Video Game Collecting Q & A: Part I: First Prints vs. Re-Releases! Opening a Video Game Store?

Welcome to part one of my video game collecting Q & A! All questions come from the video I posted on August 6, 20202 and are all solely devoted to video game collecting! Part two will launch soon!

[@heyhonpuds]

Hi Shawn. I was a videogame collector from the late 90’s till around 2012. After a few years of denial, I finally threw in the towel because I thought prices had finally gotten too expensive to justify. Plus by that time I’d already picked up a good chunk of everything I wanted. Even though I still got the itch every so often, I’d nearly always talk myself out of it. I’d like to thank you for genuinely curing my FOMO when it comes to this subject. Your video on organic collectibility vs. manufactured scarcity was a huge eye opener. However, like you say “collectors are born, not made.” I also found your coin collecting videos interesting, and I can see myself spending more time looking into that and thinking more about antiques than collectibles. Thanks again for your educational and entertaining channel. Edit because I forgot to mention first edition books as I’m also an avid reader. I would have no objection if you were to turn out more videos on antiques. Shame the haters stopped you showing you collection. I enjoyed seeing the items. I imagine they’re jealous, but I also know it’s not fun being attacked so I understand your decision.

[@DriveupLife22]

F in the chat for that Tiffany bracelet

[@joncandyfliprecords]

F 😆💔

[@Dynastone]

F 😢

[@TheMMCH]

Thanks for this Q&A, also thanks for share your knowlegde and passion with us!

[@georgedorn9394]

Shawn, ignore the haters! It's cool to see the coins, Tiffany glass, etc.

[@tdpetrucci84]

Great video Shawn 👍. Anyone who doesn't watch every video Shawn makes is truly missing out , and always watch to the end!

[@Casualgamingpoet]

You are right on about video games man. They aren't investments. I think folks have a hard time understanding just because you can make money off of something doesn't mean it's an investment. I've actually been thinking about taking my video game collection and mtg stuff and rolling it into something less speculative. In the magic community, I've been shocked in the growth that signed prints have if the artist has passed. I get most of my stuff from thrifting, so I never spend crazy money on anything, so for me it's low "risk" . You actually helped me make up my mind about my Neo Geo MVS cab. I've found one, believe it or not, on a local classified ad two years about for 175. It's works, and I've got a friend that's been bugging me about it, so he may very well get it lol. Great vid as always dude! Can't wait for part 2!

[@TonyFonzerelli]

thanks for another great video! love your input!

[@its_garcia]

Thank you so much for getting to my question and answering it in depth. I watch all your videos till the very end because I can tell you’re a no BS individual and I respect that 👍🏼

[@SuiteLifeofDioBrando]

Nice Q&A! Looking forward to part 2.

[@PattysCards]

Love the channel more and more everyday! You are so informative. Sometimes it’s hard to hear the truth but I appreciate it

[@ivanvargas2425]

Always enjoy your videos while I’m out on my runs. Thank you for the info.

[@jebrennock]

I really dig the content and how each question seems to spawn new topic videos for the future. I'm here for the video game analysis, but I like the discussion and parallels made to other collectible markets. Great vid - keep up the good work.

[@VicVein]

Watch the whole 46 minutes.. keep them videos coming👍

[@PaulRockey]

Hell yeah! Love your videos! Big collector myself.

[@gee77777]

Another really good vid Shawn. Really, 2020 is a seller's market right now. There's ridiculously inflated prices for games that really aren't rare or limited. And people are buying them at these prices! I seriously think it's a small video game bubble that will "pop" as hopefully a vaccine or something that allows us to get back to normal is found. People are making serious cash selling games to people that are stuck at home bored, finding their lost toys as a youth, or have some extra money to spend, be it government check or money that would have gone to eating out, movies, etc.

[@charleybrown373]

Love listening while im working..thanks for the good content...come out with a consulting video. Youre leaving money on the table.

