit the nail on the head when you talked about allotting yourself a budget. That is definitely a good way to try and reign in a problem. This was definitely a really cool topic for a video. Great to see some new content!

[@RonManGaming]

Good to hear from you, Joel! Yeah getting the dopamine from making a purchase is certainly not a bad thing, in fact we need that to happen. It's just when people give in and let the addiction take control that it can become a significant problem.

[@emayzd]

If it feels like things are out of balance then we need to listen to ourselves. For me, it was spending too much time looking at Ebay or Marketplace to find 'deals'. So I have decided to permit some time a couple of times to browse. Listening to our own intelligence is so important in this space. For me, Ive come back to focusing on playing games as opposed to collecting and having a niche curated collection. Enjoy the hobby, but like everything within reason, balance and fun for our own context. Cheers for the vid.😊

[@RonManGaming]

Great comment! I agree with you. Collecting is fun, but don't let it control you, and listen to your conscience.

[@marcgoesblindgaming2076]

That's pretty sound thinking mate, Something only becomes an addiction when It affects you in a negative way.

[@RonManGaming]

Yeah exactly!

[@thepolacek]

I overcame it when I refused to pay ridiculous prices for NES games. $20+ for mediocre or bad games. $20 or more for super common games like Mega Man 2.

[@RonManGaming]

Yeah that's good. You were able to put a stop to it and not fork out the cash for awful games.

[@andrewwissman6910]

Yes! New video! I can finally get my RonMan fix! 😀 Me? Addicted? No way! Well, maybe a little! 😅

[@RonManGaming]

haha well, that's not a bad addiction to have!

[@DarthBreh]

I needed to hear this, thanks

[@RonManGaming]

Of course, man! Glad I could help!

[@skandashiva1805]

Thanks for the video

[@RonManGaming]

Absolutely. Thanks for watching.

[@InfiniteComboReviews]

I had a bit of a collection addiction at one point. Took me a while, but I managed to get over it.

[@RonManGaming]

Good stuff! Glad you found your way out.

[@InfiniteComboReviews]

@@RonManGaming Thanks!

[@64-Bit-Gamer]

I picked up several Wii games this month for next to nothing. Nice content dude

[@RonManGaming]

Nice! Which Wii games?

[@64-Bit-Gamer]

@@RonManGaming RE: Zero, Conduit 1&2, HotD2&3, Overkill, Ghost Squad, Dead Space, Prince of Persia, Dead Rising, RE: Chronicles 1&2. So there!

[@duhmez]

The good thing about game adiction, is trhese days we dont need to avoid games to avoid the addiction. Example, druge. Love drugs? but quit, then theyh want drugs/ but for game colecting addicts, if they can beat it, they can cope with ROMS! That is the beauty, we dont need to quit playing the ga,mes we love even if we quit collecting. Roms are the cure. I know it is not that simple, if it really is in addiction terirtory, ike u said, a spending addiction hapens to be for games.

[@RonManGaming]

Yeah that's a good point!

[@stgenerations]

Many people die from fast food addiction we just don't talk about it or accept it.

[@RonManGaming]

Yeah for sure. We can have an addiction to anything whether it's food, TV, video game playing/collecting, etc. There are even people who are addicted to exercising and working out.

[@NESADDICT]

Yes!!!

[@warmsignal]

For me it's FOMO, rather than addiction. I hate the idea of being denied a legitimate copy of a video game that I want, being an adult with my own money to spend. There shouldn't be 500+ dollar video games, but alas these are the times we're living in. Any game can become unobtainable at any time, at best the price goes from cheap to expensive the longer you wait. Unfortunately, they'll never be a better time than right now to buy pretty much any video game, at least not in our lifetimes. Retro games are the Elvis memorabilia of our generation. It's an integral part of our culture, and most of us will forever place a high value on it. There's no telling how high it could go.

[@RonManGaming]

Yeah you explained perfectly how many of us think when we happen to stumble upon a game. I used to go to the game store hoping that they wouldn't have anything I wanted because I didn't really want to spend the money.

[@cherokeefit4248]

Being an 80’s kid, physical games are going away. I seen games like chrono trigger sell for nothing when snes faded away back in the day. The way I see it, what else can you buy that retains its value or can go up in value? Video games are an investment.

[@RonManGaming]

Yeah definitely a potential investment for sure.

[@JasonGravesPoser]

These days I only buy games to play. Too expensive otherwise

[@RonManGaming]

haha yeah exactly. There are some games that I will not buy even if I find them and have the cash. By the way, great work on Phantasy Star month!

[@SoulforSale]

😢

[@RJ-cq8dd]

I do think collecting games is more about the chase and the dopamine rush that gives. I only buy games i play. The rest of my money goes to fun (social)activities/travels. To each his/her own of course.

[@RonManGaming]

I wouldn't disagree, but anything fun we do provides dopamine - that's why we do things that we like.

[@julesgamergourmand]

Why pinch above the nose and not on the forehead?

[@RonManGaming]

Why the forehead? haha

[@RJ-cq8dd]

Better download romsets. They cost nothing, don't take up physical space, no worries about games/consoles breaking down. No addiction risks. Don't get me wrong, I like physical games too, so i have some to display in my home.

[@RonManGaming]

For sure - definitely a viable solution!

[@JamesTheAxeThrower]

So basically cuz your a baller that can afford whatever it’s not a problem LOL

[@RonManGaming]

It's about living within your means. If you can afford it and control it and it's not causing problems, then it's not an addiction. If it's causing problems and you can't stop, perhaps you have an addiction.

[@thomassmith4467]

You yourself spent actual money on trash games you never intend to play. That's not collecting, people never buy a painting they hate or comic book they hate. It's only trash retro games people rationalize buying.