What do you collect and what is your goal?

I like to collect consoles more than games, but there are some games I have in my collection that I'm quite happy to own. Most of my consoles I own were all purchased new, therefore I'm the original owner. Some were purchased used and refurbished (and re-shelled if required), while some were re-shelled for a unique look (I keep all original parts, I never throw away any original OEM parts unless it's beyond repair, like cracked LCD screens or destroyed shells).

I prefer to collect Nintendo consoles even though I grew up more of a Sega fan. I owned them all though anyway and enjoyed games across all systems despite the 90's console wars.

When did you start collecting?

Since I started getting game consoles. It all started with the Atari 2600 (Sears Telegames in my case).

How did you get the idea to collect video games/consoles?

Likely because I kept playing them and didn't want to ever get rid of my systems or games, so I simply started collecting them.

What's your favorite item in your collection and why?

A Sony PlayStation Debugging Station, model DTL-H1001H. It's a tradeshow model and is dated mid 95, so it has some early features. It has the first revision GPU with it's flaws and dual ported VRAM (unlike SGRAM in later systems post 96), and it oddly has a short sticker vs the more standard US long sticker. (It seems most debug kits in America from mid 95 all have the short Japanese style stickers without part numbers for the label, but clearly indicate 120v, not 100v. I've also noticed these short sticker debug kits always have very early serials.)

What is your most memorable collecting story/experience?

To be honest, getting a Wii U. I skipped it and got it in 2023 as a system to get as I don't own a Game Cube or Wii, but do want to play some Wii games (and a small set of GC games which a Wii U can technically run, unofficially but not directly from disc). So I was happy to buy a "for parts" system, repair the NAND (eMMC) and get the system back to a functional state and now it's used daily for exercises, among other classics I missed out on entirely. (Yes, I use the balance board!!)