[@EXPERIMENTONGOD]

"Most people already switched the video off let's be honest". Hilarious. I Watch them @ 2x speed that's the key I think.

[@666JEDIMINDTRICKS666]

Dropping video game knowledge for fun!

[@CatsGamesWhatever]

I would like to see more of your art glass collection. I've always found art glass quite beautiful and interesting. Not the typical tiffany lamp shades hopefully!

[@sippingGerber]

Dope video like always

[@th3mmch]

Interesting advice 44:30, thanks for this Q&A video!

[@sig550a5]

Fantastic Q+A! Watched the whole video and based on a majority of the questions asked.....very clear that the best 'investment' for video game collecting is an education/understanding in finance and economics. Looking forward to part2. If it's not too late I just came up with a question listening to this video for part 2: It's very clear that a opening physical video game stores/barcades etc is a very risky venture and you're better of being an online store, like play asia instead. Do you think we'll start to see instead a shift/surge of small indie/"limited print" style physical media publishers popping up instead? Small niche publishers trying to take advantage of the market for physical media.

[@DijaVlogsGames]

Loving the video! I‘m turning my „gamer‘s collection“ into an actually valuable collection. Only keeping what at least appreciates over time. (or what I think is simply really neat) Right now there are only a few sealed games I‘m even slightly interested in. I‘m going for CIB for my personal collection, because playability is important to me as well.

[@jbouchard1780]

Hey Shawn, Hope all is well. I had a question in regards to maximizing profit potential in regards to selling collectibles on eBay. Given you are an experienced eBay seller I was curious about your thoughts in regards to whether auctioning your item off could potentially command more of a return rather than setting a fixed "Buy it Now" price. If so, I have personally not noticed many VGA or WATA graded items for auction. let us know why you think this is. All the best,

[@teamgsale]

Hey Shawn, love the channel! I actually listened to whole video while doing housework and it made a crappy job rather enjoyable :) Not sure where the best place to post this would be but just curious if you could talk about vintage and modern board games and your thoughts on collecting them. I have been collecting them for over 15 years and have a sizable collection. I've had success selling some popular titles regularly but just interested if they ever come up in your travels. Keep up the great work :)

[@startyde]

Bring on part 2!!!

[@crazycarlsadventures5983]

I got raiden project for ps1 longbox ... absolutely love it

[@roberth1310]

Always a wealth of information! I have an unrelated question: I don't have an eye for art, though I see scuptures of video game or comic characters going for large numbers on retail sites. Perfect example: the Terry Bogard diorama by Kinnetiquettes. Does this fall within the art spectrum? How do they fare investment-wise? Thanks!

[@ShootTheCore]

Smart and informative as usual-keep it up! Question for Part 2 or another Q&A-what are your thoughts about collector’s insurance policies to cover potential theft, fire, flood, etc? Good idea? If so, what policy providers do you recommend? I’ve seen people lose their video game collections in a flood and I’d be mortified if that happened to mine.

[@robd9921]

Hey Shawn! I watched the entire video! 2 things I wanted to say: 1. I think the majority of 7th gen (PS3, 360, Wii) games and beyond won't be worth much if anything in the future because games from that gen and beyond are more "throwaway" in that they're reliant on patches, they're built with DLC in mind, they may not have been released physically, and some rely on an online server to even function. 2. I absolutely hate that catch-22 on KZbin when you're a collector/collection channel. If you show a high value item: "Oh look at rich boy here straight up flexing!" If you don't show a high value item: "This guy's all talk! He's not a REAL collector. How come he doesn't show us any big ticket item? Because he doesn't have any!"

[@KeyKiller74]

Thanks for reading my question Shawn for sure I'll be getting the PS5 with the drive. I'll try my best to pre order it first & resale it for triple the price on ebay before rebuying it again in the future. I have another question is here a site were we can go to see what's hot or trending in the video game world.

[@CatsGamesWhatever]

I think Konami owns all the Hudsonsoft and NEC IP now. With the great job they've done stewarding franchises like Silent Hill or Castlevania I'm sure they'll be a great catalyst for the turbographix market!

[@Mitjitsu]

It was a Japanese shmup that usually goes for $300+ CIB, but I got it for $250 sealed and it came back in 85+ condition.

[@ricardoblikman2676]

Having 100 different titles of games laying neatly in a toy / game store i like an advertisement billboard.

[@ChristopherWalkenPUA]

lol I watched the whole thing. Buy the mass produced scarcity products, have them graded, then flip them to the timmies. Brilliant.

[@jf_valdivieso]

Shawn, if we take a proverbial time machine all the way up to the digital-only era of games, what do you foresee happening to the last physical era consoles? Could there be a market for consoles containing PT-like games which are no longer available for download? Great channel by the way. Keep it up!

[@absoluteclownworld]

Wata is a joke. I seen a 9.6 nes game that had worn corners, some discoloration on the back of the box, one corner was slightly dented, and a few other issues. Wow.. also their cases are ugly compared to VGA.

[@JohnSmith-zl8rz]

WATA grade any shit condition games, even open games and they inflate the grade, they are just a amateurs, Heritage and WATA are a SCAM! Fake auctions!

[@absoluteclownworld]

@@JohnSmith-zl8rz I know I heard all about the Wata + Heritage Auction collusion. So greasy yet so many people are giving them money to "grade" their games.. I guess the people sending in know they will get a 9.4 or better easy and make some $ off them Timmy's lol.

[@JohnSmith-zl8rz]

@@absoluteclownworld the scam is simply, they fake auctions to highest prices, so people believe and start to send games to WATA, they make money grading, they gives higher grades to people think that have holy grails, and send more games etc. WATA are destroying the collecting game hobby.

[@JohnSmith-zl8rz]

@@absoluteclownworld There's more info online of how the owner of WATA was involved in manipulation of the market with coins, they are a just a bunch of scammers.

[@extremegamercollector425]

I also have seen some wata games graded with shit condition gets 9.0+ like wtf how? I prefer vga

[@superbn0va]

Another advantage of vintage ps1 & Ps2 games is that they are playable on a backwards compatible ps3 system that has hdmi output. So they are still relevant today without need g a crt TV.

[@unstoppableExodia]

A lot of interesting insights in this video for me. Video game collecting is a great passion of mine. I appreciate the recommendations on how to exploit speculative trends. Although I would like to ask is grading of video and games primarily an American thing?? Collectors in Australia and the UK don't seem to put a lot of stock in video game grading at present. I'm guessing this could at least be due in part because the grading authorities are based in USA and buying into the value concept of grading would involve sending games internationally and to USA which is quite expensive. For certain items collectors in PAL territories are already paying huge. amounts for items that are very hard to find but highly sought after. I don't know a lot about the history of comics collecting but could that be a precedent where overseas collectors relented and eventually bought into the concept of graded items as a marker of prestige for really high end items?

[@startyde]

When you're dealing with rising prices in vintage games, counterfeit seals will become more and more common, leading to the need for grading authentication to achieve a high price. I've been collecting for decades and I've seen many faked PAL games. You guys depend on that red strip on many games but you can take a cheap game, steam open an end, slip the wrap off and place over an expensive CIB game and sell as sealed. That was ten years ago, im sure theives have gotten even better.

[@unstoppableExodia]

@@startyde That's a good point you bring up and it's particularly pertinent for collectors in Europe which happens to be a large yet fractured market when viewed as a collective, fertile ground for scammers who could be motivated to fake seals to make big bucks. One thing I think that could complicate the adoption of grading for Australian collectors is the differences in sealing practices by Nintendo australia compared to Europe. I've talked to a guy who is involved in selling games who sources from Nintendo australia directly. He explained that Nintendo aus seal some games but not all for reasons that he could not say without breaking an NDA. And when Nintendo australia do seal games in their factories they don't use the red strip seal that is used in Europe. Then there are bricks and mortar retailers who seal games randomly with slightly different sealing methods. Sad to say but if an individual was so inclined they could have a much easier time faking games seals in Australia than Europe. Something that would probably render grading in australia more trouble than it's worth as seals would be tricky too authenticate. Which suggests that the only way grading would catch on down under is A) if there's a strong demand for it and B) if an Australian based grading authority emerged to cater to that demand.

[@heyhonpuds]

Let’s not forget actually playing PAL games isn’t much fun either, with the slowness and the huge borders. I live the U.K. so it’s all I knew as a child. 😢 I’d rather not play a game at all than play a PAL version.

[@unstoppableExodia]

@@heyhonpuds I never really know noticed that difference tbh. Playing PAL games was all I knew. It wasn't until the kerfuffle I've the PlayStation mini using PAL roms andhow that greatly affected performance that I could truly appreciate what a difference it made. It doesn't stop collectors in PAL regions seeking PAL over NTSC games

[@heyhonpuds]

unstoppableExodia - you might be right about the collecting part. It’s not something I keep an active watch on anymore. I just wanted to vent that I was unknowingly playing neutered versions of games throughout my youth.

[@ceberuss_yt8266]

I’m your age, european and a gamer/collector ( or a Timmy like you say? ). I don’t know how your video came in my feed but I watched it through. I found it very interesting . I really hate the people who buy up those more esoteric items to just flip them on eBay ( sorry ☺️). I also think the graded videogames thing is a money scam thing. As a gamer there is a lot of Chance a graded or sealed doesn’t work anymore due to the nature of the media ( pcb’s / cds etc ) and their degradation . A graded comic you can break open and read the comic. However I found your perspective interesting and I’d love to have a conversation on many of the subjects and things you mentioned. Subbed 👍

[@CatsGamesWhatever]

I collect video games and DGAF about esoteric markets like jag/cdi/3do at current price levels. IMO all 3 have already hit their proverbial glass ceilings for price. If someone is hoarding a couple of sealed jags thinking that they will get 20k+ in 10-15 years for each good luck to them. My guess is current market rate + or -20% is the future for these markets.

[@achesontrading427]

sorry to hear about the negativity for sharing your portfolio of games, did you see Gary V's most recent tweet blurring out his acquisitions? "I got to blur cards now so there’s not any impact on the market" could you share a list of best titles for long term investment?

[@AbcXyz-zn5ep]

dang shawn surmick a 45 min+ video?!?!?! yowzaaaaaaa

[@miatakid2]

How about a video on reproduction video games and other collectables .I really like all your videos thanks for sharing your knowledge,and keeping all of us with grounded expectations.

[@ReservedInvestments]

Already did a video on reproductions…

[@boxwi]

With regard to Q1 - we have people in our 30's and 40's buying up vintage video games. They will pursue these well into their 70's and 80's as they become increasingly nostalgic. This type of worry is an entire generation down the road.

[@ReservedInvestments]

With all due respect, that’s not what the trend shows. People in their 60’s are already starting to downsize by that time. There are very few hardcore collectors left in their 70’s. The desire is there, but the realization that one is near the end of their proverbial life, is also there. I’m 43. I fully recognize that the possibility exists that in another 43 years I may not be here. As you get older, time changes you...

[@PaulRockey]

Reserved Investments I am 37, and I plan on living until I’m 120. I look forward to getting Stadium Events at a fat discount when I’m 90!

[@boxwi]

So maybe the trick will be that iconic/transcendent franchise-spawning games like the first prints of Metroid, Mario Bros, etc, will be what has true lasting power through generations, as opposed to demand due more to rarity, such as something like, say, Little Sampson.

[@DriveupLife22]

This goes back to a comment in a previous video. Your interests do indeed change over the years even as hardcore collectors. I was a die hard vinyl collector for 10 years, but now I'm getting much more into film and books.

[@startyde]

If you haven't been collecting sealed games within the last few decades, and just started recently, you likely don't have a passion for it, like any hobby, and are just following a trend. Like MtG investing, Pokemon, Games, Crypto, every new buzzword that just pulls people in looking for something new. With rare exception, these people leave shortly after as they're dissatisfied or their attention wanes. TLDR: A lot of vintage game collecting hype in recent years was manufactured through strategic marketing and auctions. Noone knows how long it will last.

[@billy_bandit]

Hey man. I know it's not my place but I wanted to show some support for the exgf thing. I've bought the diamonds for them, paid off the bills, trips, you name it. None of that really "gets" them. I learned about hypergamy last year and realized it's just how things are. When you buy people stuff they see you as a wallet, not s desirable partner. Forgot those women but most importantly never enter a LDR, never let her live with you without paying considerable rent, and never ever buy them gifts over $100 unless you get equally compensated financially. Trust me sir, in 2021 and beyond, you need to rethink dating as it's completely different now.

[@markanderson1566]

Hey Shawn great video, I would love to see your most valuable video games and your most valuable coins and currency, and how you acquired those collectibles. I totally understand why you can’t show those items. Keep up the good work. I learn a lot from each video you make.

[@markanderson1566]

Hey Shawn I also got the RobinHood app and I started in investing in stocks. I started to invest in individual stocks, I know that’s probably not a good idea. RobinHood has the S&P 500 is called SPDR S&P 500 EFT it is about 333 dollars a share. Is that the S&P 500 index fund that you are always talking about in investing in?

[@ReservedInvestments]

SPY would be the ETF...I would NOT be investing in individual stocks unless you are already established with a 6 figure ($100,000 plus) portfolio based squarely in mutual funds and ETF's.

[@markanderson1566]

Reserved Investments would that S&P 500 ETF for about 333 a share be the S&P index fund you are alway talking about ? I am sorry I am a little confused. I am a newbie. I just want to make wiser investments for the long term. I have been waiting for some new content when you say your going to talk about investing in the stock market.

[@ReservedInvestments]

@@markanderson1566 SPY is the symbol.

[@ReservedInvestments]

Vanguard's is VOO

[@onetwo6039]

TOAPLAN collection of truxton and 3 other very expensive shooters for sega genesis just released. Would this hurt Ebay prices? These games have a ticket of authenticity and are like the originals with color cartridges in a real nice collectors box but don't have the sega labels on them. I don't consider them REPROS, but more like reprints / reissues. I hope my question makes sense. :/

[@ricardoblikman2676]

In Japan people do not steal cartridges from boxes in stores :)

[@CatsGamesWhatever]

The best cure for wanting to open a physical retail video game store is to work in an existing one for a week.

[@CatsGamesWhatever]

I'm a little less pessimistic these days of physical media dying entirely. There's no doubt that digital will be the main distribution method now and in the future but I think the entertainment markets will cater to physical media for the next 25+ years. If you look at music : CDs, vinyls and even cassettes of current music are sold. DVDs still get released even with 4k and bluray on the market with gigantic streaming services existing. Both these markets are far more established and we've seen that this is the result of the digital revolution. The video game market for physical media will become more niche but my guess is Playstation / Nintendo/ MS) will have a physical component for their consoles for the same time period (next 30+ years).

[@pacario9625]

The difference is that media like cassettes and CDs are not limited to a specific device or range of hardware. But a GameCube is required for GameCube games, a 3DS for 3DS titles. Even Xbox One games, which are backwards compatible across generations, are still limited to Xbox consoles--they can't be played on any old console or Blu-ray player. In other words, music is accessible everywhere across easily attained devices--PlayStation games are only good for people who have already invested in a specific, and expensive, set of hardware. And with the production costs of games rising into the hundreds of millions, going digital-only will help streamline those costs, whether via services like Game Pass or straight downloads. Physical might live one, but it will only be through boutique places like the disingenuous Limited Run Games (its games are not "rare" in the slightest).

[@mikestyer3909]

Super Famicom games did not come sealed either. In my experience no game that I ever bought new came sealed.

[@ReservedInvestments]

Same with N64 in Japan...

[@extremegamercollector425]

I prefer vga to wata imo it’s just a preference. I feel like vga is more strict with their grading. I’ve seen a 9.0 wata with dents and small tears not sure I get how their grading works.

[@ReservedInvestments]

A WATA 9.0 is very fine/near mint, so it can have some dents and tears. A WATA 9.0 is NOT equal to a VGA 90. I did a video on this...😉

[@extremegamercollector425]

Reserved Investments I just feel like vga is the way to go for me I don’t like wata grading games as if it were comics

[@extremegamercollector425]

Reserved Investments so here’s my question for you is my Pokémon yellow factory sealed pikachu edition graded 80+ by vga which is “near mint” just as good as a Pokémon yellow 9.0 from wata if 9.0 is the bottom of near mint?

[@ReservedInvestments]

No. Your’s is higher.

[@extremegamercollector425]

Reserved Investments 😮

[@docholidayproductions]

Still here 42 minutes in

[@charless6602]

Oh man sorry to hear about that ex gf Tiffany incident. But u know what. It’s better you dumped her cause you can find someone better. Keep up the good work on these videos. Cheers!!

[@jedirun]

MGTOW and The Red Pill saves men's lives ;) keep up the great work my dude

[@Shishkebarbarian]

Another note about Gamecube prices vs other consoles in the generation: it was the worst selling console in the generation and the worst selling nintendo console until the WiiU so there are noticeably less copies of everything available

[@rainbowmusic274]

Ooh...I figuered out your Ebay presence now...my lips are sealed... just in case!

[@ReservedInvestments]

I have more than one eBay account, so it’s okay...😉

[@rainbowmusic274]

@@ReservedInvestments Is one of them "exxxxxxxxxs" ( or should I reveal the "x's" ) with the eye of the pyramid logo

[@rainbowmusic274]

Who else would have E.T. Pez !?!

[@jbouchard1780]

Amazon does not make eBay obsolete. They have two very different business models...? Amazon has adapted to be able to compete in the 3rd party commission market however they are still lacking in so many areas and they do not prioritize 3rd party sellers let alone host auctions. If I want to bid or buy someones retro video game collection I go to eBay, if I want a first print of a specific item, I go to eBay. if i want graded items I go to Ebay If I want to reach buyers and sellers from a worldwide marketplace, I got to eBay etc, etc, etc... 3rd partys on Amzon cant even create unique listings too if its the same products its listed under different prices with the different sellers. messy

[@slimthumbtak]

I can't wait for that digital only ps5. Haven't bought a disk in years.

[@ReservedInvestments]

Actually, I have heard a lot of gamers tell me this over the years.

[@veganforever9703]

I prefer physical I can pick up good games for £1 or £2s secondhand

[@Malkav]

I don't think the new generation will care about videogame collecting because 10 to 20 years from now, almost every videogame will be available via digital download or as a rom on the internet. Meh what do I know, I just wanna play the games of my childhood on original console and TV.

[@greenranger9428]

I call you insightful, now what

[@PickUps]

I will say that a game store, and a card store can work. However most people lack the necessary understanding of running a business, as well as how to properly advertise and acquire customers. I ran a store for the last decade, and we had boxes of rare and obscure things coming in weekly. However, we understood google ads, facebook ads, how to work with clients, offered alot of unique things others stores didn't and more. Anyone can be successful with these shops if they have a background or understanding of business, and are running it lean, and smart. However, most don't, and fail. But this is also true of every single other category of business. Last bit, i know you said people will just sell on their app vs walk it into a store, truth is, many are lazy, uninformed, and simply want to get cash now. Cash in hand and time efficiency nets me about 2k in profits each month from ads I run locally, with a 20 dollar a month ad budget. It can be done, and I plan to scale this big time coming into 2021. thanks as always for the great videos